The carriage rolled out of the city, heading north all the way.
Serena Feng sat inside, a vague sense of unease creeping over her. Her hand, almost unconsciously, slipped into her sleeve, gripping the cold handle of her gun—only that chill could calm her nerves.
Suddenly, the horses pulling the carriage shrieked, followed by a heavy thud—the carriage jolted violently.
The carriage lurched to the left, throwing Serena to the floor. But as if she’d expected it, she didn’t panic; she calmly drew her gun. "What happened?" she demanded.
"No need to worry, Miss Feng. We hit a rock and lost a wheel. Just a quick repair." The guard replied stiffly, but Serena caught a chilling undertone in his voice.
Serena pressed herself tightly against the carriage wall, slowing her breathing.
She exhaled slowly, telling herself to stay calm—just treat this like a battlefield. The people outside were the enemy, killing them was only natural.
Click—Serena flicked off the safety, finger resting on the trigger. As soon as they approached, she could take them out.
Four men, sixteen bullets—she had the odds on her side.
Serena waited, calm and focused, for the perfect moment to strike.
At this moment, there was no trace of a life-saving doctor in her. The cold, lethal aura she exuded made her look more like an assassin—or a sniper.
Serena remembered the first time she killed someone with a gun. It was in the jungles of Yunnan, when she shot a drug lord who tried to rape her.
Her senior was right beside her at the time. Later, he joked that he’d planned to confess his feelings after they returned from Yunnan, but after seeing her kill, he lost all courage. He said that if she ever stopped being a doctor, she could always be a killer.
Because, in that moment, she was ruthless and fast—one shot straight to the forehead, not a hint of hesitation or regret.
Honestly, her senior wasn’t wrong. Killing had never weighed on her conscience.
If people don’t cross me, I don’t cross them.
Life and death are separated by a single line.
If it comes down to one of us dying, it’s going to be them.
Footsteps drew near—from every direction.
"They really think highly of me," Serena sneered inwardly. Her left hand shot up to grab the roof—just as she was about to leap out...
The wind stirred.
Thud—
Serena smelled blood.
Thump—
Not even a scream—four guards dropped instantly.
"Who’s there?"
Serena shoved open the carriage door, pressed against the wall, gun gripped tight—but she didn’t raise it. The fewer people who knew about this weapon, the better.
"Serena Feng."
A familiar voice sounded in her ear.
Lance Quinn?
Serena let out a breath, lowered her arm, and holstered the gun. She pushed open the carriage door and jumped lightly to the ground.
"Lance Quinn, it’s you." Her words were almost cheerful—no trace of fear.
Lance stood in black in the middle of the road, his gaze at Serena tinged with admiration. He said coldly, "If it wasn’t me, you’d be dead."
"Maybe so."
Serena glanced at the four fallen guards, a flash of awe in her eyes.
One strike to the throat—no blood left behind. That speed was unreal.
"You... are strong."
"That’s right, I’m strong. And now I’ve saved you, so you owe me a life-debt." Lance was anything but modest; Serena’s open admiration pleased him.
"But I didn’t ask you to save me. And I’ve saved you before, haven’t I?" Serena smiled.
She knew this man meant her no harm.
"Saved me? Last time we settled that score. This time, I saved you. What, you’re not planning to repay my life-debt?"
Swish—Lance’s sword pointed at Serena.
He looked ready to kill her if she refused.
"How do you want me to repay you? With my body?" Even with a sword at her, Serena didn’t flinch.
Lance wouldn’t kill her—if he wanted her dead, he wouldn’t have saved her.
"Repay with your body? You’re not worthy. I want you to save someone for me."
Not worthy?
It’s true—right now, Serena Feng wasn’t worthy of anyone.
Serena just smiled and asked, "Save someone? What illness?"
That was all she cared about. Whoever needed saving, their identity didn’t matter to her.
She was just a surgeon, not some miracle worker. She was skilled in cardiac and neurosurgery, but internal medicine was never her specialty.
"You’ll know when you meet him." Lance sheathed his sword.
"But I only treat trauma," Serena protested, frustrated. "I’m not a general practitioner, and I’m definitely not a miracle worker. If it’s cancer, how am I supposed to save them?"
Clip-clop, clip-clop—before she finished, the sound of hooves approached, growing louder.
"Someone’s coming?" Serena’s first instinct wasn’t to grab her gun, but to look at Lance, her eyes saying: If you want my help, you’d better keep me alive first.
Judging by the hoofbeats, there were a lot of them. Her little gun wouldn’t be enough.
"They’re your rescuers. Remember what I said, Serena Feng—you owe me a favor, and one day you’ll have to save someone for me." Lance gave her no chance to refuse. He sheathed his sword and vanished in a few swift leaps.
"Hey, that’s not fair! I didn’t ask you to save me. I could’ve handled it myself if you hadn’t shown up!" Serena shouted in annoyance, just as General Warren Yu and his soldiers arrived.
From a distance, they saw Serena’s carriage stopped in the middle of the road.
Too late—judging by the scene, Miss Feng must have already met a grim fate.
General Yu spurred his horse ahead, leading the charge.
He pulled the reins, jumped off, and landed. "Miss Feng, are you alright?"
Serena stood gracefully, looking as if she were simply waiting. Not a hint of fear showed on her face.
"General Yu?" Serena was surprised—she hadn’t expected him here. She had no connection to General Yu.
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As Serena wondered, the others arrived too. Caleb Wang jumped off his horse. "Serena Feng, are you okay?"
So General Yu was sent by the Wang clan—no wonder.
Serena shook her head at Caleb. "I’m fine, Master Caleb, no need to worry. Luckily you all arrived—the bandits ran off as soon as they heard the horses. But these four guards died protecting me. I’m truly saddened."
She even made a show of wiping away nonexistent tears.
Lance Quinn, unfortunately, had become ‘the bandit.’
Uh... those four guards died protecting Serena Feng.
General Yu was stunned.
Serena’s ability to lie with a straight face was impressive. The four guards were dead, but their blades had clearly been pointed at the carriage.
But... he couldn’t expose her.
After spending time with Serena, Caleb Wang’s own lying skills had improved. Hearing her, he immediately added, "Don’t worry, Serena. The Wang family will take good care of their families."
That settled the story about the guards’ deaths.
Ahem... General Yu coughed lightly, reminding Caleb and Serena not to treat him as invisible.
Judging by the wounds, only an expert could’ve done this. Serena didn’t have that skill—he still wanted to know who had saved her.
"What’s wrong, General Yu—do you have another theory?" Serena asked with a bright smile, her eyes almost speaking.
She didn’t believe he’d say the guards died trying to kill her.
General Yu gave a helpless smile. "No, Miss Feng, you’re right—the guards died protecting you. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take their bodies back and report."
That meant no one could ask who’d struck the fatal blow.
"Please do, General Yu. But... my guards are dead, and my carriage is broken. Could you escort me to the Royal Villa? I’m supposed to attend Princess Anping’s Peach Blossom Festival."
Caleb Wang always knew Serena could seize any opportunity, but her words still made him pause.
Serena Feng, you really are bold!
But with General Yu’s escort, the road would be safe—and even at the Royal Villa, she’d have protection.
The question was, would General Yu agree?