A ball of flame appeared in Evan Lin's palm, the flickering firelight completely enveloping his entire hand.
The hotel security guards heard the commotion and rushed over, but were all stunned by the scene before them. Eyes wide in disbelief, none dared to make a move.
The flames wrapped around Evan Lin's palm, yet did not burn his clothes or skin.
Evan Lin’s gaze remained calm. He casually hurled the fire in his hand to the ground, and in an instant, dozens of thin chains of flame surged outward from him in all directions.
Wherever those chains of fire passed—tables, chairs, even artificial rockery—everything instantly ignited. In the blink of an eye, the entire lobby was filled with tongues of flame.
"Ah!"
A thin chain of flame snaked its way to the front desk. In the next moment, the entire reception counter burst into flames!
The temperature in the lobby kept rising, and the fire alarm began to blare.
"Put out the fire! Hurry, put out the fire!"
One security guard, seeing this, told the front desk to call the fire department. Then, a few of them rolled up their sleeves and charged at Evan Lin, faces twisted in anger.
"You dare set a fire here! Beating you to death today would be perfectly justified!"
The lead guard shouted furiously and charged at Evan Lin. In just a few seconds, the entire group was swiftly and cleanly knocked to the ground by Evan.
Standing amidst the sea of flames, Evan Lin’s eyes reflected the orange firelight as he once again walked toward the front desk attendants.
The front desk attendants’ faces turned pale. Instinctively, they tried to run, but their legs were weak, and after only a few steps, tongues of flame blocked their path.
"Three seconds. Two choices."
"Tell me Leo Lewis’s room number, or die right now."
Evan Lin’s left hand moved slightly, grabbing a ball of flame, his expression cold and merciless.
"Eigh—Eighteenth floor, 1801."
The two front desk attendants looked as if they’d seen a ghost, bursting into tears from sheer terror.
The elevators kept opening as the hotel’s fire alarm blared. Countless guests rushed downstairs, but when they saw the blazing lobby, their faces turned pale and none dared to dash through the wall of fire to escape.
Some of the remaining staff had already started organizing firefighting efforts.
Evan Lin, however, couldn’t care less about any of it.
He didn’t take the elevator, but instead climbed the emergency stairwell, step by step.
......
Eighteenth floor, room 1801.
Leo Lewis lounged in a bathrobe, raising his eyebrows as he eyed Yolanda Fang, who stood not far away clutching a fruit knife. "Hey pretty girl, don’t be so worked up. Play nice with Uncle, and if you have a good time, tomorrow I’ll take you shopping in Hong Kong."
"Get lost!" Yolanda Fang panted heavily, still wearing the crop-top T-shirt she’d had on at the bar. Gripping the knife in both hands, she glared fiercely at Leo Lewis.
Leo Lewis was thirty-five, the general manager of the Shengtian Grand Hotel under the Liu family.
He was notorious for preying on naïve young women. Just earlier, he’d seen Yolanda Fang drinking alone at the bar, instantly attracted by her perfect blend of innocence and sexiness.
Right away, he’d brought his lackeys along and, after a mix of coaxing and force, dragged Yolanda to the Shengtian Grand.
"Tsk, who do you think you’re scaring with that knife? In Brightsea City, you should feel honored to be noticed by me, Leo Lewis! And you really think holding a knife means I can’t touch you? I’ve got five bodyguards right outside. If you don’t mind, I can call them in to help strip you down—and then it won’t just be me admiring you. Think carefully about your options." Leo Lewis licked his lips, utterly confident.
Yolanda Fang’s face changed at his words, her eyes flashing with despair.
She glanced around, and finally her gaze landed on the window.
If there was truly no way out, she’d rather jump.
Yolanda made up her mind—even if it meant dying, she wouldn’t let Leo Lewis have his way.
Just then, the hotel alarm kept blaring, and someone started knocking urgently at the door.
"Boss Leo! Someone’s set a fire on the first floor!"
The voice outside sounded anxious.
"If there’s a fire, then go put it out! And grab that arsonist for me—cripple him! Do I really have to teach you how to handle something this simple?" Leo Lewis roared at the door.
In his mind, there were hardly any people in Brightsea City who’d dare cause trouble in the Shengtian Grand. A fire? Probably just a tiny flame—not worth his attention at all.
But before long, just as Leo Lewis was plotting how to quickly break Yolanda Fang’s resistance, a faint sound came from outside the door.
Then, there was another knock at the door.
"Who the hell is knocking? Didn’t I tell you to put out the fire and catch that arsonist? Damn it!" Leo Lewis’s face twisted in rage as he shouted at the door, "Don’t interrupt me!"
Thud, thud.
The knocking sounded again.
A surge of anger flashed across Leo Lewis’s face. He strode toward the door.
"I want to see which moron dares ignore me! If you don’t want this job, get lost!" Leo Lewis grabbed the doorknob and yanked the door open.
Leo Lewis, still seething, stared at the person outside for a moment, momentarily stunned.
"And you are?"
Leo Lewis looked at the youth outside the door, hands in his pockets, at first puzzled.
He couldn’t recall ever knowing this person.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, Leo Lewis spotted five men sprawled across the hallway—all of them the bodyguards he’d stationed at the door.
Those guys were Leo’s most trusted muscle, but now they lay on the ground, motionless like dead fish.
A chill crept into Leo’s heart.
Before he could say a word, Evan Lin raised his foot and kicked Leo Lewis in the stomach.
Leo Lewis was sent flying, crashing into the room and overturning a coffee table. Clutching his stomach, he glared at Evan, face twisted in pain. "Who the hell are you? Don’t you know whose turf this is? You dare lay a hand on me?"
Evan didn’t answer. He walked into the room, glancing around, and spotted Yolanda Fang clutching the knife, her face full of astonishment.
"E-Evan? Why are you here?"
Yolanda never expected Evan Lin to appear before her like this, at this very moment.
Her eyes widened, as if she were dreaming.
Just a moment ago, Yolanda Fang was desperate enough to consider jumping out the window. The next, she saw Evan Lin stroll in, hands in his pockets, as if he’d just happened to pass by while out for a walk.
Evan’s gaze was cool as he glanced at Yolanda, saying nothing. Yet that single look made Yolanda’s heart tremble; her throat tightened, and for a moment, she didn’t know what to say.
"Let me tell you! I’m Leo Lewis! No one in all of Brightsea City dares treat me like this!"
"Was it you who set the fire in the lobby downstairs? Kid, I’m telling you, you’re dead meat tonight!" Leo Lewis roared like a furious beast.
He’d never been treated like this before. As a member of the Liu family of Brightsea, Leo Lewis had always lived a carefree life.
Evan didn’t spare Leo a glance. He walked straight to the window, pulled it open, and gazed out at the city lights.
"The night really is beautiful, isn’t it?"
Evan murmured, then, seeing Leo’s baffled expression, turned, reached out, and grabbed Leo Lewis by the neck, lifting him clean off the floor.