"That has to have done it."

"Bullets don't kill him... Is he even human? A rocket is a different ballgame, though. Nothing made of flesh and blood stops a rocket."

"Right? Even large animals can take a few rounds. Not a rocket, though."

Every guard in the yard had his eyes on the spot where Lu Changsheng had been standing. It was the age of guns and rocket launchers. It was possible for a rifle not to kill some things, but a rocket launcher would definitely finish the job. The two were not in the same league.

The Long Clan watched the explosion, too. They had activated the rocket launchers, about the deadliest thing they could put their hands on at short notice. If rockets didn't do it, nothing else in the house was going to.

The fireball shrank, guttered, and went out. Through the last of it, they could just make out a figure, still standing exactly where it had been.

Thump. Thump. 

A sound of a heartbeat reverberated, except it was too loud for a heartbeat, and every chest in the courtyard started beating in rhythm with it.

"Wh-What's happening to me?"

"What is this?"

"It's beating too fast. I can't keep up; I'm going to die..."

Men doubled over with their hands clamped over their chests.

Lu Changsheng walked out of the smoke, one step at a time....