Escape

"Xie Yuyan, you brought this upon yourself! Anyone who harms the teacher will not be spared!"

The moment Li Mucheng took aim at Xie Yuyan, she pulled the trigger without hesitation. But what happened next was something she never expected—her grip loosened, and the gun clattered to the ground.

"Drip... drip..."

Ye Feng looked at Xie Yuyan, completely unharmed, and a faint smile appeared on his pale face. For the first time, he could clearly see the rare, panicked expression on Xie Yuyan's face.

"Heh... never thought I’d see you make that kind of face. Guess I’m lucky, huh?"

Ye Feng shielded Xie Yuyan with his entire body, bracing for another gunshot.

"Ye... Ye Feng?"

The fury in Xie Yuyan’s eyes faded, replaced by clarity. Her lips trembled, unable to form words.

"You... you..."

"It’s alright, Yuyan. I’m just glad you’re back."

Ye Feng reached out, gently pressing his hand against Xie Yuyan’s forehead before flicking it lightly.

"That’s your punishment for this time. If you pull something like this again, I won’t forgive you."

Blood gushed from his wound, and Ye Feng’s strength drained away as he collapsed into Xie Yuyan’s arms.

"Ye... Ye Feng?"

Xie Yuyan froze like a lifeless doll, unable to react as Ye Feng slumped against her.

"I’ve always worried about you. I tried so hard to guide you back, but... I failed. You know why I kept my distance—this obsessive, controlling love isn’t what I wanted. And I owe you... not just you, but everyone."

With the last of his strength, Ye Feng wrapped his arms around Xie Yuyan before releasing her rigid form.

"I tried to make amends, but I’m exhausted. Maybe this is how it should end."

"No... Ye Feng, that’s not true! You always have a way out—why didn’t you use it this time?"

Ye Feng glanced at the wound on his chest, then staggered toward the cliff’s edge. By the time Xie Yuyan realized his intention and reached out, it was too late—he was already at the precipice.

"I have no more tricks left... none. The last one was used when you stabbed me. But it’s fine. I don’t care anymore. Maybe this is for the best..."

"No... Ye Feng, you can’t! We promised to stay together!"

Xie Yuyan had never heard such words from him before. The usually composed woman broke down, shaking her head in denial. She wanted to pull him back, but even a single step forward would send him tumbling into the abyss.

"Guh—"

Ye Feng felt his organs failing, his vision blurring. His gaze shifted past Xie Yuyan to Li Mucheng and Su Yuxin behind her.

"Mucheng, Yuxin... please, don’t hurt Yuyan. That’s my final request. And Mucheng—it’s not your fault. I just... can’t keep going like this. I’ve made too many mistakes. It’s time to end it."

"No... Teacher..."

Li Mucheng’s face drained of color, her feet rooted in place. In her eyes, she was the one who had shot Ye Feng. She never meant for this to happen—she only wanted Xie Yuyan gone. Why...?

"Teacher, please don’t give up! I’ll get the best doctors in the country to heal you! Please... I didn’t mean to—"

"Brother Ye Feng, I’ll be good! Please... please don’t leave me!"

Su Yuxin burst into tears. She had come today to seek Ye Feng’s forgiveness, never imagining things would turn out like this. In a way, she, too, was responsible for his death.

"Sorry... I can’t promise you anything. My body won’t hold on any longer. I just need to rest... And Mucheng, remember—don’t blame Yuyan. None of this is your fault. Let me... the one who started it all... be the one to pay."

With a final groan, Ye Feng coughed up blood, his eyes closing as all signs of life faded. To Li Mucheng and Su Yuxin, it might have looked like he had merely passed out—but Xie Yuyan, trained as a killer, knew better. The moment he spat blood, his life had vanished.

Then, before their horrified eyes, Ye Feng tipped backward and plunged into the ravine. As his figure disappeared over the edge, the three girls forgot their grudges and schemes, rushing to the cliffside to watch him vanish into the river below.

"No!!"

"Teacher!!"

"Brother Ye Feng!!"

No matter how desperately they screamed, it was too late. Ye Feng was gone. Fearing the worst, their bodyguards rushed forward, restraining Xie Yuyan, Li Mucheng, and Su Yuxin—some to prevent Xie Yuyan from snapping, others to protect their young mistresses.

"Let me go! I need to apologize to the teacher! I never meant for this!"

"Brother Ye Feng..."

"Why... why did this happen? He had that pill! It worked before—it has to be a trick! I need to see for myself... let me go!"

......

"Gurgle..."

In the rushing currents, Ye Feng wearily opened his eyes. He had no idea what was happening on the cliff now—his only concern was surviving the river.

Earlier, when he’d embraced Xie Yuyan, he had secretly taken the False Death Pill. He knew that even if he fell, Xie Yuyan, with her assassin’s instincts, would detect whether he was truly dead. The pill simulated death perfectly—enough to convince even her.

But now came the real challenge: escaping the merciless river alive.