Li City was split in half by the Li River, dividing it into "East Bank" and "West Bank" in local parlance.
The East Bank was the old district—pedestrian streets, prestigious schools, stadiums, museums, shopping malls, and financial hubs. The West Bank, developed later, focused on tourism and had seen rapid growth in recent years, with property prices rivaling the East.
The city was divided into nine districts. Gao Yang and Qing Ling lived in Shanqing District, the fifth on the East Bank.
Qingyang Bridge, the city's first modern bridge, connected Shanqing to Feiyang District on the West Bank.
Decades old, the bridge was a crumbling relic compared to newer constructions. Traffic was sparse, but after midnight, trucks dominated the route—it bypassed a toll station, making it a freight favorite.
Tonight, Gao Yang and Qing Ling stood beneath the eastern bridgehead. Overhead, trucks rumbled over potholes, the deafening thuds making Gao Yang fear the bridge might collapse any second.
Qing Ling sat cross-legged on the embankment, focusing.
The first note had read:
—Qingyang Bridge, east end. Use your Metal ability to retrieve something.
Soon, she opened her eyes. "Found it."
Gao Yang bit back the obvious questions (What? Where?) to avoid sounding clueless.
Qing Ling stepped to the river's edge, arms outstretched toward the water. Her brow furrowed.
"Problem?" Gao Yang asked.
"Too far. Hold me."
"How?"
"Seen Titanic? Like the poster."
"Got it!"
He wrapped his arms around her slender waist from behind. The river breeze carried her floral scent as she leaned forward, gaining an extra meter of reach. Gao Yang tightened his grip.
Ripples stirred, then churned violently.
Splash—
A rectangular metal case erupted from the water, hovering midair.
Qing Ling gritted her teeth, yanking her hands back. The heavy case lurched toward them.
Gao Yang pulled like a tug-of-war. When the weight suddenly vanished, momentum sent them tumbling backward, Qing Ling sprawled atop him.
Neither moved. She lay on his chest, catching her breath. He didn't mind—being pinned by a beauty had its perks.
"Thought Metal was OP. Why's yours so…" Survival instinct made him pause. "Modest?"
"Low level." She rolled off him. "Range: 20m detection, 10m control. Weight limit: 10kg. That thing exceeded it."
Gao Yang noted: Talent means nothing without levels. A high-level weak talent might beat a low-level strong one.
Qing Ling sliced open the case's waterproof seal. Inside lay a disassembled black sniper rifle, its components gleaming lethally under moonlight.
[Scan: M82A1 anti-materiel rifle. 12.7mm rounds. 10-round mag. Effective range: 1800m. Weight: 14kg]
Gao Yang's stomach dropped. We're killing someone.
Even for Huang, this wasn't a spur-of-the-moment weapon. It had been stashed here, waiting.
Qing Ling pulled a backpack from the case. "Carry it."
He shouldered the weight as she read the second note.
"Where's the hotel?" she asked.
An hour later, they reached the Pink Hotel—a love motel bathed in neon, its sidewalk littered with risqué flyers.
"Here?" Gao Yang gulped.
"See for yourself." She handed him the note:
*—Pink Hotel. 5th floor, south-facing room. Open the third note at 6 AM.*
The lobby's clerk was an oily, balding man in a JoJo T-shirt, glued to his phone: "Scope here! Revive me! One shot—ugh!"
Gao Yang blinked. Where's the sexy receptionist?
"Ahem. We need a room."
"Just you?"
"Two."
The clerk's eyes bugged at Qing Ling. "Damn, bro. Big night!"
Gao Yang flushed. "Fifth floor. South window. Available?"
The clerk leered. "Last one—'Illusory Moon.' Waterbed, love chair, mirrored ceiling—"
"Fine." Gao Yang reached for his wallet.
"ID, please."
Shit. He'd forgotten his. Qing Ling shook her head.
"Sorry, pal. No ID, no room." The clerk smirked. "But hey, I know a park spot—"
Qing Ling walked out.
Gao Yang chased after her—straight into her confronting a familiar figure.
"…Wang Zikai?!"
Fresh off a gaming losing streak, Zikai froze as Qing Ling grabbed him. Then Gao Yang appeared.
"You two? Here?" Zikai's eyes darted between them and the motel.
"ID. Now." Qing Ling demanded.
Zikai's jaw dropped. "You're… checking in?!"
Gao Yang nodded.
Zikai's world shattered. "Dude! Li Weiwei's not even cold yet! You animal!"
Qing Ling frisked him. "Hand it over."
"Wait—" Zikai's voice cracked. "Qing Ling, I thought you were gay! What's this guy got that I don't?!"
"No brain." She snatched his ID, dragging Gao Yang back inside.
Zikai stood paralyzed. No way. NO WAY Gao Yang loses his V-card before me!
He stormed to the clerk. "Which room?!"
"Privacy policy—"
Zikai slammed the clerk's head onto the counter. "501. Now."
"Y-yes! 601 is free—"
"Give it to me!"