The crew Master Chen mentioned wasn't local—it was in Tianjin.
Li Si gave Feng Su a call before heading out. She sounded distracted and waved him off casually. "Up to you."
She had been acting strange lately—no longer showing up around the house, barely cooking, disappearing for days. Whatever she was up to, it clearly occupied her.
Five days later, as soon as Li Si wrapped his scenes, he boarded a flight to Tianjin with Master Chen.
The crew on the other end was warm and welcoming, even sending a car to pick them up. As soon as they got in, Master Chen leaned forward and said to the driver, "Brother, this is the Li Si I told you about."
Li Si was caught off guard. He didn't expect the driver to be anyone special, but judging by the introduction, he clearly was. Li Si gave a polite greeting.
The driver chuckled. "What a well-mannered young man. Looks like someone destined for stardom."
The last leg of the journey took them through a subway station. One by one, Master Chen and his senior brothers passed through the security gates. Li Si brought up the rear.
Just as he stepped past the scanner, several police officers stiffened. "Wait! What's in your clothes?"
Li Si blinked, innocent as ever. "Probably just a misunderstanding."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a sleek, silver pen. "I needed to sign something. Forgot it was in there."
His harmless demeanor and clean appearance did the rest. After a few tense seconds, they let him go.
The senior brother looked back, laughing. "What were you signing, huh?"
"No," Li Si said mildly, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Nothing at all."
He walked on, leaving the senior brother momentarily frozen.
The man stared after him, recalling the glint of that pen tip—sharp, precise. A chill crept down his spine. That hadn't been a joke.
He quickened his pace and caught up to Master Chen, whispering, "Brother, are you sure about this kid? I mean... is he really okay?"
Master Chen gave him a glance. "He's got problems."
The senior brother's stomach dropped.
"I told you—his boxing is too wild. Needs to learn the rules."
"That's not what I mean," the senior brother muttered. "I mean... he doesn't seem to care much for the law."
Master Chen burst out laughing. "Li Si? Please. I'd sooner believe I'd die jumping off this train than believe that boy's a killer."
The film's director was a man named Tian. Li Si hadn't been around long enough in this world to recognize industry big shots, but judging by how deferential Master Chen acted, Director Tian was clearly important.
Li Si didn't want trouble. Master Chen told him to say hello, so he said hello. Told him to call him "Brother," so he called him "Brother."
Once work began, Li Si realized that Master Chen wasn't the only martial artist on set. There were seventeen others—Master Chen's brothers, each with their own skills and quirks.
Then, among the chaos, Li Si spotted a face even he recognized: Liu Jinsheng—winner of the Jinhua Award for Best Actor. A living legend. Box office gold.
Of course, none of that had anything to do with Li Si. He was just a lowly stunt assistant.
"Xiao Li! Bring the protective gear!"
One of the martial artists mistook him for Master Chen's apprentice and immediately put him to work. Despite Master Chen's glances, Li Si simply smiled and waved him off. "It's fine."
He happily moved box after box of sweat-soaked gear.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he froze.
Dong Fan.
Since their last encounter—the one where Li Si had terrified the man into leaving the crew—Dong Fan had disappeared. His role had been reassigned to a more palatable idol actor. Li Si hadn't expected to see him again.
Dong Fan wasn't alone. He held a woman's hand, and they were laughing together, sweetly, intimately.
They walked right past Li Si, who remained a silent, unnoticeable crew member.
But he didn't miss the opportunity. Using the reflection in a nearby lens, he quietly snapped a few photos of the woman.
Once they were out of sight, he took out his phone and ran a search.
The results came quickly.
An Hong. Executive at Jinsheng Entertainment. Senior film critic. Former judge of the 15th Jinhua Awards.
Married.
Li Si's eyes gleamed with quiet triumph.
"Caught it."
"Hey! Master Chen's looking for you!" someone shouted.
Snapping out of it, Li Si masked his expression and jogged off with a box in his arms.
He found Master Chen helping an actress into her harness.
She was young, with platinum hair and a bold kind of beauty. While adjusting the wires, she giggled at something Master Chen said, and both of them laughed.
Seeing Li Si approach, Master Chen slowed his movements, his voice rising deliberately.
"...And this limiter here? Super important. I'll explain why in a second—just watch first..."
"Master Chen, don't treat me like your protégé," the actress teased with a smile.
Master Chen chuckled awkwardly—she was gently reminding him to hurry up.
A few final adjustments, and he stepped back. "Alright, let's give that move a try."
The actress nodded with bright determination.
Everyone's eyes were on her. Except Li Si's.
His gaze had drifted—drawn by instinct—to the crowd.
A man in a gray hoodie, his face obscured, stepped forward.
Something about him made the hairs on Li Si's neck rise. A feeling he couldn't name. Something primal.
Like recognizing his own kind.
The wires lifted, and the actress began to rise, her face flushed with excitement.
At the same moment, the hooded man made his move.
From beneath his coat, he pulled out a silver canister and cocked his arm.
The actress, floating above, saw it all unfold in horrifying slow motion. Her eyes widened in shock, lips parted to scream—but she was too far away, too suspended, too late.
The canister flew.
And then—
Crash!
It collided mid-air with a box of protective gear. Equipment tumbled everywhere.
The actress froze in disbelief. The crew gaped. Even the attacker stopped in shock.
Only Li Si kept moving.
He lunged like a predator unleashed.
The man reacted, drawing a butterfly knife with a twisted snarl and charging.
Li Si dropped the pen cap.
Pfft.
The soft, wet sound of metal piercing flesh.
"Ahhh!!!"
The first scream finally shattered the silence.
---
To be Continued...