The Rise of the White Lotus

BANG!

Time stopped, emotions rode in a roller coaster ride in a rapid motion. Everyone's muscle stiffened, restraining everyone to move an inch. 

Lexi's shut eyes slowly opened, her gaze moved up in a snail pace at the shadow shading her. As soon as Lexi met those relieved pair of argent eyes, tears fell from the corner of her eyes. 

"Thank God... you're safe." Soft and relief, Churu smiled seeing that she blocked the bullet in time. The next second, a writhing pain as the bullet that penetrated her flesh electrified her nerves. 

"Churu!" Lexi shouted as Churu crashed to the floor. Crawling towards her, Lexi's trembling hands held of Churu's frail body. 

Blood tainted Lexi's hand as crimson red liquid gushed out from Churu's back. "No, no, please Churu!" Sobbing her heart out, Lexi's whole body trembled.

Unbeknownst to her, the red dot on Lexi's head was still on her. Alas, she could not care less about her safety anymore as Churu was literally bleeding before her. 

On the other hand, Ethan Lu's heart pounded with what transpired before him. Whenever Churu move, he could barely guess what she had done. 

However, this time, he witnessed how Churu sprinted from the corner and appeared in front of Lexi. Just in time as the bullet came close to Lexi. 

The next thing he saw, Churu's back was bleeding in an abnormal pace — he felt the same pain in his back yet, it was a bearable pain as if Churu was taking all the pain to herself. 

"Hahahaha! Don't worry, Mrs. Lu. You'll going to die, anyway. That little bodyguard just went first!" Surprised that Churu suddenly appeared in front of Lexi, Lincoln Lu didn't have the leisure to dwell on it. 

After all, he had skilled men from a distance that were on standby. Hence, whoever shield Lexi and Ethan, they'd only ended up dead until there was no other to protect his targets. 

"You!" Meanwhile, Nico Zhuang finally snapped. Without a second hesitation, he pulled Lincoln Lu's head and slammed it to the concrete ground. 

His violent reaction caused Lincoln Lu to break a few of his teeth. "I'll kill you myself before you kill everyone." Through his gritted teeth, Nico Zhuang pulled Lincoln Lu's hair again and slammed it to the ground again. 

Every slammed Nico Zhuang did, Lincoln Lu heard his nose cracked, his teeth breaking one after another as blood soon covered his face. Lincoln Lu didn't have the time to retaliate as Nico Zhuang didn't give him the chance. 

It was the first time the inexpressive Nico Zhuang showed anger to someone. Not to mention, his action in dealing with it was something they shouldn't be surprised — but they were. 

"Nico..." Ethan Lu muttered, stopping Nico Zhuang before Lincoln Lu's skull break into pieces. 

Lincoln Lu then lifted his finger that only Nico Zhuang and Ethan Lu noticed. Immediately, Nico Zhuang looked at Churu's figure. 

"Lexi!" As fast as he could, Ethan Lu sprinted to Lexi's direction. However, he wasn't as fast as Churu as the second shot was released. 

PANG!

The next second, just as everyone thought Lexi was done for, the bullet missed her by the skin of her teeth. Instead of Lexi's head, the bullet penetrated the ground near her. Still, it made Lexi jolt while protecting Churu. 

'It missed?' To Lincoln Lu's surprise, he was confident his men were skilled enough not to miss their targets.

"What the f*ck are you doing, man?" Out of nowhere, everyone heard an annoyed female voice from above. 

Unconsciously, everyone, even Lincoln Lu, looked up. There, in the rusting railings of the abandoned warehouse, Seraphina Yue was languidly sitting there while her foot swing back and forth. 

"You...!" Just hearing her familiar voice, and confirming it was her, Lincoln Lu's complexion paled as fear suddenly crept out of his countenance. 

Even before numerous guns from Ethan Lu's men, Lincoln Lu's composure didn't break. However, a glimpse of the woman above them, his body instinctively shuddered. 

"Yah yah! My baby doll was freaking shot! She's dying — what the f*ck?!" Agitated on the person from the other end of the line, Seraphina Yue cursed repeatedly. 

Sensing that gazes from below were on her, she looked down. "Oh..." Upon realizing that she spoke too loud, she blinked her eyes many times — as if pondering about something. 

"Please pretend you didn't see me — no one can see an angel, hehehe." Soon, they finally knew what she was thinking as she asked them a favor. 

Well, she didn't plan to make herself known tonight. She was just there because Louis Lu asked him a favor of making sure Ethan Lu and Lexi wouldn't die in the hands of Lincoln Lu. 

However, when Churu was shot after doing something interesting, Seraphina Yue could not help but curse her subordinates that should stop all snipers in the area. 

"Why are you here?!" Despite his trembling voice, Lincoln Lu spat out. 

On the other hand, Ethan Lu was baffled at the woman's presence as well. However, he didn't dwell on it as he rushed to Lexi and Churu. 

"Bastard! So you sided with that damn Ethan?!" Lincoln Lu growled, struggling to break free from the men pinning him down. 

If Lincoln Lu's hate towards Ethan Lu was considered too much — it was evident that he hated the woman even more. No one knew why, but it was clear as the day that he had deep grudges towards the woman. 

"Woah! Chill, man! You barely have teeth — don't talk anymore, it's unsightly!" Ignoring the hate from Lincoln Lu, Seraphina Yue's face distorted in disgust. 

She could not stand the look of Lincoln Lu's mangled and bloodied mouth with those few teeth intact. 

"I'm not choosing any side, alright? I'm just doing your son a favor to clear my debts! Also, why would I side with you? You hate me!" Seraphina rolled her eyes as she spouted in a matter-of-fact tone. 

Just then, the entrance of the warehouse bust opened. "Lincoln Lu!" As soon as it opened, Edward Lu's thunderous voice resonated across each corner of the establishment.