042 : Rewriting Fate.

Lin Tian didn't sleep that night.

He sat in his chair, watching the shadows outside his window, waiting. He knew how people like this operated. First, they sent warnings. Then, when those failed—they tried something stronger.

And sure enough—they came.

It was past midnight when he heard the sound. A faint click. A noise so small that an ordinary person wouldn't notice.

Lin Tian wasn't ordinary.

He moved silently, pressing himself against the wall near the door. His heart was calm, his breathing steady.

The door unlocked.

Then, it creaked open.

A shadow stepped inside.

A man, dressed in dark clothing, moving with careful precision. A professional.

Lin Tian's smirk returned. You made a mistake coming here.

The moment the intruder took another step, Lin Tian struck.

His hand shot forward, grabbing the man's wrist, twisting it sharply. A muffled grunt of pain—then Lin Tian threw him against the table. The man tried to recover, reaching for something—a weapon.

Lin Tian didn't give him a chance. He grabbed the man's collar, slamming him against the wall. His golden eyes burned in the darkness.

"Who sent you?" he asked quietly.

The man gasped, struggling against his grip. "You… don't know what you're dealing with."

Lin Tian applied more pressure. "Wrong answer."

The man gritted his teeth, but he wasn't breaking yet. He had been trained for this.

Lin Tian's mind worked quickly. Torture wouldn't work—he wasn't a killer in this world, and even if he were, this man was just a pawn.

Instead, Lin Tian leaned in, lowering his voice.

"You think you're dealing with a high school student," he whispered. "But let me tell you something—you are playing the wrong game."

The man hesitated.

Lin Tian smiled coldly. "I'm not afraid of you. I don't care how powerful the people behind you are. But if you make another move against Su Yun—I will make you regret it."

Something in his voice made the man freeze.

Then, after a long moment, he exhaled.

"You're already in too deep," he muttered. "It's only a matter of time before they come for you."

Lin Tian released him, letting him collapse onto the floor. "Tell them to hurry up, then."

The man stumbled to his feet, glaring at Lin Tian before disappearing into the night.

Lin Tian exhaled.

The real enemy had made their move.

And now—it was his turn.

The next morning, Lin Tian arrived at school as if nothing had happened. But as he walked past the front gates, he noticed something immediately.

A black car parked nearby.

A man standing by the entrance, watching him.

And then, as he entered the school, a note slipped into his pocket.

He didn't check it right away. He waited until he was alone, then unfolded it.

Just one sentence.

"Walk away now, or she disappears."

Lin Tian's fingers tightened around the paper.

His golden eyes burned with quiet fury.

So that's how you want to play it?

Fine.

They thought they could scare him?

They thought they could control fate?

They were wrong.

Lin Tian had rewritten destiny before.

And now—he would do it again.

No matter what.

The note sat in Lin Tian's hand, its message clear.

"Walk away now, or she disappears."

A simple warning. A threat designed to push him back.

But if these people thought fear would work on him—they were wrong.

He had spent lifetimes standing against those who tried to dictate the future, who sought to control fate through power and manipulation. In his old world, he had fought against gods and immortal emperors, had crushed entire sects that thought they could decide who lived and who died.

And now, in this world—someone thought they could threaten him?

Lin Tian's smirk was cold.

"You've made your last mistake."

He folded the note neatly and slid it into his pocket. He wouldn't destroy it. No—he would keep it as a reminder. A symbol of the moment his enemies sealed their own fate.

The game had changed.

And now—he was going to play by his own rules.

The morning passed without incident. Lin Tian attended class as usual, blending in with the ordinary life of a high school student. But inside, his mind was working, analyzing every possible angle.

Then, during lunch, he sat across from Su Yun as if nothing had changed. She smiled at him, her usual warmth present, but Lin Tian could see something in her expression—uncertainty.

Something was bothering her.

And he had a feeling he knew what it was.

"Lin Tian," she said suddenly, resting her chin on her hand. "You seem… different today."

Lin Tian raised an eyebrow. "Do I?"

She nodded. "You're quieter than usual. It's like you're thinking about something important."

Lin Tian smirked. "Maybe I am."

Su Yun hesitated, then sighed. "You're not going to tell me, are you?"

Lin Tian leaned back. "Do you want me to?"

For a moment, Su Yun didn't answer. Then, slowly, she shook her head. "No. I think… if it's something you need to handle, you will. You don't seem like the kind of person who lets things slip past him."

Lin Tian watched her carefully. She was starting to notice.

She might not know the full extent of what was happening, but she could sense that something was wrong.

That was dangerous.

He needed to solve this before she got pulled in.

But first—he needed more information.

And there was only one person who could give it to him.

That evening, Lin Tian left school and took a different route home. He wasn't going to wait for another attack.

He was going to take control of the situation.

And that meant finding Xu Wei.

Xu Wei had been there when Zhou Jianhong made his move. He had information—and Lin Tian was going to get it.

He tracked him down near a quiet bar on the edge of the city, the kind of place where deals happened in the shadows. Xu Wei was standing outside, lighting a cigarette, his expression unreadable as Lin Tian approached.

"You again," Xu Wei muttered, exhaling a stream of smoke. "I figured you'd come looking for me."

Lin Tian leaned against the wall beside him. "You knew they'd come after me, didn't you?"

Xu Wei took another drag from his cigarette before nodding. "Of course. You don't just say no to people like that and walk away untouched."

Lin Tian's golden eyes flickered. "Then tell me—who's really behind this?"

Xu Wei chuckled darkly. "You think I'd still be alive if I knew everything?"

Lin Tian's smirk didn't fade. "Then tell me what you do know."

Xu Wei studied him for a long moment before sighing. "Fine. But I want something in return."

Lin Tian crossed his arms. "What?"

Xu Wei took another drag, exhaling slowly. "A favor. I don't need it now, but one day, I might. When that time comes, I expect you to say yes."

Lin Tian didn't hesitate. "Deal."

Xu Wei chuckled. "You didn't even ask what the favor is."

Lin Tian smirked. "Because it won't matter. I always win in the end."

Xu Wei shook his head in amusement before tossing his cigarette to the ground. "Alright, kid. Listen carefully."

And then—he revealed everything.

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