Meanwhile, in the command car.

Thick silence encased the air as Li Zhi and Director Zhang stared at each other, equally stunned and flabbergasted. And the reason for this was none other than the report that had just come in from Team 7.

He Juan, the target they had been following from the start, turned out to be XIU? That XIU who was the first on the wanted criminal list in multiple countries? That XIU who was hailed as the uncrowned hero of justice by the ordinary citizens? That very same XIU?? How...? He Juan was clearly an Alpha, but from Tak Jung-Hwa’s report, everyone knew that XIU was actually an omega! Just what was going on here?!

The communication channel became utterly silent once this report came in. The person who should raise the protest, Tak Jung-Hwa, did not make a sound either. Li Zhi assumed that the man must have been caught off guard by this unexpected news. After all, he was the one who had traded blows with XIU that year...

Wait a minute... Li Zhi suddenly recalled something. Mu Yuze was – or used to be – He Juan’s lover. Regarding his Alpha’s true identity, did he know something? Or... had he always known about it and deliberately concealed it from the police?! Li Zhi’s expression abruptly sank when this question popped up in his mind. He grabbed his walkie-talkie, intending to ask the omega about it but before he could do so, a crackle sounded and another report came in,

"This is Team 8. We are two hundred meters away from the meeting location. Aside from the target, there are six other people from the other side. I am sending their information over now..." all of a sudden, the officer’s tone turned haste. "I spotted the hostage and the imposter! Hostage has entered the radar, no visible injury so far... oh God, they start fighting!"

Li Zhi brought the walkie-talkie to his mouth before he could even think about it. "Keep on standby and follow up with the situation!"

He furrowed his brows. Why did they start fighting? Wasn’t this supposed to be a reunion between Xuanlong’s core members??

Li Zhi raised his head and met Director Zhang’s solemn gaze. "It looks like there is something more about Xuanlong we are still not privy to..."

Director Zhang nodded. "Don’t take action yet. We have to observe and understand the bigger picture. But looking at this development, it seems like there is a conflict between XIU and the imposter?"

Li Zhi sank into thought. He had no idea about XIU, but he understood why He Juan acted the way he did. After all, Jia Molei was supposed to be his close friend so it was reasonable for him to want to get the man back. The only problem was, Li Zhi was still unclear whether He Juan had regained his memory or not...

If he hadn’t, then what did Xuanlong need him for?

As reports continued to come in, Li Zhi tried to keep his restlessness at bay. Until ten minutes later, the situation abruptly changed.

"This is Team 1. I repeat, this is Team 1! We detected signs of activity in the middle of the ocean. The visibility is too low and we can’t determine what it is. Please give your instructions!"

Just as the latest report came in, Li Zhi heard the unmistakable sound of a motor boat roaring to life in the far distance. No, there was not only one – there were many. The loud rumble of engines echoed one on top of the other, piercing through the tranquility of the night and signaling the arrival of the storm. Then—

BANG!

An ear-deafening gunshot rang out in the air.

***

Ten minutes ago.

"What have you done to him," He Juan said, his tone dangerously flat.

The six lackeys glanced at each other nervously and took a few steps backward to make space for He Juan and Ku Jin. This was a battle between two of Xuanlong’s most capable men! It was not something that they could butt in so casually just like that!

Ku Jin had the gall to look offended. "Me? I told you, I like him so much. How can I bear to do anything to him?" Alas, when his words were paired with Jia Molei’s weakened state, it did not sound too convincing. Perhaps he also realized how unreliable he was as he tapped his chin and added, "...I guess?"

The air became utterly still with only the ebb and flow of the waves crashing against the cement platform could be heard.

One second, He Juan was standing perfectly still and the next second, he suddenly lunged toward Jia Molei!

He was so fast that his figure almost became a blur that melded together with darkness, catching everyone off guard. However, Ku Jin seemed to have anticipated this as he yanked Jia Molei toward him while his feet kicked powerfully against the ground to open some distance between him and He Juan. Suddenly losing his target, He Juan’s balance tilted forward. He sucked in a breath, loosened his muscles and let his instinct take over. He shot out a hand to level on the ground, using it as a pivot as he directed a flying kick toward Ku Jin’s head and was blocked by the latter’s arm in the nick of time!

For a split second, their gazes collided in midair, surging with hostility and killing intent.

Ku Jin twisted his arm to grab a hold of He Juan’s leg. He Juan narrowed his eyes sharply. Instead of resisting Ku Jin’s moves, he abruptly dropped his center of balance and tried to drag Ku Jin’s momentum astray. A terrifying crack sounded from his ankle, but He Juan couldn’t care less about it now. Using the explosive strength of his arms, he spun himself midair, forcing Ku Jin to let go of the hand that was holding onto him.

Instead of continuing his attack, he once again stretched out a hand to grab Jia Molei.

"Molei!" He cried out, hoping that Jia Molei would get the clue and catch his hand.

Alas, it seemed like Jia Molei’s condition was more horrible than he’d expected. Let alone responding to He Juan’s signal, he could not even struggle out of Ku Jin’s grasp.

"Ah ah..." Ku Jin blocked He Juan’s outstretched hand with an arm and at the same time, he extended a leg to strike He Juan right on the chest! "Want to take away what belongs to me? Not so easy, XIU."

He Juan stumbled backward and clutched his chest, coughing. If it had been any other person, their ribs would have been broken by that one powerful kick and their internal organs damaged. Fortunately, He Juan had seen that kick coming and managed to tilt his body to the side at the last moment, reducing the impact that landed on him.

Alas, when all was said and done, He Juan had not had such an intense fight for the past seven years – at least not since he woke up from the coma. He had been relying on his instinct and forced his untrained body to keep up with Ku Jin’s extreme reaction speed, and that one strike from the other man almost caused his vision to go dark. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

He swallowed the blood that surged up his throat. His muscles were screaming due to the overstrain and his head felt swollen, pounding like someone was smashing him with a hammer again and again. His right ankle was throbbing in pain and the breath he exhaled was so hot as though fire was coursing through his veins.

Oh no... his fever must have gotten worse!

However, in front of the enemy, He Juan was not willing to show the slightest hint of weakness. He stood ramrod straight, his shoulders squared as he stared at Ku Jin in the eye. "Yours?" The corner of his lips tilted into a sneer. He ignored Jia Molei who was staring at him with a pleading gaze, begging for him to run away and leave him behind. "I don’t think Molei agrees to it though. Right, Molei?"