The thick curtains were drawn tightly shut. In a room like this, a normal person would be immersed in complete darkness. But this man didn’t care at all.He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handgun, expertly dismantling it, cleaning each part, and then reassembling it with practiced hands. The final touches were made—magazine clipped in, suppressor screwed on—and he tucked it into his vest. He then pulled out a clawed knife, twirled it a few times in his hand, and with a quick flick, tucked it neatly back into his waistband. This knife had incredible cutting power, capable of slicing through muscle and severing arteries with ease. It was his favorite weapon.
"Next time, you guys handle the office supplies, we’ll just head up the mountain. That way, you rough guys won’t scare the kids," a tall, long-haired girl said with a playful smile.Leng Yue, always one to joke around, grinned back. "Oh, sure. The kids in the mountains are so delicate, huh? You guys keep carrying them. Even the young men are turning into softies."The group laughed as they left the mountain. Outside, several cars were scattered across the grassy field.
“It’s getting dark. Let’s find a spot to hang out. We could grab a drink,” one of the girls suggested.“I can’t. I’ve got something tonight I can’t get out of,” Yi Jingwen pouted.“Me neither. I’ve got work tomorrow. Gotta go home, do some chores, get some sleep,” Leng Yue grinned.“The poor single people,” one of the girls teased. "Let’s go anyway."
They all laughed and chatted as they piled into their cars, heading to their chosen spot. Yi Jingwen flashed Leng Yue a playful smile, the dimples in her cheeks giving her a mischievous charm. Leng Yue nodded and headed to his car. There was still plenty of time—about an hour.
The outskirts were shadowed by dark mountains. Halfway up a small hill, a faint light flickered from a private club. The owner lived behind the club, and he personally oversaw the cooking, making sure every meal was perfect. The ambiance was great, and the food was top-tier. However, it only catered to regular customers.
By 4:00 p.m., the main entrance closed. After that, wealthy businessmen, frowning politicians who only smiled when necessary, or mysterious, expressionless figures would occasionally slip in and out through the side door."Go grab some lettuce," the fat owner ordered.The assistant chef nodded, muttering to himself as he walked toward the back garden, "Hah, these city folks. Won’t eat anything unless it's fertilized with manure. Best if there are a few worm holes… they’ve got the same taste as our village pigs."
"At the time, I was knocked out the moment I stepped out the back door. Didn’t see a thing," the assistant chef later told the police. And indeed, the large bump on the back of his head confirmed his story.The fat owner wasn't much better. As he was frying meatballs, he suddenly passed out, his vision going black. If not for the man who caught him and gently lowered him to the ground, there might have been one very large meatball in the fryer.
The man set the fat owner down, took a plate of food, and approached the private room. He listened carefully, then knocked on the door.These guests all thought they were discussing important business, probably talking about things that were better kept quiet. If he opened the door like a regular restaurant and barged in, they might lose customers."If it weren’t for your dad going to the bathroom, I wouldn’t dare say anything. But we’re doing this now... too many people’s interests are at stake. Do you know how much of a risk I’m taking, Chen Shu?" an elderly man was saying. Upon hearing the knock, he called out, "Come in!"As soon as the door opened, the man immediately identified the target. Without hesitation, he pressed the trigger under the tray. There was a soft "pop" as a small hole appeared on the old man’s forehead. Then, his eyes moved to the woman across from him.How is it her?!The man hesitated, a violent inner struggle, but quickly regained composure and lowered his voice. “Quiet,” he said, silencing the woman’s scream. He raised his gun at her and exited, closing the door behind him.
Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
Leng Yue was busy packing his things. His long fingers, full of strength, still trembled slightly. This was the first time he had broken the rules.His phone rang, just as he had expected—an unknown number.“Why wasn’t the area cleared?” The voice on the other end was devoid of emotion."I wore a mask. No need for that," Leng Yue tried to remain calm."Anyone who sees them can’t be left alive. That’s the rule."“Understood.”“You’ve used your first life. Remember, you only have one left.”“Got it.”No matter what he thought inside, his face remained calm, without a trace of dissatisfaction. In the face of such a powerful organization, even a top-tier assassin didn’t have much say.The call ended, and Leng Yue knew that if he made another mistake, the organization would "dispose" of him without mercy.Of course, if he didn’t have his golden credentials, he wouldn’t even have gotten this chance.
But Leng Yue wasn’t upset. In fact, he almost felt relieved. If he hadn’t worn the mask today, he might have had to kill Yi Jingwen.Their few interactions during charity events had left him with a rare, hazy feeling of affection for her. In his lonely world, she was an anomaly. If he could avoid shooting her, that would be the best.
Once everything unnecessary was taken care of, Leng Yue grabbed his suitcase and entered the airport.After checking in and passing through security, he bought a coffee and walked to the gate, sipping as he went.The mocha had too much foam, so Leng Yue blew at it. When he looked up, he accidentally bumped into an old man.Leng Yue was puzzled. There was no one around just a second ago—how could they have collided? He instinctively apologized. The old man smiled kindly and waved him off. They nodded to each other before parting ways.
Leng Yue thought it was just an accident. He sipped the last of his coffee, disposed of the cup, and sat down in the waiting area.As he opened his e-book, he suddenly felt a sharp discomfort in his stomach. Checking the time—1:15, with over an hour left before the flight—he grabbed his suitcase and headed straight for the bathroom.
The airport restroom was clean and spacious. Leng Yue chose the farthest stall, placed his suitcase to the side, and began to undress.Just as he crouched down, he suddenly felt the world darken. Thousands of inky threads rushed toward his eyes from all directions.His body felt light, and before he could react, a powerful force swept him into a pitch-black void. He had no time to process it before he found himself in the middle of a dense forest."What the hell is this? Where am I? What are these things?!"About ten meters away, a young Taoist priest in a green robe was fighting fiercely with three wild beasts, two large and one small. Were these wolves? Why were they so huge? So fierce?Leng Yue, completely naked, crouched between two trees, frozen in shock, staring at the bizarre scene in front of him. His toilet paper trembled in his fingers.
The Taoist priest saw Leng Yue materialize out of nowhere. Initially overjoyed, his expression collapsed when he saw Leng Yue’s appearance."What are you doing? Move!" he shouted.No matter who the Taoist was, no matter what was happening, if he died here, these beasts would tear him apart.Leng Yue, without hesitation, jumped into action. He knew how to prioritize in moments like this.