Chapter 0033: Iron Law

In Chen Liuhe's eyes, this assassin's skills at escaping far surpassed his skills at killing. Despite being delayed for only a moment, the assassin had already vanished into the stairwell, leaving no trace.

Chen Liuhe reached the fourth floor, the quietest level of the entire "Golden Jade Palace." Stepping on the carpeted floor, his footsteps made not even the slightest sound.

Surveying the stillness around him, Chen Liuhe's expression remained unchanged. With his usual lazy demeanor and leisurely stride, he looked nothing like someone engaged in a life-or-death chase—there wasn't the faintest hint of tension.

Glancing around, his gaze quickly locked onto a tightly shut door.

A cold smirk curled his lips. Without knocking, Chen Liuhe pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The room was a lavishly decorated spa suite. On the bed, a woman in a white uniform was giving a massage to another woman clad only in a bath towel.

When he saw the woman in the towel, even Chen Liuhe couldn't help but let out a whistle. She was undeniably a stunning beauty—a mature, captivating woman exuding allure from head to toe.

Her face was exquisitely crafted: striking eyes, sculpted lips and nose, all perfectly proportioned on an oval face that seemed meticulously carved by the heavens.

Her age was hard to pin down—perhaps thirty, or maybe twenty-four or twenty-five. She blended mature charm with the fresh, delicate glow of youth.

Her flawless skin shimmered like crystal, smooth and unblemished. His gaze trailed down her neck to her bare back, sleek as silk and radiant as polished jade, radiating a breathtaking beauty.

What a mature woman—a true enchantress!

This shameless Chen Liuhe, far from showing any tension, even had the audacity to mentally critique this gorgeous woman.

At the sight of Chen Liuhe's sudden entrance, a flush of embarrassment crossed the beautiful woman's face. Her watery eyes flashed with羞恼 (shame and annoyance), unintentionally radiating a seductive charm that hit like an electric current.

Strangely, his intrusion didn't provoke screams or an attack with brooms and mops. The two women's faces showed only fear and a plea for help.

Sharp as ever, Chen Liuhe saw through it instantly. He casually shut the door, a roguish grin on his face as he said, "When it comes to massages, I've got world-class skills. Beauty, meeting like this must be fate. You're in luck today—how about I give you a full-service 'great sword' treatment? I guarantee it'll leave your body and soul refreshed."

The beautiful woman's enchanting eyes flared with even more羞恼 (shame and annoyance), but she bit her lip and didn't dare speak. Her expressive eyes darted toward Chen Liuhe, signaling him urgently.

Pretending not to notice, Chen Liuhe stepped forward. Just as he neared her, the assassin hiding under the bed could no longer hold back. He scrambled out, pressing a gun to the woman's head.

"Chen Liuhe, take one more step, and I'll blow this chick's brains out!" The assassin grabbed her hair, yanking her up. The white towel tied loosely around her teetered precariously, as if it might fall at any moment.

"Ah!" The beautiful woman let out a terrified scream, her chest heaving. Her delicate face paled, her eyes filled with dread. No matter how poised or elegant she usually was, no one could stay calm with a gun to their head.

Strip away her status and background, and she was just a woman!

"Don't… be rash. Be careful the gun doesn't go off. Whatever grudge you have, it can be settled peacefully," she said, her composure surprising under the circumstances—at least she hadn't completely lost it.

"Shut up, or I'll shoot you dead!" the assassin barked, making her tremble again. She bit her red lips, silenced.

At that moment, despair flooded her heart. She was truly cursed with bad luck. She'd just come from a banquet, feeling exhausted, and had stopped by here for a massage to unwind. Who could've imagined she'd stumble into something this insane?

Perhaps… this was fate.

If she died here tonight, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. At least she'd be free—no more facing those people, their ugly expressions, or returning to that suffocating cage that weighed her down until she could barely breathe.

Chen Liuhe studied the trembling woman, her eyes shut tight with fear. Up close, he realized she was even more beautiful than he'd thought—every inch of her radiating the essence of femininity, a sight that could drive any man wild.

If the assassin knew Chen Liuhe was still admiring her beauty at a time like this, he might've spat blood in rage, handing Chen Liuhe a victory without a fight.

"Didn't you hear me? I said stay back!" the assassin roared at the nonchalant Chen Liuhe. He was a seasoned killer, living off this trade. Though he hadn't clashed much with Chen Liuhe, he was certain this was a ruthless, terrifying figure—someone who could dodge bullets. He couldn't let Chen Liuhe get close.

"Buddy, your nerves are shot. Cracking this fast? I'm telling you, if you'd stayed under the bed, I might not have found you," Chen Liuhe said lazily.

His half-dead attitude drove the assassin mad. Even the hostage woman wanted to roll her eyes. This guy, with his wandering gaze, was absolutely insane.

"Cut the crap and behave!" the assassin shouted, his emotions unraveling. The more casual Chen Liuhe acted, the more pressure he felt, and the deeper his panic grew.

"Chen Liuhe, looks like the intel was wrong—dead wrong. They said you were just a dangerous guy, but that's not the half of it," the assassin said coldly.

Chen Liuhe spread his hands innocently. "So what kind of guy do you think I am?"

"Enough talk! Back off to the door, or everyone in this room dies!" the assassin threatened.

Chen Liuhe looked at him like he was an idiot. "Are you brain-dead? You're holding someone I don't even know to threaten me? That's beyond unprofessional."

Ignoring the woman's furious glare, Chen Liuhe waved dismissively. "If you're gonna kill her, hurry up. Once you're done, I'll send you down with her. One life for one life—fair trade. Neither of them means anything to me anyway."

Chen Liuhe spoke heartlessly.

"Chen Liuhe, don't try to scare me. You think I won't shoot? Worst case, we all go down together. People in my line of work are always ready for that," the assassin said, his face shifting between pale and flushed, his eyes locked on Chen Liuhe, unable to read him.

"Then why all the chatter? Get on with it—early death, early rebirth," Chen Liuhe said, plopping down on the bed and grabbing a cotton swab from the table.

"Don't move!" the assassin yelled. "I'll kill her!" The woman's face drained of color, her eyes squeezed shut.

"Why so jumpy? Can't even grab a swab to clean my ears?" Chen Liuhe said carelessly, glancing at the assassin with a smirk. "Brother, they say fate brings people together across a thousand miles. No need to make this so tense, right? We're all civilized folks here. Can't we just sit down and talk? I promise, tell me who sent you, and I'll let you go!"

"I said back off!" The assassin, enraged, shifted the gun to the woman's arm, about to fire a warning shot. But at that moment, an absurdly out-of-place sound rang out.

"Grandpa, your grandson's calling! Grandpa, your grandson's calling…"

The awkwardness in the room was unimaginable. Chen Liuhe gave an embarrassed chuckle, pulling his beat-up phone from his pocket and waving at the assassin. "Relax, just taking a call."

"No answering! Put the phone down!" the assassin bellowed.

Chen Liuhe's expression turned icy. "I'm standing right here. You can shoot me dead if you want—then I won't answer."

The assassin's face twisted, sweat dripping down, but in the end, he didn't dare turn the gun on Chen Liuhe. This was a man who could dodge bullets—he had no confidence in taking him out with one shot. If he missed, Chen Liuhe could seize the chance to save the hostage and kill him instead.

Chen Liuhe's speed was unreal—beyond comprehension—and he'd already seen it firsthand.

The moment he answered the call, Chen Liuhe's tone softened dramatically. "Qingwu, what's wrong?"

"Brother, a few clowns showed up at home," Shen Qingwu's voice came through, eerily calm.

But Chen Liuhe's face turned as cold as a midwinter frost, the temperature in the room seeming to plummet with it.

"You okay?" His voice remained steady.

"I'm fine," Shen Qingwu replied. "Brother, watch yourself."

Nodding, Chen Liuhe hung up. For the first time, a tangible killing intent flared in his eyes. That single glance sent chills through all three people in the room. What kind of look was this? They'd never seen anyone's eyes so terrifying.

"Game's over," Chen Liuhe said softly, four simple words as his murderous rage surged within. These reckless fools dared target Shen Qingwu—they all deserved to die!

Shen Qingwu was the one untouchable scale on this hellish Asura, Chen Liuhe—a line no one in the world could cross!

It was an iron law many once knew, but there were always the fearless—or the blind—who didn't.