On the Edge of the Blade
Zhou Sen, an ordinary patrol officer at the Nangang Police Station of the Ice City Police Department under the puppet regime in Manchukuo, awakens one day to find his world suddenly shrouded in intrig
The northern lands, City of Ice.
Outside, the wind raged, and even a drop of water froze instantly.
In the Dao Wai district, at the Fragrant Pavilion of Cui Fang Lane.
At dawn, a young hand slipped out from beneath a brocade quilt embroidered with mandarin ducks.
He let out a breath, as if a fish starved of oxygen had finally surfaced for air.
His eyelids half-opened, slitting his gaze at the world.
Wait—what was this bed, this scent, and the dazzling… crystal chandelier swaying overhead?
Something wasn’t right. Where was he?
Zhou Sen took a breath, turned his neck slightly, and saw a retro table lamp at the bedside: a brass base, a silken shade, and a pull-cord switch.
Damn it—what era still used things like this?
His body ached, as though it had been hollowed out.
Hell, had he been writing all night until he hallucinated? He shut his eyes tightly, counted to three, and opened them again.
Nothing had changed.
He shifted. Something was wrong—there was someone else under the quilt!
Even the dullest nerves would have sensed a problem by now. About to get up, Zhou Sen’s expression shifted minutely.
His heart leapt to his throat. He gingerly lifted the quilt for a peek.
When he saw the undulating curves beneath, his heart thundered as if struck by lightning. Zhou Sen shuddered, hastily pulling the quilt back over.
Hallucination—it had to be a hallucination…
His heart nearly burst from his chest, his mind went blank, and his eyes widened in shock.
He tried to calm