Everyone in Snake’s Nest was surprised to see that their leader, Snake Lord Lu Taipan, had suddenly started wearing a bite suppressor again.
Some who didn’t know the details felt mildly uneasy. After all, ever since Su Liang had become his mate, Lu Taipan hadn’t needed to forcibly wear that device anymore.
Did something happen again?
But before such worry could take root, they quickly discovered their concern was unfounded—because Lu Taipan showed no signs of mental instability. On the contrary, the man seemed more energetic, radiant, and powerful than ever before—more so even than before the Canaan War.
“…So this is what it’s like having a wife?”
“I swear the boss looks ten years younger. Damn, I wanna find a wife too.”
Xue Yinhuan, staring at his baby face in the mirror for the hundredth time, sighed enviously to Black Mamba.
With this renewed vigor, Snake’s Nest’s hunt for the Ning family progressed swiftly under Lu Taipan’s command. The only thorn in their side was the temporary disappearance of Ning Tangsheng—the “youngest representative” of the Ning clan.
Meanwhile…
“Sorry, your contact is unavailable at the moment. Please leave a message—”
The mechanical voice of a low-grade AI echoed through the outdated public terminal.
Before it finished, the tall, thin young man with sunken cheeks and greasy hair on the other end hung up abruptly, his face deathly pale. He darted into a filthy, narrow alleyway.
The massive floating tracks overhead blocked out the sky, casting the entire area into perpetual dusk. As he walked quickly, muddy water splashed up and soaked his shoes. The sticky wetness made the once-pampered youth grimace with disgust.
“Damn it.”
Ning Tangsheng cursed under his breath.
He had never imagined himself ending up in the slums.
To him, it was unfathomable that such a place existed in First Star District—run-down, decrepit, and reeking like hell itself. But amid the net of Snake’s Nest’s encirclement, this was the last refuge he had left.
Light rain fell from above.
Luxury, power, wealth, sycophants—everything that once surrounded him felt like yesterday’s dream. Now all that remained was the bitterest reality.
He pulled his filthy coat tighter, weaving through the labyrinth of alleys until he stopped beside a foul-smelling garbage pile.
Suppressing his nausea, he pushed open a hidden panel on a brick wall and slipped inside.
This was his final safe house in the district. Even indoors, the stench lingered, thanks to the garbage outside. At first, the odor made him retch, but now he’d gotten used to it.
He slumped onto the floor, gnawing at his nails in anxious thought.
His last attempt at communication—his final lifeline—had failed. The person he counted on didn’t answer.
It was over.
Ning Tangsheng knew this now.
He struggled to control his breathing, desperately searching for another escape route.
He had to leave the First District. Only then might he survive. If he stayed, Snake’s Nest would eventually find him. That would be the end.
But it wasn’t supposed to be like this.
When Ning Jiayi “disappeared,” Ning Tangsheng had ignored the rest of the clan and vanished via a carefully planned escape route set up years prior.
But somehow, he didn’t make it out.
He had no idea how Snake’s Nest had done it—but all his secret accounts were frozen. His allies vanished like mist.
Even the escape routes were sealed off.
The past few days felt like crawling through sewage. He hadn’t slept, hadn’t dared to close his eyes—because every time he did, he saw those eyes in his dreams.
Lu Taipan’s.
He muttered the name, voice trembling with hatred and fear.
He hadn’t understood before. He hadn’t known Lu Taipan was real—a force of nature.
And now, Ning Tangsheng had a terrible feeling he wouldn’t escape this time.
Was his life really going to end like this?
His gaze dropped to the weapon by his side.
If he was captured and convicted by the Star Alliance Court, he would be sentenced.
They said prisoners were cut off from the world. Some rumors said alien tech could implant victim memories—forcing the guilty to relive their victims’ trauma on a loop.
No one ever returned from such a fate.
Ning Tangsheng shivered in dread. Maybe it would be better to…
Just then—knock, knock, knock.
Sharp, deliberate tapping came from the other side of the door.
He jumped, grabbed his weapon, and aimed.
Had Snake’s Nest found him? How? Was he exposed? Just now? Damn it—
His mind blanked as sweat poured down his back.
Then—a voice from behind the door.
“Relax. I’m not Snake’s Nest. I’m not here to arrest you.”
“I’m here to help.”
Ning Tangsheng froze.
Seconds later, the door lock disengaged with ease, and a calm figure stepped inside.
His hand trembled when he saw the face. His finger hovered on the trigger, but he didn’t know if he should pull it.
“…Lu Zhizhao? Why is it you?”
He swallowed hard.
Lu Zhizhao tilted his head slightly and looked at him.
Something was… wrong.
Very wrong.
Was this really Lu Zhizhao? Ning Tangsheng wasn’t sure anymore.
The man’s presence was completely different. His gaze made the hairs on Ning’s neck stand on end.
He looked like a man who had lost everything—like a gambler who’d pawned even his organs.
But why?
Surely someone like Lu Zhizhao wouldn’t fall apart just because his fiancée’s family collapsed.
Something else had happened.
“What do you want?!”
Ning Tangsheng barked. He hadn’t lowered his gun.
Lu Zhizhao stared at him.
…In the last life, Lu Taipan had handed this man to the Star Alliance Court. He’d been executed.
But the lab materials Ning left behind had helped him—a lot.
Back then, he’d used the remains of the Farm for his own experiments.
This time, Lu Zhizhao didn’t want to waste the man.
He had remembered everything about his past life.
Thankfully… it wasn’t too late.
“I already told you—I’m here to help. Call it a win-win deal.”
Lu Zhizhao sat down, his voice slightly hoarse.
“You’re joking. As if someone from the Lu family doesn’t know my situation. What do you really want?”
Ning Tangsheng snapped.
“Oh, I know everything,” Lu Zhizhao replied.
“Illegal human experimentation, organ trafficking, Omega gland harvesting, forbidden drug research… Oh, and you’re this generation’s ‘Farm Master,’ aren’t you?”
He said it all without flinching, ignoring the other man’s pallor.
“I also know that if you can escape First District, there are still hidden research stations—bases left behind by the Canaanites, your major suppliers, unexposed labs…”
“How… how do you know that?!”
When Lu Zhizhao listed off the known crimes, Ning Tangsheng thought maybe Snake’s Nest had leaked info.
But when he mentioned the hidden lab—that should’ve been impossible to trace.
He almost pulled the trigger in panic.
Then came Lu Zhizhao’s gentle, almost friendly request:
“I want you to extract Su Liang’s gland for me.”
“…What?”
“I said,” Lu Zhizhao smiled faintly, “only the Farm can safely remove a gland. All I want is for you to remove his gland. In exchange, I’ll get you out of First District.”
“You’re insane.”
“I want Su Liang to be a beta again.”
He said it with a disturbingly sweet expression.
“I love him. Truly. More than anyone ever could. But something went wrong—he was supposed to be a beta. If he were, we’d still be happy together. This Omega gland ruined everything.”
His voice trembled. His expression contorted.
“I want everything to go back. I finally got a second chance. Once he’s a beta again, everything will be fine. He’ll stay by my side. He won’t get tricked by that disgusting old man—”
He’s gone mad.
That was Ning Tangsheng’s first clear thought.
Lu Zhizhao’s reasoning made no sense. How could he smuggle him out under Snake’s Nest’s surveillance?
With what power?
…With that same cold, unwavering confidence, Lu Zhizhao simply smiled.
“Believe me or don’t. But time’s running out.”
Just then, Ning Tangsheng’s wrist monitor blinked—red dots were converging on his location.
Snake’s Nest was almost here.
Seconds, maybe minutes left.
If he stayed, he’d be caught. Sent to trial.
He lowered the gun and forced a twisted smile.
“Then let’s hope we work well together.”
Ten minutes later—
Bang—!
Snake’s Nest kicked down the door, storming the filthy safehouse.
Their target was already gone.
The squad leader’s helmeted face darkened.
Three hours later—
A Lu family supply ship left First District under standard protocols.
A certain “passenger” handed a suitcase to Lu Zhizhao before departure.
“As agreed. Here’s the down payment.”
Ning Tangsheng said.
Lu Zhizhao didn’t reply. He opened the case, checked its contents, and walked away.
Five hours later—
At the Lu family estate, a warm little cottage.
A woman served soup to her husband, peaceful and serene.
Outside, “Vipers” completed a routine shift change.
Until—
Bang—!
Security protocols failed. Guns turned on a lone figure approaching.
The system confirmed his identity—but the Vipers did not lower their weapons.
“Stop, or you’ll be treated as a hostile.”
The S-class Alpha, emaciated and sharp-eyed, grinned crookedly.
Seconds later—green flash. Micro explosives detonated in the grass.
Smash—!
A cup hit the floor and shattered.
Su Liang jolted upright at his desk, staring at the broken pieces.
For some reason, his chest felt tight.
A cleaning bot zipped over and tidied the mess.
But Su Liang couldn’t concentrate.
Just then, Lu Taipan entered—his expression heavier than ever before.
“Mr. Si? What’s wrong?”
Su Liang had never seen him look like this. His heart started pounding.
Lu Taipan knelt gently before him, hands placed protectively at his sides.
“The Lu estate was attacked,” he said quietly.
“It appears to be the work of Ning family remnants. Su Nuan was caught in the crossfire… and she’s been injured.”
Little Pink Starfish 
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