Chapter One: A Surprise in the Bathroom

The narrow alley where trash was thrown reeked with an unbearable stench.
Vicious and unpleasant curses echoed, foul words that were hard to hear, but soon they were drowned out by screams and the sharp crack of breaking bones.
Liu Jingye lit a cigarette, gazing coldly at the wailing men before him.
Four men lay amidst the garbage at his feet, crying out in agony. Two had dislocated shoulders, two had broken wrists—every injury at the joints, specifically those holding weapons. It was clear they’d been struck head-on, their weapons shattered with ruthless precision.
Liu Jingye retrieved his own wallet from one of them, spat disdainfully, and snorted, “Stealing military supplies—if we were on the battlefield, you’d have been executed already.”
He wiped his wallet with care, a plain green canvas piece adorned with a bright red five-pointed star, shining brilliantly.
A light rain began to fall. Liu Jingye picked up the two packs of toilet paper he’d just bought, humming a little tune as he strolled through the rain, leaving behind that world of gunpowder and bloodshed. At last, he could be a twenty-six-year-old, lively, optimistic, and cheerful young man.
But the sight of the large house ahead dulled his spirits once again.
This was a rural inn, nestled beside the beautiful northern mountain forests. The steady stream of tourists out for spring hikes were its main customers, though business had suffered lately with the endless rainy days.
It had been rebuilt atop his family’s three old rooms, and the second floor now held more than a dozen guest rooms. It was a small family business run by his parents, recently handed over to their eldest son—it was, in a sense, a family legacy.
“My parents, honestly—once they had a grandson, they forgot all about their son, even handed the family business away.”
Muttering as he pushed open the inn’s door, he headed to his own room, which also served as the cash register area. The adjacent bathroom was the only bath in the whole inn.
“Hmm? That sounds like running water…”
Holding the toilet paper, Liu Jingye suddenly stopped as he approached the bathroom. He set down the paper, quickly scanned every corner of the room for any anomalies, then silently crept toward the bathroom door.
Years of battlefield vigilance had ingrained in him a sharp alertness.
“Let’s see who dares make trouble under my roof!”
With that, Liu Jingye suddenly lashed out, kicking the door down in one swift motion.
In an instant, through the mist of steam, he locked onto a figure and grabbed their throat—a startled cry was choked off.
The moment his hand touched, he was stunned by the smooth, delicate feel.
A second later, he finally saw clearly: it was a young woman, entirely unclothed and bathing.
Both were frozen in shock, but Liu Jingye reacted first, realizing he’d made a terrible mistake. He quickly released her and bolted out, only to hear the woman’s frantic shout behind him, “The door—shut the door, quick!”
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Dear friends, a new book has been released—come and get a taste of something fresh!