When Kang Xin opened her eyes and glanced out the window, it was already the next morning.

She got up and walked into the living room. From the direction of the kitchen came the warm, savory aroma of food.

Following the scent, she stepped into the kitchen to find Ye QiuXue standing at the stove, spatula in hand, completely focused on what she was cooking.

“Awake already?”

Ye QiuXue didn’t turn around, but it was clear she’d sensed someone behind her.

“Yeah, just now. Did you sleep okay last night?”

“Me? I’m alright. I haven’t been getting much sleep lately, but it’s been enough.” Ye QiuXue moved slowly and precisely, plating the food from the pan onto two trays. Kang Xin, already familiar with the rhythm, took them and set them down at the dining table.

The two of them had developed an unspoken understanding over the past few days.

Before long, they were sitting down, eating breakfast in silence.

“Kang Xin, let me ask you something simple: why are we out here on our own? Wouldn’t staying at the Gu residence be safer right now?”

Being out and about like this made them much more visible targets.

If safety was the goal, sticking close to the Gu family would have been the most logical choice.

But Kang Xin had chosen otherwise.

Ye QiuXue could tell—she must have her reasons.

“Given the current situation, yes, we’re in danger. But maybe, just maybe, we can dig up some clues… from the people hunting us.”

“Clues?” Ye QiuXue blinked, then quickly realized what Kang Xin was getting at.

But the risk was enormous. She wasn’t like Kang Xin—when it came to assassins, she had no ability to fight back.

She’d only be a burden.

“Kang Xin, haven’t you thought… I’ll only be holding you back.”

“No. The person behind this knows everything about all of us. If I’m alone, they won’t make a move—unless…” Kang Xin didn’t finish her sentence, but her gaze settled firmly on Ye QiuXue.

“You want to use me as bait—to force them to come after us?”

“Exactly. The only question now is… do you dare to go through with it?”

Inside, Kang Xin was torn. On one hand, this was the only move left on the table. On the other, she would have to stay completely alert to make sure Ye QiuXue didn’t get hurt.

Because if anything happened to her, neither she nor HuMing would ever forgive themselves.

This wasn’t just a tactic—it was a gamble with lives on the line.

They locked eyes, silence thick between them.

Ye QiuXue lowered her gaze, as if lost in thought.

Kang Xin stared at her empty plate, lips pressed tightly together.

She truly wanted to help HuMing. But just protecting Ye QiuXue and the other girls wasn’t enough. She wanted to stand beside him and really help.

Time ticked by on the wall clock, each second dragging longer than the last.

Just as Kang Xin was about to give up and offer a compromise, Ye QiuXue finally spoke.

“I’ll do it. But I have one condition.”

Ye QiuXue stood up, and for a moment, her presence overwhelmed even Kang Xin.

“When the moment comes… don’t hold back for my sake.”

“W-What?” Kang Xin was stunned by her words.

She could feel her cold, emotionless persona cracking—shattered again by Ye QiuXue.

This woman always found ways to surprise her. Every decision she made was far beyond what Kang Xin expected.

“If you want to draw them out, you can’t be too concerned about keeping me safe.”

“I won’t accept that!” Kang Xin shot up from her seat.

Now she finally understood why HuMing had handed her this mission.

Forget the other girls—Ye QiuXue alone was her biggest challenge.

Ye QiuXue placed a hand on Kang Xin’s shoulder.

Her intense gaze almost stung Kang Xin’s eyes.

“Kang Xin, HuMing trusted you—he placed our lives in your hands. And I’m doing the same. Not because I trust you. But because I trust him.”

Word by word, Ye QiuXue stripped away every doubt clouding Kang Xin’s mind.

Suddenly, Kang Xin realized something vitally important—this woman before her was more suited to stand beside HuMing than anyone else.

…

Outside, the sky was bright and clear. Soft sunlight streamed through the window, casting their silhouettes onto the floor.

On the TV, a news anchor spoke with passionate urgency:

“This fugitive has infiltrated our city from the outside! According to officials, he is armed and extremely dangerous. If anyone has information, please report it immediately!”

Raindrops began to tap against the window.

Then, in an instant, the drizzle turned into a downpour.

A low rumble of thunder rolled in from the distance.

A flash of white lightning illuminated the darkened room—then vanished just as quickly, plunging it back into shadow.

HuMing stood by the window, gazing down at the street below.

A few hours ago, he’d just arrived.

Now, a few hours later, he was public enemy number one in this city.

It reminded him all too much of his time in that lawless place—how similar the situations were.

Cars patrolled the streets below. His eyes remained calm, but behind them, something volatile stirred—like the ocean before a storm.

The TV continued to air updates about him, but HuMing had already moved toward the shoe cabinet, retrieving an umbrella.

Behind him, on the sofa, lay two corpses.

Both wore the same badge—law enforcement agents of this city.

HuMing understood all too well: these weren’t real police. They were just pigs watching other pigs.

And the entire city? Just a pigpen for Francis’s twisted experiments.

Now it made sense—why Francis was so bold, so arrogant.

A completely isolated city, where every citizen was just another tool on a lab bench.

That genius of a madman always treated people as disposable, insignificant parts.

HuMing couldn’t understand him—and he didn’t care to.

Just like back then, he would kill Francis and end all of this with his own hands.

When problems arise, isn’t removing the source of the problem the most efficient solution?

He holstered his gun, then checked every piece of gear on his body.

For him, it was as natural as eating or drinking—a routine etched into his muscle memory.

He opened the door and stepped into the rain with his umbrella.

Looking around, he saw every household lit up, the residents seemingly going about their normal lives.

Everything was running smoothly—like a pre-programmed machine.

But today, HuMing had come to break the code.

He gazed at a towering building in the distance. He knew that was his true destination.

He tossed aside the ID card Zero had given him.

The card floated in a puddle, drifting gently—like a compass needle, pointing toward that skyscraper.

“I’ve come for you, Francis.”

And with that, HuMing’s figure slowly disappeared into the storm...

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