Chapter 196: Li Na and Chen Shao

His voice is calm and strong, giving a sense of security.

Chen Shao crouches, intending to help her, and continues:

"It seems you're no longer an Infiltrator; your hands are still bound, let me untie them for you."

As he speaks, he naturally moves behind Li Na, his fingers touching the coarse hemp rope.

Perhaps feeling Chen Shao's gentle motion, Li Na's tense body relaxes slightly.

But in the next second!

A cold, icy beam silently slides out from Chen Shao's sleeve cuff.

It is the surgical knife Chen Shao used to ambush Xiao Ma.

The blade tip glints with sharp light; Chen Shao, without hesitation, aims at Li Na's back heart and thrusts down hard!

That thrust is both swift and fierce!

However, the expected sensation of the blade entering flesh never arrives.

Pfft!

The surgical knife pierces empty air, sinking deep into the wooden door behind Li Na.

Li Na's body shifts sideways by half an inch at a cunning angle!

That half-inch distance lets her brush past death!

Chen Shao's pupils constrict dramatically!

Without thinking, he tries to pull out the knife, but a hand grabs his wrist like lightning!

That hand shouldn't have been free at all!

Chen Shao looks down in shock and sees the rope behind Li Na loosened and sagging, essentially a loose knot that could be slipped free at any moment!

"You!"

The word leaves his mouth, and a huge force surges from his wrist.

Li Na twists her wrist back, her body turning like a lithe snake; her other hand becomes a hand slash, precisely cutting Chen Shao's neck!

Bang!

Chen Shao is thrown off balance by the force, stumbling backward and falling.

The surgical knife also falls to the ground, sliding away to a distance.

Li Na stands, leisurely moving her wrist, producing a crisp "click-clack" sound.

The terror and fragility on her face vanish without a trace, replaced by a chilling, heart‑pounding calm.

"Cough... when did you discover it?" Chen Shao, clutching his sore neck, crawls up from the ground, his refined face twisted by shock.

"Discovering that you are the Infiltrator?"

Li Na lets out a light laugh, full of mockery.

"I didn't know it was you."

She begins to pace slowly in the room, like a mother leopard sizing up its prey.

"After learning of the Infiltrator's existence, I realized that in this damned place, any seemingly harmless creature could be the one who stabs you deepest."

Her gaze sweeps over Chen Shao: "Since being framed, I trust no one. So I simply go with the flow, using myself as bait, playing the weakest, most vulnerable, most controllable role."

She stops, tilts her head, and looks at Chen Shao.

"After all, a wounded antelope can always lure the hyena hiding in the shadows, right?"

Chen Shao's complexion turns extremely ugly.

His self‑righteous perfect scheme, from start to finish, was undone by this woman's scheming.

No wonder.

No wonder back then he always felt Li Na's changes were odd and abrupt.

"Now, the Inside Traitor has been found."

Li Na's knuckles click, her gaze sharpening.

"It's simple then. Eliminate you, and we can leave."

"Eliminate me?"

Chen Shao suddenly laughs, as if hearing the century's funniest joke.

He leisurely walks to the wall and carefully places the flickering Candle down.

"Just you?"

Before the words finish, his whole body, like a cannonball fired, lunges forward again!

This time, he has no weapon in hand, yet his hand seems to turn into deadly claws, aiming straight at Li Na's face!

Li Na neither dodges nor retreats; instead she advances!

The two clash instantly!

In the cramped storage room, the muffled thuds of fists and feet echo endlessly!

Chen Shao's attacks are precise and ruthless, each strike targeting vital points!

But Li Na is harsher! Faster!

Her combat style is extremely simple, without any flashy moves; each blow aims to strip the opponent of fighting power!

Parry, side kick, elbow strike!

In another near miss, Li Na seizes a gap, delivering a fierce whip‑kick that lands solidly on Chen Shao's side waist!

Bang!

Chen Shao clutches his side waist, coughs hard, and repeatedly retreats.

Finally, Chen Shao even fell to his knees, panting heavily.

"Cough… I didn't expect you still know martial arts."

They said.

"I learned a bit before. But you, as an Infiltrator, is that all your skill?"

Li Na swung her leg, stepped toward him, looking down from above, her eyes full of contempt.

"I thought the guy who could toy with us would be some remarkable figure."

Chen Shao's body convulsed from excruciating pain.

But at that moment.

Chen Shao suddenly let out a low, Weird laugh.

"Hehe…"

The laugh was faint at first, interrupted by coughing, but soon grew louder and clearer.

"Hehe… Hahaha!"

Chen Shao laughed!

Chen Shao actually burst into loud laughter in this situation!

The laugh was filled with helplessness, yet seemed tinged with madness.

A chill beyond words surged from Li Na's coccyx straight up to her Heavenly Spirit Cover!

Something's wrong!

Under Li Na's uncertain stare, Chen Shao on the ground slowly, in an extremely Weird posture, braced against the wall and rose.

Chen Shao's painful expression vanished.

Chen Shao raised his hand and removed the blood‑stained glasses from his face.

Then, with his blood‑soaked hand, he swept his disheveled hair back from his forehead, revealing a smooth, full brow.

A slicked‑back hairdo.

Just that simple motion caused his entire demeanor to undergo a dramatic transformation!

The refined, cautious, even somewhat cowardly Chen Shao vanished.

In his place stood a tall, imposing stranger whose aura was suffocating!

The stranger slowly lifted his head.

In those eyes, no longer shielded by lenses, there was no trace of Chen Shao's panic or despair.

Only a blade‑like sharpness and a teasing amusement remained!

The stranger cracked his neck, a crisp bone‑snapping sound, and a hint of enjoyment crossed his face.

The stranger looked at Li Na, his gaze as if regarding a fascinating toy.

The stranger spoke.

His voice was low and magnetic… laced with innate arrogance.

It was a world apart from Chen Shao's slightly sharp timbre.

"Chen Shao."

"You bastard, you finally let me out…"