Chapter Seven: The Night of Murder

Nangong Yuchen sat on the steps at the doorway with his backpack, looking like a homeless child, lost in gloomy thoughts. The red imprint of a slap was still clear on his face, yet he felt no anger. How many times had he been slapped by his sister, Nangong Kexin, since childhood? He was already used to it—if it could be called that. It was more accurate to say he was afraid.

Yuchen didn’t understand why; he was supposed to be the elder brother, after all, but he was always a bit afraid of Kexin. Every time he was hit, he would hang his head like a child who had done something wrong. This had always been his attitude towards her, ever since they were small.

If someone else slapped him, he would never tolerate it. But if it was Nangong Kexin, he felt no anger at all, only a dull ache in his heart. He thought that, after all these years, the misunderstanding between them would have faded, but now he realized it hadn’t. There was a rift between them—one that couldn’t be crossed, and they could never return to the closeness of their youth.

This incident was the clearest proof. Half a year ago, he would have received at most a scolding. But now, things had come to this—she no longer trusted him. He had hoped to surprise Kexin, but after this misunderstanding, he had been driven out once more.

He sighed heavily. In his bag were two bottles of nutrient solution he’d bought especially for her, but now, with things so tense, he didn’t know how to bring it up. He sat there for over an hour before finally getting up and heading downstairs.

Bang!

“Why haven’t Liu Yan and the others returned yet?” Zhou Lingtian smashed the cup in his hand to pieces, his furious gaze fixed on his subordinates. He roared, “Useless! All of you are worthless!”

He was livid—his son, Zhou Haoran, had almost been crippled and was still lying in the hospital, and the four men he’d sent out last night to capture his enemy still hadn’t come back. He was on the verge of losing control.

“Warden, maybe Liu Yan’s group ran into some trouble? Please, calm down and wait a bit longer…” stammered one of his men, shrinking back in fear.

Zhou Lingtian backhanded him to the ground and shouted, “Wait? Do you know what time it is? Should I sit here for ten years waiting?!”

“Warden, I—”

“Enough! I’ll give them one more hour. If they’re not back by nine, I’ll kill those useless bastards myself!”

Right now, Zhou Lingtian was ready to hit anyone who annoyed him. He was convinced Liu Yan’s group had just been out enjoying themselves, forgetting the task he’d set. The thought that they might have failed never crossed his mind—let alone that they might already be dead.

An hour passed amid his cursing and ranting. His face had darkened to the color of burnt iron, and he was ready to erupt.

“Call them!” he growled, his voice frighteningly cold.

The subordinate pulled out his phone and dialed each of their numbers in turn, his hands trembling. “Warden, all their phones are off. Do you think it could be Mu Ningxue—”

“Nonsense! Mu Ningxue spent the whole night at the west gate of District E, and she came back injured today. How could she have had time to deal with that brat?”

“Take two men and go to Creek Court, Building B53, Apartment 401. Check it out. If you find Liu Yan and the others, bring them back—let’s see if I don’t cripple those idiots myself!”

“And be careful! Today isn’t like yesterday. Don’t get exposed—if Mu Ningxue finds out, don’t say I didn’t warn you!”

Having given his orders, Zhou Lingtian rose abruptly, kicking his chair over and storming out, barely restraining his rage. He feared that if he stayed a moment longer, he would kill someone. His fury was fueled above all by Mu Ningxue: last night’s beast attack had been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and if he missed his chance for revenge on his son’s behalf, who knew how long he’d have to wait…

After ten o’clock that night, a black van parked outside Creek Court. Three men stepped out, all dressed in black and wearing sunglasses, skulking suspiciously as they slipped into the complex.

Near eleven, the neighborhood was deathly quiet, the streets empty. The three wandered from building to building, searching for B53.

District C was far less prosperous than A or B, and with this being a residential area, nearly all the residents were asleep at this hour. With no one around to ask, the men could only search door to door, scowling in frustration.

“Do you think something happened to Liu Yan’s group?” one of the men muttered. “They’ve been gone all day—how could they not be back?”

“Something happened?” the leader scoffed. “Impossible. They’re much stronger than us. Unless they ran into a first-tier athlete, who could possibly take them down?”

“You say that, but I still feel uneasy. What if we run into Mu Ningxue ourselves?”

At the mention of the name, all three froze, eyes wide with fear. After a moment, the leader cursed, “Shut your cursed mouth! Didn’t the Warden say Mu Ningxue was injured and couldn’t possibly be involved with those two?”

The other two breathed a sigh of relief and set off to search for building B53.

Half an hour later, they finally stood before their destination, moving quietly up the stairs—first floor, second floor, until they reached 401.

The leader pressed his hand against the reddish door and twisted the handle gently.

“Locked. Looks like Liu Yan and the others took the money and skipped out on the job,” he muttered, gritting his teeth. “Forget about them. Since we’re here, we might as well sneak in, finish the job, and claim the reward from the Warden.”

The other two nodded, then fanned out to keep watch while the leader took a pin from his pocket, crouched in the doorway, and began picking the lock by the light of his phone. Five minutes later, there was a quiet click—the lock yielded.

He waved the others over, turned the handle, and they slipped inside. The apartment was pitch-dark; the three spoke only in low whispers, communicating in hushed tones at each other’s ears. Each man switched on his phone for light and began searching the living room with cautious steps.

“Three rooms—one for each of us.”

The leader crept toward Nangong Kexin’s room, while the second man headed for the room beside hers, and the third for the one across—Nangong Yuchen’s.

Their footsteps were soft, their movements practiced; it was clear this was far from their first time doing this sort of thing.

The leader found Kexin’s door locked as well and crouched down again, preparing his tools.

Meanwhile, the man entering Yuchen’s room twisted the handle and found it opened easily. He switched off his phone and slipped inside. The third man checked the parents’ room, but after a quick scan with his phone, found it empty and returned to wait for the leader.

This time, the lock yielded quickly—bedroom locks were simpler than the main door’s. The leader twisted the handle, opening the door just a crack. By the light of his phone, they saw Nangong Kexin sleeping soundly inside.

“A woman!”

“That’s the pretty one!”

Sharing a depraved smile, the two slipped inside after widening the door.

At that very moment, a wet, stabbing sound came from Yuchen’s room—someone’s body being pierced—but the two, caught up in their excitement and the distance, didn’t hear it.

They crept to the bedside, eyes fixed hungrily on the sleeping Kexin. Both swallowed hard, their faces flush with anticipation. No woman they’d ever encountered could compare to the beauty before them. Her slender leg, exposed under the thin blanket in the faint cell phone light, was impossibly alluring.

Unable to restrain themselves, they forgot their mission entirely, crawling onto the bed with outstretched hands, reaching for the sleeping girl.

The blanket was pulled aside, revealing Kexin’s slim figure in her short nightdress.

Soft footsteps sounded in the living room.

“She’s even more beautiful than I thought!” they whispered to each other, trembling as their hands grasped the edges of her dress, preparing to lift it.

With a gentle tug, more of her leg was revealed, their eyes dilating with desire, almost ready to throw themselves upon her.

Just as the dress was about to be lifted completely, the bedroom door swung open. Thinking it was their companion, they paused and turned.

But what greeted them were blood-soaked hands, seizing them by the throat and dragging them violently out of the room.

“Ah… you—”

A sickening crunch. Nangong Yuchen’s face was so dark with rage it was terrifying. He hadn’t expected that after the four who died last night, three more would come today—clearly sent by Zhou Haoran of the Star Emperor Tavern.

The events of last night were still fresh in his mind. Now, he was furious. With a surge of strength, he crushed their windpipes with his bare hands. Blood spattered everywhere, soaking Yuchen to the bone.

Their struggles slowed and stopped, terror still frozen in their eyes—a journey from ecstasy to death in just ten seconds.

He set down the bodies, then dragged the third man out from his own room. Gazing at the three lifeless corpses, he felt no satisfaction, only mounting dread.

Would more come tomorrow, or the day after? What if even stronger enemies arrived, like the bald giant from last time? What then?

Thankfully, he hadn’t really left today—otherwise, what would have become of Kexin?

The thought made him anxious. He had meant to tell her this afternoon they should move, but their quarrel had made that impossible. Now, he knew with her temperament, she would never agree.

As his worry mounted, a strange urge awoke inside him. The scent of blood in the air stirred a bizarre craving.

His face drained of color. He stepped back in fear—what was this thirst for blood?

Yuchen stared at his crimson hands in disbelief.

Blood.

He had always feared blood, but now he realized that feeling had vanished without his noticing. When had it changed? If he had to guess, it was after that night in the ruined building. And just now, he had killed three men in cold blood, without even frowning. What was happening to him?

Blood? A craving for blood?

What’s happening to me?

Panic gripped him. He remembered last night’s sensation—something inside him seemed on the verge of breaking free.

Was he becoming a monster, a beast… or something else?

He dared not think further. White-faced, he ran to the bathroom, turned on the tap, and doused himself with cold water.

For half an hour, he stood under the icy stream until the craving finally faded.

Dripping wet, he emerged. To keep Kexin from discovering anything, he endured the discomfort and set about cleaning up the corpses.

When all was done, the unease in his body faded too, as if it had all been a hallucination.

Bowing his head, Yuchen entered Kexin’s room. Seeing his sister sleeping peacefully brought him a glimmer of warmth. At least he still had family—without her, he would have nothing.

He stood there silently for a long time before murmuring, “Don’t worry, Kexin. I won’t let anyone hurt you again. And give me a little more time—I promise I’ll save Mom and Dad.”

His voice was soft, but beneath it was an unwavering resolve.

At last, seeing her blanket and skirt half-pulled aside, his heart filled with murderous rage. Zhou Lingtian! Zhou Haoran!

He had placed both of them on his kill list.

After a while, once he had calmed down, he bent to pull the blanket over his sister. But as he grasped the edge, before he could cover her, her beautiful eyes suddenly opened…