Deviant: No Longer Human

Wang Xiao allowed Anran to keep the child on the condition she would raise it herself and exhibit a responsible attitude towards its upbringing.

Despite Wang Xiao's uncertainties about the longevity of his presence in her life, one thing was paramount: ensuring that Anran's influence didn't foster folly in the next generation, and spoil his genes.

If it indeed turns out like that—

His thoughts veered into a shadowy realm, his mind a whirlwind of dark considerations. Barely pausing to gather his bearings, he brushed past Anran, exchanged fleeting words with Josephine and Aisha, then, with a suddenness that caught everyone off guard, he announced his plans and strode through the main door.

"Are we really leaving?" Aisha called out, her voice trailing off in the thick, uncertain air.

Josephine, equally puzzled, could only offer a shrug. "I don't know. But he didn't seem to be joking."

Aisha bit her lip, struggling to reconcile herself with the abrupt upheaval. "I... it's just so sudden."

While confusion clouded their minds, Anran was a whirlwind of activity, her movements fluid and purposeful as she packed their bags

Glancing at Aisha, her eyes sparkled with an unspoken challenge. "Are you coming or not? He won't wait for us," she declared, zipping the suitcase with a decisive motion before bounding upstairs for the rest.

"..." Aisha sat, frozen, the weight of the moment pressing down on her.

Josephine, watching Anran's energetic display, couldn't help but marvel. "Does she always have this much energy?"

Aisha's answer was hesitant, a soft "Y-Yeah..." that seemed to get lost in the room.

Wang Xiao, unlike the others, wasn't taken aback by Anran's readiness. His inquiry into her past revealed a life punctuated by frequent travels and undercover missions.

To him, her boundless energy made perfect sense; she was someone who thrived in motion, a restless spirit that could never sit idle.

_______

Perched on the edge of the rooftop, Wang Xiao found himself nursing a glass of red wine, its bitterness a sharp contrast to the evening's ambiguous tranquility.

The town lights flickered like distant stars, casting a soft glow that danced across the glass's surface.

"I thought you don't like drinking..." came a voice, shattering the serene silence. Leaning against the wall with a casual grace, Linda stood beside him, her presence as commanding as the pearl harbour that reflected the city.

She was the matriarch of this concrete kingdom, with the Hrimpurs bar nestled like a jewel in the building's heart. Her appearance belied the ruthlessness required to navigate the murky waters of her empire—flowing raven hair framing a face that radiated an almost innocent clarity, a stark contrast to the shadows her business cast.

"And you," Wang Xiao began, his voice a low murmur, "are surprisingly clean for someone so deeply embedded in the dirt."

Linda's laughter was a soft chime in the cool air. "Appearances can be deceiving, Wang Xiao. But let's not dance around the shadows. Why the sudden need for wine?"

Wang Xiao's gaze drifted over the city, a maze of light and shadow. "I'll be leaving soon," he confessed.

Linda raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "Really? That is a surprise," she remarked, her tone betraying a flicker of curiosity as she took a delicate sip from her glass.

Wang Xiao turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "What about the services you hinted at last time? Do you delve into... Those activities as well?"

Her surprise was genuine, eyebrows arching in intrigue. "Hmm? I might need to consult with Lian. She's better acquainted with our... less conventional ventures."

"I'm not fond of riddles, Linda. Can you do it or not?" Wang Xiao pressed, his patience thinning.

A shadow crossed Linda's face, her features hardening. "Ten thousand dollars per target, provided there's no tight security and they're not high-profile," she stated, the price set with cold precision.

"And if the job's abroad?" Wang Xiao inquired, his mind racing with plans and contingencies.

"Possible. But expect the price to adjust accordingly."

Wang Xiao nodded, pulling out his phone to show her two profiles. "These individuals. Can it be done?" His voice was a whisper, barely carrying over the breeze.

Linda studied the screen — a teen boy with tousled, jet-black hair was none other than Wang Sheng, his cousin, and the son of Wang Zhihao's late older brother.

He currently resided with his grandparents, nestled in the embrace of their familial home.

And then there was his sister, now 21, a vision with her cascading, golden locks, meticulously curled and brilliantly dyed, a living embodiment of youthful radiance.

Wang Xiao could still recall that haunting dream with unnerving clarity, the imagery of his own decapitated head etched into his memory like a scar.

It all began with the searing image of Wang Sheng locked in a passionate embrace with his sister on the moonlit rooftop.

He had seized the incriminating evidence and used it as a dark bargaining chip, entangling himself in a web of deceit and desire.

Outwardly, Wang Xiao harbored a burning desire to see them both eliminated, a desire born of the belief that no one who bore witness to that fateful night should escape with their lives intact.

His obsession with maintaining his own reputation, untouched by association with seemingly ordinary women, was merely a facade, albeit one he clung to vehemently.

But beneath it all lay the raw truth - he sought to eradicate any reminder of that ominous dream, to escape the specter of his own decapitation that continued to haunt him.

The weather seemed to grow colder as Linda acknowledged Wang Xiao's grim determination, her slow nod carrying the weight of unspoken truths. "It can be done. But remember, some stains don't wash out with blood," she cautioned, her voice a low murmur that danced with the breeze.

Wang Xiao, his face a mask of contemplation, nodded in agreement. "Proceed with it then. Money shouldn't be a problem, but isn't it quite cheap for a person's life?" The thought hung heavy in the air, the value of a human life reduced to mere numbers.

It struck him—a stark revelation of how cheaply life could be bartered.

He pondered the fragility of existence, the notion that a life could be extinguished for less than the cost of a luxury car.

Was it truly this easy to die?

The thought soured in his mind, a bitter reminder of his own helplessness in a past life, where he could have been snuffed out without warning for a sum as petty as ten thousand dollars.

Linda, observing the whirlwind of emotions playing across Wang Xiao's features, offered a smile. "Ordinary people's lives aren't deemed worthy of too much attention. With the right negotiation, even a thousand dollars might suffice, though it could come back to haunt you," she explained, her tone laced with pragmatism.

"But why are you surprised? I thought you understood the price of life better than most. Weren't you inquiring about the city mayor last time? Lian mentioned it to me... Unfortunately, you're a bit late. An 'accident' has already claimed his family."

Wang Xiao's expression remained unchanged, a stoic facade that betrayed none of his thoughts.

"Tch," Linda's attempt to glean some reaction from him failed, leaving her with a sense of disappointment.

Wang Xiao's voice broke the silence, its chill matching the night air. "Accidents happen quite often, who knows—this building we're standing on might just blow up any moment," he said, his smile not reaching his eyes, revealing a cunning that sent shivers down Linda's spine.

!!

She felt a tremor of nervousness, an unsettling sensation creeping into her very bones. "What are you talking about? Why invoke such grim omens? I was merely sharing news," she stammered, her usual composure slipping.

"And I was merely predicting the weather," Wang Xiao replied, his tone calm.

!!

Linda's posture stiffened as Wang Xiao's final warning echoed, "Linda, although with your intelligence, you should understand it, I would still repeat it for you—never disclose my association with you. Offers may come, tempting with money or more, but acceptance would sign your death warrant. The next day, you wouldn't be alive to enjoy any of it."

Her heart sank, a heavy stone in her chest. "I'm not foolish..." she murmured, more to herself than to him.

How could she not have sensed the danger that clung to Wang Xiao, the abnormality of his presence?

Whoever he was evading, it didn't concern her, she would not insert herself in conflicts that served no purpose.

Her role was to conduct her business, execute the work, and then erase any memories.

"Good," Wang Xiao replied, his smile one of satisfaction, a rare moment of approval that allowed Linda a brief respite from the tension.

Yet, beneath his calm exterior, Wang Xiao harbored no illusions about his situation.

He believed his identity compromised, his time in this country running out.

His final act before departure was to secure a collection of poisonous flowers from the forest.

But Linda served a darker purpose in his strategy—she was his unwitting bait, a means to verify if others besides Luna were aware of his whereabouts.

He planned to instruct Li Zhiming to discreetly monitor Linda.

Her fate would be the indicator he needed; her death would signal that his pursuers were close, that they had tracked him through her.

Conversely, if Linda remained unharmed and he was attacked, the traitor would be Luna, revealing her as the one who had betrayed his secrets.