Wu Yurong's eyes were filled with disbelief.
The shockwave from the explosion.
Left both their heads ringing.
The moment the towering fire dragon vanished.
Li Caijun kicked Wu Yurong aside.
And swiftly retreated backward.
The guns at the front were completely scattered by the aftermath of the blast.
But the ones at the back of the meeting room were still intact.
Untouched by the chaos.
By the time An Youyi entered.
It was already too late.
Li Caijun didn’t want to wait.
Nor could he afford to.
As for kicking Wu Yurong away—
He felt not an ounce of guilt.
Just a woman.
Compared to his own life, she meant nothing!
"Heh heh—got it, I got it!"
Li Caijun pounced like a ravenous beast.
Shoving aside the corpses on the ground.
He snatched the guns from their hands.
Bang!! Bang!!! Bang!!! Bang bang bang!!!
A rapid succession of gunshots erupted behind him.
Li Caijun had his back to the door.
In his mind.
An Youyi couldn’t have gotten in that fast.
He was certain he’d have enough time to arm himself.
He’d still be safe.
That’s why.
He acted without hesitation.
Desperate to grab the weapons as quickly as possible.
"W-why… do you… still have a gun?"
Li Caijun coughed up blood, his back riddled with bullets.
With great effort, he turned around.
The one who’d shot him was none other.
Than Wu Yurong, lying on the ground, her back scorched and mangled.
"Isn’t it normal for me to carry a sidearm?"
Her voice dripped with venom, the searing pain making sweat bead on her delicate face.
"They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned—you’re no exception, you bitch! Let me send you off!"
Li Caijun’s eyes burned with rage as he aimed his gun at Wu Yurong!
Wu Yurong’s face was a mask of disdain, her beautiful eyes closing.
Ready to embrace death.
But in that critical moment.
The air split with a sharp whistle.
As if something had torn through it.
A razor-sharp dagger embedded itself in Li Caijun’s forehead.
The blade pierced straight through his skull!
Bang bang bang bang bang—
In his final moments, Li Caijun pulled the trigger.
But as his body collapsed.
The gunshots missed their mark.
Every single one.
No harm done to anyone.
Just the ceiling.
Hearing the commotion, Wu Yurong cracked open her eyes and saw Li Caijun’s lifeless body.
She quickly pieced together what had happened.
A fierce satisfaction surged through her.
Yet she also knew.
What was coming next.
But before death claimed her.
Seeing that bastard Li Caijun die.
Was enough.
"Killer… I know you don’t enjoy toying with your prey. Just make it quick."
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The sound of footsteps echoed.
Like a death knell.
Echoing relentlessly in Wu Yurong’s mind.
But in this moment, she felt no fear.
Because in this line of work.
She’d always known this day would come.
She’d made her peace.
Dying at the hands of the world’s top assassin wasn’t a bad way to go.
An Youyi ignored her, stepping past Wu Yurong toward Li Caijun.
Now.
An Youyi’s back was completely exposed.
As she examined Li Caijun’s corpse.
A flicker of murderous intent flashed in Wu Yurong’s eyes—then vanished just as quickly.
Her earlier ambush had succeeded.
Only because of many factors.
And Li Caijun’s carelessness.
Even if An Youyi left herself open now.
Wu Yurong couldn’t muster the will to strike.
"Yep. Stone cold."
An Youyi stood up.
And turned back toward the door.
Wu Yurong shut her eyes tight.
Bracing for the end.
But then.
An Youyi reached the doorway.
Sensing something amiss, Wu Yurong opened her eyes, confusion written all over her face.
She asked the same question Li Caijun had earlier.
"Why?"
Though the meaning behind it was entirely different.
An Youyi replied coolly, "I came for Li Caijun."
Relief washed over Wu Yurong’s face, and she ventured cautiously, "Then… what about me…?"
"You should be grateful you didn’t try to attack me."
Tears streamed down Wu Yurong’s cheeks—tears of joy, of pain, of too many emotions to name.
A thousand words condensed into just one sentence…
"Thank you. Truly."
An Youyi left.
Without hearing Wu Yurong’s gratitude.
Otherwise, she might’ve turned back to finish the job.
After all, the Dragon Queen had her principles.
And she *hated* being thanked.
Back to the matter at hand.
The forces that had stormed in.
Were ambushed in turn by the Dragon King Hall’s remaining allies.
A twist of fate.
More dramatic than any movie plot.
What seemed like a simple scheme was actually layers deep.
This was the plan Li Jiaxin and Gao Liyuan had devised.
The Dragon King Hall was in ruins.
But the damage wasn’t irreparable.
That same night.
"Moshi moshi? Huh??? An-jie, you’re going back to China already? So soon?!"
Li Jiaxin was utterly baffled, still cleaning up the Dragon King Hall’s mess.
When An Youyi’s call came through.
"Damn, you’re already boarding? An-jie, wait for me!"
"The Dragon King Hall needs a Dragon King. An-jie, how about you take the title? The Dragon *Queen*—now that’d be fitting, right? Hmm??? Not interested? Come on!!! Just in name, I swear! We just need your reputation to scare off the troublemakers. Yeah, your name carries weight."
"Just the mention of you could silence the unruly. Okay, okay, glad you agreed. Don’t worry, you’ll get your cut too."
"Me? Stay here? Are you crazy? No way! Once I’m done here, I’m heading home too!"
"Home is where the heart is!!! I’m not insane!!!"
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Back on track.