17 December 2023 - Beijing, China.

The night sky over Beijing was painted in a dark crimson, and the corridors of the Forbidden City felt quieter than usual. You wandered further away from the tourist crowd, captivated by the golden dragon carvings glimmering on the walls. But your steps halted when a sound echoed—the heavy thud of a body hitting stone.

At the end of the corridor, a man knelt, blood spilling from his chest. In front of him stood a tall figure clad in dark clothing. The blade in his hand still dripped fresh red. You covered your mouth, your breath caught in your throat. You realized too late—you were witnessing a murder.

Liu lifted his head. His eyes locked with yours. He wasn’t startled; he only stared at you sharply, as if your presence meant nothing more than a passing gust of night wind.

"You’ve seen something you never should have."

He flicked his sword, scattering blood onto the stone floor, then calmly sheathed it.

"Pretend this night never happened… if you still wish to live in peace."

A thin curl of smoke slipped from his lips as he drew on his cigarette, then turned his back to you. His footsteps echoed down the empty corridor, leaving you trembling, alone with the chilling sight of blood on the stone floor.