The Modern Martial Immortal-Chapter 12: Return

The young woman had leapt out of the bus and was crying for help, yet the atmosphere in Guangming was clearly nothing like Dayu. No one stepped forward. Instead, everyone hurried away from her.

A nearby restaurant owner saw her running toward his building and immediately shut its door, making it clear he did not wish to invite trouble.

At that moment, two burly men, each over one meter ninety tall, rushed off the bus and chased after her.

This was a girl of seventeen or eighteen, jumping off a moving vehicle while in obvious danger, in a foreign place and a foreign country, with two hulking men pursuing her...yet, despite this happening in broad daylight, everyone along the street avoided her as if she carried misfortune. A crushing despair overcame her.

***

Yu Xiaoying. Yaoguang remembered her name. The fashionable woman earlier had bragged the entire ride, but judging from the current situation, the money she talked about clearly had not been easy to earn. At the end of the day, she was still a girl from Dayu.

Although he had never truly adapted to local customs, the education he had received back in Daxia would not allow him to ignore this scene.

"Honk and pick her up," Yaoguang said.

Zhang Ching hesitated for a brief moment. He recognized that bus. It belonged to Qingyu Industrial Park, and it was used to transport employees. In Mingguang and even across Feiyu, Qingyu Industrial Park possessed considerable influence.

However, this hesitation soon disappeared.

Feiyu is only a small, impoverished country with an annual GDP of just three hundred billion. The entire nation's combined wealth does not even compare to that of Tiannan. Even its strongest forces are nothing compared to the Su family. More importantly, this is the perfect chance to get closer to Young Master Su. Zhang Ching thought, getting rid of any hesitation.

"Young Master Su, please hold on," Zhang Ching reminded him, then stepped hard on the accelerator.

The car shot forward and blared its horn.

Hearing the sound, the despair in Yu Xiaoying’s eyes instantly shifted into a fierce desire to survive. She sprinted toward the vehicle with all her strength.

At the moment they met, Yaoguang opened the door. "Get in."

Yu Xiaoying threw herself inside. Before the door even closed, Zhang Ching twisted the wheel sharply and sped straight toward the border checkpoint.

The two burly men, fast as they were, stood no chance against four wheels. They were quickly left behind.

Even after they disappeared completely, Yu Xiaoying was still gasping violently, her terror yet to subside.

A long while later, she seemed to realize something. In her panic earlier, she had practically fallen onto Yaoguang’s chest. A faint blush quickly spread across her sun-kissed cheeks.

"S-Sorry..." She sat upright at once.

Then recognition lit her eyes. "Ah? It’s you?"

Yaoguang nodded slightly. "We’re planning to return to Dayu through the border. Will you get off ahead, or return to Dayu with us..."

"Home... I want to go home," she blurted.

Realizing she sounded too frantic, she quickly corrected herself. "I-I will return to Dayu with you."

Even now, her right hand still clutched a corner of Yaoguang’s shirt as if holding onto the only familiar thing in this place, proving how terrified she must have been.

Yaoguang simply nodded.

Hearing their exchange, Zhang Ching realized they already knew each other. He glanced at the girl again. She's a bit thin, but her youthful face is pure, and her natural features are excellent. With some proper care, she will grow from a young girl into a stunning beauty in less than a year. No wonder Young Master Su stepped in to save her.

They drove out of Mingguang and approached the border checkpoint. Only then did Yu Xiaoying gradually regain her composure. Fear still lingered in her eyes, yet she could converse normally again.

"Thank you," she said sincerely.

"You should thank Young Master Su. I only picked you up because he told me to," Zhang Ching quickly clarified the hierarchy.

Yu Xiaoying turned once more to thank Yaoguang.

"It’s nothing. Be more careful from now on. Don’t trust people so easily," Yaoguang said.

He did not ask what had happened, so as not to stir up her trauma. Zhang Ching, who was far more curious, dared not say a word in front of Yaoguang.

They crossed the checkpoint smoothly and returned to Shanlong.

Once back in Shanlong, the tension in Yu Xiaoying’s shoulders finally eased.

"I’ll take you to the bus station," Yaoguang said.

"Thank you." Yu Xiaoying thanked him again.

Yu Xiaoying suddenly seemed to remember something. Embarrassment rose as she said, "M-My money and documents were all taken. Can you help me buy a ticket..."

She quickly added, "Young Master Su, I will repay you."

"No need."

Yaoguang took out a one-hundred bill and said, "And just call me Yaoguang. You don’t need to repay anything. When you’re away from home, everyone faces difficulties. If I can help, I will help."

"To you it’s nothing, but to me, you saved my life... That place wasn’t a proper factory at all, it was..." Yu Xiaoying stopped midway, her shoulders trembling and fear filled her eyes.

It took a long while before she steadied herself. She faced Yaoguang with great seriousness. "Young Master S—Brother Yaoguang, can I have your address? I will repay you."

Yaoguang had not saved her expecting repayment. But from her expression, she would keep insisting unless he gave her something.

So he casually replied, "Yunmeng High School."

Yu Xiaoying memorized it earnestly.

Zhang Ching, seeing that Yaoguang truly intended to send her back, could not help asking, "Young Master Su, we’ve been delayed quite a bit already. It’s afternoon now. Should we find a place to eat or rest first?"

Yaoguang glanced at him. "No need."

Zhang Ching did not dare say another word. Soon, they delivered Yu Xiaoying to the bus station.

"Brother Yaoguang, I’ll return the money to you." Her young face was serious as she stepped off the car.

Yaoguang waved his hand and closed the window. Then, Zhang Ching drove away quickly.

"Young Master Su, we—" Zhang Ching was about to ask where to go.

"Yulong International," Yaoguang said.

Lei Ao was dead, but within Yulong International, he still sensed two additional red points. He could not ignore them.

"Got it." Zhang Ching’s spirit lifted.

They soon reached Shanlong City’s biggest money-squandering establishment.

Just before Zhang Ching could drive into the parking lot, Yaoguang suddenly said, "Wait. Pull over." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Zhang Ching did not understand, but he immediately parked on the side. Barely ten seconds later, a luxury sedan, flanked by two SUVs, drove out of Yulong International.

"Follow them," Yaoguang instructed.

Zhang Ching stepped on the accelerator at once.

Yaoguang watched the sedan closely. Just moments ago, when he used his Perception technique, he had sensed a red point moving out of Yulong International City. The position matched that very sedan.

The three-car convoy headed straight for the border.

Not long after, Yaoguang, who had just entered through the checkpoint earlier, exited again.

The sight left Zhang Ching confused, but he dared not question anything and followed every instruction exactly, tailing the convoy all the way.

Right after leaving the checkpoint, traffic was still somewhat heavy. But once past that point, the road grew empty. Their constant presence behind the convoy became suspicious.

At this rate, they would be discovered.

Yaoguang observed for a while. "Where does this road go?"

"This road..." Zhang Ching thought for a moment, then felt his heart sink. "It leads to Qingyu Industrial Park."

There were other areas along the way, but only that park matched the level of luxury carried by those three vehicles.

"How far?" asked Yaoguang.

"Twelve kilometers," answered Zhang Ching.

"Twelve kilometers?" Yaoguang pondered. It's not close, and more importantly, no shared bikes. Forget it.

"Find a place to park," Yaoguang said.

Zhang Ching stopped in front of a small roadside shop.

"What’s your phone number?" Yaoguang asked.

Zhang Ching quickly recited it. Yaoguang called, the connection went through, and he said, "If something comes up, call this number."

Then he added, "For now, go back."

Zhang Ching stared at the number on his screen, eyes filled with excitement.

I got Young Master Su’s number! This is a huge gain!

Even though he knew that for the small errands he had done, Young Master Su would never deal with any major trouble for him, the number itself held immense weight for a tiny family like his. Just having this number could elevate the Zhang family’s status.

"Thank you, Young Master Su," he said excitedly.

Then he hesitated and asked, "Should I go with you?"

"No need." Yaoguang waved a hand and walked away.

"I’ll leave the car for you then," Zhang Ching said.

But Yaoguang did not look back. Seeing this, Zhang Ching could only drive off obediently.

Yet instead of going home, he waited near the border checkpoint. After all, the road through which they had exited the checkpoint earlier was not exactly proper.