Chapter 3: Joining the Underworld
1071 Words
The Qinglong g**g was tucked deep inside a narrow, hidden alley. From the outside, it looked no different from an abandoned workshop.
The walls were stained and peeling, the iron gate old and rusted, and the signboard hung loosely as if it could fall at any moment.
But Qiao Nian'an and Su Yu both knew—inside this place lay a force far from ordinary.
"This should be it," Su Yu whispered, her eyes gleaming as if she were about to watch a movie.
Qiao Nian'an shot her a glance. "Can you calm down a little? We're here to join the underworld, not for a stroll."
"What's the difference? Both are life-changing moments," Su Yu grinned.
They had barely reached the door when they were stopped.
Two lackeys blocked their way, their cold eyes sweeping over them from head to toe.
"This isn't a place for the likes of you," one said.
"Get lost." The other crossed his arms, his attitude openly hostile.
Su Yu immediately put on an "innocent" smile. "We're here to join."
"Join?" The two exchanged looks, then sneered. "You two?"
The disdain in their eyes wasn't even hidden.
Qiao Nian'an tugged lightly at Su Yu's sleeve, signaling her to stay calm. But Su Yu couldn't hold back, muttering under her breath, "I really want to toss these two annoying guys into my space…"
"Quiet."
And of course—the result was obvious.
They were kicked out.
…
Ten minutes later.
The two reappeared at the back entrance.
"This time we won't get caught," Su Yu whispered, already placing her hand on the wall, preparing to use her spatial ability.
"No abilities." Qiao Nian'an immediately pulled her back. "If we're discovered, we're done."
"Then… climb over?"
"…"
One minute later—
Thud!
Su Yu had barely made it halfway up the wall before slipping and falling, almost dragging Qiao Nian'an down with her.
"I told you—climbing walls doesn't suit me!" she complained, rubbing her backside.
"Quiet, someone's coming!"
They immediately hid behind a pile of wooden crates.
A group of lackeys walked past, chatting casually, completely unaware of the two "amateur intruders" holding their breath behind them.
Once the group was gone, Su Yu peeked out and whispered,
"How about… we pretend to be delivery workers?"
"With what delivery?"
"…Right."
…
After trying everything—from the front entrance, the back door, climbing walls, to impersonation—they finally got in.
By blending into a group of lackeys carrying goods inside, keeping their heads down and pretending to belong.
"Stay calm. Don't look around too much," Qiao Nian'an murmured.
"I am very calm," Su Yu nodded—though her bright eyes darted everywhere like it was her first time at a fair.
After walking for a while, they got lost.
"The Qinglong g**g is… this big?" Su Yu whispered.
"This is probably the main base," Qiao Nian'an replied.
The problem was—
They didn't know what Shen Ci and Pei Heng looked like.
After all… history books didn't come with pictures.
So the two began what might be the strangest mission of their lives—
Searching for "heroes" while dodging lackeys.
"Someone over there is staring at us!"
"Walk faster!"
"Wait—are we lost?"
"Quiet, turn back!"
…
Just as they were fumbling around in the corridor, a door ahead suddenly opened.
Two men stepped out.
One was tall, his gaze cold, his presence sharp like a blade. The other looked more casual, but his eyes were deep and dangerous.
The pressure around them… was unmistakably different.
Qiao Nian'an and Su Yu instinctively froze.
For some reason—
Just standing in front of these two made their hearts beat a little faster.
But—
They didn't recognize them.
Su Yu tugged at Qiao Nian'an's sleeve and whispered, "Ask them?"
"You ask."
"You ask!"
"…Fine."
Qiao Nian'an took a breath and stepped forward.
"Excuse me… do you know where Shen Ci and Pei Heng are?"
The air—
Fell silent.
The two men stopped at the same time.
Their gazes instantly turned sharp and cold.
Pei Heng tilted his head slightly, a faint smile on his lips—but without warmth.
"Why are you looking for them?"
Qiao Nian'an paused.
Before she could think of an answer—
Su Yu was faster.
"We don't have any purpose at all!"
"…?"
Pei Heng raised a brow. "No purpose, yet you ask for names?"
"Then why are you here?" he continued, his voice turning colder. "Who sent you?"
Qiao Nian'an: "…"
She was trying to come up with something reasonable.
"Because—"
"Because I secretly like Pei Heng!"
Su Yu declared loudly.
"…"
The air froze.
And Su Yu added, very seriously,
"I've liked him for a long time. That's why I came to join the Qinglong g**g—to pursue him."
Shen Ci: "..."
Pei Heng: "..."
The two exchanged a glance.
Then—
Their eyes became even more guarded.
"And you?" Pei Heng turned to Qiao Nian'an, his tone full of suspicion. "Do you like me too?"
Qiao Nian'an: "…"
She blinked.
"Your name is Pei Heng?"
"…Yes."
"Then… I don't like you."
"…"
"…"
"I like Shen Ci."
Pei Heng & Shen Ci: "..."
This time, the silence wasn't just frozen—
It had turned… strange.
It was clear the two girls meant no harm.
But—
That only made them more suspicious.
They had roamed the underworld for years, seen all kinds of people, but—
This type…
They had never encountered before.
"Take them." Pei Heng said coldly.
Several lackeys immediately stepped forward.
Qiao Nian'an and Su Yu instinctively wanted to resist—but stopped themselves just in time.
Right now—
They couldn't expose their abilities.
The two were "restrained" and brought into a room.
Pei Heng crossed his arms, looking down at the two girls being held, his gaze icy.
"Now say it again—who are you?"
Su Yu glanced at Qiao Nian'an.
Qiao Nian'an glanced back.
One second later—
Su Yu spoke timidly,
"So… um… can we join the underworld?"
"…"
Qiao Nian'an immediately covered her mouth.
"That's not what she means!" she quickly corrected, trying to stay calm.
"We… just want a chance."
She paused.
For the first time, her gaze turned serious.
"To pursue the person we like."
The room fell silent again.
But this time—
It wasn't just suspicion.
It was—
Confusion.
- Writer
