Deja Vu But Worse

The next days went on as usual, but Xin Tuyong couldn't help but feel awkward around Huan Mao and Di Gaohun. How were they not dating?

Di Gaohun claimed that Huan Mao was always around and creating troubles for him, but what did that mean? How did they know each other in the first place? It didn't seem as simple as employer/employee.

His questions would be answered the day that Huan Mao stopped by.

"Good afternoon, Xin Tuyong. Are you up for another job this weekend?" He hesitated. "You can say no -- it's no big deal," she added in a way that obviously meant he wasn't allowed to say no.

Once more, Xin Tuyong went through rigorous training, more so than last time. He felt that he had improved in his strength and abilities, which is why they challenged him.

He practiced shooting at moving targets, as well as moving while shooting at targets. By the end of the day, he was exhausted and slightly nervous again.

The next morning, he was greeted with a large meal and Di Gaohun. That seemed to be the only difference. Everyone dressed nicely and packed into the car, with Di Gaohun sitting in the front.

"So will this be the same as last time, or will it be something different?" Xin Tuyong asked Huan Mao.

"It will be roughly the same, but not quite. This time, we'll be dealing with some less familiar associates from another region, so the building will naturally be different. These people are more aggressive, so just stay quiet as you did last time.

"If you see that someone poses an actual threat to your group, you might need to take action. You have your pistol, right?" Xin Tuyong nodded. "You... might need to use it. The primary goal is to get in, then get out."

In the front seat, Di Gaohun sighed lightly as he added, "I'll be there, too. If there's trouble, I'll signal you and we'll leave."

"I won't be in the meeting like last time, but the car will be waiting directly in the front."

They arrived at the dilapidated building in what seemed like a red light district. They met up with the group from before, and Di Gaohun interacted with familiarity.

About half an hour into the meeting, it became chaos. Men were shouting and Xin Tuyong watched as one man kept flashing his weapon.

He did not have a good feeling about this. Di Gaohun was coolly discussing at the table, but his muscles were tense.

Was it time to go? Xin Tuyong split his attention between Di Gaohun and the other men at the table when a slow movement from one man caught his eye.

His hand was on the handle of his gun and he was slowly pulling it out. They accidently made eye contact and the man grinned.

In a flash, he pulled out the gun and started firing off rounds into the people. Xin Tuyong threw Di Gaohun and the others to the ground, below the table. He heard pained screams and grunts throughout the room as he covered Di Gaohun with his body.

He pulled out his pistol and peeked above the table, aiming as quickly as he could manage to the shooter.

At this point, many people were shooting and yelling and a spray of bullets flew through the room.

He fired a few shots, but he missed. Too shaky, and Di Gaohun was crawling into position beside him.

They both shot, and finally the first man was killed. Some were still shooting wildly, but Di Gaohun and the group managed to escape, along with some others.

They were missing a few and it didn't take a genius to understand that they were more likely dead than not.

Di Gaohun and Xin Tuyong breathlessly ran to the car as the others dispersed. A bullet flew through a window, visibly to the outside.

The driver pressed the gas and screeched out of the parking lot.

Xin Tuyong and Di Gaohun were covered in droplets of blood, still out of breath from their hasty retreat.

'I shot a man... I killed someone... Am I going to jail? What went wrong? I didn't mean to kill anyone. What about the others?'

These thoughts raced through Xin Tuyong's head as they all sat in silence.