Clang!

Song Ran deflected the silver-black curved blade of the man in the white gauze with one arm, sparks flying off as it made contact.

His left arm had long been replaced with a metal prosthetic, made from high-grade alloy. From the collision with the curved blade, only a thin scratch appeared.

Amid the coconut grove.

The man in the white gauze wielded a blade in one hand and a gun in the other, moving like a spinning top, constantly twisting left and right.

Sometimes slashing, sometimes shooting.

At close range, he didn’t aim for Song Ran’s vital points but targeted the edges of his limbs, focusing on inflicting injuries.

This strange combination of combat and gunfire techniques made defending incredibly difficult for Song Ran.

Who would have thought that just minutes ago, he was overpowering his opponent?

But ever since the man in the white gauze began using this combination of knife and gun combat, Song Ran found himself caught off guard, repeatedly shot in the feet and calves, limiting his mobility and putting him at a disadvantage.

In the forest, the tall, straight coconut trees cast deepening shadows as the sunlight faded.

Song Ran stepped back, his foot landing on a patch of hard soil, throwing off his balance. His expression changed as he raised his gun to fire, trying to push back his opponent.

Bang.

A gunshot, but not one, two shots rang out.

The man in the white gauze was just a fraction quicker in firing.

Two bullets flew out in quick succession, forcing Song Ran’s gun barrel to shift and miss, sending his shot into the empty space to the right.

This unique combat style made Song Ran’s pupils shrink as he recalled an obscure combat technique that had gained popularity over a decade ago.

“Riga Combat Technique!?” He retreated rapidly, flipping backward with agility like an ape, landing behind a coconut tree.

Just as he stabilized himself—

Bang! The tree trunk he was hiding behind splintered as three consecutive shots hit the same spot, piercing the tree and nearly hitting his forehead.

Song Ran returned fire with two shots, both dodged by his opponent.

He was stronger and better at close combat, but his marksmanship was only average.

‘What do I do!?’ Anxiety surged within him. The longer he was held here, the more likely trouble would arise at the construction site in the distance.

He had to break this stalemate!

A moment’s distraction cost him, pain flaring in his shoulder as he was shot again.

Even through his bulletproof vest, he felt his shoulder swell and fill with blood rapidly.

Alarmed, he protected his head with one arm and somersaulted out from behind the tree, firing in mid-air to suppress his opponent.

Bang! Bang!

After landing, he lunged forward, rolling and leaping again.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three shots hit the center of his chest, scattering sparks on the steel plate inside his bulletproof vest.

But the shooting didn’t stop him from closing in.

Taking advantage of the moment when his opponent changed magazines, Song Ran sprang up, his knee bent and ready to strike.

The man in the white gauze dodged with a swift sideways roll, reloaded, and fired three more shots in quick succession.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The bullets hit Song Ran’s left arm, blocked by the alloy limb.

The man in the white gauze retreated quickly, creating distance. With his other hand, he pulled out a larger caliber silver gun from his back.

Raised it.

Aimed.

Suddenly, a purple shadow flashed.

Bang!

A large purple hand grabbed the man’s wrist, yanking it upward.

The gunshot echoed, the bullet flying harmlessly into the sky.

The man in the white gauze widened his eyes, thrusting the knife in his other hand forward.

Clang.

The blade slid across Li Chengyi’s flower-scale armor, leaving only a thin scratch.

“A cyborg!?” The man’s expression twisted in rage, lunging forward to strike Li Chengyi’s abdomen with his knee, only to be met with searing pain.

His expression didn’t falter as his arm detached at the wrist, shooting upwards.

The exposed wound suddenly produced gunfire, shooting several rounds into Li Chengyi’s helmet, sending his head tilting back.

Li Chengyi’s combat skills were far inferior, repeatedly attacked. He only just managed to react.

Even though he knew he was just beginning to learn combat and was at an average level at best.

Yet being pushed back stirred anger within him.

He stood upright, ignoring all attacks, advancing relentlessly.

Tiny sparks burst as bullets struck him.

In that split second, the man fired three more rounds.

‘Floral Command.’

Li Chengyi’s hand gripped the man’s wrist, suddenly slamming it against a tree trunk.

In an instant, the man’s entire body stiffened, eyes filled with terror.

His body lost all control and hurled toward the tree where Li Chengyi’s hand pressed.

In less than half a second, he was airborne, flying toward the tree.

Before he was halfway there, a purple-black fist met him head-on, smashing into his forehead.

Bang!!

Everything fell silent.

The man in the white gauze was thrown sideways like he’d been hit by a vehicle, his forehead deeply caved in, blood streaming from his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose.

He lay on the sand, mouth open as if to speak, but within two seconds, his pupils dilated, life fading away.

Li Chengyi glanced at Song Ran, who was on high alert, before turning and disappearing swiftly into the forest.

* * *

Yongnian Town.

A black jeep sped around a corner, stopping in front of a silver-white building over ten stories tall.

Night had fallen, and the sky was dark.

The car door burst open, and a pale-faced gunman in gray clothing leapt out.

He rushed toward the building, about to shout.

Bang.

A gunshot rang out.

The gunman fell forward, blood slowly seeping from his back.

“Who’s there!!?”

“There’s a shooter! Call the patrol team!!”

Woo!

A piercing alarm sounded instantly.

The building’s security guards reacted at once, drawing their guns and aiming.

Bang. A muffled sound came from inside the jeep as a purple shadow dashed out toward the building.

A security guard in its path opened his mouth to shout, but before he could, a tremendous force spun his head 360 degrees, leaving him dead on the spot, collapsing to the ground.

Bang.

The building’s main door, half-open, shattered off its hinges as the purple shadow crashed through, sending two guards flying and injuring them.

Li Chengyi stood inside, looking up at the ten or so black-clad guards charging in, some wielding guns, others brandishing knives.

With one hand, he grabbed a large blue-and-white porcelain vase from his right and flung it forward.

Bang!

The nearly two-meter-tall vase spun through the air, smashing into the group of guards and shattering into countless shards.

Cries of pain and shouts erupted as fragments embedded into the crowd.

Not stopping, Li Chengyi rushed up the stairs.

In his flower-scale armor, his speed, strength, and endurance were all significantly enhanced.

Despite attacking with brute force, the hostile malice around him dissipated, absorbed by the armor into an invisible energy.

Before long, following the captured gunman’s confession, Li Chengyi reached the ninth floor.

In the spacious lounge.

An old man with completely white hair was sitting on a sofa, his arm around a slender blonde woman, a silver gun freshly drawn in his other hand.

“You!?” The old man’s eyes widened in horror, staring at the sudden appearance of Li Chengyi, clearly not expecting him to arrive so quickly.

He acted immediately, pulling the trigger.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Automatic gunfire sent a barrage of bullets accurately hitting Li Chengyi’s chest, head, shoulders, and limbs.

But it was useless.

Sparks flew as the purple-black figure flickered.

Boom!!!

The old man, gun and all, was slammed into the floor-to-ceiling window behind him.

Glass shattered, raining shards everywhere.

He struggled, eyes filled with despair, before being thrown out the window, falling nine stories to the ground.

Thud.

A muffled sound echoed.

Li Chengyi glanced out the window, seeing the old man’s body twisted, lying face-up on the grass, blood seeping from the back of his head like tomato paste.

Only then did he turn and leave the hallway, disappearing from sight.

The blonde woman beside the scene only regained her senses then, her face pale as she let out a terrified scream.

* * *

At the construction site.

Song Ran spat on the ground, squatting down to inspect one of the fallen little yellow-hatted workers.

Four bodies lay side by side, moved by him to the same spot.

“Sorry.” Song Ran sighed, knowing these were just ordinary people.

They had come here for simple work, not expecting to lose their lives.

Standing up, he took out his phone and dialed a number.

“How’s the situation?” Sindra’s voice, slightly tired, came through from the other side.

“Several are dead, the enemy had many people, locals. We couldn’t hold out. Among them was at least one expert at a high level of Riga Combat Technique; I was held up for a while,” Song Ran responded gravely.

Sindra was silent for a moment.

“Compensation will be tripled... I didn’t anticipate this much resistance.”

“After all, the company’s headquarters isn’t here. This is Yiguo, even the strongest force has limits against local power.” Song Ran said.

"...If only your equipment were allowed through customs..." Sindra didn’t finish her thought, sighing. "What about Li Chengyi and Ding Chongyi?"

"Ding Chongyi retreated early. Li Chengyi... should be hiding," Song Ran said, unsure.

He had just checked the construction site and found no one. He even went to the entrance of the hole, which now had its cover removed, leaving only an untied automatic rope behind. There was no one there either.

So he guessed Li Chengyi must have hidden himself.

"He's a smart guy; he wouldn't do anything reckless. He must be in hiding," Sindra said.

"If he dies, we’ll have to shift our focus elsewhere," Song Ran said in a deep voice.

The company’s capabilities were severely limited in Yiguo. Many had died in past investigations due to lack of preparation and various constraints. This helpless feeling was much worse than when operating on their home turf in White Star.

"Ash Real Estate, right? I’ll send someone over later, but too many eyes are on me. I can’t act openly," Sindra said.

"So we just wait for them to make the next move?" Song Ran asked.

"No problem. If we can’t act, we’ll find someone who can," Sindra said.

After ending the call, Song Ran sighed, glancing at his feet where bullet holes revealed a glimmer of silver.

Both of his legs were modified with mechanical parts, with only half remaining flesh and blood. After being injured, hidden syringes in the metal structure would automatically inject coagulating gel and antibiotics to prevent infection.

The metal framework would then take on more of the load, allowing him to walk more easily.

This was why he could still move so freely.

"Brother Song?" Just as he was about to look for a functioning AR device to contact Li Chengyi, a familiar voice called from behind.

Song Ran quickly turned to see a figure slowly emerging from the forest.

It was Li Chengyi.

He was unharmed, though his face was pale, and sweat covered his brow and temples, looking exhausted.

"You’re okay!?" Song Ran’s heart eased as he quickly walked over.

"I heard Expert Ding’s warning and climbed out to hide. I only came out when everything was over," Li Chengyi wiped the sweat from his forehead and spoke softly.

"Good. The others have already been moved. Did you find anything?" Song Ran asked quickly.

"I did."

"Great, then let’s get out of here and return to Suiyang!" Song Ran said decisively.