Chapter 1

As a leaf falls, the autumn wind gradually rises, and a chill begins to invade, enveloping the entire earth in a vast expanse of coolness.

In the evening, a black curtain slowly descends over the sky, as if trying to devour the last bit of light in the world. A gentle breeze carries a drizzle, adding even more chill. Rows of streetlights extend along the winding path, stubbornly and unyieldingly offering their weak light.

The night is silent, the faint sounds of insects gradually weakening and fading, ultimately being drowned out by the pitter-patter of the rain, making the silence even more profound.

Suddenly, two footsteps break the silence. Following the sound, a man and a woman can be seen walking through the night.

Upon closer inspection, both are dressed in black. The man is about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, tall and slender, standing straight like a spear. His face is stern, with arched eyebrows and a commanding presence, especially his eyes, which shine like stars. A casual glance reveals a few rays of sharp light, evoking a sense of awe.

However, at this moment, his handsome face is filled with deep sorrow, his cheeks slightly stubbled, and his hair disheveled, adding to the sense of tragedy.

In the cool autumn drizzle, the man is not wearing a raincoat, nor does he have an umbrella. His originally black suit, now darker from the rain, makes the white flower on his chest stand out even more, telling a sad story.

Dressed in black with a white flower, this is the attire one wears to a funeral. It is clear where the man has been, and his sorrowful expression reveals the close relationship he had with the deceased.

The woman, about fifteen or sixteen years old, is petite, a head shorter than the man. She has a delicate face, still retaining some of the innocence of a young girl. In the autumn rain, her eyelashes tremble, her black eyes like stars, her lips lightly pursed, and her expression tinged with sorrow.

Seemingly recalling something, the young girl's nose twitches slightly, her eyes welling up with tears, making her look even more pitiful.

Like the man, the girl is also dressed in black, with a white flower pinned to her black dress. In the night and the drizzle, she looks particularly frail and pitiful. Unlike the man, she is wearing a black raincoat, which envelops her slender body, giving her a delicate appearance.

The two continue walking, seemingly aimlessly.

"Brother Ye, Sister..." The mention of this word causes the girl's eyes to well up with tears, which finally spill over.

"Yue'er, you..." A slightly hoarse and沧桑 (weathered) voice sounds, but the man is interrupted by the screeching of brakes.

The man looks in the direction of the sound, his expression becoming more alert. However, after a moment, he seems to recognize that the people are not a threat, and his alertness fades, though his expression remains grim.

About a hundred meters behind the couple, five or six cars stop, and more than ten men in black suits rush out, heading straight for them.

All of these men are dressed in black, moving in unison, clearly well-trained. They move swiftly, like a black tide, giving the impression of a vast army despite their small number.

These men quickly surround the couple but do not immediately attack. The leader steps forward slightly and says respectfully, "Mr. Ye Luo, on the orders of the family head, we must escort the second miss back to the family. We hope..."

"Hmph, tell Father, I won't go back," the girl interrupts, her voice weak and tearful but firm and resolute.

"Miss Zhiyue, the family head's order is mandatory. We hope you will cooperate, or else..."

At these words, Ye Luo's brows furrow slightly, and his expression turns colder. "Or else what? Do you think you can forcibly take Yue'er away with just these people?"

"Kid, don't be too arrogant. If it weren't for the sake of the elder miss, we wouldn't even bother talking to you," one of the men says, stepping forward, indicating he means business.

Hearing the mention of the "elder miss," a soft look flashes in Ye Luo's eyes, but it quickly turns to sorrow, then to coldness. "Then don't waste words. Just act."

"Kid, it's your own fault. Don't blame us for being impolite!" The man becomes furious and leaps forward, a cold light flashing as a foot-long dagger appears in his hand, thrusting directly at Ye Luo.

From the speed and angle of his attack, it is clear he is skilled with the dagger. An ordinary person would find it extremely difficult to dodge.

Initially, the leader frowns at the man's attack, but recalling Ye Luo's earlier words, he relaxes and does not intervene.

The cold light flickers, the dagger dances like a butterfly, and a soft "thud" is heard. The dagger strikes and withdraws, leaving a spray of blood, which appears particularly vivid and eerie in the rain and streetlights.

"Ah!" After a moment, a惨叫 (anguished cry) echoes through the air, and the man who attacked clutches his arm and stumbles back.

The unexpected turn of events shocks the well-trained men, who all draw in a sharp breath and look at Ye Luo in shock.

Ye Luo stands calmly, having taken a half-step forward to shield Yue'er behind him. In his right hand, he holds a foot-and-a-half-long white spike, the droplets of blood on it proving he was the one who struck.

"Such speed, such skill with the dagger!" The leader is slightly surprised, his tone filled with admiration. "The spike pierced the arm but avoided major blood vessels and nerves, showing incredible precision. Mr. Ye Luo, thank you for your restraint, but the family head's order must be carried out."

Ye Luo gives the leader a faint glance and twirls the short blade in his hand, his meaning clear.

"Hmph, big brother, don't waste words. He's just one man, and we are many. I don't believe we can't take him down!" Another man in the group coldly says, drawing his own dagger.

Sighing inwardly, the leader nods reluctantly. A cold light flashes, and he too draws a short blade, rushing forward with a speed that creates a faint whistling sound.

Seeing their leader attack, the others join in, a dozen black figures converging, their daggers gleaming under the streetlights, creating a scene of flashing blades and clashing steel.

Seeing the group attack, Ye Luo's brows furrow slightly, and his left hand moves, producing a foot-long short blade.

Unlike the white spike in his right hand, this blade is pitch black, making it hard to see in the dim night.

However, the leader has been watching Ye Luo closely and notices the black blade. A flash of recognition crosses his mind, and he murmurs, "White spike in the right hand, black blade in the left, surnamed Ye. Could he be the legendary Ye Luo, the former captain of the National Security Bureau's Dragon Team, known as the 'Death Twin Blades'?"

Thinking of this, the leader's expression becomes more serious, a mix of admiration and fear in his eyes. But with the others already attacking, he has no choice but to suppress his awe and move even faster, inwardly sighing:

"He was right; we can't take the second miss away with just these people. I hope, for the sake of the two misses, he will show mercy..."

The fact that a dozen men have such thoughts about one person speaks to Ye Luo's formidable presence.

As the two sides clash, the expected scene of Ye Luo being overwhelmed by the group does not occur. In Zhiyue's shocked gaze, Ye Luo moves, the white spike flashing like a dancing butterfly, swift as lightning, and as light as a dragonfly skimming the water.

Each dance of the spike brings a spray of blood, each touch pierces an arm. In a short moment, three or four men are injured and forced to retreat, and more are wounded as Ye Luo continues his attack.

Moving with agility, Ye Luo draws an arc, his right hand's short blade deflecting the others' daggers with ghostly precision.

A series of sharp sounds ring out as the black-clad men's daggers develop notches, while Ye Luo's black blade remains unscathed.

The men's daggers are specially forged, comparable to military knives, yet they are easily damaged, highlighting the sharpness and resilience of Ye Luo's black blade.

The battle continues, Ye Luo's movements are unique, using both blades, the black one for defense and the white one for attack. Despite the group's assault, he remains calm, and as the fight progresses, the black-clad men are all injured, though none seriously.

As for Ye Luo, he is only grazed on the arm, a shallow wound oozing a few drops of blood, a result of protecting Zhiyue.

Seeing only five or six black-clad men still standing, a voice calls out, "Stop!"

The voice is hoarse but carries an air of authority. At this command, Ye Luo and the black-clad men halt, all turning to look in the direction of the voice.

A middle-aged man steps out of one of the cars, glancing at his attendant who is about to open an umbrella, and waves him away. He dismisses the men who were attacking Ye Luo and, without looking at Ye Luo, focuses on Zhiyue, his voice stern. "Yue'er, are you really not coming back with me?"

The middle-aged man is tall and imposing, but he seems to have suffered a great blow. His face is slightly gray, his eyes red, giving him a weathered and lonely appearance.

"Father, I..." Zhiyue hesitates, seeing the premature gray in the man's hair, but a glance at Ye Luo strengthens her resolve. "Father, Sister asked me to follow Brother Ye. He can protect me..."

"Qiu'er told you this on her deathbed..." The middle-aged man murmurs, his body trembling slightly but forcing himself to remain steady. He looks at Ye Luo, his eyes sharp. "Qiu'er entrusted Yue'er to you?"

"Yes." Ye Luo responds coolly, a hint of resentment in his voice. "Yue'er is better off with me. At least she won't be affected by your family's interests, and she won't be forced like Sister Qiu..."

At this, a deep sorrow crosses Ye Luo's face, and the middle-aged man's expression darkens, a mix of anger, resentment, regret, and helplessness in his eyes.

After a moment, the middle-aged man regains his composure and looks at Zhiyue more gently. "So be it. Yue'er will be happier with you."

Before Ye Luo or Zhiyue can respond, he focuses on Ye Luo. "I recognized you from your earlier move. I'm relieved Yue'er is with you. But can you truly guarantee her safety? From what I've heard about you, you won't let this go. If Yue'er stays with you..."

A fierce look flashes in Ye Luo's eyes, and his voice turns cold. "Those who harmed Sister Qiu must die, even if they are from the so-called second family, the Dongfang family!"

"Though you are strong, and I believe you can kill that beast, you must understand the power of the Dongfang family," the middle-aged man says, his expression more serious. "Killing him will cost you your life. I know you are prepared to die, but what about Yue'er? What about Qiu'er's wishes? Will you ignore them?"

Ye Luo hesitates, his face filled with pain. After a moment, he looks at Zhiyue and murmurs, "Sister Qiu, I finally understand why you entrusted Yue'er to me, but your revenge..."

"Qiu'er's revenge must be avenged, but it doesn't have to mean killing him," the middle-aged man interrupts, his expression more resolute, his presence more authoritative. "You know the Dongfang family is the second-largest gaming family in our country. Soon, 'Tianjie' will launch, the largest game in the world. The Dongfang family will invest most of their resources into it, which is our opportunity."

Hearing this, Ye Luo's eyes light up, and his expression becomes more determined. "When the time comes, I will enter the game and destroy everything the Dongfang family has, avenging Sister Qiu!"

"Come closer, I have some things to instruct you," the middle-aged man says. As the two approach, he lowers his voice, and Ye Luo and Zhiyue listen carefully, nodding occasionally.

After half an hour, the middle-aged man finishes his instructions, and the three step back.

"Alright, leave now. Don't let the Dongfang family find Yue'er," the middle-aged man says, waving his hand and looking at Zhiyue with affection. "Take care of Yue'er. If you need help, contact me."

Nodding, Ye Luo takes Zhiyue's hand and continues down the path.

"Sigh, destroying the Dongfang family is no easy task, given their status as the second-largest gaming family in our country, not to mention their international connections."

"But life must have hope, and Ye Luo is no ordinary person. Perhaps he can do it."

With that, the middle-aged man straightens up, glances at Zhiyue one last time, and returns to his car. The engine roars to life, and the convoy drives away.

The autumn wind continues to blow, but the rain has stopped, and the last cloud has dispersed. A full moon hangs in the sky, bringing more light and hope to the world.