Deviant: No Longer Human

He wasn't afraid of divine retribution, not for one second. If it cost him his life, then so be it. He'd uphold his words with his last breath if necessary.

He shot a glance back at Renji, the man sitting there, trying to pretend he still had some dignity left. And then there's this bastard…

'Right in front of me, your dignity's being stripped away,' Wang Xiao thought, almost amused. 'And you just sit there, not even defending yourself.'

It was pathetic. Wang Xiao had no respect for men like Renji, men who would trade their dignity and lived like chained domesticated dogs.

At that moment, Renji leaned forward slightly, his expression cool, but a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Are you sure you want her?" His voice carried an eerie calm as he tapped his fingers on the desk, the sound filling the silence. "She's the daughter of one of your enemies. Might slit your throat while you're asleep."

"!"

Wang Xiao raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised for once. "Which enemy?"

He had a long list, after all. It could've been anyone.

Renji's smile widened, a dark gleam in his eyes as he finally answered. "Asmodeus."

Wang Xiao's eyes flicked to Zhao Lian, who stood frozen, her icy composure shattered. She was trembling, glaring at Renji, the betrayal sinking in.

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, her chest rising and falling as she struggled to hold her emotions together.

She hadn't expected this—hadn't expected Renji to sell her out like this.

For years, she had served him loyally, treated him like an uncle, even a father figure after her real father's death. And this? This was how he repaid her?

Throwing her to the wolves without a second thought.

Liu Yanmei's brows furrowed, her confusion obvious. She glanced between them, trying to make sense of the sudden tension in the room. Meanwhile, Yuzuki was staring wide-eyed, her usual playful demeanor completely replaced by shock. She hadn't expected this twist.

Zhao Lian's eyes never left Renji, her body trembling slightly, torn between disbelief and rage.

She had grown up under his protection. Even before her father, Asmodeus, had died, Renji had sworn to safeguard her—had promised to keep her safe. She had trusted him.

All these years, she hadn't cared much about Asmodeus's legacy. Sure, it had been sad when he died, but in her heart, she always knew he would meet an early end, given the kind of life he led. It wasn't surprising. The criminal world didn't grant long lives, and Asmodeus's death had been inevitable.

She had moved on, lived a good life, unaffected by her father's sins.

If Wang Xiao knew how indifferent she was about her father's fate, he might've even pitied Asmodeus

Renji gritted his teeth, struggling internally. He had sworn to protect Asmodeus' daughter when she was just three years old. Even before the fall of her father, she had been raised far from Europe, hidden away in the States, a life carefully crafted to keep her away from her father's enemies.

He had done everything in his power to protect her, making sure she lived a quiet, comfortable life. And she had—working at Boeing, then Lockheed Martin, rising to the rank of vice president, far from her father's dark legacy.

And now, in a single breath, Renji had thrown it all away. Without hesitation. Without a second thought.

She had come here today only because Renji had asked her to. And now, he was handing her over, just like that.

Renji, for his part, averted his gaze. He couldn't look at her, not now. He had sworn to protect her, to keep her safe from her father's enemies.

Asmodeus had raised her outside of Europe, in the States, where she could live without the weight of his name dragging her down.

But this? This situation was beyond what he could control. If he showed how much he cared about her now—whether as a niece, an adopted daughter, or a woman—it would be the death of both of them.

Wang Xiao wasn't the kind of man who let sentimentality pass him by. If Renji gave any indication that Zhao Lian meant something to him, Wang Xiao would take pleasure in torturing them both to death.

He would torture them, dragging out their pain just for the fun of it.

He had done all he could.

Renji's jaw clenched as his eyes flicked back to Wang Xiao, still avoiding Zhao Lian's tear-filled gaze. If Wang Xiao wanted to take her, even knowing she was the daughter of an old enemy, Renji knew he couldn't stop him.

It was out of his hands now.

Zhao Lian, however, was far from silent. "You have no right to decide this!" she snapped, her voice shaking with anger, her once-cold demeanor now fiery. "I am not yours to give away!!" She shot Renji a furious look, but he remained cold, his eyes still closed, indifferent to her outburst.

His silence only fueled her rage.

Wang Xiao stood silent for a moment, watching Zhao Lian carefully, studying her face. The tears, the trembling body—there was fear, yes, but there was also fury in her eyes, a stubborn spirit that refused to break.

"Interesting," Wang Xiao murmured, his voice low, almost thoughtful.

He took a step toward Zhao Lian, his eyes narrowing. "So, you are Asmodeus' daughter, huh?" he said, a dangerous smirk creeping onto his lips. "Do you hate your father's enemies? Or are you just a tool, left behind to clean up his mess?"

Zhao Lian turned and met his gaze, her teeth clenched as she spat, "I have nothing to do with my father's past. And if I had the chance to kill you, I wouldn't do it in your sleep. I'd make sure you were awake to feel every second of it."

Wang Xiao's eyes gleamed with excitement, like a predator toying with its prey. "Oh? Quite the feisty one you are." He chuckled softly, taking another step closer. "You think you can make me suffer, little girl? I'll give you points for guts, but let's see if you can back that up."

Wang Xiao glanced back at Renji, a smirk still on his lips. "You'd offer her up so easily, huh? Your loyalty's pretty cheap, isn't it?"

Renji didn't flinch, keeping his expression cold and unreadable. "Do what you want with her. Just know that this squares things between us."

He couldn't help but curse inwardly. Wang Xiao was deliberately making things worse, ensuring she hated him even more!

That bastard is too vicious!

If anyone saw through Wang Xiao's words and intentions, they would definitely know how vicious he was.

He laughed, loud and cruel, his voice filling the room. "You're a fucking snake, Renji. Throwing her to the wolves to save your own skin." He turned back to Zhao Lian, his gaze sharp and calculating. "But fine, I'll take her. Let's see if she's as much of a threat as you think."

Zhao Lian's fists clenched tightly at her sides, her nails digging into her palms as she glared at Renji. "You bastard…" she whispered, barely able to contain her rage.

Renji didn't even glance at her. His eyes were fixed on Wang Xiao, his lips curling into a cold, silent smile. 'Be calm. Be calm. One day soon, he would regret this.'

But for now, Renji had survived. That's all that mattered.