Chapter 7: The Pursuit

With a swift leap, Sui Yi evaded the blade that Blackskin slashed at her legs. She was fortunate the weapon was only a small knife—had it been a long, wide machete, dodging would have been near impossible. Yet the little knife was fast, slicing the air with a cold, menacing glint. Each stroke from Blackskin was relentless, every flash of steel aimed mercilessly at her flesh.

Blackskin watched her agile body spring nimbly along the railings, seemingly unfazed by the fact that outside was the seventh-floor drop. His brow furrowed, eyes narrowing as he reached out to seize her slender calf.

If he caught her—even just for a moment—he could hurl her over the railing in an instant, sending her plummeting seven stories.

With lightning speed, Sui Yi snapped her leg out, striking Blackskin’s hand. He recoiled in pain, teeth bared, but even as he staggered back, the knife in his right hand stabbed toward her again.

Nerves taut, Sui Yi grasped the pillar beside her, her arm curling around it as her body pressed outward into the open air. She spun around the column—below her, a sheer drop from the seventh floor.

She almost soared through the void, landing a foot on the railing for leverage.

Grrrk—the blade screeched across the pillar. In a flash, Sui Yi seized the moment to leap from the railing and sprint toward the dimly lit stairwell.

“Run? I’d like to see where you think you’re going,” Blackskin sneered, licking his parched lips with a crimson tongue as he gave chase.

Just then, as the two had barely made it downstairs, five or six figures ascended from the opposite end of the corridor, arriving at Sui Yi’s apartment door.

They paused, surprised to find the door wide open.

One of them dashed inside, only to see bloodstained white paper scattered within.

Outside, the others eyed the pillar, where Sui Yi’s bloodied handprint was starkly visible. Droplets of dark blood spattered the floor.

It was nighttime; had it been daylight, the blood would have gleamed crimson.

“Blackskin’s here—after him!”

———

Chase Blackskin?

At this moment, Blackskin was hunting Sui Yi.

She sprinted along the wall, careening down the stairs. Above, heavy, ominous footsteps reverberated—each one pounding against Sui Yi’s heart. The cold, towering man with the knife was closing in, step by step.

“Aaah!”

“Damn it! Running that fast, are you trying to get yourself killed?”

“Shit, you crashed into me!”

“Oh my god!”

As Sui Yi collided with bystanders, angry curses erupted—vulgar and unrestrained. But soon, fear seized them.

What was that just now?

A knife? Blood?

On the third floor, Sui Yi landed hard, her hand searing with pain as if aflame. A bead of cold sweat broke out on her pale forehead, blood trickling down. Leaning against the wall, breath ragged, she steeled herself to run again.

“Ha! Sui Yi!”

“It’s Sui Yi!”

A group of young men emerged at the stairway, shirts off, swinging their T-shirts, their demeanor anything but proper.

This was a place teeming with all sorts—plenty of thugs about. Normally, a young woman like Sui Yi living here would be in grave danger. But she had connections with the Yan Tang Den, and over the years had picked up a few tricks. Most thugs only dared harass her with words, never daring to go further.

But to run into these men at night was no good fortune, especially after they’d been drinking.

Now, Sui Yi looked frail and delicate, face pale as she leaned against the wall—a sight that was…

One youth, emboldened by lust, paid no heed to the blood on her hand. Eyes reddened by drink, he grinned and reached for her.

Boom!

Heavy footsteps thundered from above. Sui Yi glanced up to see Blackskin, shadowed by darkness, only the gleam of his black shoes and the chilling blade visible.

He leapt down, knife flashing with murderous intent.

The youths were stunned. Sui Yi gritted her teeth and kicked the drunken youth in the stomach. With a grunt of pain, he doubled over—just as Blackskin’s blade swept by, narrowly missing him.

Sui Yi’s hand struck out, a precise chop to Blackskin’s wrist—her technique flawless, the timing perfect.

Blackskin’s brow twitched. His wrist shuddered slightly, but with a twist he reversed his grip, stabbing the knife viciously toward Sui Yi’s brow.

Not enough strength!

Sui Yi forced a bitter smile and barely managed to turn her head, the blade slicing through a lock of her hair, which fluttered to the floor. The doubled-over youth, terrified, felt Sui Yi seize his collar—he feared she’d use him as a shield. However—

With a soft motion, Sui Yi tossed him aside. He staggered against the wall, watching as she faced the savage man, forced to the edge of the corridor.

The blade swept coldly through the air, ruthless and pitiless.

Though violence wasn’t uncommon here, it rarely came this close—especially a grown man attacking a young woman.

Sui Yi was well-known in this building—beautiful, quiet, with a striking aura, yet mired in hardship.

How could she possibly survive against that knife-wielding brute? Her skills…

———

Though this building was Sui Yi’s “territory,” and she knew its corridors and rooms better than anyone, she had already lost too much blood. Her body was failing, and after straining every nerve to fend off Blackskin at her door, now she was gasping for breath as she fled for her life.

In a moment of weakness, a searing pain ripped through her forearm—a long gash opened up.

With a crash, Sui Yi slammed into the wall, her head lolling as she watched the knife carve through the air above her.

She drew a deep breath and raised her hand, gripping Blackskin’s wrist. He hesitated, twisting his arm as his other hand swung down toward her head.

Power focused in her thumb, tendons taut, a sudden snap!

The Jeet Kune Do inch point!

Agonizing pain shot through the softest part of his wrist, jolting Blackskin’s arm numb—he nearly dropped the knife. Sui Yi seized the opportunity, kicking his leg before spinning away and sprinting off. Blackskin, seething, gave chase.

In truth, Sui Yi sensed something was deeply wrong. Otherwise, Blackskin would never hunt down a small fry like her with such fury.

———

Something had clearly been set up!

Blackskin barreled after Sui Yi, who shoved past people lounging in the corridor—chaos erupted in her wake.

Behind Blackskin, dark figures emerged at the end of the hall.

“There! Blackskin’s there!”

“Grab him!”

At the same moment, a figure appeared at the far end of Sui Yi’s escape route, face hidden in shadow, eyes fixed on both her and Blackskin.

Clad in black, his presence was icy—frigid beyond words.

“So, here you are.”

Who was he speaking to?

Those five words, cold as death itself, radiated murderous intent.

This man was terrifying—so much so that even the ruthless Blackskin felt a chill. Both Sui Yi and Blackskin’s expressions changed at once.

Now, the group behind Blackskin surged forward, while the man ahead advanced toward Sui Yi, each step steady and ominous.

What a scene this was.

Everyone in the corridor was petrified, wishing they could melt into the walls themselves.

Holding her breath, Sui Yi’s gaze sharpened as she saw the man’s hand move to his waist. Amidst the frightened crowd, he strode calmly, face unreadable.

That gesture—was he drawing a knife, or… a gun?

Sui Yi’s breath caught.

Her instincts screamed that whatever this man’s intentions, she would not escape unscathed.

She had to run.

In this unbearable tension, a sudden, commanding roar shattered the silence.

“Police! Blackskin, drop your weapon!”

It was Lin Quan’s voice.

“Police!”

The atmosphere exploded—ignited like powder, chaos erupting in an instant.

(Author’s note: The “golden finger” will appear soon. The story is still in its early, slow-burning stage—please be patient!)