With the sound of "bang bang bang" gunfire, many of the people shielding Zhao Long fell to the ground.
"Boss, we need to get out of here," one of Zhao Long's subordinates urged. "Most of our men are unconscious. We don’t have the strength to fight back against them. It’s too dangerous—we should leave now."
"No."
Zhao Long's gaze darkened as he stared ahead.
"Today, Lin Xuan must die!"
Only if Lin Xuan died could "Ling" return to his side—his most formidable assassin. Only then could the name "Ling" once again strike fear across the international underworld.
Zhao Long's hand suddenly produced a crossbow from nowhere.
This crossbow could fire four arrows in rapid succession.
With a flick of his fingers, the arrows shot through the air, swift and unstoppable.
Lin Xuan moved to dodge.
Su Hua's heart clenched.
"Ah Xuan, watch out!"
She rushed forward and pushed Lin Xuan aside.
An arrow grazed her waist, leaving a bloody gash.
Jiang Qing, witnessing this, was baffled. "???"
At a time like this, CEO Su was still playing the martyr?
She could have dodged safely—why deliberately get herself hurt?
"Lin Xuan," Zhao Long sneered, "those arrows are coated with my signature poison. Without the antidote, death comes in three days."
"Lin Xuan, isn’t she the one you care about most? Then make Ling return to me. Otherwise, you’ll have to watch her die!"
"Hahahaha!"
"Think it over, then come find me."
With that, Zhao Long pressed a hidden mechanism. An opening appeared behind him, and he leaped into it with his closest men, vanishing from sight.
Lin Xuan had no time to worry about Zhao Long’s escape—even if he fired, he couldn’t stop him now.
Instead, he steadied Su Hua, quickly checking her pulse.
His eyes trembled violently.
The poison was a lethal blend of seven deadly toxins, meticulously brewed under precise conditions.
Just as Zhao Long had said—without the antidote, death would come in three days.
Lin Xuan knew the cure, but it required seven days to prepare. There was no time.
Would he have to watch Hua Bao die—or hand her over to the Shadow Organization?
Wang Ba scratched his head. "Well, the Golden Dragon Gang’s been paid, and the job’s done. We’ll be on our way now. Young Master Lin, if you ever need us again, don’t hesitate to call."
His eyes kept drifting toward Su Hua.
No denying it—CEO Su was stunning. Wealthy, beautiful.
But was she really in danger?
She was their gang’s golden goose. They couldn’t afford to lose her.
Then again, Lin Xuan’s medical skills were legendary. Surely he could save her.
Reassured, Wang Ba led the Golden Dragon Gang away in a grand procession.
Soon, he doubled back.
"Almost forgot something important," he muttered to himself.
"Listen up, all Golden Dragon Gang members!" Wang Ba barked. "Search every corner of the Shadow Organization’s hideout. Take anything valuable—leave nothing behind!"
Jiang Qing watched as the gang members eagerly looted the Shadow Organization’s treasures, her lips twitching.
No wonder they were under Young Master Lin’s command.
Their shamelessness matched his perfectly.
"Hua Bao." Lin Xuan held Su Hua close, letting her lean against him. His voice was soft, almost to himself. "Don’t worry. I’ll save you. You won’t die, and you won’t have to return to Zhao Long as an assassin."
Hua Bao would be fine!
The poison was fast-acting. Soon, Su Hua’s body grew weak, her once-vibrant lips now pale.
Hearing Lin Xuan’s words, a faint light flickered in her eyes.
So… Ah Xuan didn’t hate her for being an assassin?
Before coming here, she’d been terrified he’d think her cruel.
"Ah Xuan."
She weakly grasped his hand. "Don’t run away. Stay with me, okay?"
"Of course, of course. I’ll stay by your side, Hua Bao. I won’t leave."
Lin Xuan lifted her into his arms and boarded the plane back to Night Garden.
Su Hua fell unconscious.
Lin Xuan checked her pulse—just asleep, for now. He exhaled in relief.
"Young Master Lin, do you have a way to cure CEO Su?" Jiang Qing asked anxiously.
"No," Lin Xuan admitted grimly.
Jiang Qing deflated.
Her fists clenched.
"If we can’t find the antidote, CEO Su will die. Must she really go back to the Shadow Organization? That place devours people whole." She murmured to herself.
Her face twisted in anguish—but inwardly, she gave herself a silent pat on the back.
I never expected her acting skills to be this good.
"No."
Lin Xuan pressed his lips together. "No matter what, I won’t let anything happen to Hua Bao."
After returning to Night Garden,
Lin Xuan divided his time between caring for Su Hua and retreating into his research space, working tirelessly day and night to develop an antidote for her.
Over the past three days, he hadn’t shaved, bathed, or changed his clothes, letting his appearance become unkempt.
He wandered around in a daze, as if he had lost his soul.
Gazing at the woman on the bed, her entire body shrouded in an aura of death, he forced himself to continue administering acupuncture to Su Hua.
He needed to perform the acupuncture and administer medicine for seven consecutive days for her condition to recover.
But.
Even though he knew how to treat her, it was useless.
Because after being poisoned, Su Hua only had three days left.
"Hua Bao."
Lin Xuan held Su Hua’s icy hand. "I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone after the Mourning Syndicate on my own."
If he hadn’t sought them out, Hua Bao wouldn’t have followed, wouldn’t have gotten hurt, wouldn’t have been poisoned.
"Ah Xuan."
Su Hua weakly opened her eyes. "Don’t run away anymore, okay?"
"I won’t, I won’t. Hua Bao, I’ll never run away again in this lifetime," Lin Xuan rasped, his voice hoarse with emotion.
A faint glimmer flashed through Su Hua’s eyes.
Ah Xuan was being so obedient now…
"And, Ah Xuan, don’t put yourself in danger anymore," Su Hua added.
"Alright, alright. I’ll listen to whatever Hua Bao says."
At this point, he would agree to anything she asked.
Su Hua’s lashes fluttered as she watched Lin Xuan’s worried, fearful expression. She wanted so badly to tell him the truth.
But she couldn’t.
She needed Ah Xuan to worry, to be afraid—otherwise, he wouldn’t learn his lesson. Next time, he’d just throw himself into danger again.
"Ah Xuan." Su Hua’s cold fingers traced Lin Xuan’s brows, his nose, his lips, before finally resting on his cheek.
"I love you. So much… so, so much…"
After speaking, Su Hua, weakened beyond endurance, slipped back into unconsciousness.
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
ions, keeping it grounded and realistic】 After quitting his job, office worker Su Yang accidentally binds with the "Enjoy Life System." As the name suggests, simply by indulging in life's pleasures, he can earn random rewards from the system—no need to spend money on beautiful women or grovel before anyone. Just enjoy, and the money follows, making it all about effortless fun. The system comes with a scanning feature, allowing him to establish a favorability bond with women rated 85 points or above. Every 20-point increase in favorability unlocks additional rewards. After suffering through over twenty years of hardship, Su Yang trembles with excitement, his dull eyes suddenly gleaming with newfound hope. "Enjoy life? How hard could that be?"
th】 【No prior gaming knowledge required】【The First Cultivation + Game Design Novel on the Platform】 In a world where the righteous path dominates and crushes the demonic sects, Lu Ze unlocks the "Son of the Demon Path" system. Killing righteous cultivators now grants him power-ups. Wait—deaths in illusions count too? As a former game designer, Lu Ze decides to give the cultivators of this world a little—no, a massive—shock... Sect Elders: "What is this 'Escape from the Demon Sect' game? Why have all our disciples abandoned cultivation to play it??" Elite Disciples: "You're saying... mastering 'Demon Slayer' can help us counter demonic schemes?" Reclusive Masters: "Why did I leave seclusion? Ask that backstabbing rat who ambushed me in 'Eternal Strife' yesterday!" Rogue Cultivators & Civilians: "'Immortal Abyss Action' is addictive! You can even earn spirit stones by loot-running..." Sect Prodigy: "My Dao heart is unshakable... except for that cursed black hammer." Royal Scions: "Can skins have stat boosts? I’ll pay 10,000 spirit stones for one!!" Sect Leader: "WHO IS CORRUPTING MY DISCIPLES?!!!"
world slacker. But a genius female disciple just had to get clingy, insisting that he take her as a disciple. Not only that, she was always making advances on him, thoroughly disrupting his peaceful slacker life...