Chapter 017: That Eastern Crimson

Zhao Jun forced a smile. "It's right under the cabinet!"

"Hmph!" The mercenary pointed his pistol at Zhao Jun. "Don't try any tricks with us!"

Zhao Jun quickly raised his hands. "No, no tricks!"

"It'd better be that way."

"Now, bring out the heirloom!"

"Alright!"

Suddenly, Zhao Jun sprang into action. He grabbed a pot of boiling water from the stove and flung it at the two mercenaries.

"Ah!"

The two blond, blue-eyed mercenaries screamed in agony.

"My face! My face!"

Ignoring the pain, both lunged at Zhao Jun. He reacted swiftly, landing a punch on one of the mercenaries, knocking him to the ground.

By chance, the mercenary landed near his pistol. Gritting his teeth through the pain, he grabbed the weapon.

"Don't move!" he shouted, aiming the gun at Zhao Jun's back.

Zhao Jun stiffened instantly and slowly raised his hands.

The mercenary, enduring the searing pain, struggled to his feet. Their faces were now unrecognizable, swollen and blistered from the scalding water.

Both mercenaries were ruthless men, used to crawling out from piles of corpses.

"Turn around," one of them commanded.

Zhao Jun rotated slowly, hands still held high.

With a thud, a mercenary struck Zhao Jun's temple with his pistol. He staggered, barely able to stand.

Zhao Jun glanced at them but said nothing.

"Hmph! I heard you used to be a 'Green Identity,' didn't you?"

Zhao Jun spat out bloody saliva. "So what if I was?"

The mercenary sneered. "Then let me see which is stronger—your so-called Green Identity from China, or us mercenaries!"

The one called William took off his jacket and handed his pistol to Jace beside him.

A brawl—bare hands.

William, tall and powerfully built, assumed a boxer's stance. Zhao Jun stayed motionless, standing quietly.

Suddenly, William lunged with a straight punch. Zhao Jun, quick-eyed and deft, countered with a punch of his own.

"Hmph!"

William kicked out. Zhao Jun responded in kind.

With a whoosh, William launched a high roundhouse kick at Zhao Jun's head. Zhao Jun raised his arm to block, then seized the opening and smashed his fist into William's knee.

"Ah!"

William howled, clutching his injured knee.

It all happened in a flash—the fight was decided before it had even truly begun.

Seeing William take the worst of it, Jace joined in with a vicious kick.

Thud, thud, thud!

Jace unleashed a flurry of high kicks, forcing Zhao Jun to retreat with arms raised to guard his head.

William, after a brief respite, rejoined with a fierce glare.

Thud!

William kicked as well.

Thud, thud, thud!

William and Jace attacked in tandem, fists and feet raining down on Zhao Jun.

But Zhao Jun was not one to yield. His eyes grew resolute. He had once held a Green Identity—China was a forbidden land for mercenaries. As the saying went, "Beyond these borders, mercenaries are forbidden to tread."

Since he'd once borne that identity, he felt duty-bound to uphold the dignity of China.

"Ha!"

With a loud cry, Zhao Jun pounced at William.

But Jace, from behind, drove a kick into Zhao Jun’s back.

"Hmph!"

Zhao Jun said nothing, swinging his fist back in retaliation.

His blow struck Jace hard, leaving him dazed.

Enraged, Jace drew a dagger from his belt.

Brandishing the blade, Jace lunged at Zhao Jun. Though Zhao Jun held his ground for a while, once Jace drew the knife, he found himself at a disadvantage.

After all, bare hands are no match for cold steel.

He could only dodge desperately.

Suddenly, William also produced a dagger.

Now both men wielded blades, slashing relentlessly at Zhao Jun. He could only keep evading, but gradually he began to falter. First, because two fists are no match for four hands; second, because his leg was stiffening, returning to its old limp.

The two mercenaries noticed Zhao Jun’s deteriorating condition. Sharing a glance, they nodded in unison.

At once, William and Jace both targeted Zhao Jun’s injured leg.

A cold look crossed Zhao Jun's face.

Panicked, Zhao Jun grabbed a kitchen cleaver.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Knives clashed as the three men fought desperately.

Suddenly, Jace darted forward and stabbed Zhao Jun in the left leg.

"Ugh—"

Zhao Jun grunted, but did not cry out. The situation did not permit him to scream, nor to show weakness.

He would show them what it meant to be Chinese!

Kneeling on one knee, Zhao Jun was clearly flagging. Age was catching up with him, and now he was wounded, too.

William let out a cold laugh. "So this is a Chinese soldier? Is that all?"

Jace burst out laughing as well, their voices full of mockery.

Zhao Jun could endure it no longer. He roared, "Chinese soldiers are not to be humiliated!"

With a final cry, Zhao Jun summoned all his strength, leaping to his feet. He raised the cleaver high and brought it crashing down.

Thud!

The blade struck William’s shoulder.

"Ah!"

William screamed in pain.

"You bastard!"

Jace kicked Zhao Jun hard, sending him sprawling. The cleaver fell from Zhao Jun's grasp.

Jace picked up his dagger and advanced on Zhao Jun.

"Jace, stop! I want to do it myself!"

If that cleaver hadn't been so blunt, William thought, he might already be dead.

Clutching his wound, William took Jace’s dagger and approached Zhao Jun step by step.

Zhao Jun lay on the ground, but his gaze was unwavering—an Eastern red burning in his eyes.

William stood before him and, with a swift motion, stabbed Zhao Jun’s left leg.

Zhao Jun grunted, gritting his teeth to stifle any scream.

William slashed again.

Zhao Jun’s throat filled with blood.

By now, Zhao Jun was fading in and out of consciousness. He knew he was losing too much blood.

He felt himself slipping away.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind like lightning.

"I can’t die like this. They’re too arrogant, daring to come to my China! And they’ll surely take revenge on my family!"

Suddenly, Zhao Jun’s eyes snapped open. With a furious roar, he hurled himself at William...