The Gambit and the Outraged Father

The taxi glided smoothly along the streets in the early morning. This time, there was no frustrating congestion to contend with.

Everything was proceeding exceptionally smoothly.

The young woman silently observed the passing scenery outside the window, a landscape both familiar and strangely alien.

Soon, everything would finally come to an end.

Liuxia alighted from the taxi alone at the park entrance. As she stepped into its confines, an eerie silence greeted her. The park was deserted, save for the wreckage left by the battle, and the untold stories that time had yet to record.

This particular scene differed subtly from her previous memories.

She meandered through the ruins for a while, eventually settling gingerly onto a relatively flat, broken stone. There, she waited patiently for his arrival.

She should have been concerned, wondering if Li Chunsheng’s absence meant an unforeseen complication in their plans.

Yet, for reasons she couldn’t quite articulate, a profound sense of calm settled within Liuxia.

The unwavering faith he had instilled in her had now transformed into her own steadfast belief in him.

Regardless of any obstacles, she knew he would undoubtedly return to this very spot.

True to her conviction, Liuxia did not have to wait long before a stumbling figure materialized beside her.

It was none other than Li Chunsheng, who had just caught sight of the young woman.

Upon seeing her profile, he immediately exclaimed in astonishment, “Eh…? Senior, what are you doing here?”

“Didn’t we agree that I would come alone?”

“And you even arrived before I did?”

Li Chunsheng rushed over in a few swift strides, then plopped down beside her with a soft thud. He sprawled out his limbs ungracefully, forming a wide ‘大’ shape, and began to grumble incessantly.

Liuxia merely listened in silence, a faint, knowing smile playing on her lips.

“Oh, right, today has been absolutely terrible. I tripped and fell the moment I stepped out, ending up in this sorry state.”

“I can barely walk straight, how could I possibly be faster than you, Senior?”

His complaints abruptly ceased as a pair of soft lips, cool to the touch, gently covered his incessantly chattering mouth.

“Eh…?” Li Chunsheng’s eyes widened instantly.

‘No… is Senior really this forward today?’

“Don’t move,” Liuxia’s voice commanded, an undeniable authority in her tone.

Li Chunsheng felt a surge of bewilderment. He sensed a long-forgotten tranquility and composure emanating from Liuxia, a distinct aura of ‘Senior.’ The kiss itself seemed to carry a soothing quality.

However, he was not one to remain passive. Leveraging his physical advantage, he quickly took control, kissing the young woman until she was utterly pliant, collapsing softly into his embrace.

“You… you!” Liuxia, her face flushed crimson, pushed him away, her composure finally shattered.

“I… I was merely treating you! You… you’re repaying kindness with enmity!”

Li Chunsheng gave an awkward laugh, then sprang to his feet and bounced twice in place.

“I’m truly all better! Senior, your ‘treatment’ is incredibly effective!”

“Hmph,” Liuxia huffily turned her head away.

“Hehe… if your treatment is this potent, does that mean… it could also be a virility booster?”

“Li Chunsheng! You dare to suggest using your Senior for virility now? I shudder to think what you’ll attempt in the future!”

Seeing Senior’s rare display of assertiveness after her transformation, Li Chunsheng’s heart swelled with delight. He knew, without a doubt, that her mood must be exceptionally good at this moment.

He settled back beside Liuxia, his expression turning serious as he asked, “So, has something good happened?”

“Hmph hmph, only just realizing it now?”

“Oh, come on, instead of making me guess, why don’t you just tell me directly?”

“But that would be far less fun.”

“Tell me, tell me~”

“Ugh—that’s disgusting, stop pouting! I was going to tell you eventually anyway.”

Liuxia cleared her throat and concisely recounted the entire sequence of events. Afterward, she presented the dark, gleaming slate. The moment Li Chunsheng’s eyes fell upon it, all his doubts vanished.

It was undeniably a creation from his own hands, yet a creation of which he retained absolutely no memory.

“Senior… it must have been incredibly difficult, wasn’t it?” Li Chunsheng gazed at Liuxia, his eyes brimming with heartfelt concern.

That gentle gaze filled the young woman’s heart with a comforting warmth.

“I don’t know, because I don’t remember any of it… but, I suppose… it must have been, right?”

“Senior is truly amazing~” Li Chunsheng praised, his tone akin to coaxing a small kitten.

“But Senior is clearly smiling so happily~”

“I’m simply relaxed because everything is nearing its conclusion! Alright, alright, let’s just pretend that’s the case!”

“It *was* always like that!”

After their playful banter, Li Chunsheng’s expression turned serious. “So, what do we do next?” he inquired.

Liuxia’s expression also grew solemn. She gestured towards the information etched on the slate.

“If we confront Investigator Liao directly now, even with our combined strength, we stand no chance of victory.”

“He is simply too powerful.”

“However, even the strongest individuals possess their vulnerabilities.”

“Liao Xinyi is his daughter; he loves her more than anything. Our conflict with him, too, originated because of her.”

“And what’s more…”

‘He’s a very kind person.’

Liuxia’s gaze grew complex.

Her fingertips traced a line of text on the slate—a record of how he had abandoned his pursuit of her to avoid harming innocent bystanders.

‘And I exploited his kindness.’

‘Do I… do I really have to act against such a man?’

A sudden thought struck her: in some fundamental way, she and Investigator Liao were kindred spirits. Had their positions not been adversarial, they might have even become good friends.

Yet, she was a Goblin, and he was an Investigator.

Now, he even knew her true identity, and that of Chunsheng…

To protect Chunsheng, and indeed to protect herself, she was left with no other recourse.

The young woman sighed softly, her voice imbued with a mix of weariness and grim resolve. “Chunsheng, when we see Miss Liao later, just knock her unconscious… What happens next, she shouldn’t witness.”

“…Alright,” Li Chunsheng replied, a flicker of reluctance crossing his face, yet he nodded firmly.

Ultimately, his goals revolved around wealth, never intending to inflict harm upon anyone.

‘Therefore, I shall be the villain,’ Liuxia silently resolved within her heart.

Liao Xinyi did not keep them waiting for long. Soon, her figure, clad in her usual ‘young lady’ attire, abruptly appeared on the park’s winding path.

“Prepare,” Liuxia whispered, a soft reminder.

Li Chunsheng nodded silently.

Li Chunsheng’s face was grim as he nodded.

“Young Master Li, sorry to have kept you waiting~ Oh, the path here is truly dreadful to navigate…”

“Mm,” Li Chunsheng responded with a muffled grunt.

“Young Master Li, are you not pleased to see Xinyi?” Liao Xinyi asked, carefully observing his expression.

It was then that her gaze fell upon Liuxia, standing quietly to the side, and her delicate brows instantly shot up in a furious arch.

“Oh~ I understand now! It’s you, isn’t it, you woman, you’ve upset Young Master Li again, haven’t you?”

Liuxia spoke, a note of apology in her voice. “I’m sorry…”

“What good is saying sorry to me? You should be apologizing to Young Master Li~”

Liao Xinyi declared triumphantly, then happily darted to Li Chunsheng’s side, intimately linking her arm through his. “Let’s go, Young Master Li, don’t let this bothersome woman spoil your mood.”

With that, she glanced back at Liuxia, her tone dripping with both boastfulness and mockery. “Bye-bye now~”

“Mm, bye-bye,” the young woman politely returned.

‘Lunatic,’ Liao Xinyi cursed silently, rolling her eyes with disdain.

A muffled thud echoed.

Before Liao Xinyi could even complete her disdainful eye-roll, her body went limp, and she collapsed heavily into Li Chunsheng’s arms.

“Alright, let’s move a little closer to Miss Liao,” Liuxia stated blandly, casting a fleeting glance at him.

“That way, Investigator Liao should be hesitant to make any rash moves, wouldn’t you agree?”

Her voice was soft, yet it carried a deliberate chill that was unmistakable.

“After all, his most beloved daughter is now… in our hands.”

‘Liuxia, you must harden your heart. Only by doing so can you spare Chunsheng from bearing this burden…’

Before long, their anticipated target finally appeared.

Almost instantaneously, the figure materialized before them.

What greeted them was Investigator Liao’s eyes, practically blazing with fury, and his roar, a terrifying blend of boundless rage and sheer terror.

“You scoundrels! Release my daughter!!!”