Chapter 154: Conversation on the Ferris Wheel

Ever since she learned of Lin Fan's true identity, Zhao Ying knew that following him might mean bidding farewell to a peaceful life. There might come a day when she would cross paths with people she had no business meeting, much like that time she was held hostage by the man in black and almost lost her life. Yet, she was willing to stay by Lin Fan's side; no matter what happened, Zhao Ying was ready.

"A suspicious person?" Hearing Lin Fan's words, Zhao Ying frowned slightly, evidently deep in thought.

"Just now, a man kept lurking around me, smiling and looking in my direction. But his smile gave me a creepy, hair-raising feeling. At first, I thought he was looking for someone, so I didn't pay much attention. Then, when I looked back, he was gone," Zhao Ying said, pondering for a moment. "Why? Is something wrong?"

"It's nothing, nothing at all. Let me take you home first," Lin Fan glanced around, and seeing that everything seemed normal, he gave Zhao Ying a reassuring smile.

Since Lin Fan didn't want to elaborate, it was obvious he was just trying to spare her from worry. Zhao Ying could easily see through that. Before getting into the car, Lin Fan scanned the surroundings thoroughly once more. Still, no suspicious figures were in sight. Yet, he was certain that the man who had been near Zhao Ying right after he left was far from ordinary. Lin Fan refused to believe in such a coincidence—that the man would appear the exact moment he stepped away. What baffled him, however, was why the man hadn't made a move against Zhao Ying. It couldn't have been Yu Weihua; if it were him, Zhao Ying would have recognized him instantly. Then who could it be?

For a moment, Lin Fan was completely at a loss. It seemed his whereabouts were constantly being monitored, a realization that left him with a deeply unsettling feeling. If the enemy came after him directly, he wouldn't fear them in the least. But what terrified him was the prospect of the enemy using Zhao Ying to threaten him—that would truly be striking at his Achilles' heel. Just as one wave settled, another rose!

Lin Fan's car gradually vanished down the highway. Meanwhile, high up on the Ferris wheel, another man and woman sat in a cabin meant for eight, occupied only by them. Whether by coincidence or design, this was the exact cabin where Lin Fan and Zhao Ying had shared their tender moments just a little while ago. However, there was none of that warmth between these two; instead, the atmosphere inside the cabin was exceptionally bone-chilling. The young man was none other than the man in black who had ambushed Lin Fan in the Golden Triangle, and the woman was undoubtedly Ling Xue.

"Little sister, you saw it, didn't you? That's the girlfriend of the God of Death since his return to Huaxia. You should realize by now that he no longer loves you. The bond between the two of you ended the very moment you betrayed Dragon Soul," the man in black said. He had changed into casual wear, making him look around Lin Fan's age, yet the smile on his face was extraordinarily sinister.

"Big brother, I've almost forgotten him. Why must you bring me here to see him?" Ling Xue seemed to muster all her courage just to speak these words to her eldest brother, her body trembling slightly as if she anticipated what he might do next.

"Hmph, and you dare say you've almost forgotten him? For your upcoming mission, you must forget him completely." As he spoke, the young man's left hand violently clamped down on Ling Xue's shoulder. No one could tell how immense his grip strength was, but Ling Xue's expression twisted in agonizing pain, yet she dared not put up the slightest resistance.

"You must constantly remember that you are a top-tier assassin of Purgatory Angel. The organization went to great lengths to plant you inside Dragon Soul, originally intending for you to use your beauty to seduce the God of Death. But what did you do? You actually fell in love with him for real, and at the critical moment, you betrayed the organization for his sake. What a pity—your actions caused him to lose so many of his brothers. He will never forgive you."

By the end of his words, the anger had vanished from the young man's face, replaced by a hint of playful amusement. The hand crushing Ling Xue's shoulder slowly relaxed, and the intensity of her agony visibly subsided.

"I understand, Big Brother," Ling Xue endured the lingering ache and replied.

"You understand? Hmph. If you truly understood that an assassin cannot afford to have emotions, you never would have fallen in love with him in the first place, nor would you have refused to eliminate him when ordered," the man's dissatisfaction was palpable, and his grip tightened once more, bringing back the look of excruciating pain on Ling Xue's face.

It had to be admitted that Ling Xue was stunningly beautiful—an absolute ice queen, so cold that others scarcely dared approach her. Yet, the look of torment she wore was enough to stir pity in the hearts of almost any man under the sun, though it failed entirely to move the somewhat sadistic young man before her.

"Still, your infatuation has its uses; it paves the way for our future plans. The God of Death clearly still holds some lingering affection for you. Just now, when you barely showed your face, he actually abandoned the safety of his current girlfriend and chased after you. His weakness—being overly sentimental—is something we can certainly exploit," the young man sneered, his smile turning even more macabre and chilling.

As the Ferris wheel ascended, Ling Xue gazed out at the beautiful city. The pain in her shoulder prevented her from easily shifting her posture, and her face remained as expressionless and icy as ever, concealing an undeniable and razor-sharp murderous intent...

"Little sister, before long, the people in the organization will help you gradually erase your past memories, making you forget your history with the God of Death. Let's hope you don't disappoint Big Brother this time. This mission is something only you can accomplish," the young man snapped shut his cigarette lighter and stroked Ling Xue's hair as he spoke.

"I'll do my best," Ling Xue replied. Though she still didn't know the exact nature of the mission, she simply dared not provoke her eldest brother's anger, and could only appease him at every turn. She knew all too well that when her brother lost his temper, he was an absolute madman. Nearly everyone in the organization had tasted his brutal punishments at some point. Those beastly eyes and frantic actions during his outbursts remained vividly etched in Ling Xue's memory to this day...

The young man playfully pinched Ling Xue's chin, forcibly pulling her into his embrace. Feeling the slight trembling of her body, a flash of disdain crossed his eyes...

With the rotation of the Ferris wheel, it reached the highest point once more, yet this time, nothing happened within the cabin.

Lin Fan was not driving particularly fast, as he wanted to spend a little more time with Zhao Ying. The young woman wrapped her arms around Lin Fan's, resting her head quietly against his shoulder. "How long will you be gone this time?" Zhao Ying asked after a brief hesitation, her eyes filled with undisguised worry. Given Lin Fan's status as a mercenary leader, she could more or less guess what his missions entailed.

"I promise I'll be back in a week at most," Lin Fan smiled faintly, taking a turn as he spoke.

"Protect yourself," Zhao Ying murmured softly.

Lin Fan was slightly taken aback at first, but then he came to terms with it. Zhao Ying already knew most of what concerned him, and she was undoubtedly worrying for his sake in her heart. "Mn," he acknowledged softly, pulling the car over to the side of the road.

"What? Don't want to leave? Could it be..." Seeing that Zhao Ying was still lingering in the car, a faint, mischievous smile played at the corners of Lin Fan's lips as he leaned close to her ear and whispered softly.