A dark alley in the Cold Flame Mafia's district

Shen walked slowly down the narrow passage, his shadow stretching in the dim light of the lantern. He clutched a familiar knife in his hand—the very one De Lei had once given him "as a sign of special intimacy."

Suddenly, laughter rang out from the darkness.

"Oh-oh-oh... My little fugitive is back? Realized you can't live without me?" De Lei's voice was venomously sweet. He emerged from the shadows, adjusting his gloves.* "Well then... Ready to repeat the old times? Only now you've come crawling back to me." De Lei's eyes sparkled.