Hùng had adjusted to his new life in Tấn’s body over the past few months. Every day was a learning process, mastering the skills and habits of the man whose body he now occupied. Tấn had been a mechanic, a trade that Hùng had no experience in, but his new hands had taken to the work surprisingly well. The quiet life on the outskirts of the city gave him time to think, to plan, and most importantly, to remain unnoticed. It was the perfect camouflage for what he intended to do next.

In the quiet of his small workshop, the buzz of tools and the clinking of metal often soothed Hùng’s mind. He found it almost meditative, a strange contrast to the boiling hatred that simmered beneath the surface. The rage was always there, lurking, but it was now controlled, disciplined. Hùng understood that his revenge would take time, and it would have to be exact.

Researching the Enemy

His first real challenge was to understand the life of his enemy. Quân. The man who had once been his closest friend had now risen to a place of power, sitting comfortably in his stolen wealth. Quân, who had once been so insecure and relied on Hùng’s advice, now basked in luxury, using the money and assets he and Thu had taken from Hùng’s estate. It disgusted him.

Hùng had tracked Quân to a sleek office building in the center of the city, an architectural marvel of glass and steel. It was a world far removed from the modest garage where Hùng now worked, but the distance between them was only physical. Mentally, Hùng was always in that office, planning his approach, watching from the shadows.

In the evenings, Hùng spent hours on the internet, researching Quân's life. He learned about the man’s business empire, his connections, and his personal habits. He discovered that Quân lived in an upscale neighborhood with tight security, but that wasn’t an obstacle. Hùng didn’t intend to approach Quân directly, not yet. First, he would unravel the life Quân had built for himself, piece by piece.

Unseen Observations

It was a cool evening when Hùng first visited Quân’s neighborhood. Dressed in simple clothes, he moved quietly among the alleys, unnoticed. He watched as luxury cars pulled into driveways, as security cameras panned across the street, tracking the expensive vehicles but paying no attention to someone like Hùng. He was invisible here.

Quân’s house was a fortress compared to the others. High walls, security gates, and cameras placed strategically around the property. But even the most secure places had vulnerabilities, and Hùng had the patience to find them. From a distance, he observed the routines. Quân’s driver arrived every morning at 7:30, the housekeeper left at noon for groceries, and the security patrols were infrequent at best. It was all information to store away for later.

First Contact

The first time Hùng approached Quân, it wasn’t to confront him, but to make himself known—subtly. He waited until Quân was in a public setting, surrounded by people, knowing that the sight of his old friend would trigger a reaction. But Quân wouldn’t see Hùng’s face. Instead, Hùng left a note on Quân’s desk at his office, slipping past the lax security one evening when the cleaning crew was busy.

The note was simple, typed in bold letters: "Remember me?"

The next day, Hùng was back at his garage, fixing a motorbike, when he imagined Quân’s reaction. Would he dismiss it as a prank? Would he feel a flicker of fear? It didn’t matter. The seed had been planted. Quân would begin to question everything around him, and that uncertainty was the first step in dismantling his life.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Finding Thu

While Quân was the primary target, Hùng knew he couldn’t forget Thu. The woman who had once been his wife, the mother of his child, now lived a life of her own. She and Quân hadn’t stayed together after his death. In fact, their relationship had crumbled shortly after Hùng’s funeral. It was a small victory, knowing they hadn’t succeeded in staying together, but it wasn’t enough. Thu had taken her share of the assets and left, disappearing into the quieter parts of the city. She lived alone now, not far from the place where their daughter, his daughter, was kept in the orphanage.

It was one thing to plan revenge against Quân, but seeing Thu again would be different. Hùng didn’t know if he could face her yet. The memories of their time together were still too raw, too conflicting. He remembered the good times—when they first met, the early days of their marriage, and how she had once looked at him with love. But all that had been shattered when he discovered her betrayal. She had been the one to turn on him first, to choose greed over love, and to hand him over to Quân’s machinations.

Still, he needed to see her. Not to confront her, not yet, but to understand who she had become in the years since his death.

The Encounter

It was a rainy afternoon when Hùng finally saw Thu again. He had tracked her to a small café in the city, a quiet place where she sat alone, sipping tea by the window. She looked different. Older, of course, but there was something else—something weary in the way she carried herself. Gone was the vibrant woman he had once known, replaced by someone who seemed lost, almost regretful.

Hùng stayed outside, watching her through the rain-soaked window. For a moment, he felt the sting of old emotions, the love that had once been there mixed with the sharp pain of betrayal. But he reminded himself of why he was here. This wasn’t about reconciliation. This was about justice—about making her pay for what she had done.

His hands clenched into fists as he watched her stand and gather her things. She left the café, walking slowly down the street, unaware of his presence. Hùng didn’t follow her. He had seen enough. The time would come when he would face her, but not yet. He needed to prepare, to ensure that when he finally confronted her, she would understand the full weight of her betrayal.

A New Alliance

Back at the garage, Hùng’s mind was racing. He had the information he needed on both Quân and Thu, but there was still one more piece to the puzzle: allies. He couldn’t do this alone, not if he wanted to bring down Quân’s empire and ruin Thu’s life. He needed someone on the inside—someone who could help him without asking too many questions.

That’s when he remembered an old acquaintance of Tấn’s, a man named Vinh who worked in the underworld, dealing in secrets and favors. Vinh was someone who knew how to move in the shadows, just like Hùng. They had crossed paths before, back when Hùng had been figuring out Tấn’s life. Vinh had recognized him as a man with a past, though he hadn’t pressed for details.

Hùng met with Vinh late one evening in a back alley near the docks. Vinh was a wiry man with sharp eyes, always watching, always calculating. He greeted Hùng with a nod, his expression neutral but curious.

“You need something?” Vinh asked, lighting a cigarette.

“I need information,” Hùng replied, his voice low. “On a man named Quân.”

Vinh’s eyes narrowed. “Big shot in the city, right? What’s your interest in him?”

Hùng didn’t answer directly. Instead, he pulled out a small stack of cash, offering it to Vinh. The man took it without hesitation, pocketing the money and nodding.

“Alright,” Vinh said, exhaling smoke. “I’ll see what I can dig up. But whatever you’re planning, you’d better be careful. Men like him have a lot of enemies. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up at the bottom of the river.”

Hùng smirked. “Let them try.”

As Vinh disappeared into the night, Hùng felt the first stirrings of satisfaction. His plan was beginning to take shape. He wasn’t the same man who had died all those years ago. Now, he was the hunter, and his prey wouldn’t even see him coming.