315: 7.5 The Villain's Heart

7.5 The Villain's Heart

Clarity returned to Lu Yizhou in stages. First, he registered that he was currently laying on top of a soft clean-smelling bed, naked save for the bandages that almost made him look like a mummy. Second, the distinct smell of medicine was overpowering. Third, his body was numbed all over from the anesthetic but at least, he could still move his fingers.0

His breathing didn't falter as he switched to do it through his mouth. Then he tried to pick up the sounds from his surroundings. Faint footsteps, conversation, rustle of the trees, no second person nearby. 

Slowly Lu Yizhou let out an exhale. [Plot.]

[666: Aye, aye Host *whisper* 666 has been waiting for this!]

The villain in this world, Moshe 'Angel of Death' Morelli, was the leader of one of the biggest mafia clans in the world, The Void. He gained the nickname for his rumoured beauty — yes rumoured because Moshe didn't actually like to appear in public and always delegated his right hand man, Kaede the Poison Blade — that could even make the most beautiful woman ashamed. It was unfortunate that contrary to his look, his heart was sinister, ugly and black. He smiled when he butchered people and he laughed when the others cried in agony. 

He was one of the strongest and most influential figures in the world, with an extensive connection to the police and government alike, making him the most dangerous man ever. 

Enter the male protagonist, Zion 'Ice Madman' Tenley, the leader of another terrifying mafia clan, Cobalt Fang, who had been The Void's rival for decades. Like every male protagonist, he was cold, icy and aloof; unfeeling even when he executed a massacre on his entire family the day he was crowned as the Leader. Hence the nickname.

Moshe and Zion had been fighting for years with no clear outcome. True nemesis, one could say. They were evenly matched in strength, wits and intelligence. 

Moshe's advantage lay in his charisma because he had tons of loyal and exceptional members who were ready to die for him, one of them was Kaede. 

On the other hand, Zion often won because of his backhanded moves. He was wicked, cruel and didn't hesitate to use any means to achieve his goals. After the massacre of his family, Zion was left with no weakness in his life and hence, the universe decided to slap him on the face in the form of an ordinary man. 

One fateful day, Zion almost died from Moshe's bullets and escaped with bleeding wounds far from the city. He collapsed in an empty dark alley thinking that he would die and then voilà, the other male protagonist appeared to save the day. 

Cedric was a part time bartender and a university fresh graduate who was currently searching for permanent jobs whilst taking whatever part time he could think of. He was a lovely young man, bright and naive with a pure outlook to the world. That's why when he found a bleeding man unconscious in the alley behind the bar he was working at, he didn't even think twice before bringing the man home to treat his wounds. 

The interaction of the two male protagonists began from there onward. Cedric was sincere and dedicated — and maybe with the littlest foolish crush — in treating this handsome stranger who claimed that he didn't have a home. It was only natural for Cedric to offer his home as a temporary place for Zion to live in while he recuperated. 

At first, Zion wanted nothing to do with this man but gradually, he found himself helpless in the face of Cedric's kindness and gentleness. It was the first time he had met someone so gentle, so kind and pure that… he wanted to protect him. Yes, he didn't want anything to happen to Cedric. Their relationship bloomed so rapidly, so intense and vivid that Zion was unable to fight against the current. One touch turned to another, one kiss broke the dam inside his heart and before they knew it, they had fallen in love with each other.

But he wasn't an ordinary man. Being with him would only make Cedric suffer.

The corner of Lu Yizhou's lips twitched. What kind of soap opera was he reading right now? Based on experience, he could have already imagined how brain-dead the male protagonist — especially Cedric — would be. He heaved out a sigh and scrolled down until Moshe, his lover, appeared.

There was no way Moshe believed that Zion was already dead, despite the news of his disappearance that quickly spread in the underworld. For months he kept searching, intending to finish Zion once and for all. He planted spies, spread his people all over the land, and kept an eye on every news no matter how trifling it was. And luck indeed shone on him because his people coincidentally found Zion when they visited the bar where Cedric was working part time in!

Under Kaede's command, Moshe's people kidnapped Cedric — who had become Zion's lover by that time — and brought him to Moshe to be taken hostage.

At that critical moment, Moshe was actually hesitating. He was no good guy but still, he had principles which he upheld in his life. First, no serious relationship. Second, blood would be repaid by blood. Third, no harming innocent citizens. Even if Cedric was Zion's lover, he was still included in the category of people Moshe wouldn't touch. 

However, it was that moment of softheartedness that almost cost him everything. 

Zion — The Ice Madman as per his nickname — went ballistic when he found out that his lover was missing. He almost went insane imagining what kind of torture Cedric was going through under Moshe's hands and in a spur of the moment, he brought out all of his members to bomb The Void's properties; the hotels, casinos, spa resorts, malls… everywhere.

The accident got into headline news for weeks. Almost five thousand people died as collateral damages, men and women, old and young. The city was literally consumed in flames.

Moshe succeeded in getting out alive but… at what cost? His clan was in shambles, 95% of his assets were lost in the explosion and almost all of the high ranking members of his clan died… including Kaede. 

Kaede, who had pushed Moshe out of danger and sacrificed himself in the process. Kaede, who was his childhood friend and his brother in all but blood…

Moshe stared at the sea of fire, rage and despair reflected on his bloodshot eyes. Revenge, every inch of his body clamoured! Blood would be repaid by blood! He would make Zion suffer twice— no, a hundred folds of the pain Moshe and the dead had gone through!

If previously Moshe was depicted as sinister then this time as he rose again from the cusp of death, he had become incarnate of the devil itself. He closed his heart off to everyone with revenge as his sole purpose. If Zion was evil, then he would become a more evil man to defeat him. Even if he had to go to Hell for that… 

Well, his life had since been Hell after the incident anyway.

Lu Yizhou read through the plot to the end. It was different from usual. Previously, the protagonists would always emerge as the victor while the villain was defeated, often ending up with a tragic death. 

But this time… the protagonist actually lost to the villain. 

Moshe was nothing but forbearing and single-minded. Once he set his mind on something, he would be able to fulfill it even at the expense of his own life.

A man who had nothing to lose was the most terrifying. And now that Zion had someone whom he wanted to protect more than his own life, he became vulnerable. Once Moshe took hold of his weakness, Zion was helpless to do anything. Moshe still remembered that it was this fraction of mercy that had caused him to lose everything and now… he wouldn't be merciful anymore.

Zion was tortured brutally before he was burned in the raging fire, welcoming death in a slow, agonizing manner just like the way Kaede died whereas Cedric was shot on his head because he insisted on staying and pleading for Zion's life instead of running away as Zion had told him to. Both of their bodies were then dumped into the ocean, never to be found again.

Lu Yizhou let out a sigh. Yes, Moshe indeed won in the end, but in fact he was already defeated ever since the bombing incident. Despite the warm beating heart inside his chest and the air he took with every inhale, he had long been dead ever since.

This was only the original plot, Lu Yizhou told himself. He would make sure with his own life that it wouldn't happen. Nevertheless, his heart still ached terribly for his lover who was fated to go through a life worse than death itself.

If he wasn't wrong, then this time's mission would be slightly different than before.

[666: That's right, Host. This time, we have to save Moshe — not his life, but his heart.]

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