Ye Fengwu settled into the chair across from Chen Zuoshan, his expression calm and unreadable. He picked up the tea cup in front of him and drained it in a single gulp. "Good tea. Pour me another."
Chen Zuoshan obliged, topping up Ye Fengwu's cup before lifting his own to sip. When he set it down, the creased, weathered lines of his face deepened into seriousness.
"You've already noticed something, haven't you?" he asked.
Ye Fengwu nodded and placed the phone he'd taken from Lin Qiang on the table. "This is all the information Lin Qiang could gather. I imagine you anticipated it."
Chen Zuoshan's eyes narrowed as he examined the image on the screen—a scythe-shaped tattoo. His voice was low and grim. "So it is them… The Reaper Guild strikes at Hua Xia again after all these decades."
Ye Fengwu asked, "How much do you really know about the Reaper Guild?"
The old man shook his head, letting out a weary sigh. "Not much more than you. But I can tell you this: if they want, they can collapse the economy of any small-to-mid-size nation within days, even remove its leadership."
Ye Fengwu's eyes widened in shock.
Chen Zuoshan continued, voice heavy with weight. "They've survived for centuries, their influence spanning the globe. Even top officials are under their reach. It's no exaggeration to say that any of us here could be one of theirs."
This revelation made Ye Fengwuce inwardly. He asked, "Then why target a single woman?"
The old man frowned. "The Reaper Guild is mysterious and unpredictable. No one can foresee their moves. Once they commit, they will not stop until their goal is achieved. This month's assassins are the lowest-tier—they fail, and they will send even deadlier ones."
"So Lin Qiang and the others… they won't last long," Ye Fengwu murmured. "I should start working as a bodyguard for the Luo Corporation immediately."
Chen Zuoshan's expression darkened. "This isn't a suggestion. You can't just watch from the shadows. If anything happens to that girl, it'll be on me. The Luo girl is one of the heirs of Tiger Gate, the guardians of Hua Xia. Should she be harmed, it would bring shame to all of Hua Xia—and to me personally."
Ye Fengwu's eyes flicked with understanding. He had heard of Tiger Gate before: the ancient order protecting Hua Xia for centuries, overseen by the five great guardians—Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, and the Qilin.
"So she's a Tiger Gate heir," Ye Fengwu murmured, half to himself. "No wonder you went to such lengths… even framing me as a rapist."
Chen Zuoshan chuckled darkly. "You've been waiting for a challenge like this, haven't you? But let me warn you: if anything happens to the Luo girl, you can forget ever clearing your name."
Ye Fengwu smirked. "If it's the Reaper Guild, things could get tricky."
Chen Zuoshan's face darkened further. "Exactly why several people have been assigned to assist you."
Ye Fengwu scowled. "I prefer to operate alone."
"Obey orders," Chen Zuoshan said sharply. "The Reaper Guild is beyond conventional countermeasures. Only people of their caliber can confront them directly."
"People of their caliber?" Ye Fengwu asked, curious.
The old man leaned forward, his gaze intense. "You have potential. I've trained you extensively. Your body has reached human limits. Muscle, reflexes—there's no one on this earth who can match you. But…"
He paused, his expression growing even graver. "There are always people stronger than you. This world is far more complicated than you imagine."
Ye Fengwu listened intently, sensing Chen Zuoshan's subtle warning. His own formidable skills had come from the old man's tutelage, which explained why he had become the military's most elite soldier. Yet even now, he could not be certain he could defeat Chen Zuoshan.
Still, he laughed lightly. "I'm young. Besides, you always say, 'live and learn.' And I've never faced a true rival anyway."
Chen Zuoshan shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Words are easy. Leaving the military is when your real growth begins."
Ye Fengwu nodded, committing the words to memory, then asked, "What about the mission budget?"
"The budget?" Chen Zuoshan looked puzzled.
Ye Fengwu's eyes widened. "You're saying we cover all expenses ourselves?"
Chen Zuoshan sipped his tea, unbothered. "I have no budget. The Luo girl is worth billions—her family should cover it."
Ye Fengwu ground his teeth. "She knows we're here, right?"
"No," Chen Zuoshan said. "There's tension between her and her family. She doesn't know the Blood Wolf Special Forces are protecting her—or that you exist. You'll have to manage the finances yourselves."
Ye Fengwu clenched his jaw. "Alright… you're ruthless."
Before he could stew further, a cheerful voice rang out.
"Grandpa! I missed you!"
A familiar, fiery figure dashed past him and plopped down beside Chen Zuoshan. His eyes flicked, and a knowing smile crossed his face.
Chen Zuoshan's expression softened, then he scolded playfully, "If you really missed me, you wouldn't call me an old fogey."
It was Chen Nan—his hot-headed, stunning granddaughter, still in her arresting police uniform, weapons at her side. She leaned against him, pouting.
"You let a criminal go, Grandpa! I can't believe it…"
Her gaze landed on Ye Fengwu. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"You… what are you doing in my house?!" she exclaimed, standing and pointing at him.
Ye Fengwu tilted his head, sipping tea calmly. "I already told you… someone invited me for tea."
Chen Zuoshan chuckled knowingly. "Saved me the trouble of introducing you."
Chen Nan glared. "Saved you? You're telling me why a rapist is in our home? And why you vouched for him?"
Chen Zuoshan sighed. "Nan'er, you were too young to understand then. I owed him a favor—this is me repaying it."
Chen Nan frowned. "Owed him a favor? Back when I was too young to understand? He's barely older than me!"
Chen Zuoshan coughed, embarrassed. "Well… I had considered arranging you for him."
Pffft!
Tea shot from Ye Fengwu's mouth across the room, drenching Chen Nan. She jumped up, fuming.
"You're insane!" she screamed.
Ye Fengwu's expression remained calm. "Chen Nan, I see you've gone senile. My wife, Qin Qinghan, is gentle and kind—she surpasses you in every way… except, maybe, you're a bit hotter."
Chen Zuoshan scowled. "How dare you—my granddaughter is more than enough!"
Ye Fengwu shrugged. "I still prefer gentle, kind women."
Chen Nan nearly exploded, glaring at both of them. "Do I exist to you? I will never marry a rapist! Stop dreaming, you slimeball!"
Chen Zuoshan patted her hand gently. "Nan'er, Wind is a changed man. He's paid his debt to society."
Chen Nan snorted. "Changed? People like him never truly change. Once they're out, the world hasn't seen the last of them—and countless innocents will pay for it."
Her words carried the bitter truth—how many who'd been inside really emerged reformed? Society could only hope the cycle of evil didn't resume.