Mist?

Synopsis of Mist?, a wuxia novel by Gu Long:

Through the voice of the protagonist, Li Shiba, the author repeatedly ponders whether he, as a killer, is the hunter or the hunted. The author never gives an answer, even at the end. But the moment Li Shiba kills Qian Tong, the “Fifth-Watch Rooster,” I understood: he was both hunter and prey. A killer was lurking in the shadows. He sent messages to those pursuing Li Shiba and had tracked Li Shiba himself, yet he never showed his face. Who was he? Like the book’s title, he was a complete mystery, and no one could know the truth. After much thought, I came up with a few theories: First, he might also be a killer, hired by someone to kill Li Shiba. But lacking the nerve to do it himself, he could only use one person to kill another. Second, he might be a peerless killer hoping to take the places of both Qian Tong and Li Shiba. Unable to kill them both himself, he hired Li Shiba to kill Qian Tong. Whatever the outcome, he would profit from their clash. Third, perhaps he simply wanted to watch two peerless killers face off, with no other motive. The truth could easily be something else, but there’s no need to dwell on it. This book’s appeal lies in far more than just that.