Chen Na Wei stared at Su Zhan in disbelief, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and desperation. "What did you do to me?"
Su Zhan smiled calmly, his tone gentle but unyielding. "Nothing much. I just wanted to show you how vast the gap is between us. You can give up on any desperate plans. If I wanted you dead, you wouldn't have a chance."
He reached out, letting his finger glide across the edge of Chen Na Wei's short blade. Instantly, a thin cut appeared on his skin. Blood welled up for a moment, but within seconds, the wound closed and vanished, leaving no trace.
Chen Na Wei's eyes widened in horror. "That… that's not possible. Are you even human?"
Despair washed over her. She realized that not only could Su Zhan immobilize her at will, but he also possessed a healing ability far beyond anything she had ever seen. She stood no chance against him.
"What do you want from me? If you're going to kill me, at least make it quick!" she shouted, trying to muster her last bit of defiance.
Su Zhan shook his head, his smile never fading. "Don't worry. The night is long, and we have plenty of time. Actually, I don't have to kill you. In a way, you've helped me. Without you, things might not have gone so smoothly for me tonight."
Chen Na Wei's expression flickered with hope. "So… you'll let me go?"
"At least, I won't kill you. Not this time," Su Zhan replied. "But letting you go? That's not so easy. It wasn't hard to catch you, but I can't just let you walk away without anything in return."
"What do you want?" she asked, her voice wary.
Su Zhan's eyes sparkled with playful mischief. "I told you, the night is long. If we don't find something entertaining, it'll be boring. You have a beautiful figure. Why not… dance for me?"
He walked over to the wine cabinet, poured himself a glass, and settled onto the sofa, crossing his legs. With a wave of his hand, he released his hold on Chen Na Wei.
She spun around, regaining control of her body, and stared at him in disbelief. "Dance?"
"Yes, dance. And not just any dance," Su Zhan said, his tone light. "I mean the kind that gets more daring as it goes on."
Chen Na Wei's face flushed as she realized what he meant. "You… you want me to strip for you?"
"If you have the guts, kill me instead!" she snapped, furious at the humiliation.
Su Zhan shook his head. "I told you, I won't kill you. But I do want you to yield. Believe me, there are far worse ways I could make you pay. Dancing is the easiest option."
Chen Na Wei hesitated, torn between pride and survival. She wanted to refuse, but she did not want to die. After a long moment, she gritted her teeth and began to move, her motions stiff at first but gradually loosening as the music in her mind took over.
Su Zhan watched her seriously, without a hint of lewdness. His gaze was appreciative, almost reverent. This seriousness made Chen Na Wei feel oddly at ease. The embarrassment faded, replaced by a strange sense of satisfaction. For the first time, she felt seen for more than just her reputation as a killer.
As the dance continued, her movements became more fluid, her confidence growing. She even found herself enjoying the moment, her cold exterior softening, a hint of femininity blooming in her expression.
Time seemed to blur. Chen Na Wei lost track of how long she danced, pouring her emotions into every movement. Suddenly, a chill wind swept through the room. She turned, startled, only to find that Su Zhan had vanished.
She stood there in stunned silence, barely able to process what had happened. Had he really just watched her dance and then left without another word?
A strange feeling crept into her heart. Was it possible that she had failed to charm him? Had he left because he was not interested in her at all?
Chen Na Wei sighed, pushing down the complicated emotions swirling inside her. She quickly gathered herself, determined to leave Star City as soon as possible.
But the truth was more complicated. Chen Na Wei was certainly a woman of great charm, and Su Zhan was not immune to her allure. Convincing a ruthless assassin like her to yield was no small feat for any man. But Su Zhan had other priorities tonight.
He knew Chen Na Wei's actions had already alerted Martin Somers. He would realize his hired killer had failed, and he would know that Arrow would come for him next. That meant Somers would try to run.
This was the perfect opportunity for Su Zhan.
First, he could team up with Arrow to protect Star City and bring Somers to justice, fulfilling his main mission. Second, working together with Arrow would also complete his side quest. And finally, nothing builds camaraderie between men like facing danger together.
There were still three days left in this world. If everything went smoothly, Su Zhan could finish his tasks early and spend the rest of his time relaxing.
He returned to the secret base, where Oliver Queen was already waiting.
When Oliver saw Su Zhan, he greeted him with a grateful nod. "Thank you, brother!"
Su Zhan waved off the thanks. "It was nothing. By the way, I let the white-haired witch go. Of course, I made her pay a price."
Oliver's curiosity was piqued. "What kind of price?"
Su Zhan grinned. "That's not important. Let's just say she won't forget it anytime soon. She's just a hired killer, not the real mastermind. The one we need to deal with is Martin Somers. What do you say? Shall we work together?"
Oliver's eyes lit up. "Absolutely!"
Although Oliver felt he could handle Somers on his own, he was happy to accept Su Zhan's help. The two heroes prepared to move out, ready to face the next challenge together.