Base No. 7

Chapter 6: The Fighting Arena

The black market used to be the largest slum in this underground city. It was a gathering place for the lowest levels of society, and as crime became more rampant, it slowly transformed into what it is now—the haven of criminals.

Xu Mo walked closer to the black market. The rundown buildings, crowded streets, dense people, and litter everywhere painted a grim picture. The environment was utterly filthy.

The thug he had been tracking had entered the bustling crowd, and Xu Mo’s senses immediately locked onto him. He continued following, heading down the road.

“Hey, handsome. Wanna have some fun?” A woman in revealing clothes, smoking a cigarette, blew out a cloud of smoke and called out to Xu Mo as he passed. Xu Mo ignored her and walked on, but the woman reached out and grabbed his arm, trying to pull him into a nearby building. Xu Mo remained still, his body refusing to move.

He glanced at the thick layer of makeup on the woman's face and asked, "Auntie, you paying me?"

"You..." The woman’s face changed, but Xu Mo quickly shook off her grip and continued walking. This wasn't the first time he had encountered such situations.

"Someone’s tailing me."

Xu Mo quickly realized that two people had been following him ever since he entered the black market. They had now closed in on him, and he was sure they were targeting him.

"Thirty meters." Xu Mo calculated the distance in his mind.

"New faces." One of them whispered.

"Such a young body, with decent organs. Should fetch a good price," the other replied, his hand already gripping a knife as he quickened his pace toward Xu Mo. As they closed in to about ten meters, both of them put on masks.

"Five meters!"

Xu Mo estimated the distance and expanded his sensory field, taking in every detail of his surroundings.

The two pursuers quickened their pace, knives already drawn. Xu Mo also sped up and turned into an alley on the left.

The two men, realizing they had been detected, chased after him.

Xu Mo darted into another alley and stopped when he reached a narrow path, where only one person could pass at a time. He turned to face the alley’s entrance.

The first pursuer appeared, his eyes widening in surprise, but before he could react, Xu Mo’s left arm pressed his head against the wall, and with his right hand, he grabbed the man’s wrist, forcing the knife toward the man’s throat. The powerful force took away any chance of resistance, and the knife pierced the man’s throat.

The eyes under the mask widened in shock, as if the man couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.

The second pursuer stopped behind the first, realizing the situation. Without hesitation, he turned and ran.

Xu Mo pulled the knife from the man’s throat and threw it toward the fleeing target. With a satisfying thunk, the knife pierced the man’s neck, and his body fell to the ground.