By the time Shi Niang and the others reached the port exit, they were met with a scene of carnage. Several butlers and maids lay soaked in blood pools—a chilling sight. Two more butlers were frozen solid inside blocks of ice, clearly dead. A crowd had gathered around the perimeter. Even in this Sin City, such brutality was rare. Hardened thugs felt chills crawling up their spines.
"This… Leit Family!!! AAAAHHHH!!!" Shi Niang roared skyward, fury radiating from her. Those with weaker wills collapsed on the spot—clearly her superpower had slipped its leash.
"Shi… Shi Niang… you came." A man missing an arm called out weakly.
Spotting him, Shi Niang rushed over. "Wiler! Hold on—the medics are coming!"
"Haha… sorry, Shi Niang. I won’t make it," Wiler whispered through tears. "I failed to protect the juniors… I’m so—" His tear-streaked eyes closed forever.
"Wiler arrived before me. He took care of us all… you felt it too these past days," Lan Yu murmured beside Tran, her voice trembling. The ever-composed Lan Yu now radiated pure killing intent.
"Yeah… I don’t know why, but my chest aches," Tran said softly. In just over a week, he’d felt this family’s warmth—like a second home. Now six siblings were gone, and Alice had been taken…
Shi Niang grieved most deeply. These children had grown under her watch, dearer than blood. Yet she’d failed to stop this.
"Leit Family! I, Lu Shi Niang, swear eternal vengeance!" Cradling Wiler’s body, blood tears streamed down her face.
"Shi Niang! The head butler’s still alive!" The scout who’d escaped gasped out the news, exhausted but desperate to find survivors. Miraculously, he had.
The death toll dropped to five. But what did numbers matter now? This feud had begun. This was far from over.
Back at the bar, silence hung thick.
"Lan Yu," Shi Niang finally spoke after a long pause, "you’ll run this bar now. Hire those in need—you know the rules."
"Shi Niang!"
"No arguments. If I don’t turn their world upside down, the Leit Family will think I’m already dead!"
"I’m coming too!"
"Me as well!" Several voices cut in, eyes bloodshot with unshakable rage. Every one here was family. Who could tolerate kin being slaughtered?
"NO ONE FOLLOWS ME!" Shi Niang bellowed, unleashing her superpower.
Silence fell instantly.
"Shi Niang. I’m coming too." An unexpected voice broke the quiet. All eyes turned to Tran. His usual laziness had vanished, replaced by a feral glint.
"Tran, don’t be reckless! Even Shi Niang’s walking into danger—she can’t babysit you!" a maid protested.
"Just tell me where their estate is. I don’t need protection." Tran’s gaze locked onto Shi Niang, unwavering.
Shi Niang studied him. She’d thought it mere anger—until she met his eyes. A primal terror gripped her, as if facing an ancient beast that could erase her in an instant.
"...Then come. But I won’t guarantee your life."
"Doesn’t matter. I *will* avenge Wiler and the others."
Tran and Shi Niang booked the next flight. The Leit Family’s territory wasn’t far from Sin City, but time was precious.
Mid-flight, Tran asked, "Why did you take us in to work for you?"
Shi Niang’s reply was soft: "Because seeing you… reminded me of myself." Her expression flickered between warmth and sorrow, lost in memory.
An hour later, they landed in Aslan City.
Shi Niang had already pinpointed the Leit estate. But rushing in was suicide. Such a powerful family would guard Alice fiercely—they’d broken inter-city laws to seize her, a costly gamble. Why else send her own brother to persuade her?
They knew Shi Niang and Tran had arrived. They simply didn’t care. This was Leit territory.
Tran gathered intel: tomorrow noon, Alice would be formally engaged to the fourth heir of the Rod Family. All of Aslan’s elite were invited—except the family scheming to devour the Leits.
"Then tonight’s our only chance." Shi Niang’s voice turned icy. "I’ll reveal my superpower: *Blood Echo*. Quasi-SS Rank. A sonic ability. I’ll map the estate with ultrasound… then kill with soundwaves. Two objectives: rescue first, revenge after. What’s yours?"
*Quasi-SS Rank?* Tran’s breath hitched. Shi Niang was far beyond ordinary.
"Mine’s called *World Annihilation*," he admitted. "It… enhances my body, I think?"
"That name…" Shi Niang’s eyes narrowed. "Only S-Rank abilities carry such weight."
"I’m not sure… Forget it. How do we infiltrate?"
"Good. Tonight," Shi Niang’s gaze hardened, "I break my vow of peace."
Hours later, midnight cloaked the city.
The Leit estate loomed like a Gothic castle—ornate, ancient, imposing. Lush flowerbeds lined the streets, blossoms dripping crimson under the equatorial moonlight.
Seeing those blood-red petals, Shi Niang’s vision blurred with the memory of blood-soaked pavement. Her own blood boiled. Eyes blazing, she scanned for an entry point.
