Chapter 573: A Kiss, Gratitude

But the bandits gave a fierce, cold smile and continued to press closer step by step.

"Little girl, you think with that broken sword in your hand you can deal with me? Hehehe..." The bandits laughed ferociously and gleefully.

"Just surrender obediently; if you join us, we might even spare your life……"

At this critical moment, Lin Yuan suddenly moved!

He violently propped himself up.

Although the wound on Lin Yuan's back was pulled, causing excruciating pain that made his vision go dark, a flash of fierce cold light appeared in his eyes!

Lin Yuan shoved Yin Yirou behind him with a backhand, then forced himself to stand up!

He raised his right hand sharply and flicked his fingertips!

Dozens of silver needles, as fine as cow hair, shot out from his sleeve in an instant, whistling with a fierce sound as they flew toward the approaching bandits!

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!"

The silver needles' speed was like lightning!

The bandits had no time to react before the silver needles struck them precisely.

"Ah!"

"Ugh!"

Piercing screams rang out one after another!

The bandits hit by the needles stiffened, their bodies flying backward uncontrollably……

The bandits slammed heavily into the wall, spitting blood. These silver needles struck their vital points, instantly robbing several bandits of their combat ability.

The remaining bandits trembled all over, their steps halted instantly, their eyes filled with terror.

They never imagined that this Lin Yuan…… despite suffering such grave wounds, could still unleash such fierce counterattack ability!

The leader's face changed drastically; just as he was about to order a retreat, he saw Lin Yuan raise his hand again, flick his fingertips, and another volley of silver needles shoot out!

The silver needles' target…… straight at the remaining bandits!

This time the silver needles were even denser, pouring down like a rainstorm.

The bandits were terrified out of their wits, scrambling to dodge in panic!

But the silver needles were so fast that several people were still hit.

One bandit's shoulder was pierced by a silver needle, blood spurting out instantly; the pain made him scream and drop his long sword.

Another bandit was hit in the knee; his knee gave way and he collapsed heavily to the ground, unable to stand again.

After just two rounds of silver needle attacks, the bandits suffered heavy losses; their former arrogance was completely crushed, and they instantly fell into a disadvantage.

They looked at Lin Yuan standing where he was, covered in blood yet with eyes sharp as an eagle, and only fear remained in their hearts……

This man is truly terrifying……

He, despite such grave wounds…… could still erupt with such formidable combat power……

If we drag this on, every one of these bandits will die here!

"Retreat! Quick retreat!" The leader finally panicked completely, no longer daring to linger, and shouted hoarsely at the remaining bandits.

No sooner had his words fallen than he turned first, clutching his arm grazed by a silver needle, and stumbled toward the door.

The remaining bandits, like startled birds, all turned and fled……

The wounded companions on the ground also rose in terror and stumbled away……

Tonight, this group of bandits' assassination attempt failed.

If they continue to delay now, they might not be able to leave at all!

So at this moment, they only thought of escaping this terrifying place as quickly as possible.

Faced with the bandits' retreat……

Lin Yuan did not give chase.

Because he was seriously injured at this moment.

Soon, a group of bandits vanished outside the Safe House……

Leaving only a mess all over the ground and a strong smell of blood.

Watching the bandits escape.

Lin Yuan's tense nerves finally relaxed; his body could no longer support him, his vision went black, and he collapsed straight down.

"Lin Yuan!" Yin Yirou exclaimed, rushing forward to support him.

Seeing his wounds all over his body and his pale face, Yin Yirou's tears burst again: "Hang on! I'll call an ambulance right now!"

Lin Yuan, however, weakly shook his head, gripping her hand that was reaching for her phone with all his strength.

His hoarse voice carried an unquestionable tone: "It's fine…… no need for an ambulance…… help me downstairs…… to my home…… that place is safe."

Yin Yirou was stunned.

She looked at Lin Yuan's pale yet determined face, tears falling harder: "But you're injured this badly……"

"No time to explain……" Lin Yuan's breathing grew more ragged, cold sweat mixed with blood sliding down his forehead, "The Safe House has been exposed; if an ambulance comes it will draw more people…… Trust me, go to my home, I can treat my wounds myself."

Yin Yirou looked at his weak yet determined gaze and finally nodded.

She wiped her tears and carefully supported Lin Yuan's arm……

She placed Lin Yuan's arm on her shoulder and, with all her strength, bore his heavy body.

Inside the Safe House was a mess; the floor littered with explosion debris, bloodstains, and overturned furniture.

The two stepped over the debris, one deep step then a shallow one, each step extremely difficult.

The wound on Lin Yuan's back was tugged, making his whole body tremble, but he gritted his teeth and didn't utter another groan.

With great effort they reached the Safe House doorway; Lin Yuan summoned his last bit of clarity and looked around.

The night was deep, the residential complex silent except for the two of them breathing.

The robbers who had just fled had long since vanished, and there was no suspicious movement around.

He only then relaxed his breath, and in a low voice told Yin Yirou: "Go…"

Yin Yirou supported Lin Yuan as they slowly walked downstairs…

The hallway's motion-sensor lights came on one by one with their steps, stretching their mutually supporting shadows long.

Upon reaching the ground floor, Lin Yuan pointed to a white Tesla Model S sedan not far away, his voice weak: "The car is over there… the key is in my left pocket."

Yin Yirou carefully pulled the key from his pocket, first helping Lin Yuan sit steady in the passenger seat, then she went around to the driver's side and got in.

Although she was flustered, she still remembered the basic operations Lin Yuan had used when driving before.

Yin Yirou trembled as she started the car, then, following Lin Yuan's directions, slowly drove away from the residential complex that had just experienced a bloodbath.

The atmosphere inside the car was especially solemn.

Lin Yuan leaned against the seat, his face as pale as paper, his breathing growing ever weaker.

His chest kept rising and falling, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Yin Yirou kept an eye on the road while occasionally turning her head to look at him.

Yin Yirou's heart was in knots, and she unconsciously sped up.

At the same time, Yin Yirou had already contacted the police right away.

The police were dispatching large reinforcements to the Safe House.

But Yin Yirou had no time to explain to her police colleagues; she had to get Lin Yuan home first…

…

More than half an hour later.

Yin Yirou drove and arrived at the foot of Shidai Gongyu Lou.

Yin Yirou again supported Lin Yuan as they got out of the car, helping him into the apartment building.

Lin Yuan swiped the access card, and the two took the elevator to the 18th floor.

Just as they entered the living room, Lin Yuan could no longer hold up and burst into a fit of coughing.

A mouthful of blood spurted onto the clean floor, staining a patch red.

His body went limp, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.

Yin Yirou was quick-eyed and quick-handed, she immediately steadied him, her voice trembling with tears: "Lin Yuan!"

Lin Yuan waved his hand, and only after a while did he catch his breath.

He pointed to a storage cabinet in the corner of the living room: "There… the bottom drawer… has herbal medicine and disinfectants… help me to the bedroom bed."

Yin Yirou quickly supported him into the master bedroom and gently laid him on the soft big bed.

She dared not delay, turned and ran to the cabinet, pulling open the bottom drawer.

Inside lay neatly arranged packets of herbal medicine, clean gauze, tweezers, and disinfectant cotton.

She picked up these items and hurried back to the bedroom.

By then, Lin Yuan had difficulty turning onto his side, his back facing her.

His already tattered clothing was soaked with blood, clinging tightly to the wound, through which one could faintly see silver shrapnel embedded in the flesh.

"Help me… cut open my clothing…" Lin Yuan's voice was as weak as a mosquito's hum.

Yin Yirou fetched scissors, carefully avoiding the wound, and bit by bit cut open the clothing on his back.

When Lin Yuan's wound was fully exposed before her eyes…

Yin Yirou still sucked in a breath of cold air, tears instantly welling up again. Lin Yuan's back was horrifying to behold:

On Lin Yuan's body, the original knife wounds… were torn larger by the blast's shockwave, flesh turned outward, deep enough to see bone;

Around it were embedded a dozen or so grenade fragments of various sizes, some only showing a bit of edge, others half-buried in the flesh, the surrounding tissue already blackened by gunpowder smoke.

Blood continued to slowly seep from the wound.

Lin Yuan took from her hand a bottle of homemade disinfectant herbal wine and poured it onto the gauze.

He first lightly wiped around the wound himself; the pain made his whole body's muscles tense, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

Then Lin Yuan handed over a small packet of powdered herbal medicine: "After I pull out the fragments, you immediately sprinkle the powder on the wound and then wrap it with gauze."

Yin Yirou nodded firmly, clenched the gauze in her hand, held back her tears, held her breath, and nodded: "I'm ready."

Lin Yuan took a deep breath, picked up the tweezers, aimed at a fragment protruding outward, his eyes hardened, and with a sudden yank pulled it out!

"Uh." The intense pain made him let out a repressed groan.

Lin Yuan's body shuddered violently, and cold sweat instantly soaked his forehead hair.

Blood spurted out along the direction of the tweezers, staining the sheets beneath him red.

"Medicine! Medicine!" Yin Yirou was so frightened her heart seemed to stop; she quickly grabbed the powder and, trembling, scattered it over the bleeding wound.

The white herbal powder, upon contacting the blood, was instantly soaked and emitted a faint "hiss".

Lin Yuan's body shuddered again, but he gritted his teeth and held still.

In the time that followed, Lin Yuan thus pulled out the fragments one by one.

Each time he pulled one out, he let out a repressed groan and his face grew a shade paler.

In the end, he had almost no color left, his breathing so weak it seemed he could stop at any moment.

Yin Yirou knelt beside the bed, one hand helping him apply medicine and bandage, the other stifling her sobs to soothe him: "Almost done… just hold on… I'll finish pulling them out soon…"

Her fingers were stained red with blood, her arms ached from holding the same position for so long, yet she dared not slacken in the slightest.

Seeing Lin Yuan covered in wounds, clearly in pain to the point of near fainting, yet still pulling out fragments, pretending he was fine…

Her heart felt as if countless needles were pricking it.

This man, though he himself could barely hold on, was still worrying about her safety.

No one knew how long had passed when the last fragment was finally pulled out.

Lin Yuan could no longer hold himself up; the tweezers clanged as they fell to the floor, and his whole body went limp on the bed.

Lin Yuan gasped heavily, his whole body soaked in cold sweat, as if he had just been fished out of the water.

Yin Yirou hastily sprinkled on the medicinal powder and carefully wrapped his back with gauze.

Her movements were gentle, for fear of hurting Lin Yuan.

Having done all that, Yin Yirou sat on the edge of the bed.

She looked at Lin Yuan's paper‑white face, the wounds of varying depth all over his body, and the gauze still faintly bleeding……

The emotions pent up in Yin Yirou's heart could no longer be contained.

She suddenly bent over, gently took hold of Lin Yuan's icy‑cold hand, and her tears fell soundlessly onto the back of his hand.

Feeling the warmth on the back of his hand, Lin Yuan struggled to open his eyes and gave a weak smile: "Why are you crying…… I'm fine……"

It was precisely that weak‑voiced reassurance that completely shattered Yin Yirou's psychological defenses.

She could no longer hold back, leaned forward, and gently cupped Lin Yuan's face……

Her soft lips pressed, without warning, against his pale, chapped lips.

This kiss carried the saltiness of tears, along with her long‑suppressed worry, gratitude, and heartache—soft yet resolute……

Lin Yuan was completely stunned, his pupils contracting sharply……

Lin Yuan's fatigue and pain…… seemed to vanish at this moment.

He could clearly feel the soft touch on his lips, smell the faint fragrance from her hair, and the salty scent of her tears.

He instinctively wanted to pull away……

But at this moment, Lin Yuan, being too weak, could only twitch the corner of his mouth slightly……

He simply could not avoid it……