Zhao Qiao.

"Well done."

Alex was tapped out. His body was swollen, and his fatigue was at maximum.

Today was the day he had finally passed the second test.

Bloodlust Endurance. Time duration, 1 day.

Bloodlust Exudence. Time duration, 1 day and 14 hours.

He didn't have the strength to respond. Right now, all he wanted to do was give himself up to the warm embrace of deep slumber.

Hao was not looking to well himself. His body wasn't strong enough to handle bloodlust control for 2 and a half days. But he mustered all he had. Just like his student, he too collapsed onto the ground.

Both of them surrendered themselves to the fatigue, and fell asleep.

7 hours passed by. Mei entered the cell with their food and a fresh change of clothes for Alex.

Both the residents were snoring. She looked at Alex, and smiled.

She slowly approached him and caressed his hair. He was out like a broken bulb.

"Idiot."

Ever since the new prisoner had moved in, Alex was a different person. She was wary at first, but as days passed, she started to get why that was happening.

Alex was determined. Whatever the old guy was doing was working. She was missing his previous personality, but his efforts and determination gave her hope.

"If he joins our family, maybe..."

A fantasy for now. But a potential future if all the pieces fit in perfectly.

She placed his clothes in a corner, and took the bowls of soup back. She didn't want to serve him cold soup.

After she left, Hao Qiao opened his eyes.

"What a shame..."

He was keeping an eye on her while pretending to be out. As soon as she entered the cell, he was broken out of his sleep.

"The poor girl won't be able to get into this brute's heart. The wall of this family is too thick to break through."

Both of them were young. But while Mei was destined to be an above average assassin at best, Alex was going to be one of the most important people that the collective has ever produced.

"I wish you well, Zhao Mei."

He joined both of his hands and prayed for her. If she chooses to pursue Alex, her life is going to be very difficult. If she doesn't, the hole in her heart will only lead to melancholy filled with regret as time passes by.

"It would be better if you forget him."

---------------------------------------

"I..."

Zhao Wei was struggling to hold his glass up. The one legged tyrant was in his quarters, and he had been drinking wine like it was water.

His vision was blurry, his eyes were red, and his head was in pain. No matter how much wine he drank, the pain refused to subside.

"...will...never...forgive."

The night of his darkest day. Corpses lying all around him.

His hands had been stained with the blood of his clansmen.

A single polearm in his hand. One he forged by himself.

All of this, out of pure rage.

"ZHAO QIAO!"

He pieced together his will, and screamed like he wanted to lose his voice.

The glass in his hand broke.

'You took my future away from me.'

He was the closest he had ever been to bursting a nerve.

'I don't want revenge. I want justice.'

His brain couldn't take it anymore. At the highest point of his rage, he collapsed onto the table in front of him.

A blackout. He was unconscious.

"So much hatred."

Zhao Lei walked out of the shadows. He didn't stop his brother, nor did he make a point to console him. He was here to keep an eye on him in case he decides to do anything rash.

The Zhao family. Tarnished by their traitorous past, alienated by their distrust for others, and injured by their internal strife. For the first time in their history, the were finally at peace. But this peace was built upon the crumbled remains of the ambition of two of the most talented individuals the family had ever produced.

Zhao Lei, the one that was destined for greatness, and believed in taking the family forward through the pre-established rules.

Zhao Wei, the one that was supposed to be the backbone of discipline of the family. The person responsible for training up the next head of the family.

And Lastly, the most important person in the family. The person that has been erased from their history, in name and in deed. And the person burdened with the responsibility of being the most talented assassin across all the families.

Zhao Qiao.