I AM A KILLER

Conditions

“I see that you have beaten them today but they’ll surely find you afterwards to settle the score. But don’t worry about it, I’ve got you covered!” Yin Xudong broke open a pair of disposable chopsticks and stirred his noodles, boasting to Qin Kexuan as though he had nothing to do with the guy who was just being chased.

Qin Kexuan gave him a look after listening, which he thought was filled with disdain, “Hey, why are you looking at me like that? If it wasn’t for the fact that my old mum threatened me with switching schools if she saw a new wound on me, I wouldn’t have ran!”

Qin Kexuan lifted a noodle gently into her mouth.

Yin Xudong patted his chest, swearing: “I’ve got your back, so you will definitely be able to walk around safely!” He paused for a moment, eyeing Qin Kexuan covertly: “But there’s a condition.”

Qin Kexuan continued eating her noodles.

“The condition is that you have to teach me how to throw a knife. Of course it doesn’t have to be a knife la, using a rock will work as well.”

Qin Kexuan lifted her bowl to drink a mouthful of soup, placed it back down before turning her head to shout at the boss: “Check, please.”

“What? Already done so soon? It’s my treat, my treat. Wait for me, I’m almost done with my food!”

Qin Kexuan paid, ignoring the yelling Yin Xudong and left.

Yin Xudong hurriedly placed 10 dollars underneath the bowl, shouting “Payment!” before rushing out but he had already lost sight of Qin Kexuan’s figure.

Disappointed, a backpack shot behind him, Yin Xudong shrewdly caught it without being pummeled by it. He was pleasantly surprised to see Qin Kexuan behind him, “You were waiting for me?”

Qin Kexuan: “Help me by bringing my backpack home. It’s too troublesome to carry around, need to put it down when beating someone up.”

Yin Xudong was stunned stupid, “What? Now?”

“Yes.”

“What about you then?”

“It’s none of your concern.”

“So you mean you will go shopping, but I have to send your bag home?” Yin Xudong said in disbelief.

“If you do not want to learn knife throwing, you can say no.”

“This…… Of course can la! You play around slowly, I will head home first!” once Yin Xudong heard that Qin Kexuan was willing to teach him, he became so ecstatic that he didn’t put to heart the degrading fact that he was reduced to being an errand boy for an unimpressive neighbor girl.

Having spoken finished, Yin Xudong held onto her bag and ran, as though afraid that Qin Kexuan will snatch it back, vanishing into thin air.

Qin Kexuan continued on her journey to collect information.

Unknowingly an entire afternoon was over, Qin Kexuan gazed at the darkening sky. She would stop for today. She looked up at the setting sun, determining the direction before taking in a deep breath and ran towards the direction of home.

Realizing that running in public under watchful eyes was attracting attention, Qin Kexuan started to pick the dark and deserted alleys.

After making continuous turns in the alleys, she heard sounds of childish laughter and dog’s whimpers from the corner in front. Qin Kexuan reduced her speed, slowly leaning over to see that several kids were using wooden sticks to beat a dusty-grey puppy which was cowering in a corner.