Two trucks entered Gaza City and halted its movements on a desolated curb. Xia Lei and his team went past another street and stopped before an Arabian style building.

“Sa’im, do not make the same mistake again or I’ll chop your dick off.” Tsukino Kyoko threat was harshly whispered into Sa’im ear. She looked ready to murder.

Sa’im subconsciously clamped his thighs together. The woman he had feelings for had loved another man and the man was essentially invincible. Xia Lei was a man that he had no hopes to surpass in this lifetime. It was safe to say that Sa’im felt incredibly awful before the threat.

Sa’im reached an arm and knocked on the door once. Two seconds later, he followed with three knocks. A secret sign that signalled his identity. As soon as the rappings ceased, the door was answered.

An Arabian woman dressed in a Burqa had answered the door. Her body was voluptuous, blessed with full breasts and wide hips. Despite the dark veil over her features, the first impression was that she must be a young gorgeous beauty.

Xia Lei had already learnt what she looked like. She had the features of a classic Arabian beauty. Tall nose bridge, deep eyes and a set of irises that looked like glimmering sapphire. Everything about her was exquisite. Xia Lei had also noticed the expression she wore when greeting Sa’im.

Xia Lei smiled faintly. This woman was Sa’im’s lover.

Unsurprisingly, after she had realized that Sa’im was behind the door, the woman was stunned at the sight of his face. There was a slight pause before she attacked Sa’im with an embrace while calling his name gleefully.

“Yaada, we’ll continue our talk inside,” said Sa’im with a sheepish edge to his tone. This was awkward, especially in front of Tsukino Kyoko.

Yaada obediently released her grip on Sa’im and opened the door wider to welcome the team in.

“Sa’im is one horny bastard. All of his information had come from his network of women.” Tsukino Kyoko remarked after she caught up to Xia Lei.

The smile on Xia Lei’s lips was more prominent now. The turn of events had dissolved one of his worries. If Sa’im was a loyal man, it would be difficult to solve the sticky situation they were both in. But Sa’im was revealed to be a man so generous with love that he had a lover in Gaza and more elsewhere. He had used love as a method to establish his intelligence network and these women were willing to be a part of it and even manage his informants. Sa’im was a womanizer. What else did Xia Lei need to worry about the predicament looming over their dynamics?

Yaada served them cups of Damascus rose tea graciously. Sa’im did not stop to introduce the woman to them, immediately leading her out after the tea was served.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

“We should leave too,” said Yelena. She knew Xia Lei and Qian Jun required some privacy to talk.

Tsukino Kyoko and Anjum Khan left the living room.

Now, they were alone. Xia Lei and Qian Jun remained silent. While they hadn’t started to converse, the suffocating silence had allowed them time to construct their thoughts. Xia Lei needed to reorganize the list of questions he wanted to ask while Qian Jun seemed to be pondering about things related to Xia Lei.

The silence had stretched on for minutes before Xia Lei broke it. “You know what I desperately need to know? Information about the AE capsules. Tell me, how did you learn of its existence and how did you find it?”

Qian Jun answered, “Your father. The only answer I can provide is your father.”

Xia Lei replied, “My father is the founder of the Chinese Zodiac Battle Team. I understand that he had tasked you to seize the AE capsule, but this is the answer I’m looking for.”

There was just too much mystery surrounding Xia Changhe. If his father had intended to tell him in the first place, Xia Lei wouldn’t need to direct these questions to Qian Jun.

Qian Jun stared at Xia Lei with a burning gaze. “Did your father not tell you anything about it?”

Xia Lei scoffed bitterly. “If he did, would I need to ask you?” He paused slightly. “There wasn’t even a chance for me to ask anything. He’s not with me.”

Xia Lei had his own reasons to add in the information of Xia Changhe’s absence.

For one, while he had rescued Qian Jun from the Mossad base, he did not think that Qian Jun would be able to offer him his loyalty like Tsukino Kyoko and the others. Qian Jun was Xia Changhe’s most powerful warrior. His capabilities were far superior over the rest of the Chinese Zodiac Battle Team members. He had never once gotten involved with the members during operations but he had also never once proactively contacted anyone in the team. He had no concerns over the team.

The second reason had much to do with Xia Changhe. His father surely had known where Qian Jun was locked away but the man had refused to reveal anything to Xia Lei. Why on earth did he do that? This was all too confusing for Xia Lei, there were just too many possibilities!

Qian Jun was quiet for a moment. “If he wanted to tell you, he would’ve done it long ago. He has his own reasons to hide it from you. Are you trying to have me betray his intentions?”

Xia Lei furrowed his brows. “Even if he’s not planning to tell me, are you not going to tell me too? Mind you, I’m the current leader of the Chinese Zodiac Battle Team. I’m certain I reserve the right to learn those secrets.”

Qian Jun responded, “I knew a day like this would come. The first time I saw was when you were still in school. Your father said you would become a miracle to mankind someday and I believe him. Now, I believe him more.”

“Why are you dodging the question?”

“Your father... How about this? After you find him, and if he agrees, I’ll tell you everything I know,” offered Qian Jun.

Anger began to boil in Xia Lei’s heart. He had risked his life and led the members of the Chinese Zodiac Battle Team on a rescue mission to save Qian Jun. He had high hopes that the man could offer him answers. But Qian Jun’s attitude was throwing him off. Xia Lei had come to realize something new. Between him and his father, the snake of the Chinese Zodiac Battle Team was more inclined to his father.

“Don’t blame me for this. It’s difficult for me too.” Qian Jun avoided Xia Lei’s gaze. Inexplicably, the strongest ace of the Zodiac Team felt fear in the face of an angry Xia Lei!

“Leave.” Xia Lei said.

“Huh?” Taken aback, Qian Jun was convinced he heard him wrong.

Xia Lei repeated, “I said, leave. Is that clear?”

“You... You’re chasing me away?”

“I saved you out of my own will. I wanted answers to those questions and I decided to not press you further. You’re a free man now. You’re free to go search for my father and you’re free to do whatever you like. From now on, anything that has to do with you is none of my concern. There is no snake in the Chinese Zodiac Battle Team and if there is one, it will not be you,” uttered Xia Lei.

The atmosphere in the living room was suffocating.

Qian Jun had not seen this coming. It was shocking to learn that Xia Lei was chasing him away due to some disagreement without sparing him some time to think things through. Truthfully, he had made the terms clear. Qian Jun was willing to tell him everything after Xia Changhe had permitted him personally. But Xia Lei was trying to chase him away now!

“Why? I mean...”

Xia Lei interrupted his sentence. “You want some time, right?”

Qian Jun nodded.

But Xia Lei was merciless. “I’ve got no time for you. I’m running short on time. Plus, I have no place for a secretive member. I don’t care if my father had explicitly told you to not spill a word. The current Chinese Zodiac Battle Team was not what it once was. We’re a family. But you are a stranger to me.”

“What do you mean by you running short on time?” Qian Jun was reluctant to depart.

Xia Lei merely stared at him blankly. He had no intentions of answering his questions.

The silence that enveloped the living space was gloomy and tense.

One minute later, Qian Jun rolled his shoulders. “You’re really forcing me to make a decision between you and your father. He’s the old king and you’re the new king. Do I pledge my loyalty to the new king or keep to the old king?”

“You’re overcomplicating things. I’m sure that my father had his own reasons but I will find my own answers,” said Xia Lei.

“I’m from Hunan County, Jiaozuo District. My father passed away when I was very young and my mom remarried into another family. She abandoned me. I remember the very first time your father had appeared in front of me. It was raining and I was huddled under a bridge. No one had spared me a glance, everyone walked by me without a single concern. I thought I was going to either starve or freeze to death at this point. I swore that if anyone was kind enough to offer me mantou, I would repay their kindness. That was the time when your father and I crossed paths. While he hadn’t given me mantou, he offered me a serving of warm and fragrant beef. He even gave me a down jacket...”

Xia Lei’s mind supplied him with mental images of the scene. He noticed one small detail. Xia Changhe had observed Qian Jun from afar. He was the only one who stopped to provide Qian Jun with the help he needed most. He was the only one who offered him a warm meal on a cold day.

The world was cruel. If you gave a billionaire s dollar, the only thing you’d get in return was probably a slap and a sneer. But if you gave a begging child a dollar, the sum would’ve been able to quench his dire hunger with two buns. And you would’ve gotten a thankful sentiment in return.

“That was how I met your father. Not only had he given me food and clothes, but he had also sent to Shaolin temple for martial arts training. I went and trained for years. On the year I turned sixteen, your father withdrew me from the Shaolin temple. He ordered me to kill someone and I did. From that day onwards, a new life began. I followed all of his orders, never once failing my mission. I can’t even remember how much blood I have on my hands. Your father ordered me back to his side when I was eighteen. He told me about the Chinese Zodiac Battle Team and that I was the snake. I asked about the other members but he kept it a secret from me. He said I didn’t need to know and that all I needed to remember was my identity. I was to heed all of his instructions and execute it...” At that point, Qian Jun stopped.

While Xia Lei had really wished for him to continue, he did not urge him. He didn’t know what could’ve caused Qian Jun to change his mind but to deal with a character like him had not only required a certain amount of intelligence but also a great dash of patience.

“Other than bestowing me the position of the snake in that meeting, your father gave me a mission...” Qian Jun paused again.

He was hesitating.

He needed to make a decision.

To either remain loyal to the old king or to serve the new king!