Eighth on the Assassin’s List

Ji Chuxing found a secluded spot in the underground casino and swiftly set up her own set of acupuncture needles—her makeshift tools for the task at hand.

Though not as sophisticated as the equipment she once used in her previous life's laboratory, they were serviceable enough for now.

By the time she stepped outside, the sky had fallen into complete darkness.

A message from Bo Yanchen lit up her phone screen: *When are you coming home?*

Home?

The word lingered on her lips as Ji Chuxing curved them into a faint smile.

She wandered into a nearby mall and picked up two cups of milk tea, taking full advantage of a buy-one-get-one-free deal—it was such a bargain!

As she exited the mall, a figure caught her eye. At first, it was just a casual glance, but something made her pause. She hesitated for a moment before turning down an alleyway.

Nan City wasn't exactly a bustling metropolis.

The underground casino nestled in a corner of the old district, where this commercial area, though crowded, lacked any real sophistication. Surrounding it were rows of aging residential buildings, many marked with large red characters reading "Demolish." These abandoned neighborhoods gave off an eerie vibe, their empty streets whispering tales of neglect.

But Ji Chuxing wasn't one to be intimidated.

With her milk tea in hand, she strolled leisurely into a narrow, dimly lit alley. Pausing briefly, she listened intently. The hurried footsteps ahead quickened, prompting her to toss the nearly empty cup into a trash bin tucked in the shadows. In an instant, she vanished deeper into the labyrinthine alleys.

The old Mandarin Duck Building stood abandoned, its walls plastered with ominous red "Demolish" signs.

Ji Chuxing moved cautiously, her senses attuned to every sound around her. As she rounded a corner, she struck with lightning speed.

Her opponent seemed prepared, launching a direct attack.

In the dim glow of the decrepit building, their faces remained obscured, but their movements were sharp and precise.

Then, a sliver of moonlight pierced through the gloom, illuminating the girl's face.

The attacker faltered, pulling back just a fraction too late. Ji Chuxing's fist connected squarely with his jaw.

Finally, she got a good look at the person sprawled on the ground.

"...Well, that's awkward," she muttered under her breath.

The two walked out of the alley together, Ji Chuxing still clutching a cup of milk tea, her gaze fixed straight ahead.

"I heard it," she said suddenly.

Wen Lian bore a small fist-shaped bruise on his cheek—a testament to Ji Chuxing's unrelenting punch. If he hadn't deflected slightly at the last second, he might have lost a tooth!

He still couldn't believe he'd crossed paths with Ji Chuxing here—and been beaten by Zhou Ru's supposedly frail daughter!

Tonight, he had been on a mission when he was ambushed. Before Ji Chuxing intervened, she had already taken care of one of his pursuers.

At her words, he paused, staring at her silently.

He was still processing the fact that Ji Chuxing had single-handedly dealt with a skilled assassin for him.

In truth, three people had been tailing him tonight. He had managed to handle two, but the third had remained elusive—until Ji Chuxing stepped in.

Glancing back at the scene, he realized the young girl's movements were even more efficient than his own.

"They call you 'Gouchen,'" Ji Chuxing said, her piercing gaze locking onto him. Upon closer inspection, there was a flicker of curiosity in her eyes.

Since they both knew each other's secrets, she saw no point in hiding anything.

Wen Lian: "..."

Ji Chuxing continued, "'Gouchen' is the eighth-ranked assassin on the Black Market Network!"

Wen Lian: "..."

How does a teenage girl know all this? What kind of background does Zhou Ru's daughter really have?

Ji Chuxing gave him a sidelong glance. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. Consider it repayment for the favor you did me."

Wen Lian understood what she meant—the incident at the police station.

"It's what I should've done," he replied. Besides, she had saved his grandmother, though he only learned about it later from the old Chinese doctor. He was glad he had reached out to Director Zhou at the time, even if Bo Yanchen ultimately played the decisive role.

"You saved my life tonight. I owe you," Wen Lian said earnestly.

Ji Chuxing extended her hand.

Wen Lian: "?"

"I charge for saving lives," she said matter-of-factly.

Wen Lian: "..."

Looking at her serious expression, he finally chuckled. "I don't have cash on me right now. I'll bring it over tomorrow."

Ji Chuxing nodded, satisfied. That was precisely the response she had hoped for.

Since fate had brought them together, there was no reason to hold back. Ji Chuxing tilted her head curiously. "How do assassins rank on the Black Market Network? How do you price your jobs?"

Her enthusiasm made it seem like she wanted to climb the ranks herself. Wen Lian's expression darkened.

"It's far too dangerous. This isn't something you should concern yourself with. And stop following strangers like you did tonight!"

If she had encountered a more skilled assassin, her life could have been in grave danger!

This was a serious issue.

No matter how much Ji Chuxing pressed, Wen Lian refused to divulge any information, retreating into silence with a sour mood.

Hmph! Was he afraid she'd steal his business?

Truthfully, she had wanted to spar. Her current strength paled in comparison to her past life, and she needed constant practice against skilled opponents to improve quickly. At her current level, she was less than thirty percent of her former self—a fact that left her deeply dissatisfied.

But Wen Lian wouldn't budge. His unruly hair stood on end, exuding irritation.

When she returned home, Bo Yanchen was sipping tea.

Seeing her arrive an hour after his message, Bo Yanchen raised an eyebrow with a half-smile. "Xingbao, do you know what time it is?"

Ji Chuxing's expression remained impassive. "Ten o'clock. Nightlife has just begun."

Bo Yanchen chuckled. "Alright, our little night owl wants to spread her wings."

"From now on, you're grounded by ten. No exceptions."

Ji Chuxing opened her mouth to protest, but Bo Yanchen cut her off with a gentle smile. "Little girl, don't forget—you're still underage."

Ji Chuxing responded with a soft "Oh."

Bo Yanchen knew she hadn't truly absorbed his words. He rolled his wheelchair behind her slowly. "Every time you come home late, you lose a snack. No milk tablets, no jelly."

Ji Chuxing: "!"

She spun around, glaring at him like a kitten deprived of its treats, her unruly tuft of hair standing on end.

Bo Yanchen's smile widened.

He knew Ji Chuxing rarely showed strong emotions or cared about trivial matters. For instance, she never thought to inform anyone when she came home late. It was clear she wasn't used to being waited for.

Seeing her expressive reaction, he couldn't help but laugh. "To teach you a lesson, no jelly tonight, and I've hidden the milk tablets."

Ji Chuxing stormed to the fridge, flinging it open. Empty. No yogurt, no ice cream, no juice, no cola.

She slumped visibly, shooting Bo Yanchen a sulky glare.

Bo Yanchen's smile softened. "Good girl, remember to come home early next time."

Ji Chuxing: "Hmph!"

The result of losing her snacks was a drink so bitter it nearly made Bo Yanchen gag.

Ji Chuxing smirked triumphantly, her unruly hair bouncing with satisfaction.

Bo Yanchen sighed, sipping his tea to wash away the bitterness, but his amusement remained. Even when angry, the little girl remembered to make him a bedtime drink.

It was worth it.

Meanwhile, the little girl, still nursing her grudge, was tinkering with something on her computer in her room.

After hearing the old Chinese doctor and the young man from the underground casino, she decided to test the Black Market Network.

Thirty seconds after posting her first herb purchase request, her computer was attacked.

The screen shifted, displaying a progress bar labeled "Extracting Data" that filled rapidly.

Ji Chuxing narrowed her eyes, her fingers flying across the keyboard in a blur. Within moments, her screen returned to normal.

Pausing briefly, she typed furiously again.

Ten seconds later, she hit Enter.

The screen turned black, then flashed with a burst of light as streams of data flooded across it.

Simultaneously, in a secret base somewhere on Earth, a man cursed loudly at his computer. "Sh*t, we're under attack!"

He frantically typed commands, but the system was unresponsive. Soon, nearly all the files on his computer had been extracted.

"Cut the network immediately! This hacker is no joke!"

Back in her room, Ji Chuxing watched the data stream halt, murmuring softly, "So that's how it works."