Chapter 1 – Death and Rebirth
In a narrow, dark room, a sniper rifle was set up. Its barrel aligned perfectly with the edge of a window. The trigger was watched by a waiting index finger, steady and ready to fire. A high-powered scope camera was carefully monitored by an onyx eye. The place under surveillance was a luxury restaurant, heavily guarded by several police officers and restaurant bodyguards. Around them, numerous TV reporters fought for the best coverage. From the level of security alone, it was obvious that an important figure was about to arrive.
A luxurious black sedan stopped in front of the restaurant. The bodyguards and police tightened their formation. A chauffeur in a black suit stepped out of the luxury car and carefully opened the back door. A high-ranking government official in a sleek black coat, hair neatly slicked back, emerged. A barrage of camera flashes immediately lit up, capturing his every move.
The index finger then pulled the trigger. There was no sound at all—the sniper rifle was designed to be completely silent.
"KYAAAA!!"
Screams of panic erupted when the chauffeur suddenly dropped dead, his head blown apart. The official was immediately surrounded and shielded by police and bodyguards. Fearing further attacks, he was urged to return to the car and let his personal bodyguard drive him away. Chaos and hysteria erupted around the luxury restaurant and the incident instantly became the hottest national news.
The sniper had accomplished his mission.
"Hotel Blue D Cart. Room 1109, 11th floor. Ten minutes from now."
A tiny, high-tech earpiece disguised as an earring spoke. The message was his another mission to completed.
"Understood," the sniper replied.
He quickly packed the rifle and its tripod into a wooden guitar case. He changed his black jacket to a blue one, put on a cap, removed his gloves, and swapped his black boots for black sneakers. His remaining gear went into a suitcase before he left the narrow room—an abandoned building attic.
At Hotel Blue D Cart, the government official entered and headed straight for his room, heavily guarded by armed police and bodyguards. His face was pale and trembling with fear, knowing his life was in imminent danger.
After a safe elevator ride, he arrived at Room 1109. Personal bodyguards secured the area and forbade anyone from approaching the room.
The official immediately called the president and several other government contacts, his voice trembling with panic and frustration. While on the phone, he walked into the bathroom—only to freeze in shock.
A man wearing a cap and black jacket was already inside.
Before he could react, the man slashed his throat. Blood sprayed and poured from the wound, and the official collapsed, dying on the spot.
The killer was none other than the sniper—
Liang Yuchen.
The official recognized his killer's face, cursing in his final moments the one who had hired this infamous hitman, feared within the secret underworld of the nation.
Liang Yuchen coldly abandoned the corpse. He smashed the official's phone camera under his boot until it shattered into pieces. Then he broke the window and leapt out without hesitation.
Thanks to advanced tech, his boots released a burst of silent air that allowed him to land safely. Upon landing, he quickly hid behind a large tree, knowing the bodyguards would check the window moments later.
"Mission complete. You may go home now."
"Yeah," Yuchen replied. He walked calmly into a small, dark alley. Behind a large trash bin lay his stashed gear. He changed his shoes and clothes, transforming back into an unremarkable, ordinary man. Only then did Liang Yuchen go home.
His house was a modest home on the outskirts of Tokyo. It wasn't that he couldn't afford a luxury mansion—he simply preferred simplicity. A killer like him had no place living in the open, shining under the lights of wealth.
"I'm home," said Yuchen.
"Welcome back," greeted his lover, a brown-haired woman in a black dress.
Ying Yue
She greeted him with a sweet kiss on the cheek. "You're home early. Was your mission easy this time?"
"Yeah," Yuchen replied. His lover was a former spy who had retired to live quietly with him.
"I'm going to take a quick shower. Dinner's ready," she said.
"Thanks," he replied with a soft smile.
Dinner was curry rice and a glass of his favorite tomato juice. Before tasting the curry, Yuchen drank the water that Ying Yue had set out.
Then he lifted his spoon.
Cough!
Suddenly, blood splattered from his mouth, staining the curry.
Cough! Cough!
He vomited more blood, clutching his hand over his mouth, but the crimson liquid seeped through his fingers. His legs weakened, and he stumbled toward the bathroom, barely clinging to the walls for support. He wanted to call for Ying Yue's help but unexpected.....
The bathroom door opened.
Ying Yue stood there, a knife in hand. Her face twisted in guilt and sorrow, eyes brimming with tears.
"…I'm sorry… Yuchen…" she whispered.
A deep stab to his heart followed. Blood loss and despair drowned him as Ying Yue cried, whispering apologies over and over.
He couldn't believe it. His own lover… the person he trusted most… was betraying him.
With his last strength, he ripped the knife from his chest and slashed her throat in a swift motion.
Both of them died in their small home that night.
'I will never forgive you… Ying Yue…' were Liang Yuchen's last thoughts as darkness swallowed him.
Riiiing Riiing Riiing!
Darkness gave way to blinding light. The handsome man furrowed his brow, his onyx eyes slowly opening to a familiar ceiling. He instinctively touched his chest.
"Huh?!"
There was no wound. No bandages.
Wait…
'Why am I wearing these pajamas?' he thought in confusion.
He caught sight of his reflection in the mirror and froze.
Liang Yuchen had returned… to his 17-year-old self, dressed in shabby blue pajamas patched with old cloth.