Chapter 68: The Second Wave of Assassins (Part Two)

“An assassin?” After listening to Qin Tian’s introduction of Nangong Xiaoe’s identity, Jiang Yingying couldn’t help but shudder. She had actually just shown attitude to an assassin? Jiang Tianxiang’s expression also changed slightly—an assassin had managed to infiltrate their home! It proved that even hiding at home with a crowd of bodyguards outside wasn’t safe. It was entirely possible that while you were in the midst of a beautiful dream, a knife could suddenly plunge into your chest and turn that dream into your final nightmare.

“Are you scared?” Qin Tian teased upon seeing Jiang Yingying’s reaction.

“Who’s scared?” Jiang Yingying swallowed hard, holding her head high, but her fidgeting hands behind her betrayed her.

“But now one thing’s clear—the person or organization in the shadows wants me dead,” Qin Tian said, returning to seriousness.

After Nangong Xiaoe infiltrated the Jiang family, she went straight for Qin Tian’s room—the target was clear. And Nangong Xiaoe had also told Qin Tian that the intended victim was indeed him.

“Could it be Tang Yiliu and his group?” Jiang Tianxiang asked.

“Unlikely. With the Griffin family as a shield, they wouldn’t dare act against me. They’re still counting on the Griffin family to feed them,” Qin Tian replied with a smile.

“By the way, Xiaoe, does this count as a failed mission for you? Will it affect you?” Qin Tian suddenly turned to Nangong Xiaoe.

“Yes, we might lose some points. But our ranking is so far ahead of the tenth place, we won’t drop down,” Nangong Xiaoe replied.

“Points?” Qin Tian was taken aback.

“Yes. Among assassins and assassin organizations, there’s an unspoken joint institution. All assignments are posted internally. Success earns you points; failure costs you points. Of course, it’s all internal, so there’s no risk of information leaking,” Nangong Xiaoe explained.

“How many points does your… ‘Moth’ organization have?” Qin Tian frowned inwardly, thinking the name was… well, something.

“About twenty thousand points or so,” Nangong Xiaoe said.

“How are these points calculated?” Qin Tian asked.

“It depends on the difficulty. Crippling an arm or a leg is worth one to five points. Killing someone starts at ten points. Other tasks, like intimidation, are usually just one point,” Nangong Xiaoe replied.

Qin Tian drew a sharp breath. Listening to Nangong Xiaoe, it felt more like she was describing a business deal than talking about murder.

But what shocked Qin Tian most was the twenty thousand points. If those were all basic ‘kills,’ didn’t that mean her ‘Moth’ organization had already taken over two thousand lives?

“Xiaoe, don’t take assassination jobs anymore. Cut back on the others as well,” Qin Tian said seriously.

He was fundamentally opposed to killing. Not everything should be solved with murder. If the world turned into a cycle of endless assassinations, where would there be peace? Of course, the existence of assassins must have some rationale, but Qin Tian refrained from further criticism.

“We only kill those who deserve it—like foreign warlords, tyrannical rulers, and the like. This time we took the job because the family was desperate. Usually, we investigate our targets first; if they’re good people, we refuse the job,” Nangong Xiaoe said, sticking out her tongue. This time, indeed, desperation had made them less selective—a whole family waiting to eat.

“Now that the mission’s failed, how will you reply to the client?” Qin Tian asked.

“I’ll just say it failed. Missions fail all the time,” Nangong Xiaoe shrugged.

“I was wondering if there’s a way to lure him out,” Qin Tian said.

“No way. The client will never show themselves,” Nangong Xiaoe shook her head firmly. She was well-versed in the ways of her profession.

“What about phone tracking?” Qin Tian asked.

“First, the client is clearly a pro at hiring assassins; the call was masked. Second, for safety, all outside calls are routed through an internal network. There’s no way to trace them,” Nangong Xiaoe explained.

“So there’s really nothing we can do?” Qin Tian sighed.

“Not necessarily. I have a friend who might be able to track them. We can try, but she’s a bit eccentric,” Nangong Xiaoe said.

“What do you mean by eccentric?” Qin Tian asked.

“You’ll see when you come with me,” Nangong Xiaoe replied.

“Will it be dangerous?” Qin Tian eyed her warily.

“Brother Qin Lei, would I ever harm you?” Nangong Xiaoe rolled her eyes.

“Can you stop calling me Qin Lei already?” Qin Tian said, exasperated.

“I won’t! Brother Qin Lei, Brother Qin Lei, Brother Qin Lei…” Nangong Xiaoe pouted.

Qin Tian couldn’t help but smile, but at that moment, his expression suddenly changed, his hair standing on end. He sensed killing intent.

“Xiaoqing, get down!” Qin Tian shouted at Shen Xiaoqing, who was curled up on the sofa.

Shen Xiaoqing had been watching Qin Tian and Nangong Xiaoe bicker, thoroughly entertained. Startled by his shout, she quickly ducked and covered her head.

Pop!

A soft sound rang out—a small hole appeared in the sofa, exactly where Shen Xiaoqing’s head had just been.

A bullet!

Qin Tian saw it clearly—it was a sniper’s bullet.

“You brought someone else with you?” Qin Tian turned to Nangong Xiaoe.

“No!” Nangong Xiaoe answered immediately.

“Another assassin?” As soon as the words left Qin Tian’s mouth, another bullet shattered the window, embedding itself in the solid wood coffee table.

The first shot had come through a tiny gap above the villa’s main door—a testament to the sniper’s exceptional skill.

“There’s a second wave of assassins! Quickly, upstairs!” Qin Tian urgently ushered everyone to the second floor.

The bathroom upstairs had been specially reinforced. Regular bullets couldn’t penetrate it, and even small explosives could be withstood.

The wealthy always ensured they had an emergency safe spot.

“I’m going out to take a look. Stay here and don’t wander,” Qin Tian said.

“It’s too dangerous!” Nangong Xiaoe grabbed his arm.

“We’re too passive here,” Qin Tian insisted.

“There’s a sniper assigned by the Bureau outside for your protection. That sniper might have already been eliminated. Whoever’s coming is no ordinary foe,” Nangong Xiaoe warned.

“All the more reason not to sit here and wait for death!” Qin Tian replied.

In truth, he was determined to uncover whoever was behind all this—to see who wanted him dead.

“Fine. I’ll go with you,” Nangong Xiaoe agreed after a moment’s thought.