I was jolted awake by the roar of a helicopter.

The moment I opened my eyes, a thick, metallic stench of blood made my heart sink.

"Xiaodie?"

Silence.

No way…

The cave entrance had been sealed tight. I scrambled over, shoved the rocks aside, and rushed back—only to feel my chest tighten at the sight before me.

Amidst the rubble, opposite where I’d slept, a tiny tiger cub crouched uneasily on a girl’s chest. It gently licked her pale lips. Behind her, dark crimson stains had dried across the stone floor. In the faint sunlight, her breathing was shallow, as if she were merely asleep.

Beside her lay an empty bread wrapper.

"Xiaodie!"

I sprinted over and grabbed her wrist.

Her pulse was faint, but steady. She was alive.

Carefully turning her over, I saw a bullet wound on her right shoulder. The blood around it had mostly clotted, but the raw, jagged edges beneath were horrifyingly clear.

My mind flashed back to that night—her sitting on the ground, already wounded. Huang Yingdie had dragged herself here after we reached the cave, hiding her injury so the smell of blood wouldn’t wake me.

And that tiger… I’d actually mistaken it for a kitten…

"Hurry up! The blood trail leads here—search properly!"

Ouyang Earth’s voice outside the cave hit me like a lifeline.

"Brother Earth!"

I squeezed through the opening. Scanning the area, I spotted him in his red jacket atop a nearby mound. I yelled with all my strength.

"Yi Yao!"

He leaped down with agile bounds. "Where’s Xiaodie?"

"Inside. She’s been shot."

"Near the entrance?"

"No."

Without a word, Ouyang Earth hoisted a massive boulder and slammed it against the narrow opening—CRASH.

Good grief…

"Hey! You two—get in there and carry her out!"

He waved his hand. Two armed men rushed in, emerging moments later with Huang Yingdie’s bloodied form.

"Lucky we came when we did. Another hour, and she’d have bled out."

After a quick check, Ouyang Earth signaled the paramedics. They lifted her onto a stretcher just as the helicopter settled onto a clearing nearby.

"Major win—you actually escaped from ‘Zero’."

Ouyang Earth slapped my back, laughing. "Didn’t take you for more than a fighter, Yi Yao. Turns out we’ve found a real gem."

"Cut it out. Ever heard of being gentle with girls?"

I punched his solid chest and glanced around. "How’d you track us?"

"Blood trail from the factory all the way here." He tossed me an energy drink. "You’re lucky. This forest’s called ‘Tiger Hill.’ Know why?"

I froze. "Tigers live here?"

"Yeah. Outside, we found two dead tigers and six armed corpses. They must’ve startled the tigers last night. Otherwise? None of you would’ve made it."

*So that’s why the shadows stopped chasing us at the forest edge…*

"Mrrr…"

A tiny whimper came from the cave. The wobbly-legged cub from last night stumbled out, blinking its sleepy eyes at me.

It looked like a house cat barely weaned—zero trace of the king of beasts’ majesty.

"Hahaha, Yi Yao! Want a pet tiger? Its parents were killed by those thugs. Left here, it won’t survive two weeks."

"You keep it. I can barely feed myself." I gulped the drink and patted his pockets. "Got any food? I’m starving."

…

The helicopter whisked us to the city hospital. Huang Yingdie was rushed straight into surgery.

As Ouyang Earth and I waited outside, a middle-aged man burst through the doors, flanked by aides. "My daughter?!"

"In there." Ouyang Earth pointed to the OR. "Shoulder wound. Bullet’s lodged clean. She’ll recover in a couple weeks."

"A bullet in her shoulder?!" The man’s eyes widened. "Who did this?!"

"You know who," Ouyang Earth chuckled. "Mr. Huang, I’d advise lying low. Those people aren’t pushovers."

The man covered his mouth. "I know… but… there’s no turning back now. Not for Xiaodie’s sake…"

"Enough. I won’t meddle in your mess. Honestly, I barely know your daughter." He jerked his thumb at me. "This girl’s the one who saved her."

"You… you’re…" The man approached me shakily.

"Yi Yao." I offered a faint smile. "We’ve spoken on the phone."

"Yi Yao…"

He stared at me, then suddenly collapsed to his knees. "Thank you… without you, my daughter…"

"Don’t do that."

*A mayor kneeling to me?* I hauled him up. "Huang Yingdie’s my friend. We look out for each other."

Flashbulbs exploded around us. Reporters surged forward, cameras raised.

"Mayor Huang! Your thoughts on your daughter’s kidnapping?"

"Will armed gangs plunge Shangjing into chaos?"

"Mr. Huang! Rumors say you disowned your daughter—is it true?"

Questions flew like shrapnel. I froze, overwhelmed—until the OR doors swung open. Doctors wheeled out Huang Yingdie, an IV still feeding her veins.

"Make way!"

The mayor shoved through the crowd like a madman. "Xiaodie! Xiaodie… Father failed you…"

Tears streamed down his face. The weary man seemed to age a decade in seconds.

But Huang Yingdie, barely conscious, didn’t glance at him. Her eyes found mine.

"Yi Yao… last night… did I… bother you?"

I shook my head. "No."

Just as relief softened her features, I added, "But honestly? You’re being an idiot."

"You—" She tried to sit up, only to be pinned down by nurses.

"Miss, you must rest!"

"Yi Yao! Wait till I’m healed—I’ll get you for this!"

"Yeah, yeah. Save it for later."

A strong grip yanked my arm, pulling me from the chaos.

"Playtime’s over. Let’s go."

Ouyang Earth hauled me toward the stairwell like a stray kitten. "Where to?"

I hesitated. My family must’ve seen the news by now. And those parents… would they even care about such a "useless" daughter?

"Smitten with her?" He grinned. "Relax. That wound’s nothing. Her dad’s here. Meanwhile, someone important in our Society wants to meet you."

"Fine."

I followed the bear-like man out of the hospital. His car stopped at a downtown entertainment complex.

"Yi Yao," he said casually while parking, "who do you think really runs the Black Dragon Society?"

"Long Fei?"

"Nope. Long Fei’s just Long Teng’s son. They’re using his company as a front."

"*They*?" I caught his implication.

"Sharp kid." He chuckled. "I’m not actually with the Black Dragons. Long Ge probably mentioned my… complicated affiliations. Officially? I just babysit arrogant brats who start trouble."

In the elevator, he swiped a gold card and pressed B1.

"No more riddles. The real boss is Luo Wei. He’s… well, quite adorable."

*Adorable?*

*Luo Wei sounds like a man’s name…*

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime.

Before me stretched a vast mahjong hall. Gleaming tiles covered the floor; lavish paintings adorned the walls. Aside from a few gaming tables, the space held typical arcade machines—but eerily empty. Only two groups of teens played cards in the distance. No pulsing lights. No roaring crowds. Just silence.

"Luo Wei. I brought her."

Ouyang Earth strode to the central table where a young man in a black tuxedo and top hat held playing cards. He snatched the deck away. "Bro, your hand’s terrible."

"A true player doesn’t need good cards," the tuxedoed man murmured. He plucked a card from the deck and tossed it at me. I caught it mid-air.

Queen of Spades.

"Wanna gamble?"