The moon lingered in the sky as Smoke found himself in the neighborhood the slip of paper named. The old town was run down, it wasn't far from the contact's mansion, about a quarter mile to the east. As Smoke walked the streets of the seedy town, he could tell that evil ran rampant.
"Hey man, you look like you need something to uplift you... I got what you need, if you got the cash." The stranger's voice caught Smoke's attention. He stood in a dark alley, flashing Smoke the inside of his jacket, filled with different types of drugs.
"Actually, there is something you can help me with." The man cackled opening his jacket again.
"Pick your poison." Smoke pulled the slip of paper out of coat, pointing to the name on it.
"This mean anything to you?" The man's expression became panicked as he fumbled with a switchblade. Swiftly Smoke pinched a nerve in the man's shoulder, causing him to drop the knife and fall to his knees. He began to crush the man's hand under his boot.
"Ahh! Okay! Okay! It's a bar, 5th avenue. People don't come outta there man, and if they do they're bagged up in pieces."
"Thanks." Before walking away he kicked the drug dealer in his chest, knocking him out cold.
He approached the bar, entering through the front doors. Smoke took a seat at the bar, looking around.
"Anything I could get you?" The balding bartender smiled at him.
"Just some water." The bartender squinted looking past Smoke, as if he had saw something.
"Coming right up sir." The bartender stood over the sink filling a glass. Smoke noticed the bartender's hand moving oddly and heard a faint fizzing noise.
"Here you go." Smoke sat there silently for a few more minutes, not taking any sips of his drink.
"You gonna drink that or stare at it?" Smoke eyes narrowed staring at the bartender, who's face was red and flustered. Smoke stood up, taking the glass in his hand and lifting it to his face. The bartender smiled as the glass went closer to his lips, but it quickly changed routes. Instead the glass now shattered over the bartender's head, Smoke catching a fist being thrown from behind him flipped his attacker onto the bar and snapped his neck with one hand. Turning around he saw the room filled with thugs, holding makeshift weapons like bats and kitchen knives. Smoke smirked as the one of the gangsters swung at him.
Meanwhile at the Lin Kuei headquarters, Shen Li entered the Grandmaster's chamber.
"Master Shen Li? It is late, you should head to bed." The Grandmaster was lying in his bed, sitting up in the presence of Shen Li.
"Indeed it is quite late, but something troubles me, it is keeping me awake."
"What is it?" The Grandmaster asked, eager to give advice.
"The man who allowed someone close to me to die, he still draws breath. I don't know whether to seek vengeance or forgive him. It has been so long..." The Grandmaster placed his hand on Shen Li's arm.
"My son, you must do what you feel is right. If this man has killed one of your kin he will eventually have to face justice, whether it be in this world or the next." Shen Li gazed into the dragon medallion.
"I see...."
Smoke ducked the swing of the thug, delivering a punch to the man's throat Smoke shattered his trachea. The other four men were stunned for a moment as they listened to their friend gasp for air to no avail. The skinniest thug charged him, screaming as he brought the kitchen knife down towards Smoke. The knife was kicked out of his grasp and sent flipping in the air, Smoke delivered another swift kick, knocking the man to the ground. As Smoke snatched the knife from the air, one of the thugs reached towards his waist. Before he could draw his gun the knife was thrown into his forehead. As the last two thugs were sprayed by their friend's blood, Smoke lifted his leg up high and the skinny gangster's spine snapped like a twig under his boot as he brought his leg down.
"What the f&%k?! This guy aint human man!" The long haired gang member dropped his bat and then put his hands up in the air.
"Shut up! He'll bleed like everyone else!" The man pulled a revolver from his hip as he puffed on a cigarette.
"Any last words hotshot?" He pulled the hammer back on his gun.
"Smoking will kill you." The man's look was puzzled before his head exploded, his neck spraying blood like a fountain.
"The Butcher. Where is he?" Smoke pulled the last surviving gangster's greasy hair.
"I don't know man! I don't know!" Smoke dragged him over to bar by his hair, smashing his face into the wood.
"Where is he? Last time I'm asking." The pathetic wannabe thug broke into tears, his broken nose leaking blood.
"You don't understand, he'll kill me!"
"And what exactly do you think I'll do to you?" Smoke pulled his sword from it's scabbard.
"I really don't know! He usually uses abandoned buildings! All he said was that he was going to get 'fresh meat'... please... don't kill me man..." Smoke placed his sword back in it's sheath.
"You get to live this time. If I ever see you again it will be a different story."
Smoke walked out of the bar and began strolling down the street. He was disgusted by the condition of this city, as he turned the corner to the next street. After walking a few blocks he passed by a police car, overhearing a conversation between the two officers.
"We got a report of screams a couple blocks north, in a warehouse. You think we should check it out?" The beat cop asked his partner.
"Nah, let someone else handle that shit. I say we get a bite to eat."
"I'm pretty hungry too." The cruiser drove away, and Smoke smirked as he headed north. Arriving at the boarded up warehouse, he could see a man and a woman inside and sirens closing in quickly.
"Hehehe I can't wait to dice you up." The man was obese and bald, a twisted grin on his face. The girl cries were muffled by a piece of cloth over her mouth. The butcher heard the police sirens outside and began to cackle.
"Looks like we are gonna have to 'cut' this short! Hahaha, Ahahahah! AHAHAHA!" The butcher lifted his cleaver into the air, ready to slice.
"Let's get in there! If that's the butcher we have to catch this bastard!" The police officer commanded the other lawmen to use the battering ram to break down the door.
"GYYAAAAAAAHHHH!!!" The police heard the screech come from the inside of the warehouse.
"Shit! Get in there now!" After a few more rams the door caved in, the police were shocked by the scene layed out in front of them.