Prologue

The full moon hung high in the sky, casting a soft glow over the city. Away from the urban sprawl, a mansion, strong and majestic, stood like an ethereal monument in the peaceful neighborhood. Recently developed and highly praised for its beauty and security, it was a tranquil haven.

But the peacefulness of the night was shattered by the sound of flames crackling and buildings collapsing. Smoke filled the air, thick and suffocating, making it hard to see anything beyond a few feet. The heat was intense, scorching the skin and making it almost unbearable to stand.

Amid the chaos, the sound of screams could be heard. People cried out for help, pleading for someone to save them from the fire that was consuming everything in its path. The air was filled with the acrid smell of burning wood and plastic, mixed with the sickening scent of charred flesh.

In the distance, gunshots echoed through the night, adding to the terror that gripped this once-peaceful neighborhood. Those who managed to escape the flames huddled together, praying they wouldn't be the next victims.

As the flames spread, people ran in every direction, desperately searching for a way out. But the fire seemed to be everywhere, blocking every escape route and trapping those unable to move quickly enough.

Amid the chaos, a woman lay on the ground, gasping for air as unbearable pain racked her body, making it almost impossible to move. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, memories of a life slipping away.

She couldn't believe that everything had gone so wrong, so quickly. Just a few hours ago, she had been laughing and joking with her friends, feeling like she had the whole world at her feet. But now, barely conscious, consumed by pain and smoke, she knew her life was slipping away.

As she lay there, two people rushed towards her. She couldn't identify them as she could barely open her eyes. However, one of them held her close, their arms wrapped tightly around her, while the other barked orders to his subordinates.

"Secure the perimeter! Make sure no one gets in or out!" the unknown person commanded, his tone urgent and authoritative.

The woman tried to speak, to call out for help, but her throat was too raw from the smoke and flames. All she could do was lie there, struggling to breathe, and listen as the commanding voice filled the air with its orders.

"Jiang Yan! Jiang Yan! Can you hear me?"

The voice was familiar, yet she couldn't place it at first. But she knew it was desperate.

"Yanyan! Please say something!" A suppressed tremor voiced out as the person hugged her more closely, yet gently.

As she listened more carefully, she realized, unbelievably, it was her husband, or to be more precise, her ex-husband - Feng Yuansheng.

"What are you doing here?" she managed to gasp.

"I'm here for you, Jiang Yan," Feng Yuansheng replied, holding her body tightly, his voice filled with anguish.

"I'm not going to leave you," he continued, his grip on her hand tightening as if he could will her to stay with him. "Just hold on a little longer, please. We'll get you out of here."

It had been so long since Jiang Yan heard her name on his lips. She could feel the desperation in his words and the fear that he was trying so hard to hide. She wished she could offer him some comfort, to let him know that everything would be okay, but she knew it was too late for that.

As she looked up at Feng Yuansheng, she could see that he was heavily injured. His clothes were torn, and blood seeped from multiple wounds on his body. Yet, he didn't seem to care about his own pain; all he could think about was her.

Despite his injuries, Feng Yuansheng kept his arm around her, shielding her from the debris and flames that surrounded them. His voice was strained, but he spoke with a fierce determination.

"You came," Jiang Yan struggled to speak, coughing out some blood.

"Shush! Shush! Don't speak," Feng Yuansheng cried, trying to position her body into a more comfortable pose. "Yes, I came. Also, we're getting you out of here, no matter what," he said, his eyes fixed on hers. "I won't let anything happen to you."

Jiang Yan felt a surge of gratitude towards Feng Yuansheng. Even though they had parted ways long ago, he was still there for her when she needed him the most. She knew that he was bearing an immense amount of pain, but he didn't let it show. Instead, he focused on keeping her safe.

As she looked at him, she realized that she had been wrong about him all along. She had thought that he was selfish and uncaring, but he was proving her wrong. He was willing to put his own life on the line for her, without hesitation.

She was both surprised and touched seeing him worried for her. Surprised because it was the first time he had shown her concern. Yet touched that finally, he did show some concern, even if it was too late.

Tears filled her eyes as she realized how much he meant to her. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Thank you for being here."

Feng Yuansheng's eyes softened as he looked down at Jiang Yan. "I'll always be here for you," he promised, his voice filled with sincerity. "No matter what."

The other person holding her hand, whose identity was still shrouded in mystery, whispered with a heavy heart, "I'm sorry. I wish I could have protected you better." Regret was clear in their voice as they tightened their grip on Jiang Yan's hand as if trying to make up for their perceived failure by holding on tighter.

Jiang Yan struggled to make sense of what was happening. She strained her eyes, trying to get a better look at the person who was holding her hand, but their face remained shrouded in darkness.

"Wh - Who are you?" she managed to croak out, her voice barely above a whisper.

She was certain that she recognized the voice, but it sounded so different that she couldn't place it. Despite her familiarity with the person, her memory was betraying her at that moment.

The person's grip on her tightened as they replied, "It doesn't matter. Just focus on staying alive."

The person's eyes were filled with tears, seemingly on the verge of breaking down. Jiang Yan had lost all hope of survival, but despite that, the person continued to comfort her and hold her close, refusing to give up.

Without hesitation, the unknown person turned to their subordinates and issued a swift command. "Take out all the enemies within our territory and get the doctor immediately!" The subordinates sprang into action, their determination evident as they set out to execute their leader's orders.

Jiang Yan's heart leapt with hope as she realized that there was someone on her side, someone who cared enough to seek revenge for her death. She tried to move, to reach out and touch the person holding her, but her body was too weak.

"Kill them all," her ex-husband's voice commanded, a fierce determination in its tone. "Wipe out every last one of them. They will pay for what they have done."

"Yes, sir!" the subordinates replied in unison, their faces set in determination.

A group of them quickly moved out, weapons at the ready, to carry out their leader's orders. They were focused and efficient, like a well-oiled machine, and they disappeared into the darkness as quickly as they had arrived.

As her strength faded and she took her final breaths, the person holding her continued to apologize for not being able to keep her safe. Jiang Yan couldn't respond, but she knew that this person had risked everything to try and save her. At that moment, she felt a sense of gratitude and comfort, even as she slowly slipped into the darkness.

"I'm so sorry," the unknown voice whispered. "I couldn't protect you."

"It's not your fault," Jiang Yan replied weakly.

"No, it is. It is," tears streamed down the face of the person holding her. "Please, stay with me," they cried. "Everything will be okay. This time I will keep you safe."

Jiang Yan felt a glimmer of hope as she held onto the person tightly, grateful for their protection even as she felt her strength fading away. She wanted to tell them how much their presence meant to her, but her voice was too weak.

In a final, anguished moment, the person holding her said, "I'm sorry."

Jiang Yan managed to whisper back, "I'm sorry too," before everything went dark, and her body went limp in that person's arms.