Disfigurement and Su Wan’s Viciousness

Like a juggler, Serena Feng spun the hemostat in her hand, catching it firmly in her palm. Her technique matched Simon Sun’s, but if you looked closely, her movements were even faster and steadier.

The Crown Prince, Prince Rowan, Victor Yun, Dominic Zhai, and the City Lord of Night City were all experts with sharp eyes and quick reflexes, yet even they couldn’t follow Serena’s hands.

Too fast!

If she used that hand speed to launch hidden weapons, no one could dodge them. But they didn’t know—Serena’s speed only reached this level when holding a scalpel…

One hour, two hours, three hours…

As night fell, Serena had the candles lit early, making the room as bright as day. Her work was finally nearing its end.

The doctor originally treating Reid Yale was skilled, and with the Hundred-Poison Antidote Pill taken in advance, Reid’s left hand didn’t need to be amputated—it could barely be saved. But from now on, his left hand couldn’t lift anything heavy, or even be raised high. It would only look good, nothing more.

Being able to keep his left hand was already a stroke of luck for Reid. Serena had expected that after three days of untreated snakebite, the tissue would be necrotic and require amputation. She hadn’t imagined the antidote pill from the Master of the Mystic Healer Valley would work even better than she thought—no wonder it was worth a fortune. Truly a must-have for travel and emergencies.

After three hours of nonstop rescue, Reid’s life was snatched back, and his arm was barely saved. Serena finally breathed a sigh of relief, ready to suture and medicate. She was just about to put down the scalpel when Su Wan suddenly appeared at the door. Seeing Serena and Reid covered in blood, she screamed and, before anyone could react, rushed straight at Serena.

“Serena Feng, what are you doing? You’re not allowed to hurt my cousin!”

Maybe it was because of the humiliation she suffered earlier, or something else, but Su Wan’s voice was shrill and piercing. Everyone inside was focused on Serena, and with guards stationed outside, no one worried about their own safety. Su Wan’s sudden appearance and scream startled everyone; seeing her rush at Serena, not one person stepped forward to stop her.

“Su Wan, stop!” Serena wasn’t frightened. She looked up and caught a flash of viciousness in Su Wan’s eyes. Serena didn’t know what Su Wan intended, but quickly tried to stop her. Yet Su Wan acted as if she hadn’t heard, speeding up—rushing at Serena, or rather, at Reid.

Not good—Su Wan wants to harm Reid.

In that split second, Serena caught a glint of silver in Su Wan’s sleeve. Thinking of the Crown Prince and the others being present, Serena instantly understood Su Wan’s plan.

Su Wan wanted everyone to witness Reid dying at Serena’s hands, deepening Night City’s hatred against her.

So vicious! So ruthless!

In a flash, Serena guessed Su Wan’s motive. Without hesitation, she flung the scalpel in her hand straight at Su Wan.

Su Wan, you brought this on yourself.

“Ah…” Su Wan screamed, her body freezing in place.

“Serena Feng, what are you doing?” The City Lord of Night City quickly stood up, trying to shield Su Wan. To everyone else, it looked like Su Wan was worried about Reid, while Serena had coldly tried to kill her.

Unfortunately, the City Lord of Night City had just lost a lot of blood and was weakened—by the time he reached Su Wan, it was already too late.

Swish—the scalpel sliced across Su Wan’s cheek and clattered to the floor, splattering blood everywhere.

The sudden scene shocked everyone. The Crown Prince, Victor Yun, and the others glanced at the blade on the ground, then at Serena, who was calmly taking supplies from her med-pack as if nothing had happened.

So calm!

"Ah! My face, my face!" Su Wan fell to the ground, clutching her face. At that moment, she couldn’t even think about scheming—she only worried that her looks might be ruined forever.

“Wendy, what’s wrong?” The City Lord of Night City had always liked the well-mannered Su Wan, and after she knelt before Serena to beg for Reid’s life, he felt even more guilt and affection for her.

“Uncle, my face—Serena Feng ruined my face!” Su Wan sobbed as warm liquid streamed between her fingers and pain stung her cheek. She didn’t need a mirror to know she was hurt.

Right now, Su Wan wanted to eat Serena’s flesh and drink her blood. For a girl, her face was everything—Serena hadn’t just humiliated her, she’d destroyed her beauty.

With her looks ruined, she was nothing but a cripple to the Summers family and to Reid.

Su Wan’s bloody appearance made the City Lord lose all reason. With Reid’s condition improving, he had fewer reservations and roared at Serena: “Serena Feng, don’t think saving my son gives you the right to run wild here. If you can’t explain this, you’ll pay with your life!”

Serena didn’t care at all. With Su Wan failing to reach her, Reid was safe for now. Serena took out her needles and thread, binding up Reid’s wound, treating Su Wan as if she didn’t exist.

The City Lord’s roar was just a joke, and Su Wan’s sobbing was nothing but noise.

The Crown Prince and the other princes exchanged glances, all silently agreeing not to speak. On the surface, it looked like Serena had gone too far. Even if they wanted to defend her, they couldn’t find any reason.

Dominic Zhai didn’t care about right or wrong—he wanted to stand up for Serena, but Victor Yun quietly stopped him. Serena wouldn’t have struck Su Wan so hard without a reason. They didn’t know the full story, and speaking rashly would only cause trouble for Serena.

“Serena Feng…” The City Lord called out again, but seeing Serena treating Reid, he didn’t dare interrupt.

In the midst of her busy work, Serena glanced up at Su Wan. That look seemed to see right through her. Su Wan shrank back, her eyes darting away, unable to meet Serena’s gaze, her hand clutching the poisoned needle even tighter.

She’d been so secretive—there was no way Serena could know.

Su Wan tried to comfort herself.

Serena had only been seventy percent sure before, but seeing Su Wan’s guilty, evasive look, she was now certain. Whatever Su Wan’s reasons, she’d wanted to kill Reid and pin it on Serena—that much was fact.

‘The bamboo snake’s mouth, the wasp’s tail—neither is truly poisonous. But nothing’s more poisonous than a woman.’ That saying fit Su Wan perfectly. Reid risked his life for her, but Su Wan, for her own gain, wanted him dead. Reid really was a tragic figure.

“You brought this on yourself—who else can you blame?” Serena felt sorry for Reid and sighed, then bowed her head to continue working.

Reid and Su Wan—one willing to hit, one willing to be hit. It wasn’t her place to interfere.

Simon Sun was the only one completely unaffected, focused on handing Serena tools and wiping her sweat.

Su Wan, uneasy, quietly hid the poisoned needle away. Whether Serena had noticed or not, she couldn’t frame her anymore. Su Wan prepared to slip out and dispose of the needle.

“Uncle, uncle, my face hurts—hurts so much…” Su Wan cried loudly, reminding the City Lord to call for a doctor. Of course, she hoped to be treated somewhere else.

“Someone, go get a doctor—quick!” The City Lord of Night City hurriedly ordered. The Crown Prince and the other princes still watched from the sidelines, making no comment.

None of them had come to Tranquil Autumn Garden by choice—it was the Emperor’s order. Of course they wouldn’t be foolish enough to help Su Wan.

“Uncle, why isn’t the doctor here yet? My face hurts so much… What if it leaves a scar?” Su Wan’s fear and panic were real—she was truly worried about her face, but even more afraid her plot would be exposed. She had to leave and get rid of the poisoned needle quickly.

Damn you, Serena Feng!

“No, I’ll get you the best doctor there is. If you have a scar, I’ll have Serena Feng’s face slashed to avenge you.” The City Lord said this right in front of Serena, even as she was still working to save Reid.

In the City Lord’s eyes, Serena Feng was as lowly as dust—not even worthy to carry his shoes. A woman with such ordinary birth and no family background was born to be trampled on.

If not for Ninth Royal Uncle’s protection, women like Serena were his to kill as he pleased. So what if she had medical skill? No matter how good she was, she was just a doctor. Without Serena, there were plenty of others.

Serena heard this, but said nothing. Her lips still held a faint smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Dominic Zhai couldn’t hold back any longer. He knew with the Crown Prince and Prince Rowan present, it wasn’t his place to speak—but Night City’s bullying was too much.

Right in front of the Crown Prince and the other princes, Dominic slammed the table: “City Lord, stop threatening to kill and beat people like you own the place. Who do you think you are?”

City Lord, get this straight—this isn’t Night City, where you can do as you please. This is Eastlyn’s imperial capital. Your son attacked Serena here, tried to kill her, and now he’s dying because of his own actions. Serena put aside old grudges to save him, and all you do is threaten her life! What do you take Eastlyn’s women for—are they yours to kill or beat at will? Do you even respect the Emperor?”

Dominic wasn’t stupid—by dragging the Emperor into it, he forced the Crown Prince and Prince Rowan to get involved.

The royal family’s dignity and the Emperor’s authority—no one could defile them.

“Dominic Zhai is right. City Lord, if you touch Serena Feng, you become an enemy of Eastlyn.” The Crown Prince finally showed the bearing of a true heir to a great nation.

“Hmph… Enemy of Eastlyn? You think I’m afraid?” The City Lord hadn’t expected the usually neutral Crown Prince to speak up, so he stubbornly retorted.

“City Lord, don’t hurt yourself boasting. Here in Eastlyn’s capital, you’d better behave.” Prince Rowan, a supporter of the Crown Prince, naturally took his side. Besides, the City Lord’s words really were outrageous…

Night City might not be under the Four Kingdoms’ rule, but how could a single city challenge a whole nation? If Night City offended Eastlyn, it would be Night City that suffered…