"Nobody leaves today, everyone stays—all of you. Tonight, we'll keep going. It's such a rare happy day, I've booked out the ballroom at the Emperor Entertainment Club. Tonight, you all have to come—no one's allowed to leave, you hear me?"
The groom, Yun Hai, hiccupped mid-sentence and kept gesturing animatedly. Clearly, he was quite drunk by now—his words were starting to slur.
"Don't worry, we won't leave. We'll keep you company until you've had your fill," Xu Feng replied on behalf of everyone.
"Good, I like you guys. Remember that. Oh, right—let me introduce you to a very good friend of mine, my best buddy from high school." Yun Hai was getting even more worked up.
Beside him, the bride, Fang Ya, supporting him with one arm, spoke with a touch of tipsiness:
"Alright, husband, that's enough. You can introduce him later—you're drunk."
"Who says I'm drunk? Whoever says I'm drunk, I'm gonna get mad at them."
That line he delivered loud and clear, and everyone understood it perfectly. A drunk person's greatest pet peeve is being told they're drunk—it only makes them more spirited.
Xu Feng patted Yun Hai on the shoulder and chimed in:
"You're not drunk. How could you be drunk? Everyone, isn't that right?"
The group, wanting to keep the mood light, joined in:
"Yeah, the groom's not getting drunk tonight."
That got Yun Hai grinning:
"Good, I like hearing that." Then he suddenly shouted,
"A'Ren!"
Everyone looked at each other, puzzled.
From among the guests, a young man holding a wine glass confidently answered:
"Hey, groom—calling me over to help you drink, eh? Hahaha."
"Cut the nonsense and get over here," Yun Hai beckoned with his hand, holding his own glass.
"I'm gonna introduce you to a few friends. Come on."
The young man called A'Ren walked over with a squinting grin, draping one hand over Yun Hai's shoulder.
"Alright, but if I drink you under the table tonight, you'll have to introduce me to a hundred friends, not just a few."
Xu Feng and the others burst out laughing.
Only Shi Aotian didn't laugh—his eyes narrowed slightly, studying this "A'Ren" closely.
"These are all my college classmates," Yun Hai said through a haze of alcohol, introducing them one by one.
When he got to Shi Aotian, A'Ren's face suddenly changed. His heart jolted, and a flicker of anger crossed his features as he extended his hand toward Shi Aotian.
Shi Aotian naturally reached out as well, sizing the man up.
A'Ren's real name was Situ Ren. His family wasn't from QD City, but he had relatives there. He'd attended high school in the city, stayed for college, and then gone abroad for further studies. During high school, Yun Hai had been especially close to him—even in college, every time Yun Hai came home for the holidays, they would meet up. After graduation, Situ Ren went overseas, and their time together decreased, but their bond remained strong.
The real reason Situ Ren felt so uneasy now was simple—Shi Aotian was the boyfriend of Bai Xue, the nurse. Of course, Shi Aotian recognized him at the same time. Naturally, there was a certain tension in their expressions. This was, after all, the classic "love rivals" meeting—no wonder their eyes flashed with hostility.
After the wedding banquet ended, everyone was rather tipsy—especially the groom, Yun Hai, who had long since collapsed into a deep sleep.
Yun's father, mother, and other relatives were busy tidying up, while the bride, Fang Ya, stayed by her husband's side to take care of him.
Guests gradually began to leave, and Xu Feng's group, still carrying the warmth of alcohol, returned to the hotel Yun Hai had arranged for them to rest in.
Just as Shi Aotian was about to walk out, he glanced back at Zhou Yun, who was chatting with Yun's father. He turned away and left, unable to calm the feeling in his heart—this man seemed refined on the surface, but was actually a deeply concealed master whose true strength was impossible to gauge.
Since meeting Aka, Zhou Yun was the first person who could make Shi Aotian feel uneasy. In fact, he might even be stronger than Aka—just that small display during the toast was enough to make Shi Aotian raise his guard to the highest level.
Watching Shi Aotian's retreating back, Zhou Yun found an excuse to leave as well, pulling out his phone.
> "Young Master, I've met someone you'd be very interested in."
> "Oh? Let's hear it."
> "Shi Aotian."
> "It's him?"
> "I saw him at my cousin's wedding. He's the boyfriend of one of my cousin's female classmates, but I haven't confirmed it yet."
> "Assistant Zhou, don't worry about all that for now. Tonight, there's going to be quite a show. You'd better behave yourself and not mess up my plan—just stand to the side and enjoy the performance. Understood?"
> "What kind of show?"
> "You talk too much. You'll see for yourself tonight. Remember what I said."
The call ended. Zhou Yun adjusted his glasses, put away his phone, and drove toward the Yun family home.
By the time the sun was setting and dusk approached, the alcohol had worn off for most. Even after several hours of rest, Yun Hai was still bursting with energy. He had already entrusted Situ Ren with arranging the evening's activities at the Emperor Entertainment Club.
Around 7 p.m., the floor that the Yun family had reserved at the club was already buzzing with excitement. Most of the crowd were young people—close friends and classmates of Yun Hai and Fang Ya.
Dong Fangqing, Xu Feng, and the others had already arrived. With their busy work lives, this was a rare chance to relax.
Amid the pounding heavy metal music and the DJ's shouts, a large group of young people had already thrown themselves into the atmosphere.
For Shi Aotian, it was his first time in such a place, and he found it unbearably noisy—it grated on his nerves. Watching the others twisting, shaking, and swaying under the dim lights, he felt a strong aversion. Instead, he sat alone at the bar, drinking beer and watching from a distance as Dong Fangqing swayed her slender waist.
Suddenly, someone sat down beside him and gestured to the bartender, who handed over a bottle of beer. Shi Aotian turned his head and, to his surprise, became intrigued.
It was Zhou Yun.
Zhou raised his bottle and clinked it lightly against Shi Aotian's, making a toast before drinking.
Not to be outdone, Shi Aotian drank as well. In this deafening music, talking was almost pointless—it was nearly impossible to hear anything.
The two, as if by silent agreement, got up and moved to a quieter corner.
"Didn't think your drinking capacity was that good," Zhou Yun said, taking off his glasses to wipe them.
"Is that so? I don't think so," Shi Aotian replied lightly, still watching the dance floor.
"Brother Shi, you're too modest. I'd guess your real skills don't lie in drinking, do they?" Zhou Yun smiled as he put his glasses back on.
"Seems you're not bad yourself, Mr. Zhou. That little trick with the cup at lunch—I still remember it," Shi Aotian said, turning to look at him.
"Hahaha." Zhou Yun laughed, picked up a beer bottle, and gave it a firm squeeze—the cap popped off instantly.
"Come on, let's have another drink."
Without changing his expression, Shi Aotian accepted the beer, drinking in large gulps. By the time he had emptied his bottle, Zhou Yun had already finished another one.
"I don't care who you are—you'd better not interfere in my affairs, or else…"
Shi Aotian stopped mid-sentence, and the empty bottle in his hand was instantly sliced into several pieces by the sharp edge of his palm energy.
Zhou Yun's eyes lit up, thinking to himself: Impressive. Even I wouldn't be able to cut a bottle so cleanly with bare hands. Looks like he really is as formidable as Mo Junyan said.
"Brother Shi, you're overthinking this. I came here purely to celebrate my cousin's wedding. I have no intention of causing trouble—nor do I want anyone else making trouble here," Zhou Yun said seriously.
"That's for the best," Shi Aotian replied, picking up another bottle and making a drinking gesture before downing it.
The two of them buried themselves in drinking, downing five bottles each before finally stopping and letting out a satisfied breath.
At the bar, Dong Fangqing noticed Shi Aotian's absence. Feeling a bit worried, she began searching for him.
In the dim, flashing lights of the large dance hall, finding someone was no easy task. The deafening music only heightened the sensory strain. Failing to spot him, Dong Fangqing grew increasingly anxious, asking around—but in the pounding heavy metal, it was nearly impossible to hear words, and most responses were just a shake of the head.
"Looks like someone's looking for you—your girlfriend," Zhou Yun said, noticing Dong Fangqing's worried expression and pointing behind Shi Aotian.
With his hearing dulled by the loud environment, Shi Aotian immediately turned at Zhou Yun's gesture. In the smoke and flickering lights, he spotted Dong Fangqing anxiously searching.
He stood at once, walked over, and motioned for her to follow him.
Relieved at last, Dong Fangqing followed him into a quiet corner.
"I've been looking for you everywhere. Where did you go? I was worried," she said, clearly flustered.
"I was over there drinking with Mr. Zhou," Shi Aotian explained calmly.
"Drinking? But I thought you didn't drink. Mr. Zhou—isn't he Yun Hai's cousin?" Dong Fangqing asked.
"Yes. He's your classmate's cousin. He's sitting over there." Shi Aotian pointed toward Zhou Yun's seat.
Dong Fangqing peeked over and saw a composed figure in the distance, who gave a polite wave in greeting.
"I see," she said, finally relaxing. "You should talk to more people instead of always keeping to yourself. It's good for you to interact more. Come on—let's go say hello." She took his wrist and strode toward Zhou Yun.
"Hello," Zhou Yun greeted as Dong Fangqing approached. Standing up politely, he made an inviting gesture. "Please, have a seat."
Dong Fangqing politely nodded in greeting, followed his gesture, and sat down with a smile.
"Mr. Zhou, I must apologize. My boyfriend has a rather introverted personality—he's not much of a talker and doesn't really enjoy this kind of environment. It's really kind of you to keep him company."
"Hehe." Zhou Yun smiled and adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose.
"Miss Dongfang, you're too polite. You're my cousin's classmate—on his wedding day, of course it's my duty to help entertain the guests. Besides, your boyfriend isn't as introverted as you think. We had quite a pleasant conversation."
As he spoke, a faint, graceful curve appeared at the corner of his lips, while inwardly he thought: Introverted? Maybe you don't know that if your so-called boyfriend ever goes on a rampage, not a single person in this entire entertainment club would escape his grasp—guaranteed, every last one of them would be in pieces.
"Mr. Zhou, you really are too kind, hehe." A trace of goodwill rose in Dong Fangqing's heart.
Zhou Yun's every gesture exuded refinement and aristocratic grace. It was hard to believe that someone so seemingly scholarly and gentle was the chief aide to the Black List. Of course, his power was absolutely not to be underestimated.
"Care for a drink?" Zhou Yun politely offered her a bottle.
"Thank you." Dong Fangqing didn't refuse and accepted it directly.
"Your boyfriend is very eloquent—I have a feeling he's destined for great success," Zhou Yun said to Dong Fangqing, glancing at Shi Aotian. "An extraordinary man must have extraordinary qualities. Don't you agree?"
Although this seemed directed at Dong Fangqing, it felt entirely like he was asking Shi Aotian himself.
"Whether he's a dragon or a worm—you'll find out in time. Mr. Zhou, you've had too much to drink," Shi Aotian replied, his gaze dark.
"Is that so? I don't think so." Zhou Yun downed a bottle of beer in one go and continued, "I wonder if Miss Dongfang would do me the honor of sharing a dance?"
In the middle of her drink, Dong Fangqing set the bottle down and looked to Shi Aotian for his opinion.
"Go ahead. Mr. Zhou is in such a good mood—it's only right to dance," Shi Aotian said with a nod.
"Hehe, very well, Brother Shi—you're a friend I'm keeping." Zhou Yun stood, extended a hand, and invited Dong Fangqing onto the dance floor. She accepted politely, and the two slipped into the crowd.
Left alone, Shi Aotian—who couldn't dance—drank in silence, watching as their figures gradually disappeared into the throng.
After the dance, Zhou Yun excused himself with a pretext and left in a hurry.
"Young Master," Zhou Yun said respectfully as he drove his sports car.
"Assistant Zhou, go and check Shi Aotian's strength. Tonight, there's going to be quite a show at the Tianpeng Nightclub. Haha, I'm sure it'll be very exciting." The young master's voice came over the phone with a cold laugh.
"I'm the target?" Zhou Yun's tone grew suddenly serious, thinking he might be tasked with the job himself.
"Assistant Zhou, this isn't your mission. Don't take action. Just watch from a distance with binoculars, and don't get too close—I don't want you coming to harm. Do you know who the assassin taking on the target tonight is?"
"No," Zhou Yun replied directly.
"Bi Fengyu. Now you know. Listen to me—if you take it upon yourself to act and something goes wrong, you can explain it to the old man yourself." With that, the young master hung up. The "old man" he referred to was the founder of the Black List—his father, and Zhou Yun's adoptive father.
Zhou Yun slowly set down his phone as he drove, muttering to himself:
Bi Fengyu… even he's come out. Looks like Aka's death has stirred up something unusual. To think even he, who's been in hiding for three years without a trace, has resurfaced. Seems the lure of the Black List's seventh seat is quite powerful for him. Hehe… The young master's right—it's best to just watch for now.
The man the young master had mentioned—Bi Fengyu—was the number eight-ranked assassin on the Black List. In truth, he was Canadian, and "Bi Fengyu" was merely his Chinese name. His background was highly mysterious, and his fluent Chinese was enough to shock anyone. Back in the day, the Black List had given his killing technique, the Heart-Shattering Kick, the chilling nickname "Deadly Blossom." Anyone struck by his kick would have their heart meridians ruptured, the heart itself shattered cleanly into five pieces—like the petals of a flower.
Aside from his cruelty, what he enjoyed most was toying with his targets before they died. Just before the kill, he would crush every joint in their hands and feet, forcing them to wail in unbearable agony. He also had a peculiar habit—he never used his hands. His hands were usually clasped behind his back or in his pockets, and no one had ever seen him use them—not even for eating, which he did entirely with his feet. Three years ago, he suddenly vanished, taking on no more contracts. Many rumors circulated within the Black List, but none could agree on the truth. His reappearance today could only mean a storm of blood was coming.
Shi Aotian felt a tingling in his leg—his phone was vibrating nonstop in his pocket. Eight bottles of beer were enough to make him groggy, but at that moment he instantly sobered up. Using an excuse to leave the noisy club, he slipped into a restroom. He concentrated for a moment, confirming there was no one else inside, and answered the call.
"Hello."
"Hehe… it's me."
"I know it's you. Say what you need to say—I'm not in a convenient place."
"I know. You're at the Emperor Entertainment Club right now, aren't you?"
"How do you know that?"
"Don't worry about how I know. I'm calling to tell you—you have a job tonight."
"A job?" Shi Aotian repeated in surprise.
"Yes. I'll find a way to pass it to you. Everything you wanted is ready—you'll like it, I'm sure. Tonight's target is simple, and it won't take much of your time. Everything's been prepared—you'll only have five minutes to make the move. I trust your ability. Don't worry—with me here, I'll handle the cleanup. No one will know it was you. That's it, bye-bye."
Before Shi Aotian could say more, Mo Junyan hung up quickly.
Shi Aotian pocketed his phone, stepped back out, and returned to the bustling club. At the bar, he ordered another bottle of Tsingtao. Since it was Yun Hai and Fang Ya's wedding day, they had booked the entire floor for their friends to celebrate—everything was on the house. Shi Aotian, tasting the beer for the first time, found himself in high spirits, drinking without restraint.
The ballroom was still drenched in flashing lights and neon. After two hours of pounding disco music, the playlist shifted to soft, slow dance tunes. Most guests began leaving the floor to rest, while a few couples stayed behind, swaying together in the romantic atmosphere.
Fresh from dancing, Dong Fangqing—sweating like the others—returned to Shi Aotian's table with the group, exclaiming how refreshing it was. After a few bottles of beer, the sweat gradually dried, and the group began chatting and laughing together.
After a short rest, Yun Hai stood up, clapped his hands, and shouted over the crowd:
"My friends, thank you all for being here! If you're tired, please head to the karaoke rooms to relax. I hope you all enjoy yourselves tonight!"
The announcement drew a cheer from the guests. Led by Yun Hai and Fang Ya, Xu Feng and the rest of their old university classmates made their way into one of the private rooms to sing. There was one extra person among them—Situ Ren—who spent the walk showering Dong Fangqing with constant attention.