With a HISSING sound, a foul-smelling smoke rose from the alleyway.
It was as if sulfuric acid had been poured over flesh; the bloody wounds rapidly necrotized and underwent Metamorphosis, but then, they were cruelly forced back together by some brutal power, healing as if new.
Yet, on the smooth thigh remained a ghastly scar.
The intense pain lingered, contorting Lin Yu's face with torment, causing her to involuntarily tilt her head back while suppressing moans of agony from her throat.
Her eyes, now overtaken by madness, were threaded with blood.
In the midst of extreme pain, the Potion Bottle in her hand cracked, nearly crushed by her grip.
After a long, long while, she slowly relaxed, leaning against the wall and gasping heavily.
"Damn Yin's family, damn mongrels, and that damn son of a bitch Yuan Zhao..."
She gritted her teeth, snapping off the bothersome 'Ring of Restraint' on her wrist.
The unbridled malice and rage, a Dark Basicity that no creature of the Abyss Horde could compare to, rose from her Soul, dyeing its already murky hue an even deeper pitch black.
But she was ecstatic about it.
Seeing the Crow Flock rising in the distance, she revealed a mocking, cold smile. I've finally escaped! That mongrel couldn't kill me!
This killing intent directed at me and the hatred in my heart will only, after settling, become fodder for my advancement into a Snake... I will only grow stronger!
Once I get out of here, I'll use all my Power to make that despicable bastard pay.
Not just for his arrogance when he snatched my advancement materials during the Chef Demon contest, but also for the humiliation I've suffered this time—he will repay it a thousand-fold!
She steadied herself against the wall and staggered out of the alley, moving forward in a wretched state.
Just one last stretch and she would be safe.
After escaping, she hadn't bothered hiding nearby. Instead, she directly called a taxi from Xiematai, using the fastest method to flee through most of the city district.
Regrettably, the taxi could only take her this far and refused to go any further.
At the end of the street, a tiny fox lay atop a streetlight, illusion-like with its translucent, small body, lazily grooming its fur.
Hearing the sounds, it lifted its eyes, gazing at the newcomer.
Indifferent and detached.
But Lin Yu couldn't help laughing, a sharp and triumphant sound, as she hastened forward.
"Take me inside."
She raised the badge of the Social Security Bureau in her hand and said loudly, "I am Lin Yu. Take me to see Ye Xueya immediately."
The little fox on the streetlight didn't move, gazing at her silently. It neither spoke nor refused, instead allowing her to proceed, cross the boundary, and enter the Ginza District, which had been fortified like a stronghold.
After a while, it indifferently withdrew its gaze and closed its eyes to continue napping.
Lin Yu's smile gradually stiffened.
She stumbled forward, but no matter how hard she tried, she remained on the same street, unable to escape the cyclic scenery even when sprinting with all her might.
The tall wall was tantalizingly close, yet no matter what, she couldn't draw nearer.
Ten meters felt as distant as the Sky Gorge.
Finally, she looked up and saw the woman sitting on the edge of the high wall. Understanding dawned, and her face twisted.
"Ye Xueya! What are you trying to do?!"
Ye Xueya seemed not to hear. She was listening to music with headphones on, smoking a cigarette. Beside her on the high wall was a thick pile of comic books. After finishing "Mountain Bandit King," she was engrossed in "Barbarian King Detective Conan," absorbed in the plot and clicking her tongue in appreciation.
Only after leisurely finishing the last chapter did she close the comic book, lift her eyes to look at Lin Yu not far below, and raise an eyebrow slightly.
"Hmm? This is quite the rare visitor."
She grinned, taking a drag from her cigarette, and studied Lin Yu's face before smiling. "Second Miss, you've taken such good care of my little brother, haven't you?"
"Ye Xueya, are you trying to settle a personal score?!"
Lin Yu's expression twitched, turning unsightly. "Our Lin family is, after all, part of the Dongxia Genealogy! Is your Social Security Bureau just going to watch me get killed?"
"Although I would indeed love to see you killed, you've got one thing wrong."
Ye Xueya smiled and lifted a finger, wagging it. "The one who wants to see you die isn't the Social Security Bureau, but 'me.' Understand?"
She contemptuously flicked her cigarette butt down. It landed at Lin Yu's feet, sending up a spark.
"For Uncle Lin's sake, who looked after me at the Border, I won't kill you." She shook her head mockingly. "Second Miss, you'd best look for refuge elsewhere."
Lin Yu gritted her teeth, her expression shifting. She looked as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she said nothing. She just turned and staggered away.
"Oh, and one more thing..."
Ye Xueya suddenly raised her voice, asking curiously, "You haven't forgotten this game is being live-streamed, right?"
When Lin Yu turned around with a sullen face, she saw Ye Xueya's schadenfreude-filled smile. "Those words you said about Yuan Zhao? They might have already gotten out... That Little Brag's uncle has quite the temper, you know. You'd better be careful."
Lin Yu's expression grew even more unsightly. She gave Ye Xueya a dark look but didn't utter any pathetic platitudes about repaying today's supposed blessing with great rewards in the future. She just swallowed this humiliation and turned to leave, staggering away.
It wasn't long before she vanished at the end of the street.
"TSK, she saw through it, huh?"