For three consecutive days, Qin Tian and Meng Yao had separately visited the Big Saber Sect, Flying Knife Sect, and Knife Skill Martial Arts Hall to stake out, especially Qin Tian, who used his agile movement technique to directly observe.
As a result, after he closely watched those individuals Meng Yao suspected, he shook his head as he left.
When he finally came out from the Knife Skill Martial Arts Hall, Qin Tian was somewhat disheartened.
"You say they’re not it? How did you judge?" Meng Yao asked skeptically.
Qin Tian said helplessly, "If I say I can see through everything you won’t believe me, so how should I explain? Let’s put it this way, intuition, can intuition be it?"
Meng Yao was speechless. The two of them walked out of the alley next to the Knife Skill Martial Arts Hall, lost in thought as they walked.
If the people in these three organizations that Meng Yao suspected were not the ones, then how should they continue their investigation?
Qin Tian was at a loss, so was Meng Yao. Thus, the two of them walked quietly along the shady trail next to the outskirts of the Knife Skill Martial Arts Hall, each pondering their next move.
The Knife Skill Martial Arts Hall was located in the western suburbs, at the foot of a mountain, with beautiful scenery. There were many maple trees along the road, and at this time, the maple leaves were slowly turning red, and the fallen leaves were fluttering. Walking among them on the island was very tranquil.
However, the tranquility only lasted for a while. As the two descended the mountain and left the area of the Knife Skill Martial Arts Hall, in a forest, a sudden chill came over them.
Qin Tian and Meng Yao both noticed, as five people appeared in front of them.
There was a murderous intent!
Among the five people standing ahead, there was Xie Long. He blocked the road and sternly questioned Qin Tian, a few meters away.
Hearing this, Qin Tian and Meng Yao both stopped, with Qin Tian frowning.
"Qin Tian, how come you have enemies everywhere? In Zhonghai City you have many, and even here in Beijing, there are people looking for you. How come you’re so popular?"
Seeing the five people in front, Meng Yao couldn’t help but whisper to Qin Tian.
When they were in Zhonghai City, Meng Yao had seen Qin Tian’s enemies seeking revenge several times before. So, he had become somewhat indifferent and even immune to such occurrences.
Qin Tian was also exasperated, "I don’t know either. Maybe it’s because I naturally carry a protagonist’s aura, and the villains are all fixated on me... Sigh, it seems even the heavens are jealous of me."
"I am talking to you. Are you called Qin Tian or not?"
Xie Long, seeing Qin Tian and Meng Yao whispering and completely ignoring him, instantly felt a mix of fury and embarrassment.
While talking, he took out his phone and compared the photo Wang Yong had given him to Qin Tian. After making sure, he was absolutely certain that this person was the target Wang Yong wanted to cripple and disfigure, Qin Tian!
After confirming, Xie Long whispered to the four men beside him.
One of the men with long hair, who looked to be in his thirties, nodded, leading three subordinates and slowly walked towards Qin Tian’s side.
"It seems like they’re prepared to make a move on me, although I have no clue which rock they crawled out from. I don’t know whether I’ve wronged their mother or their sister... Meng Yao, aren’t you leaving?" Qin Tian said quietly to Meng Yao.
"I see these people are just ordinary thugs. Why should I leave? You saved me the other day; now I’ve got to save you," Meng Yao said, his voice betraying no emotion.
Qin Tian laughed upon hearing this, giving him a thumbs up.
Meng Yao, full of confidence, hummed smugly and indignantly.
"Beauty, step aside!"
Wei Jun was the Senior Disciple of the Flying Knife Sect, unrivaled in sword skill among all its disciples. With his formidable martial arts, he had made friends with people like Xie Long, often taking on private jobs like beatings to earn some extra money.
Wang Yong’s task for him was to cripple one of Qin Tian’s legs and ruin his face, for which the fee was three hundred thousand.
So, Wei Jun brought three fellow disciples with him for the job; he would take one hundred and fifty thousand for himself, with the remaining one hundred and fifty thousand split among the three disciples.
"We’re targeting him, not you. You’re free to go, beauty," Wei Jun glanced at Meng Yao, then his gaze returned to Qin Tian.
However, after listening to him, Meng Yao didn’t speak, just pursed her lips and continued to stand by Qin Tian’s side.
"Who sent you? I don’t know you, do I?"
Qin Tian spoke up, his eyes fixed on the four men before him. He noticed the calluses on the base of Wei Jun’s right thumb—a clear sign of a knife expert.
His glance swept over the other three; these men didn’t seem like ordinary thugs.
"I’ll be upfront: someone paid me to deal with you. You’ve offended someone; it’s as simple as that," Wei Jun said arrogantly, never deeming Qin Tian worthy of notice.
"Heh, who might that be?" Qin Tian chuckled.
"That’s none of your business."
"Shouldn’t I at least know how much I’m worth? How much did my enemies pay you to take me down?"
"One hundred and fifty thousand."
Upon hearing the price, Qin Tian almost passed out without even throwing a punch.
Damn it, the Dragon King himself is only worth one hundred and fifty thousand? I’ve hit rock bottom!
Back in the day, Qin Tian’s starting price was at least two million, and it only went up from there to a steady five million. But now, for one hundred and fifty thousand ... that’s a steeper drop than the stock market!
"One hundred and fifty thousand, and you’re after my life?" Qin Tian was flabbergasted, thinking to himself, Who could look down on me so much?
"I don’t kill people. Crippling you and marring your face should suffice."
Wei Jun was quick to speak, then his gaze fell on Meng Yao again, offering another "friendly reminder," "Beauty, you’re very pretty, and I never lay hands on a woman ... If you don’t leave, don’t push me. Though I don’t hit women, my brothers won’t show you any mercy."
In truth, Wei Jun found it strange at that moment. When he did these jobs, people usually trembled in fear at the sight of them.
But now, the man and woman standing in front of them were calm and collected—too strange.
Especially Meng Yao, a woman showing such composure without a hint of fear.
"Handsome, stop trying to persuade me. It’s I who should be advising you. My friend here is not someone to be trifled with. Coming after him for a mere one hundred and fifty thousand is not worth it. You should leave quickly, while he’s not yet angry," Meng Yao retorted sarcastically.
Hearing this, Wei Jun’s cheek twitched in disbelief at the audacity of the woman.
"Hmph, he gets angry? Perfect, since you won’t leave, if you get hurt, it’s what you deserve!"
After Meng Yao’s words, Wei Jun decided not to waste more words. With a wave of his hand, his three disciples immediately surrounded Meng Yao and Qin Tian.
At Wei Jun’s command, the four men immediately lunged at Qin Tian from four different directions!
"I urged you to leave, but you insist on racing to your doom!"
Seeing the four men make a move, Qin Tian clenched his fists, ready to retaliate!