Chapter One: Their Encounter in the Workplace

The scent of gunpowder lingered in the air—a war had just ended. Standing in the wind was a woman whose black mask could not conceal her delicate beauty. Beneath the blazing sun, she stood out starkly, while the corpses strewn behind her hinted at the ferocity of the battle just past.

“Useless rabble.” She held a spotless silk handkerchief, wiping her hands as she spoke with disdain, not even bothering to look up. Having grown accustomed to the smell of blood, she found it almost pleasing.

Just as she was about to turn and leave, a sudden gale whipped through the air—more people had arrived. Was this the theme music for an expert’s entrance, or merely the mischief of the wind’s spirits? The scent was familiar. So, the newcomer was someone she knew.

“Yin, you have to let go. How many innocent people have you killed?” The newcomer was also a woman, her presence brimming with murderous rage and a sorrowful tenderness in her eyes. She didn’t know whether to grieve for the corpses strewn across the ground or for the woman standing before her—perhaps both.

“Innocent?” The chill in Yin’s expression deepened instantly, her hand clenching into a tight fist. How many truly innocent people were there in this world?

Yin was the world’s top assassin, working solely for money. After countless killings, numbness had crept in. If you asked whether she ever regretted it, she might have answered that perhaps she once did. So she set herself a rule: never regret the lives she took, and never kill the same person twice.

The smell of blood hanging in the air reminded both women of the carnage, but it also reminded Yin that her mission was complete. Such a simple task—despite the many deaths, her opponents had been pitifully weak.

“How many innocent souls exist in this world? Did my parents deserve to die?” As Yin spoke, murderous intent surged around her, the scent of blood serving as her backdrop.

The other woman was left speechless, unable to find any words. She only knew she had to stop Yin from committing further slaughter.

Her name was Mo Lan, a noble heiress. The two had trained together for ten years, sharing the same age and birthday. Both were now exceptional in their own right, but one had become a police officer, the other an assassin.

“Lan, stay out of my affairs. Go back and be the lady you were born to be. The people I kill all deserve it—none are innocent. No matter how many I kill, you need not die in my place. I don’t want us to meet as enemies amidst corpses again!” Yin spoke helplessly, swiftly turning to leave. Though they were close as sisters, this issue always led to conflict.

Mo Lan watched her leave, her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles creaked. At last, the police arrived—their journey delayed by traffic and distance. Mo Lan had chosen a familiar shortcut to get here first.

She had been a police officer for three years. At twenty-three, she was strikingly beautiful and served as her team’s female leader, a squad captain. Under her command, the team had solved many cases and apprehended numerous murderers and drug traffickers.

She should have lived as a refined young woman, but being born into the Mo family meant otherwise. The family operated in both legal and illegal spheres and required people to handle matters in the shadows and pave the way openly. Thus, she became a police officer.

But was this truly the right path? The further she went, the more she doubted her original choice.

“Captain, didn’t you find anyone?” Liu Fei, a responsible male officer, stepped forward to ask. Liu Fei was an outstanding man, soon to become deputy captain once he passed his evaluation, but for now, he was just a subordinate.

He’d always admired Mo Lan, but she was so remarkable that she seemed untouchable.

“Search for evidence and clean up the scene,” Mo Lan replied, weariness weighing on her heart. She no longer wished to involve herself in these matters. She drove away in her own car.

After so many years on the force, after witnessing so much, Mo Lan still hadn’t found herself, nor understood what she truly wanted. All these years, she had lived for her family. Now, she needed solitude.

Liu Fei faithfully carried out her orders, immediately organizing the team to collect evidence and take notes. Though concerned for his captain, he prioritized his work. Some of the other officers seemed discontent—this was out of character for the captain and felt excessive.

As they examined the scene, the remaining officers found themselves dazed—the killer’s methods were astonishingly efficient. There was no evidence left behind, only a mountain of corpses.

They took photographs, drew blood samples, and examined wounds, working diligently, though the likely outcome was obvious.

The dead were all thugs; among the evidence was a contract of life and death, so the matter technically fell outside police jurisdiction. Even so, the absence of the other party’s name on the contract left a major question unresolved. The case would tantalize journalists, but again, it lay beyond the police’s domain.

Still, those present felt a chill—such swift killing! If one day the killer targeted them, being a police officer would be a dangerous job indeed. The captain’s abrupt departure only deepened their unease.

“Don’t be afraid. Focus on your tasks—I’ll take responsibility. Once we’re done, dinner’s on me,” Liu Fei said with a hearty laugh, sensing the gravity of the situation and trying to dispel the tension.

The other officers only smiled, saying nothing, but their eyes suggested scrutiny—perhaps an investigation was imminent. Such behavior from their captain seemed ill-suited for her position.

The aftermath would now be handled by others. A fleet of vehicles arrived to transport the bodies away.

The dead were dispatched to various locations for cremation, and their families were notified, although this process would take several more days. These arrangements were managed by other officers; Mo Lan herself was not directly involved.

This place was perhaps especially well chosen, with no surveillance cameras and difficult, remote access—another reason for the police to find the case suspicious.

Gradually, the name Qian Yin surfaced. More and more in the underworld began to know of her. But was this truly a good thing?