Chapter Ten: Peril in the Night

Some say that women are born with a sixth sense, even possessing a certain ability to foresee the future.

But Ye Chen was firmly convinced that he had it too.

He preferred to call it a hunter’s crisis instinct.

That strange flutter just now was not the first time he’d felt it.

It had already happened once last night, on his way home.

Ye Chen stopped in his tracks and turned his head toward the pitch-black alley.

The walls of the houses on both sides happened to block all the streetlights, creating a stark boundary between darkness and light.

It was as if one step beyond that line lay the world of the living, and one step within was the gates of hell.

The alley’s interior was as black as an abyss, as if a single careless step inside would swallow him whole.

Just then, from a shop bathed in pink neon on the roadside, a flamboyantly dressed middle-aged woman came out with enthusiasm.

In a sing-song voice, she called out, “Hey there, handsome! Don’t just stand at the door and stare—come inside and take your pick!

“The girls are waiting for you to feed them dinner!”

With that, she grabbed Ye Chen’s arm, trying to pull him inside.

Ye Chen’s mouth twitched. Rooted to the spot, he pulled his arm free from her grasp and said, with unwavering firmness,

“Not now. I haven’t had dinner myself—I couldn’t feed anyone if I tried.”

He couldn’t help but think to himself, I only lingered at your door for three seconds and you pegged me for a good Samaritan. Sure enough, at night, nowhere is truly safe.

When he turned to look at the alley again, that hair-raising sensation had vanished.

He raised a hand to his chest, feeling the touch of the broken blade tucked inside his jacket, and only then did his tightly knit brow slowly relax.

In less than half a minute, Ye Chen felt as if he’d survived two dangers.

One came from the middle-aged woman retreating into her shop, and the other from the unknown lurking in the darkness.

If a person or animal bore murderous intent toward a hunter in the wild, the air would be sharp and tinged with blood.

In that fleeting moment, Ye Chen had felt as if a patient assassin was crouched in the shadows.

That sense of waiting for the perfect moment to strike was hauntingly familiar—it was the same state he entered when stalking prey.

...

A little later, Ye Chen stood at the entrance of the “Number Ninety-Nine Bus” tavern.

He looked up at the flickering neon sign, listened to the music drifting from within, and felt his tightly wound nerves finally relax.

“That familiar feeling,” he murmured.

This little tavern thrived on old customers—so much so that even with several broken bulbs overhead, the owner hadn’t bothered to repair them.

It was as if to say: those meant to come will come, regardless.

Creak!

Ye Chen pushed open the wooden door, and the first thing he saw was a familiar smile behind the bar.

The bartender’s name was Zhou Peng—not particularly tall nor short, with a lean, well-kept physique, dressed casually and trim.

His rugged face was always adorned with a roguish grin, his hair slicked back in a tidy side part.

At that moment, he was polishing a freshly washed glass with a clean cloth.

Seeing Ye Chen come in, he grinned and said,

“Old Jin got here before you. He’s already ordered your food—I’ll bring it out from the kitchen in a second.”

Usually, the tavern only served drinks, but for a few close friends, the owner didn’t mind cooking a few specialties himself.

Ye Chen glanced around. The downstairs hall was empty—no sign of Jin Yinghui, which puzzled him.

Zhou Peng caught his confusion and jerked his chin upward, indicating that Old Jin was in a private room upstairs.

The room’s window was tightly shut.

That made Ye Chen even more curious; they rarely chose the stuffy upstairs room for gatherings.

Just then, Zhou Peng emerged from the kitchen carrying a tray and explained,

“He brought a guest with him.”

Ye Chen thought, That’s a bit particular—is he worried about running into someone he knows?

He followed Zhou Peng up the wooden stairs and pushed open the door to the private room, where he saw a man seated across from Jin Yinghui.

The man wore glasses and appeared about forty. His face was ordinary, but his manner was gentle and refined, smiling warmly as he chatted with Jin.

When he saw Ye Chen enter, he didn’t stand up.

Instead, he regarded Ye Chen with interest, then glanced at Jin Yinghui for confirmation.

“This is the young man you’re recommending?”

“That’s right, that’s right,” Jin replied, standing and patting Ye Chen’s shoulder.

“Let me introduce you—this is Captain Dai Guangjun, head of Patrol Division Two.

“I thought it over and over, and decided it would be most reliable for you to work under him.”

Ye Chen looked at Jin’s beaming face, astonished.

…I only knew you’d help me get into the Patrol Division—I didn’t expect you’d pave the way right down to the exact group!

Captain Dai finally stood up and shook Ye Chen’s hand, smiling amiably.

“You’re a capable young man. You can come report in tomorrow.

“Well, Jin, I’ve met him, but I won’t stay for dinner—something urgent has come up at headquarters.

“Besides, I don’t drink, so I’ll excuse myself!”

Was that all it took? Just one day, and it was settled?

And how did he know I was capable?

Before long, Zhou Peng joined their table, and the atmosphere grew even warmer.

For Jin Yinghui, Zhou Peng was another close friend in the outer city.

As the wine flowed and the conversation ranged over all manner of worldly affairs, Ye Chen brought up the strange incident he’d noticed on his way.

Having spent years along the bar street, Zhou Peng sighed and said,

“Events like deadly attacks in the night aren’t all that rare here—nor are they exactly common.

“As you know, when someone really dares to cross every line, there’s nothing they won’t do—they’re worse than beasts.

“And if the Patrol Division truly tries to hunt them down, the worst of them just vanish into the wilderness, escape to another city, or scrape by in the black market.

“In the end, if they want to survive, there’s always a way.”

At the mention of the “black market,” Ye Chen clearly noticed Jin Yinghui’s expression flicker.

But Jin quickly masked it by taking a drink.

After a glass, Jin sighed,

“As you say, I once knew someone who was forced to flee to the City of Steel after being persecuted.

“Maybe if I ever fall on hard times, I’ll go seek him out myself.”

That remark drew immediate indignation from Ye Chen and Zhou Peng.

…You already have such a cushy, well-paid job—what right do you have to say you’re struggling?

As the three of them, carried along by the wine, delved into the intricacies of human nature and morality, elsewhere in the darkness, a true hunt was silently unfolding.