Chapter 22 – Traps Within Traps
The warehouse on the edge of District C was quiet, too quiet.
Mo Chen's black car rolled to a stop a block away, headlights off. Beside him, Bai Xueqing loaded a small pistol into her thigh holster with smooth, practiced motions.
"I don't trust how easily we found this place," she said.
"That makes two of us," Mo Chen replied, scanning the dimly lit street. "But Lin Nuo triple-verified the signature. It came from here."
In the backseat, Meng Zhihao clicked his tongue. "Classic villain lair. Broken windows, one flickering lamp, silence... Want me to go first and draw fire?"
"No," Xueqing and Mo Chen said in unison.
Zhihao raised his brows. "Wow. Couple goals."
They exited the car, moving with military precision. Xueqing pushed the rusted side door open, the creak echoing ominously.
Inside, rows of crates lined the walls. Everything smelled like damp wood and old metal. In the center, a single spotlight illuminated a chair.
Tied to it was a man. Head covered. Motionless.
"Trap," Mo Chen muttered.
"I know," Xueqing whispered. Still, she walked forward.
Halfway across the room, the lights snapped on.
Dozens of red lasers dotted the space—motion detectors. And from the shadows, laughter echoed.
Clapping slowly, Xu Yanshang stepped out from behind a pillar, dressed in black, his eyes sharp with satisfaction.
"Xueqing. Mo Chen. How lovely of you to join me."
Mo Chen stepped in front of her instinctively. "Let him go."
"Of course," Xu said, gesturing. The tied man slumped forward, unconscious. "He's not who you're here for, anyway."
"What do you want?" Xueqing asked coldly.
He smiled, tilting his head. "To remind you that you're not the only one reborn."
The room froze.
Mo Chen's hand tightened at his side.
"You remember?" Xueqing whispered, eyes narrowing.
Xu Yanshang's smile deepened. "Every betrayal. Every flame. Every time you chose him instead of me."
"Because I never chose you," she said evenly.
His eyes flashed. "Then let's see if you'll choose differently when the bodies start falling."
Suddenly, smoke canisters exploded around them. The room filled with white haze.
"Move!" Mo Chen shouted, grabbing her wrist as the lasers deactivated and chaos erupted.
Shots fired. Footsteps scattered.
But Xu Yanshang was already gone.
Only his laughter lingered.