Midnight.
A blurred figure darted through the branches, leaping from tree to tree. The branches burst beneath the taps of its toes, scattering splinters.
Though the noise was startling, the figure moved with the light, supple grace of an ape.
The grove was planted with red magnolias. Even in the depths of winter, they had already begun to bloom. As the blurred figure moved like a ghost, the trees shook violently, and countless pink petals drifted down.
In daylight, the scene would have been breathtakingly beautiful.
But it was the dead of night, and the place was pitch-black and deserted.
Nightlife had become a thing of the past.
As soon as night fell, the streets emptied. A few main roads had gas lamps, but every other road and district remained in darkness.
Before long, the figure stopped abruptly. It was Chen Shouyi, of course. One hand rested on his Long Sword as he stared at a massive pine and cypress tree more than a hundred meters away. "Who's there? Show yourself!" he barked.
For a long time, there was no response.
A tiny figure sprang down from a nearby tree, scurried up the trunk like a squirrel, then grabbed Chen Shouyi's trouser leg and nimbly climbed onto his shoulder. "Good giant, there's a bad giant hiding over there!"
He had thought it was only his imagination, but someone really was hiding there.
A chill crept through Chen Shouyi. It was already one in the morning, and the cold outside could freeze water solid. At this hour, no ordinary person would be out for a stroll, let alone in this deserted park. Only the soldiers on patrol would be outside.
"If you won't come out, then I'll come to you," Chen Shouyi said with a cold laugh.
He leaped down from