CHAPTER 169: CHAPTER 169: SCARRED LADY

The hospital room was quieter now, the harsh scent of antiseptic softened by the late afternoon sun streaming through the blinds.

Yue Ning leaned back against the pillow, her arm bandaged, her side still tender from the scratches.

Lu Jiang, Lu Quan, and Lu Ran hovered near the doorway, glancing at her every few seconds. They hadn’t left, but they gave her enough space to breathe, their concern palpable.

Huo Feng remained at her side, leaning casually against the counter, his dark eyes scanning her quietly.

Yue Ning noticed the way he subtly adjusted his position, always keeping her within view, as if he could sense if she needed him.

She took a deep breath, letting herself relax slightly, careful not to let him know she was doing it intentionally. She shifted her hand slightly, brushing it lightly against his as she adjusted the bandage on her arm.

Huo Feng glanced down, catching the contact, but didn’t comment. His attention returned to her face, softening.

"You really shouldn’t be pushing yourself like this," he said quietly. "Getting hurt twice in almost... what were you thinking?"

Yue Ning forced a small smile. "They were both accidents and I was just making sure Mom was safe," she said gently, letting her tone and her presence draw him closer without him realizing it.

Her fingers lingered just a little longer on his as she shifted to sit more comfortably.

He exhaled, relaxing slightly. "Well, I’m glad you’re okay. That’s what matters."

The Lu family exchanged glances, a mix of relief and quiet amusement. Lu Jiang shook his head, muttering, "Even in a hospital room... they can’t stop themselves."

Lu Ran smirked, raising his hands in defeat. "I give up. They’re hopeless... but at least she’s safe."

Lu Quan sighed, a hint of relief in his tone. "Let’s just hope the next time she decides to protect someone, she calls us first."

Yue Ning let her shoulder brush gently against Huo Feng’s side as she adjusted her position on the bed. It was subtle, but the system recognized it: closeness established, connection strengthened.

Huo Feng’s dark eyes flicked down at her movement, then back up to her face. "You know... you really should let someone take care of you sometimes. You can’t always be running into danger and expecting to come out unscathed."

Yue Ning laughed softly, the sound light but genuine. "Maybe I can, but I’ll always need someone like you nearby," she said, careful to make it sound casual, letting the warmth of her words linger.

"Someone like me, huh?" he murmured, eyes narrowing slightly but softening. "I’ll hold you to that."

She smiled, letting her fingers linger on his hand just a moment longer, then gently moved back to rest against the pillows. Huo Feng stayed nearby, subtly close, his presence steadying her.

The family watched quietly, some rolling their eyes at the subtle intimacy, others simply relieved that Yue Ning was unharmed.

Lu Ting reached out, squeezing her daughter’s hand gently. "You’ve done enough today, Xiao Ning. Now let’s get you resting properly. Huo Feng can watch over you too, I suppose."

"We should be taking our leave now." She added, turning to look at the three men who nodded without hesitation.

Yue Ning allowed herself a soft laugh. "I think I’m okay, Mom. Really."

[Mission: Save Lu Ting]

[Mission: Get close to Huo Feng]

[Status: Complete]

[Rewards would be given when host is alone]

Yue Ning’s lips curved faintly. Two missions in the intermediate level had been completed. She was getting close.

Outside, the world still held shadows, threats waiting beyond the city streets. But inside the hospital room, surrounded by family and Huo Feng’s quiet presence, Yue Ning let herself relax, even if it was only for a moment.

For now, that was enough.

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Bang!

The sound of glass shattering resonated loudly in the enclosed room.

A woman with a scar stretching across almost half of her face stood rigidly in the middle, her chest heaving, hands gripping her hair so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her dark eyes burned with fury, fixed on the kneeling men before her.

"How could she survive? How?!" Her voice cracked like a whip, echoing harshly against the concrete walls. Each word dripped with rage and disbelief.

The three men quivered on the floor, heads bowed low, unable to meet her gaze. The atmosphere was suffocating; the air thick with tension, fear, and the metallic tang of anger.

"You had one simple job—to get rid of Lu Ting. Tell me, how did you fail?" Her voice rose again, more threatening, each word like a dagger aimed at them.

The man in the middle hesitated, swallowing hard as he felt the grip of panic curl up his spine. His mind replayed the encounter in vivid detail—the way Yue Ning moved with precision. She had thrown herself between Lu Ting and danger, the speed, the power. He shivered involuntarily.

"Ma’am, we could have gotten rid of her just as you wanted... but—" He faltered, his voice trembling.

"But what?" The woman’s sharp gaze sliced through the room, demanding, accusing, and unyielding. Her breathing was uneven, heavy, as if the very act of survival by their target had physically wounded her.

The man swallowed again, beads of sweat forming along his brow. "There was a girl with her. She... she fought back. That girl—Yue Ning—she protected Lu Ting. She actually hurt us. We couldn’t even get close to her before..." He trailed off, the memory too sharp, too humiliating to voice completely.

"She?" The scarred woman’s lips twisted into a snarl of disbelief. "Lu Ning?!" Her voice shook, half with fury, half with incredulity.

"Yes, ma’am. She—she is... stronger than anyone we expected," another man stammered, the color draining from his face.

The woman slammed her fist onto the table, rattling the remaining glass shards. "Impossible! That girl... that child was supposed to be weak! She wasn’t supposed to survive!" Her eyes glimmered with a dangerous, simmering madness.

It seemed she had made a mistake by letting Yue Ning survive. If she was dead—then it’d have been easy to get rid of Lu Ting.

Silence fell over the room, punctuated only by the occasional hiss of their own fear.

The three men pressed themselves closer to the floor, praying silently that their failure hadn’t sealed their fates.

The scarred woman’s gaze lingered on them a moment longer, her breath uneven, and then she whispered through gritted teeth, "Prepare the next plan. This... girl... will pay. It was my mistake to have her survive. She’d have to pay."