Any objections?

Song Qingzhu then provided a brief overview of Lin Qi’s background, covering his age, appearance, and abilities. She also cited several incidents to demonstrate his qualifications for joining the Tianji organization. Although she sensed something peculiar about Lin Qi’s motive for joining, she chose to remain silent. For one thing, had it not been for Lin Qi, she would have lost her life; for another, whatever Lin Qi’s intentions might be, they were none of her concern. It was best to turn a blind eye.

The stout envoy nodded and said, "Very well. Submit a detailed report on him later, and after we review it, we will contact him." Song Qingzhu agreed, and both the stout and thin envoys prepared to depart.

Watching from the roof, Lin Qi nodded to himself. As long as Song Qingzhu didn't play any tricks, he would leave her be; otherwise, he would certainly make her pay. Just as the two envoys were about to leave, Lin Qi remained motionless, lying flat against the skylight. Suddenly, he heard a rush of wind behind him.

Lin Qi whirled around just as a long blade slashed toward his face. Taken by surprise, he lunged to the side, the blade whistling past him. With a sharp crack, the glass beneath his feet shattered, and he plummeted downward. He adjusted his posture in mid-air, landing with relative stability. However, his attacker was relentless, leaping down from the roof and swinging the blade at his head once more.

This time, Lin Qi recognized the face: Black Hawk, one of Lu Wanfang’s elite enforcers. A hum of realization resonated in Lin Qi’s mind—Black Hawk had tracked him all the way here, which meant Lu Wanfang had discovered his whereabouts.

*Whoosh.* The blade struck again. Lin Qi dodged, but his footing was unsteady. Having practiced martial arts since childhood—covering various styles of fists, kicks, blades, and staves—Lin Qi was undoubtedly a skilled fighter, but he was still a cut below a top-tier combatant like Black Hawk. Without a weapon of his own, he was forced into a desperate retreat within just a few exchanges.

"Lin Qi, today is your end!" Black Hawk exclaimed, his face alight with excitement as he intensified his onslaught.

Song Qingzhu witnessed the scene. Though she did not know the attacker, she did not hesitate to defend Lin Qi. She flicked her hands, sending a shower of silver needles flying toward Black Hawk. *Clang, clang, clang.* Black Hawk spun his blade in a blur, knocking the needles aside.

Seizing the moment, Lin Qi regained his footing and grabbed a wooden stool, hurling it at Black Hawk. The blade cleaved the furniture into splinters, but a second volley of silver needles followed immediately, forcing Black Hawk to parry again.

"There's a weapon under the coffee table!" Song Qingzhu shouted. Lin Qi rolled across the floor and reached under the table, drawing a samurai sword that shimmered with a cold, cyan light. It was an exquisite blade, radiating a chilling edge. With a weapon in hand, his confidence surged, and he charged back at Black Hawk. He had no time to ponder how Lu Wanfang had found him; he had to eliminate Black Hawk first.

Song Qingzhu coordinated perfectly, her fingers poised to strike again. But just as she prepared to release another volley of needles, a gust of wind erupted from the roof.

"Your opponent is me!" A shout rang out, and Red Scorpion descended from above, wielding a steel blade of his own. He lunged at Song Qingzhu. Though she was a master of hidden weapons, her close-quarters combat was lacking, and she was quickly forced into a defensive retreat.

"Hahaha, die!" Red Scorpion roared, his attacks growing wilder. Across the room, Black Hawk and Lin Qi clashed, the sound of steel ringing incessantly. Even with a sword, Lin Qi was no match for Black Hawk and was forced to retreat step by step. Black Hawk and Red Scorpion grew more ecstatic—by wiping out both Lin Qi and Song Qingzhu, they were certain to secure a handsome reward from Lu Wanfang upon returning to the capital.

Just as they seemed poised for victory, a cold voice echoed through the room: "Aren't you two looking down on us a bit too much?"

The voice carried a heavy, oppressive weight. Black Hawk and Red Scorpion instinctively stopped their assault and turned toward the source. Lin Qi and Song Qingzhu backed away, gasping for breath. At the villa entrance, the two envoys stood with faces like frost. They had been on the point of leaving, but the sudden intrusion and the blatant disregard for their presence—first by attacking Lin Qi and then targeting Song Qingzhu—was something they would not tolerate.

Black Hawk and Red Scorpion gripped their blades, staring intently at the pair. They could feel that these two were far from ordinary.

"Are you with them?" Black Hawk asked darkly.

"That's right. Got a problem with that?" The stout envoy smiled, his expression reminiscent of a Maitreya Buddha.

"Then there's nothing more to say. You can all go to hell together." Black Hawk raised his blade, pointing it directly at them.

"You certainly have a big mouth," the stout envoy replied, drawing his own blade.