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Li Mu parked his motorcycle in front of his grand residence, slightly lifting his head to gaze at the house shrouded in the night. The stillness of the night enveloped the mansion, with only a few dim lights casting a subdued and cold glow in the darkness. The garage door opened with a mechanical sound, the heavy metal door slowly tilting upwards. Li Mu twisted the throttle, guiding the motorcycle smoothly inside, where it emitted a low rumble before coming to a stop.
He turned off the engine, and silence instantly fell around him, broken only by the faint metallic sounds as the motorcycle cooled down. Finally removing his black full-face helmet, Li Mu let out a sigh of relief as the cold night air hit him, easing some of his tense nerves. He stood in the garage for a moment in silence before drawing a handgun from his waist, skillfully detaching the magazine and checking the chamber to confirm it was empty.
This sequence of actions flowed seamlessly in his hands, as if it were a ritual he had long mastered without needing to think. Li Mu fetched maintenance tools and expertly wiped and cleaned every part of the firearm, ensuring each component was in optimal condition. For him, weapons were companions that accompanied life and death; there could be no negligence. He had understood this since he first picked up a gun at twelve.
Looking down at the scar on his chest, memories surged back, and he felt a twinge of pain from that wound, reminding him of past mistakes and painful lessons. That mission had changed his life forever, teaching him that only by remaining vigilant could he avoid repeating past errors.
Taking a deep breath, he refused to let memories ensnare him any longer. He swiftly and calmly completed the maintenance on his handgun, reassembling it with decisive movements that left no room for hesitation. Once satisfied that the weapon was restored to perfect condition, he placed it into a metal safe and locked it. As he closed the safe, it felt as if he were sealing away all past events, restoring a sense of cold calm within himself.
Li Mu turned off the garage lights and stepped into the quiet mansion, where only his footsteps echoed—deep and steady—resonating through the empty hall. Motion-sensor lights flickered on one by one as he walked, their cold white glow illuminating the spacious living room clearly while reflecting the chill and solitude of this grand house. The marble floor mirrored faint light; the surroundings were minimally decorated with just a few pieces of art that added an air of detachment and severity.
He approached a small bar in one corner of the living room. Pushing gently on the liquor cabinet door with his fingers, a faint aroma of alcohol wafted out as he opened the metal handle. However, just as he was about to retrieve a bottle, a soft yet mechanical female voice suddenly interrupted the stillness: "Detected an increase in your heart rate and signs of muscle fatigue; alcohol consumption is not advisable."
Li Mu's hand hesitated slightly as he frowned, a flicker of displeasure crossing his eyes. This was his home AI system, which silently monitored his bodily data and lifestyle habits to offer suggestions. Yet such "concern" felt utterly unnecessary to him—almost coldly ironic. Ignoring its advice, he merely lifted his gaze with indifference and disdain before reaching into the cabinet without hesitation to take out a bottle of whiskey.
The whiskey bottle was deep and heavy; its amber liquid swayed slightly inside as if holding countless sealed memories and emotions. Gripping the neck of the bottle, he took a crystal-clear whiskey glass and tilted it, allowing the amber liquid to flow slowly out under gravity's pull, gliding down along the glass wall into his cup. As he poured, an intense and rich aroma quickly filled the air.
Li Mu gazed down at the drink in his glass; under the light, the amber liquid shimmered subtly—deep and substantial—as if some indescribable emotion was condensed within it. He quietly observed this layer of amber color while his thoughts drifted far into the past. The desolate house, cold reminders from artificial intelligence, and loneliness returning home late at night all stirred within him a faint weariness and emptiness—an emotion that had lingered in his heart for years but had never truly been released.
He raised the glass slightly closer to his lips but paused before drinking; instead, he allowed the whiskey's aroma to seep into his nostrils alongside cold memories and weary thoughts. The scent was both spicy and smooth; its familiar fragrance offered him momentary relaxation but soon gave way to deeper loneliness. He knew well that he was no longer that reckless youth; every scar on his body and every memory could not be easily erased. Those unforgettable experiences were as profound as whiskey itself—rich in flavor but ultimately something only he could bear alone.
The calm reminder from Home AI had long dissipated into thin air; it felt like nothing more than a cold shadow that could not touch Li Mu's inner emotions. He sighed softly before lifting his glass once more and downing the amber liquid in one go. The whiskey slid down his throat with its spicy warmth spreading through his chest like wildfire—seemingly driving away all internal chill.
Li Mu set the whiskey glass aside, leaning back slightly as he sank into the large sofa. As he settled down, the smart system in the living room detected his movement, and the television screen automatically lit up, casting a cold light throughout the room and dispelling some of the night's darkness. The screen flickered to life, displaying news from Shadow City. The reporter spoke rapidly, his expression serious, as if conveying a tense event to every citizen.
The screen switched to a charred ground, faint traces of explosion burns visible. The reporter's voice was calm yet restrained as he introduced the explosion that had occurred in Mistwood a few days prior. According to reports, this explosion had shocked the entire city; an entire forest had been engulfed in flames in an instant, the blast powerful enough that residents several kilometers away felt the ground shake.
The news report mentioned that the explosion site was located at a secret government weapons depot, and preliminary investigations suggested that the Serpent Bite Gang was involved. The footage shifted to several blurry surveillance clips, where shadowy gang members were seen carrying weapons. The reporter's tone grew increasingly tense: "According to informants, the Serpent Bite Gang seems to have premeditated this; the detonation of the weapons depot is likely a deliberate act to showcase their power and demonstrate against other forces in Shadow City and the city government."
Next, the news turned to the streets, featuring clips of citizens being interviewed. A middle-aged woman appeared on screen, her expression filled with anger as she complained to the camera: "Song Huai'an promised to crack down on gangs and ensure public safety, claiming he would make Shadow City a safe home! But look at it now—the gangs are not only unrestrained but can also cause such a massive explosion in the city. Is there even any rule of law left?"
Another young man spoke passionately, questioning the mayor's policies: "Didn't the mayor say he would combat organized crime? But look at our city—Serpent Bite Gang, Viper Sect—the gang conflicts are getting worse and affecting ordinary citizens. What kind of stable governance is this?"
Li Mu silently watched the screen, his gaze stern. The situation in Shadow City was becoming increasingly chaotic; gang conflicts were no longer confined to dark corners but were spreading throughout every part of the city, becoming a part of citizens' daily lives. This explosion incident was undoubtedly like a heavy bombshell, triggering widespread public skepticism towards the government, with all fingers seemingly pointing at Mayor Song Huai'an.
Li Mu downed his whiskey in one gulp, feeling the warmth of the liquid slide down his throat while his mind grew even cooler. He knew that the Serpent Bite Gang would not instigate such a large-scale event without reason. The dissatisfaction among citizens towards the mayor was rising sharply, and gang influence in Shadow City had become deeply entrenched. Everything seemed to be driven by an invisible hand, pushing the entire city toward an unknown abyss.
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