Chapter 4: Saving Su Yanyan

Just as the men in black were about to seize her, a cold voice rang out.

“You’ve got some nerve, attacking a woman in broad daylight.”

The men turned. Behind them stood a young man who looked as though a strong wind might knock him over. It was Lin Mo.

“Where did you come from, kid? Trying to play the hero like in the movies? Mind your own business and get lost if you don’t want to die.”

They pointed at him, but Lin Mo only smiled. Before, he probably wouldn’t have dared intervene beyond calling the police. Now his Divine Emperor bloodline had awakened, and he possessed martial and mystical arts. These thugs were no threat to him.

“And if I don’t?”

“Then die!”

One man charged, fist raised. Lin Mo watched him approach without changing expression.

“I’ll teach you to keep your damn nose out of other people’s business!”

The fist rushed toward Lin Mo’s face. A sharp smack sounded, and the man flew sideways, landing on the ground with foam at his mouth.

The others stared. They hadn’t even seen Lin Mo strike, and their companion was already down. Their eyes filled with apprehension.

“Are you leaving on your own,” Lin Mo asked, “or do you want me to send you on your way?”

The men exchanged uneasy looks, then turned to a bald man among them.

“Boss, what do we do? He must be trained. I’m not sure we can—”

“Shut up!” the bald man snapped. They fell silent. He glared at Lin Mo. “You’ve got guts, kid. You even dare take a woman Brother Hu wants. We’ll let this go for today, but just you wait!”

At his signal, the others helped their fallen companion up and slunk away.

Lin Mo let them go. Su Yanyan looked unwell.

“Su Yanyan, do you remember me?” He approached and examined her. Her eyes were unfocused, her cheeks flushed, and her hands and feet trembled involuntarily. She had clearly been drugged.

He needed to help her quickly, or something might happen. But she was barely lucid and, after years apart, didn’t recognize him.

“D-don’t come near me.” She backed into a corner, watching him warily.

“Su Yanyan, it’s me, Lin Mo.” He took another step closer.

“Lin… Mo?” She looked at him again. Something about him seemed familiar, but she was in no condition to judge clearly.

“You remember me, don’t you?” He carefully reached for her hand. “You’ve been drugged. We need to find somewhere private so I can get it out of your system.”

The alley was secluded, but anyone might come by; it wasn’t safe or convenient.

“Don’t touch me!” She slapped his hand away.

Lin Mo felt exasperated. What was this stupid woman doing? He had saved her, and now she wouldn’t cooperate.

“You’re with Wang Hu! Don’t think I can’t see through your little act!” Bent over and breathing hard, she clutched her chest. “Touch one finger of mine and I’ll bite my tongue off!”

Lin Mo gave an angry laugh. She thought he was in league with them. If they hadn’t been on reasonably good terms before, he thought, he wouldn’t bother. Still, he needed to help her first.

“Get away!” Her eyes were red as she glared at him.

“Fine, fine. I’m going.” He retreated as he spoke, intending to make her lower her guard, not to leave her alone. After three steps, he darted forward while she wasn’t paying attention and struck the back of her neck. She lost consciousness before she could react.

He caught her. “You should be glad I found you today, Su Yanyan.” Otherwise, he didn’t know what might have happened to the woman who had once captivated so many men.

“First I need to find somewhere to help her.”

He lifted her into his arms and carried her to a nearby inn, thinking he could rent an hourly room. She looked slender, though she felt soft in his arms.

“I’d like your cheapest room for a few hours,” he told the receptionist.

The young woman looked at him, then at the unconscious Su Yanyan in his arms. Her expression was odd, but she didn’t ask about the guests’ private business.

“There’s only one hourly room left. One hundred and eighty-six yuan for three hours.”

“How much?”

That was daylight robbery! “Is there anything cheaper?”

He wasn’t being stingy; he only had 218 yuan, and he hadn’t paid for his food at the Shaxian shop yet.

“No. Do you want it or not?” The receptionist glanced meaningfully at the woman in his arms.

“I’ll take it.” He gritted his teeth and paid by scanning the code. His balance dropped from 218 yuan to 32.

“ID, please.”

He carried his ID for his delivery and driving jobs. He handed it over, and a minute later the receptionist returned it with a key card.

“Room 502. Turn left out of the elevator.”

“Thanks.” He put his ID away and hurried to the elevator with Yanyan.

After he left, the receptionist rolled her eyes. “Men. All that hurry for two or three minutes.” She had seen plenty like him.

The elevator chimed. Lin Mo hurried out, grateful that his awakened bloodline had made him strong enough to carry Yanyan this long.

At the door, he lowered her legs long enough to scan the key card, then lifted her again, carried her inside, and locked the door.

He could tell she was close to waking. The drug was still active, and he thought treating her would be harder if she woke up.

“I have to get it out of her system before she wakes.”

He laid her on the bed. She wore loose beige trousers and a black camisole; he noticed her beauty and figure, but told himself he wasn’t the sort to take advantage of her vulnerability.

“Su Yanyan, I’m only doing this to help you. I don’t have any improper intentions,” he said softly.

He took a breath and reached for the hem of her top. One of the nine chapters of medicine dealt with women. According to that teaching, treating a woman affected by this kind of drug required removing her clothes and using powerful vital energy to force the substance from her body.

His hand had only just touched the fabric when her eyes flew open. She seized his hand and stared at him.

“What are you doing?”

…