From Apocalypse To Entertainment Circle (BL)-Chapter 62: Hand in Hand with Death

The charity gala’s luxurious garden, a stylish setting at the top of the hotel, which usually hummed with happiness and gentle glasses clinking noises, was now in a state of chaos.

Vibrant greens are mixed with fairy lights, whose dark sparkle glows over the tidy grass lawn that had been scattered with careless abandon. A group of hooded robbers surged into the throng, their footsteps urgent and purposeful, as they took over the beautiful evening to be spent raising money for the poor.

One particularly thuggish burglar, his face twisted into a scowl, charged a rainbow assortment of antiques that had been carefully put together to sell.

His gloved and rapid fingers grabbed a giant burlap bag off of a nearby table and began loading it up with precious items: intricately carved wooden statues, sparkling glass, and gorgeous porcelain plates with detailed floral patterns. Shattering glass echoed in the hallway as he tossed aside whatever was in his path. The visitors, having been amazed by the majesty of the exhibits, now stood aghast with shock, pale-faced with incredulity.

The atmosphere, once filled with music and camaraderie, was now charged with fear and tension. Some of the guests stampeded for the exits while others cried out in horror, trying desperately to fend off the intruders. As the criminals continued their rampage, their laughter spliced with what they were tearing down, lay the frightening realization of what had been done on this night said to be for hope and charity.

Sian could not see these criminals choosing to attack such a hotel as this, hosting the city’s wealthiest and highest-ranking leaders for the mere value of theft and some artefacts.

It didn’t make sense.

But who cared?

He wasn’t Detective Conan, and he lacked the heart and the inclination to investigate the ulterior motives of this fiasco.

He had only one thing in mind at this point: getting the people that mattered to him out of there alive.

Madam Xia was beginning to collect herself, her breathing becoming even as Sian’s soothing words penetrated deep inside her. However, in a show of attempts at composure, her fingers remained locked with his, with a tight grasp, as if drawing strength from his proximity. Her warm hands enveloped his, holding on tight as if holding on to the moment, not ready to let go just yet.

The Xia twins had also accepted the bitter reality that was facing them. Their faces were calm, though their faces expressed a mix of fear and nervousness.

And as for that delicate white lotus, he had been crying for goodness knows how long already.

It was incredible how his tears had not yet dried; instead, they kept flowing more with each passing minute.

"I don’t believe these people are here to do any robbery," Lan Qisheng breathed softly, his voice low and full of suspicion.

Sian had already come to that realization himself some time back, but he couldn’t be bothered. So he replied calmly and confidently,

"Whatever they want, it’s none of our business. As long as they get what they’re looking for and leave, we have no business concerning ourselves with it.".

His eyes followed the weapon-carrying men as they walked among tables of patrons, appearing to be searching for a particular person or people.

They brought someone along each time they moved between the guests’ tables . Up to this point, five people have been selected.

This made Sian uncomfortable. The way these gangsters were selecting people.

Something was wrong with that.

"R-R-Are they... going to execute them?" Ziming stammered.

Though he was the bad guy—rich kid, rotten to the core, and accustomed to getting his way—and though he was a good fighter, never had he actually been in real danger like this before. For the first time, he had been so scared.

Scared of being killed...

Scared of having his family killed...

His whole body trembled with fear, and no matter how much he wanted to hide it, his body betrayed the whole effect.

At the same time, Weilian was incredibly steady for a young boy. However, he was also afraid—afraid that something would happen to his family.

Looking at his trembling brother and his mother, whose fingernails were digging into Sian’s hand with sheer terror, Weilian promised himself that he would protect them, even if it cost him his life.

"Don’t get so anxious. Did you all forget who you’re sitting with?" Sian’s playful tone caught everyone off guard for a moment.

Gazing at them all looking back, he continued, "Honestly, I can kill all these people in a split second. So don’t worry. I’ll protect you.

Even you, though I don’t like you," he said, saying the last to the trembling Ziming.

Ziming snapped out of his daze in an instant, his pride returning at the outright taunting in Sian’s voice. "Who needs your protection? Do you think you’re Superman or something?"

"Oh? So you realize it?" Sian smiled nastily, placing a finger to his lips. "Shh. That’s a secret. Don’t tell anyone."

Like magic, Sian’s words dispelled the heavy tension around their table.

Lan Qisheng, though, was worried contemplating a way to deal with these thugs and save both themselves and the hostages.

Two armed men passed by their table as he was daydreaming.

The men looked at something on their phone, then, after a nod from one of them, the other came over, stuck his gun in Weilian’s head, and commanded, "You and your family. Get over there with the others."

Sian’s worst nightmare had just come true.

He was certain now—this was no robbery.

This was an extermination.

There was to be a figure who was to destroy the city’s most powerful and influential dynasties all in one. And where would be better suited to carry out such a mass killing than at a charity function, where all these people had so conveniently congregated?

Shit. This was going to be a drag.

As the gunman repeated his order, Sian reacted instinctively.

Tears streamed down his face as he collapsed into Madam Xia’s embracing arms, his small body trembling with despair.

He clung to her frantically, as if she were his sole salvation, his cries echoing through the air. "Mom! Mom! What is this man saying? " he sobbed, his voice choked with fear and bewilderment. "I don’t want to go! I don’t want to!

" His anguished plea hung in the air, a poignant expression of his turmoil, as he sought comfort in the safety of her arms.

The resemblance between Sian and Madam Xia was uncanny, and the gunman didn’t bother to think twice. Even if Sian’s face hadn’t been among the targets, he dismissed the thought and barked, "You! You! And you! Move now, or I’ll shoot!"

Sian whispered in Madam Xia’s ear as she grasped him shudderingly—whether through fear of dying or at his having called out "Mom" to her, he could not tell.

Yet in a hushed tone, he reassured her, "Don’t fear. As long as I remain here, everything will be okay. Just stay by my side and do exactly as I say."

Having reassured Madam Xia, Sian looked across at Lan Qisheng.

Lan Qisheng perceived immediately—that Sian was planning to attack.

And he was powerless to stop it. Not now. They were in bad shape, and they couldn’t just sit idle and let people get murdered.

Honestly, if the Xia family hadn’t been targeted, Sian would have remained where he was and waited for the cops like everyone else.

But as luck would not have it—

They had involved themselves with the wrong people.

When Madam Xia and the twins stood up, Sian walked with her.

The gunman turned around to face Bai Yuxi, who was still seated.

But he wasn’t even able to say a word when Bai Yuxi collapsed into uncontrolled hysteria, "I’m not—I’m not their son! I don’t know them! Look, sir! I don’t look anything like them! I’m not in their family! My surname’s different even! You can inspect my ID—I’ll take it out right this instant—"

And thus, ladies and gentlemen...

The absolute white lotus mask shattered completely.

Having convinced himself that Bai Yuxi was not included in the list and had no connection with the Xia family, the gunman shoved him aside and led the rest to the edge.

Sian glanced around.

They were millions of meters high. If anyone fell from here, they would not only be dead—they would be unrecognizable.

He tried to look down to see if there were police or ambulances down there, but it was hopeless. The building was too high, and all he could make out was sparsely twinkling lights.

Sian turned his head once more.

He was between Ziming and Madam Xia, and Weilian was beside his brother.

"From now on, hold hands and never release them. No matter what happens," Sian ordered.

As he spoke, he took Madam Xia’s hand in one of his and clasped the other about Ziming.

Ziming did not fight Sian in amazement. Instead, he tightened his grip, and with his other hand, he took his brother’s hand in his own to clasp it equally tightly.