Free Web NovelChapter 136: A Den Of Wolves
Belium City was always a beautiful sight at night. The towering skyscrapers, the neon lights cracking through the dark, the crisp, cold air....
Everything blended into a flawless, urban landscape. Xinyuan had never thought he’d return here. The moment Wenzhi had shown him the message, they had boarded a private jet, bringing Kaiwen and Duan Ze along. Yuzhen and Zhiyao, on the other hand, wanted absolutely nothing to do with Pei Luo.
It was more accurate to say they just weren’t interested. They had already gone their separate ways upon landing, claiming they had their own business to handle in the city, leaving the remaining four to handle the trap.
Inside the sleek car, Wenzhi leaned his head against the window, a lollipop tucked into the corner of his cheek. The city lights smeared across the glass as Kaiwen drove through the streets.
In the passenger seat, Duan Ze was locked in, rapidly typing away on a laptop balanced on his lap.
Xinyuan was pressed flush against Wenzhi in the back, his face buried deep in the crook of his Guide’s neck. He nuzzled the soft skin there, causing Wenzhi’s eyelashes to tremble slightly at the contact, though he didn’t say a word to stop him.
Looking out at the passing blocks, chunks of the city lay in ruined heaps while other areas were actively surrounded by construction.... the clear, telltale signature of a recent Rift attack.
Wenzhi slowly pulled the lollipop from his mouth. During the drive, he had already caught Kaiwen and Duan Ze up on everything Zhiyao had disclosed at the club. Kaiwen had grimly confirmed the intel, admitting his own scouts had just spotted the exact same movement.
The reality of it sat heavy in Wenzhi’s chest. He loathed the fact that the High Families had actually walked away with the one thing they wanted most besides his corpse. His guiding energy.
But the Capital would have to wait; they had to deal with Pei Luo first.
The plan was set. Wenzhi was walking into the park completely alone. The others would be entirely hidden, ready to tear the place apart only if things went sideways.
"Are you worried?" Xinyuan’s voice was a low, vibrating breath against his neck.
"Are you talking about what might happen tonight, or the whole layout with the Old Blood and the CEA?" Wenzhi asked quietly.
"Both. I can feel your worry," Xinyuan murmured.
Wenzhi frowned, his eyes darting toward the front seat. "That’s incredibly creepy."
Xinyuan chuckled softly, finally lifting his head. Wenzhi internally mourned the immediate loss of the Esper’s warmth.
"Is this about your guiding energy?" Xinyuan asked. Wenzhi fixed him with a sharp look. He wasn’t entirely surprised, but it still made him wonder if Xinyuan could actually read his thoughts. Then again, if his partner possessed that kind of telepathic access, he would have unearthed far too many secrets Wenzhi preferred to keep locked away.
"They were going to use that energy as a trap if you came barging into their territory before," Wenzhi explained, his voice dropping to a whisper. "But now? They’re going to be far more careful, more calculated. They’re going to back you into a corner, Xinyuan."
Because if Wenzhi actually died, Xinyuan wouldn’t just grieve. He would incinerate the entire world out of unadulterated rage and agony.
The thought made Wenzhi’s stomach churn with a sudden, heavy realization. Hell, I’ve fallen deep. When the fuck had that happened?
"I could just go to the Capital right now and—"
"No. Shut up," Wenzhi cut him off, throwing a stern, scolding look his way.
Xinyuan just chuckled, staring at him with an expression so intensely devoted, it looked as if Wenzhi had just confessed his undying love instead of snapping at him.
"That’s like walking straight into a den of wolves," Wenzhi muttered. "Regardless of your ability to level the Capital, they will be ready. They are ready, Xinyuan."
Xinyuan’s eyes darkened, a heavy warmth settling into his chest. Wenzhi was terrified for him. He was showing it more openly than ever, even if the stubborn Guide didn’t realize it himself. It made Xinyuan’s heart do a series of backflips.
But their time was up. The car slowed to a crawl a few minutes from Belium City Park. It was time for Wenzhi to step out and make his entrance, ensuring Pei Luo believed he had actually come alone.
A sharp knot of unease tightened in Xinyuan’s gut, but he forced his fingers to loosen, letting Wenzhi go. He watched as Wenzhi crunched the remains of his lollipop, tossing the plastic stick cleanly into a recycling bin by the bus stop.
Without missing a beat, the Guide pulled a fresh one from his pocket, unwrapped it, and popped it between his teeth before disappearing down the dark, snow-dusted path.
From the driver’s seat, Kaiwen watched him go and whistled low. "Damn, he really loves those things. Are you seriously going to keep funding that addiction? Too much sugar is going to make him sick."
"It’s better than cigarettes," Xinyuan said flatly, his eyes locked on the empty corner where Wenzhi had just turned.
In the passenger seat, Duan Ze shifted restlessly, his fingers hovering over his laptop. "I think I should go after him. Just as backup."
"No. Stay right here," Kaiwen ordered immediately. "We cannot fuck this up, Ze’er. I don’t want you getting hurt... even though I know you can handle yourself," he tacked on the last part quickly as Duan Ze opened his mouth to argue.
Duan Ze was a combat Guide, after all, noticeably taller and broader than Wenzhi, but Kaiwen was still fiercely overprotective. "Guides are dropping like flies these days, Ze’er. I’m just being sane."
Duan Ze let out a soft breath, relaxing back into the leather seat. "I know."
Kaiwen sighed, glancing up at the rearview mirror to check on Xinyuan. But the moment their eyes met in the glass, a sudden lash of dark mist exploded across the backseat. In a second, Xinyuan vanished entirely from the car.
