Chapter Sixty-six: “Will You Die First, or Shall I?”

Chapter Sixty-Six: Who Will Die First—You or Me!

Autumn Ruin moved with astonishing speed, but the "Second Young Master Xu" in front of him was not slow either. The two tore through the abandoned factory buildings, one chasing, the other fleeing. Though Xu seemed desperate, he darted left and right, using the maze-like ruins to lead Autumn Ruin in circles.

At last, rounding a corner, Autumn Ruin saw his quarry slow, clutching his chest and gasping for breath. A cold smile crept onto Autumn Ruin's lips: Just as I thought, a pampered scion of wealth—fragile to the core.

He could have easily stopped him, detonating the metals around them, but this hostage had to be captured alive. Taking several long strides, Autumn Ruin reached out to grab "Second Young Master Xu's" shoulder, sneering, "Xu brat, out of breath already?"

His fingers barely touched the boy's shoulder, and Xu offered no resistance. Yet, a subtle sense of danger stirred in Autumn Ruin's heart. Suddenly, a sharp sting pricked his palm. Lifting his hand, he saw a tiny puncture with a bead of blood welling up.

He looked again and noticed a strange expression on the "Xu" boy's face. Xu had quietly gripped a slender wooden spike, hiding it beneath his loose robe on his shoulder—the oversized garment, coupled with Autumn Ruin's assumption that the Xu boy was a powerless ordinary person, meant he had lowered his guard.

Odd, Autumn Ruin thought. It's just a splinter in my palm—does he really think such a childish trick could harm me? Ridiculous...

But then, to his shock, he watched as the "Xu" boy stabbed the blood-stained spike fiercely into his own flesh!

What is he doing?

Confused, Autumn Ruin had no time to ponder. He reached again for Xu's wrist. This time, as his fingers brushed the boy's skin, a surge of unexpected power broke free!

Xu sunk his waist, exhaled sharply, and twisted to deliver a heavy punch toward Autumn Ruin's face! At such close range, Autumn Ruin would normally dismiss such an attack, but as the fist neared, something felt wrong—the wind from Xu's punch whipped Autumn Ruin's hair into the air before the fist even landed!

Autumn Ruin's eyes narrowed. He twisted his body left, dodging the blow to his face, but the fist slammed into his shoulder—

Bang!

Autumn Ruin was sent flying backward, somersaulting in midair. When he landed, his foot crushed a sheet of scrap metal into fragments! He steadied himself, shoulder burning, raised his head, and stared fiercely at "Second Young Master Xu," barking, "You're not a Xu! Who are you?!"

Chen Xiao lifted his head, his features reverting to their true form. He looked at Autumn Ruin with a mocking smile. "Take a good look—who do you think I am?"

A flicker of surprise flashed in Autumn Ruin's eyes. "It's you? How—"

His expression darkened. "Little rookie, so you had hidden strength and could mimic abilities. Hmph. You disguised yourself to lure me away, but did you not care about your own survival?"

He snatched two shards of broken iron from the ground, sneering. The fragments shot toward Chen Xiao like twin whirlwinds!

Chen Xiao's pupils contracted. He clenched his fist and smashed it into the factory wall—a wall already rotted, unable to withstand his monstrous strength. He smashed a hole through it and dove inside.

He landed heavily and rolled desperately. Behind him came a thunderous explosion! The iron fragments detonated, peppering the wall like a sieve. Chen Xiao barely managed to roll away, but agony flared across his back—the blast had driven shrapnel through the wall and embedded it in his flesh!

Blood streamed down his back. He forced himself to roll over and stand, but his breath caught, and he staggered, nearly losing consciousness.

Autumn Ruin, his face shadowed, strode through the gaping hole in the wall. His eyes glinted with menace beneath his long hair as he fixed his gaze on Chen Xiao. "Rookie, you've ruined my plans. Do you really think I won't kill someone from the Service Club?"

His voice carried a murderous intent.

Chen Xiao knew he had nothing left—his strength spent after several heavy blows. He was already wounded, and the night's rest had barely restored him.

He let his body relax, scooting back and lying on the ground, looking up at Autumn Ruin with a calm, fearless smile. "Autumn Ruin, you're mistaken. I'm not one of the Service Club."

Autumn Ruin frowned, thinking for a moment. "Ah, that's right—Zhu Rong and the others have retired. Hmph, you were just learning from them, not a full member. In that case, killing you means nothing!"

He turned, reaching out with fingers as sharp as steel claws, gouging into the wall. Chen Xiao's heart skipped—Autumn Ruin possessed formidable strength!

With a crunch, Autumn Ruin ripped a steel rod from the wall and strode to Chen Xiao, looming over him. "I've said before, I don't enjoy killing. Do you know why?"

Chen Xiao panted and laughed. "Are you secretly merciful? Hard to believe!"

"Merciful?" Autumn Ruin's eyes gleamed with wicked delight. He waved the steel rod over Chen Xiao's body, his voice turning silky and sinister. "I'll tell you—it's because I'm so brutal inside. Every time I kill, I savor tormenting my victims in the most cruel ways. Within the Black Knights, everyone says I'm a monster. So, I try to restrain myself, and rarely open the gates to slaughter."

He brandished the rod, its sharp end hovering over Chen Xiao's chest. His voice softened, "Rookie, I'll use this to slice open your chest, then pry out each of your organs one by one. And the intestines... Have you seen noodles? Yes, just like that—I’ll pull them out like strands of noodles. I promise, you can't even imagine the pain you'll feel."

His voice grew ever more gentle, but the perverse excitement in his eyes made it all the more horrifying.

Chen Xiao managed a bitter smile, sighing, "Why do the most upright-seeming people become the craziest when they snap?"

Thud!

The steel rod stabbed into Chen Xiao’s shoulder, piercing flesh and bone, pinning him to the ground!

Chen Xiao screamed, his facial muscles contorted, body shaking uncontrollably. The pain in his shoulder was so intense he bit through his lip. Yet, after the cry, he glared at Autumn Ruin and shouted, "Ha! Ha! Good! Good!"

Autumn Ruin licked his lips, yanking the rod free, his eyes wild with excitement. "Good? Ha ha! Excellent! Keep screaming—the louder you cry, the more fun it is! If you start begging, it'll ruin the pleasure."

Despite the agony threatening to make him faint, a strange force inside Chen Xiao kept him conscious. Autumn Ruin raised the rod again, stabbing down. Chen Xiao summoned his last bit of strength, grabbing the rod with his right hand—but his grip was weak, unable to stop Autumn Ruin—

Blood erupted. This time, the rod only pierced halfway through his shoulder. Chen Xiao groaned in pain.

"Rookie, how does it feel?" Autumn Ruin casually brushed hair from his forehead.

Chen Xiao’s breath came in gasps, his voice trembling, but he laughed wildly, defiantly. "Autumn Ruin, let's see who dies first—you or me!"

Hm?

Autumn Ruin’s expression changed.

This stubborn brat, facing death, still so unyielding?

"Ha! I die first? You die first?" Autumn Ruin laughed maniacally. "I'm curious—just how do you think I'll die?"

[Dear readers, today’s update is thirteen thousand words! If you don’t vote, that’s not very generous, is it? Please vote, please bookmark—support this book with your actions! Thank you all!]