Shi Aotian gave Mo Junyan a cold smile. "Even if you refuse, I still have a way to make you agree." As he spoke, he pointed at the scorpion necklace around his neck.
Mo Junyan's expression instantly changed, her heart tightening. That necklace is strange… could he know some kind of sorcery? Thinking back to the strange creature in his hands that had grown larger and larger, a chill crept over her. "What do you want?" she demanded.
"I've made myself very clear. Even if you're unwilling, I can make you willing. Do you want to try it? But this time… you'll never wake up again," Shi Aotian threatened.
It was, in fact, true. Shi Aotian could control the Scorpion King, and naturally he could also control those who had been drugged by it. But prolonged exposure to its venom would damage the mind—within a month the victim would lose their sanity and die trapped in their own hallucinations. This was Shi Aotian's last resort, a "worst-case" tactic he would only use if Mo Junyan still refused to cooperate. He needed her to help investigate the Black List and track down the killers who had murdered his family, so he didn't want her to die too soon.
Looking at the scorpion necklace around his neck, Mo Junyan truly felt a twinge of fear. In all her life, she had never seen something so strange and terrifying. Combined with Shi Aotian's repeated threats, her mental defenses began to waver. It wasn't death she feared—it was the idea of being unable to die, trapped instead under his "sorcery," like before, when she had been in a daze and carelessly revealed the Black List secrets she knew.
Shi Aotian saw her silence and knew she was wavering. He didn't press her further, giving her space to think it over.
Mo Junyan slowly stood up from the ground, calculating her options. Either she cooperated with him, or she let him control her. There were no other roads to take. So she decided to throw out a brick to attract jade—pretend to comply, see what his real intentions were, and look for a chance to investigate him while keeping her own life safe for the time being.
For Mo Junyan, there was no retreat, but she thought of a plan that could kill several birds with one stone. To her, this might be an opportunity.
Because she was so young on the Black List, her dream of becoming a handler had failed—no assassin was willing to work with her. So she simply became an assassin herself. But as an assassin, many handlers doubted her strength and skills, making them even more unwilling to cooperate. In frustration, Mo Junyan decided to act as both assassin and handler at the same time. While the money was good, every mission became a headache during cleanup. Normally, handlers took care of the aftermath, but Mo Junyan had to handle it herself, which greatly increased the risk of exposing her identity. For an assassin, keeping one's identity a permanent secret was the key to survival—only then could one be truly safe.
"I think you already have your answer." The moment Shi Aotian saw Mo Junyan stand up, he knew he had won. Although he didn't know exactly what was on Mo Junyan's mind, he had never let go of his vigilance for a moment—this was something his master had taught him.
"Alright," Mo Junyan agreed, then continued, "I can bring you into the organization, but I want to be your agent. Do you have any objections?" This was the first step of her plan.
"What's an agent?" Shi Aotian asked cautiously.
Mo Junyan hadn't expected him to ask such a question, but that only made her plan easier to carry out. Clearing her throat, she explained, "An agent is someone who helps you get assignments, assists you in completing them, handles the aftermath, and also provides all kinds of intelligence, tools, identities—whatever you need."
Shi Aotian nodded in understanding. "I see. What kind of assignments are they usually?"
"We're assassins. To be frank, killing is your job," Mo Junyan said, excitement creeping into her voice.
"Killing?" Shi Aotian was no stranger to the word, nor did he feel much about it. He believed that killing was simply a natural thing to do—at least when it came to people who deserved to die.
"Yes, killing—that's your mission. As long as you agree, we can work together, and I can bring you into the Black List." She pointed at Aka's corpse on the ground and continued, "You killed Aka. I can use this to build your reputation. The organization won't pity him for failing his mission. I believe in your strength—you could shake the entire Black List."
Shi Aotian wasn't interested in fame. He only wanted to use Mo Junyan to gather intelligence and track down the one who had murdered his family. That was the only way to drag the killer into the light—and it would save him a lot of time.
"No problem. But I'll tell you upfront: I only kill people who deserve to die—scum and degenerates. Those, I will kill without hesitation," Shi Aotian said, remembering his master's teachings.
Mo Junyan didn't understand why he had such a principle, but she didn't press further, afraid of provoking him and ruining the deal. "Fine. From now on, when I take a job, I'll decide based on the situation. Every mission will be recorded—you can check the records I give you and decide if the target deserves to die."
"Let's seal it with a handshake. I hope we have a pleasant partnership," Mo Junyan said, feeling like she had stumbled upon an unexpected treasure—along with the advantage of being able to investigate his identity. Excited, she extended her jade-like right hand.
Shi Aotian knew that revenge could not be rushed, so he didn't say more. He didn't want unnecessary people knowing about his true intentions. Calmly, he extended his right hand and slapped it firmly against Mo Junyan's. "Pleasure working with you."
And so, the two of them—each harboring their own hidden agenda—began working together. Although neither knew the other's true purpose, they both understood that cooperation would bring them what they wanted.
After the handshake, Mo Junyan finally felt relieved and was no longer as afraid of Shi Aotian. She said casually, "Now we're partners, but I still don't know your name."
"Shi Aotian. That's what you'll call me from now on," Shi Aotian replied coldly.
"Shi Aotian, got it." Mo Junyan nodded. "I won't waste words. Since we're partners now, you have to trust me. I'll take care of everything here and explain certain things to the organization. You can keep your identity safe, and I'm sure the organization will be more than happy to welcome someone of your caliber."
"How do I contact you?" Shi Aotian asked.
Mo Junyan thought for a moment. "You don't need to worry about that. I have my own way of finding you. The next time we meet, I'll tell you a new method of contact."
Hearing this, Shi Aotian didn't press further. He figured Mo Junyan couldn't pull any tricks on him. For Mo Junyan, there was no need to play tricks right now—she knew very well how strong Shi Aotian was, and that as long as there was a shared interest, such alliances had a strange way of holding together. Both sides got what they needed.
"I'll be going." As soon as he finished speaking, Shi Aotian was already several meters away. He had wasted too much time and feared arousing Dongfang Qing's suspicion, so he sped off.
Mo Junyan watched his figure vanish instantly into the darkness, and her ambition began to swell. Without wasting any time, she cleaned up the scene, then dragged Aka's corpse into the shadows.
When Shi Aotian returned to the small apartment rented by Dongfang Qing, he found that the door Aka had damaged was already repaired. Pressing against the door, he quietly focused and sensed someone inside—breathing steady and even. To Shi Aotian, that kind of breathing was unmistakable; clearly, Dongfang Qing was asleep. He quietly took out his key and unlocked the door.
But the sound woke Dongfang Qing, who was sleeping slumped over the table. She sprang to her feet and called out, "Who's there?"
"It's me," Shi Aotian quickly replied. "Did I wake you?"
"Where did you go?" Dongfang Qing asked, her face stern, the tension in her voice obvious. "When I came back, the door was wide open, and it was broken. The windows were open too. Luckily no thief came in. What on earth happened?"
Shi Aotian closed the door behind him and said calmly, "Nothing much—just a small accident."
"A small accident? The door was smashed, and you call that an accident? Luckily I came back in time, or where would I have found someone to fix it?" Dongfang Qing could tell Shi Aotian was clearly hiding something from her. Genuinely angry now, she said, "Do you know how worried I was? I searched the streets for you several times and couldn't find you. When I got back, I couldn't sit still, I was so anxious about your safety."
After a long, exhausting day, Dongfang Qing could no longer hold back—everything spilled out. "So much has happened lately. My heart's been a mess. I planned to finish dealing with Gu Caini's matter early so I could come back and spend your birthday with you. Look at the time now." At that, she couldn't help but burst into tears.
Shi Aotian glanced at the birthday cake on the table without expression. It was obviously something Dongfang Qing had bought, but after an exhausting day dealing with Gu Caini and school matters, she had completely forgotten about it for the moment.
He then looked at the clock on the desk—it was almost eleven. He hadn't realized that his encounter with Aka and Mo Junyan had taken several hours. No wonder Dongfang Qing was anxious; he had never come home this late before.
Seeing that Shi Aotian remained silent, Dongfang Qing began crying even harder. Feeling a twinge of guilt, Shi Aotian didn't know how to comfort her.
"Seeing you safe is enough for me," he said softly. To him, it was already fortunate that Dongfang Qing hadn't been targeted by Aka. But after the fight with Aka, he knew such luck wouldn't last. With killers like Aka and people like Mo Junyan, the Black List was full of dangerous talent; one careless moment could mean being assassinated.
As for the road ahead, Shi Aotian could only sigh. Things had come to this, and all he could do was take one step at a time. Even if it cost him his life, he had to dig out the murderer who had killed his family.
Dongfang Qing clearly didn't understand what he meant by that, but from his tone, she could sense that he still cared for her deeply—otherwise, he wouldn't have sighed so heavily. Thinking this, her sobs gradually quieted.
For her safety, Shi Aotian decided not to tell her what had really happened tonight. But knowing that she wouldn't let the matter go easily, he quickly made up a story to fool her:
"This evening around dusk, a thief was trying to pry open our door. I happened to be coming home from outside and didn't want to alert him, so I watched from the side. When the thief finally opened the door and went inside, I decided to rush in and catch him red-handed. I went in a bit too forcefully and broke the door. The thief froze for a second, then quickly reacted, opened the window, and escaped. I chased after him, but after a while I got lost. Since I didn't have any money on me, I had to keep asking for directions before I finally found my way back."
Shi Aotian was never good at lying, and the story was so clumsy that even he wouldn't believe it. But since he had already said it, he had no choice but to stick to it. "Do you believe me?" he asked.
Dongfang Qing stopped crying, looked at him for a moment, then nodded. "I believe you."
This was something Shi Aotian hadn't expected. The lie couldn't even fool himself, yet she claimed to believe it, which took him by surprise. "You really believe me?"
"I believe you," Dongfang Qing said firmly. To her, all she wanted was an explanation from him—whether it was true or not no longer mattered. At the very least, giving an explanation showed she still held an important place in his heart.
Ever since meeting Shi Aotian three years ago, Dongfang Qing had come to understand his strength and personality. If there had really been a thief, no thief could possibly escape from his grasp. Of course, she knew he was lying—she just didn't want to force him to admit it. After all, she loved him deeply.
Shi Aotian muttered inwardly: Even I don't believe what I just said. He stood there in a daze, unable to understand why Dongfang Qing would believe him so easily.
A woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea—impossible to fathom. Overthinking it wouldn't lead to an answer. For Shi Aotian, who had spent ten years surviving in the primeval forest, it was even more impossible. Better to just let things take their natural course.
Dongfang Qing stopped crying, and with a smile, she said to the dazed Shi Aotian, "Come, sit down. Today is my birthday. I specially bought a cake, hoping you'd spend it with me. I believe this will be the most unforgettable birthday of my life."
Shi Aotian sat down as told, glanced at the birthday cake on the table, and then at the jade rabbit pendant around Dongfang Qing's neck. He didn't think too much more about it. He, too, wanted to spend this birthday with his "big sister," hoping to recapture a bit of the warmth of a family.
Dongfang Qing deftly inserted twenty-five birthday candles into the cake and lit them with a lighter. Gazing at the candlelight, she let out a sigh and murmured, "Another year older… I really wish I could stay young forever. Sigh."
Every woman worries about her age. To them, staying young and beautiful forever is the greatest joy. Even on her birthday, she couldn't help but complain a little.
Hearing her sigh, Shi Aotian thought of his master's face and her head of white hair. He said quietly, "No one can defeat time. Even if your looks don't change, you'll one day have a head full of white hair. That's the law of nature—people must pass through the stages of birth, aging, sickness, and death."
"Let's not talk about such depressing things. Today's my birthday—we should be happy. I'll make a wish first." With that, Dongfang Qing closed her eyes.
A few seconds later, she opened them again with a smile. "Alright, do you want to know what I wished for?"
Shi Aotian nodded.
"Hehe, I'm not telling you." Dongfang Qing giggled like a little girl. "Come on, let's cut the cake together."
Since she didn't say what her wish was, Shi Aotian didn't press the matter. Dongfang Qing reached out, took his hand, and together they picked up the knife to cut the cake.
For Dongfang Qing, this moment was sweet and blissful; for Shi Aotian, it was a long-lost warmth.
Suddenly, the wail of police sirens roared past the door, interrupting their celebration.
"So late at night… what happened? So many police cars… things have been pretty unstable lately." Dongfang Qing sighed.
Shi Aotian said nothing, but guessed it must be Mo Junyan's handiwork.
The police cars screeched to a halt. Criminal Investigation Division captain Meng Yiping and policewoman Xia Ji stepped out of one of the vehicles.
"What's the situation?" Meng Yiping asked an officer who had arrived earlier.
"Someone just called to report a male corpse on the road opposite City Hall," the officer replied briskly.
"Who found it?" Meng Yiping asked, pulling on gloves and calmly walking into the cordoned-off area.
"No idea—it was an anonymous call. After an initial check, the phone number turned out to be the number for the City Hall Mayor's Office." The officer continued his report.
Meng Yiping froze for a moment, then turned to the officer. "The Mayor's Office number?"
"Yes," the officer confirmed.
"Boss Meng, what's going on?" Xia Ji asked in puzzlement from behind.
"How should I know? Looks like this won't be a simple matter. Let's examine the crime scene first, then head over to City Hall." Meng Yiping kept his composure.
"Yes, sir." Xia Ji followed him to the body.
Just then, another police car roared in. Out stepped the police chief, Wu Jiangang. Xia Ji quietly reminded the focused Meng Yiping, "Boss Meng, Chief Wu is here."
Meng Yiping merely grunted, still squatting beside the corpse, studying it closely.
"What's going on? I haven't had a single peaceful night's sleep these past few days! I just got a call from someone at City Hall telling me there's been a murder there. It's only been a few days, and now we've got a homicide right at City Hall? I'm about to become the scapegoat for everything!" Chief Wu Jiangang barked angrily as he strode toward Meng Yiping.
"Director Wu," Xia Ji called out timidly.
"Look at this—so many people have died in just half a month, and all of them were murdered. Now tell me, what should we do? This time it's even reached the city government—so who's going to take the blame for this?" Director Wu complained nonstop, hands on his hips.
Meng Yiping stood up and said, "Director Wu, don't be so worked up. We'll step up our efforts to solve the case."
"Sigh," Director Wu frowned and let out a sigh. "Come with me to the city government building. Let's see if we can find any clues."