Chapter Translation:
The cup shot back toward Boh Tan-ping, much faster than the first throw.
Yet Boh Tan-ping appeared unfazed.
He merely extended his right foot.
The swiftly flying cup halted as it struck the sole of his shoe.
With agility, Boh Tan-ping moved his foot so that the cup now stood upright on his toes.
Boh Tan-ping balanced on his left foot.
His right foot bent to steady the cup, both arms spread wide to maintain his body's balance.
Then, Boh Tan-ping swung his right foot.
The teacup swung back toward Tu Liong gently, the cup drifting in a graceful arc, then landing upside down on the table without much sound.
It seemed Boh Tan-ping did not wish to retaliate against Tu Liong.
He merely returned the cup to the table.
After that, he turned around and continued his journey out.
Tu Liong quickly tried to catch up with him.
In a moment, Boh Tan-ping had already reached the exit.
When Tu Liong managed to catch up, suddenly four burly young men blocked his path.
If he persisted in fighting these four men, he would cause a great commotion, surely tarnishing his reputation.
The small skirmish earlier proved Boh Tan-ping possessed formidable martial arts.
From the beginning, the four young men did not lay a hand on him.
This showed that they did not consider Tu Liong a formidable opponent.
It was truly an odd insult.
Yet Tu Liong, for the time being, could only patiently endure it.
After some time, the four young men left him.
Still feeling angry, Tu Liong returned to his seat.
First, he tried to calm himself.
Then he reflected and pondered.
He realized his position was very dependent on circumstances; he could not take the initiative.
But if he did not try to change the situation, he would never succeed.
He decided... to think of a way to investigate Thiat-yan's residence and give him a little payback.
He then stood up and walked out.
Unexpectedly, someone was already standing at the exit.
This person stood tall, blocking his path...
This person was a young man with a very peculiar appearance.
His eyebrows were white, yet his pupils were red.
As if he hadn't slept for three nights.
The only thing remarkable about him was his muscular and slim build.
"What do you want?" Tu Liong glared at him with an angry look.
"To negotiate with you," said the strange young man as he stepped inside.
His voice sounded hoarse. "Negotiate what?" "A deal." "I'm not a merchant." "I am a merchant," the young man said arrogantly, sitting down without being invited.
He immediately took Tu Liong's teacup and drank from it.
He didn't care that the cup had been used by someone else.
Nor did he care if others would get angry at him.
"What are you selling?" "I'm selling life!" "How many lives do you have?" "One life." "Then how many times can you sell it?" "My life will never run out of sales.
Tu Siauya, right now you need someone like me.
As long as you pay the right price, I will certainly sell my life to you." "What skills do you have?" "I'm a specialist in dealing with people others cannot handle." "You speak so highly." "You can try me," after being challenged like that, he spoke even more boldly.
Tu Liong suddenly attacked very quickly and brutally.
If that person wasn't alert, he would have been injured and killed instantly.
The young man with white eyebrows didn't dodge or move.
He merely raised his hand to block the blow.
Since he was born, it was the first time Tu Liong made a sudden attack.
Soon after, the white-browed killer counterattacked three times, Tu Long retreated three steps, blocking the blows with his bare hands without being able to say anything.
His hands trembled and stiffened, so much that he couldn't lift them. "Not bad, your life is quite tough." "Can we talk now?" "What's your name?" "I have no surname or given name.
People call me the white-browed killer."
0-0-0
The Killer A skilled assassin would never allow themselves to be recognized by others.
The white-browed killer had a pair of distinctly different eyebrows and a pair of deep red eyes like blood.
No matter how brave, no matter how ruthless he was in killing others, anyone who had seen him would always be cautious and tighten their guard.
Thus, it would be more challenging for him to kill his target.
Therefore, the white-browed killer couldn't be counted as a truly formidable killer.
All these reasons were known to Tu Liong.
He didn't hesitate to say everything on his mind.
"Wrong!" the white-browed killer arrogantly told him, "Precisely because of my white eyebrows and red eyes, I am even more formidable than any skilled assassin."
"Why is that?" "I don't want to explain it to you.
But I will show it to you directly," After saying that, he immediately went to the bathroom.
Initially, Tu Liong intended to grab the white-browed killer's hand to continue the conversation, but his pride held him back for the time being.
At the same time, a premonition arose in his heart.
He felt he had reached a fairly high and profound level of martial arts, yet there were still too many people more formidable than him.
He stood up, intending to leave the teahouse immediately.
But before leaving, he caught a glimpse of the white-browed killer approaching... no! This time he could no longer be called the white-browed killer; now he had a pair of black eyebrows and a clear white eye that emitted a very bright gaze.
If it weren't for the same clothes he wore and still remembered, he wouldn't dare say the two people were the same.
"Do you still recognize me as the white-browed killer?" Tu Liong indeed didn't recognize him anymore.
His once white eyebrows had been painted pitch black.
He could have easily faked his white eyebrows and painted them black, but his red eyes? How could they now be white? Wasn't this astonishing?
The white-browed killer didn't care about Tu Liong's curiosity; he spoke as if to himself.
"Someone saw the white-browed killer at the teahouse meeting with you.
After that, suddenly the white-browed killer's path became wider.
Not long after, the white-browed killer was seen strolling inside someone's residence.
Others would think you've paid a sum and hired the white-browed killer to murder them.
Thus, they whole-heartedly observe all the white-browed killer's movements, but now suddenly my appearance has changed like this.
In your opinion, am I more skilled than any killer you know?"
Judging by his appearance and manner of speaking, he would easily arouse suspicion.
An assassin doesn't necessarily have the highest skill under the sky.
They are merely adept at avoiding others' suspicion.
An assassin's goal is to successfully kill their target, not to reveal their true identity to others.
But this person seemed doubtful.
"What are your terms?" finally, Tu Liong asked him.
"Will I help you with one task, or will I serve you and help you with several tasks for a long time?" "For a long time." "The fee for a month's service is three hundred foreign (western) currency notes." "That's cheap?" "Listen to the end... after killing someone, you must add a thousand foreign currency notes.
Injuring someone worthy of being my target, helping you escape from a problem, assisting you with a task, whether easy or difficult, you must pay me another hundred..."
"Alright! So where do you live currently?"
"Wherever you tell me to live, I will stay at the place you point out."
"Do you know where I currently live?" "In Cu Siau-thian's house."
"Then where is Mr. Cu's residence?" "Of course, I know."
"Alright, then.
Now I will go home.
You may follow me home.
I will give you some money.
But I have a little task to explain to you beforehand.
If you can't get through Mr. Cu's entrance, our agreement is void."
"What, you want to test me?" "Of course, because shortly I will give you a task."
"Rest assured, in my eyes, there are no walls and no doors."
"If you really have such abilities, why are you still short on money?"
"I don't want to steal; I'm not a petty thief.
Every cent I earn must be through hard work according to my abilities.
Do you understand?"
This is just an excuse.
In this world, many people use similar excuses.
However, Tu Liong had already developed a bit of admiration for the white-browed killer; soon, the two of them walked out of the teahouse.
Tu Liong immediately mounted his horse, leaving the white-browed killer alone in front of the teahouse...
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Glossary:
1. Boh Tan-ping: A character in the story, presumably skilled in martial arts.
2. Tu Liong: Another character, possibly the protagonist or antagonist in this scene.
3. Thiat-yan: A person or place that Tu Liong is interested in investigating.
4. Cu Siau-thian: A person mentioned as having a residence where Tu Liong stays.
5. Pembunuh beralis putih: Translates to "white-browed killer," a character known for his distinct appearance.