"Fire." Sha Kun, seeing that the two were at an impasse, issued the order to fire without hesitation.

Luo Chao's eyes narrowed, just as he was about to act. "Stop, there are snipers hidden. Leave this person to me to handle, you guys retreat first." Poppy stopped them.

"Alright." Sha Kun agreed immediately, eager to leave this volatile place. Poppy was a bodyguard he had spent a hefty sum to hire for his own safety. Seeing her step up to block a formidable enemy at this moment made him very satisfied.

Luo Chao watched helplessly as Sha Kun escaped into the deep mountains, not giving chase. He knew Poppy wouldn't let him succeed.

"I'm curious, with your status, how did Sha Kun manage to hire you?" Luo Chao broke the silence.

"That's not something you need to ask. I need to get rid of you quickly and go after them." Poppy replied.

"Are you confident you can take me down?"

"You'll only know if you try." With that, Poppy charged towards Luo Chao. Like a nimble leopardess, the blade in her hand gleamed dully.

Seeing Poppy coming at him, Luo Chao's expression remained unchanged. His right leg swung out like a steel whip, aiming directly at Poppy's pretty face. Showing mercy at this moment would cost him his life.

Poppy was running, and seeing Luo Chao's powerful leg swinging at her, she didn't have time to dodge. She could only cross her arms in a defensive position to protect her head, taking the full force of the whip kick.

This kick was delivered by Luo Chao with all his strength, holding nothing back. Poppy was sent flying six or seven meters back, her feet skidding across the ground, leaving two clear marks. Luo Chao pursued his advantage, grabbing Poppy's wrist holding the short blade with one hand while stabbing towards her stomach with a military dagger in his other hand.

Suddenly, Luo Chao felt his grip empty. Poppy had broken free from his grasp, dropping the short blade to the ground. With a swift turn, she avoided Luo Chao's dagger, agilely wrapping her legs around one of his arms, using her waist to twist violently, bringing Luo Chao down to the ground with her.

Poppy's legs clamped around Luo Chao's neck, her hands locking one of his arms in a crucifix hold. As she exerted force, Luo Chao was in immediate pain, his arm feeling like it was being twisted apart, and his previously firm grip on the tri-edge military dagger lost, causing it to fall to the ground.

"Damn, you bitch." Luo Chao cursed angrily, his words slurred. His shoulder was dislocated.

Enduring the intense pain in his arm and neck, he struggled to stand. Poppy was still clinging to his arm like a koala, continuously applying pressure, seemingly determined to bend Luo Chao's elbow out of shape.

"Damn, bitch, let's see who's tougher, you or me. It's just one arm, no big deal." Luo Chao hissed through clenched teeth, a hint of ruthlessness flashing across his face. With his dislocated arm unable to exert force, he began to spin his body, and Poppy, clinging to him, was compelled to rotate with him. As the speed increased, Luo Chao suddenly slammed his arm to the ground, causing Poppy's back to hit hard, her white neck arching in pain, her flame-red lips trembling.

But her gaze remained resolute, silent with no signs of loosening, instead applying even more force.

"Damn it." Luo Chao, also in immense pain from his actions, was furious that he couldn't shake Poppy off. "Let's see whose bones are tougher!"

Standing up again, he repeated the action. After five tries, blood finally trickled from the corner of Poppy's mouth, a sign of severe internal trauma.

Poppy realized that if the standoff continued, she might be shaken to death, whereas Luo Chao's only cost was one arm. She decisively disengaged from Luo Chao's body, dodging to the side, kneeling on one knee and wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth.

Luo Chao looked at his twisted arm, "Crack~," he reset his dislocated shoulder with his left hand, though it wouldn't be functional for a while.

"Poppy, we haven't seen each other in so long, and you're still as beautiful and ruthless as your code name implies. You're not only ruthless to others, but also to yourself. Your internal organs must feel awful now, huh?" Luo Chao taunted: "I admire you. You've given yourself a code name that perfectly fits your nature. It's quite self-aware."

"Dark Night, your mouth is as annoying as ever," Poppy retorted, not to be outdone.

"Hehe~, you'll know just how formidable my mouth is if you test it," Luo Chao deliberately twisted her words to provoke her.

A flash of anger swept across Poppy's face, quickly concealed. "What's the use of talking tough? You're destined to fail this mission," she said, trying to agitate Luo Chao as she referenced the incident, mirroring his own intent.

A sly smile appeared on his face: "Oh? I don't think so. I believe I can wrap up this mission soon."

Hearing this, Poppy felt a touch of doubt, sensing something amiss. She wondered: Could he have another accomplice beside that sniper?

Suddenly, a blast of wind hit her face, stinging her skin. A massive fist was closing in on her pretty face.

She back-flipped away to dodge the punch, but Luo Chao's following kick still struck her butt, burning with pain.

"Despicable," Poppy cursed angrily. Luo Chao had ambushed her while she was distracted.

Luo Chao didn't mind her insults, caring little for what's considered despicable. To him, as long as he could deal with the enemy, any method was fair game—Royal Language Academy or not.

If Yuan Fei were here, he wouldn't find this strange, as their instructor was both a Soldier King and notoriously unscrupulous, having pulled such shameless stunts before.

In this time, both had somewhat recovered. For veterans like them, recovery speed was far beyond that of ordinary people, which is why they've exchanged so many idle words.

Poppy, having taken a hard hit, immediately resumed her skirmish with Luo Chao. They fought fiercely with punches and kicks. But suddenly, a burst of gunfire interrupted their battle.

After exchanging strikes, they separated, standing on opposite sides.

"What the hell happened? What did you do to Sha Kun?" Poppy demanded from Luo Chao, her face grave with tension.

"Wanna know? I'm not telling. Come bite me," Luo Chao replied with an insolent expression.

Poppy decided not to dwell on the bickering, sprinting towards the scene of the commotion. Luo Chao followed unhurriedly behind, not rushing to stop her. He believed the situation was already under control.

A few minutes later, Poppy was met with a field of corpses. Oddly, she seemed indifferent to Sha Kun's death, heading straight for a briefcase lying not far from his body. Just as she was about to grab it, gunshots rang out once more. She narrowly dodged a bullet with a sidestep, the projectile grazing her bosom.

In that brief moment, Luo Chao snatched the briefcase into his hands.

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