Chapter Thirty-Three: The Arrival of Death

"Wait for your return!"

This was the first time Liu Jingye had heard such words. In the past, it was always his comrades who said them, with lovers at home waiting for their triumphant return.

But Liu Jingye had left home as a teenager, knowing only that he was going to join the army. Everything else he kept from his parents. No one truly knew what he was doing. There was no intense longing or worry, no eagerly awaited reunion.

Now, standing before him, Wei Xiaorou had filled the greatest emptiness in his heart. Soldiers fight and bleed on the front lines to protect the homeland and the safety of loved ones behind them. It is the waiting and yearning of those loved ones that gives everything meaning.

Liu Jingye set out again. This time, his feelings were completely different; the fire in his heart burned fiercer than ever.

"Huang Dynasty, let me see what you're made of, building your so-called empire," Liu Jingye muttered, riding his second-hand motorcycle through the empty midnight streets, a cigarette dangling from his lips, a disdainful smile curling at the corners.

He sped all the way to the coast, where the headquarters of the Huang Dynasty stood—the nearest building to the sea, eight stories high, with an open space in front and the ocean behind. It was a position both offensive and defensive—should they need to retreat, the sea offered an escape route.

To the left lay the pier, also within the Huang Dynasty's sphere of influence. This entire area could be considered their domain.

Liu Jingye stood beneath the building, gazing up. The dark tower had only its topmost floor lit, twinkling like a star in the night.

He looked out toward the vast, boundless sea, the sound of waves crashing echoing in his ears. Out in the water stood a lighthouse, its pinnacle glowing with a red light, guiding ships into and out of port.

Though the lighthouse seemed close, it was two to three kilometers from shore. Liu Jingye smiled faintly and strode swiftly toward the dark waters.

"Nothing is more satisfying than tooth for tooth, eye for eye."

His cold voice was quickly swallowed by the roar of the waves as he slipped into the water, undaunted by the distance, cutting through the midnight sea alone to reach the lighthouse.

The structure rose twenty or thirty meters above the water; atop it, the wind blew even stronger. He opened the assassin’s kit, drew out the scope, and from the lighthouse, peered toward the Huang Dynasty’s building. The top floor was lit, but there was no sign of anyone.

"Only two in the morning; it’s not time yet."

Unhurried and utterly calm, Liu Jingye sat down, lit a cigarette, listened to the surging waves, and stroked his sniper rifle, transported back to that world of smoke and bloodshed.

Time ticked by. The sky grew ever darker, plunging into the deepest black before dawn—the darkest hour of the day.

"Five o’clock…" Liu Jingye checked the time and whispered, "The appointed time is half past five. Sunrise today is at twenty to six. Huang Xing, you’re ruthless indeed. You really don’t want Wei Xiaorou to see another sunrise!"

His eyes were icy, the scent of murder drifting over the sea. He flicked away his cigarette and peered once more through the scope at the building. A figure appeared at the window of the central room on the top floor. Even at this distance, the professional scope made things clear enough.

Though he couldn’t make out the man’s features, Liu Jingye was certain it was Huang Xing.

"What a pity we can’t meet in person, but I’ll send you a greeting nonetheless," he said lightly, his hands swiftly assembling the sniper rifle.

He trained the same scope on Huang Xing, now with a dark barrel below.

As time crept forward, Liu Jingye slowed his breathing, his pulse growing ever steadier, his whole body petrified and still.

The sky deepened further, but the waves calmed—signs that sunrise was near.

Inside, Huang Xing paced back and forth. The police had come, inquiring about a murder case—clearly, Wei Xiaorou had reported him. Fortunately, the authorities hadn’t conducted a thorough investigation. As the only eyewitness, Wei Xiaorou needed to be dealt with quickly.

Standing at the window, he gazed toward the nearby pier, waiting anxiously.

Just then, his phone rang. He turned to his desk, where three phones lay. The ringing one was a temporary line used for contact with the assassin.

He frowned, answered, and heard Liu Jingye’s lazy voice: "Hi, Boss Huang. How are you?"

"Who is this?" Huang Xing exclaimed in alarm.

"I’m calling to thank you—and to bring you a gift," Liu Jingye replied. Through the call, he confirmed the man at the window was indeed Huang Xing.

"Fair trade. No need to thank me," Huang Xing assumed he was dealing with an associate of the hitman.

"No, I must thank you. You were so generous, going to such lengths to invite those two elders for a visit. Such generosity deserves my gratitude."

"What is your connection to Wei Xiaorou? Where is the owner of this phone?" Huang Xing suddenly understood, but he couldn’t believe Wei Xiaorou had anyone capable of dealing with a professional killer.

"It’s complicated…" Even Liu Jingye didn’t quite know how to answer. "She specifically asked me to thank you and to prepare a present for you."

Huang Xing was taken aback but remained confident—this was his turf, with tight security and surveillance throughout the building, and plenty of capable men on the lower floors.

He had been startled, but quickly recovered, picking up a fine cigar and clamping it between his teeth with a sneer. "Alright. If you’ve got the guts, come and get me. I’ll be waiting."

"Someone’s already waiting for me. No need for you to play host," Liu Jingye snorted coldly. "It’s about time for my gift."

He didn’t hang up, setting the phone beside him as he raised his rifle. At that instant, a dazzling beam tore through the darkness where sea and sky met, as if splitting the world in two—the sun about to rise from the ocean.

Bang—a single shot rang out with the first light of dawn, shattering the silence of sea and sky.

The bullet screamed from the lighthouse, streaking like a meteor.

Crash—the glass before Huang Xing shattered, the bullet striking his cigar dead center, snapping it in two. Blood welled from the corner of his mouth and cheek.

"Who? Who is it?" Huang Xing cried out in shock, frantically looking around, even glancing at the phone as if someone might leap out from it.

"Don’t move!" Liu Jingye’s voice came through the phone. "Move an inch, and the next shot will blow your head off!"

"Wh—where are you?" Huang Xing’s hands shook so badly he could barely hold the phone, his body frozen as if struck by lightning, eyes darting about but seeing nothing.

Liu Jingye laughed. "Didn’t I just say? I’m here to deliver your gift. Are you satisfied with it?"

"Where are you, really?" Huang Xing shrieked like a man seeing a ghost, but didn’t dare move a muscle.

"Somewhere I can end your life at any moment," Liu Jingye’s voice was a devil’s whisper.

"This is impossible." No one understood the area better than Huang Xing.

Before him lay open ground and road; behind, the endless sea; beside him, the pier under his control. The nearest building of any height was kilometers away. There was no way anyone could be firing from the sea.

He could see the lighthouse, but the idea that someone was there, shooting so accurately, was unthinkable.

The lighthouse was built by his own company, a full 1.5 nautical miles from shore—nearly 2,800 meters. The world record for sniper range was only about 2,400 meters.

Yet Liu Jingye told him, "I’m someone who makes the impossible possible!"

"Absolutely not. You’re bluffing," Huang Xing retorted, putting on a brave face despite his criminal background.

"Boss Huang, the painting on your wall must be valuable," Liu Jingye said coolly.

Before Huang Xing could react, another crisp shot rang out. The prized painting exploded from the center, the powerful sniper round tearing through it. More terrifying, there were no new holes in the glass—meaning the bullet had passed through the same opening as before.

"Who… who are you? How does Wei Xiaorou know someone like you?" This time, Huang Xing was truly terrified, his voice trembling, verging on tears.

A hardened criminal since childhood, he was ruthless enough to kill, but had never faced the threat of death himself. Now, death hovered so near.

"Release them!" Seizing the moment of fear, Liu Jingye spoke sharply. "Call right now and have the two elders wait outside the city police station. Tell them not to leave until they see Wei Xiaorou!"

"Yes, yes, I’ll call right away." Huang Xing dared not delay, grabbing another phone and making the call.

Liu Jingye listened to the whole conversation—it was legitimate. He then texted Wei Xiaorou, instructing her to pick up the elders and wait at the police station entrance.

No matter how powerful the Huang Dynasty was, they wouldn’t dare snatch someone in front of the police.

Now it was time to deal with this criminal heir. Liu Jingye’s voice turned cold: "Boss Huang, there’s one more call for you to make. You know who it’s to."

Sweat pouring down his face, Huang Xing stammered, "You want me to call the police—to turn myself in?"

"Smart. Go ahead, Boss Huang. Voluntary surrender will get you a lighter sentence," Liu Jingye said with a smile.

"This…" Huang Xing was torn, the shadow of death looming over him, as if the grim reaper stood behind, ready to claim his life at any moment.

A crimson sun rose slowly over the sea, flooding the world with light. The fiery dawn scattered across the water, draping the ocean in a brilliant mantle.

The silver barrel of the long rifle gleamed dazzlingly in the sunlight. Though a weapon of death, it stood for justice.