The Gunshot Rings Out

"Yu Xin... Mu Cheng?"

Ye Feng abruptly raised his head to look at the two breathless figures before him, behind whom stood a group of black-clad armed men.

Upon seeing Ye Feng held captive, Su Yuxin was the first to lose control of her emotions, bursting into tears on the spot.

"Xie Yuyan, what are you doing?! Let go of Brother Ye Feng!"

"Hah... I never expected you two to make it up here after all."

Xie Yuyan let out a cold laugh, tilting her head to glance at the two behind her. When her gaze swept over Su Yuxin, she spoke mockingly.

"Our Miss Su certainly plays her cards well, doesn’t she? Weren’t you the one who swore to scheme against Ye Feng with me before?"

Feeling Ye Feng’s eyes on her, Su Yuxin stammered in defense, "I... I’m not the same person I was before! Brother Ye Feng, don’t listen to her nonsense! I’ll apologize to you properly later!"

"Yu Xin..."

Ye Feng murmured her name softly before turning his gaze to Li Mucheng, who had remained silent. Their eyes met just as Li Mucheng looked up.

"Teacher..."

Li Mucheng took the first step forward, but the bodyguard beside her moved to intervene—only to be forced back by a dagger Xie Yuyan hurled at him.

"I’d advise you all to stay right where you are~ Otherwise, I can’t guarantee what I might do~"

"Xie Yuyan, you’re a monster!"

Su Yuxin shouted in frustration, but she didn’t dare make a reckless move.

As the standoff continued, Li Mucheng was the first to speak again.

"Xie Yuyan, stop this! As long as you don’t hurt the teacher, we can discuss anything."

"Oh?"

Xie Yuyan gave Li Mucheng a surprised look. She hadn’t expected the once equally unhinged Li Mucheng to be so composed now.

"It seems Ye Feng has taught you a lot, hasn’t he? Especially at night. I’m almost jealous~"

With that, Xie Yuyan pressed the dagger against Ye Feng’s chest, pushing it in just a fraction deeper.

"No!"

Li Mucheng’s pupils trembled at the sight of blood trickling from Ye Feng’s chest.

"Please, Xie Yuyan, let the teacher go. I’ll agree to any condition you name."

"Hah, any condition? My only condition is staying with my dear forever."

Xie Yuyan then tilted Ye Feng’s chin up with one hand and planted a kiss on his lips.

"Mmm~ Just as delicious as ever."

"......"

Both Su Yuxin and Li Mucheng fell silent at the sight. They knew better than to provoke Xie Yuyan further—if she truly harmed Ye Feng now, given his current state, the consequences would be dire.

"Xie Yuyan, I’ll agree to whatever you ask, but please, step away from the cliff with the teacher first. He needs medical attention."

"Needs medical attention?"

Xie Yuyan laughed as if she’d heard the most ridiculous joke, her gaze fixed on Li Mucheng.

"There’s so much you don’t know. Only I truly understand him."

She then leaned in close to Ye Feng’s ear and whispered softly,

"Don’t you agree, my dear~?"

"Xie Yuyan, what are you planning?"

"What am I planning? Why, I’m just stripping away your trump cards one by one. And letting them witness your... miraculous abilities~"

In an instant, Xie Yuyan’s eyes turned sharp, and the dagger in her hand plunged straight into Ye Feng’s heart. The action was so swift that by the time Su Yuxin and Li Mucheng realized what had happened, the blade was already buried deep.

"Teacher!"

"Brother Ye Feng!"

The pain that tore through Su Yuxin and Li Mucheng’s hearts felt as if the dagger had pierced them instead.

The surrounding bodyguards raised their weapons, watching Xie Yuyan’s every move with caution.

But before grief could fully take hold, something astonishing happened—the dagger embedded in Ye Feng’s heart left no wound, and the blade was ejected harmlessly.

"Wh-what... How...?"

"Brother... Ye Feng?"

Seeing this, Xie Yuyan knew her suspicions were confirmed. She lifted her head to meet Ye Feng’s silent gaze.

"See? This is the real wonder~"

The bodyguards, standing behind Su Yuxin and Li Mucheng, couldn’t see clearly due to the height difference. All they knew was that their mistresses wore expressions of horror.

"Xie Yuyan, why must you...?"

Listening to the system notification in his mind signaling the activation of his substitute puppet, Ye Feng’s eyes dimmed completely. He knew that once his secret was exposed, it was already too late.

Xie Yuyan didn’t answer. Instead, she positioned the dagger at his heart once more.

"My dear, you truly are extraordinary—achieving the impossible so effortlessly. I’ve always wanted to know your secrets. Now, your only hope lies with me. If you promise to stay with me forever and abandon any treacherous thoughts, I’ll take you away from here. How does that sound?"

"Xie Yuyan, you’ve already played your last card... Please, stop this."

"It seems you’re still refusing to see reason, Ye Feng~"

Xie Yuyan noticed a flicker of sorrow in his eyes, but she was convinced it was just an act. If he could emerge unscathed twice, he could do it a third, a fourth time!

Just as she was about to drive the dagger in again, clarity flashed in Li Mucheng’s previously dazed eyes. She believed Ye Feng must have had no choice—there had to be a reason for all this. In that instant, she snatched a pistol from one of the bodyguards behind her and aimed it squarely at Xie Yuyan’s back. Her intent was clear: she would kill Xie Yuyan.

At the same time, Ye Feng retrieved a pill from his system inventory—a False Death Elixir. He had already formulated a plan: when Xie Yuyan struck again, he would shift his body to avoid a fatal blow while secretly consuming the pill to feign death. It might buy him time.

But just as he was about to take it, his peripheral vision caught Li Mucheng raising the gun toward Xie Yuyan. Without hesitation, Ye Feng shouted and pulled Xie Yuyan into his embrace, attempting to shield her from the line of fire.

He wanted to survive, but he had never wished harm upon anyone. All of this was his fault—his presence had led these girls to this point. No matter what, he wouldn’t let anyone come to harm.

Bang.

With the echo of a gunshot, the world fell silent.