City A, in a remote underground warehouse.
In the dark night, the moon hid amongst scattered clouds, shimmering ghost-like. Stripped of the hustle and bustle of city lights, the place seemed especially quiet.
"Boss, do you think that Xuanyuan Li will come?" A man, sitting next to a dilapidated table in the warehouse, started to puff on his cigarette showing signs of impatience.
They had been waiting since noon. If that woman wanted to come, she would be here by now!
"Her brother is in my control, she... won't fail to show up!" A man in a suit and polished shoes, sat elegantly on a pile of wood.
His ensemble was out of place in these surroundings. Especially his ostentatious demeanor seemed lacking, as if it was a façade put on deliberately. It wasn't innate elegance or nobility, but rather an acquired facade.
"Lei Ye, where's my elder brother?" A melodious voce echoed. The warehouse door was pushed open as a woman dressed in casual sports attire walked in.
She glared at the man in the suit, the abhorrence was evident in her eyes.
Lei Ye, he was an adopted son taken in by Xuanyuan Li's father. They had been living together since they were eight, now, for more than a decade. But this guy was like a wolf that never gets domesticated!
"Li'er, you're here." Lei Ye's handsome face lit up with a gentle smile as soon as he saw Xuanyuan Li.
Though Lei Ye sported a sunny charming face, the actions he took behind the scenes were enough to make one shudder.
At the age of eighteen, he was responsible for the death of his own adoptive parents, who were also the birth parents of Xuanyuan Li.
And now, he had kidnapped Xuanyuan Tian, who he had been living with for over a decade, in order to lure Xuanyuan Li.
"Li'er, as long as you accept my proposal, I will let your elder brother go."
"After all, he is my elder brother," Leino said as he waved his hand, signalling for one of his subordinates to bring over Xuanyuan Tian, who was bound to a seat.
"Elder brother!" Xuanyuan Li ran over instantly on spotting Xuanyuan Tian.
However, despite her shaking Xuanyuan Tian, she was unable to wake him. "Leino, what have you done to my brother?" Xuanyuan Li glared angrily at Leino, a sense of foreboding creeping over her.
"Li'er, as I've said. If you agree to marry me, I'll let your big brother go and cure him," Leino reassured her. "Don't worry, I only gave him a 'Soul Separating Needle'."
Leino's words sounded nonchalant, but to Xuanyuan Li they rang like a peal of thunder. The 'Soul Separating Needle', a type of Miao Region exorcism, would separate a person's soul from their body. Even if the antidote were later administered and the person woke up, their mental state would remain that of a child's forever.
Leino's intentions were as clear as day to everyone.
However, it was worth mentioning that he was indeed in love with Xuanyuan Li. Ever since he was taken in by the Xuanyuan family, he had fallen head over heels for her.
"Li'er, what do you say?" Leino stood up, dusting himself off. He walked over to Xuanyuan Li, his face adorned with a gentle smile. He knew she would agree. After all, she treasured her elder brother Xuanyuan Tian greatly.
"Leino, do you like me that much?" Xuanyuan Li looked at the man standing before her, reaching out to touch his chest.
Leino's pupils darkened. This was the first time Xuanyuan Li had initiated contact. He grabbed her hand tightly and pulled her into an embrace.
"I really do." He loved her to the point of agony, a love so deep it was etched into his bones. He was willing to do anything, even clip her wings, just to ensure she would only depend on him.
"So, you orchestrated the plane crash? Killed my parents, did you?" Xuanyuan Li's voice was so soft, only audible to Leino.
She looked at him, the disgust in her eyes piercing Lei Ye's heart. Such a heavy, suffocating love? That was too much for her, Xuan Yuan Li to shoulder.
Suddenly, Xuan Yuan Li pulled a pistol from her bosom, pointing it directly at Lei Ye's heart.
"Lei Ye, tell your men to release my elder brother!" Xuan Yuan Li pulled the trigger, her icy gaze fixed on the man before her.
"Miss Xuan Yuan, I suggest you put down the gun." From the other side, one of Lei Ye's men pointed his gun firmly at Xuan Yuan Tian's temple.
"You..." Xuan Yuan Li was infuriated. But in the next instant, distracted, her gun was swiftly snatched away by Lei Ye right in front of her.
"Li'er, are you saying you would only rely on me if all your loved ones were dead?" Lei Ye lifted the pistol, aiming at Xuan Yuan Tian.
This pistol was brought by Xuan Yuan Li. It was perfect to use it to kill Xuan Yuan Tian!
Lei Ye's voice was ruthless, emotionless. An eerie smile curled up at the corner of his mouth as he looked at Xuan Yuan Li, clearly saying every single word.
"In that case, I will kill them all!"
"Bang!"
Lei Ye pulled the trigger, a gunshot echoed in the warehouse, deafening to the ears.
Xuan Yuan Li watched as her elder brother's chest was shot right through. She collapsed onto the ground.
"Elder brother, elder brother."
Xuan Yuan Li screamed, clutching her own chest. Tears flowed like a breached sea, slipping down her cheeks.
"They're dead, all dead..."
Xuan Yuan Li murmured repeatedly, chuckled to herself. Suddenly, she burst into loud laughter. "Ha ha, ha ha."
"Li'er, only then, you belong to me!" Lei Ye squatted down and gently hugged the ceaselessly weeping Xuan Yuan Li.
"Swoosh!" A dagger pierced through Lei Ye's chest, and he looked at the woman in front of him in disbelief.
"Li'er, you..." In Lei Ye's heart, Li'er was gentle, petite, and the one who needed protection the most.
But now...
Xuan Yuan Li's technique was precise, piercing exactly through Lei Ye's heart.
"Lei Ye, since the moment I knew you killed my parents, I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long, long time…"
"Ha ha, ha ha."
"If we must die, let's die together!"
In the hands of Xuan Yuan Li, she took out a remote control. Her purple eyes suddenly turned crimson.
A gorgeous crimson, a bloody crimson.
"I forgot to tell you," Xuan Yuan Li’s face revealed a thrilling smile.
"I have buried a bomb under this place. If my older brother dies today, let's bury ourselves with him!"
"Whoever dares to harm the ones I cherish most will only meet their ultimate end in death!”
With these words, Xuan Yuan Li pressed the red button on the remote control without hesitation.
"Boom!"
In an instant, this warehouse was blown to dust.
The next day, headlines in City A: an abrupt explosion at a certain warehouse, with no survivors. Meanwhile, the family of the largest corporation in City A, the Xuan Yuan family, mysteriously disappeared. The heads of two major underworld factions vanished from the face of the earth at the same time.
