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It must be said, Tu San really lives up to his reputation for being elusive as a ghost.

Just a moment ago, he was right in front of Qin Fang, cautiously keeping his guard up while chatting with him, but now he had already appeared behind Qin Fang.

The cold barrel of a gun at this moment was pointed squarely at Qin Fang's back, and Tu San's pair of sinister, vulture-like eyes stared unblinkingly at Qin Fang's figure ahead.

He hadn't fired the gun!

At such close range, even though Qin Fang possessed strength on par with his, it would still be almost impossible to escape from Tu San's marksmanship. Perhaps it was that very confidence that made Tu San hold back from pulling the trigger.

Clearly, for someone as terrifyingly skilled as Tu San, not only was his ability to dodge bullets incredibly formidable, but his talent for killing was equally fearsome.

Perhaps because he, too, hailed from Dragon Country, the *Thirty-Six Stratagems* were something he wielded with great finesse—his execution of the "Feign an attack in the East but strike in the West" stratagem was simply flawless.

Qin Fang, unaware and without the slightest premonition, found Tu San behind him without even realizing it. A master of this caliber was impossible to guard against.

No wonder he could rank in the top ten of the list of villains. With tremendous strength, a ruthless heart, and utter callousness, it was nearly inevitable for him to become such a villain.

But…

The Qin Fang he was aiming the gun at, however, showed absolutely no reaction, as though completely unaffected by Tu San's presence—there wasn't even the slightest change in his demeanor, not even a glance backward.

This was far from normal. The entire air around them now seemed to weigh heavy with an inexplicable eeriness, as if something was very, very off.

But what exactly was wrong?

Tu San's face betrayed his doubt, his gaze boring intently into Qin Fang before him, as if all the unease stemmed from this particular individual.

Suddenly, Tu San's senses flared with an acute forewarning of danger from behind him. Instinctively, he executed a swift sidestep to evade, diving into a nearby piece of cover in one seamless motion.

"Perhaps it's your vigilance that's truly lacking…"

Almost in tandem with his movement, Qin Fang's voice rang out from behind him. At the same moment, the figure Tu San had been targeting with his gun seemed to dissolve like smoke before his eyes, fading away as if it had never existed.

Just like Tu San's mysterious entrance earlier, Qin Fang's true body had now appeared behind Tu San, revealing the source of that sudden sense of danger.

Despite having such an excellent opportunity earlier, Qin Fang chose not to fire. Instead, he watched quietly as Tu San dodged into the cover.

The primary reason was that Qin Fang did not have full confidence in his marksmanship. Judging from the power Tu San displayed earlier, Qin Fang was almost certain he couldn't kill him.

While this opening was decent, Tu San's lightning-fast reaction just demonstrated the improbability of landing a fatal shot. Even if Qin Fang managed to hit him, Tu San would undoubtedly avoid critical areas—it would, at best, inflict a minor injury and nothing more.

Of course, Qin Fang considered this as a way of returning a favor to Tu San.

Regardless of whether Tu San refrained from firing due to confidence in his own abilities, a desire to capture Qin Fang alive, or some other reason, the fact was that Tu San could have easily killed "Qin Fang" earlier but chose not to. This placed Qin Fang in Tu San's debt, somewhat.

That said, what Tu San confronted wasn't really Qin Fang himself but rather an illusion crafted through the use of *Thousand Skills*. This was a unique ability Qin Fang had acquired after donning the Qianji Ring—usable only in dim, indistinct environments to create such a convincing facade.

Strictly speaking, this favor owed to Tu San was only half a favor.

Whether or not Tu San acknowledged this as a favor, Qin Fang couldn't bring himself to take advantage of the situation completely. So, without hesitation, Qin Fang decided to settle the debt by sparing Tu San in turn.

Coincidentally, Qin Fang's lack of absolute confidence in eliminating Tu San also made the decision easier—letting go of this chance spared him further complications and cleared the slate.

After retreating into cover, Tu San didn't make any proactive moves toward Qin Fang.

Similarly, Qin Fang refrained from shooting, though his fingers remained tightly clutching the gun with no room for carelessness. After all, the Bloody-handed Demon Tu San wasn't someone to be underestimated lightly.

And so, the two entered a brief stalemate. Neither made a move, nor did they dare to act rashly. By now, both were well aware of each other's marksmanship, leaving no room for overconfidence—any minor mistake could spell their doom.

Whoosh~~

Just then, a firework shot up into the night sky, its streak of light replacing the earlier deafening barrage of gunfire. The chaotic battlefield turned eerily quiet as though the final moments of the battle were playing out.

Others might not understand the significance of this signal, but Qin Fang knew. Elder Long's men had successfully completed their objective—this was their cue for retreat.

At the same time, this was also a message for Qin Fang: his mission was complete, and he could leave immediately!

"I'll come for you again…"

Before Qin Fang could even begin his retreat, Tu San made the first move, seemingly interpreting the fireworks' significance. In his signature hoarse voice, he left behind these simple words before vanishing quickly into the shrouded night.

Qin Fang stood silently, watching the movements across from him. He neither moved nor spoke, simply observing in stillness...

"You're indeed formidable. I hope next time you still have such good fortune…"

After about three more minutes of tense silence, that hoarse voice, belonging to someone who should have already retreated, emerged once again from behind the cover.

Tu San hadn't left at all!

If Qin Fang had moved upon hearing those earlier words, he might already have become nothing more than a lifeless body. It was his cautious nature that had spared him from such a grim fate this time around.

But this time, Tu San truly left, his movements as silent and efficient as before.

This time, though, Qin Fang didn't linger as he had previously. Without hesitation, he executed a quick roll, activated his Stealth Skill, and melted into the night. Besides the faint glimmer of silver tracing his path, his presence was nearly impossible to detect.

Matched evenly!

Even though Qin Fang had clearly used some clever tricks to his advantage, the outcome was ultimately a draw. Neither side managed to gain a decisive edge over the other.

Qin Fang had successfully completed the task given by Elder Long, efficiently distracting Tu San and buying the necessary time for the others. Meanwhile, Elder Long's team achieved their resounding victory.

While Qin Fang's raw combat skill was still slightly inferior to Tu San's, this encounter allowed Qin Fang to gauge the true capabilities of this top-ten villain. At the same time, Qin Fang himself gained invaluable experience.

He took note of Tu San's uncanny ability to dodge bullets, which, even after only observing briefly, was deeply ingrained in Qin Fang's memory.

Already, Qin Fang was contemplating how to rigorously train this skill for himself. With increasing proficiency, he believed it would eventually allow him to surpass Tu San's level.

If so, the next time they crossed paths, Qin Fang wouldn't find himself in such a pitiful situation, relying on tricks to achieve his goals.

Though these antics might seem trivial or unsophisticated, they proved extremely effective in crucial moments. Even so, Qin Fang clearly preferred a direct and honorable confrontation with Tu San!

However, knowing his current disadvantage in strength, Qin Fang had never intended to engage Tu San on fair terms from the beginning—that would have been tantamount to suicide.

There was no "what if."

If Qin Fang had chosen to fight fair, his death would have been inevitable!

Tu San wasn't a kind man. For him, killing was simply part of his daily routine—sometimes requiring no reason at all.

If ever a reason was needed, it could only be this: He felt like it.

Facing such a stone-cold killer whose strength far exceeded his own, Qin Fang managed to keep his footing from start to finish, maintaining even a stalemate in their final strategic exchange. It was a testament not only to their wits but also to their mature resourcefulness, strategy, and cunning.

It could be said that this encounter demonstrated that Qin Fang was ready to navigate the perilous and treacherous underground world.

Ultimately, the long-renowned Bloody-handed Demon Tu San failed to take any advantage of Qin Fang at all, instead indirectly contributing to Qin Fang's growing reputation.

Unfortunately for Tu San, Qin Fang had no desire for such fame. No one would advertise such a feat, as doing so wouldn't earn them glory—it would only make them a target for Tu San's vengeance.

"I look forward to our next encounter…"

Staring into the deep shadows of the night, under the faint, hazy light, Qin Fang stood against the cool breeze, speaking in a calm tone tinged with a trace of anticipation.

Of course, Qin Fang wasn't eager for that encounter to take place too soon. He'd prefer for it to come after his skills had improved further, ensuring he stood a better chance.

As for the words Tu San had left before departing, Qin Fang didn't care much about them.

Tu San may be highly capable, but finding Qin Fang among the vast and faceless sea of people would hardly be an easy task—practically akin to looking for a needle in a haystack.

Moreover, Qin Fang had prepared extensively for this mission. He'd altered his body shape, changed his appearance, and even modified his voice considerably. There was almost no connection between the adversary Tu San faced and Qin Fang himself.

If Tu San could still track him down despite all that, then Qin Fang would have to admit his admiration—Tu San would deserve his respect. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to visit Qidian.com to vote with recommendations or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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