Take Me Away, My Love - Chapter 22 - A New Mission
Just when she thought she might meet her end, a crisp “clang” echoed in the air.
Opening her eyes, Chen Zhen saw Li Minchun, covered in blood, standing not far in front of her. The sharp sound came from Li Minchun’s silver projectile striking the descending steel blade.
Once again, she had saved her.
Could she be seeing things?
Seeing Li Minchun truly appear before her, Chen Zhen felt an overwhelming joy. She was so excited she almost rushed over to embrace this woman.
Yet all she received was a look of cold indifference.
Li Minchun turned away dispassionately, offering Chen Zhen only a distant view of her back, and then headed into the organization, vanishing completely into the group without reappearing.
Chen Zhen’s mind had yet to catch up.
Could she have been seeing things earlier? Was that not Li Minchun? No, who else could wield a silver projectile so deftly? Who else would come here to save her?
But that look in her eyes was both familiar and foreign.
The surrounding people had retreated in unison, halting their previous frenzied attack.
“What’s going on?” Chen Zhen was even more perplexed. Weren’t these people just trying to kill her?
It seemed Madam Li’s recruits over the years were exceptionally outstanding; even someone like her, a mercenary experienced in countless life-and-death situations, found herself unable to counterattack in the face of their assault.
If it weren’t for Li Minchun’s timely appearance, she believed she would have already been a corpse.
“You can leave now.”
A voice rang out coldly from among the men in black.
For people like them, it was a relief to avoid a confrontation with her. Since the order had been given, there was no need to persistently entangle with her.
“What?” Chen Zhen was even more confused, what did this mean?
Not bothering to engage further, the group plunged into their next battle. The situation was clearly one-sided, and Chen Zhen’s group would soon face complete defeat.
Now, only Chen Zhen stood there, bewildered, not knowing what had happened or what she should do next.
Looking at the entrance of the organization, she finally took a step and walked inside.
“What are you going to do?”
Unexpectedly, she soon ran into Xian Cheng.
Xian Cheng regarded her with a cold, expressionless face.
“I’m looking for Li Minchun; I thought I saw her earlier,” Chen Zhen said, attempting to push further inside. But Xian Cheng blocked her path again, stating, “What? Do you think you haven’t caused her enough harm?”
“What do you mean?” Chen Zhen was even more puzzled.
“When Li Minchun and Jian Yiqing were ambushed and nearly killed, I think there’s no one who knows more about that than you do.”
With just one sentence, Chen Zhen’s defenses crumbled entirely.
Because of this matter, she had lived in torment for the past two years, haunted by nightmares where Li Minchun would come for her.
Seeing her suddenly had piqued her curiosity and desire to confirm whether she was seeing things.
“Earlier, Li Minchun used the chip to exchange for your freedom. From now on, you have no connection with the organization,” Xian Cheng’s words struck Chen Zhen like a bolt from the blue, shattering her heart.
Her mind was in a daze, replaying Xian Cheng’s previous words.
“What did you say?”
Xian Cheng gave her a sideways glance. If it weren’t for the fact that this woman mattered a lot to Li Minchun, he probably would have killed her already.
“I said, Li Minchun used her only chip to trade for your freedom, so you can go live peacefully with your husband and son from now on. Now you can leave.”
After finishing, Xian Cheng turned to leave.
Chen Zhen, however, chased after him, shouting, “Explain what happened!”
“Let go!”
Xian Cheng’s body shook, easily flinging Chen Zhen far away. She was no match for Xian Cheng, especially now being seriously injured, making her even more vulnerable.
“Before I decide to kill you, you’d best get lost and never appear before me or Li Minchun again. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee I won’t deal with you next time I see you.”
With those harsh words, Xian Cheng indeed left.
Chen Zhen was left standing there alone, at a loss.
Was what he said true?
Did Li Minchun really trade her future for a chip?
Does that mean she’s already free now?
When she wanted to rush back in to get clarification, she realized she no longer had the right to do so.
She retreated, gazing at the familiar building from afar, and tears began to fall uncontrollably.
Indeed, in this battle, Cheng Mo and Cheng Duo failed.
Although their forces were completely wiped out, the two of them managed to slip away quietly, evading the mercenaries’ attack.
Madam Li looked at those standing below with commanding presence and ordered, “At all costs, bring those two to me, especially Cheng Mo!”
“Yes!”
Upon receiving the order, everyone commenced a city-wide search.
The order had been given, and Li Minchun could almost envision Cheng Mo being captured.
This outcome had been anticipated; she wasn’t particularly concerned.
“Li Minchun!”
Madam Li’s gaze fell upon her, carrying an intimidating authority that sent chills down one’s spine.
No one present dared to speak; even the sound of a pin dropping would have been audible. Even Xian Cheng, who had followed Madam Li for a long time, was anxious in such a circumstance.
Li Minchun stepped forward, standing with her hands at her sides.
She knew her time had come.
Without the protection of the chip, she was as small as an ant, always at risk of being crushed.
Under everyone’s gaze, Li Minchun removed the hairpin she had always worn, breaking it in two as they watched.
A chip, gleaming with a metallic sheen, finally appeared in front of them. Even Madam Li, usually composed and always in control of her emotions, couldn’t hide the spark of excitement in her eyes upon seeing the chip.
“This is the chip you wanted,” Li Minchun said, handing it over.
After receiving it, Madam Li manipulated it carefully, examining it closely. She even loaded it onto a computer to verify its contents. Realizing this was indeed what she had been seeking, a satisfied smile appeared on her face.
It seemed her judgment was spot on; Li Minchun had always been her most promising student. Only she could obtain something so confidential.
Having secured the chip, Madam Li asked, “How long have you had this chip?”
She needed to know when exactly Li Minchun began to betray her.
This time, Li Minchun decided not to deceive her. After all, everything had already been exposed. Telling the whole truth might ease her conscience a bit.
After all, Madam Li had invested considerable effort in training them.
“Just shortly before Cheng Ran passed away.”
Gasp!
Calculating, quite some time had already passed.
“At that time, had you developed feelings for Jian Yiqing?”
This was entirely uncharacteristic of Madam Li’s usual approach. Previously, in such situations, she would merely decide how to eliminate those who betrayed her, but now, she seemed particularly interested in the relationship between Li Minchun and Jian Yiqing.
“No, at that time, I just vaguely felt it wasn’t right to leave so soon, fearing something might happen to him. As you know, Cheng Ran was desperate to kill him back then.”
The corners of Madam Li’s mouth slowly curled into a slight smile, but there was something so enigmatic about it that it sent chills down one’s spine.
After that, her cold, commanding voice sounded once more: “I hope you realize how great my expectations for you were, and now how deeply disappointed I am.”
“I understand. Li Minchun has let you down. I deserve death for my crimes!”
Although Li Minchun kept her head lowered, she stood with pride, her back straight.
“I don’t need your death. Do you want to gain freedom?”
This time, Madam Li’s words truly stirred something in Li Minchun’s heart. She looked up with disbelief, staring intently at Madam Li, trying to decipher the expression hidden behind her cold facade.
Unfortunately, she found nothing.
Beside her, Xian Cheng was also visibly excited, yet extremely tense. He wanted Li Minchun to continue living but feared losing her forever. This fear was different from the threat of her dying; it was the pain of watching her walk into another man’s arms-something more agonizing than death for him.
“Now I’m giving you a task. Complete it, and I’ll grant you your freedom.”
“What task?” Li Minchun was eager to know what mission Madam Li would assign her. It couldn’t be a simple assassination if it equated to her freedom.
“Assassinate the Ling Kong chief of the first organization of the underworld. Once you successfully complete this mission, your status will be free!”
Madam Li’s words reignited hope in Li Minchun’s heart.
This unexpected chance for survival made her feel as if the sun in her sky was shining brightly once again, dispersing the dark clouds that once loomed overhead.
“Yes, I will fulfill this mission without fail!”
Given that her future was at stake, Li Minchun would naturally give it her all. After gathering all the information about the Ling Kong chief from the archives, Li Minchun prepared herself and set off once more.
Xian Cheng, however, looked at Madam Li’s retreating figure with some confusion, unable to understand why her attitude shifted so drastically after seeing the chip.
This was entirely out of character for her usual behavior.
For a moment, Xian Cheng even felt that the exceptions granted to Li Minchun by Madam Li were far too many.
