Chapter One: I, the King of Hell!

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Night. The entrance of an alley.

Inside a luxurious van.

"Young Master Ling, do you prefer white stockings or black ones?" The melodious voice was laced with teasing.

Ling Qiu jerked awake. Before his eyes knelt a stunningly beautiful woman, her figure and features both flawless, striking seductive poses, her face full of charm.

Ling Qiu swiftly pulled out his phone—the screen read: May 8th, 2018.

"I'm really back!"

"So... King Kṣitigarbha really was generous with me!"

A smile curved Ling Qiu’s lips.

Back then, this was where he died!

After death, he descended to the underworld, and relying on his skills and fortune, spent over ten thousand years to become the new King of Hell.

Now that his journey was complete and King Kṣitigarbha was about to send him to ascend to the Boundless Divine Realm, Ling Qiu refused.

He had only one wish: "I want to go back, and live it over again!"

King Kṣitigarbha nodded, and after a burst of multicolored light...

When Ling Qiu opened his eyes again, he had returned—to this very place, to his eighteenth birthday... which was also the anniversary of his death!

Ling Qiu’s expression turned icy, his gaze as sharp as blades: "Long Yuelan, your temperament really isn't suited to being an assassin."

What?!

The beautiful woman’s face changed, but she quickly forced a coquettish smile, her voice soft and sweet: "Oh, Young Master Ling, whatever are you saying? I don’t understand a word."

Ling Qiu’s eyes narrowed, his tone detached: "Your name isn’t Xiaoya. Your real name is Long Yuelan, a rookie assassin from the Hundred Kills Pavilion. You didn’t actually want to carry out this mission, but unfortunately... Ling Baichuan has your weakness in his hands."

In that moment, Long Yuelan’s bright smile twisted into a complex, conflicted expression, her brows furrowed with heavy concern, as though she had become a different person.

"When did you find out?"

"That’s not important. What matters is... you can't bring yourself to do it."

Long Yuelan froze, then gave a bitter laugh. "In that case, there’s no need for me to pretend anymore."

As she spoke, she drew a short blade from under her skirt and tossed it aside. "I've been lurking by your side for half a month. You’re not as bad as the rumors say. You haven’t even touched me—just go, before I change my mind..."

"But if I leave, you’ll die."

With that, Ling Qiu suddenly pressed Long Yuelan beneath him, their faces mere inches apart, breaths mingling.

"You! What are you doing?"

Ling Qiu said nothing. With a swift motion, he reached beneath the car seat and flipped up the edge.

A small time bomb appeared before their eyes!

"What—?!"

Long Yuelan’s beautiful face turned ashen.

Ling Qiu’s eyes were cold as ice. "To kill me, Ling Baichuan set up double insurance. Your hesitation didn’t save me—it cost you your own life."

Long Yuelan gave a bitter, hopeless smile.

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Despite all the skills she’d learned, in the end... she was just someone’s pawn.

She was right—she was never cut out for this line of work!

"Stop being an assassin. You’re not made for it."

Bang.

With that, Ling Qiu opened the car door and threw Long Yuelan out.

Vroom!

Before Long Yuelan could react, Ling Qiu had already started the engine and sped away.

Long Yuelan stared blankly at the disappearing taillights, her mind a buzzing mess...

Everything that happened tonight made her feel utterly ridiculous.

But—

What made her feel even more foolish was that the Ling Qiu everyone treated as a fool was in fact such a shrewd and composed man!

The cold, resolute look in Ling Qiu’s eyes—one glance, and she would never forget it for the rest of her life!

...

A bar.

Inside a luxurious private room.

A group of rich young men sat together, laughing loudly, drinking and singing merrily.

"Hahaha! Young Master Ling, I have to say, this time I truly admire you! Trash like Ling Qiu, who’s just squatting in the way, should be dealt with! Deal with him thoroughly!"

At these words, Ling Baichuan sneered, "Tomorrow morning, the news headlines will report it. The good-for-nothing son of Ling Group in Jiang'an City, Ling Qiu, was found dead and naked in the street. Hmph, I won’t just have him killed—I’ll make sure he dies in utter disgrace!"

"Haha, naked in the street—that’s exciting just to think about! By the way, Young Master Ling, is that assassin from the Hundred Kills Pavilion reliable?"

Ling Baichuan laughed heartily. "That woman may be a rookie, but I found out her younger sister attends Jiang’an University. With her sister in my hands, she wouldn’t dare disobey! Besides..."

He grinned sinisterly. "I made sure there was double insurance. If she doesn’t cooperate, I’ll set off some fireworks and have her die with him!"

The others stared in shock, then quickly gave him thumbs up.

"You’re brilliant, Young Master Ling!"

"With Ling Qiu dead, the old man’s will is useless. My father is as good as head of the Ling family!"

"Congratulations, Young Master Ling!"

"Come on, let’s drink!"

Bang!

At that moment, the private room door was suddenly kicked open from outside.

Huh?!

The young men all turned in surprise.

A frail-looking young man walked in, shutting and locking the door behind him.

"Ling Qiu?!"

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Ling Baichuan’s expression darkened. "You... how did you—" He stopped mid-sentence, then abruptly changed his tone. "What are you doing here?!"

Ling Qiu ignored him, his eyes devoid of emotion as if no one else was present. He strode to the sofa, sat down, and tossed out a dismantled time bomb.

What?!!!

Everyone jumped in fright!

What the hell... what was going on?!

So the woman failed! But... how did he find the bomb?!

"Ling Baichuan, aren’t you going to explain?"

Ling Qiu’s tone was flat, but each word was as sharp as a blade.

"Ex-explain what?! I have no idea what you’re talking about!"

With the plan’s failure, there was no way he’d admit to it!

Ling Baichuan’s mind raced, eyes darting. He stepped forward and swept all the bottles in front of Ling Qiu onto the floor, smashing them to pieces.

"Dammit, I should be asking you! Ling Qiu, what makes you think you’re qualified to attend my party, you piece of trash?!"

Ling Qiu glanced indifferently at the shards on the floor. "I prefer tidy floors. Ling Baichuan, lick up the glass."

What?—

Everyone was dumbfounded, then burst out laughing.

Although Ling Qiu had survived, it was common knowledge that he was useless. The only reason he was still alive was sheer dumb luck!

Instead of hiding after escaping death, this fool had the nerve to come here and seek trouble. Wasn’t that sheer stupidity?

"Look at you, Ling Qiu, growing a backbone and talking tough?"

Ling Baichuan grabbed a beer bottle, propped a foot on the table, and struck an arrogant pose. "Then let me say this—I’ll give you three seconds to kneel and lick my shoes—"

Crack!

Before he could finish, Ling Qiu raised his hand in a blade-like chop and brought it down hard on Ling Baichuan’s legs!

In an instant, both his legs were severed!

Ling Baichuan collapsed to the ground, wailing like a dog, while the other young men stared at Ling Qiu as if he were a specter, faces drained of blood.

Ling Qiu remained as calm and domineering as ever, opening a beer and taking a slow sip.

His voice drifted out, steady and chilling.

"Countless lost souls have asked me what could be more terrifying than hell. I said it’s simple—"

He turned his head, his eyes blazing like ghostly flames from the underworld. "Being my enemy."