CHAPTER 82 — THE HUNTER STEPS OUT
The night air felt heavier than usual, as if the city itself sensed something was coming.
Bai Xia stood beside the car, her fingers tapping lightly against the door as Stella brought the vehicle around. Every movement she made was calm, precise, measured—yet inside her veins ran a cold, focused fire.
Someone dared to touch her family.
Someone dared to touch her blood.
Her siblings might not be perfect, but they were hers. And anyone who forgot that… was about to learn the lesson the hard way.
Stella stopped the car in front of her. "Miss Xia, the vehicle is ready."
Bai Xia climbed in silently. Once the door shut, the world outside could have exploded and she wouldn't have flinched.
"Stella," she said, eyes locked straight ahead. "Trace the signal from the last location."
"Yes, Miss Xia."
A holographic map from stallas eyes floated above the dashboard. Red dots blinked, one after another, showing the path Bai Yang and Bai Xin took before their signal vanished.
The old factory district.
Of all places.
Bai Xia leaned back slowly. "Zoom in."
The map expanded. What should have been a cluster of abandoned buildings revealed something else—heat signatures. Several. Moving. Organized. There was activity inside.
Her lip curled.
So it wasn't a random kidnapping. Someone planned this.
Her phone vibrated.
She glanced at the number—unknown.
She answered without a word.
A distorted male voice came through, amused and lazy.
"As expected… you're calm. Pretty impressive for someone whose siblings are about to have their little fingers—"
Bai Xia cut him off.
"You have ten seconds," she said quietly, "to explain what you want."
There was a long silence. Then the man laughed.
"Oh, I like you. Sharp. Cold. A bit arrogant. No wonder they said you were interesting."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Who sent you?"
"Oh, I can't tell you that," the man chuckled. "But I'll say this—your family made someone very unhappy. And unfortunately for your little brother and sister… that person pays very well."
Stella glanced at Bai Xia through the rear-view mirror. Her face didn't move, didn't twitch, didn't betray even the slightest emotion.
The man continued, "If you want to see them alive, you'll come alone to the factory area. Don't call the police. Don't call your fancy friends. Don't even think of playing hero—because if we see anyone else…"
He paused.
"They die first."
Bai Xia didn't blink. "Done?"
"Done."
He hung up.
The silence in the car hummed like a blade being sharpened.
Stella finally spoke. "Miss Xia… this could be a trap."
"Of course it's a trap." Bai Xia leaned forward slightly. "But it's not their trap that matters."
Her eyes darkened.
"It's mine."
---
The drive to the factory district was quick, the roads nearly empty at this hour. As Stella parked the car behind a deserted warehouse, Bai Xia stepped out and breathed in the cold night air.
The sky above was moonless.
A perfect night for hunting.
She reached into her jacket and pulled out two small devices—silver, circular, barely bigger than coins.
"Stella, cloak mode," Bai Xia ordered.
"Yes, Miss Xia."
Stella's form shimmered, her appearance fading into a semi-transparent outline. She wasn't human, but she was efficient. And when Bai Xia needed backup, she trusted the robot more than most people.
Bai Xia placed one of the devices on Stella's arm. "Stay hidden. Scan for threats. If my siblings are moved, alert me immediately."
"Yes, Miss Xia."
The second device she slipped into her own pocket.
Then she walked toward the entrance of the abandoned factory, her steps soft but deliberate.
As she approached, a figure stepped out from behind a rusted metal pillar—tall, masked, holding a long pipe casually across his shoulders.
"So you came alone," he said with a grin behind the mask. "Brave girl."
"No," Bai Xia replied mildly. "Prepared girl."
Before he could process that, she flicked her wrist.
A small silver dagger shot across the air, slicing the side of his mask and embedding itself into the metal behind him with a sharp ping.
The man froze.
Bai Xia stepped closer, her expression unreadable.
"Take me to them," she said, "before my patience becomes more expensive."
The man swallowed. For a girl so small, her aura was suffocating.
He gestured stiffly for her to follow, leading her through the dark hallways of the factory. Rusted machines towered over them, long abandoned, covered in dust and spiderwebs. Every step echoed slightly, the sound bouncing through the cavernous space.
As they walked deeper inside, more masked men emerged from the shadows—standing guard, leaning against metal beams, watching her with interest or mockery.
But nobody approached her.
Something about her presence kept them all at a distance.
They reached a large metal door. The guard banged twice on the steel surface. "She's here."
The door slid open.
Bai Xia stepped inside.
Her eyes immediately landed on them—Bai Yang and Bai Xin. They were tied to chairs, arms bound, mouths taped. Bai Xin's cheeks were streaked with tears. Bai Yang was glaring daggers at the man beside him, even though his face was pale.
"Xia-jie…" he tried to speak through the tape.
Bai Xia's jaw tightened. The sight punched something deep inside her chest—but her expression remained cold.
At the center of the room, a man in a dark suit lounged against a crate, swirling a wine glass in his hand as if he were enjoying a private show.
"You must be Bai Xia," he said, smiling lazily. "The one causing so many waves lately."
She didn't answer. Her eyes never left her siblings.
He raised a brow. "No greeting? No fear? No begging? I expected more drama."
"What do you want?" she asked calmly.
He sighed dramatically. "Straight to business. Fine." He gestured around. "Your family offended someone important. They want you… put in your place."
"And kidnapping two children accomplishes that?"
"Oh, don't underestimate pain." He sipped his wine. "It motivates people to behave."
Bai Xia finally looked at him.
Calm. Sharp. Deadly.
"Release them now," she said, "and you can walk out with your spine intact."
The man blinked.
Then he laughed.
"You're hilarious."
"I wasn't joking."
His laughter stopped abruptly.
He snapped his fingers. Two guards grabbed Bai Yang and Bai Xin's chairs, dragging them forward.
"Let's play a game, Miss Bai." The man smiled cruelly. "You kneel, right here—"
"No."
The single word sliced through the air like a blade.
The man's smile twitched. "…What?"
Bai Xia took one slow step forward.
"You think I came here to negotiate?"
Her voice softened, which somehow made it worse.
"You think I don't know exactly what kind of pathetic, borrowed-power trash you are?"
The guards stiffened.
"You touched my siblings," she continued. "You threatened them. You dared to call me here like I'm prey."
Another step.
"You aren't the hunter."
Her eyes glowed faintly—dangerously.
"I am."
Something clicked—the silver device in her pocket activating.
Outside the factory, Stella raised her head as a soft vibration hummed through her sensors.
"Tactical suppression mode," Bai Xia said softly.
"Yes, Miss Xia."
The lights inside the factory flickered.
The man in the suit frowned. "What are you—"
The power cut.
Darkness swallowed the room.
And then the screaming began.