The night was as dark as ink, and the searchlights of the abandoned dock cast pale beams of light in the damp air.

Ji Linchuan crouched on top of the container, his eyes behind night vision goggles fixed on the warehouse entrance below.

A colleague's report came through the earpiece:

"Group A is in position."

"Group B is in position."

"The drone has confirmed that the target has entered the warehouse. Repeat, the Python has been captured."

Ji Linchuan tapped the microphone twice with his fingertips to indicate that he had received the message.

He glanced down at his watch—23:47, thirteen minutes earlier than expected. Something was wrong.

"Attention all teams, the target has arrived ahead of schedule and may notice something amiss." He lowered his voice, "Execute Plan B."

On the distant sea, three interceptor boats disguised as fishing vessels quietly shut off their engines.

Ji Linchuan flipped and leaped off the container, landing without even causing a ripple in the puddle. He moved swiftly along the shadows, suddenly stopping five meters from the warehouse side door—

A faint, almost imperceptible smell of sulfur lingered in the air.

Ji Linchuan held his breath and sneaked into the top floor of the warehouse through the ventilation duct.

He heard the clanging of metal and suppressed conversation below. He squinted and used thermal imaging goggles to pinpoint Zhou Wanxiong's location—the man was standing in the center of a pile of containers, with bodyguards patrolling around him with modified shotguns.

"Attention all groups, the target is located in Warehouse B." Ji Linchuan ordered in a low voice, "Group A, seal off all exits, Group B, flank from the east, Group C, stand by for support." He gripped his tactical dagger and observed the situation below through the gaps in the pipes, only to find Zhou Wanxiong suddenly raising his hand to signal everyone to be quiet.

The air froze instantly. The hairs on the back of Ji Linchuan's neck stood on end; his years of undercover experience told him something was wrong.

Just then, a cargo box in the corner of the warehouse suddenly exploded, and more than a dozen fully armed men in black rushed out with guns, raining bullets down on them.

"Ambush! Counterattack!" Ji Linchuan rolled to the ground, drew his pistol, and fired a precise shot.

Special Investigations Team members leaped out from the shadows, and a fierce firefight ensued inside the warehouse.

Zhou Wanxiong seized the opportunity to hide in the bulletproof compartment and grinned maliciously at Ji Linchuan through the glass: "Officer Ji, what a waste of your acting skills."

Ji Linchuan wiped the gunpowder from his face and shouted into his headset, "Team D! Blow up the transport truck's tires!"

However, all he received in response was static – the enemy had cut off the communication signal at some point.

Just as the vehicle was about to crash through the warehouse gate, a figure suddenly leaped down from the air, and Shen Chumo, holding a modified stun gun, accurately hit the vehicle's electrical circuit.

"Didn't you say you didn't need help?" She raised an eyebrow at Ji Linchuan, who had just arrived, and subdued a bodyguard who was trying to launch a sneak attack.

Ji Linchuan didn't have time to explain and directed his team to tighten the encirclement. Zhou Wanxiong's expression finally changed, and he frantically roared at the driver, "Ram them! Quickly!"

Just then, the piercing sound of police sirens rang out outside the warehouse. Reinforcements had arrived. Zhou Wanxiong desperately smashed the car window, but Ji Linchuan immediately handcuffed him with specially made handcuffs: "Zhou Wanxiong, you are suspected of drug trafficking, murder, and assaulting a police officer. You are now formally arrested."

"Ji Linchuan! You'll die a horrible death!" Zhou Wanxiong cursed as he was dragged out of the carriage. Ji Linchuan watched the escort vehicle drive away and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Shen Chumo handed him a bottle of water, her gaze sweeping over his bleeding arm: "Is it a serious injury?"

"It's nothing." Ji Linchuan loosened his tie and quickly bandaged the wound. "Thanks to you for arriving in time this time."

He took out his phone, and the screen displayed an encrypted text message from Shen Chumo—three hours earlier, she had found a miniature tracker in Zhou Mingyuan's skull bracelet, realizing that their operation might have been exposed.

"Remember you owe me a hot pot meal." Shen Chumo turned and walked towards the rising sun, her ponytail fluttering in the wind.

Ji Linchuan watched her retreating figure, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.

In the distance, special investigation team members were counting the seized drugs, the red light of police lights reflecting on the sea, gradually dispelling the darkness of the night.

In the blink of an eye, several years have passed.

The azure waves gently lapped against the beach, and sunlight filtered through the palm leaves, casting dappled shadows.

Shen Chumo lay under the parasol, her eyes slightly narrowed behind her sunglasses, enjoying the rare tranquility.

"Chu Mo! Come play beach volleyball!" Lin Lin waved from a distance, looking energetic in a bright yellow bikini.

"No, I'm not going." Shen Chumo lazily rolled over. "Sunbathing is more comfortable."

"Tsk, you might as well just stay lazy." Lin Chuan walked over carrying a coconut and plopped down on the recliner next to her. "Can't you be a little more active on your rare day off?"

Shen Chumo glanced at him: "If I get too energetic, you might not be able to handle it."

Lin Chuan's lips twitched. He remembered how badly she had beaten him up during the last special training session, leaving him unable to get up. He silently shut his mouth.

"Sister Chu Mo, try this!" Zhou Ye approached with a plate of freshly grilled seafood, beaming. "My special garlic scallops, I guarantee they'll be delicious!"

Shen Chumo then sat up, took the plate, tasted it, and her eyes brightened slightly: "Not bad."

Zhou Ye raised an eyebrow smugly: "Of course, I've studied cooking."

"Where's Qin Ze?" Shen Chumo looked around but didn't see him.

"Look, over there." Lin Lin pointed to the rocky area in the distance, "They've been fishing there since this morning, saying they wanted to give us a treat."

Shen Chumo chuckled: "He seems quite relaxed."

She stood up, her bare feet touching the soft sand, and walked towards Qin Ze.

The waves went over my ankles, with a slightly cool touch.

Qin Ze sat on the rocks, wearing a straw hat, fishing rod in hand, his back calm. Hearing footsteps, he didn't turn around: "Don't make a sound, the fish is about to bite."

Shen Chumo stood behind him with her arms crossed, waiting quietly.

A few seconds later, the fishing line suddenly tightened, and Qin Ze flicked his wrist, throwing a shimmering silver fish onto the shore.

"We can add some dishes tonight." He turned around and smiled at Shen Chumo.

The sunlight fell on his face, making his features appear exceptionally soft.

Shen Chumo looked at him and suddenly remembered the moment when he was almost swallowed up in front of the black hole.

"What are you spacing out for?" Qin Ze waved his hand in front of her eyes.

Shen Chumo snapped out of her reverie and said calmly, "It's nothing, I just feel..."

What do you think?

"I think things are pretty good as they are now."

Qin Ze paused for a moment, then his smile deepened: "Yes, it's very good."

In the distance, Lin Lin and Lin Chuan were arguing about the rules of volleyball. Zhou Ye tried to mediate, but ended up being pushed into the sand by the two of them.

Shen Chumo watched them making a ruckus, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.

Qin Ze's smile faded slightly, his fingers unconsciously stroking the fishing rod: "I heard about Xu Qin. She came to me later, wanting to know your whereabouts, but I ignored her."

I heard that after Jiang Hai was arrested, Xu Qin remarried, but this time she was unlucky and married an abusive man. She can't get a divorce and spends her days in tears. She wants to find Shen Chumo to take care of her.

But Xu Qin will never be able to find her again.

Shen Chumo bent down and picked up a flat pebble. With a flick of her wrist, the pebble skipped seven times across the sea: "Retribution."

Jiang Ping and Jiang Chen, the siblings, lived off the money from selling their house and some of their savings, which would have been enough for them to live comfortably.

Unfortunately, both of them were used to spending money lavishly and didn't know how to save. The money was quickly spent, and since their grades were bad, they didn't even get into university, so they had to work.

"Jiang Ping had two fingers crushed by a machine while working in a garment factory," Qin Ze said softly. "Jiang Chen is still in a juvenile detention center last year for participating in a fight."

The sea breeze suddenly became a bit chilly.

Shen Chumo gazed at the horizon where the sea met the sky, recalling her past self who had once humbled herself in the Jiang family.

"Should we make a move?" Qin Ze suddenly asked.

Shen Chumo turned to look at him, her eyes behind her sunglasses revealing no emotion: "What do you think?"

Qin Ze put the fish he had caught into the bucket, the splashing water wetting his trouser legs: "I just think...they're not doing well right now, maybe that would make you happier."

"Not happy, not sad." Shen Chumo took off her sunglasses, the sunlight gilding her eyelashes, "It's like watching stray dogs fight on the street; whether they win or lose is none of my business."

Lin Lin's scream suddenly came from the other side of the beach. The two turned around and saw her and Zhou Ye being chased all over the beach by a crab. Lin Chuan was holding up his phone behind them, laughing and recording.

Qin Ze couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Want to go help?"

"Let them make a fuss." Shen Chumo put her sunglasses back on. "Seafood hotpot tonight?"

"Okay." Qin Ze picked up the bucket. "I'll catch a bigger one."

As the sun set, five people sat around an open-air restaurant on the beach.

Zhou Ye proudly presented the freshly steamed lobster, while Lin Lin poured everyone iced lemon tea.

"Cheers!" The glasses clinked together with a crisp sound.

Lin Chuan suddenly lowered his voice: "Have you heard? Brother Lin Chuan is going to be promoted to section chief."

Shen Chumo paused for a moment, and the fish ball she picked up fell back into the pot.

"Really?" Zhou Ye's eyes widened. "He's only thirty, isn't he?"

"Twenty-nine years and seven months." Qin Ze accurately stated the figure, "The key was the transnational psionic smuggling case cracked last month."

Lin Lin sighed, resting her chin on her hand: "Then will he have even less time to find a partner in the future?"

"Maybe they already have it." Zhou Ye winked. "Last time my brother from Linchuan came to the hospital, I heard that all the nurses there wanted his contact information."

Shen Chumo suddenly stood up: "I'll go get the drinks."

After she walked away, Lin Chuan tapped Zhou Ye on the head with his chopsticks: "You talk too much."

Qin Ze watched Shen Chumo's retreating figure and sighed softly.

In front of the beverage cabinet, Shen Chumo stared at her reflection in the glass.

The news of Ji Linchuan's impending promotion was like a pebble thrown into the calm lake of her heart, creating ripples.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She took it out and saw that it was a message from Ji Linchuan.

"Chu Mo, I want to see you."

"Sister Chu Mo! Your shrimp are overcooked!" Zhou Ye shouted from afar.

Shen Chumo closed the refrigerator door, the sea breeze scattering a stray strand of hair behind her ear. In the distance, the lighthouse shone with a warm light, casting her long shadow on the beach.

...

Shen Chumo lived to be a hundred years old in this world. After closing her eyes and opening them again, she was back in that familiar space, which made her feel somewhat dazed.

After such a long period of peaceful life, she sometimes wonders if those days were just a dream.

"Mo Mo, are you alright?" Tuanzi looked at her with concern.

Shen Chumo gently ruffled its fluffy head, a slight smile playing on her lips: "It's nothing, just a little sentimental."

She looked up into the void, her gaze gradually hardening: "What is the next world?"

Tuanzi's eyes lit up, and she jumped up excitedly: "It's a world of high martial arts! Spiritual energy is reviving, sects are everywhere, and the strong are respected!"

"A world of high-level martial arts, sounds good. Let's set off now."

Shen Chumo hugged Tuanzi tightly and smiled slightly. From now on, her life would be full of ups and downs again.

(Finish)

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like