CHAPTER 174: CHAPTER 174: BEATEN UP

"What are you doing here? You should leave, or else..." Zhao Liang grinned widely showing off his yellow teeth. "... you might be the one who would be hurt."

Yue Ning scoffed. "Tell me, who sent you?" she demanded with folded arms.

’It seems they are here for Huo Yan. Host, you have to be careful,’ the system reminded her.

"Of course. If my guess is right, Huo Fei should be behind this." Yue Ning’s eyes narrowed. It seemed she had already given too much leverage to that girl. She didn’t know her place anymore.

’She really doesn’t know when to stop,’ it snorted.

Suddenly, there was a chime in her mind... a very familiar chime.

"A mission?" she asked, her brows drawing together slightly.

’It shouldn’t have been activated. But yes, it’s a mission,’ the system answered, uncertainty laced in its tone.

Yue Ning’s frown deepened. Ever since the ’author’s friend’ found her way into the novel, the system had continuous glitches. If this went on...

She snapped out of her thoughts when Zhao Liang wanted to slash her arm using a knife. She barely dodged, and her eyes turned cold.

"It seems you all have finally made your choice," she snorted.

Before Zhao Liang could understand her words, his face stung with pain. Yue Ning had punched his face.

She raised her eyebrows. Gesturing towards them, she smiled. "Come together... if you dare."

Zhao Liang wiped the blood at the corner of his mouth, glaring at her. "You—!"

He didn’t finish. Yue Ning’s fist came again, a sharp jab to his jaw that sent him stumbling backward into a row of metal cabinets. The loud crash echoed through the clinic, breaking the silence.

The man beside him cursed and lunged forward, swinging the crowbar he’d been hiding behind his back.

Yue Ning ducked low, the metal slicing through the air above her head, then twisted and kicked his knee. There was a sickening crack.

He screamed, collapsing to the floor.

Zhao Liang steadied himself, his nose bleeding now. "You b*tch!" He lunged with the knife again, aiming for her ribs.

Yue Ning caught his wrist mid-thrust. The blade stopped a few inches from her side. Her grip tightened. Zhao Liang groaned, trying to pull free, but her strength was nothing human.

’Host,’ the system’s voice came again, firmer this time, ’be careful of the window behind you.’

She turned sharply but it was a little too late. The second man, clutching his broken knee, had dragged himself toward the emergency trolley and hurled a glass bottle in her direction.

It shattered against the wall, glass scattering across the tiles.

"Stay still!" Zhao Liang barked, forcing his weight forward.

Yue Ning twisted her wrist and wrenched the knife from his hand.

The blade clattered away. She slammed her elbow into his stomach and flipped him over her shoulder. He hit the floor hard, air rushing out of his lungs in a grunt.

From the bed, a faint sound stirred. It was Huo Yan. She was waking up.

Her eyelids fluttered open at the noise, her vision still hazy. The first thing she saw was Yue Ning, her usually calm sister-in-law, standing in front of her like a shadow drawn sharp against the sterile clinic light.

"Sister-in-law?" she whispered, half-sitting up.

"Stay back!" Yue Ning snapped without turning.

Huo Yan froze. The broken glass, the overturned chair, the groaning man on the floor—she didn’t understand what was happening, only that someone had come to hurt them.

Zhao Liang coughed, spitting blood. "You’ll regret this... you don’t know who you’re messing with."

Yue Ning turned her head slightly, eyes glinting with terror. "Then enlighten me."

He sneered and made a desperate move, grabbing the crowbar near him and swinging again. Yue Ning caught it mid-arc, twisted, and drove her knee into his stomach. He doubled over, wheezing as his lips trembled.

"I warned you," she said coldly.

She dropped the crowbar and grabbed him by the collar, slamming him against the wall.

The shelves behind them rattled from the impact. Huo Yan gasped, her hands gripping the sheets tightly.

Zhao Liang tried to push her away, but Yue Ning’s hand was already at his throat. Her grip was firm and deliberate. It was not enough to choke, but enough to remind him she could.

"Who sent you?" she demanded, voice low and sharp.

He laughed hoarsely. "You think I’d tell you?"

Her fingers tightened. "Try me."

His eyes darted toward the door, where his injured partner was crawling weakly toward escape. Yue Ning’s free hand flicked, and a sharp sound followed—one of the fallen syringes rolling under his palm. He froze.

Zhao Liang coughed again, panic flashing briefly through his eyes.

"Last chance," Yue Ning said, her voice calm, almost too calm. "Who sent you?"

He hesitated, jaw clenched, then muttered, "You already know..."

Her eyes narrowed. "Huo Fei."

He didn’t reply, but his silence was confirmation enough.

Yue Ning released him abruptly. He dropped to the floor, gasping for air.

Behind her, Huo Yan stared with wide eyes, shock and disbelief dancing in her eyes. "She... she sent them?"

Yue Ning turned slightly, her expression unreadable. "Rest, Huo Yan. I’ll take care of it."

Then, to Zhao Liang, she said softly, "You’ll deliver a message for me. Tell Huo Fei... she just declared war."

At that moment, fast, urgent and familiar footsteps echoed in the corridor outside.

The door swung open.

"Yue Ning!" Song Yun’s voice rang through the air. His eyes widened when he saw the wrecked room, the shards of glass, the unconscious men, the trembling Huo Yan.

For a split second, no one spoke.

Then Yue Ning turned, her expression cool and unbothered. "You’re late."

Song Yun froze at the sight of Zhao Liang struggling on the floor, barely breathing. "What the hell happened here?" He asked loudly, feeling alarmed.

Yue Ning’s lips curved slightly. "Someone tried to hurt Yanyan."

The system chimed again in her mind, its voice calm and clear this time.

[Mission complete.]

[Rewards have been deposited to the rewards bar. You may check it when you’re alone.]

"Who would dare do something so despicable?" He paced.

"Huo Fei," Huo Yan replied, trembling and her voice barely above a whisper.

"First, she locked me in the restroom. Now, she wants to take my life. Did I do something wrong?" Huo Yan sobbed, her shoulders trembling..

Song Yun instantly went to her side, holding her firmly. "You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s not your fault that some people are just too bitter."

Yue Ning looked at Song Yun who was patiently consoling Huo Yan, and her eyes softened.

’It shows he cares about her. He is probably different from his brother.’ The system commented, and Yue Ning nodded.

"Not probably. He is different from his brother," Yue Ning smiled faintly, recalling the way Song Yun shielded Huo Yan instead of using her as a pawn. It’d be good if Huo Yan had someone who could take care of her. And that person was Song Yun.

But she didn’t understand one thing. How could two brothers be vastly different from one another?

"I’ll just step outside to make a call." Yue Ning said, breaking the quiet consolation between the couple.

"Sister-in-law... are you planning to call my brother?" Huo Yan asked carefully, and Yue Ning nodded.

"It’s obvious you’re not safe here. And as for Huo Fei, she’ll be dealt with. That’s a promise."

Huo Yan nodded. She didn’t care about Huo Fei. She never did.

After Yue Ning stepped out, Song Yun breathed out.

"I’m glad you are okay." He said, holding her hands tightly.

"I feel the same way. Thankfully, my Sister-in-law was here. If she wasn’t, I can’t imagine what would have happened." Just thinking about it made Huo Yan shiver.

"It’s good that she was here." Song Yun’s brows creased.

"Yan, your Sister-in-law..."

"Yes, what about her?" Huo Yan cut him off with a smile.

"Is she always this powerful?" Song Yun asked curiously.

"Of course. My Sister-in-law is the most powerful person I know. She is even stronger than my brother. You have no idea how much trouble I’ve been in, but she was always there to save me."

There was reverence in Huo Yan’s eyes as she talked about Yue Ning. But Song Yun was focused on Yue Ning’s actions. Her actions were inhuman.

"Huo Yan, who exactly is your Sister-in-law?" He asked.

Huo Yan laughed. "What do you mean? She’s Yue Ning, my brother’s wife and the Lu’s family’s daughter. Why did you ask that?" She asked confusedly.

"You don’t have to worry. I was just curious. I have never seen anyone fight so well." Song Yun answered with a forced smile.

Huo Yan chuckled. "She’s just that good."

Song Yun nodded. But he wasn’t convinced. There was more to Yue Ning, and he aimed to uncover it.

While he was lost in his thoughts, the door opened and Yue Ning walked in.

"Your brother is furious, but I managed to calm him down." Yue Ning leaned against the wall.

"He would send a driver to take us home. You can’t stay here anymore."

Huo Yan bit her lips.

"Song Yun, you may return. Once again, thank you for your help today."

"It’s nothing. I have to protect Huo yan. I made a promise to her." He turned to Huo Yan and they exchanged smiles.

While they were exchanging words, Huo Fei was in her dorm room, pacing. She looked at her phone. There hadn’t been any calls.

She took a deep breath, and a single thought flashed through her mind. ’Did they fail?’

Her face turned pale instantly. "They can’t!" She screamed, grabbing a fistful of her hair.