No. 385 Killing Machine

A man with long white hair stood with his back turned to them.

Lin Xuan frowned.

Zhao Long turned around.

His face came into Lin Xuan’s view.

Lin Xuan stiffened momentarily before his brows furrowed deeply.

This man—why did he seem so familiar? As if he had seen him somewhere before.

“Lin Xuan, it’s been a long time,” Zhao Long said with a smile.

“We’ve met?” Lin Xuan frowned.

“Of course we have.” Zhao Long spread his arms. “Though it was many years ago. You ruined my plans back then.”

Lin Xuan searched his memories for any trace of Zhao Long.

But nothing came to mind.

However, there was a gap in his memory from years ago. Could Zhao Long have been part of that missing time?

Zhao Long studied Lin Xuan with a mocking grin. “Just a foolish, overconfident weakling with no strength to speak of.”

“Who would’ve thought my Ling—someone devoid of emotion—would fall for someone like you.”

“Your Ling?” Lin Xuan narrowed his eyes.

From the sound of it, he was referring to Hua.

“That’s right, my Ling.”

Zhao Long smirked. “I personally trained her—a killing machine with no emotions, unmatched combat skills, and high intelligence.”

“Without me, how could she have become the CEO of Su Corporation? But I never expected her to grow wings and try to break free. She’s been gone for seven years now.”

That was long enough. She’d had her fun.

It was time for her to return and resume her role as a ruthless assassin.

“You turned her into a killing machine? What do you mean?” Lin Xuan’s voice turned icy.

“You don’t know? She was taken from the orphanage at three and brought into the Shadow Organization. Then I subjected her to drug trials—only she survived out of fifty.”

“I saw her resilience, her endurance. She was a perfect candidate. So I trained her myself, molded her into an assassin.”

“My Ling—codename ‘Ling’—was the top assassin. Undefeated, feared by all.”

Lin Xuan clenched his fists.

Every word from Zhao Long sent a sharp pang through his chest.

What had Hua endured?

Drug trials, assassination missions…

She was only four when it started. Zhao Long said she’d escaped seven years ago—meaning she was eighteen then.

Fourteen years.

Fourteen years under this man’s control.

Not a single day of peace.

Lin Xuan’s grip tightened.

A murderous rage simmered within him.

“I trained her relentlessly. Walking on tightropes over cliffs—one misstep, and she’d be dead. Scaling mountains. Locked in a cage with two tigers.”

“Five guns aimed at her, bullets flying—she had to dodge every one. And she did. Every time.”

Lin Xuan fought to suppress the fury boiling inside him.

Zhao Long continued smugly, “I even gave her a ‘sister’—someone she trusted completely. Then I made that sister betray her. In the end, she killed her with her own hands.”

Lin Xuan’s fists trembled.

Was Hua’s condition tied to her past in the Shadow Organization?

No wonder she was so cold, so distant, carrying that overwhelming loneliness.

After all she’d been through…

If it were him, he’d have broken long ago.

“Hahaha! That’s how I shaped her into an emotionless weapon. But—”

Zhao Long suddenly pointed at Lin Xuan. “I never thought she’d fall for you!”

“Lin Xuan!”

“My masterpiece—ruined because of you! Last time, I used you as bait to lure her in.”

“I planned to capture you and use you again. But here you are, walking right into my hands.”

“Since you’re here, you’re not leaving.”

Lin Xuan’s heart sank.

So that was the plan. They’d use him to draw Hua out.

The flight from Yundu City to the Golden Triangle took four or five hours.

He had to deal with the Shadow Organization before then.

If they used him against Hua… the consequences would be disastrous.

Zhao Long raised a hand.

A group of men emerged from nowhere.

Wang Ba shouted, “Lin Xuan, we’ve been tricked!”

Seeing the overwhelming numbers, fear crept into his voice.

“We’re done for. Absolutely done.”

He dropped to his knees before Zhao Long.

“I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have taken Lin Xuan’s money to challenge you. Forgive me.”

“I’ll leave right now.”

His performance was flawless—no hint of deception.

Lin Xuan stared in disbelief. “Wang Ba, you’re betraying me?”

Wang Ba ignored him, still groveling. “I was blind, disrespecting you. I beg for mercy.”

“I won’t interfere with your business with Lin Xuan. Just let me go.”

Zhao Long sneered. “You think you can just walk away?”

Wang Ba shuddered.

He tossed his gun aside and raised his hands.

“I surrender. Please go easy on me.”

“Wang Ba, you—!”

Lin Xuan seethed with rage.

Zhao Long watched the betrayal with amusement.

This was his favorite kind of spectacle—human weakness laid bare.

“Tie them up,” Zhao Long ordered coldly.

Soon, Lin Xuan and his men were bound tightly, under close watch to prevent any tricks.

Wang Ba eyed the ropes skeptically.

Could they really escape like this? Was this plan even possible?

He kept up the act.

“Lin Xuan, you bastard!” Wang Ba roared. “No wonder you paid us to attack this place—you set us up!”

“Damn it! We’re up against the Shadow Organization, the top assassin group! Were you trying to get us killed?”

He glared at Lin Xuan, who shot back, “If you hadn’t surrendered, we might’ve had a chance! You gave up first!”

“Lin Xuan, are you insane? That’s the leader of the Shadow Organization! How the hell was I supposed to fight him?”

Wang Ba spat in disgust.

The two hurled insults back and forth until one of their guards snapped.

“Shut the hell up!” he barked. “One more word, and I’ll kill you both!”

Silence fell instantly.

Neither Lin Xuan nor Wang Ba dared to make another sound.