Chapter 36: The Chemical Plant (Part 2)

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The two of them followed the man all the way, but for some reason, they lost track of their target. This left them feeling rather embarrassed, so they found a secluded warehouse to discuss their next move.

Just as they began to talk, a shipping container suddenly came crashing down toward them. Hu Guozheng, alert, shoved Du Bin aside and shouted, “Who’s there? Daring to ambush me!”

They shone their flashlights around, but the place was shrouded in darkness and no one was to be seen. “Could he have realized we’ve uncovered his identity and now wants to silence us?”

“It’s possible,” Hu Guozheng nodded.

“Who are you people? Why do you seem like you’re looking for me? You’re nothing like ordinary folks,” a man’s voice suddenly came from the shadows, putting both of them instantly on guard.

“We are ordinary people, but we’ve already learned what you are—a vampire.”

“So that’s it. Seems I can’t let the two of you leave alive,” the man said, slowly stepping out into the open. He was the one from the venue, wreathed in black mist.

“Who dies first is still up in the air!” Hu Guozheng retorted, with Du Bin nodding in agreement.

“Very well. Let me end you both here.”

“Enough talk—let’s see who butchers whom.” Hu Guozheng grabbed a plank and charged. The man leapt at him with a punch, which Hu Guozheng blocked with the plank, then swung it hard at the man’s head.

Crack! The plank split in two, but the man remained unharmed, smiling. When he bared his teeth, Hu Guozheng involuntarily stepped back in fright. Gritting his teeth, Du Bin picked up another board and hurled it with force.

The man caught it midair with ease and tossed it casually behind him. At that moment, Hu Guozheng seized the opportunity to dash off, shouting, “Run! What are you standing there for?”

The two of them flung open the warehouse doors and bolted out. As Hu Guozheng saw the man coming after them, he slammed the iron doors shut before fleeing again.

“That should lure him away,” he panted. They retraced their steps, drawing curious stares from bystanders as they ran.

They sprinted straight past the main entrance. The security guards tried to stop them but failed, so one grabbed a walkie-talkie and shouted, “Captain, there are two suspicious guys here—I suspect they’ve stolen confidential material!”

Soon after, a squad of security officers on motorcycles gave chase, seven or eight of them blocking off their escape from behind.

Du Bin, sensing trouble, immediately contacted Ye Tang. She stood on a hilltop, surveying the area, quickly giving them directions. The two of them ducked into a nearby rice field. The thick growth made it impossible for the motorcycles to follow, so the guards had to abandon their bikes and go in on foot. By the time they entered the rice field, Hu Guozheng and Du Bin had already slipped away, heading for the location Ye Tang had indicated.

“At last, you’re here,” Ye Tang murmured, leaning against a tree with her eyes closed. Suddenly, a cold wind swept by—she sensed a presence approaching and smiled faintly.

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A dark shadow hurtled after the two men. Du Bin glanced back and was shocked—before he could even react, a hand seized him and lifted him off the ground.

Hu Guozheng, running for his life, heard Du Bin’s cry and turned to look. His jaw dropped. “How are you so unlucky?”

“You think I wanted this?”

Hu Guozheng frantically looked around for a weapon and, finding nothing else, grabbed a handful of stones from the ground. He threw one, meaning to hit their attacker but inadvertently striking Du Bin in the stomach, making him howl in pain.

“Damn you, fatso! Are you trying to kill me?”

“Sorry!” Hu Guozheng called.

The man punched Du Bin square in the chest, making his eyes bulge as he coughed up blood.

“Bastard! I’ll knock your teeth out!” Hu Guozheng snatched a long, sturdy stick and charged. The man didn’t even bother to dodge, blocking with one hand and then kicking Hu Guozheng several meters away.

The man inhaled deeply, savoring the scent of blood. His eyes became bloodshot as he bared his fangs, aiming for Du Bin’s neck.

Faced with the brink of life and death, Du Bin was terrified, struggling and screaming for his life.

Suddenly, a jolt of electricity flashed through Du Bin’s mind. He remembered the protective necklace Ye Tang had given him. Driven by survival instinct, he made his choice.

The stone hanging from his neck began to glow, flames flaring up and quickly enveloping him.

Caught off guard, the man recoiled as the fire burned his flesh, howling in pain. Du Bin gasped for air and staggered away.

“A bit slow to react, but at least he knows how to save himself.”

Ye Tang, unable to bear watching any longer, leaped down from the tree. Seeing her, the two men wore bitter expressions. “So you’ve been hiding there, watching the whole time?”

“Of course. How else would I train you two for real combat? With performances this lousy, I worry you’ll drag the whole team down.”

The man, seeing Ye Tang, felt a sudden, inexplicable fear. He hurriedly asked, “Who are you, beautiful?”

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“Someone about to die has no right to know my name,” Ye Tang replied coldly, drawing her sword and pointing it at him with contempt. Without another word, she charged; the man, seeing her ferocity, rushed to meet her.

With a sweeping slash, Ye Tang attacked. The man, refusing to back down, blocked with his hand, only to feel the searing pain of fire once again, making him wary of this girl’s power.

“The sword… it burns!”

With a wave of her sword, Ye Tang sent a blazing arc of flame flying at her target. The man, panicking, dodged desperately.

“Damn it!” The man realized too late that his doom was at hand. He finally remembered his only nemesis—the so-called “Hunters,” mysterious and self-assured.

He lunged at Ye Tang, who only smiled and darted forward. Du Bin and Hu Guozheng watched with concern—would she be in danger?

Ye Tang stabbed him in the thigh, knocking him off balance, then stepped behind him and drove her sword through his heart. Flames erupted, devouring the vampire’s body.

“Damn you!”

In less than a moment, the vampire was reduced to ashes by the fire. The two men collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

Ye Tang sheathed her sword and took out a tissue to wipe the sweat from her brow. She approached them with concern. “This guy was no real threat. Are you two all right?”

“We’re fine,” Du Bin replied, nodding.

“That’s good. Let’s go. Tomorrow we’ll continue your training at the next location.”

With that, Ye Tang turned and started down the mountain path. Hu Guozheng, grinning mischievously, remarked, “Wasn’t she always so cold? Since when did she start caring about people?”

“How should I know? Maybe it’s because of you.”

“Enough already. We’re covered in mud—let’s get back to the hotel and clean up.” Du Bin ignored him, watching Ye Tang’s retreating figure. He recalled how much he’d struggled against a weak vampire, while she had dispatched it with ease. Clearly, he needed to train much harder. Behind him, Hu Guozheng wore a look of disbelief, grinning slyly.