Don't You like Little Dogs? Now that I'm Taking Liberties, You're Suddenly Reluctant? - Chapter 18

Time flowed silently through the smoke, the blood, and the near-masochistic training. Two years was enough for a youth to branch out and sprout, shedding the last traces of greenness.

Pei Ye was now eighteen.

His stature had increased significantly; though he was not as terrifyingly hulking as Bloody Slaughter, his frame was tall and lean, every inch of muscle containing explosive power. He was like a blade fully drawn—cold, sharp, radiating a dangerous aura settled from years of slaughter.

The contours of his face were more defined, his jawline sharp, and his skin a cold white from years away from the sun. His lips were pale and habitually pursed. Those eyes remained as dark as ever but had become unfathomable, the damp cowardice of the past replaced by an absolute calm and an occasional, near-inhuman indifference.

His rank on the overall leaderboards had finally settled at Third, surpassed only by the Adjutant, Ji Churen, and Goshawk.

It was a position that commanded the awe and terror of the vast majority of the organization. The name “Sixie” was no longer spoken; now, people referred to him with reverence as “Night Raven” or simply “Brother Night.” His methods were exceptionally ruthless, and his mission success rate was nearly perfect. He excelled in infiltration and assassination, deciding the life and death of targets in silence, like a crow bringing death in the dark of night.

He had integrated with the First Division as if they were a single body. He could catch the latest explosives tossed by Viper without blinking, perfectly cover gaps in Wind Hawk’s frenzied tactical maneuvers, understand the silent commands behind Ghost’s stillness, and even temporarily lead the squad in Goshawk’s absence. As for Bloody Slaughter, the man remained a silent, blood-soaked human weapon, but Pei Ye could now face his suffocating pressure with composure, occasionally striking with a brutal efficiency alongside him in live combat.

He had seemingly become an indispensable part of the First Division, fused into the blood and bone of these elite madmen.

However, only Pei Ye knew that the core of his heart had never changed; if anything, it had become more obsessive and searing with the passage of time. His loyalty and yearning for Jiang Si were brands seared into his soul.

In these seven-plus years, the number of times he had seen Jiang Si could be counted on one hand. Sometimes it was during year-end reports, where Jiang Si sat high above, listening to the Adjutant’s statements, his gaze occasionally sweeping over the ranks below. Perhaps his eyes lingered on Pei Ye for a fraction of a second longer than the others, or perhaps they didn’t. Other times, it was an incredibly brief encounter after a mission; Jiang Si might give him a small nod, or perhaps only exchange a few words with Goshawk or the Adjutant.

Pei Ye never initiated contact, nor did he try to pray for attention as he had in his youth. He simply stood silently where he was supposed to stand, responding with the flawless execution of his duties. He suppressed all his surging emotions beneath a cold mask, allowing his gaze to chase that silhouette only in moments when no one noticed—capturing an imperceptible trace of fatigue between the man’s brows, the faint scent of tobacco on his fingertips, or the change in the brand of cedar fragrance on his collar.

He monitored everything through fragments of news from the Adjutant, the organization’s internal information flow, and even by analyzing how Jiang Si handled various power conflicts. He knew Jiang Si had recently cleared out several restless veterans, knew the organization’s territory had expanded, knew Jiang Si was keeping an eye on a rising power in the East, and knew… that men and women occasionally appeared around Jiang Si, though they usually vanished quickly.

Every time he learned of such news, the twisted darkness in Pei Ye’s heart would churn, only to be suppressed by a stronger logic and icy self-control. He was in no position to ask questions; he only needed to wait and grow stronger until the day he was needed. He was no longer a pup needing protection; he was a tempered weapon, waiting only for his Master’s hand to grip the hilt.

……

The opportunity came slightly later than he had anticipated, yet perfectly timed.

The rising power in the East, “Dark Snake,” was becoming increasingly restless, frequently provoking Skeleton’s borders with low and hidden methods. More importantly, they seemed to have made a connection at the official level, making their actions bolder.

“Dammit, a bunch of rats in the gutter!” Viper irritably kicked a training machine. “If they have the guts, come at us head-on!”

Goshawk looked at the intelligence screen, his eyes cold. “They are smart; they avoid our strengths. Furthermore, we may have a leak within our ranks.”

The habitually silent Pei Ye spoke suddenly, his voice steady. “Their leader, ‘Viper,’ is extremely paranoid. He only trusts two people: his mistress and an old bookkeeper who has been with him for over a decade. The bookkeeper died of a heart attack last week.”

Everyone’s eyes immediately locked onto him.

Pei Ye continued, “Intelligence shows Viper is looking for a new bookkeeper someone with a clean background, no ties to major organizations, but with extreme capability to handle complex cash flows and ‘official relations.’ ”

Wind Hawk arched an eyebrow. “So? Where are we going to find such a ‘clean’ accountant for him?”

Pei Ye looked up, his dark eyes turning toward the Adjutant, who sat in the shadows. “Seven years ago, when Mas—when Fourth Brother cleared the Lin family, there was a minor branch youth named Lin Xu. He was proficient in finance and numbers. At the time, he was deemed non-threatening and young, so he was sent abroad to be ‘properly settled.’ He can ‘return’ now.”

A silence fell over the base.

After a few seconds, the Adjutant pushed his glasses up, the lenses reflecting the cold light. “Lin Xu’s files have been sealed for years, and his appearance has changed greatly. But the road ‘back’ won’t be peaceful. Dark Snake will investigate him thoroughly.”

“I can escort him ‘back,’ ” Pei Ye stated, as if reciting a settled fact. “And ensure he arrives ‘safely’ at Viper’s side.”

This was not just an escort mission. it required meticulous planning—from forging identities and arranging routes to handling interrogations—to ultimately placing a man silently into the tiger’s den and gaining the trust of the paranoid Viper. It required top-tier stealth, disguise, adaptability, and a precise grasp of human nature. More importantly, the plan went straight to the heart of the problem—infiltrating Dark Snake’s most fatal hub.

Goshawk looked at the Adjutant. The Adjutant remained silent for a moment, weighing the options, before taking out an encrypted comms device and stepping aside. After a brief call, he returned, his eyes landing on Pei Ye.

“Fourth Brother has agreed,” the Adjutant’s voice was as calm as ever. “But he has one condition.”

Pei Ye’s heart skipped a beat, but his face remained impassive.

“For this mission, you need an absolutely reliable contact and coordinator to ensure the plan is foolproof and to provide top-level support when necessary.” The Adjutant looked at Pei Ye, emphasizing every word. “Fourth Brother said… he wants you to report directly to him. During the mission, you are temporarily transferred back to his side.”

The air seemed to freeze.

Pei Ye felt his blood stop flowing for a split second, only to surge wildly in the next, hammering against his eardrums.

Report directly to him. Transferred back to his side.

These words echoed repeatedly in his mind, nearly shattering his cold exterior. He used every ounce of self-control to suppress the emotions surging in his eyes, his jawline tightening slightly. He lowered his gaze to avoid everyone’s eyes, forcing his voice to remain steady.

“Yes. Understood.”

The mission directives were issued in detail soon after. Pei Ye needed to begin preparations immediately. He turned and walked toward his equipment locker. As his finger touched the cold metal latch, it trembled almost imperceptibly.

Seven years and one month. Finally, he was going back to that man’s side. Even if it was only temporary, even if it was just for a mission. It was enough. This was an opportunity he had earned with his own strength.

He would prove to his Master that this blade had been sharpened enough to cut through the most troublesome thorns. He looked up, his eyes returning to their usual cold resolve, but deep in the background, a long-repressed, twisted heat finally broke through the ice and began to burn silently.

His Master Jiang Si. Once again, had seen him.