In the room, Xia Lei stuck his back to the wall and was too afraid to draw a breath. His right hand holding the tranquiliser gun and left hand encased in the mecha glove were both sweaty.

Outside the door, the female killer and her colleague put on night-vision goggles.

The two killers outside the window also put on night-vision goggles and prepared to enter through the window. Unbeknownst to them, two people had silently drawn close to the walls of the villa while they were doing their preparations and pointed tranquiliser guns at their muscled buttocks.

The female killer took out a pre-prepared room card and inserted it into the card slot. The electric door lock made a small beep and the door was unlocked. Her colleague violently pushed the door open in that instant and charged into the room.

Tat-tat-tat! There was no hesitation - he pointed straight at the bed and fired madly.

The female killer came into the room a second later, gun raised and looking for her target.

Xia Lei fired at the male killer’s head and the tranquiliser dart hit him in his temple. He did not fall immediately but wobbled a little before collapsing to the floor.

The female killer suddenly moved laterally and her gun-holding hand went in Xia Lei’s direction.

There was no room for Xia Lei to move backwards. He reached out his left hand and grabbed the female killer’s gun, his palm covering its muzzle.

Pfffp! The gun fired but there was no damage to Xia Lei’s hand - instead, the barrel had burst!

The female killer saw the silver mecha glove on Xia Lei’s hand and a look of horror showed in her eyes. Her reactions were not slower, however, and before Xia Lei let go of her gun, she leaned back to kick the tranquilizer gun in his hand away. Her body continued in its backward movement and she landed on steady feet after completing a somersault.

Her body was as flexible and nimble as an ape.

She glanced at the window. Just then, two loud thuds of heavy things falling came from the window.

Xia Lei threw the ruined gun away and spoke calmly, “No need to look. They’re not going to be of help to you.”

The female killer suddenly twisted her body around and rushed towards the door.

Xia Lei intercepted her and cut off her escape route.

The female killer let out a snort and lifted her leg to retrieve a combat knife. She waved it about, moving like a venomous snake, searching for a chance to stab Xia Lei to death.

Xia Lei put on a look of disdain and made a ‘bring it on’ gesture at her.

The female killer suddenly made the first move and her knife slashed at Xia Lei’s throat.

Xia Lei attacked with his left hand and grabbed at the combat knife. His left hand was encased in the titanium alloy glove which could even deflect bullets; he was not at all afraid of the knife in her hand.

Clang! The clash of two metals colliding rang in the room. Sparks flew where the knife’s blade and mecha glove met.

Xia Lei caught the female killer’s knife.

She let go and kicked at Xia Lei’s crotch.

The earlier attack was just a feint - this was the real attack. She needed a quick way to break away and attacking Xia Lei in that area was the best choice. She only needed to dodge Xia Lei to escape through the door.

However, Xia Lei did not dodge. As her foot went between his legs, he lowered his legs and drew his knees inwards, trapping her leg.

The female killer was surprised and tried to retract her leg.

Xia Lei’s gauntleted hand suddenly smashed down on her kneecap and there was a crunching sound. The female killer let out a cry of pain and fell to the floor.

Xia Lei kicked her in the stomach but she did not cry out this time; she curled up like a shrimp. Her kneecap had been crushed and her stomach seriously hurt - she had lost the power to fight.

After subduing the female killer, Xia Lei said, “Tian-Yin, get the rope from under the bed.”

“Yes!” Shentu Tian-Yin’s heart had been in her throat the whole time and she only relaxed when she heard Xia Lei speak.

Shentu Tian-Yin crawled out from under the bed with the rope Xia Lei had put in place earlier. Xia Lei switched on the lights and the room was instantly lit. She then saw two people and two guns on the floor, one of the guns with an imploded barrel.

Shentu Tian-Yin looked at Xia Lei. That well-proportioned figure, that handsome face - her heart skipped a beat. In that instant, she felt that Xia Lei was not Xia Lei but Jason Bourne from the movie ‘The Bourne Identity’ or Jason Statham from ‘The Transporter’. Xia Lei exuded a maleness which made female hearts flutter.

“Give me the rope.” Xia Lei reached his hand to Shentu Tian-Yin. He did not dare leave the female killer’s side - this woman’s knee was broken but there was no guarantee that she would not be a threat to Shentu Tian-Yin.

Shentu Tian-Yin snapped back to her senses and hurriedly handed the rope to Xia Lei.

The female killer looked at Xia Lei coldly. He went to her back with the rope and she suddenly turned around to sweep at Xia Lei’s ankle with one leg.

Xia Lei just lightly lifted his foot, then stomped down on her calf.

The female killer let out a groan, struggled for a bit, and then gave up completely. She could tell that she would have no way of beating Xia Lei even if she had full use of her limbs, much less in a condition where one of her legs was unusable.

Xia Lei bound her hand and foot but felt like it was not secure enough, so he wound the rope around her calves and all the way up to her thighs. The female killer was trussed up like a rice dumpling.

“All right.” Xia Lei relaxed only then. His hands trembled from the release of prolonged tension.

“この野郎!” said the woman.

It was Japanese - ‘You bastard!’

Xia Lei and Shentu Tian-Yin were surprised by her outburst. They had not expected the killer Shentu Tian-Feng hired to be Japanese.

Xia Lei pulled off the black hood over the Japanese woman’s head and a pretty face was revealed. She did not look any different from a Chinese woman and Xia Lei would’ve thought she was a Chinese woman if not for that sudden outburst of Japanese.

“A Japanese person?” Shentu Tian-Yin suddenly remembered something. “That’s right, Big Brother went to Japan for a period of time two years ago, saying he was going to inspect the electronics business there. He must have gotten to know this woman during his time there. It looks like he’s been preparing to make his move against me for a long time.”

“Don’t call him ‘Big Brother’ any more. He’s not worthy,” said Xia Lei.

The Japanese woman spoke again in Japanese, “So you already knew that we were going to assassinate you. Why did you still come to this island?”

Xia Lei squatted by her head and looked down at her. “You want to kill us and we came here for you to kill us - isn’t this great for you? You guys just weren’t smart enough about it.”

“Pah!” The woman opened her mouth and spat at Xia Lei.

Xia Lei moved his head and dodged but her saliva landed on his leather shoe in a white clump with strings of blood. It stood out.

“Damn you! How dare you be so arrogant even at this time!” Before Xia Lei could react, Shentu Tian-Yin stormed forward and kicked the Japanese woman in the stomach.

The woman, however, did not even frown. Shentu Tian-Yin’s little bit of strength was just a tickle to her.

Shentu Tian-Yin made to kick her again but Xia Lei caught her foot. “Tian-Yin, leave matters like these to me. You’re not suited for this.” He let go of her foot after he spoke.

“Nn.” Shentu Tian-Yin complied.

Just then, Jin Da-Hu’s voice came from the headset again, “Mr Xia, we’ve brought the two men into the villa. Shall I bring them up?”

“Tie them up well and watch them. Don’t bring them up for now,” said Xia Lei.

“And the other two?” asaked Jin Da-Hu.

Xia Lei looked back at the male killer he’d knocked out with the tranquilliser gun and said, “One of you come up and take the man down with you. Detain him. I will keep the woman for questioning.”

“Yes, I’ll come up right away,” said Jin Da-Hu.

Jin Da-Hu came up quickly and entered the room to take the unconscious man downstairs. He said not a word during the whole process and just busied himself with his task.

Shentu Tian-Yin went to close the room door.

Xia Lei dragged the Japanese woman to her feet and threw her on the bed.

Seeing that Xia Lei was not going to beat her or drag her into the toilet or anything, she grew nervous when he threw her on the bed. “What are you going to do?”

Xia Lei sneered and said in Japanese, “You can speak Chinese, can’t you?”

“Yes,” admitted the woman.

Xia Lei switched to Chinese. “I know Shentu Tian-Feng sent you. He wants to kill me and Shentu Tian-Yin, right?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” The Japanese woman’s Chinese was stilted but it did not hinder communication.

“How much is Shentu Tian-Feng paying you to make you work so hard for him?” asked Xia Lei.

“Stop wasting time! Kill me if you have the guts!” she screamed at Xia Lei. She looked indignant.

Xia Lei wrinkled his brows. He was considering using torture on this woman. He probably would have started about now if Shentu Tian-Yin were not around but he did not want to look like a cruel, cold-hearted man in front of her.

Shentu Tian-Yin drew close too. “Tell me how much Shentu Tian-Feng is giving you. I’ll triple it.”

The Japanese woman glared at Shentu Tian-Yin and gave her a look of disdain. “It’s professional etiquette. You think you can buy everything with money? We’ve failed but someone else will come and keep coming till you’re dead. You’re dead!”

“Five times.” Shentu Tian-Yin multiplied the number.

“Pah!” The woman responded to Shentu Tian-Yin’s offer of money with her saliva.

“No need to waste your words, Tian-Yin. It’s better if I do it… Um, you can go outside and wait for me if you don’t want to see.” Xia Lei decided to use torture.

“It’s fine. I’m not afraid. I’ll stay and help you.” Shentu Tian-Yin looked eager to give it a try.

Xia Lei looked at Shentu Tian-Yin in surprise, then laughed. “Stay, then.”

“I’ve gone through training to withstand serious pain. Use whatever methods you have,” sneered the woman.

Xia Lei smiled calmly, then took a deerskin case out of his suit. He opened it to reveal rows of silver needles.

“Hahaha…” laughed the Japanese woman as she said in ridicule, “Are you Chinese men all sissies? Get me someone skilful. I don’t want to watch you embroider flowers!”

Xia Lei plunged a needle into the Shanzhong acupressure point in the middle of the Japanese woman’s chest.