Being surrounded by a roaring crowd while flashing lights blurred through the underground arena was overwhelmingly stimulating.

The screams. The cheers. The violent adrenaline flooding the air as people shouted for the fighters in the ring to destroy each other, Lin Wenzhi could not deny that this world suited him disturbingly well.

The smell of sweat, blood, alcohol, and cigarette smoke clung heavily to the air while the crowd roared louder with every hit exchanged inside the boxing ring.

Across from him stood a bald, heavily tattooed man nearly twice his size.

Judging from the tattoos stretching across his arms and neck, he probably belonged to one of the downtown gangs.

The two moved quickly around each other, sweat slicking across their skin. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Several damp strands of Wenzhi’s dark hair clung to his forehead while he dodged another punch.

The larger man laughed mockingly. "You can’t hit me, pretty face. You can’t—"

Wenzhi frowned and punched him straight across the nose.

A loud crack echoed through the ring.

The crowd exploded into screams.

Blood immediately burst from the man’s nose, but instead of backing down, he roared furiously and lunged at Wenzhi with the obvious intent to tackle him to the ground.

Wenzhi moved first.

He grabbed the man’s arm, then twisted hard enough to yank it straight out of the socket.

The man screamed.

The crowd went insane.

Wenzhi, meanwhile, was openly laughing while pointing at him as officials rushed into the ring waving a red card he could not care less about.

Later, after showering and changing inside the locker room, Wenzhi opened his locker to retrieve his phone from his bag.

His shirt hung loosely around his neck while cool air brushed against his freckled torso, now noticeably more toned from the constant fighting.

His hair had grown longer over the past weeks, dark strands brushing against his eyes and falling naturally into a messy mullet simply because he had been too lazy to cut it.

It had already been a week since his discharge from the hospital.

One week since he disappeared from Pei Luo, Duan Ze and Ru Yi.

And one week since he started fighting in underground rings across downtown Findio City.

A city infamous for crime and violence.

Exactly the kind of place Wenzhi blended into effortlessly.

Sometimes he wondered if he was supposed to become a better person after getting a second life.

But this world was not sunshine and soft endings.

And honestly? This was still better than being surrounded by government officials, mad scientists and one deeply unhinged Esper.

Especially after everything that happened inside the red zone.

The monsters were evolving. People were dying. And somehow the government still had not publicly acknowledged any of it.

Nothing.

The silence irritated Wenzhi more than he wanted to admit.

But regardless, he wanted absolutely nothing to do with that mess anymore.

His phone buzzed again.

Wenzhi glanced down and saw a message from Ru Yi alongside a smiling selfie she had clearly taken just moments ago.

Over the past week, the two of them had been speaking occasionally.

It was obvious Ru Yi wanted to rebuild whatever relationship she and the original Lin Wenzhi once had.

Wenzhi could tell the whole hospital situation had become the perfect excuse for her to quietly slip back into his life again.

Not that he minded entirely.

He could not deny that he was now somewhat interested.

After all, compared to everyone else, Ru Yi felt normal.

Wenzhi slid his phone back into his pocket before lighting a cigarette and placing it between his lips.

He pulled on his shirt lazily, grabbed his bag, then turned only to find another man entering the locker room.

A man with an expensive-looking prosthetic arm glowing faintly beneath the dim lights.

One of the underground ring owners.

"Ah... pretty face," the man drawled with a grin. "Leaving already?"

Wenzhi held out his hand. "My money."

The man burst into laughter before pulling an envelope from his pocket and handing it over.

Wenzhi opened it right there and began counting the cash in front of him.

Then he frowned. "It’s not complete."

The man clapped slowly. "Well, maybe it would’ve been complete if you hadn’t broken the other guy’s nose, pretty face."

Wenzhi stared at him flatly. "You should know I broke his nose because he kept calling me pretty face."

Then he stepped closer. Closing the distance completely while maintaining direct eye contact.

"Give me the rest of my money," Wenzhi said calmly, "or you’re going to need another shiny arm."

The smile instantly vanished from the man’s face. "Are you threatening me?"

Wenzhi inhaled deeply from his cigarette before slowly raising both hands in mock surrender.

"Fine. Fine," he said dryly. "You’re right. Sorry."

He paused. "Now give me my money."

The man narrowed his eyes at him for a moment then suddenly laughed again. "Be grateful I like you so much, pretty face."

He pulled out a second envelope and handed it over.

Wenzhi snatched it from his grip before brushing past him with an irritated expression.

"Fucking bastard," he muttered under his breath as he walked out.

Wenzhi hopped onto his bike outside the underground parking lot before driving straight into the crowded downtown streets.

The city was as chaotic as ever.

Men beating each other bloody in alleyways. Music blasting from packed clubs.

Neon casino lights flickering endlessly against damp roads.

People making out recklessly beneath dim lanterns and colorful signs while hidden deeper in the alleys. There were probably corpses lying somewhere unseen.

Wenzhi eventually stopped at a small noodle shop, picked up takeout, then continued toward the cheap motel he had been renting for the past week.

The stairwell creaked beneath his boots as he climbed upward.

One hand remained tucked inside his pocket while the other searched lazily for his keys.

When he finally reached his room, he shoved the key into the lock and stepped inside the dark motel room.

Then, he froze.

A familiar, oppressive presence lingered heavily in the darkness.

That unmistakable hostile wavelength screaming on the edge of backlash.

Wenzhi’s brows furrowed.

No. Impossible.

There was no way.

He was probably imagining it.

So he ignored the feeling and stepped farther into the room instead, tossing his bag aside while fumbling for the light switch.

The moment the lights flickered on, Wenzhi turned sharply. And froze again.

Xinyuan was sitting quietly on the edge of the bed. His dark hair hung loose around his face while thin glasses rested neatly against his nose.

Dressed casually in dark clothes, boots, and an oversized shirt, he looked unfairly attractive.

But more than that, he looked like a predator waiting patiently for its prey to return home.

"What the fuck—" Wenzhi stumbled back instinctively, pressing a hand against his chest.

Xinyuan rose to his feet.

His red eyes locked onto Wenzhi with frightening intensity.

Wenzhi genuinely could not believe he was here.

"How?" he snapped. "How are you here? No one knows I’m staying here. How the hell did you find me?"

But Xinyuan didn’t answer. He simply walked toward him.

The moment Wenzhi tried to move away, Xinyuan’s hand slammed against the wall beside his head. Trapping him instantly.

The proximity was overwhelming.

His hostile wavelength pressed heavily through the room while those eyes remained fixed entirely on Wenzhi’s face.

Then Xinyuan leaned closer. Far too close.

"Hi, freckles," he whispered softly. Dangerously softly.

Wenzhi felt his heartbeat stutter.

"I need you," Xinyuan murmured, his voice rough and unstable, "to make it quiet, okay?"