Chapter 45: Second-tier Assassin
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The clock froze. The numbers on the bomb had really stopped.

“You idiot! Do you have any idea how dangerous that was!?” Lin Bingbing stormed over to Xia Tian. It was a risky move. If Xia Tian were to pull the wrong wire, everyone on the site would be finished.

“It didn’t blow up,” Xia Tian answered in a serious tone.

“I’m saying, what if it did!” Lin Bingbing retorted angrily.

“It didn’t though. You can take a look at it yourself if you still don’t believe me.” Xia Tian handed the bomb to Lin Bingbing.

“That’s a bomb, just give it to me. I’ll need to get the experts to dispose of it.” Lin Bingbing took the bomb in her hands carefully after requesting for a bomb squad.

It was then that Xia Tian’s eyes saw a path in his vision. The path was fine but felt familiar.

“This is… A bullet. But who…?” Xia Tian followed the line and saw the bullet’s path end at Ceng Rou. The bullet was heading for her! Quick on his feet, Xia Tian dashed towards Ceng Rou to push her to the ground. As the ground approached, Xia Tian twisted to cushion her fall.

The impact would be on his body then.

The bullet whizzed past where Ceng Rou had stood moments before, shattering the glass behind her.

“Take cover, there’s a sniper!” Lin Bingbing cried out. Another gunshot rang through the air and the target this time was not Ceng Rou but Xu Xiaodui.

“Xu Xiaodui!” Everyone scrambled into hiding as the bullet pierced his arm.

“Sister Rou, stay here and don’t go anywhere, I’m going after him. Those who shoot others in the back are the worst. ” Xia Tian placed Ceng Rou behind a pillar along with everyone on site, who were in cover behind something.

This was no laughing matter — live ammunition was involved. Each one of them was paralyzed with fear looking at the once high and mighty Xu Xiaodui collapsed on the ground with a bullet in his arm.

It was impossible that the events that transpired were mere coincidences. Xu Xiaodui had insisted on shoving Ceng Rou onto a prison van with a time bomb. This alone meant he undoubtedly had an ulterior motive.

However, Xu Xiaodui was also now shot in the arm. This was undoubtedly a warning.

Every person present kept their heads well behind cover. Bullets were not fun and games, after all.

Just as everyone’s blood was running cold, Xia Tian stood up and shot a steely gaze at the top of the faraway building.

“D*mn it, he escaped.” Xia Tian then carried Ceng Rou up. The shooter’s targets were clear — Ceng Rou and Xu Xiaodui. The person fired a shot at each target before swiftly retreating, regardless of whether they had hit or missed.

The shooter did not display the technique nor the decisiveness of a Tier-three assassin — a Tier-two assassin had made a move.

However, a Tier-two assassin was a more formidable adversary than Xia Tian had imagined. In their first encounter, he had not had look at his face.

“Xia Tian, what are you doing?” Lin Bingbing shouted after she saw Xia Tian standing up.

“He’s gone.”

The group was still in cover except for Ceng Rou and Xia Tian, but even still, the police were searching for the sniper with added caution and did not let down their guard despite Xia Tian’s words.

‘You’re mine, the apple of my eye.’

“Xia Tian, come to Jianghai University.”

“Cousin? What happened?”

“Tang Yan has declared another challenge. All the frontline players of the basketball team are here.”

“What’s that got to do with me?”

“The captain of the basketball team is the son of Jianghai University’s vice-principal. If you refuse to take the challenge, he’ll have his father shut down the literature and art club.”

“Alright, I’ll head over.”

Xia Tian hung up the call.

Noticing Xia Tian casually talking on the phone, those hiding in a corner finally stood up.

The place was in shambles. From an attempted assassination to Xu Xiaodui despite his audacious actions forcing Ceng Rou into the bomb-infused car to finally a close brush with a sniper.

“Mrs. Ceng, we’ll provide you with an explanation for the events that happened today.” Lin Bingbing drew closer to Ceng Rou.

“You know Xia Tian?” The woman had always had a sharp intuition.

“Yes.” Lin Bingbing nodded.

“Let today’s matter pass. Ask my attorney if you require any aid in your investigation.” Ceng Rou’s intentions were clear. She was showing respect and letting the matter today rest just because Lin Bingbing knew Xia Tian.

Xu Xiaodui’s actions would inevitably trigger far-reaching consequences for the bureau.

Ceng Rou was a public figure in Jianghai City and the Ceng Corporation was a protected and legitimate business that paid over hundreds of millions in tax annually. Even despite this, she was almost met with death today

If the higher-ups were unable to provide a satisfying explanation, many entrepreneurs would lose their trust in the security of the city.

This was a grave problem.

However, Ceng Rou’s word to let it slide because Lin Bingbing was an acquaintance of Xia Tian was Ceng Rou giving face to Xia Tian.

Lin Bingbing was oblivious to the fact that her promotion was due to Ceng Rou’s words. She even took Xu Xiaodui’s place because she took care of the matter.

Xu Xiaodui’s wife and daughter were missing in action, but that was a separate matter altogether. For now, Xia Tian had taken care of the five Ceng elders and dealt with the bunch from Quicksand. If the five Ceng elders did not continue to pump money in, Quicksand would not be sending any other assassins on their tail.

Although Quicksand’s aim was to finish off the kill as long as a job was accepted, they were not operating a charity, and would not send out killers continually for no reward. Taking Ceng Rou’s assassination, for example, a Tier-three killer would be sent to kill Ceng Rou under normal circumstances because the five Ceng elders had only paid enough for one.

However, this Tier-three killer did not manage to finish the job so Quicksand would continue to dispatch assassins. There was a need for the hirer to hand in more money because Quicksand lost a Tier-three killer due to their failure to inform them of Xia Tian’s existence.

Quicksand usually sent out two Tier-three killers on missions together; if the first should fail, the second assassin could take his place to strike. However, these two killers would not know when the other would make a move.

The five Ceng elders paid a huge price to kill Ceng Rou, hiring not only two Tier-three killers but also a Tier-two assassin.

Xia Tian had wiped out two Tier-three killers, leaving only the Tier-two killer remaining. The assassination from Quicksand would only come to an end if Xia Tian was able to take care of the Tier-two killer, unless the five Ceng elders stopped injecting funds.

However, the five Ceng elders had turned themselves in. Their capital was frozen and they were about to spend their entire lives behind bars.