Free Web NovelChapter 257: Chapter 257: When the Rabbit and Snake Fight, the Dragon Profits
The door opened, and the young man looked up, his face deathly pale.
Ye Linyuan’s gaze fell upon Jiang Qingli, cradled in his arms.
The girl had passed out at some point. Beads of sweat dotted her pale face, and her fingers were clenched tightly around Gu Nian’s clothes, as if she were afraid he would run away.
It was clearly a case of Superpower overuse.
’No wonder the mark over my heart has been stinging since this afternoon.’
After being marked, a male could sense the condition of his female master, and the sensation grew stronger the closer they were.
The mark had felt like it was burning just now, which must have been because Jiang Qingli had used too much of her healing Superpower on Gu Nian.
’Is a useless scrap of a rabbit really worth wasting so much on?’
’She always has too strong a sense of duty, and she’s too soft-hearted.’
’She’s like this with me, and she’s like this with everyone else.’
Something stirred in Ye Linyuan’s chest. An indescribable, sour feeling spread through him, making him feel deeply uncomfortable.
The young man frowned and reached out to take Jiang Qingli, but Gu Nian dodged him.
"Get lost," Gu Nian’s voice was soft yet cold.
His healing had just finished and his body hadn’t fully recovered, but he had no intention of handing Jiang Qingli over.
Ye Linyuan narrowed his eyes and sneered, "And you think you’re worthy?"
The implication was that it was all Gu Nian’s fault that Jiang Qingli was in this state, so he had no right to stay by her side.
Gu Nian looked up, his pink eyes icy, his voice even colder. "When she first discovered her Superpower, you forced her to heal you. How many times did you make her pass out? You tricked her into thinking kissing could heal, so how many times did you take advantage of her?"
"And it was you who taught her how to forcibly enter a Spiritual Domain, wasn’t it?"
"An old, ugly, scheming thing like you is the one who has no right to be by her side."
Ye Linyuan said coldly, "Shut up."
Gu Nian let out a dry laugh. "The old thing’s getting desperate."
A chilling rage surged in his vertical golden pupils. He rarely got truly angry, but when he did, blood was sure to be spilled.
Gu Nian met his gaze, refusing to back down.
Both saw the killing intent in the other’s eyes.
Just as they reached a stalemate, footsteps sounded from behind. The killing intent radiating from both men instantly vanished as they turned toward the source of the sound.
Lin Xiyue ran up from downstairs, panting.
She had been about to stop Ye Linyuan, but when she got a clear look, she saw the door was already open.
Her eyes first darted to Gu Nian, and then she breathed a sigh of relief.
’Thank goodness, his clothes are on!’
The next second, she noticed Jiang Qingli in Gu Nian’s arms and asked worriedly, "What’s wrong with her?"
’Did they... do it until she passed out?!’
"Senior Sister Lin, you’re just in time. Can I ask you for a favor?" Gu Nian stepped forward and, before Ye Linyuan could react, handed Jiang Qingli to her and whispered a few words.
After listening, Lin Xiyue held Jiang Qingli securely and said earnestly, "No problem. The cruise ship has already docked. I’ll leave now, and I should be there in about half an hour."
"Thank you, Senior Sister Lin." Gu Nian reluctantly took a step back.
"It’s nothing. I’ll get going then."
Lin Xiyue hurried away.
She was in such a rush that she didn’t notice at all that after she left, the two men behind her vanished from the spot.
In an empty lot in the suburbs, Gu Nian and Ye Linyuan appeared at the same time, threw punches at each other, and began to brawl viciously.
...
Ai Li was waiting on the first floor. When she saw the unconscious girl in Lin Xiyue’s arms, she jumped. "Don’t tell me they... did it until she passed out?!"
Lin Xiyue clicked her tongue. "Why is your mind so filthy? It’s from Superpower overuse."
"Hey, I... I was just trying to liven things up!" Ai Li rubbed her head awkwardly, then took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from Jiang Qingli’s face. "She’s sweating so much. Those two, honestly... even if they’re high-level, they shouldn’t drain her like this."
She had experienced Superpower overuse herself, and she was puzzled. "Why not have... you-know-who... transfer some spiritual power to her to help her recover? Is their Match Value not high enough?"
"You-know-who seems to be busy," Lin Xiyue said. "Gu Nian asked me to take Qingli to the First Royal Hospital. He said someone would meet us there."
"I’ll get the flyer, then. The no-fly restriction has been lifted."
A few minutes later, a flyer was speeding toward the First Royal Hospital.
Meanwhile, Jiang Youchen was leaving the Xie Family estate by car.
His secretary, in the driver’s seat, glanced at the young man in the back through the rearview mirror. Seeing his tense face and recalling the argument in the Xie Family’s study earlier, he sighed.
’Sigh, it’s not easy being a noble.’
That old man from the Xie Family was holding up Jiang Youchen’s paperwork to return to the First District. It seemed he wouldn’t stop until he had forced him to return to the Xie Family.
The secretary also wondered why his own superior wouldn’t go back.
Even if the Xie Family did want to use him, with his ruthless methods, not even the people in the Lower District could beat him. How could a few pretty-faced pushovers from the Xie Family possibly be his match? It was practically a free win.
BZZZT—
The vibration of his terminal interrupted his thoughts.
Jiang Youchen lowered his gaze, staring at the flashing unknown number on the screen for a few seconds. He raised the partition inside the car before pressing the answer key.
A young man’s muffled voice came through. "She overused her Superpower. I had Lin Xiyue take her to the First Royal Hospital. You need to get over there, fast."
Jiang Youchen’s brow furrowed, a flash of worry in his eyes, but he didn’t speak.
On the other end of the line, Gu Nian wiped a smear of blood from his face—a souvenir from his brawl with Ye Linyuan—and said irritably, "Don’t pretend. You’re probably thrilled about this."
"If I weren’t unable to control my spiritual power right now, and if Qin Muye wasn’t in the Lower District, it would never be your turn."
Jiang Youchen’s voice was cold and deep. "What, you expect me to thank you?"
"I don’t need your thanks," Gu Nian said. "Just get over there. Don’t let that old thing beat you to it."
With that, he hung up.
Jiang Youchen was silent for two seconds, wondering if "that old thing" referred to Ye Linyuan or Baili Jing. Or perhaps this was a trap, with countless assassins lying in ambush along the way.
The latter thought had just surfaced when Jiang Youchen heard himself speak to his secretary. "Go to the First Royal Hospital."
’That’s strange,’ the secretary thought. ’Weren’t we going to buy some food for Miss Jiang? Why are we going to the hospital now?’
But Chen Mi was able to hold his position by Jiang Youchen’s side because his greatest strengths were his obedience and his tendency to not ask unnecessary questions.
He changed the destination, turned the steering wheel, and headed toward the hospital.
His gaze unintentionally drifted to the rearview mirror.
He saw his boss—a man who wouldn’t flinch if the sky were falling—now frowning with worry, his fingers clenching at his side, seemingly on edge.
Chen Mi: ’...?’
’Is he about to meet some major dignitary?’
’He’s not even this nervous when he meets His Majesty...’
Chen Mi followed his boss to the VIP inpatient area, his heart pounding the whole way. When they pushed open the door and he saw the girl lying on the hospital bed, he understood instantly.
’So it’s Miss Jiang. No wonder the Marshal was worried sick.’
The doctor gave a respectful report and advised, "Please contact Miss Jiang’s Beast Husband as soon as possible..."
"There’s no need," Jiang Youchen said. "All of you, get out."
Chen Mi saw the doctor’s confused expression and quickly ushered him out.
He was planning to go back in to report on the situation and ask which Beast Husband to contact. However, he had just stepped back into the room when the young man turned sideways, blocking his view before he could even look at the person on the bed.
Jiang Youchen frowned with a hint of displeasure. "You get out too."
After Chen Mi left, he glanced back and saw that the glass on the door had turned opaque.
Chen Mi: "..."
’I can’t even take one look?!’
He vaguely sensed that something was wrong, but he didn’t dare to ask any more questions and silently turned to leave.
He had only taken a few steps when he saw the attending physician approaching Baili Jing from a distance. "You’re finally here! We were just thinking about contacting Miss Jiang’s Beast Husband..."
Baili Jing wore a warm smile, but when he looked up and saw Chen Mi standing at the door to the room as if to block him, his expression stiffened.
The attending physician was confused. He said respectfully, "Secretary Chen, if you could please step aside..."
Facing a glare that could kill, Chen Mi stated stiffly, "I’m sorry, but someone is already inside."
