THE RETURN OF THE GOD LEVEL ASSASSIN (BL)

THE RETURN OF THE GOD LEVEL ASSASSIN EPISODE 4

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Chapter 4: Beneath the Surface

The city never slept, but beneath its glittering skyline and crowded streets, a darker world thrived. A world Ryu had once ruled from the shadows, and now found himself being dragged back into. The Serpent. His name slithered through Ryu’s thoughts like venom, poisoning everything with its presence. Whoever The Serpent was, he had forced Ryu to return, and now, Ryu would confront him head-on. But first, he had to make himself a target.

Reiko’s warning echoed in Ryu’s mind as he left the underground club, his breath misting in the cold night air. A dangerous game. She wasn’t wrong, but what choice did he have? The Serpent would come after him and, by extension, Kae, whether he wanted to or not. The best defense was a swift, decisive strike. Ryu’s gut told him that, and he had long ago learned to trust his instincts.

The streets were quieter now as the late hour crept toward dawn. Neon signs buzzed overhead, their flickering lights casting strange, fractured reflections in puddles on the sidewalk. Ryu moved like a shadow through the city, his mind already working through the next steps. He needed to push The Serpent out of hiding, and there was only one way to do that—stir up the underworld enough to get his attention.

But it wasn’t just about luring out The Serpent. It was about control. In this world, control was everything, and Ryu had once been the one pulling the strings. If The Serpent thought he could just walk in and take over, he was mistaken. Ryu had built this network from the ground up, and no matter how far he had tried to distance himself from it, the city hadn’t forgotten.

His phone buzzed again. Ryu pulled it from his pocket, half-expecting another message from Kae, but instead, it was a name he hadn’t seen in years. Yui.

He stopped dead in his tracks, his grip tightening around the phone. Yui had been part of his inner circle, one of the few people he had trusted completely. When he had disappeared, he hadn’t said a word to her, and he’d always wondered if she had survived the fallout. Now, her name appeared on his screen like a ghost from the past.

For a moment, he hesitated, unsure if he should respond. But something inside him knew that Yui wouldn’t reach out unless it was important.

Meet me at the docks. Midnight. We need to talk. — Yui

Ryu stared at the message. The docks. It was where they had conducted some of their most dangerous operations back in the day. If Yui was still alive and still in the game, she could be a valuable ally—or a dangerous enemy. Either way, he couldn’t ignore her.

He slipped the phone back into his pocket, his course set. Midnight was only a few hours away. Enough time to prepare, to slip back into the role he had abandoned. But as he walked, his thoughts drifted to Kae once more. He had promised Kae explanations—promises he had yet to fulfill.

Ryu had always been good at compartmentalizing, separating the dangerous parts of his life from the people he cared about. But Kae was different. Their connection was raw and real, the one thing that had grounded him in the years since he had left. Now, that same connection made Kae a target, and it terrified Ryu to his core.

He couldn’t shake the memory of Kae’s confused expression when he’d left so abruptly. The hurt in his eyes, the silent plea for answers that Ryu couldn’t give. And now, here he was, slipping deeper into the shadows again, without Kae knowing the true depth of the danger.

A plan was forming in Ryu’s mind as he headed back to the small apartment he was using as a temporary base. He needed to confront The Serpent, but he also needed to shield Kae from what was coming. The two goals were in direct conflict, and Ryu hated the fact that he couldn’t do both at once.

When he reached the apartment, the silence inside pressed against him like a weight. He sat at the small, rickety table in the corner, pulling out a burner phone he had kept hidden for emergencies. His fingers hovered over the keypad for a moment before he started typing a message to Kae.

You’re in danger. You need to leave the city. I’ll explain later. Trust me.

He stared at the message for a long time before hitting send, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew Kae wouldn’t understand, that he’d want answers. But it was better this way. The further Kae was from the city, the safer he would be. And Ryu would deal with the fallout on his own terms.

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The Docks. Midnight.

Ryu arrived early, the cold ocean breeze whipping through his hair as he surveyed the desolate landscape. The docks had always been a place of secrets, a crossroads for criminals and smugglers, where deals were made and lives were destroyed. It was fitting that Yui had chosen this place for their meeting.

The water lapped quietly at the dock’s edge, the rhythmic sound almost soothing. But Ryu’s instincts were on high alert. He could feel the weight of unseen eyes on him, a sense of danger lurking just beyond the periphery. He stood in the shadows, waiting, blending into the darkness.

A figure approached from the far end of the dock, walking with the confident, measured stride that Ryu instantly recognized. Yui. She was wearing a dark coat that fluttered behind her in the wind, her long black hair tied back in a severe ponytail. As she came closer, her features became clearer—sharper, older, but still as striking as ever. Her eyes locked onto Ryu’s, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.

“So it’s true,” Yui said, her voice low but clear. “You’re back.”

“I didn’t have much of a choice,” Ryu replied, his tone guarded.

Yui stepped closer, her gaze intense. “You always have a choice, Ryu. You chose to leave. And now you’re choosing to come back.”

Ryu didn’t flinch. “Someone’s forcing my hand.”

“The Serpent,” Yui said, the name hanging in the air between them like a threat.

Ryu nodded. “What do you know about him?”

Yui’s expression hardened. “More than I’d like to. He’s been moving in the shadows for years, gathering power. The old alliances you broke? He’s rebuilding them. And worse—he’s smarter than anyone gives him credit for. Ruthless, too.”

“Why now?” Ryu asked. “Why pull me back into this?”

Yui’s gaze flicked to the water before settling back on Ryu. “Because you represent the old world, the one he’s trying to destroy and replace. You left a vacuum when you disappeared, and now he wants to make sure no one remembers you or what you built. And if he has to kill you to do that, he will.”

Ryu clenched his fists at his sides. “He won’t get the chance.”

Yui smiled faintly, though there was no warmth in it. “You always were the stubborn one. But you’re not invincible, Ryu. The Serpent has eyes everywhere. And he knows more than you think.”

Ryu tensed. “Does he know about Kae?”

Yui’s expression softened for the briefest of moments, but then she nodded grimly. “He’s already looking for him. If you care about Kae, you need to get him out of the city. Now.”

Ryu’s heart sank. The Serpent was already one step ahead. “I’ve already warned him,” he said, his voice tight.

Yui raised an eyebrow. “And do you think he’ll listen? Kae’s not like the people you used to run with, Ryu. He’s not a soldier. He’ll come looking for you if he thinks you’re in trouble.”

Ryu knew she was right. Kae’s stubborn loyalty was one of the things he loved most about him, but it also made him vulnerable. And if The Serpent got his hands on Kae... Ryu couldn’t even finish the thought.

“Then I’ll finish this before The Serpent gets the chance,” Ryu said, his voice filled with cold determination.

Yui studied him for a long moment before nodding. “You’re going to need allies, Ryu. The Serpent’s not like the enemies you’ve faced before. He’s playing a different game. If you go after him alone, you won’t make it out.”

Ryu didn’t respond. He knew she was right, but trust was a luxury he could no longer afford. Yui must have sensed his hesitation, because she stepped closer, her gaze softening.

“You don’t have to do this alone, Ryu,” she said quietly. “Not this time.”

For a moment, Ryu allowed himself to believe that maybe—just maybe—he could trust her. But then, just as quickly, he pushed the thought aside. He couldn’t afford to take that risk. Not with Kae’s life on the line.

“I appreciate the offer,” Ryu said, his voice carefully measured. “But this is my fight.”

Yui sighed, shaking her head. “It’s always your fight, isn’t it? You’ve never known how to let people in. But fine. Just don’t