Southwest Border, Huaxia. Zhenyun Prison.
The name might not ring as loudly as the infamous Qincheng Prison in the capital, but to those in the know, its weight was suffocating. If Qincheng was a cage for fallen elites and corrupt tycoons, then Zhenyun was a living hell on earth.
This place housed the worst of the worst. Butchers, drug lords who ruled the borderlands, and arms dealers with blood on their hands. Anyone locked up here was either serving a life sentence or waiting for a bullet to the back of the head.
Yet, outside this ominous fortress of death, a military off-road vehicle screeched to a halt—a sight completely out of place in this desolate wasteland.
A man and a woman stepped out.
The man, a Major General in his forties, wore a crisp uniform, his expression stern and commanding. The woman, however, was a stunner. Dressed in a sharp business suit that hugged her curves, her beauty was so radiant it could incite a riot among the desperate beasts locked inside the prison walls.
Led by the terrified Warden, they rushed straight to the main office.
The beautiful woman, Su Wanyue, frowned deeply, her face pale with anxiety. "Uncle Liu, can this man really save my father?"
She was the sole heiress of the Green Source Group. Even the military's elite special forces had failed. She couldn't believe a convict in a border prison could turn the tide. If she didn't trust Major General Liu, she would have turned around and left already.
"Wanyue," the General stopped and looked at her solemnly. "In the entire Southwest, if Chen Liuhe can't do it, then we should start preparing for your father's funeral."
Su Wanyue trembled. "Who exactly is he?"
The General took a deep breath. "A year ago, an Imperial Shrine in a foreign country was turned into a river of blood overnight. Thirty-eight dead. It shocked the world. He was the one who did it."
Su Wanyue's eyes widened in disbelief.
"He was the military's pride. The nation's Ultimate Weapon. If that incident hadn't been so politically explosive, he would never have ended up here." The General's voice was firm. "Put away your doubt. He is our only hope."
Just then, the office door was kicked open.
A tall young man walked in. He wore a standard prison uniform and a buzz cut. His features were chiseled and sharp, radiating a wild, rogueish charm rather than classic handsomeness. Most shockingly, despite being a heavy offender, he wore no handcuffs or shackles.
"Well, well. A General and a beauty? Rare guests."
Chen Liuhe scanned the room, his gaze lingering on Su Wanyue's stunning figure for barely a second before he dismissed her. He walked past them, slouched into the Warden's chair, grabbed a cigarette from the desk, and lit it up.
His arrogant attitude annoyed Su Wanyue instantly.
"Chen Liuhe, let's cut to the chase," the General said, ignoring the disrespect. "Foreign mercenaries have crossed the border. They've kidnapped Su Weiye and are attempting to smuggle top-secret commercial tech out of the country. We need you."
"Pass." Chen Liuhe blew a smoke ring, looking bored. "I'm a prisoner serving time. Find someone else for your dirty work."
"It's the 'Blood Wolf' Mercenary Group. Ranked thirteenth in the world," the General dropped the bomb.
Chen Liuhe's fingers paused. The corner of his mouth curled into a playful, dangerous smirk. He looked at Su Wanyue again. "Tsk, tsk. Your family has some serious enemies. Hiring Blood Wolf costs at least ten million dollars. Someone really wants your father dead."
Su Wanyue couldn't take it anymore. She snapped, "Can you do it or not? If not, stop wasting our time!"
Chen Liuhe ignored her outburst and looked straight at the General. "The price?"
"Complete the mission, and you get your freedom."
The laziness in Chen Liuhe's eyes vanished, replaced by a sharp, terrifying glint. He turned to the Warden. "Old Tang, give me my gear. I'm out of here."
Moments later, Chen Liuhe changed into simple civilian clothes. In his hand, he spun a strange, crescent-shaped blade.
"Do you need weapon support?" the General asked.
"For a few little wolf pups? This blade is enough." Chen Liuhe grinned, a smile that promised violence. "Let's hope they don't piss their pants when they see me coming."
Watching Chen Liuhe drive away into the distance, Su Wanyue was still worried. "Is he really capable?"
"Wanyue, just watch," the General sighed. "When the tiger leaves the cage, blood will flow."
"Why did he massacre that shrine a year ago?" Su Wanyue asked, unable to suppress her curiosity.
The General gave a bitter smile, his eyes filled with complex emotions. "For a woman. A woman who, after he fell from grace, abandoned him to save herself..."