Chapter Fifty-Two: A Baffling Battle

Chapter Fifty-Two: A Baffling Slaughter

Through most of the night, unlike Wu Yang whose pile of bills grew ever higher at the table, Bai Zeshao found himself neither winning nor losing—a testament to the skill and cunning cooperation between Sun Yanjie and Wu Jian.

“Achen, play a few hands for me, will you? I need to use the restroom,” Bai Zeshao said to the woman beside him.

“Alright, but I’m worried my luck won’t hold. What if I lose?” Achen’s beautiful eyes sparkled as she looked at him with a radiant smile.

“Hahaha, don’t worry. Heaven always favors beauties, and even if you do lose, I won’t mind. Just play as you please,” Bai Zeshao laughed, nodded to the others, and left the private room.

Though it was already past midnight, the crowd at the Rose Cabaret hadn’t thinned. After relieving himself, Bai Zeshao was stepping out of the restroom when someone suddenly crashed into him. Before he could say a word, the man staggered and nearly collapsed to the floor.

“Hey, are you alright?” Bai Zeshao stepped forward and crouched down, concern in his voice.

But when Bai Zeshao saw the man’s face, he was startled. Blood was trickling from the man’s chest, his face was deathly pale as he looked back at Bai Zeshao. His lips moved weakly, as if trying to speak, but no words came.

“Hey, brother… hey!” Bai Zeshao sighed helplessly, about to stand, when hurried footsteps sounded behind him. An angry shout followed: “Step away from him!”

“Who are you?” Bai Zeshao eyed the three men in black who were approaching with suspicion.

“Don’t worry about who we are. Did he give you anything?” one of the burly men asked, glancing at the corpse and eyeing Bai Zeshao warily. As he spoke, the other two fanned out, encircling Bai Zeshao and cutting off all retreat except back into the restroom.

“No, he didn’t,” Bai Zeshao replied lightly, his tone earnest.

“You’re sure?” The first man’s tone grew icy, even tinged with killing intent.

Bai Zeshao put aside his casual demeanor, frowned, and said again, “I’m certain. He didn’t give me anything. You saw how you came in—I had just arrived myself.”

“Take him!” The three men wasted no more words and lunged at Bai Zeshao.

Even though Bai Zeshao had been vigilant and prepared for a fight, he hadn’t expected the attackers to be so ruthless. Their blows were direct and deadly, every move aimed at his vital points.

It was obvious these three were specially trained, working in perfect concert and moving with lightning speed. Bai Zeshao was forced to retreat, narrowly evading their relentless assault.

Bang!

He crossed his arms to block a kick from one of the men, retreating several steps to barely escape their fierce attacks. Within just a minute or two, Bai Zeshao realized how formidable these three truly were.

“Who are you?” Bai Zeshao demanded coldly.

They paid him no mind, instead drawing three gleaming daggers from their belts and closing in again.

In the cramped space, Bai Zeshao pushed off with his left foot, leaping up and bracing his left hand against the wall, twisting his legs to lock around one attacker’s head. At the same moment, the other two drove their daggers toward his heart and waist.

Bai Zeshao was faced with a cruel choice: abandon his chance to cripple an opponent and dodge, or gamble everything to take one out, risking serious injury himself.

The decision flashed through his mind in an instant—he chose to attack, increasing both the power and speed of his assault.

Crack!

The sharp sound of breaking bone echoed in the silent restroom. The man he targeted reacted quickly, barely managing to shift his neck aside, but his entire shoulder was crushed by Bai Zeshao’s legs. He collapsed to the ground, completely incapacitated—Bai Zeshao’s initial objective was achieved.

Against three assailants, Bai Zeshao knew he had to eliminate one quickly or his situation would become desperate.

Ah!

Two screams followed, one after the other: the first from the injured man on the floor, the second from Bai Zeshao himself.

The daggers of the remaining two had found their mark. Bai Zeshao had braced himself for injury when he chose to attack, but he had still underestimated the cold-bloodedness of these two. Their faces showed no emotion at their comrade’s agony; they pressed their attack with the mechanical precision of killing machines, as if any price was acceptable to take him down.

Because of this, Bai Zeshao could only raise his right hand to shield his heart, while the blade sank into his waist. But he was no ordinary man—top of his class at the military academy. In the instant he was stabbed, he rolled away, narrowly escaping further harm.

Drip... drip...

Bright blood dripped from his right hand, spattering the floor as Bai Zeshao stood, taking a deep breath. He shook his bleeding hand and gingerly touched his burning waist with the other.

He had rolled away in time; otherwise, his injuries would have been far worse. Even so, his fighting ability was now halved. A deep gash ran across his right palm, rendering his hand nearly useless.

Exhaling heavily, both sides resumed their attack without a word. Injured, Bai Zeshao fought with reckless abandon, desperate and wild, yet still his situation grew ever more precarious.

The fierce struggle left blood splattered across the floor, and Bai Zeshao, losing too much blood, grew dizzy and his breathing ragged.

At that moment, he cursed himself for not carrying a gun—had he done so, things would not be so dire.

Thwack!

A careless moment and his left arm was slashed again. Bai Zeshao forced himself to focus, pushing aside all stray thoughts as he struggled to fend off the relentless assault before him.