Dawn broke in shades of dull gray, the sky heavy with storm clouds. But the real storm wasn't the weather.
It was the Vultures.
By mid-morning, they appeared at the gates—six trucks, their engines growling like hungry beasts. Their insignia, a jagged-winged vulture, was painted in thick black strokes across the metal.
Jiang Xie stood on the barricade, arms crossed, his face a mask of ice. Behind him, his men shifted nervously, fingers twitching over their weapons.
Yu Zhi stood near the entrance of the main building, half-hidden in the shadows. He wasn't supposed to be here. Jiang Xie had told him to stay in his room.
But he couldn't.
Not when Jiang Xie was down there, facing whatever horror these people brought with them.
A man stepped out from the lead truck. Tall. Broad-shouldered. A scar carved across the left side of his face, from his forehead down to his jaw. His grin was the kind that sent shivers down the spine—too wide, too confident.
"Been a long time, Jiang Xie." His voice was almost amused. "Heard you've been doing well for yourself."
Jiang Xie didn't move. "You have five seconds to say what you want before I start shooting."
The man laughed. "Same old you. No pleasantries?" He shook his head, then turned slightly—his gaze sweeping over the base, scanning the faces behind the barricades.
When his eyes landed on Yu Zhi, his grin sharpened.
Yu Zhi's stomach twisted.
Jiang Xie noticed immediately. His hand twitched toward his gun, body tensing like a coiled spring.
The Vulture leader smirked. "Ah. That explains it." He tilted his head. "I'd heard rumors that you'd picked up a pet. Didn't believe it at first. You never struck me as the type."
Jiang Xie's fingers clenched.
"Pretty thing," the man continued lazily. "Bet he'd fetch a good price." His eyes flicked back to Jiang Xie. "Tell you what. Hand him over, and we walk away."
The base went dead silent.
Yu Zhi felt his breath catch. His fingers dug into the edges of Jiang Xie's oversized jacket, his body frozen in place.
Jiang Xie spoke, voice low and lethal.
"…Say that again."
The leader chuckled. "Come on, Jiang Xie. Don't be stupid. A boy like that? He's just a liability." He shrugged. "Give him to me, and I'll make sure he ends up somewhere… comfortable. Might even let you keep running this little base of yours."
Yu Zhi felt a chill crawl up his spine.
He had no doubt what comfortable meant.
Before he could react, Jiang Xie moved.
In a single motion, he vaulted over the barricade, landing with a sharp thud in front of the Vultures. He drew his gun, leveling it directly at the leader's head.
The amusement drained from the man's face.
Jiang Xie's expression was cold. Deadly. "If you want him," he said, his voice like a knife's edge, "you'll have to kill me first."
Yu Zhi's heart stopped.
The Vulture leader studied him, eyes narrowing. His fingers twitched at his belt.
Jiang Xie didn't flinch.
"I dare you," he murmured.
For a long, tense moment, no one moved.
Then, the leader sighed, shaking his head. "Shame." He lifted his hand—
Gunfire erupted.
Jiang Xie lunged, tackling the leader as the battle exploded around them. The Vultures' men opened fire, but Jiang Xie's people were ready, retaliating with ruthless precision.
Yu Zhi ducked behind a crate, his heart hammering.
He should be running. Hiding.
But Jiang Xie was out there.
Fighting. Bleeding.
And Yu Zhi couldn't just stand there.
His hands clenched. He looked down at his fingertips—at the faint, green glow that shimmered beneath his skin.
He could grow things.
But he could also make things rot.
His pulse pounded. His eyes flickered toward a nearby Vulture thug—one who was aiming a rifle at Jiang Xie's back.
No.
Yu Zhi surged forward, his hand grasping the man's wrist.
A second later, the man screamed.
His skin blackened under Yu Zhi's touch, veins twisting like dying roots. He dropped the gun, clutching his arm as he fell to the ground.
Yu Zhi panted. His fingers trembled.
It worked.
A shadow fell over him.
He looked up, eyes wide—only to see Jiang Xie, covered in blood, staring at him.
For a second, neither of them spoke.
Then, Jiang Xie grabbed him by the wrist. Firm. Unshaking. His touch was hot, burning through Yu Zhi's cold fingers.
"You're with me," he growled, dragging Yu Zhi against his chest.
Yu Zhi barely had time to breathe before Jiang Xie turned his gun on the remaining Vultures—and shot.