No. 75 A Never-Fading Sea of Flowers
“This is preposterous!”
Ouyang Dati stood rigidly, head bowed, as a man in a stern military uniform berated him in a secret base somewhere in Upper Capital City.
“They’re just children! Exposing them to firearms at such a young age? If anything had gone wrong, you would have been held fully responsible!”
“The situation in Upper Capital City is already causing enough headaches for the higher-ups. And you’re adding fuel to the fire, creating more chaos?”
“Yes, yes, Captain. I was wrong. But it all worked out, didn’t it? Xiaodie’s a natural with that rifle. She’s better than most of our snipers. And they’re not exactly children anymore…”
“As far as I’m concerned, anyone under eighteen is a child. Do you understand? What were you doing at sixteen? Couldn’t even run ten kilometers without collapsing, could you? Do you know how dangerous that rifle is? The recoil alone could have injured her!”
“But I didn’t give her any bullets…”
“Still arguing?”
“…”
While Ouyang Dati endured his reprimand, I was having a heavy-hearted conversation with my father over the phone.
“Don’t worry too much, Yi Yao. Your mother passed away peacefully. She wanted you to study hard, to take care of yourself… I’ll be back tomorrow. You and Xiaodie get some rest. I’ll let you go now…”
I hung up, my gaze drawn to the midday sun streaming through the window, casting rainbows across the pristine room.
The wind chimes on the curtain tinkled softly in the breeze.
My vision blurred, the sunlight creating streaks of white light.
The sky, not yet fully embracing summer, was a brilliant blue, dotted with wispy clouds.
“Yi Yao…”
Xiaodie’s voice brought me back to reality.
“I’m fine,” I said, forcing a smile and pulling her into a hug.
“You were right. It’s all over now.”
Yes, it was over. But… my father had lied.
My mother had been unconscious. She couldn’t have told him to tell me to study hard.
I knew this, having experienced it before.
But it didn’t matter.
I would pretend I didn’t know. I would trust him.
I would start over.
If that’s what it took to make everyone happy.
I was no longer alone.
“You’re Huang Yingdie, right? And you’re Yi Yao?”
A man in an unfamiliar uniform approached us, placing two documents on the table. “We wanted to thank you for your… well, while we don’t condone vigilantism, we have to admit, you did a good job. You helped us take down the largest criminal organization in Upper Capital City.”
“Is there a reward?” Xiaodie asked excitedly, still in her Aria cosplay outfit.
“Well… we wanted to offer you a choice.”
He pushed the documents towards us. “We’re recruiting agents to help us clean up the city. You both meet our requirements. If you join us, you won’t have to attend regular school anymore, and your families will be protected. But I must warn you, this job is dangerous. You’ll be facing ruthless criminals.”
“The other option is to return to your normal lives, to pretend this never happened, especially the events in the old city. You must swear to secrecy.”
“Please sign the appropriate agreement once you’ve made your decision.”
I carefully reviewed the documents.
The old city was a dark chapter in Upper Capital City’s history, a secret they wanted to bury. They wanted us, who had stumbled upon that truth, to join their cause.
To be trained as agents, to serve the people.
To face the darkest corners of society, to become the heroes of our own action movie.
To risk our lives for justice, for a world free of crime.
I looked at Xiaodie.
Her eyes held unwavering trust. “It’s your decision, Yi Yao.”
“Then…”
I picked up the document on the left.
“Let’s chase our dreams.”
Keeping a secret about a ruined city was hardly a burden. I had no desire to relive that nightmare.
There was nothing wrong with being an ordinary student.
“Huh?”
Xiaodie feigned surprise, her expression exaggerated. “I thought you, the all-powerful Yi Yao, would choose to save the world. Aren’t gods supposed to love all of humanity?”
“I don’t love all of humanity,” I said, my gaze meeting hers. “But I love you.”
Her face flushed crimson.
“Seriously, you two? Get a room,” Ouyang Dati said, appearing out of nowhere and plopping down on the sofa beside Xiaodie. “Bad news. The government is probably going to confiscate those guns you stole.”
“We didn’t steal them. We acquired them through our own skills.”
“Yes, yes, let me finish. I pulled some strings, and the captain agreed to let Xiaodie keep that sniper rifle as a collector’s item. But no bullets. As for the other firearms, the government will compensate you. Someone will be coming to collect them soon.”
“How much compensation?” I asked, my interest piqued.
He gave me an exasperated look. “Why are you so obsessed with money?”
“Because we’re practically broke! You know our situation. Every penny counts.”
“Aren’t you the leader of the Black Dragon Society? Can’t you even afford food?”
“It’s a glorified kids’ club, not a triad.”
“You didn’t know?”
He blinked, then slapped his forehead. “Oh, right… I forgot to tell you. Luo Wei was just here. He’s in the next room. The Black Dragon Society is officially recognized now. You can use that name to register a company, open a nightclub, whatever you want. As long as you stay within the law, we’ll turn a blind eye.”
Connections to both sides of the law? Since when was Pai Ge interested in such things?
“Don’t overthink it. Luo Wei wouldn’t have achieved anything without my connections. Hmph.”
He stood up, stretching. “Anyway, get some rest. I’m so jealous of you youngsters. When I was your age, I hadn’t even held a real gun.”
“Have you decided?” he asked, gesturing towards the documents.
“Yes.”
Xiaodie and I signed the non-disclosure agreements and handed them to him.
“Alright, you’re free to go. Luo Wei is waiting outside. Take Xiaobai with you.”
“When are you going to reimburse us for Xiaobai’s food expenses?”
“Just feed it like a dog.”
“…”
We returned to Xiaodie’s villa with Xiaobai in tow. I told Pai Ge about my encounter with Fierce.
“A one-armed man and a muscular man in black?”
He stroked his chin thoughtfully, his usual dapper self in a perfectly tailored suit. “Could it be my uncle? But I’ve never heard of him owing anyone a favor…”
“He said he owed a debt to someone who taught me how to use a knife. And he gave me this.” I handed him the remaining playing cards.
He examined the incomplete deck, his fingers moving with practiced ease as he shuffled the cards. “Maybe it was a misunderstanding?”
This was the only lead you had regarding your elusive uncle, and you’re brushing it off so casually?
“My uncle does things his own way. He’ll show up when he’s ready. You and I can perform a simple Pai family initiation ritual then.”
With a flick of his wrist, the cards vanished.
“Don’t worry about such things. Upper Capital City will be peaceful for a while. Just focus on your lives.” He patted Xiaodie’s head and turned to leave. “Xiaodie, my sister hasn’t given up on Yi Yao yet. If you don’t want to lose her, you better step up your game.”
“You!”
I lunged towards him, but he was already in his car, the engine roaring to life.
“Hahaha! Such a beautiful friendship between two girls…”
His laughter echoed in the wind as he drove away.
“Honestly, that guy is never serious. A typical playboy,” I grumbled, turning to see Xiaodie staring at me with a perplexed expression.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I was just thinking… if Bing likes you, maybe it’s not that different from me liking you.”
Who has been corrupting you?
“Anyway, I made lunch. Come inside.”
“And Xiaobai helped us find you! He’s a hero!”
As if on cue, the tiger cub let out a triumphant roar.
I frowned. “How are we going to afford to feed him when he’s fully grown?”
“We’ll figure it out.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed my forehead, her face flushing crimson. “Yi Yao, my mother… she approved of us.”
“What?”
“In that letter, she said she knew about our relationship. She thanked me for taking care of you. She wanted me to tell you after she was gone.”
“Yi Yao, I know you’re strong, but it’s okay to lean on me sometimes.”
The sunlight painted her face a delicate shade of pink.
“I might be clumsy and clueless, and I often act without thinking, but I promise you, for you, I’ll try my best to be a good girl.”
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