As Lin Fan climbed out from beneath the manhole cover, he locked eyes with Liu Ruyan.
He glanced at the smoldering wreckage in front of him and frowned. A moment ago, he had truly felt death closing in. That bullet hadn’t come from an ordinary gun—it was likely infused with true energy.
And that… was a serious problem.
As a warrior, Lin Fan understood all too well how terrifying a hot weapon imbued with true energy could be. It wasn’t just a gun—it was a divine weapon crafted to slay warriors.
In this world, there were tens of thousands of warriors and countless powerful masters. Most relied on cold weapons enhanced with true energy, martial arts, and spiritual techniques to fight. Firearms capable of integrating true energy were extremely rare.
Even among ninth-rank grandmasters—or those even stronger, the kinds of warriors who had transcended the limits of ordinary humanity—only a handful were rumored to possess such divine weapons.
Those few stood at the absolute pinnacle of the warrior world.
For the first time, Lin Fan felt genuine fear in his heart.
It was like a beginner player in a video game encountering a max-level boss in the starting area.
He wasn’t afraid of stronger warriors. He had always fought opponents above his level. But when it came to divine weapons and hot firearms, there was little he could do.True energy defenses couldn’t block them. Only those who had reached the level of a grandmaster, with a protective aura as tough as steel, might survive.
“Are you alright?” Liu Ruyan asked calmly, noticing Lin Fan standing still, shaken.
Looking at him now, she couldn’t help comparing him to Shen Wuxiao. And when she did, she realized there was no comparison at all—Lin Fan was far more ordinary. But right now, she had no other choice but to cooperate with him.
Lin Fan snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head. “I was quick enough to dodge before the car exploded.”
He turned to look at Liu Ruyan. She was undeniably beautiful. While not as breathtaking as Jiang Huaiyue, she was still an exceptional woman.
But before he could say anything more, she frowned and asked, “Since you had time to escape, why didn’t you help my men?”
“…???”
Lin Fan was stunned.
“Even if you pulled one of them out, they might’ve lived. But you just let them die? Don’t you feel any guilt at all?”
“…???”
His brow twitched in disbelief.
What kind of twisted logic was that?
He was lucky to be alive himself—there just happened to be a manhole cover right in front of him. How could he have saved anyone?
“Miss, how could I think about anything else in a moment like that?” Lin Fan was truly speechless.
Was this woman some kind of moral high-ground crusader from the Great Wilderness?
Liu Ruyan didn’t argue further. She simply motioned for her men to help Lin Fan, then got into the car.
The vehicle drove away and eventually arrived at a quiet teahouse.
Inside, they sat across from each other.
“Miss, why did you help me?” Lin Fan asked, eyeing the woman across the table curiously.
Liu Ruyan’s expression remained calm and detached. “Because we share a common enemy.”
“Enemy?” Lin Fan repeated.
“Shen Wuxiao,” she said coldly.
The moment he heard that name, Lin Fan’s face turned serious.
Liu Ruyan poured two cups of tea, pushed one over, and introduced herself, “My surname is Liu.”
“Liu?” Lin Fan was surprised. “You’re from the Liu family? The one Shen Wuxiao wiped out?”
At the mention of her family, a flicker of sorrow passed through her eyes, but she nodded. “Yes. I don’t have the power to fight Shen Wuxiao alone. That’s why I came to you.”
“Even if it’s like an ant trying to shake a tree… having someone like you gives me a small chance.”
Lin Fan wasn’t thrilled by her wording. It felt like she just wanted to use him to improve her odds—she hadn’t expected him to win at all.
Still, he listened.
“I know everything about Shen Wuxiao—his movements, his weaknesses. But going head-to-head is suicide. The only way is to wait for the perfect opportunity,” she explained.
Lin Fan fell silent.
At least she had information. He had none. He didn’t even know what Shen Wuxiao looked like.
If he had, he wouldn’t have mistakenly killed someone from the Haisha Society.
Finally, Lin Fan nodded. “Alright. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. We’ll cooperate—but we discuss everything clearly.”
“You said you know his movements. Do you have someone on the inside?”
Liu Ruyan paused for a moment, then shook her head. “I’m not that capable… but I am his toy.”
Lin Fan nearly choked on his tea.
He never expected that kind of relationship.
“Your whole family was killed by him… and you were with him?”
Her face remained emotionless. “What else could I do? Charge at him with a knife in a suicide mission?”
Lin Fan didn’t respond.
She was a woman, not a warrior. If she wanted revenge, she had to use the tools she had—her beauty, her body. He didn’t judge her for it. In fact, he respected her.
When it came to revenge, the process didn’t matter. Only the outcome did.
“Since we’re working together, let me introduce myself,” Lin Fan said. “I’m Lin Fan. Former member of the Sirius Special Forces. A fifth-grade, eighth-level master.”
“You have the intel, I have the strength. Revenge is within reach. Let’s work together!”
He extended his hand.
But Liu Ruyan didn’t take it. She just gave a polite nod, unwilling to make physical contact.
“You’ll stay in this teahouse for now. The Haisha Society won’t find you here. I’ll contact you when it’s time.”
“Alright. I’ll wait for your signal,” Lin Fan agreed.
There was no need to doubt her. Her family had been annihilated. Her brother killed. There was no way she was faking this alliance.
“You have a plan?” Lin Fan asked.
Liu Ruyan sipped her tea and shook her head. “Plans can’t keep up with reality. Against someone like Shen Wuxiao—who has both brains and brawn—we must adapt.”
“Having a plan is a liability. He can flip it against you instantly.”
“We’re like ants trying to shake a tree. Don’t get overconfident. You don’t understand how terrifying he really is.”
“If he finds out we’re plotting against him, there won’t be a place for us to hide in the entire Dragon Kingdom.”
“Forget that you’re a fifth-rank master. Even if you were a ninth-rank grandmaster, you’d still die.”
“We’re not aiming for a drawn-out battle. We just want one fatal strike—then we run.”
Lin Fan was shocked but couldn’t disagree.
Liu Ruyan knew Shen Wuxiao far better than he did. She wasn’t exaggerating.
The road ahead would be difficult, but there were some things he couldn’t avoid.
They fell silent, sipping their tea.
After a moment, Lin Fan asked casually, “Miss Liu, have you heard of the Sikong family in Zhonghai? Do you know Young Master Sikong?”
Liu Ruyan gave him a puzzled look and shook her head. “I’ve been overseas until recently. Before or after my return, I’ve never heard of any Sikong family.”
“Never?” Lin Fan frowned.
But that couldn’t be right. Young Master Sikong was clearly wealthy and powerful—he couldn’t possibly be some nobody.