Chapter 69: Trouble Comes Knocking (Part Two)

“Brother Kong Zhe!”
Xiao Lei called out in delight, and Xue Feifei and Hong Ling were equally joyful, unable to keep the smiles from their faces.
Though Tuantuan had stood between them and this group just moments ago, they all knew full well that Tuantuan was only bluffing, and was no match for these men. It was only a matter of time before the ruse was uncovered, and when it was, disaster would surely follow. Now, with Kong Zhe’s return, they could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Han Ke stared at the man before him, momentarily stunned, then quickly recognized him as the young man who had barged in the other day. So these women had been waiting for him all along!
He instinctively glanced at Kong Zhe’s head, and noticed there was not even a single mark above it. Han Ke sneered.
So, these women looked forward to him as if he were some great hero, and yet he wasn’t even an Awakened!
And just now, Kong Zhe had easily thrown out that inscrutable girl. Han Ke was now certain she was merely a low-level Awakened, nothing more. If she were truly some vampire queen, she would never allow an ordinary man to treat her so.
So, the only real fighting power here was that third-level kobold.
Han Ke’s confidence soared. His expression relaxed, and he turned to the middle-aged man beside him.
“Hey, are you sure this family has plenty of food?”
This was the same middle-aged man who’d knocked on their door last night. Now, seeing Kong Zhe’s cold gaze at the threshold, he felt uneasy, but after a moment’s hesitation, he replied, “Yes, Brother Han, I’m sure. Last night they gave me some food—vegetables, meat, all sorts. They must have a sizable stockpile!”
“You!”
Xue Feifei’s face flushed with anger. She pointed at the man, furious. She could hardly believe he would be so shameless—she’d rescued him out of goodwill, only for him to betray them! Remembering last night’s events, she realized everyone else had opposed helping him; if she hadn’t insisted, none of this would be happening. The thought that her actions had implicated everyone made her deeply ashamed.
“I’m sorry, I did it for my son. Brother Han said he’d take my son to the safe zone…”
The middle-aged man couldn’t meet Xue Feifei’s gaze, and lowered his head, speaking softly and guiltily.
His son had been tested and found to have awakening potential, though very low. Han Ke hadn’t been interested at first, but after the man revealed Xue Feifei’s food stores, Han Ke changed his mind.
Han Ke cast a disdainful glance at the middle-aged man. Though he’d made a promise, it was only empty words—he had no intention of taking the man’s son along. Once he had the food, the man would be useless. Traitors like him disgusted Han Ke; he’d have his men deal with him later. Such things didn’t trouble him in the slightest.
Turning, Han Ke looked at Kong Zhe with a cold sneer.
“Kid, I was planning to kill you outright, but since you indirectly saved my life the other day, I, Han Ke, am a man who knows right from wrong. So I’ll give you a chance!”
Han Ke gestured at Xiao Lei and then at Hong Ling.

“These two women are coming with me. If you hand over all your food willingly, I’ll spare your life.”
Kong Zhe listened to his arrogant words without anger, and instead turned to Hong Ling, thumb hooked over his shoulder, speaking lightly, “See? Someone is scrambling to take you away. If you want to leave, you can go with them—I’m sure he’ll be happy to escort you to the safe zone.”
His disdainful attitude made the crowd at the door shift uneasily. They thought, this kid is bold—daring to talk to their boss like that at a time like this. Those who’d opposed Han Ke before had all met gruesome ends. This kid was likely in for worse.
Han Ke’s expression turned icy. He’d already shown some leniency, but Kong Zhe was so ungrateful! He snorted, sentencing Kong Zhe to death in his heart. But before he could speak, a woman inside called out.
“I told you, didn’t I? Besides you, I won’t go with anyone else.”
Han Ke was infuriated.
“Damn it, you little tramp! Is it so beneath you to follow my boss?”
One of Han Ke’s blockheaded followers noticed his boss’s angry face, realizing his chance to impress, and immediately shouted insults. He grabbed his kitchen knife and stepped inside, intending to drag out the brazen woman.
But as soon as he stepped through the door, he caught a glimpse—a fist flying at his face at lightning speed, too fast to dodge.
Kong Zhe’s punch was casual, but as a fourth-level Awakened, his strength reached twenty-two points. The man’s face caved in with a sickening crack of bone, and he was flung out the door, crashing into the crowd outside, knocking several people off their feet.
When they scrambled up, seeing the mangled body, it was clear he was dead beyond doubt. The crowd was shocked, hastily tossing the corpse aside. They hadn’t expected this man to be so fierce—he’d killed with a single punch, whereas Lu Zhishen needed three to kill Zhenguanxi! And Kong Zhe’s murderous gaze made their blood run cold; they retreated, unwilling to provoke him further.
The women inside were terrified, but since Kong Zhe was on their side, they managed to stifle their screams.
As the crowd retreated, Han Ke was exposed, standing there unmoving.
Han Ke was stunned. He hadn’t expected Kong Zhe to kill one of his men so easily. But he wasn’t too worried; he guessed Kong Zhe was a martial artist, skilled in combat, but no match for Awakened, who possessed magical abilities. No matter how strong a human, he couldn’t withstand supernatural powers.
Seeing Han Ke’s calm, the others relaxed a bit. The cold metal of their guns gave them confidence, and soon they regrouped around Han Ke.
“Kid, you’d better surrender. No matter how tough you are, you’re just one man. Do you see what this is?”
Behind Han Ke, a bespectacled youth waved his pistol with a cruel grin. He was a college student, familiar with firearms from military training, and had a reputation for ruthlessness, so Han Ke had given him a gun.
“So? You think that toy can harm me?”
Kong Zhe sneered.
“What…” The youth was taken aback, then furious. Did Kong Zhe think the gun was fake? He snorted, raised his weapon, and aimed at Kong Zhe, glancing at Han Ke for approval.

When Han Ke merely stared ahead, expressionless, the youth’s heart soared—his boss had silently agreed.
He grinned viciously. He had already killed someone before; at first, the act had unsettled him, making him nauseous, but he soon recalled the thrill of killing, an addictive rush like a drug. He’d been itching to pull the trigger again, and now a live target stood before him.
He flicked off the safety, and without hesitation, pulled the trigger at Kong Zhe.
“Bang!”
The sound of the bullet echoed in everyone’s ears. In a flash, they saw Kong Zhe’s arm move swiftly, then return to its place.
Before their terrified eyes, the youth collapsed to the floor, dead, his eyes wide open, a small bullet hole in his brow.
Everyone looked on in bewilderment, unable to comprehend what had happened. Had the gun malfunctioned? Did the bullet somehow come out the back?
Unlike the others’ confusion, Han Ke’s pupils contracted sharply, cold sweat breaking out instantly.
He, as an Awakened, had seen everything clearly. The moment the bullet neared Kong Zhe, Kong Zhe snatched it between two fingers, and with a flick, sent it back into the youth’s forehead.
Han Ke’s eyes widened in disbelief. He could dodge bullets as an Awakened, but to catch one at such close range—did Kong Zhe think he was the Evil God of Fire Clouds? Han Ke was certain he could never manage such a feat.
More importantly, as Kong Zhe moved, the system forced a brief display above his head—a fleeting mark revealing his status.
Fourth-level Awakened!
Kong Zhe was an Awakened too, equal in rank to Han Ke. Judging by his performance, his attributes were likely far superior. He must have used some unknown concealment technique to hide his identity.
Now Han Ke was truly terrified. He’d thought Kong Zhe an ordinary man, which was why he’d spoken so arrogantly. But Kong Zhe had been hiding his true strength all along.
Even at full power, Han Ke could only hope for a draw, and Kong Zhe had a kobold shaman at his side. Han Ke’s men were mere mortals, no match for the kobold, let alone the mysterious young Awakened girl inside.
If a fight broke out, Han Ke had no chance of victory.
His eyes flickered rapidly, then suddenly he slapped the middle-aged informant hard across the face.