Chapter 27: The Great Shark That Came to Your Door
Qin Xuan put away the "old character recruitment card" he had just drawn, his mind already calculating its future use. Not long after, a rhythmic, sharp 'creak' echoed from the hallway outside. It was the sound of high heels rubbing against the stone ground.
A knock, hesitant and light, came from outside the room.
That footstep... it sounds like that Slaughter Envoy. Qin Xuan recognized her specific gait. He still asked indifferently, his voice cutting through the door, "Who is it?"
As he spoke, a nearly materialized killing intent erupted from his body.
A terrifyingly bloody aura of slaughter, honed over a year and 99 battles, was unleashed without reservation. The aura was so cold and dense that the temperature inside and outside the room plummeted instantly. A thin layer of frost began to creep across the walls and the very door the visitor was about to touch.
Slaughter City is such a place. You cannot express kindness to anyone, nor can you accept anyone's kindness; otherwise, you will surely not live past tomorrow.
You can only trust yourself.
This was the iron-clad rule that had allowed Qin Xuan to live until today.
Outside the room, the Slaughter Envoy, whose face was covered by a black veil, had her hand raised to knock again. The sudden flood of killing intent hit her like a physical sledgehammer. She choked, the air stolen from her lungs, and stumbled back, almost collapsing to the ground.
But after all, she was personally chosen by the Slaughter King to be a Slaughter Envoy. No matter how terrifying the killing intent, she had seen it before. She had stood in the presence of the King himself.
Yet... this was different. The King's aura was a vast, oppressive, and chaotic madness. This "Black Dragon's" aura was pure, focused, and cold, like the gaze of a predator that had already marked you as prey.
Swallowing the bile that rose in her throat, the Slaughter Envoy steadied herself against the wall and spoke, her voice only trembling slightly.
"Hello, esteemed Mr. Black Dragon. I am an envoy of the great Slaughter King, and I am here to convey the Slaughter King's invitation to you."
An invitation from the Slaughter King?
Could it be that he wants to recruit me as his lackey? Some kind of guest elder? The kind who can leave without having to go through Hell Road?
Damn it, that old bat really knows how to scheme. He wants to stop me from getting the Slaughter God Domain.
Qin Xuan's eyes darted around, and he quickly made up his mind. The killing intent vanished as if it had never existed. "Come in."
This was truly like someone bringing a pillow when you're sleepy.
He was just worrying about how to gather enough participants for his 100th Hell Slaughter Field match within 3 days. The fallen ones were now too terrified to fight him.
With the Slaughter Envoy's help, it would be easy.
Soon, the room door creaked open. The Slaughter Envoy, having regained her composure, stood at the entrance. She bowed gracefully to Qin Xuan, who was sitting casually at a table.
"Mr. Black Dragon."
Today, the Slaughter Envoy was dressed exceptionally revealingly. It reminded Qin Xuan of a certain creature in the ocean.
A shark.
Yes, you heard right, it was a shark. And a big one at that.
Because the shark was so big, even before she entered the door, Qin Xuan felt a surge of dampness, accompanied by surging waves.
The Slaughter Envoy's attire was extremely alluring. A dress of the same black gauze she used for her veil was draped strategically over her body, leaving her shoulders and the long, pale lines of her legs visible in the dim light. Her narrow, bright eyes were captivating.
And beneath her slender neck was the big shark's most powerful weapon, half-concealed and most deadly.
Qin Xuan glanced sideways at the deadly spot, his face expressionless. "May I ask what important matter the Slaughter King has for me?"
Although he had been single for two lifetimes, unusual things often indicated something strange. In the past year in Slaughter City, he had seen at least 8, if not 10, naked bodies.
There were countless "fallen ones" who admired the strong and actively threw themselves at him, hoping for a moment of protection or a quick death. He wouldn't lose his composure just because of this mere pair of dangerous weapons.
Even if this woman was, objectively, the most beautiful he had ever seen, besides Bibi Dong.
No exception.
Otherwise, he would have died a thousand times over by now. Beauty was just another weapon in this city, and often the most poisoned one.
Moreover, he wasn't the type to just go for any pretty woman he saw.
Having gone through 9 years of compulsory education on Blue Star, he had his own moral principles.
First and foremost, when it came to the opposite sex, he always adhered to 8 words: "Do not flirt if you don't intend to marry; if you flirt, then marry."
This "big shark" in front of him was clearly a handmaiden of the Slaughter King. A honey trap. Who knows, that old bat might want a change of pace one day and take her for himself.
If something were to happen between him and her today, what if that old bat gave him a big green hat one day?
It has always been Mr. Qin who cuckolds others. He absolutely does not have the habit of being cuckolded.
In short, this woman was not his type.
At least, not before he had the ability to kill the Slaughter King, take her away, and confirm she hadn't been touched by that old bat.
"Mr. Black Dragon," the Slaughter Envoy's voice was a soft, melodious purr. She had clearly had some alcohol; her cheeks were flushed, and her breath was slightly tipsy. "Don't you want to invite me in to sit?"
She glided forward, her hand reaching out—a slender, jade-like finger—to caress Qin Xuan's chest.
Her finger never made contact.
Qin Xuan's hand shot out and caught her by the wrist. His grip was like a steel trap.
"It's better for the young lady to get straight to the point," he said, his voice as cold and flat as his expression.
The Slaughter Envoy was stunned. Her smile faltered, her practiced allure shattering against his indifference. She had expected lust, or at least curiosity, not this cold, business-like rejection.
She quickly recovered her professionalism. "Our King... our King wishes to invite Mr. Black Dragon to serve as a Guest Elder of Slaughter City after he achieves a hundred consecutive victories."
"His status would be second only to the King, and he would have free access to and from Slaughter City, without needing to walk the Hell Road."
"Good, I accept."
"Mr. Black Dragon, please don't refuse so quickly, I... Wait... what did you say?" The Hell Envoy's beautiful eyes instantly widened, her drunkenness completely gone.
"What? Is there a problem?" Qin Xuan released her hand. He turned back into the room and poured himself a cup of tea, ignoring her completely.
The food and water in Slaughter City were more or less mixed with the toxins floating in the air, the "drug" that made the fallen ones so chaotic.
He would never touch those things.
These tea leaves were purchased by him from the system store using emotion points; they were non-toxic, harmless, and guaranteed safe.
"Uh... Mr. Black Dragon, don't you have any conditions to propose?" The Slaughter Envoy was somewhat at a loss. She had an entire script prepared. She was prepared to negotiate, to hint, to offer... to offer herself.
As a result, you accepted before I even took off my clothes?
Is my charm really that bad?
"Cough. Of course, I have conditions," Qin Xuan cleared his throat, turning back to her.
Her posture relaxed slightly. This, she understood.
"My condition is to arrange the final Hell Slaughter Field match for me as soon as possible, preferably within 2 days. I'm in a bit of a hurry."
One day was clearly unrealistic. He also needed to adjust his condition for the 100th, and final, match. 2 days was just right.
"That's... it?" The Slaughter Envoy felt a pang in her chest, her face turning green then purple. Today, she was truly at odds with this man. He was infuriating.
"Of course. I've been out for a year. If I don't go back soon, my old man will send people to find me. If he gets angry, he's even scarier than the Slaughter King."
Qin Xuan nodded slowly, talking nonsense with a perfectly straight face.
"Alright," the Slaughter Envoy said, her voice strained. "Your condition is not excessive. But because you've become so famous in the arena, recently the degenerates would rather contribute their Bloody Mary as a fine than participate in the Hell Slaughter Field matches."
Her formidable assets rose and fell violently as she tried to control her irritation. "Two days might be a bit difficult. I can only arrange it for you as soon as possible."
She no longer called him "Mr. Black Dragon." She stomped her foot fiercely—a very un-envoy-like gesture—and turned to leave.
Just as she reached the door, Qin Xuan's voice sounded again from behind her. "Wait..."
"You changed your mind?" The Hell Envoy stopped, her back to Qin Xuan. A rare, girlish smile of victory appeared on her charming face.
Setting aside her identity as the Slaughter Envoy, she was, after all, a beautiful young girl who had just turned 20.
Which excellent young girl doesn't have a competitive spirit?
"No, not at all," Qin Xuan said, taking a calm sip of his tea. "I just wanted to ask you not to forget to close the door for me on your way out."
He uttered words that would infuriate someone to death without consequence.
"You—!" The Slaughter Envoy stumbled, almost falling to the ground.
Then, with a bang, she slammed the door shut and left, huffing.
It wasn't until she was halfway down the dark, cold street that the Slaughter Envoy suddenly realized...
Her body had not been defiled by a disgusting, fallen man. She had once again escaped a calamity.
Moreover, she had successfully completed the task assigned by the Slaughter King.
She should be happy.
...So why was she so angry?
Understanding all this, the Slaughter Envoy's mood instantly improved significantly. But when she looked back in the direction of Qin Xuan's residence, a different, complex emotion appeared in her eyes.
Damn Black Dragon... how dare he ignore my charm? One day, I'll...
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