The latter half of the night passed without any movement outside until past three o'clock.
Qin Ziwen pondered, "It seems they're not coming at night. Either they plan to break in during the daytime when we're away, or they have some other scheme."
"Brother, should we set out now?"
"Yes, let's go." Qin Ziwen casually picked up the keys to Unit 602.
He didn't bring Li Tieshan along for this operation, instead instructing him to stay home. "Remain inside, don't reveal your presence. Keep the curtains drawn and don't open them. I'll knock in a specific pattern when I return. If anyone else enters, they're thieves - immediately strike their head with your hammer, understood?"
"Understood!" Li Tieshan nodded firmly, tightening his grip on the hammer. "Master, rest assured, this hammer can forge iron and crush skulls equally well."
After descending, they met up with Deng Guang, exited the residential complex, then circled back through the underground garage to Building 8.
Deng Guang looked puzzled. "Aren't we going to retrieve the cards?"
Qin Ziwen shook his head. "Not today."
The round trip to the altar would take until at least nine or ten o'clock. If thieves broke into their home during that time and discovered their secrets, he would instantly become everyone's target.
"Xiao Wu, hide in the garage. When you hear movement upstairs, come up from the first basement level to block their escape route. But be smart about it - if there are too many people, prioritize your own safety." Qin Ziwen patted his younger brother's shoulder.
Qin Ziwu nodded seriously.
Then Qin Ziwen and Deng Guang ascended to the top floor via Unit 1's staircase, crossed over to Unit 2's rooftop, and entered Building 2 from above.
They descended from the rooftop to Unit 602, unlocked the door with the key, and concealed themselves inside.
Deng Guang was surprised that Qin Ziwen actually had keys to this unit.
He expressed concern, "Xiao Wu is alone in the basement level. What if there are too many people later?"
Qin Ziwen reasoned, "There probably won't be many. If they truly had large numbers, they'd just rob us directly instead of stealing."
...
9:00 AM, bright morning light.
"Are you sure they're gone?"
"Relax, I've been watching this place for two days. They're never home in the mornings - they usually leave around this time. Only two people live here, no women. The place is empty."
Four men whispered in the hallway.
"Is this information accurate?"
"Definitely accurate. Don't worry, this household participated in killing that crocodile before and got dozens of pounds of meat. Damn, I haven't eaten meat in days."
"Ha, you ate roasted grasshoppers yesterday."
"Roasted grasshoppers don't count as real meat! I'm getting proper meat today."
"They might have finished all their meat already."
"Absolutely not. Only two people live here, and according to reliable information, they have fish traps and go fishing daily. They're loaded. This job should keep us fed for at least a week."
The oldest among the four instructed, "Mouse, watch the downstairs. Second Dog, take the upstairs. Cough if you see anyone."
After the others dispersed, the oldest man, wearing a cap, approached the door. He spat out a piece of chewing gum to cover the peephole, then pulled a small black box from his pocket. The box had a coiled iron wire on top resembling mosquito repellent incense.
A man in black behind him checked the hallway, looked both ways, then went to the opposite Unit 501's door and pulled something from his pocket to cover its peephole.
The capped man waved his small black box in front of the electronic lock. Moments later...
The lock emitted a crisp "ding" sound.
Grasping the door handle, he gestured to the black-clothed man behind him.
The black-clothed man crouched low and carefully entered.
His head had just cleared the entryway when a powerful gust of wind assaulted his face.
"Whoosh—"
"THUD!!!"
Like a heavy, wet stone smashing into flesh, thick blood splattered everywhere.
The black-clothed man's head snapped backward violently.
He didn't even have time to cry out before half his face was crushed inward.
Thump! He collapsed heavily to the ground.
"Shit! Someone's here!" The capped man's pupils dilated, instinctively pulling a folding knife from his pocket.
But when he saw the burly figure of Li Tieshan emerging from inside, brandishing a massive hammer, he immediately turned and fled.
"Thieves, stand your ground!" Li Tieshan roared, charging out with hammer raised.
At the landing between the fifth and sixth floors, Second Dog—who had been stationed there—heard Li Tieshan's voice and scrambled upward. But just as he reached the sixth-floor platform, Unit 602's lock clicked open. Qin Ziwen swung his machete in a sweeping arc aimed directly at his head.
"Ah!"
Caught completely off guard, the blade struck squarely on his crown.
Qin Ziwen delivered a powerful kick that sent him sprawling to the floor.
"He's yours now."
After speaking, he turned and charged downstairs.
Deng Guang looked at the fallen man, palms sweaty as he tightly gripped his club. "Just stay down and don't move around."
Second Dog struggled to his feet, clutching his head. Without saying a word, he staggered against the wall and continued climbing the stairs. The blow had left him disoriented, with only one thought remaining: he needed to leave this place, he needed to go home.
"CRACK!"
A crisp, sharp sound.
Second Dog swayed, then crashed heavily to the floor.
Blood gushed steadily from the wound on his head.
Behind him, Deng Guang clutched his club tightly, muttering to himself, "I told you not to move! Why wouldn't you listen!"
Behind the door of Unit 601, the male resident quickly averted his gaze, eyes filled with terror.
Seeing his wife approaching from the bedroom, the Unit 601 male resident urgently made a shushing gesture.
On the first floor, Mouse—hearing the commotion—immediately turned and ran.
Taking steps three at a time, he fled frantically.
Fourth floor, third floor, second floor—almost to the first floor!
He ran forward, running wildly.
Rounding the corner, charging down the stairs, sprinting forward.
Mouse's panicked vision completely failed to detect the tall, silent figure concealed in the left corner by the first-floor security door.
Like a frightened rodent, his mind contained only the single word: "RUN."
The security door was right there—just get through it, lose himself among the complex's crowds, and today's disaster would be over.
He even began to show the ecstatic expression of someone granted a reprieve, a smile spreading across his face, revealing his yellowed teeth.
Just as half his body cleared the doorway, from the corner of his eye, a dark glint traced a perfect arc.
It was as if he had run directly into it—the timing was flawlessly precise.
"Thud—"
A sharp pain in his throat.
The expression on Mouse's face instantly froze. He felt as if he were flying, his vision spinning through the air...
He saw the receding ceiling, the familiar security door, the man wearing a black windbreaker and face mask, and finally—a headless corpse continuing to run forward by momentum.
Thump!
The heavy impact sound, like a computer shutting down—everything faded to darkness.
In the shadows of the corner, Qin Ziwu maintained his sword-swinging posture, staring blankly at the machete in his hand, savoring the sensation of that decapitating strike.
He hadn't expected his blade to connect so perfectly.
"Thud—"
At the stairwell corner, the capped man saw the headless corpse at the bottom of the stairs. His legs immediately gave way, and he collapsed against the wall, kneeling.
Holy shit, this guy is the real deal.