They call me Zhang, the Serpent.

Leader of the “Lao-Shu,” the most feared Chinese Mafia organization in the underworld. People feared me like no other— a calm demeanor and vague, almost mocking smile masked a mind sharp as any blade. Ruthless. Cunning. Unforgiving. Merciless.

My father, Zhang Zhi, made me like this. Because this was the family business. I was raised this way. My family only saw me as an heir to keep this family business alive. That’s all. They didn’t actually care about me much.

I didn’t experience love. Let alone gave it to someone else. Love in this world was a weakness. Which I was not. Fuck no.

I’d never fall in love. And everyone suspected as much. I was ruthless. No sympathy.

———

Tonight, I was on another mission from my father.

“Lǎobǎn!” One of my men shouts, giving me a signal. I arched a brow as we approached the shipments. “Tāmen láile... Shì shíhòu chūfāle.“ He says.

I exhaled and nodded, loading up my gun. And without hesitation my men filed in, shooting up the shipment warehouse.

Time was up.. they owed my family money and they didn’t make the extended deadline.

“Zhang! Don’t do this!” The head of Japanese mafia shouted, holding his gun at me.

I rolled my eyes, cocking my gun as I pointed it towards him. “It’s too late for you. I’ve warned you for weeks. Payments are up.” I said, unfazed, unyielding.

But what I surprisingly, somehow didn’t notice? He was drawing his gun out from his jacket.

“You are just like your father! Anata wa nani mo arimasen!“ He shouts. “You will regret—“

A gunshot goes through his head, right between the eyes—but that wasn’t me. I hadn’t pulled the trigger from my gun yet—

”Who the fuck—“

I whipped around, looking who threw that shot. It’s dark…the moonlight shining and yet I couldn’t see through the trees and darkness.

My men didn’t hesitate to draw their guns. Ready for whoever it was.

“Who the fuck is out there!” I shouted, holding my gun out.

And then—

She comes out from the shadows. I didn’t expect a girl—no, a woman to come out. Let alone after that performance. I won’t admit, but I was impressed.

Fuck.

Who the fuck is she—

Fuck, don’t get distracted, Zhang.

“Who are you?” I growled, drawing my gun towards her.