In the blink of an eye, an hour had passed, and several bottles of liquor were quickly consumed. Ye Fan and Fire Phoenix chatted about various topics without much depth. Due to the atmosphere, neither of them brought up certain issues, as they both understood that such peaceful moments would probably be hard to come by in the future.
"How is he doing?" Ye Fan asked.
He had asked the same question when he met Wilson in Huaxia, referring to Shadow Two.
Fire Phoenix replied without hesitation, "He's doing alright, like me, he has his own name now. A big change is that he no longer has to hide in the shadows without any sense of existence. At least, he has a name that instills fear. Right, he gave himself a mighty name, Butcher."
Neither Fire Phoenix nor Butcher had any objections to being called Shadow One or Shadow Two, but as times changed, they adapted to the circumstances. When the God Organization suffered a great disaster, adjustments had to be made.
Moreover, the two of them are now crucial members of the remaining forces of the God Organization, highly valued by Deceitful Fox.
"Butcher, it fits his character." Ye Fan softly remarked.
"Have you been alright during this time?" Fire Phoenix asked tenderly.
"I've been okay, with fewer shackles and having fulfilled some wishes, life is more relaxed." Ye Fan said calmly. His words carried a lot of weight, the biggest resolution being the destruction of the God Organization's leadership to seek justice for his parents.
Fire Phoenix sensed the underlying meaning of his words, though she couldn't grasp the specific details.
As they say, every feast must come to an end. They couldn't avoid bringing up the past forever, pretending nothing ever happened as they sat there. Fire Phoenix still had many questions in her heart, which she finally voiced, "Back then, what exactly happened that made you do what you did?"
During a secret meeting of the God Organization's leaders, Ye Fan ignited powerful explosives. Even a small amount could have wiped out the entire leadership. But Ye Fan prepared more than just a small amount—at least a hundred times more—turning the leaders meeting into ashes, leaving the building in ruins. That explosion was so devastating that not a single hair of the dead could be found.
This was what Fire Phoenix was asking about, hoping for an answer from Ye Fan.
"It's all in the past, nothing more to say." Ye Fan said indifferently.
"I need an explanation. Will you not even give me an answer?" Fire Phoenix complained, "Do you know that after the leaders died, a global operation was launched to annihilate the God Organization? The known bases suffered devastating attacks. In the state of chaos, most members didn't escape death. In the critical moment, Jupite stood out as the only senior leader, becoming a new hope. Otherwise, the God Organization would have lost its refuge and its members would have either died, fled, or spent their lives in prison."
Fire Phoenix was rational as she awaited an answer. She didn't show any hatred, though the current God Organization resented the Terminator to their core. She just wanted an answer.
She was a part of the God Organization, grateful to the organization that nurtured her. Even without warmth there, she survived the brutal struggles, making it to the present. But without this anchor, how could she accept what the Terminator did?
Being brainwashed from a young age, without any other talent, only her strength made her a focus for the organization to hone.
She did not disappoint, surviving despite losing much and enduring countless sufferings.
Ye Fan gave Fire Phoenix a complicated look, his heart stirred, yet he offered no explanation.
He had little sympathy for the plight of the God Organization members, believing his actions would prevent further tragedies.
"You'd rather be my enemy than offer any explanation, is it?" Fire Phoenix said, slightly angry.
"You know I don't wish to be your enemy," Ye Fan said, "But some things don't need to be said."
"Yet by doing so, you make us enemies. Do you know that Deceitful Fox already has a secret order to remove you at any cost if discovered?" Fire Phoenix hastily said, "I don't believe you would attack the God Organization leaders without reason."
"What a pity Jupite lived up to the name Deceitful Fox. Even as a decoy, he has a twin brother, otherwise the God Organization would have long ceased to exist. The remaining bases wouldn't have survived, facing either obliteration or insignificance as mercenaries for others," Ye Fan took the opportunity to change the subject.
Fire Phoenix understood this well and said helplessly, "Say what you will, but Deceitful Fox being alive is a blessing for the God Organization."
She knew she wouldn't get useful information from Ye Fan.
"What will you do next?" Fire Phoenix shifted the decision to Ye Fan.
This question carried profound implications: to be enemies, face life and death, or to fight now for Habson.
She desperately wanted to know Ye Fan's choice.
"I've said before, I'll never be your enemy." Ye Fan decisively said without hesitation, "Tell Habson this one time, you protected him, so I let him go. But without your protection, he better hide well, or else I could take his life at any time."
Hearing this, Fire Phoenix was deeply moved. She saw a glimpse of the old Terminator, indifferent yet caring, and noticed the engraved thread of dominance on him.
Fire Phoenix was in a daze, thinking a lot, as many past scenes replayed in her mind.
"I'm leaving." Ye Fan got up and left.
Fire Phoenix wanted to make him stay, her reluctance was evident on her face, but after repeatedly hesitating, she didn't hold him back. The longer Ye Fan stayed with her, the quicker his identity would be exposed, so she didn't insist on keeping him.
Ye Fan left the boxing arena.
Fire Phoenix was lost in thought. No longer masked by any facade, her face showed joy—the joy and happiness of seeing Ye Fan.
There was also complexity in her thoughts—she pondered how not to become enemies with Ye Fan, as the current God Organization and the Terminator were mortal foes.
And there was curiosity—a question that had haunted her mind numerous times: why would the Terminator strike the God Organization?
[Explosion tomorrow, look forward to the introduction of Mengyao's former secretary's sister]