At dawn, Lance Quinn finally escorted Serena Feng back to Fenton Manor. Before leaving, he took out a token from his robe and handed it to Serena: "Serena Feng, if anything happens, take this to Vincent Su. I will appear immediately."
This was Lance Quinn's acknowledgement.
The token looked somewhat old, exuding an ancient aura. Only the character "Nine" was carved on its front, while the back was completely blank.
With just a glance, Serena knew this token was extraordinary—and not something she could afford to accept.
"Thank you, but I won't need it."
She had no desire to get further involved with Lance Quinn—this man was far too dangerous, like a living enigma, while all she wanted was a peaceful life.
"Anything I give away, I never take back. Since I've handed it to you, it's yours. If you don't want it, just throw it away." Lance Quinn flicked the token lightly, and it landed back in Serena's hand.
"Lance Quinn, I've already saved someone for you; we're even now. This token is too valuable—I can't accept it." Seeing Lance Quinn about to leave, Serena hurriedly blocked his way and tried to hand the token back to him.
This thing obviously represented Lance Quinn. She wouldn't dare show it to outsiders, let alone lose it!
"Even? That's only what you think." Lance Quinn looked at the stubborn Serena, said nothing more, brushed her hand aside, and vaulted over the wall.
"Lance Quinn..." Serena wanted to chase after him, but...
Forget it... I'll just hold on to it for now. It's not like I'll ever use it anyway.
She yawned, glanced at the sky—there was no way she'd be able to catch up on sleep now.
Serena planned to wash her face with cold water and change clothes. General Victor Wei was still supposed to bring his wife for treatment—she suspected it might be cataracts.
She was absolutely exhausted!
......
"Vincent, I've given the Nine Provinces Token to Serena Feng. If she ever comes to you with it, make sure you recognize it." Lance Quinn stepped into the secret chamber at Sutton Manor and spoke to Vincent Su.
"The Nine Provinces Token? Quinn, are you out of your mind?" Vincent Su rushed forward, staring at Lance Quinn, half convinced the man before him wasn't really Lance Quinn.
Lance Quinn—sharp, shrewd, and famously indifferent to women—had actually handed the Nine Provinces Token to a woman. More importantly, he'd dragged Serena Feng into their world. It was utterly reckless.
"It's just a token," Lance Quinn said dismissively, waving his hand.
The Nine Provinces Empire has already fallen; the Nine Provinces Token no longer holds any real meaning.
"Quinn, that's no ordinary token. In this world, only Storm Cloud Bu and Stormcloud Villa have ever received it—Serena Feng is the third. Besides, she's changed so much; we don't really know her anymore. Are you sure you're not being too hasty?" Vincent Su regretted ever bringing Serena to treat Lance Quinn's wounds.
If these two had never met, there wouldn't be all this trouble now.
The more Serena Feng knows, the more danger she's in.
"Vincent, given time, Serena Feng will definitely accomplish something. The Nine Provinces Token will be of great use in her hands." Lance Quinn was certain Serena was not a woman who could accept an ordinary life.
Even if Serena Feng wanted an ordinary life, it was no longer possible—because he wouldn't allow it.
"But she's... General Feng's daughter. Quinn, don't forget what the surname Feng might mean." Vincent Su looked conflicted.
Serena Feng was a valuable ally—but also a dangerous one.
"Vincent, the Feng-Li Clan has long been extinct. Just bearing the surname Feng doesn't mean she's connected to them. Even if Serena Feng is their descendant—so what?" Lance Quinn had made up his mind about Serena Feng.
"Quinn, are you really going to use her?" Vincent Su knew that once Lance Quinn decided something, no one could change his mind.
Lance Quinn nodded. "Vincent, I know what should and shouldn't be done. I have my own plans regarding Serena Feng, and I won't let her learn too much."
"Alright, let's hope we haven't misjudged her." Vincent Su nodded, thinking of Serena Feng's connections with General Warren Yu and the Wang family, and decided not to say more.
"Quinn, what do you think of General Warren Yu?" Vincent Su brought up another potential ally.
"A born military talent," Lance Quinn replied, giving high praise. He recalled what he'd seen at Fenton Manor and confirmed Warren Yu's usefulness.
"And this one?" In Vincent Su's eyes, Warren Yu was far more valuable than Serena Feng.
"I'll handle him. Dawn is coming—I should go. Vincent, Night City is your responsibility now. I don't want any more trouble from them. Also, secretly move your stockpiled grain outside the city—I need it." Lance Quinn turned to leave, but before he went, he saw Storm Cloud Bu slumped in a chair and snapped:
"Storm Cloud Bu, if you're fine, hurry back to Stormcloud Villa. Next time something like this happens, you won't be so lucky."
"Not going! You're heartless!" Storm Cloud Bu shouted unhappily.
It was bad enough to abandon him as a wounded man outside the city, but now, after he'd dragged himself all the way to Sutton Manor, they wanted him to leave? No way...
Vincent Su shook his head. "Storm, you really were too careless. If Serena Feng hadn't been there last night, even if Quinn managed to save you, he wouldn't have gotten out unharmed. You know his status—too many people are watching him. If he's injured, it causes all kinds of trouble. Last time, if it weren't for Serena, Quinn would've lost his life."