Chapter 20: Being Held Hostage

Lin Yitang walked slowly, pondering the price of her cream.

Lost in thought, she heard hurried footsteps. Looking in that direction, she saw a frantic figure at the nearby alley entrance.

Before she could react, the person ran to her, reeking of blood.

Lin Yitang was startled. She instinctively tried to escape, but the person was faster, and in the darkness, she was seized, a sharp dagger pressed against her neck.

“Don’t move! I’ll kill you!”

A hoarse voice came from behind, and Lin Yitang froze.

She heard the person’s heavy breathing and the strong smell of blood.

The person was injured.

Lin Yitang forced herself to remain calm, guessing the person’s identity.

More footsteps approached, led by Yu Jingchuan, his face fierce.

Seeing Lin Yitang, Yu Jingchuan was stunned. He hadn’t expected her to be here.

There had been an accident during their capture of Wang Hu; he had escaped.

Wang Hu knew his fate if caught and had fled desperately, but his injuries were serious. He probably resorted to taking a hostage for survival.

Lin Yitang guessed the situation. She felt incredibly unlucky to encounter this.

“Don’t come closer! Or I’ll kill her!”

Seeing them approaching, Wang Hu’s expression turned more ferocious, the dagger closer to Lin Yitang’s neck.

Yu Jingchuan’s brow furrowed. He said coldly, “Wang Hu, you leaked state secrets and have no way out!

We’ve surrounded the area. Even with a hostage, you can’t escape!”

“Back off! All of you, back off!”

Wang Hu yelled frantically.

No one dared provoke him. Yu Jingchuan retreated a few steps.

Chen Xiuyuan recognized Lin Yitang and was worried that Wang Hu would hurt her. He pleaded, “Wang Hu, don’t be foolish!

Surrender, and things might not be so bad. But if you hurt an innocent person, it’ll be worse!”

“I’m leaving, going abroad. You can’t stop me!”

Wang Hu shielded Lin Yitang and cautiously moved forward.

Yu Jingchuan and the others retreated, but Yu Jingchuan signaled his men.

When Wang Hu moved forward again, Yu Jingchuan lunged at him like a cheetah. Chen Xiuyuan grabbed Lin Yitang and also attacked Wang Hu.

The others joined the fight.

The scene became chaotic. Wang Hu was eventually subdued, but Chen Xiuyuan was stabbed in the abdomen and seriously injured.

Yu Jingchuan had Wang Hu bound and taken away, then sent Chen Xiuyuan to the hospital.

After everyone left, Yu Jingchuan approached Lin Yitang.

“Are you alright?”

Anyone would be scared, especially a young girl.

Lin Yitang was terrified. She touched her neck; there was a shallow wound, and she felt the pain.

“You’re injured too. I’ll take you to the hospital.”

Yu Jingchuan took Lin Yitang to the hospital.

Lin Yitang’s legs were weak, and Yu Jingchuan carried her to the military hospital.

After her wound was treated, Lin Yitang recovered. She had been held hostage by a desperate man; she thought she would die.

Luckily, she was saved.

“Thank you.”

If it weren’t for these soldiers, she might have died.

Chen Xiuyuan was seriously injured saving her, making Lin Yitang feel guilty.

“It was our negligence that put you in danger. Saving you was our duty.”

Yu Jingchuan noticed Lin Yitang shivering and took off his jacket, covering her.

Lin Yitang didn’t refuse; she felt cold from the fear.

Feeling better, she went with Yu Jingchuan to see Chen Xiuyuan.  Learning he wasn’t in critical condition, Lin Yitang was relieved.

It was almost dawn. Yu Jingchuan rubbed his temples and saw Lin Yitang yawning.  He said, “Chen Xiuyuan is fine. I’ll take you home to rest.”

Lin Yitang nodded; she was exhausted.

Back at the Yu family’s home, they went to their rooms without waking anyone.

Lin Yitang fell asleep quickly but didn’t sleep soundly, having nightmares and waking up to the villain’s face.

She gasped for breath, covered in sweat. The sticky feeling was uncomfortable, and she went to wash up.

After washing up, Lin Yitang entered her space, drank some spring water, and checked on the herbs, which were growing well.

Passing the small wooden house, she found another book.

Delighted, she picked it up and found a comprehensive book on medicinal food.

She saw a recipe for a medicinal food to promote wound healing and replenish blood.

She had the herbs in her space; she just needed to buy the ingredients.

Thinking of Chen Xiuyuan, Lin Yitang wrote down the recipe, went to the market, and bought a chicken.

Back home, she made the chicken soup.

Zhang entered the kitchen and smelled the aroma.

“Yitang, why are you up so early? What are you making? Oh! What happened to your neck?”

Zhang saw the wound on Lin Yitang’s neck.

Lin Yitang briefly explained what happened, alarming Zhang.

“Zhang, it’s a minor injury. I’ve saved some chicken soup for you. I won’t eat breakfast; I need to go to the hospital!”

Lin Yitang left with the thermos.

At Chen Xiuyuan’s ward, many people were there, including Yu Jingchuan, surprising her. When did he arrive?

Everyone looked at her.

Yu Jingchuan’s gaze fell on the thermos, his eyes darkening.

He recognized it; Lin Yitang had used it to bring him food before.