Early the next morning, perhaps due to the blood loss from the previous night, Xiang Ri groggily woke up, his throat parched and itching, compelling him to get up and search for water.
However, as he neared the kitchen, his gaze fell upon a pale, curvaceous figure bent over, seemingly engaged in the very task he intended to do but had yet to accomplish. He watched as the figure opened the refrigerator, retrieved a bottle of purified water, and drank deeply in large gulps.
Unconsciously swallowing, Xiang Ri wasn't sure whether his reaction stemmed from her drinking motions or the alluring silhouette she presented.
That pale figure was none other than Miss An, clad in nothing but her underwear. Even viewed from behind, her appearance stirred excitement in Xiang Ri.
Miss An's figure was indeed enviable, though her penchant for wearing men's suits typically concealed her curvaceous allure. But now, dressed in a white set of underwear, the tiny shorts barely covering half of her hips, her tall, slender figure was on full display. Her shapely thighs, delicate calves, and the graceful curve of her backline created an irresistible attraction.
Perhaps sensing movement behind her, An Xin turned her head while still drinking, the bottle's spout pressed to her lips. When she saw the man staring at her with wide, glowing eyes, her shock caused her to choke, spraying water everywhere as she coughed uncontrollably. Hastily covering her chest, she shrieked, "What are you staring at? Turn around and go back to your room!"
"Why should I? Are you insane?" Xiang Ri retorted with irritation. Squinting, he sized her up and down, clicking his tongue in mock appreciation. "But I must admit, this white outfit of yours is quite nice—definitely better than those suits you usually wear."
"Get out of here!" An Xin didn't catch his words clearly, but seeing him make a move closer, she yelled at him loudly.
Covering his ears with an exaggerated expression of disdain, Xiang Ri replied, "Why are you screaming? So what if you're wearing new clothes? I only came closer because I left my glasses behind and wanted a better look. Forget it! I don't even want to see anymore!"
Turning his head away dramatically, his eyes, however, continued to steal glances at her captivating figure.
Noticing his gaze had shifted elsewhere, An Xin calmed down slightly. Suddenly recalling his earlier comment about her "white outfit," she glanced at herself and realized she was wearing nothing but underwear. If his nearsightedness was as severe as she suspected, it might genuinely look like she was dressed in white. Reassured by this thought, she resolved to prevent him from getting any closer and mockingly quipped, "Since you're so uninterested, why are you still here? Why don't you go back to your room?"
"I'm thirsty. Can't I get a drink?" Xiang Ri grumbled, though inwardly pleased at how easily she had been deceived.
"No! I was here first. Wait until I'm done!" An Xin declared firmly.
Feigning impatience, Xiang Ri waved his hand dismissively. "Fine, I'll wait outside. But hurry up!"
"No waiting, either!" she countered. There was no way she'd let him stay nearby. What if, once she finished and left the kitchen, her attire gave her away?
An Xin knew how dangerous this man could be. Wearing so little in front of him was like inviting a wolf into the house. Her mind whirred for a solution, and an idea struck her. "Hey, since you're so keen on seeing my new outfit, why don't you go back to your room and grab your glasses? You'll be able to see much better then!"
Xiang Ri froze for a moment, realizing he had overplayed his act. Even though he knew this was a ploy to get rid of him, he had no choice but to comply. Chuckling wryly, he said, "Fair enough. I'll go grab them."
With that, he turned and headed toward his room, secretly plotting. Next time she showers, I'll just barge in claiming I can't see. Oh, what a sight that will be!
Watching him retreat, An Xin wasted no time bolting from the kitchen. She rushed into her room, locking the door securely behind her to prevent any unexpected intrusions. Only after getting dressed did she emerge, feeling triumphant for having outsmarted him.
"You… You've changed already? That's just unfair!" Xiang Ri feigned indignation, though he knew the moment was lost.
"I do what I like. What's it to you?" An Xin retorted smugly, her spirits lifted by his feigned frustration.
Sighing dramatically, Xiang Ri replied, "Fine, do as you please. I'm heading to class and can't be bothered with you. Enjoy your moment of pride."
With that, he moved toward the door, deciding to leave for breakfast. After all, with Chu Chu and his apprentice absent, even meals had become a problem. He resolved to bring them back soon, but not before addressing the hidden dangers lurking in the shadows.
The events of last night had given him much to ponder. He concluded that those targeting him likely belonged to one of two groups: a certain militant terrorist organization, such as the one that had attempted to steal 250 nuclear warheads. Having not only thwarted their plans but also eliminated all their operatives in the city, he was undoubtedly their number-one target.
However, this possibility seemed unlikely, as back then he had thoroughly eradicated his enemies, leaving no loose ends and not even the police could uncover a single clue. Thus, it could essentially be ruled out.
That left only the other possibility: the ones who wanted him dead were likely the same group that had targeted a certain blonde queen. They wanted him gone because he had disrupted their plans and saved someone he shouldn't have.
This scenario seemed far more plausible. Considering his operation at the abandoned factory to rescue that squad of women, it was likely the opposing side had deduced there was external assistance involved. Otherwise, prey that was already surrounded would never have escaped alive.
With even a cursory investigation, it wouldn't have been hard for them to trace the incident back to him. To ensure his own safety and protect those around him, the only solution was to annihilate this organization completely. To achieve this, he needed to find that blonde queen—surely she would know exactly who was trying to eliminate her.
Once the source of the threat was clear, a cold grin crept across his face. Whoever you are, wherever you're hiding—even if I have to cross borders—I'll hunt you down and uproot your existence! Xiang Ri's rogue nature surged forth, brushing aside any thought of consequences.
As he stewed in his resolve, an impatient voice called out from behind him, "Why are you walking so fast? Wait for me!"
"Wait for you?" Xiang Ri turned around to find the persistent An chasing after him. "We're not even going to the same school. Why should I wait for you?"
"Today, I'm going to your school," An replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"And why's that?"
"To check on Chu Chu, of course. I want to see if she's okay. What, did you think I came for a heartless man like you?"
"Who knows?" he replied indifferently.
"Go to hell!"
---
At the police station, forensic expert Lao Yang, still wearing his trademark stern expression, handed a report to Police Chief Tie Wan.
"Tie Bureau, the autopsy results are out," he announced solemnly.
Tie Wan took the report and placed it on her desk. "Summarize your findings for me, Lao Yang."
"Certainly. The two deceased men were between 30 and 35 years old, Caucasian. Their exact nationality is unclear, but it's evident they weren't ordinary individuals. Likely, they had undergone specialized training, as indicated by the calluses on their hands and the strength of their musculature. Based on the scene reconstruction, the victims were probably pursuing one or two targets. Their firearms were equipped with suppressors, suggesting they intended to avoid detection."
"Do we know the make of the weapons?" Tie Wan asked.
"Walther P99s," Lao Yang confirmed.
"German police pistols…" Tie Wan muttered thoughtfully before motioning for him to continue. "Go on, Lao Yang."
"Now, regarding the pursued party," Lao Yang's tone grew even graver. "If I may be candid, Tie Bureau, I don't think the target was just an ordinary person."
"What do you mean?" Tie Wan's expression turned serious.
"I suspect the target was either a god… or a monster."
"Oh?" Tie Wan's brows furrowed. She knew Lao Yang wasn't the type to make baseless statements, nor was he a man given to superstition.
"The pursued individual was completely unarmed, yet managed to kill two armed assailants. Judging by the cause of death, both victims were killed with bare fists and feet. This indicates the target possessed extraordinary physical strength. Furthermore…"
"Hold on," Tie Wan interrupted, her heart sinking. "Are you saying they were beaten to death with fists and kicks?"
"Yes, Tie Bureau," Lao Yang affirmed, his face grave. "But that's not the most unsettling part. The truly terrifying aspect is the sheer magnitude of the target's strength. Based on the positioning of the corpses, it seems both men were struck once, incapacitating them. However, one of them wasn't fully dead and managed to fire a shot before being finished off. The enraged target then kicked him across the street, killing him instantly."
"You're saying the target was shot?" Tie Wan's voice wavered slightly.
"From the missing bullet casing at the scene, it's highly likely. However…"
"However what?" Tie Wan's tone grew tense.
"No traces of third-party blood were found at the scene, so we can't confirm the target was actually hit. It's possible the bullet missed or ended up elsewhere," Lao Yang explained, unaware that the absence of blood was due to an unusual circumstance: the bullet had lodged shallowly in the target's flesh, its trajectory blocked by dense muscle, preventing any significant bleeding.
"Is that so?" Tie Wan exhaled in relief. If he hadn't been hit, that was one less concern. But almost immediately, her anxiety returned. Why was he being hunted, and by professional killers armed with advanced weaponry?
Had he killed again? Did she have to arrest him this time? Yet… deep down, she knew she couldn't bring herself to apprehend him. She had always avoided confronting this truth, deliberately turning a blind eye to the fact that the real perpetrator was someone she couldn't, and wouldn't, arrest. Why?