Lie Gou sat smugly in the backseat. The car was eerily silent, as if someone had hit a pause button. The only sound was the mixed breathing of the five people inside.
Lie Quan sighed, “Eat whatever you want… you probably don’t have many days left.”
After a few seconds, Lie Gou finally reacted and turned to glance at the Lion in the driver’s seat. Though Shimian Xiong wore a mask, his powerful aura made it obvious—he was in a terrible mood.
Just as Lie Gou was about to explain, Shimian Xiong interrupted coldly, “Shut your mouth. If you say another word, I’ll throw you in the river to feed the fish.”
Lie Gou fell silent in the back. No one knew what was going through his mind.
Luo Chenxuan and Yue Xi exchanged glances, both trying to make sense of what they had just heard.
“So… you mean,” Luo Chenxuan thought aloud, “that—uh, that Iron Mask Organization… has other people like you, who escaped from that inhumane Rebirth Project?”
Yue Xi remained silent.
From the front, Shimian Xiong’s low and slightly threatening voice came, “Forget this ever happened. That’s my advice to you.”
“Shimian Tu… that woman is different from us. If you anger her… even Boss won’t be able to save you.”
Luo Chenxuan said nothing. Yue Xi gazed out the window, lost in thought.
The rest of the journey was quiet.
…
At early dawn the next day, the vehicle arrived at the entrance of Xiayu City.
Unlike Long City with its towering skyscrapers, Xiayu City had none.
Most of the buildings were wooden houses built by the residents themselves. Compared to the modern, technology-driven Long City, Xiayu City felt like a palace town from ancient times. Yet, the people here looked far happier than those in Long City, free from the daily exhaustion written on their faces.
The car drove along a winding path and eventually stopped in a spacious courtyard. Inside the walled area stood a three-story wooden building, clearly handcrafted. Its exquisite design showcased the true brilliance of its builders.
The car parked in a designated spot, and everyone got out.
Yue Xi hadn’t said a single word the whole way.
Luo Chenxuan was worried but didn’t know how to speak up. As she stepped out of the car, he approached her and said, “Are you okay? I’m really sorry for dragging you into this mess.”
Yue Xi looked up and finally spoke slowly, “It’s fine. Since I’ve already helped you, I’ll help you to the end. I’ll help you escape too.” This chapter is updated first at g.com.
“But… why are you going so far to help me?”
“It was the President’s request.”
“Pre… President? Leng Yueli?” Luo Chenxuan shivered at the name.
“Show some respect. That’s President Leng.”
“Ah… sorry.”
“She asked me to take extra care of you. Who would’ve thought it would come to this?”
“I’m sorry… I didn’t expect this either.”
“So? Have you remembered why you provoked those iron-faced beasts?”
“No clue…”
“Forget it. They said their boss is eager to meet you. So we’ll take it step by step… we don’t have any other choice now.”
As they spoke, Shimian Xiong finished his call and walked over.
“Enough whispering. Escaping in Xiayu City is nearly impossible. Give it up.”
Yue Xi shot him a dissatisfied glare. “So? Where’s your boss?”
“You two need to be separated. The boy comes with me, the girl follows those two idiots.”
“Why? We…” Yue Xi began to protest, but Shimian Xiong cut her off.
“Spare me the useless talk. In this place, you don’t have the right to choose. Understood?”
Luo Chenxuan looked at Yue Xi and said gently, “She probably won’t harm me. And right now, we really don’t have any other options.”
Yue Xi met his gaze. Realizing they truly had no choice, she said nothing more and followed the Lie brothers away.
Shimian Xiong led Luo Chenxuan into the building.
As they climbed the stairs, Luo Chenxuan, despite saying something that sounded like a male lead’s line just moments ago, was fully aware of his own strength—or lack thereof.
They reached a grand set of doors.
Shimian Xiong opened them, revealing a wide hall. On either side were four wooden throne-like seats, each with a carved symbol on the backrest—lion, rabbit, elephant, and eagle.
Luo Chenxuan thought to himself, “So these are the Four Throne Kings under her command, like they mentioned in the car.”
Shimian Xiong continued leading him forward. At the end of the hall was a raised platform with a redwood bench, its back carved with a lifelike fox.
Behind the bench was a hidden door. Shimian Xiong knocked three times, and the door slowly opened.
Behind it was a completely different world.
Scarlet veils hung across the beams, gently fluttering in the air. As Luo Chenxuan walked past layer after layer of the sheer veils, their cool and silky touch brushed against his face.
At the end of the room, a large veil blocked his view. Behind it, he could vaguely make out a bed—and a woman’s silhouette. Her figure was stunning, so faintly visible it stirred the imagination.
“I brought him,” Shimian Xiong said as he dropped to one knee.
A voice came from behind the veil, soft and enchanting, like it could pull on one’s soul. “Good work. You may leave.”
Shimian Xiong rose and exited the room, leaving only Luo Chenxuan and the veiled woman behind.
Luo Chenxuan was drenched in cold sweat, but this room was filled with an almost intoxicating allure, sending his thoughts into disarray.
“Um… if I’ve offended you in any way, I apologize. I don’t know why you brought me here… but my friend is innocent. If someone must bear the punishment, please let her go first,” he said, trying to speak sincerely and reason with her.
The woman behind the veil slowly extended a pair of snow-white, slender legs, hooked them around his waist, and with a gentle tug, pulled Luo Chenxuan into her embrace. Her fingertips began tracing circles around his neck.
He wanted to struggle free, but the scent on her body was both elegant and enchanting, almost hypnotic.
“Chenxuan… you don’t remember me?” she asked softly. Though her face was still behind the veil, a delicate fox mask rested on her head.
Luo Chenxuan slowly lifted his head and looked at her. In that moment, reality and memory merged—the present blurred, and the past became clearer.
How could he forget…
Ten years ago, after he parted from Leng Yueli, he moved with his parents from the New Village to Rainfall Town in Shangdong City. It was his second time adapting to a new environment. As planned, he enrolled in the local elementary school and tried his best to make new friends.
In those early days, while trying to blend in, he noticed a “boy” always sitting in the last row, with messy hair and a dirty appearance.
How could he forget…
Yes, how could he ever forget…
The memories… and the nightmares “he” brought with him.