Chapter One: The Fall of the Little Thief King

Sitting at his computer, Wang Luo stared idly at an email sent by an employer. The employer was offering ten million to have him steal an item from the upcoming International Jewelry Expo in H City.

“I’m a patriot. How could I do something that would disgrace the Chinese people?” Wang Luo muttered to himself, intending to refuse. After all, international events like this had formidable security. Even though the employer had provided the security blueprint for the expo, risking his life for ten million wasn’t worth it. He was just a small-time thief, albeit one with a bit of a reputation. He really couldn’t understand how the employer had found him.

As he scrolled down with his mouse, an image appeared on the screen—something strange and unsettling. It was the head of a black yin fish from a Taiji diagram, its body covered with bizarre red and black patterns, with only the white fish eye untouched by bloodshot lines.

Wang Luo paused, visibly surprised, then took a sachet from around his neck. From it, he drew out the head of a white yang fish, also from a Taiji diagram. The white body was covered with eerie red and white patterns, and a single black eyeball gleamed strangely.

Placing the two images side by side on his computer screen, Wang Luo saw they formed a blood-streaked Taiji symbol. Startled, he couldn’t help but exclaim, “What a coincidence!”

He had no clear memory of where his own Taiji yang fish had come from—he vaguely recalled picking it up as a child because he found it intriguing and had kept it ever since. After being recruited by an assassin organization, this peculiar object became his sole possession, and he guarded it carefully.

“What coincidence, my dear master thief?” A sudden voice sounded behind him. Wang Luo’s hair stood on end, his muscles tensed, but he dared not move—there was a gun pressed quietly against his head.

Once he recognized the voice, Wang Luo relaxed, turning around with an annoyed look at the man in black behind him. “Boss, this game isn’t fun. You almost scared me to death!”

The man, looking a couple of years older than Wang Luo—around twenty—was already sitting cross-legged on the sofa, cleaning his gun. He glanced at Wang Luo, his tone sour. “Hmph! Look at you—wasting your talent as an assassin to play at being a petty thief. Your vigilance is slipping. I could’ve shot you right now.”

Wang Luo nodded along, making noises of agreement, but anyone could see he wasn’t really listening.

Truth be told, Wang Luo was exasperated. His boss, Li Lei—the man in black—lectured him every time he dropped by. Wang Luo knew it was for his own good, but he’d heard it all a thousand times before. He had no desire to hear it again.

Seeing Wang Luo’s attitude, Li Lei gave up on further scolding. He knew it was pointless and, besides, Wang Luo was shrewd enough to avoid real danger. What really puzzled Li Lei was how he’d managed to approach Wang Luo this time without being noticed.

He remembered first encountering Wang Luo back in the assassin training camp. Most people found Wang Luo’s quirks curious, but Li Lei had never seen him until one day, quite by accident. Wang Luo was being surrounded by a group, and Li Lei realized he bore a striking resemblance to his own younger brother—especially the stubborn, unyielding look in his eyes. Before being forced into the organization, Li Lei had been very fond of his brother.

He’d helped Wang Luo that day and the two became acquainted. In the harsh environment of the assassin camp, they survived by helping each other, forming a deep bond. Li Lei even came to treat Wang Luo as his own little brother.

Feeling Li Lei’s curious gaze, Wang Luo recounted the incident with the Taiji fish. He trusted Li Lei completely—without him, Wang Luo might not have survived the brutal training. He’d always regarded Li Lei as an elder brother, his only family.

Wang Luo was an orphan, raised in an overcrowded orphanage ruled by cliques. Fights and scuffles were routine, and no one ever intervened. He hated his biological parents but detested it even more when others claimed to be his father or mother. Everyone in the orphanage knew about this quirk, and some of the stronger boys enjoyed provoking him with it.

He remembered being eight years old when a new orphan, strong and well-fed—unlike the others—deliberately called himself Wang Luo’s “father.” Wang Luo, stubborn as ever, charged at him but was quickly knocked to the ground. Again and again, he rushed forward, only to be thrown down each time. The surrounding children watched the spectacle with glee.

On the periphery stood a middle-aged man in a black suit, watching Wang Luo with interest. When Wang Luo was knocked down for the thirteenth time and the other children lost interest, the man approached him. Looking down, he pointed to the strong boy and said, “Do you want to knock him down? Come with me, and the next time you return, you’ll be able to do it. You can have all you desire—food, toys, anything.”

And so, Wang Luo followed the man in black, along with several other chosen children, into the assassin training camp and began a life of brutal training.

The camp was located on an unknown island, drawing children from all over the world, all of a certain age. Except for one day off each month, they trained relentlessly—learning not only the arts of killing and physical conditioning, but also a variety of other skills.

That single rest day each month was the only time to vent their pent-up frustrations. Word of Wang Luo’s quirk spread, making him the target of many, but after being knocked down enough times, he grew stronger.

Eventually, he met Li Lei, and their friendship deepened as they helped each other survive the merciless regime.

A year ago, the survivors were told they would be free after ten years of service to the organization. None dared dream of escape; the more they learned, the more formidable and unfathomable the organization seemed.

After discussing the matter, Wang Luo and Li Lei decided to accept the job. Ten million was a fortune, and if the employer had come to Wang Luo, it meant he had confidence in his abilities.

But the true reason Wang Luo abandoned his patriotic scruples was his curiosity about the connection between the two Taiji fish.

Apart from their assigned missions, Wang Luo and Li Lei occasionally took on outside jobs, since the organization paid nothing for its assignments and those were compulsory. They had to find other ways to make money. Wang Luo disliked killing, so he became a thief; Li Lei, on the other hand, preferred the assassin’s path—killing was quick, profitable, and his area of expertise.

Azure Dragon of the Otherworld, Book 1, Chapter One: The Thief Wang Luo—End of Chapter.