The dim corridor lights flickered, illuminating streaks of blood.

A mouse-like creature poked its head out from Xie Lan’s collar with a chuckle. “How peculiar. You actually didn’t make a move on them? One Tong family member is enough to scare you this badly?”

Xie Lan walked ahead with his hands clasped behind his back. “The material I've gathered is already more than enough. There's no point in pushing my luck and ending up worse off. Besides, when your opponent is already on guard, both poison and curses lose a lot of their effectiveness. So why bother? Let him go deal with those people from the Heretic Cult. I still need to make a living in Cliff City. No need to make enemies of the Security Bureau and the Tong family.”

He paused, an odd smile creeping across his face as he glanced over his shoulder. “Still, he must be regretting it.”

***

“It's not the thief who steals the one you should fear. It's the thief who keeps you in their sights.”

After the elevator opened,...