When things spiral beyond expectations, even the calmest person will falter for a split second. It’s nothing to be ashamed of—just a quiet sigh at the limits of one’s own understanding. Sentient beings instinctively see themselves as the center of the world, convinced they can foresee every twist of fate. Even when logic screams otherwise, that illusion clings stubbornly.

Take this era: monsters and criminals flood the streets endlessly, yet people still gasp in shock. They refuse to take it in stride. Reality bites too deep to normalize.

And still, they drift through life, clinging to the fragile hope that peace might one day dawn. That’s why the Hero Association was born. Like ages past, humanity pins its salvation on others—praying for heroes to pull them from the dark.

Before Shen Yuan Yuhu now, disbelief hardened her face. Her hands clenched tightly around her only weapon—a pure black katana. She stood like a true Hero before the trembling civilians, teeth gritted as she glared at the unscathed scar-faced man yards away.

"Little girl," the scar-faced man drawled, digging a finger into his ear with feigned ease, "you’re not from the Hero Association, are you?"

"What of it…"

"Heh heh heh. So you barged in here alone? No orders, no backup—just you picking a fight with me?"

These days, even heroics required permits. Act without authorization, and the law would drag you away. Perfectly reasonable.

How had he guessed she wasn’t with the cops? Bai Ming had already pieced it together. The undercover officers earlier moved with surgical precision—prioritizing hostage safety above all. But Shen Yuan Yuhu’s reckless charge? A clear mismatch.

Her swordplay confirmed it too. Untrained. Every strike aimed true at Li Scar’s vital points, yet lacking the force to pierce his steel-like body. No wonder he stood untouched. Bai Ming had expected exactly that.

"Hey now, sweetheart," Li Scar smirked, "with a pretty face like yours, why not settle down? What’s a delicate thing like you doing in a slaughterhouse?"

"My choices are none of your concern."

The words crystallized the truth for Shen Yuan Yuhu.

This man hadn’t seen her as a threat. His earlier moves were just tests. Probing how much she knew about him.

"Judging by your reaction," Li Scar chuckled, "you didn’t even know my name—Li Scar."

"Li… Scar?"

At the name, Shen Yuan Yuhu’s face darkened instantly. If fate hadn’t dragged her here today, she might never have crossed paths with this demon.

Li Scar. Merely hearing the name painted horrors in the mind—murder, arson, kidnappings, violated innocence. Humanity seemed a foreign concept to him from birth.

His freedom wasn’t luck. Connections shielded him. And power.

Power she’d just witnessed firsthand. Her katana’s heaviest blows left not a scratch. He wasn’t human.

But why… was he here? Where others failed utterly…

"Don’t move!"

Shouts shattered the tension. Dozens of armored officers in bomb suits materialized from the crowd, Scorpion submachine guns leveled at Li Scar’s chest. Their flashlights glinted coldly off the barrels, bleaching the faces of his crumbling Scar Clan thugs.

"B-boss!" The bearded thug beside Li Scar crumpled first, stumbling back with panic-stricken eyes. "W-what do we do?!"

Trapped. Every exit sealed.

Yet Li Scar only sighed, spreading his hands with theatrical weariness. "Ah, such enthusiasm. I truly thought Yu Lingfeng wouldn’t stoop this low. Since he’s chosen cruelty…" His voice dropped to a murmur, almost pitying. "...don’t blame me."

Ice flooded Shen Yuan Yuhu’s spine the moment he finished speaking. Beads of sweat burst across her forehead. Her body moved before her mind could catch up—katana flashing up, stance locking tight as she shielded the civilians behind her.

Then the mall floor vanished beneath them. A massive shockwave ripped through the air……