Chapter 1 Under the Night

Under the cover of night.

A nondescript black sedan sat parked on the side of the street.

"Snap—"

A burst of flame illuminated a face with a scar on its jaw.

The features were as sharp as if carved with a knife, especially the eyes hidden in the shadows, sharp as a blade aimed at the brow.

The middle-aged man struck an old-fashioned long-handled match and lit the cigarette in his lips.

"Hiss—"

Taking a deep drag from the cigarette between his fingers, the middle-aged man casually discarded the extinguished match, the sound of the tobacco burning intensely becoming more distinct in the confined space.

He leaned back in his seat, alone in the car.

In front of him was an old black-and-white screen mobile phone.

After a cigarette's worth of time, the middle-aged man pulled a phone card from the inside pocket of his suit and inserted it into the phone.

Turning on the phone, a series of long-lost startup sounds rang out.

Without much selection, he opened the address book, which contained only one number.

The number lay there quietly, as if it were an old man he hadn't seen in years, nearing the end of his life.

Taking a deep breath, he dialed it directly.

After a long wait, the call finally went through.

"He agreed," the middle-aged man said before the other party could speak, "I've also contacted the people inside. With them there, Miss will be fine."

"Huff—, huff—"

A series of heavy breaths came from the other end of the phone, causing the middle-aged man to frown slightly. He could even feel the chill brought by the exhalation.

"It's been a long time... since someone like this has appeared," a voice finally came from the other side, but unlike before, this voice was exceptionally cold, interspersed with "buzzing" static.

It sounded like a mechanical system synthesized voice.

Flat, cold, devoid of any emotion.

"Yes," the middle-aged man replied respectfully, "According to the information we have, Crimson is very interested in him and has already begun to try to contact him in nightmares," he paused, "More than once."

"But please rest assured, we are well prepared this time..."

"Gong Zhe." The other side suddenly said.

The middle-aged man's expression paused. He instinctively sat up straight, like a general listening to the emperor's instructions before going to war.

The muscles in his upper body bulged slightly, straining his suit.

He is more troublesome than Jiang Cheng imagined.

"Keep a close eye on this person," the cold voice continued, "Spare no expense, no matter what, do not let him be corrupted by Crimson, if necessary..."

After a few seconds, the cold, mechanically synthesized voice fluctuated for the first time, "You can abandon Mengmeng."

Hearing this, the middle-aged man named Gong Zhe's pupils constricted violently. He instinctively opened his mouth, about to say something, but the other side didn't give him a chance.

"We don't have time," the other side sighed, "And we can't afford... that kind of loss."

The middle-aged man lowered his eyes, and after a long while, nodded, "Understood." His voice was hoarse.

Without any farewell, the call ended.

Removing the phone card, the middle-aged man's world fell silent again.

He sat alone in the car, his mind flooded with many fragmented pieces, filled with fire and blood.

He was also one of the survivors of that incident, just like the person on the other end of the phone.

So... only they knew how terrifying the guys they faced were.

Slowly raising his arm, the exquisite, loose cuff embroidered with gold slid down his wrist, revealing a hideous scar that stretched down from his wrist, resembling a giant centipede.

The bulging muscles in his forearm trembled slightly, and the centipede-like scar seemed to come alive.

Few people knew his past, just as no one knew that this scar started at his wrist and extended all the way to his heart, almost cutting him in half.

"Buzz..."

"Buzz..."

Breaking his train of thought was the vibration of his mobile phone.

Of course, not the black-and-white phone that had already had its card removed, but the one in his pocket.

He took out his phone, and the number displayed on it slightly moved him.

As soon as he answered, before he could speak, he heard a thunderous voice, "Uncle Gong, where is that little bastard?"

"Get out of my way!"

This was also Xia Meng's voice, but it sounded slightly distorted. It probably wasn't directed at him, but at someone nearby.

There were vague sounds of other people as well.

The middle-aged man couldn't help but smile wryly. When he left, he had deliberately locked Xia Meng in the car and ordered his men to watch her, especially emphasizing not to let her out.

But judging from the results, this mischievous girl still tricked them into opening the car door.

Of course, it was more likely a threat.

Her first reaction after escaping was definitely to come and take revenge on this young man named Jiang Cheng.

What a pair of enemies...

The middle-aged man exhaled.

"I'm going to skin him alive today!" Xia Meng cursed fiercely. Ever since she met this man named Jiang Cheng, she had been having bad luck.

She had been teased repeatedly, and this feud was definitely set in stone.

"Alright, alright," the middle-aged man comforted, "Just wait for me there, I'll be right over. I have something to tell you."

After a moment of contemplation, he added in a more serious tone, "This isn't our territory. If you really cause any big trouble..."

"Snap."

The other party hung up the phone.

The middle-aged man held the phone, unsure whether to call back or put it down, and looked a little embarrassed.

Finally, the inconspicuous black sedan drove away, accelerating into the endless stream of traffic.

Soon, even the taillights disappeared.

......

"Doctor," the fatty said softly, sitting on the sofa, craning his neck to watch Jiang Cheng, "Eat slower, no one's going to take it from you."

Perhaps because Jiang Cheng was about to enter the nightmare again, especially facing the unknown Crimson, the fatty prepared every meal as if it was the doctor's last.

In the fatty's words, it was better to be prepared, and they couldn't let the doctor suffer.

The doctor didn't stand on ceremony with him, "Snap," he broke off a crab leg from the emperor crab.

Then he tossed it to the fatty.

"Doctor," the fatty said embarrassedly, picking up the crab leg, holding it in his hand, not eating it, but not willing to put it down, "You eat first, I... I'll eat it later."

Jiang Cheng raised his head in confusion, still holding a shrimp in his mouth, and said vaguely, "Who told you to eat it?"

The fatty was stunned for a moment, then looked at the crab leg in his hand.

"I want you to peel the shell for me," Jiang Cheng said, cocking his neck in his usual melodramatic tone, "That way I can eat faster."

Fatty: "......"

After the meal, the fatty only cleaned up the tableware and kitchen, and he really didn't have the energy to deal with the messy office.

After all... it was unknown whether the doctor would come back alive.

"Doctor," the fatty asked, while shaking the water off his hands, "Did that person contact you?"