Chapter 39: The Ambush

Hearing the sound, Shi Lichuan turned his head to greet her and asked, "Are you ready to head out now, Miss Jiang?"

"Yes."

Jiang Qin did not bother asking how he had managed to install surveillance cameras without the residential complex's security noticing. If these bounty hunters weren't truly skilled, You Wei wouldn't have been willing to spend such a large sum to hire them.

"Understood. I will go wake my teammates."

Soon after, the three bodyguards each downed a tube of nutrient solution and escorted Jiang Qin out. The residential area was calm and peaceful. Upon reaching the entrance, Shi Lichuan twisted a chain on his wrist, and a sleek, eye-catching flying vehicle materialized before them.

Jiang Qin suddenly realized she hadn't yet obtained her flying vehicle license. She would need to find time to take the test.

"Miss Jiang, let's take the flying vehicle; it’s safer."

It would also shorten the journey. Although it wasn't far, Shi Lichuan was extremely cautious. After checking the Star Network earlier that day, he had understood why You Wei said this mission was so dangerous. A female who had discovered a new method for deep soothing—he dared not imagine how many people in the shadows were coveting her... brain.

Jiang Qin obediently got into the vehicle. Shi Lichuan took the wheel, while Bazi and Kuiwen sat on her left and right, scanning the surroundings vigilantly. Fortunately, the trip was uneventful.

By the time they reached the back entrance of the bar, the tension among the three men had noticeably eased. Just as they were shielding Jiang Qin to enter the bar, a large, dark brown tail descended from the sky. The scales on the tail appeared razor-sharp.

Shi Lichuan reacted with lightning speed, immediately shifting into his beast form. A massive panda clad in bone-like armor crouched down, shielding Jiang Qin in its embrace and taking the impact of the tail strike on its back. Bazi and Kuiwen also shifted instantly to engage the attackers—a giant sea snake and a fire bird appeared.

A raspy voice shouted from the opposite side, "The enforcement squad will be here soon; we must finish this quickly."

A black hawk lunged at Kuiwen, while Bazi was pinned down by a wolf and a tiger. Shi Lichuan dared not stand up, fearing that the moment the little female was exposed, she would be snatched away or accidentally injured. Fortunately, he belonged to a race known for its defense and immense strength; taking a few hits wouldn't kill him. However, the attackers seemed desperate; two more orcs joined the fray, both S-rank. In mere seconds, he was wounded. Shi Lichuan felt frustrated; being unable to move freely left him severely restricted.

He could only hope that the bar's security and the enforcement squad would arrive soon.

***

When You Wei heard the commotion, he knew something had gone wrong. He immediately rushed from the entrance to the back door, and Zhu Yongkang arrived simultaneously with the security team. By the time they had all shifted into their beast forms, ready to join the battle, the attackers decisively retreated.

The ambush had lasted only three minutes in total. The attackers came fast and left even faster, vanishing in an instant. Seeing the wounds on Shi Lichuan’s bone armor, You Wei felt a pang of distress. "Lichuan, they’re gone. You can get up now."

At these words, Shi Lichuan rose from his crouching position and shifted back into his human form. While his beast form had hidden the extent of the damage, the injuries became starkly visible once he was human again. Yet, he seemed indifferent, still concerned only for Jiang Qin. "Miss Jiang, are you alright?"

Having been shielded the entire time, even unable to see the flashes of the battle, Jiang Qin was naturally unharmed. However, seeing the lacerations on Shi Lichuan’s back, she felt a jolt of alarm. "Mr. Shi, shouldn't you go get those wounds treated?"

Shi Lichuan dismissed it casually. "Just flesh wounds. I'll lie in a medical pod for a bit later."

Seeing that everyone was safe, You Wei urged them forward. "Let's get inside the bar first, lest they decide to circle back for another strike."

"That’s unlikely. They wouldn't want to run into the enforcement squad." After all, infiltrating a planet to abduct someone required a quick strike to have any chance of a safe escape. Once pinned down, they would be fighting a hundred to one.

Once inside the bar, Shi Lichuan, Bazi, and Kuiwen took turns in the medical pods, while Jiang Qin stayed with You Wei and Zhu Yongkang. Fearing she might be shaken, You Wei suggested, "Why don't you take the day off and go back to rest? Or you can stay here for a bit before returning to your apartment."

He had considered having Jiang Qin stay at the bar to make commuting easier, but the neighborhood around the bar was a mixed bag of unsavory characters and actually less safe. The apartment complex, at least, was a high-end area with security patrols and various protective shields. As for not working at all—that would be no different from house arrest. Thus, no one brought it up.

Jiang Qin shook her head. "I'm fine. I can work as usual."

"Alright then. If you feel unwell, just call someone. There will be people guarding the entrance at all times. Work isn't as important as your health; missing a day or two wouldn't matter."

Jiang Qin certainly didn't believe that. It was impossible for it not to matter; most of the customers came specifically for her, and if she stood them up, they would likely tear the bar apart. Of course, she wasn't so shaken by seeing an orc fight that she wouldn't dare to work. She might look fragile, but she wasn't actually weak!

Once everyone had left, Jiang Qin skillfully began her makeup. She decided against singing new songs today. Even with the vast library of Earth's music, she couldn't afford to waste them. She would need to plan her new releases—perhaps a few a month, interspersed with older songs.

***

In the front of the bar, every booth was filled. Gu Tianyou and his two companions sat in their usual corner. They had been witnesses to the event the day before.

"Do you think that little female can still work today? Or has she already been taken away by the Genetic Research Institute?"

Bai Mufeng couldn't be bothered to entertain such an idiot and had no interest in answering such nonsense. Only Lan Shaoyu had the patience to humor him. "That's the Genetic Research Institute, not some underground laboratory."

"Sigh, honestly, I kind of wish those guys would break the rules and figure out how to provide deep soothing without mating. After all, the reason I haven't bonded is that I don't want to be tainted by those females. If they found a way, I’d gladly pay or use my contribution points for deep soothing."

Lan Shaoyu smiled. "The principle is actually very simple."

"You know it?"

"What does mating feel like?"

Gu Tianyou was rendered speechless. "I’m still a pure male; how could I know what it feels like?"

"Ha, there's an old saying: even if you haven't eaten pork, surely you've seen a pig run?"

"I haven't eaten it, and I haven't seen it."

Lan Shaoyu: ... He began to wonder if this dim-witted teammate was sent specifically to target his sanity.

"That's irrelevant. You just need to know that the feeling during mating is the same as the feeling when the little female sings. So, you see, the point isn't the singing; it's the deep spiritual gratification. Do you understand now?"

Gu Tianyou had a sudden epiphany. "Oh~ I get it. So, what exactly does that feel like?"