Chapter 11: Betrayal Beneath Neon Lights
The city of Neo-Aurion shimmered under a canopy of neon lights, its skyline a jagged silhouette against the night sky. The air buzzed with energy—not just from the bustling streets below but from the tension crackling between Lin Wei and me as we navigated the labyrinthine alleys of the lower districts. Something felt… off.
It wasn't just the news report implicating CEO Liang and his ties to the Crimson Veil Sect. It wasn't even the mercenaries hunting us at every turn. No, this unease came from within—from the growing suspicion gnawing at the edges of my mind.
Lin had been an invaluable ally so far, teaching me how to harness my powers, survive impossible odds, and stay one step ahead of our enemies. But there were still too many unanswered questions about her past, her motives, and her true allegiance. Was she truly on my side—or was she playing a deeper game?
We'd taken refuge in another abandoned warehouse, its crumbling walls offering little protection but enough cover to regroup. Lin sat cross-legged on the floor, poring over a holographic map projected from her wrist device. Red dots blinked ominously across the display, marking locations tied to the Crimson Veil's operations.
"We need to hit them where it hurts," she said without looking up. "Liang Enterprises HQ is their nerve center. Take that out, and we cripple their resources."
"And risk walking straight into a trap?" I countered, leaning against a rusted beam. "They're expecting us now. Xiao Liang isn't exactly subtle when it comes to revenge."
She glanced at me, her expression unreadable. "Since when did you start doubting every move?"
"Since people keep lying to me," I shot back.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't respond immediately. Instead, she focused back on the map, tapping a few coordinates. "Fine. If you don't trust my plan, what do you suggest?"
"I suggest figuring out who's leaking information to them," I said firmly. "Because someone's feeding them intel—someone close to us."
Lin froze for a fraction of a second before masking it with a shrug. "You think I'm the leak?"
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to."
For a moment, silence hung heavy in the air. Then she stood, tucking the device back into her coat. "Look, Jin Hao, I get it. Trust is hard to come by in our world. But if I wanted you dead, you'd already be gone. End of story."
Her words carried weight, but they weren't enough to silence the doubts swirling in my mind.
Before I could press further, the sound of footsteps echoed through the warehouse. Heavy boots, moving in unison. Too many to count.
"They found us," Lin muttered, drawing her dagger.
But as the figures emerged from the shadows, I realized these weren't mercenaries or Crimson Veil agents. They were civilians—ordinary people dressed in worn clothes, their faces etched with exhaustion and desperation. At their head stood Zhang Wei, the street vendor who'd helped us earlier.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, lowering my guard slightly.
Zhang stepped forward, his hands raised in a gesture of peace. "We need your help."
"My help?" I repeated skeptically. "With what?"
"The Crimson Veil," he replied grimly. "They've started rounding up anyone connected to you—even remotely. Families, friends, neighbors. Anyone who might know something about the Celestial Bloodline."
My stomach sank. "How many?"
"Dozens," Zhang admitted. "Maybe more. They're using them as bait—to draw you out."
Lin cursed under her breath, pacing furiously. "This complicates things."
"No kidding," I snapped. "So what's the plan? Storm their base and rescue everyone?"
"That's suicide," Lin countered sharply.
"Then what do you suggest?"
Instead of answering, Zhang pulled out a small data chip and handed it to me. "This is everything we've gathered on the Crimson Veil's operations—including blueprints of their main facility. Use it wisely."
I stared at the chip, weighing its significance. "Why are you helping me?"
"Because you're our only hope," Zhang said simply. "If you can take them down, maybe the rest of us can finally live without fear."
As Zhang and his group left, Lin turned to me, her expression dark. "That was reckless. You don't know if you can trust them."
"They're innocent people being used as pawns," I argued. "How can I ignore that?"
"Easy," she shot back. "By staying alive long enough to actually make a difference."
Her cynicism grated on my nerves, but before I could respond, the fiery symbol on my palm flared brightly, sending waves of heat coursing through my veins. Energy surged uncontrollably, flooding my meridians with power.
"What's happening?" I gasped, clutching my hand.
Lin studied me closely, her eyes narrowing. "Your bloodline—it's reacting to something."
"To what?"
Before she could answer, a sharp pain lanced through my skull, accompanied by a mechanical voice echoing in my mind.
**"System Alert: Traitor Detected. Warning: Hostile Intent Identified Within Proximity."**
My heart raced as I scanned the room. There was no one else here except Lin.
"Who is it?" I demanded, my voice tight.
Lin hesitated, her gaze flickering away momentarily. When she spoke, her tone was cautious. "Jin Hao, listen carefully. Whatever happens next, don't react impulsively."
"Answer the question," I growled, stepping back. "Is it you?"
She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Yes. But not in the way you think."
Before I could process her admission, Lin activated a hidden mechanism on her wrist device, projecting a hologram into the air. It showed footage of her meeting with a shadowy figure—a man clad in crimson armor, his face obscured by a mask.
"I've been working undercover," she explained quickly. "Gathering intel on the Crimson Veil from the inside. My mission was to gain their trust—and yours—to uncover the full extent of their plans."
"So you lied to me," I said flatly.
"Yes," she admitted. "But only to protect you. The less you knew, the safer you were."
"That's not your call to make," I snapped.
"I know," she said softly. "And I'm sorry. But right now, we don't have time for this. The Crimson Veil knows about Zhang's group. If we don't act fast, they'll slaughter everyone."
I clenched my fists, torn between anger and urgency. Could I trust her explanation—or was this just another layer of deception?
"Fine," I said finally. "But if you betray me again, I won't hesitate to break your dantian."
Her lips quirked into a faint smirk. "Fair enough."
Using the data chip provided by Zhang, we formulated a risky plan to infiltrate the Crimson Veil's main facility. The blueprints revealed a heavily fortified compound located deep beneath the financial district, accessible only through a network of underground tunnels. Security would be tight, with automated drones, Qi-enhanced guards, and traps designed to neutralize intruders.
"This is insane," Lin muttered, studying the layout. "Even with your abilities, we won't last five minutes."
"Got any better ideas?" I challenged.
She shook her head. "No. But if we're going to pull this off, we'll need reinforcements."
"Who?"
"There's someone," she said hesitantly. "An old contact. Someone who hates the Crimson Veil almost as much as we do."
"Who?"
She hesitated again, then met my gaze squarely. "My brother."
Before I could ask more questions, the ground trembled violently, followed by the distant rumble of explosions. Outside, alarms blared, and red lights flashed across the cityscape.
"They're here," Lin whispered, gripping her dagger tightly.
Sure enough, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the tunnel leading to the warehouse. Dozens of them. Armed. Dangerous. Deadly.
"Ready?" Lin asked, her voice steady despite the chaos unfolding around us.
"No," I admitted, channeling Qi into my palms. "But let's do this anyway."
And with that, all hell broke loose.