Su Li didn’t explain either, just silently watched him, then quietly took a step forward.
“Don’t move!” Chen Xiangyu immediately shrieked. “Take one more step, and I’ll kill her right now!”
Su Li spread his hands and said, “I told you, let her go, and I’ll let you leave.”
“Do you think it’s that simple? Who knows if you’ll go back on your word once I release her? If you want me to trust you, break one of your own legs first. Then I’ll believe you.”
Su Li’s brow furrowed slightly.
Gong Xiao snapped angrily, “Shameless! Threatening us with a child—what kind of hero is that?”
Chen Xiangyu glanced at Gong Xiao and sneered, “I never claimed to be a hero.” He muttered inwardly, “Bitch, you’ll fall into my hands sooner or later, and then I’ll make you pay.”
Then, he suddenly glared at Su Li again and barked, “Still standing there? Do you really think I won’t kill her?” He abruptly grabbed Xu Xuehui’s tender neck, and she immediately struggled to breathe, her limbs flailing as her face slowly turned purple.
Su Li shouted, “Stop! I’ll do as you say—”
Hearing Su Li’s words, Chen Xiangyu smirked triumphantly and was about to release Xu Xuehui. Seizing that momentary lapse in Chen Xiangyu’s focus, Su Li activated “Spider Walk” and lunged forward in an instant.
Breaking his own leg was out of the question. If he actually did that, Chen Xiangyu wouldn’t flee—he’d come back to kill him and Ding Longyun, then capture Gong Xiao and Xu Xuehui. The fate of those two women would be unimaginable.
Though Su Li cared about Xu Xuehui’s safety, he would never do something so foolish.
Just as Su Li activated “Spider Walk,” Xu Haishui, standing behind Chen Xiangyu, suddenly flipped his short spear and, with all his strength, thrust it straight into Chen Xiangyu’s rear.
It all happened so fast. Chen Xiangyu, who had been on guard against Su Li in front, never expected Xu Haishui behind him to strike. Besides, he was in his “Steel Skin” state, impervious to blades and bullets, so he hadn’t bothered to watch his back.
But then came the shocking twist. Chen Xiangyu, with his “Steel Skin,” let out a blood-curdling scream. His face twisted in an instant, drained of all color, as if he had just experienced the greatest malice in the world.
The short spear plunged in without resistance, sinking almost to the hilt. His “Steel Skin” had failed.
Xu Haishui said nothing. Gritting his teeth, he gripped the spear with both hands and yanked it out, sending a spurt of blood flying. Then he quickly retreated to create distance.
Su Li moved in almost simultaneously, snatching Xu Xuehui away.
Chen Xiangyu’s entire body convulsed, as if enduring the most excruciating pain. His face was drenched in cold sweat, and he trembled violently, barely managing to turn his head, desperately trying to look at Xu Haishui.
A torrent of blood gushed from behind him, instantly staining his clothes and pants crimson.
Su Li and Gong Xiao stood frozen, staring at Chen Xiangyu and Xu Haishui. This sudden turn of events had caught them completely off guard.
If not for Xu Haishui’s unexpected attack, Su Li wasn’t entirely sure he could have reclaimed Xu Xuehui.
“Why… why… you…” Chen Xiangyu’s eyes were filled with incomprehension.
Xu Haishui glared at him, his eyes burning with deep-seated hatred. “Because you’re all beasts. I’ve wanted to tear you apart for a long time, but I didn’t have the strength. I waited so long for this chance. Others might not know, but I do—your Steel Skin’s only weakness is from behind.”
Su Li glanced at Chen Xiangyu’s blood-soaked lower garments and imagined the sensation of a spear thrusting in there. He couldn’t help but clench up. He never would have guessed that the sole weakness of Chen Xiangyu’s “Steel Skin” was that particular spot.
As Xu Haishui spoke, his whole body trembled. His eyes, beyond hatred, slowly welled up with tears. Suddenly, he charged forward again like a madman and kicked Chen Xiangyu, who was barely standing, to the ground.
With his “Steel Skin” broken, Chen Xiangyu deflated like a punctured balloon. He collapsed, twitching and convulsing, as Xu Haishui’s short spear rained down wildly.
Chen Xiangyu let out agonized screams. His body was riddled with countless holes from the spear, and gradually, his cries grew weaker until there was no sound at all.
A 5th-level Source User, someone they had always dismissed as cowardly and weak, was killed by Xu Haishui.
Su Li gently released Xu Xuehui. She had been terrified and now turned slightly away, unable to look at the bloody scene.
Su Li and Gong Xiao silently watched the transformation. Xu Haishui’s sudden betrayal and killing of Chen Xiangyu had completely blindsided them.
Only after killing Chen Xiangyu did Xu Haishui stop. He suddenly burst into loud sobs, as if releasing endless grievances and shame he had been holding inside, finally able to let it out today.
Su Li walked over slowly. His expression toward Xu Haishui was complicated. Was this man now an enemy or an ally?
Based on his earlier behavior, he seemed timid and fearful, but his swift and ruthless killing of Chen Xiangyu showed a decisive and vicious side.
This man couldn’t be underestimated.
Of the five who had come, aside from Xu Haishui, the other four were dead.
Gong Xiao went to Ding Longyun’s side and helped him sit up slowly.
Ding Longyun had taken a punch from Chen Xiangyu. Though badly injured, after lying still for a while, the dizziness faded, and some strength returned. Gong Xiao supported him as he sat up, gasping for breath, a bitter smile on his face.
This time, when the enemy came, he hadn’t just failed to help—he’d been a burden. It left a sour taste in his mouth.
“Brother Ding, how are you feeling?”
Ding Longyun said, “Don’t worry, I won’t die. Just a few broken bones. I’ll absorb some Source Crystals soon, and I’ll be fine.”
Gong Xiao nodded with an “mm” and then looked up at Su Li.
Su Li had already walked up to Xu Haishui.
Xu Haishui had stopped crying. He looked up and wiped the tears from his face with his sleeve.
“Sorry, you had to see that.” Xu Haishui gripped his short spear tightly. “I mean you no harm. Of course, if you don’t trust me, you can kill me now. But I won’t go down without a fight, because I can’t die yet.”
Xu Haishui’s bluntness caught Su Li off guard.
Su Li frowned, pondered for a moment, and then said, “Your name is Xu Haishui, right? Can you tell me why you killed him? Weren’t you companions who came together?”
Xu Haishui glanced at Chen Xiangyu’s corpse on the ground, a flicker of hesitation on his face, before he replied, “Yes, I’m Xu Haishui. I came with them, but I’m not their companion. Or rather, I was forced to be their companion. Because anyone in the Zifeng Building who didn’t submit would only end up dead.”