As assassins, they couldn't flee. Escaping would also lead to their deaths, so everyone abandoned their standoff with Zhou You to join forces against Shao Qi.

"You show disrespect to your opponent. Did I grant you permission to leave?" Zhou You said. With a flick of his wrist, concealed weapons filled the sky, more spectacular than any swordsmanship or knife technique, and almost impossible to defend against.

Ever since the title 'Mental Manipulator' emerged in the martial world, it evoked a sense of mystery. Every martial artist knew that only those with profound inner strength could become one. Yet they had never seen one like Zhou You, capable of controlling so many weapons simultaneously.

With Zhou You's concealed weapons providing cover, Shao Qi found it easier to fight. Eventually, his brass knuckles cracked. Seeing this, his last opponent lunged at the weak spot. Swiftly, Shao Qi pulled back his left hand, retracted his right glove, and suddenly, a gun appeared, pointing directly at his adversary's head.

A gunshot echoed. The opponent stared in disbelief. Shao Qi's moves, practiced countless times, were too fast to counter.

After his adversary fell, Shao Qi wiped off the blood splattered on him, and said to Zhou You, "These assassins are like products off an assembly line, all with the same skill set. They're not qualified killers."

"Considering it's only been a decade since the apocalypse, producing assassins of this caliber is impressive. Do you know who's behind this?" Zhou You inquired, aware of Shao Qi's numerous enemies.

"I don't. But it doesn’t matter. Many want me dead, but only a few have the capability," Shao Qi replied.

"Their timing is impeccable."

"Indeed. After dealing with the Zhu family and letting my guard down, while on a date, with the bridge ahead destroyed and the road behind blocked, they saw their chance. The only thing they didn't account for was you. Without your help, given their numbers, I wouldn't have made it out."

"The world's only been in chaos for a short ten years. Even if some started training assassins from day one, producing such talent in this time frame is commendable. They're more formidable than most martial artists. Do you know who's responsible?" Zhou You was aware of Shao Qi's enemies, and based on their shared experiences, he suspected many wanted Shao Qi dead.

Qi Shao tucked away the broken glove. Compact and versatile for both offense and defense, it was one of his favorite weapons. But after this, it would need factory repairs. This piece was a preliminary work by Master Fan before he crafted the Yanwu, tailored specifically for Shao's hand and arm, fitting him perfectly.

"I'll make one for you someday. But given your profound internal skills, long-range combat might suit you better than close combat. You probably wouldn't need it."

"Your internal strength is not to be underestimated," Zhou You voiced an earlier curiosity. Although Qi Shao was also adept in internal arts, Zhou You hadn't seen him control anything with his chi.

With a smile, Qi Shao explained, "Not all internal energies are the same. You might have noticed that mine is fierce, suitable for outward attacks but not for manipulating objects like you can. That's why mental manipulators are rare. I've found a gem in you."

Surveying the corpses scattered around, Zhou You was in no mood for levity. As Qi Shao was about to make a call, the pendant around his neck vibrated. He activated the connector and a message appeared.

"What does it say? … 'Outpost outside the city attacked. Have retreated to a safe location.'" From the message's format, Zhou You deduced that it must've been a last resort, signaling communication issues within the base.

"Is it the group that came the other day?" Zhou You's thoughts darted to the soldiers who mysteriously appeared and vanished that night.

"Yes, they were on standby outside the base. If the news has leaked, this is serious. Seems someone has placed spies near me."

"Are they in danger?"

"In this day and age, nowhere is truly safe. As soldiers, they're bound to face far greater risks." Qi Shao resumed his call to Xu Yintian, briefing him succinctly, and then the two headed back to the Lychee Villa.

While Zhou You remained spotless, Qi Shao was a sight — his clothes tattered and stained with blood, prompting speculations that Zhou You might have turned violent against him.

"Boss, are you alright?" Zhuo Hao asked with concern.

"What could go wrong? I have a bodyguard. We've dealt with those rats that crawled out from the drains."

Zhou You nudged him, "Go clean yourself up. Don’t think I haven’t noticed, both your arms are swollen."

The glove, as handy as it was, demanded physical confrontation, leaving Qi Shao without an inch of unbruised flesh on his arms.

By the time Qi Shao finished showering, Zhou You had recounted the events. Xu Yintian had also personally arrived to apologize.

"Whether the management of Yang City is good or not, we can't keep these secret tunnels leading outside the city. They're a security risk." Qi Shao instructed Xu Yintian to immediately seal them, proposing a simple method.

"What about the tunnel near the orphanage? Do you want to keep that?"

Recalling the ranch they used as a mini-outpost, Qi Shao decisively said, "No need, seal that as well. And get the orphanage sorted out soon."

"Should we investigate the origins of those men from today?" Xu Yintian's face reddened with embarrassment.

"Even if you could trace their entry, it won't help. It's not easy to track someone once they leave the city, especially now."