The night air of the capital shimmered faintly with silver threads of moonlight, brushing the corners of the bustling streets.
The cool wind carried a soft hum of life — cars passing, voices rising and fading, laughter echoing from distant cafés.
Su Ning walked leisurely along the sidewalk, her delicate heels tapping softly against the polished tiles.
The city lights reflected on her face like liquid gold, highlighting the quiet poise that set her apart from everyone else on that street.
She could've been mistaken for a goddess descended for a stroll — serene, untouchable, unknowingly drawing attention from passersby who dared not approach her.
She had chosen to take a walk rather than summon a cab. Her thoughts needed space — the thrill of earlier events at the mall still lingered faintly, and she wanted time to calm her mind.
After a while, she stopped by a public restroom near the end of a quiet street. Stepping inside, she slipped the jewelry boxes from her shopping bags into her system space.
The sparkle of the gemstones vanished into nothingness. It wasn't just caution; it was instinct. News traveled fast in the capital and danger was never too far behind luxury.
When she stepped back onto the street, the night was quieter. The faint buzz of traffic had dimmed, and the once-crowded street had thinned. She was halfway past an alleyway when a low growl of an engine broke the silence.
A black van screeched to a halt before her.
Its tires left dark streaks on the pavement. Doors slammed open. Seven masked men jumped out, each carrying metal rods and daggers that gleamed under the flickering streetlight.
Panic rippled through the few remaining passersby. People screamed and ran, scattering like frightened birds, leaving the street eerily empty.
Su Ning stopped walking. She turned her head slowly, eyes narrowing on the men. Her face remained calm, her tone light and cold.
The leader stepped forward, his voice muffled behind the mask. "Miss, come with us quietly, and no one gets hurt."
Su Ning tilted her head. Her eyes glinted, faintly amused. "Is that so?"
He stiffened at her tone—there was no fear in it. None at all. "Don't make this difficult," he barked. "You can either cooperate, or we'll take you the hard way."
Su Ning's lips curved into a small, dangerous smirk. "You should walk away while I'm still being polite."
The men burst into laughter, mocking and cruel. "This little doll's got guts," one sneered, stepping closer. "You'll learn—"
Suddenly, Su Ning vanished.
A rush of wind passed them—swift, silent, lethal. The leader barely turned before a force slammed into his gut. He choked, flying backward and crashing into the van. The others froze, eyes widening in horror. "What the hell—?!"
Su Ning vanished again.
"Shit! What the fuck just happened?" As he turned to run but froze as Su Ning's face appeared in front of him, her gaze cold and sharp.
"Going somewhere?" She asked, tilting her head with a smirk on her lips. "Since you've come, stay!" Fist slammed into his chest as he was sent crashing against the wall.
Her heel clicked once against the ground as she moved—fluid, deadly, almost elegant. She darted through the group like a shadow, every strike precise and merciless.
One man swung at her in panic; she sidestepped, grabbed his wrist, and twisted until his scream echoed down the street. A second later, he was unconscious on the ground.
The next tried to rush her with a knife—he ended up with his face buried into the pavement.
Within moments, six of them were sprawled on the ground groaning in pain, their weapons scattered.
The leader was the only one left conscious, his eyes wide, his body trembling. He stumbled backward, clutching his stomach as Su Ning approached slowly.
Her voice was soft, almost lazy. "Who sent you?"
He swallowed, his voice shaking. "I—I don't know what you're talking about—"
Su Ning caught his chin between her fingers, her nails grazing his throat. Her smile didn't reach her eyes. "I won't ask again."
Fear cracked his composure. "It was Tang Mei!" he blurted out. "It was that woman—Tang Mei! She paid us to bring you to her, unconscious!"
Su Ning's expression didn't change, though a faint glimmer passed through her eyes. "Tang Mei, huh? That annoying pest from Luminous."
The man nodded desperately. "Miss—I mean—Senior, we—we didn't know who you were! We just followed orders!"
Su Ning released him, letting him slump to the ground. "Unfortunately," she said coolly, "that's your mistake."
Her hand moved like lightning, and the man slumped unconscious beside his fallen comrades.
The street returned to silence. Only the wind and faint city noise filled the air. Su Ning adjusted her sleeve, her movements smooth and composed, as though she hadn't just taken down seven armed men.
She stepped into a blur, her figure appeared miles away from the scene.
She turned her gaze upward. "System," she said, her tone faintly amused. "Locate Tang Mei."
The system's robotic chime answered inside her mind almost instantly.
'Target located: Tang Mei. Current position—underground casino, south district. Property registered under Tang Group.'
Su Ning's eyes glimmered with frost. "A casino? Looks like my lucky day."
She hailed a cab, her figure disappearing into the shadows of the Capital.