7 Killers

Chapter 1 - A Meeting of Legends

Part 1

Du Qi's hand rested on the table, covered by a large straw hat.

It was his left hand.

No one knew why his hand was under the hat.

**

Of course, Du Qi had more than one hand. In his right hand he held a piece of hard bread. His body and the chunk of bread were very similar; dry, cold and hard.

He sat in a restaurant called Heavenly Fragrance.

Food and wine were on the table in front of him.

However, he didn't touch them, didn't even take a drink. He only slowly gnawed on the hard piece of bread that he had brought.

Du Qi was a cautious person, and he didn't want anyone to hear that he had been poisoned to death in a restaurant.

According to his calculations, at least 770 people in Jianghu wanted to kill him. And yet, he still lived.

It was evening, before dusk.

Outside in the busy streets, a galloping horse appeared. It sped down the street, knocking over people, vendor stalls, and wheelbarrows before stopping in front of the restaurant.

The person on the horse was lean and supple, and had a long sword hanging from his waist. As soon as he saw the sign "Heavenly Fragrance," he leaped from the saddle, body spinning, and flew up into the restaurant.

The restaurant burst into commotion, but Du Qi remained motionless.

When the large, sword-bearing man caught sight of him, his muscles visibly tightened; he let out a long breath before striding forward.

He didn't greet Du Qi. Instead, he leaned forward and lifted up the hat that was on the table, just a bit. He looked underneath for just a moment, and his ruddy face suddenly became pale. "Yes," he muttered, "it's you."

Du Qi didn't move, didn't even open his mouth.

The man drew his sword, which glinted as he slashed at his left hand.

Two bloody fingers dropped onto the table, a pinky finger and a ring finger.

Cold sweat dripped like rain down the man's pale white face, and with a hoarse whisper he said, "Is this enough?"

Du Qi didn't move, didn't even open his mouth.

The large man gritted his teeth and again raised his sword.

This time, a bloody hand fell onto the table. "Is this enough?" he asked.

Du Qi finally looked at him, then nodded his head and said, "Go."

The man's face was contorted with pain; nonetheless he let out a long breath and said, "Thank you very much."

Without another word, he staggered out of the restaurant.

The large man's movements carried great strength, and his martial arts were clearly very high. How could it possibly be that after merely looking under Du Qi's hat, he was willing to cut off his own hand and then offer thanks?

What secret lay under this hat?

No one knew.

**

It was dusk.

Two people hurried into the restaurant. They wore silk outfits and looked like lords of some sort.

Catching sight of them, many people in the restaurant stood and bowed, faced filled with reverence.

Within 250 miles, there were few people who didn't recognize the "Golden Whip, Silver Blade, Duan Clan Elites," Duan Jie and Duan Ying. Even fewer people would risk being impolite to them.