Tian Xiao's fall from grace was swift and unforgiving. Once a rising star at Yunzhong Group, he had been cast out, his career shattered under circumstances known only to a few. What followed was almost inevitable: he became a mercenary, a man of little consequence to the world, yet driven by a singular, unyielding ambition. His past no longer mattered—what mattered was the future he was determined to carve out.
But unlike others who would have been broken by such a downfall, Tian Xiao was unbowed. He was the same man—cold, calculating, and unwavering in his pursuit of power. His goals were still the same: to rise above the constraints of his former life and build an empire from the ground up.
Rumors swirled around him. Some whispered that he had been eliminated, silenced by an unknown enemy. But as the years passed, no one could say for sure what had really happened to him. Was he dead? Was he hiding in the shadows? Tian Xiao didn't care what others thought. He was only focused on one thing—becoming a force so powerful that even his enemies would tremble at his name.
On this particular day, Tian Xiao had just stepped out of a high-rise building when he caught sight of a familiar face in the crowd. Gao Chong. The man was standing beside Zhu Xiaotian, his face a picture of sycophantic politeness as he fawned over her. Gao Chong had always been the type to ingratiate himself with people of power, and today was no exception. Tian Xiao's gaze sharpened. The last time he'd seen Gao Chong, the man had been a pawn in a game he had long since outgrown. Now, Gao was nothing more than a fleeting distraction.
"Hey, Tian Xiao?"
The voice that broke through his thoughts was unmistakably Zhu Xiaotian's. The surprise in her voice was palpable, and her words instantly drew the attention of the others. Li Ying and Gao Chong both turned, their expressions unreadable as they sized him up. Gao Chong's eyes flicked over Tian Xiao with an almost imperceptible glint of calculation, and Tian Xiao could feel the tension rising between them.
Gao Chong adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his expression turning faintly amused. "Oh? Look who it is. Our lucky star of the day. So you're friends with Jingyi, huh?"
The words were light, but there was an edge to them, a hint of mockery that Tian Xiao didn't miss. Gao Chong had always been good at playing the part of the charming, harmless fool, but Tian Xiao knew better. He was watching a man who had ambitions of his own—ambitions that would eventually put him on a collision course with Tian Xiao. But not yet. Not today.
Before Tian Xiao could respond, Li Ying, ever eager to break the silence, interjected. "Let's go sing some karaoke! What do you say?"
The suggestion hung in the air, and for a moment, the group fell silent. Then, Zhu Xiaotian's voice rang out, laced with curiosity and surprise.
"You're the one who made 27,000 credits today?" Her eyes widened, the realization dawning. "No wonder you weren't around for Jingyi's birthday. You've found yourself a rich mine, haven't you?"
Her words were sharp, yet there was a hint of something else beneath the surface—jealousy, perhaps? Or was it something more?
The others, most of whom were close to Wang Jingyi, quickly joined in, their voices dripping with judgment.
"Not showing up for a friend's birthday?" one of them remarked, barely concealing the sting in her words. "That's cold, don't you think?"
Wang Jingyi, who had just introduced Li Ying to the group, now found herself in an uncomfortable position. Tian Xiao's unexpected appearance had thrown everything off balance. She had worked hard to present herself as someone who had moved on from the past, someone in control of her life. But now, standing before her friends, there was no hiding the tension that had resurfaced.
She put on a brave smile, though the unease in her eyes was unmistakable. "Tian Xiao, come on. We've been through a lot together, haven't we?" she said, trying to soften the air. "It's my birthday today. You can't really refuse, can you?"
The words were meant to be a plea, but Tian Xiao's response was anything but warm. He didn't even pause as he walked past them, his voice low and indifferent.
"Sorry, I've got other things to do. Enjoy yourselves."
The words hit with the finality of a door slamming shut. The group was left in stunned silence, each person processing Tian Xiao's cold dismissal in their own way. No one had expected him to be so indifferent, so detached from everything they had once shared.
Wang Jingyi's face fell. The smile she had forced on her lips faltered and then disappeared altogether. Her expression shifted from shock to something else—frustration, perhaps, or disappointment. The years that had passed since their breakup seemed to stretch into an infinite distance. She had hoped for closure, but Tian Xiao's indifference had only opened up the wounds she had tried so hard to heal.
Li Ying, ever the protector of his interests, narrowed his eyes. His gaze followed Tian Xiao's retreating figure with an intensity that spoke volumes. He didn't like the way Tian Xiao had disregarded them, didn't like the way the man's mere presence seemed to unsettle everyone in the group.
Gao Chong, standing beside Zhu Xiaotian, let out a soft chuckle. The sound was low, almost mocking. "Not even a little respect for old friends? What a joke."
Zhu Xiaotian didn't respond immediately. She simply watched Tian Xiao as he walked away, her gaze lingering on his retreating back. For a moment, she couldn't help but feel a pang of something—regret, maybe? Or perhaps curiosity. What had happened to him? What had caused him to change so completely?
The truth was, Tian Xiao had become a different person, one that she no longer understood. The carefree, easygoing man she had once known was gone, replaced by someone colder, more driven. And as she watched him disappear into the distance, she couldn't help but wonder: What happened to you, Tian Xiao?
Her thoughts were interrupted by Gao Chong's voice, now laced with an unmistakable tone of superiority. "So much for loyalty, huh?"
Zhu Xiaotian gave him a brief look, her expression unreadable. But inside, she felt something shift. She had always been fascinated by Tian Xiao, intrigued by the mystery that surrounded him. But now, she realized just how little she had known about him. Was it possible that he had become someone she could never understand?
As Gao Chong's words continued to hang in the air, the group fell into an uncomfortable silence. Tian Xiao had walked away, and in doing so, had left behind a trail of questions, doubts, and unspoken tensions.
But Tian Xiao wasn't concerned with any of this. His mind was already elsewhere, focused on the future that was rapidly approaching. The encounter with Wang Jingyi and her friends had been nothing more than a brief interruption, a fleeting moment in his otherwise focused existence.
His goals were clear, and they had never wavered.
In three years, he would command a combat force of level C or higher.
In three years, he would rise to a position within the Earth Military that surpassed even the most seasoned leaders.
Spending time with people who no longer mattered? he thought. That's for those with no ambition.
He had no interest in rehashing old relationships or revisiting past mistakes. His eyes were fixed firmly on the future. The path ahead was fraught with challenges, but Tian Xiao had never been afraid of a challenge.
As he approached the entrance of the training facility, he paused. His hand slid into his pocket, and with a swift motion, he pulled out his communicator. His fingers moved quickly, typing out a short message to Zhu Xiaotian. It wasn't an invitation, nor an apology—it was merely a courtesy. A sign that he wasn't completely heartless. The message was simple, just a few words to acknowledge her presence. Nothing more.
With the message sent, he slipped his communicator back into his pocket and turned to enter the training facility without another glance back.
The interior of the training hall was quiet, almost unnervingly so. The only sound was the soft hum of the machines and the occasional footstep echoing across the vast, polished floors. At the front desk stood two attendants, their faces impassive, their movements efficient. One of them, a slender woman with an almost mechanical politeness, approached him.
"Good evening, sir. How may I assist you today?"
Tian Xiao gave her a quick glance. He recognized her name tag: Su Cheng. He had encountered her before, the first time he had come to the facility. Back then, he had been amused by the idea of a bio-robot designed to serve as an attendant. Now, it didn't even register. He had more important things to focus on.
"I need access to the training equipment," he said flatly, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
Su Cheng's smile never faltered. "Of course, sir. Our training facility operates on a pay-per-use basis. The fee is 50 credits per hour. If you're ready, we can activate your access now and send over the guidelines for all the equipment."
"Good," Tian Xiao replied, already swiping his card to open his account. "Let