After eliminating one assassin, Long Xiao quickly moved forward, searching for others.
He searched for over ten minutes but found neither the assassins pursuing the girl nor the girl herself.
The light in the forest grew dimmer. Long Xiao, worried that Lin Xuan would be anxious if she waited too long, called her. He told Lin Xuan that he had met a friend and had something to attend to, advising her to view the apartment on her own and then head home.
Without Long Xiao accompanying her, Lin Xuan lost interest in viewing the apartment and decided to go straight home.
Lin Xin's family found Long Xiao arrogant for claiming the largest villa in the Mangshan villa district belonged to him, and none of them believed him. Seeing Lin Xuan receive a call and turn to leave, they all followed.
"Lin Xuan, aren't you just making an excuse to leave?" Lin Huan looked at Lin Xuan triumphantly and said.
Lin Xin chuckled and said, "You can't afford a big house, yet you still try to save face by claiming the biggest one is yours. I feel embarrassed for you."
Lin Xuan shot Lin Xin a look and asked, "Does it concern you whether I buy a house or not?"
"Of course, it doesn't. As an elder brother, I'm kindly advising you not to aim too high. If you want to buy a big house, work hard for us Lin family. We Lin family are waiting to spend money."
All members of the Lin family held shares in the Lin Group. Lin Shiren and Lin Xuan's grandmother held the most shares, so the Lin family's annual dividends were mostly received by Lin Shiren's family.
Lin Xin's annual dividend was higher than Lin Xuan's salary, yet he was still not satisfied and wanted to become the CEO to earn more money.
Lin Xin deliberately emphasized "us Lin family." Although Lin Xuan had taken a son-in-law, he didn't want to admit that Lin Xuan, with a husband, was still a member of the Lin family.
Lin Xuan stopped speaking and walked out of the sales office towards her car.
Cui Lian, Lin Xin's mother, seeing Lin Xuan leave with a displeased expression, deliberately said loudly, "Let's go look at villas. Unlike some people who can't afford a house but claim the best villa is theirs."
Lin Xuan, stifling her anger, returned home. Long Xiao wandered in the forest for a while without encountering the assassins again and prepared to return.
As he took a few steps, he heard faint popping sounds of gunfire in the distance. The gunshots were weak, indicating a silencer was used.
Using his 'Chi Mei Xiao Yao Bu' (Ghostly Carefree Steps), Long Xiao, like a wisp of smoke in the forest, rushed towards the direction of the gunshots.
Three bodies lay on the ground. Several assassins were surrounding the girl from earlier. The girl's shoulder was bleeding, indicating she was injured.
Long Xiao did not know either party, so he did not intervene but hid behind a large tree and watched.
The girl was very powerful. The assassins could barely match her, and both sides were locked in a stalemate.
A few minutes later, more assassins rushed out from the forest and lunged at the girl.
The two sides began to fight. A series of gunshots rang out. The girl was injured again and stumbled away into the depths of the forest.
Over a dozen assassins pursued her relentlessly. Long Xiao also quietly followed, planning to wait until they were both weakened before capturing one to question about their organization.
They chased and stopped, with sporadic gunfire. An hour later, the girl was cornered behind rocks at the foot of a cliff, with no escape.
"Night Owl, you can't escape. Come out, and Master will punish you leniently."
"Senior Disciple Brother, I know Master's temperament. If the mission fails, he won't let me live."
"You are Master's most beloved junior disciple sister. He will make an exception."
"Impossible. Master won't let me go. Senior Disciple Brother, give me one more chance. I won't fail again."
After a few moments of silence, the Senior Disciple Brother called out again, "Night Owl, this matter is for Master to decide. Come back with me. I believe Master will give you a chance."
"Master never gives failures a chance. You know this."
"Night Owl, among our fellow disciples, your marksmanship is the best. I believe Master will surely be reluctant to punish you."
While the Senior Disciple Brother tried to persuade Night Owl, he also arranged for his men to slowly advance. Both sides understood each other's capabilities. Night Owl knew that although her marksmanship was excellent, her martial arts were inferior to her Senior Disciple Brother's. Without bullets, she could only surrender.
She didn't fire rashly; she was waiting for an opportunity. If she could only use one of the last three bullets to blow off the Senior Disciple Brother's head, she would have a chance to survive.
Long Xiao hid behind a large tree about fifty to sixty meters away from Night Owl and her group, observing the situation while circulating the Qi in his Dantian, practicing his perception of surrounding Qi.
This was the foundational cultivation technique of 'Dragon Devouring the World'. Only by perceiving the Qi that needed to be absorbed could one quickly absorb it into their body.
Long Xiao could currently only perceive the Qi of objects he was in contact with; he could not yet perceive those he was not.
As the distance between the two sides closed, the Senior Disciple Brother soon launched his attack. Night Owl's draw was extremely fast. The first two people who showed their heads were shot dead.
The third person, as soon as he exposed his head, fell to the ground. With a bang, the bullet grazed his scalp and embedded itself in a tree over a hundred meters away.
Hearing the third gunshot, the Senior Disciple Brother was finally relieved. He had grown up with Night Owl and knew exactly how many bullets she carried on missions.
"Night Owl, you're out of bullets," the Senior Disciple Brother said.
"You, believe me, I really don't have..." Night Owl's words were cut short.
After waiting for a few seconds and not hearing Night Owl speak, the Senior Disciple Brother said, "Night Owl, I truly believe you are out of bullets."
With that, the Senior Disciple Brother stood up and ordered his remaining subordinates to lead the way.
Although they were reluctant, they were acutely aware of the consequences of disobeying orders.
As the men surrounded Night Owl, who leaned against her cello case, eyes closed, motionless as if she had stopped breathing, the Senior Disciple Brother suddenly shouted, "Be careful!"
Hearing the shout, as the men in front rushed towards Night Owl, she leaped up, a short knife in her hand, and stabbed the neck of the foremost assassin.
Blood gushed out. Night Owl did not stop, leaped over the assassins lunging at her, and dashed towards a mountain gully.
With a cold snort, the Senior Disciple Brother leaped up and, like an eagle pouncing on a bird, lunged at Night Owl.
With a bang, the Senior Disciple Brother's right foot kicked Night Owl's back. Night Owl fell heavily into the nearby gully like a kite with a broken string.
The Senior Disciple Brother and his men rushed into the gully. Night Owl spat blood, coughing incessantly. As she tried to get up, the Senior Disciple Brother's foot landed on her cello case, which she was carrying on her back.
"You can't escape, Junior Disciple Sister Night Owl," the Senior Disciple Brother said with a chilling voice.
Night Owl tried to retort, but as she opened her mouth, a mouthful of bloody foam sprayed out. Her head drooped powerlessly, her face pressed against the damp, rotting leaf-scented soil.