Su Wan was too anxious.
Serena Feng cast a sympathetic glance at Su Wan. At this point, Serena was sitting pretty, steady as a rock; whether Su Wan died today or just lost her dignity, she was in for a world of hurt. Too bad Su Wan still hadn’t figured it out.
"Miss Su Wan, don’t be so hasty. Simon hasn’t finished speaking yet. Besides, in this world, it’s not just poison that can harm people."
As if to confirm Serena’s words, Simon Sun continued, “Master is right. What’s on the silver needle isn’t poison—ordinary people wouldn’t be affected. But if it touches a wound, that wound will fester. If Young City Lord Reid’s injury flares up again, his left arm won’t be salvageable.”
Simon Sun was the son of Sun Zhengdao, a physician renowned across the empire. Simon’s only shortcoming was his lack of hands-on experience.
“Wendy, you…” The City Lord of Night City stepped back two paces, his expression pained and confused as he looked at Su Wan. Hadn’t the Night family treated her well enough?
“No, no, Uncle, I didn’t—I would never hurt Cousin Reid! It’s Serena, she’s making things up!” Su Wan explained in a panic.
She honestly had no idea what was on the silver needle. The person who gave it to her said it wouldn’t harm anyone; if she used it on Reid Yale, it would frame Serena. That person even pricked themselves with the needle in front of her, and only after confirming it was safe did Su Wan dare to use it.
Thinking of this, Su Wan calmed down again. "It’s Serena, she’s framing me! Uncle, you have to believe me—Serena is malicious. She hates Cousin Reid and me, so there’s no way she’d try her best to heal him. It has to be her, she’s trying to set me up!"
Su Wan knew that, at this point, her only option was to keep blaming Serena. If she admitted someone gave her the needle to frame Serena, the City Lord would beat her to death himself.
The City Lord of Night City hesitated; compared to Su Wan, he was more inclined to believe Serena was scheming. Serena rolled her eyes, too lazy to explain. She turned to Simon Sun, "Simon, pack up—we’re leaving. Best not to get involved in Night City’s mess."
City Lord, please find a few doctors to assess Young City Lord Reid’s condition. I’ve already treated his wound—he’s not in danger, and his left hand is saved. As for further treatment, let Night City’s physicians take over. I really don’t dare get involved again; if anything happens to him because of some plot, I’ll be blamed for poor medical skills.
City Lord, Eastlyn has done all it can. Whether Young City Lord survives is up to you now. As for Miss Su Wan’s accusation that I framed her? I won’t bother explaining. After I took the silver needle from Miss Su Wan, I never touched it again. Whether the needle carries anything that causes wounds to rot, we’ll see soon enough."
"Go, call the doctors." The City Lord of Night City didn’t believe Serena either.
Serena’s face was calm, always with a faint, serene smile. But the calmer she looked, the angrier she was inside.
It had been years since she’d dealt with such unreasonable ‘patient family.’ Since Su Wan insisted Serena was ‘framing’ her, then Serena would frame her properly. Serena spun the silver needle in her fingers, a dangerous gleam flashing in her eyes.
Su Wan shivered all over, sensing something bad. She turned her head, lifted her foot, and tried to run far away from Serena. Just then, the doctors arrived—five in total.
Serena led the doctors forward, heading straight for Su Wan and blocking her escape.
Su Wan’s anxiety grew; her feet edged backward instinctively. Serena’s smile widened. Just as Su Wan turned to flee, Serena sped up and lunged at her…
She moved too fast, too suddenly—by the time the City Lord of Night City reacted and tried to push Serena away, it was too late. Serena’s silver needle sliced a bloody line across Su Wan’s wounded cheek.
Serena’s aim was perfect, not even half a millimeter off. The silver needle in her hand was stained with blood.
Su Wan cried out in pain, shoved Serena away, and burst into terrified sobs. "Ah, it hurts—my face hurts! Serena, you crazy woman, what did you do to me?"
"Serena, what are you doing?" The City Lord of Night City was about to explode with rage—Serena had trampled on Night City's dignity yet again.
Serena shook the silver needle in her hand. "Didn’t you and Miss Su Wan insist the needle was harmless? I’m proving it. Miss Su Wan, good luck—you’ll need it."
Snap—Serena flicked the silver needle into the window frame. Bright red blood dripped down the paper, shockingly vivid.
"No, no, how could you—how dare you! Serena, I hate you, I hate you!" Su Wan was completely stunned. She thought Serena was just venting by hitting her; she never expected Serena to actually smear the medicine from the needle onto her wound. Like a madwoman, Su Wan lunged at Serena, looking like she wanted to tear her apart.
When women fight, it’s usually just face-scratching and hair-pulling. Serena hated that kind of brawl—way too undignified.
As Su Wan lunged, Serena dropped into a grappling stance, lowered her body, grabbed Su Wan’s shoulder, and—thud—threw her straight to the ground.
Su Wan landed too far from Serena’s feet for her liking, so Serena kicked her again, sending her farther away. Only then did she clap her hands with satisfaction, ignoring Su Wan’s misery as she stepped past her.
"Hate me all you want—do you think I care? I saved you, and you still hate me anyway. Su Wan, heaven may forgive what fate brings, but those who bring disaster on themselves have only themselves to blame. If you want to hate me, go ahead—I don’t care."
"Such clean technique." Victor Yun, Prince Rowan, Dominic Zhai, the Crown Prince, and Prince Zhou had all heard rumors that Serena knocked out several grown men at the city gate. They’d been skeptical—until now.
Serena never struck unless necessary, but when she did, it was always a killing move—her style was simple, powerful, and nothing like those flashy, useless flourishes.
The City Lord of Night City stood frozen. Without his order, the guards and servants didn’t dare help Su Wan. Serena calmly stepped forward to help Simon Sun pack up their things.
Her medicine chest and instruments could be displayed, but never left behind. Even the useless items had to be taken back with her.
"Doctors, check carefully. Once I walk out that door, if anything else happens to Young City Lord Reid, I’m not responsible." While the five doctors consulted, Serena wasn’t worried at all.
She trusted her own medical skills.
Lives were at stake; the five doctors would have checked thoroughly even without Serena’s reminder. From here on, Reid Yale’s fate was in their hands.
Half an hour later, the five doctors finally reached a conclusion: "City Lord, Young City Lord’s wound is handled perfectly. There’s no danger to his life. If all goes well, he’ll wake up within three days."
"Hmm." The City Lord of Night City looked grim—he’d judged a gentleman by a villain’s standard.
"Since everything’s fine, City Lord, may I leave now?" Serena’s lips curled in a faint, mocking smile.
She’d never let anyone find fault with her on the surface.
"You may." The City Lord of Night City gritted his teeth.
Even if he wanted to stop Serena, what could he do? Never mind that she’d saved Reid Yale—even if Reid died today, he couldn’t keep Serena here.
Serena Feng—what a woman. If she couldn’t be a friend, she had to be destroyed.
"Your Highnesses, I’ll take my leave." Serena strode out with flair, only to find her leg suddenly grabbed. She looked down to see Su Wan, her face streaked with blood.
"Serena, save me, save me!" Su Wan clung to Serena’s leg, begging.
Unfortunately, the wound on Su Wan’s face was spreading. What had started as a thin cut from the scalpel was now…
Her entire left cheek was swollen and ugly.
"Save you? Miss Su Wan, are you joking?" Serena couldn’t help but laugh. "Do I seem like someone easy to talk to? Why should I save you? Who do you think you are—the high-and-mighty Summers family heiress?"
Su Wan’s face went ashen, her hatred deepening. Ever since meeting Serena, nothing had gone right for her—her own family had even abandoned her. Now she couldn’t use her status to pressure Serena.
"Serena, you’re the one who ruined my face—you have a duty to heal me."
Serena was responsible—but only to the right people. As for Su Wan, sorry, she wasn’t taking this patient.
"Pfft…" This time, Serena actually laughed. "I ruined your face, so I have to fix it? What kind of logic is that, Miss Su Wan? Have you ever seen an assassin take responsibility for burying their victims?"
"No, no, Serena, you can’t do this! Doctors are supposed to be compassionate—you’re a physician, I’m begging you, please, please, I don’t want to be ugly, I don’t want this…" Su Wan panicked. She couldn’t understand why Serena would save Reid Yale but refuse to help her.
"Doctors are human too, and humans have their own biases. What makes you worth saving? Besides, you’re not dying—there are plenty of doctors in Night City." Serena was no soft-hearted fool; she kicked Su Wan away.
Su Wan grunted in pain, rolling twice across the floor.
"I’m leaving." Serena strode away without looking back.
So ruthless!
Everyone swallowed nervously. Serena truly had a thousand faces—the previous moment she was like a goddess, saving her enemy Reid Yale; the next, she became a demon, kicking Su Wan aside like trash.
"No, don’t go! Serena, don’t leave, save me, please! Ah… Serena, you snake-hearted woman, I curse you, I curse you to die horribly, to never rest in peace! Serena, you’ll get what you deserve! You will!"
Uncle, Uncle, save me, please! I didn’t mean it, I was used, I didn’t know the silver needle would harm Cousin Reid… Uncle, Cousin Reid liked me so much, how could I hurt him? Uncle, you have to believe me…"
Victor Yun, Dominic Zhai, and Simon Sun bowed to the princes and left, Su Wan’s cries still faintly audible.
But no one pitied her—she’d brought this on herself. If she hadn’t tried to harm Serena, she wouldn’t have ended up like this…