From start to finish, Bai Ming simply stood rooted to the spot, "observing." He hadn’t fled immediately. Instead, he watched the ever-shifting scene before him.

Perhaps he’d sensed something earlier. He still couldn’t shake that nagging thought—about the self-proclaimed "Hero" girl he’d met just fifteen minutes ago. Was she still here?

He didn’t actually want to see that fox-eared girl again. In this era, subhumans were considered lowly creatures by humans. Even if they possessed intelligence rivaling—or surpassing—humans, they were still latecomers to this planet. Without human mercy, they might have gone extinct long ago.

Society still harbored groups openly discriminatory against their kind. And terrorists always lurked, itching to incite chaos.

Bai Ming held no prejudice against her. But concern kept him anchored here.

He believed Shen Yuan Yuhu would appear. And confront these thugs head-on.

"Put down your weapons, Scarface Gang."

Shen Yuan Yuhu slowly gripped her katana’s hilt. A suffocating killing intent radiated from her, forcing the bearded thug stumbling backward several steps.

"W-who are you?!" he demanded, snapping back to his senses. Sweat poured down his face as he raised his pistol, aiming it shakily at her. His comrades behind him lifted their submachine guns, muzzles converging on a single target.

What caught Bai Ming’s attention was the thug’s wording. No slur like "subhuman." No trace of discrimination. He was merely asking for her identity.

Why would such a vile criminal suddenly turn respectful? He’d realized something.

"Shen Yuan Yuhu."

The girl stood motionless before the crowd, frozen mid-draw.

"Shen... Shen Yuan?"

Of course. Anyone who ran in underworld circles would recognize that name the moment it was spoken.

"Why would someone from the Shen Yuan family be in a dump like this?"

To Bai Ming, those words were mere background noise. The same name that horrified the thug meant nothing to him. He didn’t know what made the "Shen Yuan" surname special—it sounded as common as any other.

"B-boss!"

"Hm?"

The scar-faced leader, silent until now, finally spoke.

His voice boomed like muffled thunder, making Bai Ming’s eyes widen in shock. Only now did he realize such an awful sound could exist.

"I’ve heard the Shen Yuans are legendary swordsmen across generations. But I’ve never seen one of them... be a subhuman girl like you."

A grotesque grin twisted the scar-faced man’s lips. He dropped his arms, stretched lazily, and strode toward Shen Yuan Yuhu.

"Besides, that famous ‘Shen Yuan’ from the Hero Association vanished without a trace years ago! Hahahaha!"

"Shut your mouth!"

The scar-faced man’s words had clearly ignited Shen Yuan Yuhu’s fury.

"My father died a hero protecting others! He gave his life meaningfully! Unlike you vermin who prey on the weak and terrorize innocents—even a six-year-old child has more humanity than your entire gang!"

Crouched far away, Bai Ming could still see the veins bulging on her clenched fists. Her teeth bit hard into her lip. Crimson eyes locked onto the scar-faced man like a predator’s. A low, warning growl rumbled deep in her throat.

Her righteous words were stirring. Inspiring. But what did they matter to Bai Ming?

Judging actions wasn’t the same as judging character. One good deed didn’t make a saint. No matter how fiercely Shen Yuan Yuhu championed justice, his heart remained utterly unmoved.

*Time to slip away...*

She could handle this. That’s what Bai Ming thought. Her presence here meant she’d confidently crush these thugs and save the civilians behind her. Then the newspapers would hail her. The world would know her name...

He’d already scripted her triumphant ending. He had no reason to stay. Shopping was impossible now—he couldn’t pay anyway. Better to put everything back.

Slowly, Bai Ming lowered his hands from his head. His gaze drifted from the scene toward the mall entrance.

Just as he prepared to bolt, he spotted several SWAT officers slipping inside. And as he stilled his mind, the chaotic sounds flooding his ears revealed exactly how many waited outside—and how many had already infiltrated.

Yes. The police outside had begun their operation.

*I recall... they mentioned someone from the Hero Association...*

A minute had passed. The scar-faced leader seemed to notice the time too. Now came the moment to fulfill his "promise."

"Time’s up, little girl. So eager to be a hero? Then be the first to die."

In the space of a single breath, the scar-faced man vanished from sight. He reappeared beside Shen Yuan Yuhu, launching his attack.