Chapter 45: The Cracks in the Game

The explosion reverberated through the warehouse, its fiery roar casting fleeting shadows as Xiyan and Qiao sprinted toward the exit. Her lungs burned, every step fueled by pure adrenaline as the walls around them seemed to tremble. They were almost there—freedom was just within reach.

But the moment her fingers touched the door handle, something icy and sharp sliced through the air behind her. A gunshot rang out, and Xiyan's instincts kicked in. She dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the bullet as it whizzed past her, embedding itself in the wall with a metallic thud.

"Dammit!" she hissed through gritted teeth, hitting the ground with a roll to avoid another barrage. Her pulse thundered in her ears as her mind raced, but the fire of anger pushed her forward.

Qiao, ever the calm in the storm, had already drawn his weapon, his gaze sharp. He scanned the room, eyes flicking to the high rafters where the shooters were likely positioned. He didn't say a word—his movements spoke for him. He covered her as she pushed herself back to her feet, darting from cover to cover.

"We need to go," Qiao muttered as he reloaded, eyes never leaving the shadows above.

Xiyan didn't argue. They couldn't afford to waste time. Every second felt like an eternity as they pushed deeper into the labyrinthine corridors of the building. The floor beneath them creaked with every hurried step, and the sounds of pursuit—footsteps, shouting, the metallic clang of weapons being drawn—followed them like a relentless tide.

"You think you can outrun me?" the voice echoed from the far end of the hallway, cold and chilling. "You're too deep into my web to escape now."

Xiyan clenched her jaw, heart pounding against her ribs. She hadn't expected it to be this easy. The leader's words weren't just a taunt—they were a warning.

He already knows our every move.

They rounded a corner and found themselves at a dead end. A metal door blocked their way, and Xiyan wasted no time rushing to it, slamming her palm against the surface. She was ready to force it open, but her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps growing louder from behind them.

"No time to waste," she muttered, glancing at Qiao. He nodded in agreement, his expression hard, unflinching.

Before Xiyan could attempt to break through the door, she heard a familiar, eerie sound—the telltale hum of an energy blade being powered up. She whipped around, eyes narrowing.

A shadow detached itself from the darkness and materialized in front of them: the same figure from before, the one who had watched from afar. This time, however, there was no disguising who he was. The face was unmistakable.

"You've been busy," Xiyan remarked, her voice strained but steady.

The man in front of them smirked, a thin blade glowing faintly in his hand. He was tall, his features sharp like a predator's, eyes gleaming with too much knowledge—too much familiarity. "You know me, don't you?" he said, his voice dripping with malice. "Did you think you could escape so easily?"

Xiyan's heart skipped a beat, but she kept her stance firm. "You. I should have known."

The man's grin widened, his hands twitching slightly as if ready to strike. "I'm flattered you remember me, little Xiyan."

Qiao stepped forward, his movements fluid and practiced. "Enough of this." His voice was low, but the threat in it was clear. The man had been part of the shadows, but now the light was finally shining on him.

The stranger's gaze shifted to Qiao, and the grin remained as if he were entertained. "Do you really think you can stop me?"

Qiao's eyes narrowed. Without warning, he lunged forward, his body a blur as he aimed a swift strike at the man's side. But the stranger was quicker—he sidestepped with the grace of a dancer, his blade flashing out in a deadly arc, aiming for Qiao's throat.

Xiyan's heart stopped for a fraction of a second, but Qiao was already moving, dodging the blade with mere inches to spare. His own blade flashed in response, catching the stranger's side as they engaged in a deadly dance.

Xiyan didn't wait for them to finish. She had her own job to do. Turning back to the metal door, she assessed the lock—a high-tech mechanism designed to keep unwanted guests out.

With a swift motion, she withdrew a small device from her belt and began to hack the lock. Her fingers moved with practiced precision, the tension mounting with every passing second. The sounds of the fight echoed behind her, but she focused entirely on the task at hand.

"Hurry up," Qiao gritted out, his voice strained as their enemy pressed him further.

"I'm trying," Xiyan snapped, her fingers dancing over the controls. The door's lock system was complicated, but she was faster than most. The problem was, they didn't have much time.

With a sharp click, the lock disengaged, and the door slid open just as Qiao parried another blow.

"Now!" Xiyan shouted, her voice hoarse. She didn't wait for an answer. She grabbed his arm, yanking him through the door as it slid shut behind them.

They were out—but they weren't safe yet.

The corridor beyond the door was dark, narrow, and eerily silent. Xiyan's breath was coming in quick, ragged bursts, but she forced herself to keep moving. They had to keep going, had to stay ahead of their pursuers.

Qiao, still recovering from the close call, glanced at her. "That was too close."

Xiyan didn't respond immediately. Her mind was racing. Who was that man? And how was he connected to everything?

They rounded another corner, and Xiyan stopped dead in her tracks. Ahead of them, the hallway was blocked by several armed figures. It was a dead end, and they were surrounded.

"You've nowhere to go now," one of the men said, his voice mocking. "This is the end of the road for you."

Xiyan's pulse quickened. There was no escape this time. They were trapped.

But just as the walls seemed to close in, a voice echoed from behind them—low, familiar, and filled with danger.

"Not quite."

Before either of them could react, a figure appeared out of the shadows. It was a woman, her face hidden behind a mask, but her presence was unmistakable.

"I've been waiting for you," she said, her voice smooth and cold. "You didn't think I'd let you get caught so easily, did you?"

Xiyan's eyes widened. She didn't know who this woman was, but one thing was clear: she wasn't their enemy.

"Let's go," the masked woman said, a hint of urgency in her tone. "Follow me if you want to survive."