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In the midst of this silence, a faint sound of footsteps suddenly emerged, crunching on the gravel and producing a subtle yet deep resonance. The sound echoed clearly beneath the empty bridge, like an invisible thread pulling at Li Mu's nerves. He squinted, his hand quietly reaching for the gun handle, swiftly drawing it out with a light and silent motion. The cold steel brought a familiar sense of stability to his palm.
He leaned slightly against the car door, lowering his body to conceal himself in the vehicle's shadow. His gaze flicked to the rearview mirror, cautiously observing the approaching figure. Beyond the light, Li Mu caught a hazy outline hidden under the cover of darkness, moving closer to him.
The person was of average height and build, wearing a loose dark coat that obscured their form, making it harder to identify them. Each step on the gravel was deliberate and steady, neither hurried nor sluggish, as if they were calculating their distance with precision. There was an unusual calmness in their stride, even carrying an oppressive composure. Li Mu frowned slightly, unable to determine this person's identity; however, such a gait and demeanor undoubtedly belonged to someone with professional training.
The stranger's face was hidden beneath the shadow of a hat brim, making it nearly impossible to discern their features. Li Mu narrowed his eyes, trying to catch any detail from the outline; he could vaguely see that they seemed to be wearing a mask, with even their eyes concealed by shadows. The only hint of light came from the edge of the mask, reflecting faintly and indicating that they were indeed trying to hide their appearance.
"Is that Mao Ba?" A flicker of doubt crossed Li Mu's mind as his heartbeat quickened. He had collaborated with Mao Ba for many years without ever meeting face-to-face, but this calm and conscious effort to conceal one's identity aligned with Mao Ba's style. Yet everything felt overly mysterious—what was the purpose of such caution? They had worked together for years; why maintain such secrecy?
A gentle breeze swept in from the river beneath the bridge, stirring the damp night air and adding to Li Mu's sense of pressure. The figure continued to approach steadily, neither rushing nor dragging their feet. As they drew nearer, an unsettling premonition stirred within Li Mu's heart; it felt as though this was not an ordinary meeting but rather a confrontation laden with deeper meaning.
He tightened his grip on the gun, fingers lightly brushing against the trigger, ready for any potential changes in circumstances. His gaze sharpened like a blade as he focused on the reflection in the mirror, his breathing slowing down until even his heartbeat fell into a rhythmic pattern. The surrounding darkness seemed to thicken; shadows intertwined with light beneath the bridge, creating an eerie atmosphere. Li Mu knew that regardless of who this person was, this meeting would not be easy.
Finally, the figure stopped beside Li Mu's car and stood still without moving. The night was oppressively quiet; light struggled to penetrate the surrounding shadows and barely illuminated one side of their outline. Slowly, both hands rose in front of them with palms facing outward—steady and cautious movements that suggested an awareness of Li Mu's vigilance and a desire to avoid further misunderstandings.
Suddenly, a cold electronic voice emerged from behind the mask—a deep and steady tone devoid of any emotional fluctuation: "Ghost Shadow, I came alone and unarmed. Please trust me."
This familiar electronic voice caused Li Mu to pause momentarily; his inner guard eased slightly. It was unmistakably Mao Ba's voice—each word delivered in a calm tone that lacked emotion, reminiscent of a machine's precisely designed vocalization transforming cold words into a unique chill. Curiosity piqued within Li Mu—this place was dark and silent; even electronic devices would struggle here yet Mao Ba maintained such voice modulation capabilities, indicating that his voice-changing technology was highly advanced enough to mask any real sound.
Li Mu stared at him; although familiarity brought some relaxation, years of instinct warned him not to trust anyone easily. He slowly shifted the gun away, retracting his arm gently as he tucked it back into the concealed pocket inside his coat—careful yet still poised for any eventuality.
"Mao Ba?" Li Mu lowered his voice cautiously, tinged with both probing and an undeniable curiosity. "You actually came in person?"
The night breeze gently brushed by, and Mao Ba remained standing there, his true expression hidden in the darkness. Only a calm electronic voice responded, "Rest assured, this is a special situation. I know you are cautious, so I came personally to ensure your trust."
His words carried no excess emotion; they served as both an explanation and a sharp hint that heightened Li Mu's vigilance. He quietly scrutinized his partner concealed in the shadows, his doubts not entirely dispelled, yet he understood that this face-to-face conversation was necessary. In the night, they exchanged glances—one party carefully maintaining distance while the other lurked within deep shadows, like two controllers of dark worlds, alert and patiently waiting for the next move.
Li Mu took a deep breath, pushed open the car door, and slowly stepped out. His gaze remained stern, his steps steady, revealing no hint of his inner wariness. As he reached the rear of the car, he finally saw Mao Ba clearly.
Li Mu froze for a moment. Mao Ba was not wearing any voice modulator as he had expected; instead, a small metallic device was embedded in his neck, emitting a faint cold glow. The skin around the machine was marred with scars and stitched lines crisscrossing each other, the muscles displaying an unnatural unevenness as if remnants of severe injuries endured long ago. The metallic device subtly flickered with electric currents, seemingly assisting him with every breath and sound. It dawned on Li Mu that Mao Ba's voice was not deliberately altered; rather, this cold mechanical sound was his true voice.
Mao Ba slightly raised his head, his eyes obscured by shadows, presenting an exceptionally stern demeanor. His deep-set eyes held a hint of chill, and the surrounding light cast intersecting shadows across his face, enhancing his mysterious and oppressive presence. Looking at Li Mu, he spoke in a low, mechanical tone that nonetheless conveyed sincere determination: "I know you have doubts about all this, but please trust me."
After speaking, Mao Ba pulled out a card from his coat pocket. It was an anonymous Financial Card; its dark blue surface glinted coldly under the dim light, symbolizing the reward for this mission. Mao Ba gently placed the card on the rear of the car and then stepped back cautiously, signaling that he bore no ill intent.
Li Mu stared deeply at the card, feeling a mix of emotions swirling within him. He looked at Mao Ba before him—the intermediary who had long lurked in the shadows—finally revealing himself under such circumstances. Yet this appearance was even colder and more arduous than he had imagined. Behind those scars seemed to lie countless untold stories, stirring a sense of curiosity and confusion about his partner's past within Li Mu. Nevertheless, he understood that in this world, trust was always a luxury.
Li Mu picked up the Financial Card and weighed it slightly before calmly asking, "Why did you specifically ask me to come today?"
Mao Ba lowered his gaze, coldly scanning Li Mu with an undercurrent of fatigue in his voice: "Because this is not just any reward. This employer is not simple; my concerns are far greater than you realize."
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