Because of the two-minute delay in the last chapter, yesterday's update went past midnight, and then... I lost the perfect attendance award...
Two minutes!
The perfect attendance prize of several thousand bucks was gone.
It hurt so much I couldn't breathe...
Please, give me some monthly tickets to comfort me, everyone! Hey! What do you mean by that, you laughing maniac?!
It was approaching midnight.
In a dark and narrow alley.
The light from the streetlamp outside the entrance couldn't fully penetrate. Inside the alley, a girl's straight black hair fell naturally, and she was dressed in the pristine uniform of a high school girl.
In her hand, she carried a small Tachi gleaming with sharpness, its tip seemingly pointed towards the ground as she half-crouched, poised and ready, one foot in front of the other.
Before her stood a young man with a strange smile on his face.
And on the ground, there was a body.
This scene was almost like something plucked from a Japanese manga.
Of course, Mr. Zaochuan, lying on the ground, hadn't become a corpse just yet.
Temporarily.
Xicheng Xun, in 2001, should have been seventeen years old, or to be precise, sixteen and a half.
Her birthday was November 30th, a Sagittarius, with blood type O.
She liked to eat Lan Mei, strawberries, and all fruits that didn't need to be peeled or have their seeds spat out—of course, Lan Mei were her favorite.
She enjoyed eating ramen and wasabi octopus.
She despised celery and carrots.
The thing she most wanted to do was beat the master of the Martial Arts Hall's face into a swollen mess.
The thing she most hated was math class.
The person she most despised was Xingye Lina from the class next door.
And, a silly, tall girl from South Korea who always thought too highly of herself.
The person she used to like the most was… Kimura Takuya. (But after he got older and less attractive, she decisively unfollowed him.)
The person she came to like later was... a boss with a chuunibyou nickname and a shameless attitude. (I mean, anyone who'd thick-facedly call themselves Yama has got to be chuunibyou, right?)
Her life motto was: "On rainy days, you should be holed up at home watching TV!"
Her habitual phrase was: "Middle-aged uncles are the grossest!"
She claimed to the outside world that she was 161 centimeters tall.
...Her actual height was only 157 centimeters.
She wore size 34.5 shoes.
Her weight was thirty-seven kilograms. (In reality, it was thirty-nine kilograms.)
She liked wearing short skirts and hated high heels.
The part of her body that she was most satisfied with was her legs.
The part of her body that she disliked the most were her boobs.
The above was a rough overview of Xicheng Xun, also nicknamed Lan Mei, from her past life.
Oh right, I missed one thing.
The thing she regretted the most was...
...
Why she was ever born to her parents and came into this world.
"So, do you still like to eat Lan Mei?"
Looking at the young man before her, Xicheng Xun's eyes narrowed. Her small frame subtly shifted as she gripped the Tachi with both hands.
"You... who exactly are you? How do you know my name, and so much more?"
"I am..." Chen Nuo pondered for a second, then ventured, "Just a Kamen Rider passing by?"
"Liar!" Xicheng Xun exclaimed angrily. "Do you think I'm a three-year-old child?" She paused, then cutely retorted, "Besides, you're not even wearing a helmet!"
Well, actually, I do have a helmet at home... Chen Yanluo thought with silent criticism.
"Since you won't speak, then, farewell!"
Xicheng Xun took a quick step backward as if to flee.
But Chen Nuo acted as though he didn't believe her at all; instead, he suddenly stepped back like lightning!
WHOOSH!
The edge of the Tachi almost slashed Chen Nuo's nose as it came down!
"Aha! I knew you'd say you were leaving but would actually attack," Chen Nuo said, moving another meter back.
Xicheng Xun wasted no time talking; the small Tachi in her hand flurried up and down, the three continuous cuts she attempted all evaded by Chen Nuo. The girl then rushed forward, her small stature trying to crash into Chen Nuo's embrace.
And Chen Nuo, ever the lecher, surprisingly didn't dodge! Instead, he opened his arms wide and embraced Xicheng Xun's petite frame.
Xicheng Xun snorted. Pressed against Chen Nuo's chest, she quickly raised her hand. Her movements were fast and vicious, the blade arcing up from an incredible angle, aimed at Chen Nuo's chest in a rapid triple thrust!
If the kendo coach from the Martial Arts Hall were here to witness this scene, they would surely exclaim in amazement.
This triple-thrust technique, which the dojo's best student hadn't mastered even after more than a year of practice, was executed flawlessly by this girl—who had been working as a cleaner for less than two months—with precision, stability, and ruthlessness!
The blade almost touched Chen Nuo's chest, the tip even slightly piercing through his clothes.
At that moment, however, the girl found that although her hands gripped the hilt firmly, she couldn't drive the Tachi forward, not even a millimeter deeper, no matter how hard she tried!
Chen Nuo's two fingers had caught the blade. He looked down at the girl gazing up at him from his embrace. "You really want to kill me, huh?"
"Hmph!"
The girl tried once more with all her might, but the blade remained unmoved. Reacting quickly, she instantly let go of the hilt, and simultaneously, her knee shot forward, aiming for Chen Nuo's groin.
Chen Yanluo smirked and sidestepped slightly. The girl's knee landed on the outside of his thigh, but her right hand, fingers already hooked, clawed towards Chen Nuo's eyes.
"You're a vicious little thing," Chen Nuo said, tilting his head and countering with an elbow strike.
Xicheng Xun grunted and stumbled several steps back, her face pale. She lifted a hand to her chest, gently massaging it. "HISS!"
"Ah, sorry about that," Chen Nuo chuckled, kicking away the Tachi that had fallen on the ground and spreading his hands. "I forgot you're flat-chested... With no cushioning, I must have hurt you, right?"
"...You jerk!"
Perhaps it was the word "flat-chested" that completely broke through the girl's previously calm and cool facade.
The girl cursed under her breath and lunged at him again.
She kicked, which Chen Nuo blocked with one hand; she swung a fist, which Chen Nuo deflected with an open palm; then, the girl simply opened her mouth and bit down fiercely on the back of Chen Nuo's hand.
Chen Nuo let go, and the girl's upper and lower teeth clacked together violently.
Chen Nuo chuckled, but the girl immediately changed tactics, standing on one leg while the other kicked out swiftly, aiming once again at Chen Nuo's neck.
Chen Nuo sighed, suddenly extended his hand, and grabbed Xicheng Xun's ankle...
"Uh... white?" Chen Nuo grinned sheepishly. He quickly pushed her leg away, forcing Xicheng Xun to stumble back several steps. After regaining her balance, she was panting slightly. A look of fear flickered in her eyes, and her voice was panicked. "You, who exactly are you?"
"...Alright," Chen Nuo sighed, waving his hand dismissively. "Stop pretending to be so panicked; that's not like you. You're feigning panic now, but your eyes are still fixed on my vital spots... You're still young, after all. You haven't learned how to truly feign weakness.
Details, details determine success or failure, remember that.
Right! Your eyes should be more frantic, your breathing more labored.
Hmm, now that's a bit more like it."
The panic on the girl's face intensified, and she suddenly turned and ran.
Chen Nuo pursued her for two steps with a smile, then abruptly stopped, executing a tactical lean-back.
As if coordinating with Chen Nuo's movement, only after he executed the tactical lean-back did the girl suddenly turn, a sharp utility knife blade flashing between her fingers as she slashed at him!
Her target was clear: Chen Nuo's throat!
Chen Nuo laughed and flicked his finger slightly. His fingertip struck Xicheng Xun's wrist. TING! The blade flew out, hit the wall, and clattered to the ground.
Xicheng Xun stepped back again, this time with an expression of pain on her face, grinding her teeth as she looked at Chen Nuo.
She clenched her left hand around her right wrist, but the right wrist swelled rapidly despite her efforts.
"Did I hurt you?" Chen Nuo asked with a smile.
"…"
Xicheng Xun's gaze flickered, and she said through gritted teeth in a low voice, "You're very strong... I'm no match for you. But who exactly are you?"
Chen Nuo looked at the girl before him in her school uniform—her petite body, her resolute and cold eyes...
Ah, how many years has it been since I've seen this? It really brings back memories.
Such a naive Little Blueberry.
"Don't even think about playing any tricks on me. I'd wager I'm the person in this world who understands you best," Chen Nuo said, dropping his guard completely. He leaned against the wall with one hand in his pocket. With the other, he pulled out a cigarette pack, tapped one out, and placed it between his lips. Then, with a flick of his fingers, a small flame appeared at his fingertips, lighting the cigarette.
He took a deep drag, watching Xicheng Xun with a smile.
The girl's eyes went wide!
Staring at the flame that had just burst from Chen Nuo's fingertips.
"Is that... Magic?"
"Want to learn? I can teach you," Chen Nuo offered with a smile.
"...I give up. Who are you... Ah! Officer, help me!"
Mid-sentence, the girl's expression suddenly changed. She cried out in feigned terror towards something behind Chen Nuo, then her body sprang back, flipping in mid-air. Like a gecko, she clung to the wall and scrambled upwards.
Chen Nuo's expression didn't change at all — he knew without looking back that there was no one coming up behind him.
Xicheng Xun had quickly climbed more than two meters up the wall when she suddenly felt a rush of air from behind. Startled, she glanced back just in time for a cigarette butt to accurately strike her between the eyebrows.
"AH!"
The searing cigarette butt made the girl cry out in pain. Then, she felt her collar being grabbed from behind. She was hoisted into the air and then slammed to the ground like a dead fish.
Chen Nuo hadn't held back with that throw. Xicheng Xun felt half her body go numb, pain causing the corner of her eye to twitch.
"Given up yet?" Chen Nuo walked up to her, squatted down, and looked into Xicheng Xun's eyes.
The girl closed her eyes, exhaled, and struggled, "Who on earth are you!!"
"Do you know what I like best about you? Even though you're also a little lunatic... you don't use foul language. You'd never hear curse words like 'fool' or 'idiot' coming out of your mouth."
Hmm, if it were that leggy girl from my past life who always picked fights with her, she'd probably be cussing up a storm by now using her favorite Korean curses.
"You, you... you talk as if you know me well! Why do you speak to me in such a familiar tone, I don't even know you!"
"But I know you," Chen Nuo said with a smile, reaching out and lightly patting the girl's cheek twice.
"Your name is Xicheng Xun, you're sixteen and a half years old, your birthday is November 30th.
Your mother's name is Rin Nishikawa, and your father's name is Xicheng Jun... though he's been dead for almost six years. He was the president of a small company before he died.
Your mother, Rin Nishikawa, was able to live a relatively comfortable life with you using the savings your father left behind.
However, unfortunately, two years ago, your mother seemed to lose her mind. She was brainwashed into joining that damn 'Truth Society.'
Yes, the same Truth Society that orchestrated the Tokyo subway sarin gas attack a few years ago.
It's nothing but a cult, really.
They're always preaching about the end of the world, and that sleazy-looking Sect Hierarch claims to possess supernatural powers, to be the reincarnation of some god...
Only someone out of their mind would believe such stuff.
Your mother truly lost it, even donating all the family assets to this damn Truth Society.
And then last year, your mother disappeared and didn't come home for a long time.
The police were investigating the Truth Society, and your mother was implicated...
So your mother ran away.
The police have been looking for your mother ever since.
You've been secretly searching as well.
This guy, Zaochuan, you dealt with tonight is the fourth person you've targeted this month.
The previous three were also leaders in the Truth Society. You overheard their details when your mother was talking on the phone at home... It's no wonder. You always disguise yourself as a well-behaved, sweet, cute, and innocent girl.
No one would be on guard against you, especially not your own mother!
But that's all a disguise. Your true self is a scheming, black-hearted lolita...
Ah, no, at your age, you shouldn't be called a lolita. You're a scheming young lady.
But... cut one open, and it's all black inside!
Your mother has been gone for so long, so long that you've started to worry about her safety.
So you started to secretly investigate your mother's whereabouts yourself.
...Well, that's the gist of it.
I didn't get anything wrong, did I? If I missed anything, feel free to add to it."
Chen Nuo looked at Xicheng Xun with a smile.
Xicheng Xun lay on the ground, eyes wide as she stared at Chen Nuo. "..."
This time, the scheming young lady was truly shocked!
After a few seconds, the girl swallowed hard and spoke with difficulty, "You... you..."
Suddenly, Chen Nuo cocked his ear, listening intently. He frowned. "Wait... SHHH!"
He made a silence gesture to Xicheng Xun.
After a while, footsteps came from outside, then two policemen walked up to the entrance of the alley, one of them even sweeping a glance inside!
The alley was about seven or eight meters deep. Although the lighting was dim, it wasn't pitch-black.
If one focused and looked inside, everything could be made out fairly clearly: Zaochuan on the ground, Chen Nuo squatting, and the scheming young lady lying there.
But just as the police officer arrived at the mouth of the alley and peered in…
Xicheng Xun suddenly saw the young man snap his fingers lightly.
Next, an astonishing scene unfolded before the girl's eyes.
Though only a few meters away, the police officer peered carefully into the alley for a few moments, then, as if he hadn't seen anything at all, he muttered a couple of things and walked off with his partner, disappearing into the distance...
After a while, the girl caught her breath and widened her eyes at Chen Nuo, "How did you do that?"
"Magic. Want to learn?"
The girl stared at Chen Nuo with a complicated expression. "Weren't you afraid I'd cry out just now?"
"...Please. You're the murderer here. You wouldn't shout," Chen Nuo laughed.
As he spoke, Chen Nuo picked up Xicheng Xun's shoulder bag from the ground and took her small medicine bottle, shaking it in his hand.
"It's not really rat poison in there, is it? If you wanted to kill him, you didn't need to go to such trouble. One stab to the heart would have been enough."
Xicheng Xun hesitated, then whispered, "It's a... hallucinogenic... drug."
"Huh? What did you get this for? Ah! I get it. You wanted to use this to force a confession? Make him take it, then interrogate him while he's disoriented?"
Chen Nuo looked at the girl, and the girl looked back at him without a word.
Sighing softly, Chen Nuo tossed the bottle into a roadside trash can. "You're forbidden from touching this stuff ever again! Understand?"
Chen Nuo's tone was more serious than ever!
"I..." Xicheng Xun started to retort, but seeing Chen Nuo's cold gaze, the words on the tip of her tongue involuntarily changed into a defense: "...I stole it from a nightclub. I wouldn't touch that kind of thing myself."
"Good."
Chen Nuo stood up and walked over to the guy named Zaochuan, extending his foot to give a light kick to his neck.
SNAP! Zaochuan's head tilted to one side, and he stopped breathing.
"Ah! You!!" Xicheng Xun exclaimed.
Chen Nuo turned to look at Xicheng Xun. "What's wrong? This kind of cultist scumbag has harmed countless people and ruined who knows how many families. What's so shocking about someone like him dying?"
"That's not it!" Xicheng Xun retorted angrily. "I hadn't interrogated him yet!"
"No need to interrogate. He doesn't know what you want to ask," Chen Nuo sighed.
He walked over to Xicheng Xun and pulled the girl up from the ground by grabbing her hair!
Wincing in pain, Xicheng Xun grasped Chen Nuo's arms, "Let go! That hurts!"
Chen Nuo sneered. After letting go of Xicheng Xun, a small blade appeared in his palm.
"You hid this in your hair? Weren't you afraid of cutting yourself?" Chen Nuo casually tossed it aside. "Still hiding things? Planning to ambush me, were you?"
Xicheng Xun swallowed.
"Don't even think about it. I told you, all your little tricks are useless on me. I might even understand you better than you understand yourself." Chen Nuo clapped his hands. "Now, come with me."
"Where to?"
"Captives don't have the right to ask questions! You're not a three-year-old child anymore, don't you have that much common sense?"
The two walked out of the alley, one after the other.
Chen Nuo led the way, Xicheng Xun followed behind.
Xicheng Xun considered turning and fleeing, but the terrifying strength displayed by this strange young man made her understand that any escape attempt would likely be futile and only result in more suffering for herself.
Following Chen Nuo, the two of them walked one in front of the other through the streets for over ten minutes.
From a secluded path, they turned back onto a bustling commercial street, walked two more blocks, and arrived at the entrance of a luxurious hotel.
Stopping in her tracks, the young girl stared at the hotel's grand entrance.
Xicheng Xun folded her arms across her chest and widened her eyes at Chen Nuo.
"You... bringing me to a place like this! You wouldn't be planning to do something strange to me, would you!"
"...Pah! In your dreams!" Chen Nuo raised an eyebrow.
Do something strange to you?! What a joke! Thinking back to my past life, this little brat sneaked into my room in the middle of the night, tried to crawl into my bed, and I kicked her out, wrapped her in a blanket, and hung her from the windowsill... HAHA!! Right, that's it! She and Firefly were at odds ever since, probably because they were hung side-by-side from the windowsill all night that day. Having seen each other at their most pathetic, they were mortified and became lifelong rivals! Hmm, speaking of which, that white-haired loli, Little Ox-head, was the one who instigated her night raid in our past life! Hmph, as if I haven't seen the 'masterpieces' of all you 'teachers' on your hard drives!
"Bringing a beautiful girl like me to a hotel to get a room in the middle of the night! You must be planning something disgusting!"
"Stop spouting nonsense and let's go!" Chen Nuo rubbed his forehead. "I haven't even eaten dinner because I was looking for you! If you keep talking such rubbish, I'll..."
"Ah! What are you planning to do to me? Bondage? Whips? Or..."
"What in the world is crammed into that little head of yours!" Chen Nuo forcefully pushed the back of the girl's head.
They entered the hotel anyway.
Approaching the luxurious suite on the top floor, Chen Nuo took out the key card from his pocket and opened the door directly.
"The room was already booked! You even have the key card ready! You must be..."
"Enough nonsense!" Chen Nuo opened the door, kicked the black-hearted girl inside, then followed her in and shut the door.
Xicheng Xun entered the room and quickly curled up on the living room sofa, arms still folded over her chest, watching Chen Nuo with caution.
Chen Nuo ignored her, walked straight to the desk, and picked up the phone to call room service.
"I'd like an eel rice bowl, a seafood miso soup, and a serving of rice cakes."
"Wait, wait a minute," Xicheng Xun spoke up tentatively from the sofa.
"What is it?" Chen Nuo twisted around, phone receiver in hand.
"Um... can we add another eel rice bowl?" Xicheng Xun lowered her head reluctantly. "I haven't eaten dinner either."
"...Alright." Chen Nuo said into the phone, "Make that two eel rice bowls."
After hanging up, Chen Nuo went straight into the bedroom.
This action made Xicheng Xun instantly tense up again.
Chen Nuo soon came back out and threw a bath towel directly into Xicheng Xun's arms.
"Go take a shower."
"Ah!!"
Xicheng Xun leaped up from the sofa as if electrocuted and retreated to the corner. "No!!"
The girl gnashed her teeth and glared at Chen Nuo fiercely, "Even if you kill me, I won't let you... let you have your way!"
Chen Nuo gritted his teeth, trying to remain calm. Annoyed, he said, "What part of you do you think I'd be interested in? Your flat chest or your short legs?"
"What did you say!" Xicheng Xun shouted angrily. "I might have a flat chest and short legs, but my legs are very straight and thin! And they look good!"
"So, are you offering yourself to me?"
"No!"
Out of the blue, Xicheng Xun grabbed a fruit knife from the table and held it to her own throat, "You... don't come any closer!"
"..." Chen Nuo suddenly laughed.
He stared at the girl for a few seconds. "You've got blood on you, idiot! You haven't even learned how to kill properly. You just secretly learned a few moves at the Martial Arts Hall for a couple of months and now you think you're an expert?
If the Truth Society members you encountered weren't all useless trash, and if you hadn't met a real master... otherwise, with your meager skills, you'd have been killed long ago.
Go wash the blood off yourself! And take off those bloodstained clothes. We'll burn them later."
"..." The girl hesitated as she looked at Chen Nuo.
But Chen Nuo was already ignoring her. He sat down on the sofa, picked up the remote, turned on the TV, and flipped to an HBO channel, starting to watch.
A minute later, the girl seemed to slowly let her guard down. Clutching the towel, she finally, and hesitantly, left the corner and headed towards the bedroom.
BANG!
The bathroom door closed and was locked from the inside.
Half an hour later, a hotel waiter pushing a food cart rang the room's doorbell.
Chen Nuo went to open the door, let the waiter push the cart in, and arranged the food on the living room's dining table.
At this moment, the bedroom door opened, and Xicheng Xun came out from inside.
The girl had showered. Her hair was wet, cascading over her head and shoulders.
Her slightly baby-faced cheeks were tinged with a flush from the steam.
She was wrapped in one of the hotel's oversized bathrobes, which was somewhat large for her petite frame; though it wrapped her tightly, the hem dropped very low, exposing just a bit of smooth lower leg and a pair of tender bare feet.
The waiter, seeing such a cute and pretty girl as Xicheng Xun, took in her wet hair and flushed face.
Immediately, he glanced at Chen Nuo again and then flashed a knowing, odd smile.
Chen Nuo took out his wallet, pulled out two bills and handed them as a tip, dismissing the waiter.
"Time to eat!" Chen Nuo said, sitting down directly at the dining table.
Xicheng Xun stood at the bedroom door, hesitating.
Chen Nuo turned his head and looked at her, "What is it?"
"You... you didn't prepare any clothes for me!"
"Of course not. I was busy looking for you; where would I find time to buy clothes? Just wear the bathrobe for now. I'll have someone deliver clothes at dawn."
"..."
Only then did Xicheng Xun hesitantly walk to the table and sit down at the spot farthest from Chen Nuo.
Looking at the eel rice on the table...
"You didn't put any weird drugs in it, did you!"
"If you're that suspicious, then don't eat," Chen Nuo said nonchalantly, picking up a piece of eel and putting it in his mouth.
"Um... about that..."
"What's wrong now?" Chen Nuo looked towards Xicheng Xun.
"Can I eat your portion? Since you've already taken a bite, it definitely isn't drugged."
Chen Nuo looked at her for a few seconds, then laughed and pushed his plate of food towards her.
Xicheng Xun glanced at the eel rice in front of her, blinked her eyes cutely a few times, and then picked up her chopsticks to start eating.
The girl seemed really hungry, eating a bit hastily.
When she had eaten about half of her eel rice, Chen Nuo slowly said, "Didn't you know... some drugs are even more... enjoyable when a man and a woman take them together? So, how can you be sure my food isn't drugged?"
The girl suddenly stiffened, her chopsticks falling to the ground with a CLATTER! Her eyes widened as she stared at Chen Nuo. "You!!"
A few seconds later, the girl's eyes quickly filled with tears, and with a sobbing tone she said, "You, you really are a lecherous and disgusting man!!"
Chen Nuo's face held a strange smile as he stood up and walked towards the girl.
The girl's heart pounded with panic. Unsure if the drug was taking effect, she felt weak and powerless, slumping onto the chair in fear.
When Chen Nuo's hand rested on her shoulder, even through the coarse bathrobe, she could feel the young man's fingers were very strong…
All of a sudden, Xicheng Xun felt her entire body go numb, unable to muster any strength at all.
It was as if a strange power was firmly binding her body.
"You… you…" the girl weakly pleaded, "You can't do this…"
"..." Chen Nuo stared at the girl for two seconds, then withdrew his hand.
You wish! Chen Yanluo curled his lips slightly. "I'm going to take a shower and go to bed. I was afraid you'd run off, so I immobilized you first."
Watching Chen Nuo turn and leave, the girl suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, but still couldn't move.
After struggling a bit, Xicheng Xun couldn't help raising her voice, "What exactly do you want to do with me!"
Chen Nuo stopped and turned back to look at Xicheng Xun. "I'm not going to do anything to you. It's just..."
"Just what?"
"It's just that for the next few days, you'll have to inconvenience yourself by staying in this room. I'll let you go in three days. During this time, as long as you don't try to escape, I won't lay a single finger on you. Understand?"
"Just… just that?"
"Just that."
Saying this, the young man smiled, turned and walked into the bathroom of the bedroom, closing the door. Soon, the sound of rushing water could be heard…
Xicheng Xun struggled forcefully a few times, but her body felt as if it were tightly bound by invisible ropes. She couldn't move; she couldn't even lift a little finger.
Finally, the girl gave up trying to move and resigned herself to slump in the chair.
But the sound of running water from the bathroom continued. The girl, her thoughts unknown, developed a strange flush on her face...
Oh no, this is bad… My clothes, the ones I just took off, are still in the bathroom…
This is today's update. I was busy during the daytime and couldn't write, so I stayed up late to finish it and released it to you at three in the morning.
A large chapter for you all.
See you tomorrow!
Monthly passes are my favorite!