At the borders between nations, in an endless expanse of yellow sand, stood a cluster of white-domed buildings rich with foreign character. Weathered by time, half remained intact while the other half was reduced to broken pillars and crumbling walls, like the remnant corner of a long-destroyed palace.

“So those two pieces of trash really got burned to death? Hahaha…” A coquettish laugh drifted out from within.

Different from the scorching, arid heat outside, the interior was cool and damp. Several people occupied the corners in various postures—men and women alike, ranging from the young to the old.

The one laughing was a blonde girl dressed in an ornate, layered red Lolita dress, holding a white lace parasol. She looked young—no more than twenty—and when she smiled, two sharp, vampire-like canine teeth peeked out.

“Lolita, is this really funny? We just lost two powerful companions,” said a bald man whose scalp was tattooed with a cantaloupe-like pattern, annoyance in his voice.

“Who the hell is their companion? If I’d had the chance, I’d have sent those tasteless idiots to their graves myself,” Lolita snorted coldly. “Compare me to them again, and I’ll kill you.”

The melon-headed bald man shot to his feet, as if ready to attack.

Lolita flung her parasol aside, lifted her skirt, and pulled out a massive cleaver. Her lips curled into an excited, bloodthirsty grin.

The air ignited with tension—violence was seconds away.

At that moment, a hand pressed down on her shoulder from behind. Another hand reached past her, and with two swift flicks, a fan of slender silver knives snapped open, blocking her eyes.

A tall man stood behind her, dressed in an immaculate suit, his black hair neatly combed like a gentleman’s. He smiled at the bald man. “Forgive her bluntness. She’s still just a child.”

The bald man understood the threat. If he refused, every one of those blades would be embedded in his body.

He sat back down, his face dark. And then he saw the suited man lift Lolita’s chin and kiss her behind the cover of the knife-fan.

Damn. What a pair of lunatics.

“This has turned our mercenary group into a laughingstock among our peers. We’ve even had several clients cancel their contracts,” said a glasses young man who looked like an ordinary programmer. It was as if the earlier conflict had never happened. A laptop rested on his knees, his thick hair giving him the look of a fresh graduate.

They were the companions of the two Demon Atavists summoned by Zhou Yongzi. Calling them companions wasn’t entirely accurate—this was a band of rootless people thrown together. Trust was nonexistent; betrayal and murder were always a possibility.

“By our usual rules, we should express our stance to the offender—for the sake of our dignity,” the glasses man added.

“They lost because they were weak. What ‘offense’ are we talking about? Are you insane? Go yourselves if you want—I’m not volunteering to be judged by a six-winged angel. Isaac, let’s go.” Lolita tucked the cleaver back into her skirt, accepted the parasol from the suited man, and once again put on a ladylike air—though much of the lipstick on her lips had been wiped away.

She turned and walked out, Isaac beside her.

“Lolita, Isaac—you’ve got an assigned request,” the glasses man called after them.

……

After school that afternoon, Jing Pei went to the school clinic to visit Chu Xusheng, where she ran into Wu Ying and Jiang Qing.

“What’s going on? Who’s hurt?” she asked.

Wu Ying’s eyes flickered with guilt. Jiang Qing adjusted his glasses and said calmly, “Me.”

Jing Pei looked him over and noticed claw-like scratches on his neck and arms, some of them quite severe.

“Did you get into a fight? I wouldn’t have guessed you were the type,” she said.

“What guy doesn’t fight?” Wu Ying blurted, her ears already turning bright red. “You’re here to see Chu Xusheng, right? Go on—we’re fine. Just need some ointment.”

Jing Pei on purpose teased her and stayed put. “He’s fine too. Why not treat these at home? Does the Wu family hospital not have enough medicine?”

“……” If they went to the Wu family hospital, what they’d been doing behind closed doors would definitely be exposed! Jiang Qing’s back had been scratched beyond recognition—but that wasn’t her fault. He wouldn’t stop, and she couldn’t control herself. He deserved it!

“Were these caused by an animal? If so, you might need a vaccine—”

“You’re so annoying today! Go, go!” Wu Ying couldn’t take it anymore and shoved Jing Pei out of the room.

Only then did Jing Pei head to Chu Xusheng’s ward.

Aside from eating and using the restroom, Chu Xusheng lay completely still, hoping his bones would heal faster so he could go home with Jing Pei.

“If his bones break one more time, they’ll start fracturing by habit. This retainer might be finished,” Tang Woxue said from the side.

Startled, Chu Xusheng blurted, “Then I’ll wait until I’m fully healed before going back—I won’t become useless!”

“Then get some proper rest. I’ll come again tomorrow,” Jing Pei said with a smile before leaving.

Tang Woxue followed her out.

“Doctor Tang, why are you following me?” she asked.

He flashed a charming smile, on purpose radiating allure. “I’ve always admired the dragon race. I just want to walk beside you for a bit. You don’t mind, do you?”

“Do you want to become my retainer too?”

“That would be my honor. But as an ordinary person, I’m probably not worthy. Still, if you ever need me, just command me. No contract necessary. I’d gladly serve you, through fire and blade without hesitation.” His eyes rested intently on her, filled with fake affection.

Jing Pei met his gaze for a few seconds and smiled. “Doctor Tang, if the school finds out about this, you might lose your job.”

“Don’t misunderstand—I love you with pure sincerity. As naturally as the stars follow the moon.”

If Jing Pei hadn’t been someone with a long history of relationships, or if she truly were Long Jin—a naive girl—she might have been taken in. But he knew exactly how charming he was and had no qualms about using it.

After all, he was no gentleman.

“If what you say is true, that would be wonderful,” Jing Pei said with a slight cunning glint in her eyes before turning away.

Tang Woxue walked her to the entrance of the clinic. As he watched her back, there wasn’t a trace of tenderness in his gaze.

A notification lit up on his phone.

[Doctor Tang, have you been free to come to the hospital not long ago? The patient’s vitals have changed slightly. The abnormal cells are still spreading—we’re worried…]

Another message followed:

[Lolita and Isaac have accepted the job.]

……

In Yunjin Prefecture, the darkest corner of the city was the slum known as the “Nevergone District.” No one knew how it was established or how it grew to such scale. It simply existed—like humans needing oxygen.

The law here was the most primitive: the strong preyed on the weak. Big fish ate small fish, small fish ate shrimp. The size of your fists determined whether you lived or died.

Women and children struggled to survive here, but they formed groups for protection, relying on one another. Over time, this collective had grown powerful enough that even the district chief dared not provoke them.

At its center was a woman named Min Jing—a single mother.

At that moment, Min Jing sat in her newly patched-up shack, picking at her foot. In front of her, a wheat-skinned, short-haired girl with the sharp look of a leopard cat hammered away at a battered computer, typing with intense focus.

“What are you searching?” Min Jing yawned.

The girl turned, serious. “I think I’ve encountered a ghost.”

“How so?” Min Jing asked, suddenly excited, like someone eager for juicy gossip.

“Ever since that rainstorm, I feel like something’s been hiding here. It feels wrong—cold and eerie.” She frowned. The sensation was strange, unsettling, filling her with unease, as if something terrible was about to happen.

“And what did you find?”

“Nothing.”

“….”

Min Jing lay back down and resumed picking at her foot.

The girl, puzzled, wandered across the internet—and came across Jing Pei again.

She remembered her clearly. Not every day you saw a rich girl wander into the slums for fun. And the desserts she brought were very good—absurdly good. Just thinking about them still felt surreal. How could anything taste that amazing?

She’d nearly forgotten about it, until the livestream from the Wu family two days ago brought Jing Pei back into view. Only then did she realize Jing Pei was an Atavist—a legendary Dragon Atavist, no less.

Thinking back, Jing Pei hadn’t needed her protection at all—nor a guide. She’d even ended up owing her a favor. Or maybe it had just been polite talk.

“She said I could go find her at the Twelve Zodiac Academy if I ever needed help… What would I possibly need help with? She’s probably forgotten me already,” the girl muttered.

Just then, a chill crept up her spine—the same, cannot be explained fear from before returned.

She looked around.

Nothing was there.

……

Xiao family.

Xiao Cheng and Mei Yanlan sat across from each other at dinner.

Xiao Cheng glanced up from time to time. “You really didn’t go see Wen Can today?”

“The Tribunal Division is very busy. I didn’t have time.”

The Zhou family incident had occupied most of the Tribunal Division. Of course, criminals weren’t going to wait politely for them to finish. Most fieldwork had been handed over to the Special Forces. Mei Yanlan had been working nonstop.

She’d just finished work when Xiao Cheng picked her up outside.

“So you’re saying you didn’t go because you had no time—and if you did, you would’ve?” Xiao Cheng’s temper flared again. He’d heard Wen Can was alive last night, and Mei Yanlan had stayed up all night smoking on the balcony, making him miserable. She was a free spirit, with a string of ex-boyfriends—but her reaction to her first love was different.

“If Fang Bihe came back to life after ten years, you’d react too. Be a little generous—don’t be so petty.”

“Why bring up Fang Bihe?” Xiao Cheng asked, uneasy.

“Isn’t it common knowledge you liked her?”

“That was in the past! Is your thing with Wen Can also ‘in the past’?”

Mei Yanlan paused as she scooped rice, dazed for a short time. Xiao Cheng’s expression shifted at once.

Then she snapped back as if nothing had happened.

……

The Wen family had been bustling for days. A child dead for ten years returning to life naturally stirred curiosity, especially since Wen Can had supposedly died for love—throwing himself in front of a train.

“What’s going on, Niao Niao? Where’s your brother been for ten years?”

“Then who died back then?”

“What about that girlfriend of his? Why did she say the dead one was your brother?”

“…”

In the room, Wen Niao was surrounded by friends, answering only, “If I knew, that’d solve everything. I was only thirteen back then anyway.”

For ten years, the Wen family had avoided the topic entirely, as if trying to erase those two people from memory. Only when she met Mei Yanlan at the cemetery did she realize who she was—her brother’s girlfriend from back then.

The Mei Yanlan of ten years ago had been even more ordinary-looking and withdrawn. She never understood why her brother liked her so much.

Then, days ago, the doorbell rang, and someone stood there smiling. “Mom, Dad, Niao Niao… long time no see. I’m back.”

If not for the DNA test matching perfectly with the national database, they wouldn’t have believed it.

The family rejoiced, but whenever they asked what had happened, Wen Can only said he’d explain later.

Too many questions. If the dead person wasn’t Wen Can, why had Mei Yanlan believed it was? Why visit his grave every year? And why did her brother now feel… off?

There was a knock. A friend opened the door.

A young man in a white shirt stood there like a prince. A small tear-shaped mole marked the corner of his eye. His gaze was clear, his smile warm—like spring itself.

“I brought milk tea for you all. Niao Niao, share it out,” he said.

“Thanks, big brother—you’re the best!” Wen Niao said.

When the door closed, her friends swarmed her. “Oh my God, that’s your brother? He’s so handsome!”

Wen Niao nodded. Yes, he was. But… was he really her brother?

Too many mysteries surrounded him.

Wen Can returned to his room, opened his computer, and accessed a folder.

Thousands of photos filled the screen—all of the same person. Some showed her teaching children, others walking down the street, and some from her time working as Number One of the Tribunal Division Special Forces, with a golden bell beneath her demon horns glinting brightly.

“Mei… Yan… lan.” He savored the name, eyes curving into a smile. “Long time no see.”

……

When Jing Pei woke up, her inbox was flooded with messages—all from the same person.

[Hey, how do you know Isaac and me? You recommended those demon brothers to that Zhou guy before, right? And now you recommended us again—are you messing with us on purpose?]

[How much do you actually know about us?]

[Where the hell are you?]

[Hey? Hello??]

[Hey hey hey hey hey…]

So noisy.

Jing Pei had planned to sleep in, but the barrage woke her right up.

[Hello, valued customer. I am merely an information broker. Based on client needs, I recommended you in line with that. Why would I on purpose cause you trouble? Would you like to purchase information?]

[How do you know us? How much do you know?]

[The information you’re requesting requires this price.]

“What is this, how many zeros—one, two, three… what the hell? I only make so much per job!” the blonde Lolita exploded, reaching for her cleaver to hack her phone.

A hand stopped her from behind. The man leaned over her. “We still need it to contact clients.”

“This is outrageous! I’m going to chop him into pieces!”

“Shh. Cause a scene here, and we lose this job. Don’t you want that new dress?” Isaac’s dark green eyes swept over the passengers in the airship.

Thinking of her shopping cart and empty savings, she forced herself to stop. Then a new message arrived.

[If you’re willing to work for me, I might waive the fee.]

At that moment, the airship landed at the central dock of Yunjin Prefecture.

Isaac slipped the phone into his suit pocket, picked up Lolita’s parasol, and led her to her feet.

The girl in the crimson Lolita dress and the man beside her in a three-piece suit—like a refined butler—walked forward together, drawing glances wherever they went.

Who would have guessed they were international mercenaries?