"I never thought I'd witness something like this," Li Huo muttered, his voice tinged with exhaustion.
He sighed deeply. "What a mess..."
Bending down, Li Huo pressed two fingers against Shang Fei's neck to check for a pulse. After a moment, he was certain—Shang Fei was dead.
They killed him, didn't they?
"No," Li Huo replied softly, almost to himself. "They didn't just kill him. They killed an innocent man—or, to put it another way, they killed who Shang Fei was supposed to become."
His gaze darkened as he straightened up. "System," he called, his tone steady but low.
[What is it?]
"Who reincarnated them?" he asked. "Or, to phrase it better, why were they reincarnated too?"
The system hesitated. [I genuinely don't know, Huo. I only just discovered it myself.]
Li Huo's sharp eyes narrowed. "You don't know, or you're lying to me?"
[Huo, even though we don't exactly share a deep bonding , what would I gain by lying?]
The system's voice was measured, almost indignant.
[I told you—I'm just a pawn like you. A high-ranking one, sure, but still a pawn.]
Li Huo exhaled sharply, his gaze fixed on the lifeless body before him. "So, what now? Should I kill them?"
[They're at the beginner level of internal energy, same as you. Fighting them would be risky, let alone killing them.]
"Fair enough," he muttered, nodding. "They don't seem to be planning anything against me, anyway. But just in case, I'll pretend to be my old self when I meet them. That way, they won't suspect I've been reborn."
Turning back to Shang Fei's body, Li Huo's expression softened momentarily. "Hand me some oil and a lighter."
[Why?]
"I won't leave his body to rot here. Even though I know he will somehow come back, I won't allow my old enemy's corpse to be disrespected."
[Fine.]
A bottle of oil and a lighter materialized in mid-air. Li Huo caught them and began his grim task. He poured the oil over Shang Fei's body, struck the lighter, and threw it onto the corpse. Flames consumed the lifeless form, their crackling the only sound in the stillness of the basement.
With a heavy heart, Li Huo turned and climbed the stairs, emerging into the dim light outside.
He made his way to the car, where Hua Rong and Sha Li waited. Sliding into the back seat, he shut the door.
"Where were you?" Hua Rong asked, her irritation clear. "I told you to stay in the car."
"Bathroom break," Li Huo replied casually, leaning back in his seat.
Hua Rong huffed but let it go. "Fine."
As she started the car, her frustration bubbled over. "Honestly, it's such a pain. Those bastards dare to blame me for all the destruction! It was their idea to kidnap orphans and turn them into killing machines. Now that it's backfiring, they're pointing fingers at me!" She struck the steering wheel, her anger palpable.
Sha Li, ever cautious, broke the silence. "Instructor, where are we going?"
"To a clothing store," Hua Rong replied. "You both need suits for a party tonight."
"A party?" Li Huo raised his eyebrows. "What's the occasion?"
"The military governor's daughter is getting married. I was invited," she said, glancing at him in the rearview mirror. "It's a chance to socialize and build connections. You two should take advantage of it."
"We will, Instructor," Sha Li said earnestly.
The car stopped in front of a high-end clothing store. The three of them got out and entered. The store was empty, except for the only receptionist that was present there .Hua Rong approached the receptionist.
"Take their measurements and prepare suits for them," she instructed, though she couldn't hide her surprise when she realized the only person at the store was... the receptionist.
The receptionist nodded, completely ignoring Hua Rong's surprised expression, and approached Li Huo with a measuring tape. "Please remove your shirt, sir," she said.
Li Huo hesitated, shooting a look at Hua Rong, who raised an eyebrow as if to say, Just do it.
Reluctantly, he pulled off his shirt, revealing a lean, muscular physique that seemed almost sculpted. His defined abs and chiseled arms drew more attention than he liked.
Hua Rong's eyes widened slightly, and she quickly looked away to suppress a whistle. Sha Li stared in quiet amazement, while the receptionist's professionalism faltered.
She measured his biceps, her touch lingering a moment too long. Then she moved to his neck, then his abdomen, where her fingers brushed against his abs more than necessary.
"Now for the lower half," she said, almost eagerly. "Please remove your—"
Li Huo caught her wrist before she could finish. "There's no need. I will do the measurement myself," he said firmly. His sharp gaze pinned her in place. "And for the record, what you're doing is harassment. Don't try this with anyone else. They might not be as forgiving as I am."
The receptionist blushed furiously. "I—I wouldn't do this with anyone else! Only you!"
Is she mentally unwell? Li Huo thought.
[Seems like it,] the system chimed in dryly.
Flustered, the receptionist handed him the measuring tape. "Fine, measure it yourself," she muttered.
Li Huo quickly noted down his trouser's measurement in private before passing the measurement tape to Sha Li, he also handed his trouser measurement over to the receptionist.
"What colors do you both want?" she asked, still red-faced.
"Black," Li Huo said curtly.
"Navy blue," Sha Li added.
The receptionist returned with the suits.
Hua Rong paid for the suits while Li Huo and Sha Li changed.
After a while, Li Huo stepped out of the changing room dressed in a sleek black suit. The tailored fit accentuated his lean build, giving him the aura of a refined gentleman and a dangerous edge. With his sharp features and effortless confidence, he looked like a classic heartthrob—a true lady killer.
Sha Li followed shortly, clad in his navy blue suit. Though his charm didn't lie in delicate features or subtle allure, the suit highlighted his solid physique and broad shoulders. The powerful presence he exuded gave him a majestic air, like a warrior dressed for a formal battle.
Hua Rong nooded appreciatively admiring her master piece while Sha Li asked.
"Are we heading to the wedding now?" Sha Li asked. "And aren't you going to change, Instructor?"
"I'll change at the hotel," Hua Rong replied. "You two focus on mingling. Don't waste this opportunity."
They arrived at a five-star hotel, where Hua Rong showed the invitation at the gate. After parking, she handed them their own invitation cards.
"Keep these on you at all times," she instructed. "If someone asks, show them.
With that, she left to change.
Li Huo, feeling bored entered the hallway and found a quiet corner with Sha Li. He sipped on a drink, nibbling on some snacks, when his eyes caught a familiar figure in the distance.
He groaned inwardly, pressing a hand to his forehead. Why is she here again?