266: Chapter 266 Endurance Race

In Lujiazui, Shanghai, Saionji Sawa was sprinting with all her might under the night sky.

Normally, Lujiazui was bustling with people during the day. However, since most of the buildings here were office blocks, it turned into something of a ghost town at night.

There wasn't a soul on the street.

Death Knell's speed was inferior to Demon Dog's, so he let Demon Dog take the lead, allowing him to throw himself into the pursuit of Saionji Sawa.

Using her steel cables and agile movement, Sawa did indeed make rapid progress at first.

But her leg strength was simply no match for Demon Dog's.

After a chase spanning two streets, Demon Dog already had Sawa in his sights in the distance.

The Japan woman found it strange; why couldn't she shake this guy off? Had a tracker been planted on her?

But that shouldn't be possible; she had intentionally changed her clothes specifically to prevent that trick.

However, Saionji Sawa gradually calmed her mind. As long as she could cover the distance of one more street, she would reach the designated location.

As long as Su Nange's words could be trusted, her reinforcements would be waiting for her there.

Could Su Nange's words be trusted? In her current life-or-death situation, Saionji Sawa had to believe him whether she wanted to or not.

Demon Dog couldn't dodge and weave like Saionji Sawa, but his sprinting speed had already surpassed human records.

Furthermore, his endurance was incredible; after running two or three kilometers, his breathing remained steady, just like a machine.

However, at this moment, he wished he could run on all fours and just act like a dog.

If he failed to catch this woman from the island nation, he and Death Knell would truly lose all face.

Saionji Sawa was trying her hardest, but her pace continued to slow down.

She felt like her physical strength was reaching its limit.

But there was still at least a thousand meters left to go.

Couldn't the other side come to meet her halfway? She gritted her teeth and continued to sprint!

She recalled her time in Sakura, where high hopes had been placed on her by her family since childhood.

When she was six or seven years old, her family had specially sought out the strongest rising star of the ninja world at the time, Senju Mizore, to personally instruct her.

Saionji Sawa's childhood was dull; if she wasn't studying advanced subjects, she was training in martial arts and the Way of the Ninja.

Senju Mizore was very strict with her; her daily lessons had to be completed.

However, her master also knew how to encourage her. In the scorching summer, when Saionji Sawa's throat was parched from practice, he would somehow produce a cool, thirst-quenching watermelon out of nowhere.

With one stroke of his blade, the watermelon would be split perfectly in half. He and little Sawa would each hold a half, eating it with spoons.

In Sakura, this was an absolute luxury.

Saionji Sawa herself didn't know why she was remembering so many little moments with her master at this critical juncture.

She knew it was because she buried special feelings for her master deep within her heart.

Perhaps her master also knew little Sawa's feelings. But in Sakura, ninjas ultimately belonged to the darkness; their hands were stained with blood.

Moreover, Saionji Sawa was of noble status; she came from the Saionji Villa of Japan, also known as the Saionji Palace. That villa was the very place where the direction of Japan was decided.

Therefore, after Mizore personally forged the Frost Snow Succubus for Saionji Sawa, he left.

Saionji Sawa tightened her grip on the demonic blade, her expression turning resolute: 'Master, I won't die here. I still want to see you again!'

Demon Dog didn't understand. Why did the woman, who was less than a hundred meters away, suddenly burst forth with a new surge of speed?

Damn it! Why was this opponent so hard to chase this time?

But it didn't matter. I, Demon Dog, will follow you even if you run to the ends of the earth.

Behind Demon Dog, Death Knell also began to slowly catch up.

Although he didn't specialize in speed, figures of this level were all-around 'hexagonal' warriors.

On such an open street, as long as he picked up speed, he could maintain it at an extremely high level.

Saionji Sawa gritted her teeth and persevered. 500 meters, 400 meters, 300 meters!

She just had to turn this corner, and she would be there!

Demon Dog was truly acting like a dog now, running on all fours!

His speed had long since broken human limits, and he continued to close the gap with Saionji Sawa.

Only 200 meters left!

Saionji Sawa's eyes lit up. It was true! That man from Qiantang hadn't lied!

Under the streetlights, in front of a row of commercial vans, a squad of soldiers dressed in matte tactical gear and holding rifles stood ready.

On their pitch-black uniforms, the word "Murong" was embroidered in silver-grey!

And on one of them, visible only at close range, was a dark silver "Xuanchen Totem" alongside the Murong name.

This highlighted the person's status within the squad.

As it turned out, the squad that had come to receive Saionji Sawa was the personal guard of the Gusu Murong Family—the Xuanchen Guard!

Demon Dog also saw people ahead. They were likely more helpers found by this woman!

Demon Dog accelerated again, wanting to kill Saionji Sawa within these two hundred meters.

One of the Xuanchen Guards asked, "Should we help her?"

The man with the "totem" leading them shook his head. "Don't fire unless absolutely necessary. We shouldn't make too much noise."

"However, prepare for combat! Everyone, ready your weapons! Do not fire without my command!"

"Yes, sir!"

Their rifles clicked in unison as they chambered rounds, a sound that was extremely intimidating in the night!

Saionji Sawa felt Demon Dog right behind her, wondering what kind of monster this guy was.

That Su Nange had actually managed to drive both of them away! He was truly impressive!

Seeing his chance, Demon Dog leaped, extending his demonic claws to swipe at Saionji Sawa's back.

Saionji Sawa couldn't stop. She knew the other side weren't official Huaxia soldiers; even if they raised their guns, they wouldn't fire. They were just cheering her on!

So, Saionji Sawa ignored the sharp pain coming from her back.

Demon Dog's Bone-Eating Claw tore through Saionji Sawa's top and slashed her snowy-white back, leaving several deep, bloody gashes.

Saionji Sawa let out a cry of pain; those bone claws were excruciating.

She stumbled, feeling like she was about to lose her balance.

Demon Dog was overjoyed; the opportunity had come!

But Sawa thought quickly; she pressed her demonic blade against the ground to regain her balance! Then, she fired her last steel cable from her sleeve, wrapping it around a large tree by the street.

Using the last of her strength, she leaped high, dodging Demon Dog's fatal strike.

Like a long-distance runner, Saionji Sawa finally crossed the finish line and ducked into the formation of Xuanchen Guards.

Demon Dog stopped less than ten meters in front of the Xuanchen Guards.

A few seconds later, Death Knell also arrived.

The Xuanchen Guard leader didn't waste words and spoke up first: "We are protecting this lady from Japan. If you come any closer, don't blame us for being impolite!"

Demon Dog looked at Death Knell.

Death Knell hesitated. His assassin's instinct told him these people weren't simple. If he thought they only knew how to use guns, it would be a huge mistake.

The fact that these Xuanchen Guards also had special short swords at their waists was enough to show that their cold weapon skills were definitely not weak!

At this moment, after their long pursuit, more than half of their physical strength was depleted. Would they have a chance of winning if they fought them?

They were indeed assassins who looked down upon the Black List; Death Knell was even in the top 10.

But they weren't Superman, after all. Facing such an armed guard in their current state, the chances probably weren't good.

But did they really have to give up? As assassins, how would they explain this to their employer?

While he was hesitating, the sound of sirens approached from the distance behind Death Knell and Demon Dog!

Death Knell thought to himself that things were looking bad; why did the police have to show up at the worst possible moment!

Death Knell tested them: "Hand over the woman! Otherwise, don't blame us for going all out!"

The Xuanchen Guard captain wasn't intimidated in the slightest. "Then bring it on and see for yourself!"

Death Knell looked at the dozen or so dark muzzles opposite him, then at the squad members' standard shooting stances and the position of the safety catches on their guns.

Death Knell didn't doubt for a second that they would actually dare to fire. After all, this was Huaxia, and they had privileges!

Death Knell had no choice but to say, before the police arrived, "Let's retreat!"

Demon Dog also seemed somewhat unwilling. But there was no other way; they still had their most important mission to complete, and it wasn't worth gambling this time.

In any case, once this city was gone, who would know they had failed tonight?

The two assassins glared fiercely at the Xuanchen Guards, then turned around, slipped into another street, and vanished.