Chapter 22: Assassination

Lin Anran walked along, feeling like someone was following her. She glanced back but saw no one. She quickly reached the fruit shop. The shop owner was delighted to see her arrive as promised and hurriedly came forward, smiling: “Little sister, you finally came!”

Lin Anran looked a bit tense and replied, “I’m here,” glancing outside. The shop owner noticed someone had appeared at the door earlier and was pretending to be elsewhere. As the person left, saying, “I’m at the wrong place,” the shop owner realized this person had been following Lin Anran. She quickly pulled Lin Anran aside, but Lin Anran said, “Sister, I can’t put you in danger. I’ll leave now and teach you another day. If he comes, just say I’ve left.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than she left the shop without looking back, heading toward a more crowded area. The man who had been following her saw her leave and quickly followed, not wanting to lose track.

Lin Anran, aware she was being followed, deliberately turned into a narrow alley and took out a stun baton from her space, switching it on and waiting for the right moment. Suddenly, a man appeared in front of her. Her heart skipped a beat, and she boldly asked, “Why are you following me?”

The masked man in black replied, “No grudge, no conflict. Just asking if you’ve seen an injured man—a soldier?”

Lin Anran realized he was asking about Leng Feng and shook her head: “I haven’t seen him.”

“Really haven’t seen him?” he said, moving closer to her.

Panicked, Lin Anran stepped back rapidly: “In broad daylight, what do you intend to do?”

The man in black sneered, “What? You’ll find out soon enough.” He advanced toward her, and Lin Anran, hiding the stun baton behind her, prepared to strike. The man’s sinister smile grew as he taunted, “Not bad-looking… maybe I’ll spare you if I’m in a good mood.”

Lin Anran backed away, feigning calm, and smiled: “Sir, why rush? Let’s find a more comfortable spot.” The man thought she was scared and dropped his guard, stepping closer with a wicked grin: “Smart girl.” He reached out toward her.

Seeing him relax, Lin Anran quickly struck with the stun baton. A strong jolt of electricity hit him, and he collapsed to the ground with a scream. She felt her heartbeat slow, relieved it was over, but realized there might still be others after her. She thought of going to the hospital, but her presence there was already exposed. Better to enter her space, she decided—but to her surprise, the space had closed, something she had never encountered before.

Hearing footsteps, she thought, “Not good, they must be coming again.” She ran, aiming for the nearby police station. Before she could get far, a burly man with a beard blocked her path, glaring at her. As she tried to run back, another man blocked her way.

Cornered, she panted and asked, “Sir, what do you want from me?”

The bearded man slowly pulled out a cigarette, lit it with a match, inhaled deeply, and exhaled the smoke from his nose. Coldly, he said, “Tell me now, or feel the consequences.”

Coughing from the smoke in her face, Lin Anran said, “What do you want me to say? I don’t know anything!”

The man grabbed her chin: “Stop pretending, tell me!”

Silently, Lin Anran prepared the stun baton behind her, but the man, quick-witted, avoided the shock. Alarmed, she thought, “This time, I’m doomed.”

He threatened, “Tell me where that soldier ran off to, or else… with that smooth face and tiny waist of yours…” intending to assault her. Lin Anran spat at him: “I really don’t know! I haven’t seen him!”

The man sneered: “Honest now…”

Feeling sick to her stomach, she thought, This is it… I’m done for. Closing her eyes, she said, “Just kill me…”

“Kill you? Too easy,” the man mocked, drawing a knife and sliding it across her face: “Your choice—face or life.”

Thinking quickly, Lin Anran kicked him in the groin. The man screamed in pain and swung his stun baton at her—but Lin Anran’s quick reflexes brought him down.

Just then, another man lunged at her with a sharp knife. Lin Anran dodged, and a strong pair of arms pulled her into a protective embrace. Looking up, she realized it was Leng Feng. He overpowered the attackers with a shoulder throw and a strong kick. The black-clad man lay bleeding and furious, while the bearded man recovered.

Seeing his injured subordinate, he growled, “Leng Feng, just you wait!” and tried to escape.

Leng Feng kicked both down again, then tied them together with rope he had ready. Two police officers arrived, shouting: “Down! Stay put!” The men glared but lowered their heads.

One officer, in uniform, said, “Thanks to you, we wouldn’t have caught these two.”

“Just doing my duty,” Leng Feng replied.

After the police left, Leng Feng scooped Lin Anran into his arms and kissed her fiercely: “I’ve missed you so much!”

Still recovering from the shock, Lin Anran closed her eyes and responded to his forceful kiss.

A man nearby laughed: “I didn’t see anything… carry on…” Then he turned away, smiling: “Never thought the army’s war god could have a tender moment… imagine if I shared this news…”