Return of the King, Dominating the City-Chapter 1625 - 1519: The First Wave

"What do you mean?" Xiao Qing was a bit puzzled by Song Yun’s inexplicable words.

"Haha, beauty equals trouble. Being with you always means being prepared for trouble." Song Yun said with a smile. The man next to them, who was reading a newspaper and about to turn the page, paused his action for a brief moment.

Xiao Qing smiled but didn’t respond.

The airport loudspeaker broadcast a reminder for passengers to board the flight, precisely the flight Song Yun and Xiao Qing were taking. Song Yun stood up, carrying Xiao Qing’s luggage, and headed to the ticket gate. The middle-aged man hurriedly put away his newspaper and followed with his laptop bag. Surprisingly, he was on the same flight as Song Yun.

Passengers naturally lined up to check their tickets. Xiao Qing was in front of Song Yun, whether intentionally or unintentionally, with the middle-aged man lined up behind Song Yun. The line quickly moved forward, soon only a dozen people remained ahead.

The middle-aged man’s hand reached into the inside pocket of his suit, and under the cover of a crowded queue, he pulled out a silenced pistol. A cold sneer appeared on his face; this task would soon be completed. Unexpectedly, the task was so easy, yet they dispatched him, their top assassin, making it seem lacking in challenge.

He was now very close to the target, and just needed to pull out the gun unnoticed, then decisively pull the trigger, and fire into the crowd amidst chaos to make his escape; a car was waiting outside.

A few more people checked their tickets and entered, and when there were seven or eight people left in front, Song Yun suddenly tugged Xiao Qing’s arm, laughingly speaking, "Xiaoqing, you should go to the restroom first."

"What?" Xiao Qing was dumbfounded by this statement. They were about to board, so why go to the restroom now?

"Just go ahead, I saw you drinking quite a bit of water earlier. You’re not allowed to go to the restroom right after boarding. What if you need to go then? Be good, listen, go to the restroom first, and don’t hurry back; take your time."

"Alright, I’ll go now." Although Xiao Qing didn’t understand why Song Yun said this, she had blind faith in him. It was just a restroom trip; maybe Brother Song noticed something and feared for her safety.

Once Xiao Qing left, Song Yun squinted his eyes and turned around, smiling as he spoke to the man behind him, "You’re quite the incompetent assassin."

It was Song Yun’s turn to check his ticket, but he stepped aside, yielding his spot. The middle-aged man behind him obediently followed, giving up his position as well. He had no choice; when he reached for his gun, it got pressed against his back.

"I know there must be someone outside to assist you. To avoid unnecessary trouble, you might as well wrap your head with this scarf." Song Yun tossed over a scarf, smiling as he turned to walk towards the airport exit, followed closely by two men pressed tightly together.

Lin Yi and Lin Er were twin brothers. Lin Yi was an expert in surveillance and counter-surveillance, while Lin Er specialized in assassination and firearms. Together, they were nearly unbeatable even by shadows. These fellow disciples were particularly groomed by the elder after Song Yun left.

On this trip, the elder specifically asked them to accompany him. Lin Yi had reported earlier about someone tailing them, only Song Yun instructed not to alert the pursuer. This was to ensure Xiao Qing’s safety, not knowing if they might bring in large numbers to attack. It was also to catch this poor little fish to see which side was trying to deal with him. Having offended too many people, it was always necessary to find out the situation. Each person’s account should be remembered on their respective heads.

The middle-aged man regretted deeply. Had he known to end up in such a predicament, he might as well have shot earlier.

He thought the crowd during ticket check would provide the perfect opportunity for chaos and advantage.

Didn’t expect a mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Just as he reached his hand behind the target person, someone else was already behind him. His gun hadn’t been drawn when someone else’s gun was already pressed against his back.

He’d undergone training, his alertness very high. He even specifically observed, yet how did he miss that the plain-looking person blending into the crowd was also a skilled assassin? When did he sneak up behind him? He knew the consequences of failure for an assassin. These were questions he wouldn’t have the chance to answer.

Song Yun and Lin Yi squeezed the scarf-wrapped assassin between them, escorting him out of the airport. The surroundings were relatively empty, and after exiting the airport, they walked about three minutes before finding an about-to-collapse farmhouse by the roadside.

"You’re smart for not yelling." Song Yun said with a smile.

The farmhouse roof was gone, the surrounding walls were on the verge of collapse. Song Yun really feared a gust of wind would make the house crash down. So he didn’t bother to go inside; behind the wall he began the interrogation. The back offered a wide-open field, with no people around, there was no worry of being discovered.

Song Yun wrapped his coat tighter, glanced at the middle-aged man, and smilingly asked, "Speak, who sent you here?"

"I’ll die if I talk. I’ll die if I don’t talk. Why should I tell you?" The middle-aged man remained calm, showing no sign of panic or fear, and responded indifferently.

"Not talking guarantees death. But talking might let you off the hook." Song Yun admired those fools who put life aside.

"Why should I trust you?"

"You don’t need to trust me. Honestly, in my eyes, you’re no different than an ant on the ground. If I want, I can crush you any moment. Don’t play tough with me, nor make deals. I have only a few simple questions; answer them well and I’ll let you go. Who sent you?" Song Yun impatiently said. There were about fifteen minutes left before the flight’s departure; he had to quickly solve this and get back to board the plane.

"And what can you do if I tell you?" The middle-aged man arrogantly replied.

Song Yun squinted his eyes with a smile. "Your backstage must be impressive to keep you so proud, right?"

"Much stronger than the Green Dragon Sect."

"Hong Sect?"

"What if it is?"

"But I don’t think much of Hong Sect." Song Yun shook his head and said, "Otherwise, why would they send a fool like you?"

"...."

"Did Lin Yu join Hong Sect?" Song Yun had been speculating about Second Elder’s whereabouts after escaping; even though the sect had undergone two purges, it didn’t mean no one had ulterior motives. Especially some peripheral disciples, if Second Elder deliberately incited, there might be fools willing to follow him.

"I just came back from an outside mission."

"How many teams did Hong Sect send to find me this time?" Song Yun asked with a smile.

"I don’t know." The middle-aged man said expressionlessly.

"I’m very satisfied with your answers to the first two questions. If you answer this one, too, I’ll let you go." Song Yun tempted. Someone may not fear death, but no one refuses the chance to live. An assassin is also human, no matter how cold they appear on the surface, they fear death.