Lei Zhengyang wasn't lounging at Liu Weiwei's apartment. Stepping back into the real world felt like a rebirth, a surge of joy and exhilaration he couldn't quite untangle. One thing was clear: he'd cherish every moment of this second chance.
Tianhai was no stranger. He'd visited the city multiple times, leaving a trail of so-called friends. But now, those bonds felt hollow, mere shadows of camaraderie. They weren't true allies—not anymore.
He strolled along Lovers' Lane, a scenic coastal path, letting the sea breeze soothe his racing heart. Arms outstretched, he breathed deeply, a weightlessness he'd never known washing over him. The Lei family's looming crisis and his mission to save Song Yingfei were daunting, but they didn't crush him. For the first time, he had purpose. Compared to his aimless past, he was a man reborn.
Lovers' Lane was quiet, its winding paths more suited for leisurely strolls than bustling crowds. It was a haven for couples, and the few pairs he passed, locked in tender embraces, painted the air with a romantic glow. But as he entered a shaded grove, the vibe shifted. The refreshing sea breeze carried an undercurrent of tension, a subtle wrongness that set his instincts ablaze.
Three men, one woman. A scene eerily similar to last night's alley encounter—thugs preying on a lone woman. But this was no ordinary standoff. The air crackled with danger.
Two Easterners, two Westerners with yellow hair and sharp noses. Two middle-aged, two young. The woman, a striking Easterner with short hair and icy eyes, radiated lethal intent. Her name: Milu. Behind her stood a man, likely her brother, his face etched with pain. Blood seeped from a wound at his waist.
"Milu, if you and your brother come back quietly, the Grand Leader will forgive you," one of the Westerners said, his voice slick with menace. "Business as usual, plus a twenty percent raise. No principle outweighs cold, hard cash, right?"
Milu's eyes blazed, her voice cutting like steel. "Our deal was clear. We'd join Tiansha, but your operations were never to touch Eastern soil. You broke that vow, Moni. Tell your Grand Leader we're done. As of today, my brother and I are out."
Moni, the older Westerner, shook his head with a condescending smirk. "Milu, Tiansha isn't a revolving door. The Grand Leader's orders are simple: return, or we bring back your corpses."
"Xiao Lu, forget me," her brother rasped, clutching his wound. "I'll hold them off. You're no match for Moni." His voice trembled with suppressed agony.
Lei Zhengyang's arrival disrupted the tense exchange. All eyes turned to him.
"Tom, handle it," Moni snapped, his tone dripping with disdain. "I don't want bystanders mucking up our business. It's… distracting."
Tom, a hulking figure billed as Tiansha's top third-generation warrior, let out a gleeful chuckle. "No one's interrupting you, Moni. I'm here to learn from the master, remember? Just keep your promise—Milu's mine to deal with." A notorious assassin, Tom's name echoed through the underworld, an idol to lesser killers. But he had a weakness: Milu. His obsession with the Eastern beauty was his Achilles' heel.
The Grand Leader saw it as a test. Break Tom's heart, shatter his attachment to love, and he'd become unstoppable. Handing Milu to him was a calculated move—let him indulge, prove that power trumped desire. Love was a pathetic illusion, unworthy of pursuit. With enough strength, any woman could be his.
"Done," Moni agreed, his confidence unshaken. Milu was a challenge, but her injured brother tethered her. Without him, she'd have slipped their grasp long ago. Moni couldn't fathom her loyalty. To him, emotions were garbage, fit only for the Pacific's depths. Her devotion was her fatal flaw, and today, it would cost her everything.
"Run!" Milu roared at Lei Zhengyang, her body a blur as she lunged at Moni, a slender rapier flashing in her hand. The blade was so fine, only Lei Zhengyang's keen eyes caught its glint in the dim grove. Moni, no stranger to her skills, dodged with practiced ease, his movements fluid. Her swordplay, infused with mysterious Eastern techniques, was formidable, but he sidestepped her strike, aiming for her wounded brother.
Milu's heart sank. Her brother couldn't withstand Moni's assault. She pivoted, redirecting her blade to protect him, abandoning her chance to warn Lei Zhengyang.
Tom sauntered toward Lei Zhengyang, his gaze predatory, like a cat toying with a mouse. "Easterner, you've seen too much. Sorry, but you're a dead man."
Lei Zhengyang sighed inwardly. Talk about bad luck. Yesterday, street punks. Today, professional killers. The aura radiating from these four was no joke—raw, lethal power.
"But I don't want to die," Lei Zhengyang said, his tone almost playful. "What now?"
Tom grinned, brandishing a gleaming knife. "Don't worry, it'll be painless. This beauty's called Angel's Smile. Trust me, you'll go out with a grin—maybe even catch God's eye and become an angel yourself."
Lei Zhengyang eyed the blade. A fine weapon, no question. "Sounds tempting. Let's test it."
Before Tom could react, Lei Zhengyang moved—faster than a blink, faster than thought. Tom hadn't even considered him a threat, his arrogance blinding him. The knife sliced across Tom's throat, still clutched in his own hand. A strange, eerie smile froze on his face as he collapsed, eyes wide with disbelief.
Milu and Moni froze, their gazes snapping to the scene. Shock rippled through them. Tom was no pushover—even against the East's elite Blade Warriors, he'd hold his own. Yet he was dead. Dead.
Moni took a cautious step back, his voice low and wary. "Who are you? Are you… the Blade's Charm?"
Tiansha, a global assassin syndicate, was infamous for its ruthlessness. They'd clashed with elite forces worldwide, and in the East, one name struck fear: the Blade Corps, the military's deadliest solo operatives. Among them, the Blade's Charm was a legend, said to wield a knife with such mastery that his kills left no trace.
"Nope," Lei Zhengyang said, shrugging casually. "Just a passerby. I heard Westerners were gentlemen, but clearly, that's a myth. Harassing a pretty lady like this? Call me a knight in shining armor, stepping in to right a wrong."
Moni's lips twitched into a bitter smile. Anyone bold enough to intervene in his presence was either a fool or a hero. And this man was no fool.
"Milu, you're lucky today," Moni said, his tone cold. "But this is just the beginning. Pray your luck holds." A master assassin, Moni wasn't reckless. Without confidence in defeating this stranger, he chose retreat. With a leap, he dove into the sea, vanishing beneath the waves.
Lei Zhengyang could've pursued, but he didn't. This mess wasn't his fight. He hadn't saved Milu and her brother so much as stumbled into their war. The truth of their conflict was still a mystery, and he wasn't in the mood to play detective.