797: Chapter 786: Asura, How Could It Be You!
797: Chapter 786: Asura, How Could It Be You!
Tulip’s assassination attempt on Ning Fan failed, and since she was unharmed, she could return to headquarters.
For now, Asura didn’t want to make a move on Ning Fan himself, preferring to have Thousand Faces continue to watch him instead.
Therefore, Tulip’s trip to Zhonghai could be officially declared over.
As for any punishment she might face back at headquarters due to the mission failure, Thousand Faces was not in the know.
After all, such matters weren’t his to decide, nor did he have any interest in them.
Standing before Thousand Faces, Tulip maintained her silence, her brow furrowed in worry as if weighed down by some heavy thought.
Thousand Faces could sense something was off with Tulip and couldn’t help but ask, “What exactly happened?”
Although his interactions with Tulip were limited, in Thousand Faces’s memory, this woman never wore a troubled expression like this.
What setback had she encountered that elicited such a reaction?
“It’s nothing…
Is this the opinion of Lord Asura?”
Tulip replied, somewhat distractedly and with a hint of terseness, followed by her question.
Thousand Faces scrutinized Tulip with a piercing gaze for several seconds, then after a while, he nodded and replied, “Yes, Lord Asura has now placed me in full charge of affairs here.
You’re free to leave Zhonghai now; what happens after this doesn’t concern you!”
In his reply, Thousand Faces also sounded a warning to Tulip.
No one knew what punishment awaited her back in the organization after her mission’s failure.
As for future matters, he implied that it would be best for Tulip not to pry and to just peacefully return.
Tulip, however, could not miss the undertone in Thousand Faces’s voice.
At this moment, she cynically thought to herself, after having already betrayed Thousand Faces, why not go all the way and betray the whole organization; as long as she could survive afterward, that was enough.
Tulip, who had been hesitant before, was now definitively resolved.
She surveyed the surroundings and noticed that the equestrian field had nearly emptied.
Then, with a charming smile, she said, “Heh, naturally, I don’t need your reminders!”
Perceiving the defiance in Tulip’s words, Thousand Faces’s expression turned bleak.
He had taken a risk coming here only to meet with such an attitude from Tulip—was this the demeanor of someone who had just failed a mission?
With a mind full of doubts and discontent toward Tulip, Thousand Faces no longer wished to waste words.
His duty was done; to avoid further complications, it was time for him to go.
Both harboring their own schemes, Tulip was unaware of just how much Thousand Faces disapproved of her, and likewise, Thousand Faces did not know that Tulip was already silently mourning for him.
Tulip waved goodbye to Thousand Faces and took the lead toward the equestrian field’s exit.
Watching Tulip’s bewitching silhouette leave, Thousand Faces suddenly felt a strong sense of foreboding.
Just then, a figure approached from the entrance of the equestrian field, brushing past the now distant Tulip,
Thousand Faces instinctively looked towards that figure.
The next moment, he widened his eyes in disbelief.
He recognized the person who had suddenly appeared, and it was the very last person he wanted to encounter now.
“Asura, how can it be you, why are you here?!”
Thousand Faces watched Ning Fan warily.
The man who had entered his sight could be no one else.
He had observed covertly from a distance and had already confirmed through a secret signal from Tulip that this seemingly unremarkable equestrian coach was indeed Thousand Faces.
After Tulip left, he finally made his move.
“Long time no see.
Isn’t it a surprise?”
Ning Fan’s eyes were filled with mockery, and a faint smile played on his lips, his presence emanating a palpable killing intent.
Feeling the killing intent from Ning Fan, Thousand Faces realized just how dangerous his predicament had become.
That woman Tulip had indeed betrayed the organization and dared to sell him out!
Before coming here, Thousand Faces had his suspicions, but now that he was absolutely sure of Tulip’s betrayal, his rage was uncontrollable.
He regretted coming here now, but regret was futile, as Asura did not care in the slightest.
With but a word from him, Thousand Faces had been compelled to take this risk.
During his encounter with Tulip, Thousand Faces had held onto some hope, but such hope vanished the moment Ning Fan appeared.
“Damn it, Tulip, you dare betray us!”
Thousand Faces fumed with suppressed rage, looking in the direction Tulip had left and shouting angrily.
But Tulip had gone far, and even if she had heard Thousand Faces’s voice, she would have scorned it by now.
No matter how furious Thousand Faces became, it wouldn’t change the fact that he was now trapped.
Having lured out this threat, Ning Fan would not miss the opportunity before him.
“You didn’t expect this, did you?
Betrayed by your own people—it’s an unpleasant feeling, isn’t it!”
Ning Fan approached Thousand Faces, his tone dripping with mockery as he studied the man before him, a delighted grin spreading across his face.
“Hmph, Asura, don’t underestimate me.
Do you really think you can keep me here?!”
Thousand Faces was angry because of Tulip’s betrayal, not because he feared Ning Fan might actually detain him.
He was confident in his ability to escape from Ning Fan’s grasp.
Even if he couldn’t defeat Ning Fan, Thousand Faces was proud of his ability to flee.
Just moments before, he had already devised several escape plans.
Upon entering the equestrian field, he had continuously surveyed his surroundings, and had memorized the building’s layout before coming here.
Thousand Faces’s plans might be sound, but would Ning Fan really give him the chance to see them through?
Of course not!
“Whether I’ve underestimated you or not, you’ll find out soon enough!”
Before Ning Fan, the still boastful Thousand Faces was nothing but a joke.
Noticing the disdain in Ning Fan’s gaze, Thousand Faces burned with anger.
Already deeply resentful of Ning Fan’s good fortune due to Asura, the contemptuous look from Ning Fan almost pushed him over the edge.
“Die!”