dognovel Chapter 559 - 547: A Wasted Trip!
Chapter 559 - 547: A Wasted Trip!
Having taken care of Tiancan and Di Que, Qin Fan stood atop the ruins and frowned. The entire alley had been practically destroyed in the fight. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but rubble and broken walls. If this wasn’t handled properly, the police could show up at any minute, and Yinuo might even get dragged into the mess.
Thinking about these unnecessary troubles, Qin Fan shook himself from his reverie. He leaped down from the ruins and said coldly, "Stop hiding. Come out!"
"Heh heh, Master Qin! Well, you see, we didn’t mean to spy on you! We just wanted to take care of some unnecessary problems for you in secret!"
As soon as Qin Fan finished speaking, several middle-aged men appeared from the other end of the alley as if they were ghosts, each chuckling awkwardly.
Spying on me? With their paltry beginner-level Transformation Realm cultivation, they thought they could spy on me?
Qin Fan naturally understood why they had been tailing him, so he didn’t waste any more words. He said succinctly, "It won’t be long before the commotion here attracts onlookers, and the Jinling police will follow up. I don’t want any unnecessary disturbances, so you’ll need to smooth things over."
"Yes, Master Qin! Even if you hadn’t mentioned it, we would know what to do!" the leader of the group stated confidently.
"Much appreciated." Qin Fan gave a faint nod. Then, with Jiang Yinuo still on his back, he zipped away and vanished from their sight.
Feeling the fleeting speed of his disappearance, the members of the Guardian Institute were left dumbfounded. They looked at the alley, now a field of ruins, and couldn’t help but click their tongues in astonishment.
What the hell! Just the strings of two ancient zithers caused so much destruction? Just how heaven-defying was his Qi Force, so perfectly integrated with his body?
Amid their shock, they couldn’t help but feel a bitter, wry helplessness about the situation. Given the state of this place, it seemed impossible to explain away without using the guise of "the relevant authorities."
After darting into an alley near the Qilixiang Milk Tea Shop, Qin Fan stopped and gently let Jiang Yinuo off his back. He immediately cradled her with one arm while taking her hand with his other. A steady stream of Protective True Essence flowed from his palm and permeated her body.
Three breaths later, Jiang Yinuo’s eyes slowly fluttered open.
"Qin Fan, what just happened?" she asked the moment she regained consciousness.
"There was a carbon monoxide leak. Luckily, we ran fast enough, or we would’ve been in real trouble. The entire alley exploded right after we left! It’s all just ruins now!" Qin Fan said, putting on a look of lingering fear. He had concocted this excuse during his fight with Tiancan and Di Que.
"A carbon monoxide leak? What happened? How could a place like this have a carbon monoxide leak?" Jiang Yinuo asked, her eyes wide with shock.
"I don’t know! But it must be a big deal. Right after the explosion, some people from the relevant authorities rushed to the scene and set up a cordon!" Qin Fan bluffed without batting an eye.
"The relevant authorities set up a cordon? How did we get caught up in something like this? We were so lucky you got me out of there quickly. Who knows what would have happened otherwise? WHEW!" Jiang Yinuo patted her chest, breathing a heavy sigh of relief. "Qin Fan, let’s just go home! Forget the milk tea shop. We should get away from this mess!"
"No, come on! It has nothing to do with us. Besides, only that alley is blocked off. I already took us through several other alleys, so we’ll be fine! Since we’ve come all this way, let’s just go take a look. It’s right up ahead, anyway!" Qin Fan insisted.
If Jiang Yinuo had suggested turning back from the start, Qin Fan would have been more than happy. But things had already come this far. Adopting a "since we’re here, let’s see it through" mentality, Qin Fan didn’t want to add any more complications. Seizing this opportunity to take Jiang Yinuo over and give the person there a little warning and intimidation wasn’t a bad choice. After all, his circumstances meant he couldn’t always be by her side to protect her.
"Well, alright then! Let’s go and see," she conceded. Influenced by his attitude, Jiang Yinuo took the initiative and held his hand.
"There we go!" Tightening his grip on her soft hand, Qin Fan gave her a sunny smile and walked toward the nearby Qilixiang Milk Tea Shop.
As the sign for the Qilixiang Milk Tea Shop came into view, Jiang Yinuo couldn’t help but let out a puzzled, "Hmm?" The front door was tightly locked, and there was no notice posted on it at all.
"It’s closed? What time is it? It shouldn’t be closed yet! Does this mean we came all this way for nothing?" Jiang Yinuo said, completely bewildered as she looked at the locked door.
Qin Fan, however, remained silent, a playful smirk touching the corners of his lips.
"Let’s go see what’s going on," he said, pulling Jiang Yinuo by the hand and quickening his pace.
Through the transparent glass door, they could clearly see a pair of scissors discarded on the floor. The two cups from which he and Li Yunzhe had drunk the rose milk tea were still sitting on the table, uncleaned.
This sight immediately made Qin Fan frown. Does this mean that strange guy left right after Li Yunzhe and I did that day? Based on the memories from his previous life, Qin Fan knew this person was obsessive-compulsive; he would never have left the milk tea cups unwashed. And those flowers and plants he treated as his second life were only halfway trimmed? He even threw his scissors on the floor so carelessly?
At this thought, Qin Fan’s brows furrowed even more deeply. He just left, with no signs of a struggle? Why? Was it because of me? Suddenly, his thoughts were a chaotic mess.
"Looks like we’re not in luck today! Ah, what a wasted trip! Qin Fan, let’s go. We can come back another day," Jiang Yinuo said with a sigh after giving the locked door a forlorn push.
Shaking his head to himself, Qin Fan thought, Another day? There probably won’t be another day. His intuition told him the story of the Qilixiang Milk Tea Shop ended here.
Could my appearance have made him act this way? But what could I have possibly done to make him flee? There was absolutely no friction between us. The only thing that happened was him and Li Yunzhe exchanging a few barbs. But given that guy’s proud and arrogant nature, was that really enough?
Amidst the chaotic storm in his mind, Qin Fan couldn’t piece together a single clue.
"Qin Fan? Qin Fan, why are you spacing out?" Jiang Yinuo had turned back and, seeing his dazed expression, couldn’t help but wave her hand in front of his eyes.
"It’s nothing. I’m just a little puzzled about why it’s closed! Looks like it really was a wasted trip," Qin Fan said, quickly snapping back to reality with a broad laugh. "Alright, Yinuo, since this place is closed, your big bro here will take you to Starbucks instead! Let’s try the bourgeois route for a change!"
"Oh, Starbucks, huh? Do you even have the money? That stuff is expensive. There’s no need. No matter how good it is, it’s just coffee! It’s not worth wasting money on!" Jiang Yinuo quickly countered.
"Am I short on money? Don’t forget, I have that one-million-dollar scholarship I haven’t even touched yet!" Qin Fan said, pulling her along by the hand as they started walking.
"I completely forgot about that! Wow, a one-million-dollar scholarship... how many years would we have to work after graduation to earn that much? Fine! Since the great tycoon Qin has spoken, I guess this humble girl can go and show off a bit!" Laughing, Jiang Yinuo cast aside her reservations and walked proudly alongside Qin Fan, a happy, warm smile gracing her face.