Chapter 14

After the maintenance staff started their shift, they first conducted a handover, then stayed in the duty room on standby, only allowed to move within the designated area and not to enter other areas.

There were two people in each duty room, with three walkie-talkies on the table. Tonight, it was Old Huang and Li She, who was also known as 'Wang Qiang,' working together. There were many rules and restrictions in the Liu Family Compound; each maintenance staff member was not allowed to smoke, move around随意, use other communication devices, and had to respond to calls within three minutes. However, the pay was good, with a monthly salary of 20,000 yuan, which was considered a white-collar income in the capital. Therefore, everyone was reluctant to lose this job for the money.

Inside the duty room, 'Wang Qiang' chatted with Old Huang intermittently, "Old Huang, I guess there won't be much happening in the second half of the night, right?" 'Wang Qiang' asked tentatively.

"Yeah, probably not. At most, we'll just deliver some midnight snacks later," Old Huang yawned.

"By the way, the monk next door is really skilled! A few thieves who sneaked in a while ago were taken down in no time!" 'Wang Qiang' said casually.

Old Huang also chimed in, "That's true, those three masters are really impressive. But even though the monk is dressed like a monk, he eats a lot of meat, several pounds of beef per meal! And he drinks a lot too. I bet he'll ask us to deliver some midnight snacks soon."

As the saying goes, don't talk about people during the day and don't talk about ghosts at night. Just as Old Huang finished speaking, a voice came from the walkie-talkie, "Duty Room One, Duty Room One, please respond if you hear this, over."

Old Huang picked up the walkie-talkie and replied, "Duty Room One received, over."

"Master Tie's midnight snack is ready, come to the kitchen to pick it up, over," the voice on the other end said.

"Received, over," Old Huang replied.

Just as Old Huang put down the walkie-talkie, he felt a tingling sensation at the back of his neck and lost consciousness.

'Wang Qiang' had pointed at Old Huang's neck, a faint smile on his lips. He moved Old Huang inside the duty room, placed him in a chair with his head down, and put a newspaper in his hand. From the door, it looked as if Old Huang was sitting and reading the newspaper.

'Wang Qiang' took a walkie-talkie and walked to the kitchen. After greeting the chef, he picked up the midnight snack and headed to Master Tie's room. He held the tray with his left hand and supported it with his right, which held some 'Scatter Power Soul-Affecting Incense' powder. The aroma of the five-spice beef on the tray masked the faint peach scent of the incense. By channeling the Nine Yang True Qi, the powder in his palm would be released.

'Knock, knock, knock,' Li She knocked on Master Tie's door and said softly, "Master Tie, your midnight snack."

"Uh, bring it in," Master Tie replied from inside.

Li She pushed open the door and carefully placed the tray on Master Tie's table. Although Master Tie was already 78 years old, he looked muscular and robust, with prominent temples, resembling Arnold Schwarzenegger in his forties. 'Wang Qiang' lifted the lid of the tray with his left hand, and the aroma of the five-spice beef wafted out. In an instant, he used the 'Buddha Light Illuminates All' technique, and the powder in his palm spread into the air. Due to his mastery of the Nine Yang Divine Skill and the Vajra Indestructible Body Skill, 'Wang Qiang' had enhanced physical strength and resistance to toxins, making him immune to ordinary poisons.

Master Tie, seeing the well-prepared beef, closed his eyes and inhaled the aroma of the five-spice beef. He frowned slightly, sensing something amiss. The peach scent mixed with the five-spice beef aroma was noticeable. A micro-force expert could control their skin and hair, enhancing their senses to a superhuman level, allowing them to detect subtle scents.

Just then, Master Tie suddenly felt his body go limp, unable to muster any internal energy. As he was about to call for help, 'Wang Qiang' moved, striking Master Tie's throat with the snake hand from the 'Eagle-Snake Life and Death Combat' technique. 'Wang Qiang's' speed was extreme, and with his higher level and the target's weakened state, he succeeded with a single strike, breaking Master Tie's throat with a 'crack.'

'Wang Qiang' didn't hesitate, using the 'One Yang Finger' to strike Master Tie's temple, ending his life in two moves. 'Wang Qiang' had thoroughly analyzed the three internal experts. Killing them wasn't difficult; the challenge was to strike fatally before they could call for help. For Master Tie, who had practiced the Iron Bell Cover technique, striking his throat and temple was sufficient. In an era where internal energy was rare, even the strongest physical training couldn't withstand the penetrating force of the 'One Yang Finger.'

Master Tie stared at 'Wang Qiang,' who often delivered his midnight snacks, never imagining that his opponent was so powerful.

The moment Master Tie died, the other two internal experts, Eagle Claw King Xu Kun and Dominant Fist Hu Sanjiang, received a mental message: "Master Tie has been attacked, hurry!"

Xu Kun and Hu Sanjiang immediately sounded the alarm and rushed to Master Tie's room.

The alarm blared throughout the Liu Family Compound. 'Wang Qiang' cursed, "Damn! How did they find out? Damn it!"

Hearing the piercing alarm, the special forces patrolling the compound were on high alert, and the walkie-talkies crackled with commands.

"Secure the four entrances. Group One, Two, and Three, protect the leader. Groups Four, Five, and Six, head to Area One," the walkie-talkie commanded.

The special forces quickly followed the orders, the sound of gun bolts being chambered filling the tense air.

Eagle Claw King Xu Kun and Dominant Fist Hu Sanjiang, both seasoned micro-force experts, arrived at Master Tie's room in less than a minute.

Inside the room, 'Wang Qiang' sensed two auras approaching. Since he was exposed, he decided to end the fight swiftly. He channeled his Nine Yang True Qi, ready to face the two figures rushing in. 'Wang Qiang' leaped forward, using the most vicious move from the 'Eagle-Snake Life and Death Combat' technique, the 'Eagle-Snake Double Killer.'

Eagle Claw King Xu Kun and Dominant Fist Hu Sanjiang were forced to land abruptly.

However, as seasoned micro-force experts with decades of combat experience, they quickly countered. Xu Kun extended his left claw like a blade, aiming for 'Wang Qiang's' forehead, while using his right elbow to block the claw aimed at his chest. Hu Sanjiang dodged 'Wang Qiang's' snake hand and twisted his waist, delivering a powerful punch to 'Wang Qiang's' waist, confident that he could break his ribs.

But the 'Eagle-Snake Life and Death Combat' technique, a specialty of the Huashan Sect, was not so easily countered. It combined the sharpness and grace of the eagle with the viciousness and unpredictability of the snake, each move having numerous variations. Otherwise, Huashan Sect's leader, Xian Yu Tong, wouldn't have established his reputation in the martial world with this technique, where strength was paramount.

'Wang Qiang' smiled eerily and used the 'Shadow Following Leg' technique, a Shaolin 72 Unique Skill, to move subtly, dodging Xu Kun's claw aimed at his forehead. He retracted his abdomen, and his left claw, now graceful and swift, aimed for Xu Kun's abdomen. His right snake hand, flexible like a snake, struck Hu Sanjiang's neck.

Xu Kun and Hu Sanjiang, caught off guard by the rapid change, let out a cry of pain, 'Ah!' Xu Kun's abdomen was clawed, leaving deep blood marks, and his lower abdomen was torn open. Hu Sanjiang's collarbone was broken by the snake hand.

'Wang Qiang,' not letting up, continued his relentless attack. His eagle claw and snake hand moved swiftly, forcing Xu Kun and Hu Sanjiang to retreat. Within a minute, both were severely injured, with Xu Kun's chest, abdomen, and thighs bearing deep claw marks, and Hu Sanjiang's collarbone and armpit repeatedly struck by the snake hand. The 'Shadow Following Leg' technique enhanced the continuous power of the 'Eagle-Snake Life and Death Combat.'

Xu Kun and Hu Sanjiang were stunned by 'Wang Qiang's' technique. However, as micro-force experts, their bodies, honed over decades, had a high tolerance for pain. If they were ordinary people, they would have been killed long ago, but they still fought back against 'Wang Qiang's' attacks.

After two minutes, 'Wang Qiang' frowned. The special forces in the compound were responding, and the sound of footsteps was approaching. If he was surrounded by hundreds of armed special forces, he would be in serious trouble.

'Wang Qiang' changed his technique, switching from the vicious 'Eagle-Snake Life and Death Combat' to the powerful and fierce 'Seven Injuries Fist.' The broad and forceful moves forced Xu Kun and Hu Sanjiang to retreat a few steps.

He leaped toward the main house.