Chapter Forty-Four: Guarantee

The sky was as dark as ink, the full moon hung high, and countless stars adorned it, forming a beautiful tableau of the night. Beneath this curtain, a Nissan sped along a country road, with Tank at the wheel, Autumn in the passenger seat, and Hong Chen keeping Ji Yun company in the back.

The interior of the car was quiet, only Tank and Hong Chen occasionally exchanged a few words. Autumn was mute, and Ji Yun, after eating, had drifted off to sleep again. With the poisonous blood expelled, less than a tenth of the toxin remained in her body; while no longer life-threatening, it left her in a lingering state of weakness that only her own metabolism could slowly dissipate. It would take at least three to five days for her to fully recover.

Several vehicle shadows appeared in the rearview mirror, closing the distance rapidly. Both Tank and Autumn noticed almost simultaneously, their expressions tightening.

Tank accelerated, but the cars behind sped up as well, drawing ever closer.

“Is something happening?” Though neither Tank nor Autumn had spoken, Hong Chen sensed the shift in their aura and asked.

Tank replied, “Those cars behind us are behaving strangely.”

Hong Chen fell silent for a moment, then said, “Find a suitable place to pull over. If trouble comes, let’s deal with it before continuing.”

His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable confidence. Tank hesitated for three seconds before agreeing.

After another minute of driving, Tank made a sharp turn onto a lateral road, sped several hundred meters, and stopped abruptly.

The cars behind were only seconds behind, making the same turn in succession. There was no doubt now—they were targeting them. Hong Chen barked, “Out of the car,” immediately lifting Ji Yun and pushing open the door.

As Hong Chen and the others exited, the pursuing vehicles arrived at high speed. Two passed the Nissan, one blocked the rear, and doors flew open as figures leapt out.

“Take action!” Without waiting for the other side to surround them, Hong Chen issued the command, stomping forward to meet two attackers. Tank and Autumn’s eyes narrowed, a surge of anxiety rising within them. They did not doubt Hong Chen’s strength, but he was still holding Ji Yun; if a fight broke out, she could easily be caught in the crossfire.

Ji Yun was different from them—a normal girl.

Yet in the next moment, seeing Hong Chen take down one opponent with a single move and deftly dodge another’s punch, their anxiety eased somewhat. Cold glints flashed in their eyes as they joined the fray.

The enemy numbered ten. The battle began quickly, and ended just as swiftly. After Hong Chen dispatched five, the remainder faltered, their will to fight wavering—their combat ability plummeted. Tank and Autumn seized the opportunity, each eliminating an opponent. Autumn chased down a fleeing enemy and plunged her dagger into his heart, while Hong Chen took out two more.

“These men still have a breath left. You two finish them off and clean up the scene,” Hong Chen said, catching his breath and glancing at Tank and Autumn. Looking down, he saw Ji Yun’s eyes open, quietly watching him.

“Sorry for waking you. My movements were a bit too rough,” Hong Chen apologized with a slight smile, quickly averting his gaze. Ji Yun’s beauty was captivating, and with her in his arms, he feared he might lose control if they lingered in each other’s eyes.

He was no saint—just a normal man, with a fondness for beauty, but more self-disciplined and restrained than most.

“Thank you,” Ji Yun whispered, a hint of shy embarrassment in her voice. Hong Chen felt her head tilt and nestle against his chest; glancing sideways, he saw her eyes had closed again.

Tank and Autumn worked quickly, clearly skilled. In less than five minutes, they packed the bodies into three cars, punctured the fuel tanks, and set them ablaze.

After the Nissan had left the scene by several kilometers, Hong Chen finally asked, “How did we get spotted? How many more times will we encounter this?”

His tone was less than pleasant. Tank knew he could no longer hide certain truths, and after a brief silence, he answered honestly: “Someone issued a bounty to stop Ji Yun from returning to the Ji family. Since entering the country’s borders and heading north without using planes, trains, or highways, there are six critical routes we must pass. The one just now was one of them—three remain. I can’t say exactly how many more ambushes we’ll encounter, but the closer we get to our destination, the more likely they’ll appear. It’ll be at least three more times, probably more.”

Hong Chen clasped his hands, his brow deeply furrowed. After a long contemplation, he glanced at Ji Yun, sleeping innocently, and said, “Too many variables if we go on like this. We should split up. You two act as bait, follow the established route to the capital, while I take Ji Yun alone. We’ll reunite in the capital.”

At his suggestion, Tank and Autumn exchanged a look, seeing hesitation in each other’s eyes. Hong Chen continued, “Since I’ve agreed to escort her, I won’t abandon her halfway. I’ll do my utmost to keep Ji Yun safe. If you think this is unwise, then stick to the original plan. But the bigger the group, the greater the risk. And that risk is not for me, but for Ji Yun.”

Tank and Autumn didn’t reply immediately. They knew Hong Chen spoke the truth. With two battles behind them, their hearts inclined to trust him, but they still hesitated.

“Tank, Sister Autumn, I believe him.” Ji Yun’s voice suddenly sounded. Autumn turned to see Ji Yun’s eyes open, her face resolute.

Perhaps moved by Ji Yun’s determination, Autumn fell silent for a moment, then nodded. She quickly wrote a few words on her phone and handed it to Hong Chen. He saw: “I trust you.”

There was no rush to continue. Following Hong Chen’s instructions, they took a nearby fork toward the city.

Half an hour later, the Nissan stopped at a T-junction. Tank and Autumn got out, Hong Chen switched to the driver’s seat, and Ji Yun lay flat in the back.

“Ji Yun, I’m counting on you,” Tank said solemnly, then he and Autumn vanished swiftly into the night.

...

Qing City University.

For the past two days, Lin Yufei had been absent-minded, plagued by insomnia. Friday afternoon, after her last class, she didn’t rush to leave campus, but stayed alone in her dorm room, lost in thought.

Three days’ deadline—tomorrow was the last day!

One and a half million in debts—whenever she thought about it, Lin Yufei broke out in cold sweat. The sum far exceeded not only her personal capacity but was a heavy burden for her family as well.

How she wished time could turn back, or simply stop at this moment. But how could time reverse or halt for anyone’s wishes?

What should she do?

Lin Yufei had asked herself countless times, but every answer was blank...

Suddenly, her phone vibrated, startling her from her reverie. Seeing it was Li Yi calling, she answered with a complex expression.

After a brief conversation, she left the dorm.

Ten minutes later, she arrived at a teahouse outside the campus. Glancing to the corner, she saw Li Yi sitting with his head bowed, and opposite him were two men, one of whom was the bald creditor.

Instinctively, Lin Yufei shivered, feeling the urge to turn and flee. After a moment’s internal struggle, she finally walked over.

“Well, Miss Lin, you’re here. Please, sit,” the bald man said affably. Lin Yufei sat next to Li Yi, and the bald man poured her tea.

“Li Yi, what’s going on?” Seeing her boyfriend’s downcast expression, Lin Yufei couldn’t help but ask, concern slipping into her voice.

Li Yi’s family was average, but he was handsome and sociable—a big draw for girls Lin Yufei’s age. His persistent pursuit had quickly established their relationship, and it had lasted nearly six months now.

Lin Yufei truly cared for Li Yi. Even though the huge debt was partly his doing, she couldn’t bring herself to resent him.

“Miss Lin, it’s like this: your boyfriend owes us two hundred thousand. Since it’s not a huge sum, I gave him just one day. Now another day’s passed and he still hasn’t paid. Isn’t that a bit much?” The bald man answered for Li Yi.

Lin Yufei wanted to say two hundred thousand was no small sum, but couldn’t bring herself to argue. She forced a faint smile: “Brother Bald, my boyfriend is trying his best. Please grant him a few more days.”

The bald man smiled, yawning. “You two really are connected at heart. He said the same earlier. Frankly, a day or two more isn’t impossible, but a man must have integrity. I already granted one day, now you come again—how am I supposed to trust him?”

His words to Lin Yufei were gentle, but when he turned to Li Yi, his tone hardened. He tapped the table with his finger: “Li Yi, it’s not that I won’t give you a chance. The deal is this: either you pay in full today, or find a guarantor to vouch for you and I’ll grant you one more day.”

Li Yi didn’t dare haggle, casting a hesitant glance at Lin Yufei. She was clever enough to catch his meaning—he wanted her to act as the guarantor.

Lin Yufei frowned slightly. For any other matter, she’d agree without hesitation for his sake. But being a guarantor was a different story.

First, she was already drowning in debt, barely able to help herself—tomorrow was the final day. Second, even with another day, where could Li Yi find two hundred thousand? If he could, he wouldn’t have delayed. If she guaranteed him, and tomorrow he failed, it would fall to her.

Lin Yufei was no longer the confused loser she’d been; now, she understood the consequences.

“Yufei, I meant to ask you to guarantee me when I called, but now I’ve thought it through. Even one more day might not help. I’ll just confess to my parents,” Li Yi said, grasping his head in pain.

Lin Yufei’s eyes softened: “Are you sure it’s okay to tell them?”

Li Yi shook his head bitterly: “They’ll probably kill me. I wanted to solve it myself, but now... sigh.”

Lin Yufei pressed her lips: “What can you do yourself?”

Li Yi replied, “I’ve already called my cousins. They’re helping me gather funds, but the soonest will be Sunday afternoon.”

“That won’t work. Even with a guarantor, you only get one day. In our business, reputation is everything. Borrow and repay, and borrowing again is easy,” the bald man said firmly, then abruptly shifted, “If you must drag it out another day, then it’ll require double the guarantee. Let me be clear: if you don’t pay by Sunday night, I’ll charge extra interest.”