“If you don’t believe me, I can prove it right here in front of you,” Lin Fan called out urgently.
Zheng Yue paused, hesitated for a moment, then turned back. “Fine! I’d like to see what other tricks you can pull!”
“Take off the amulet,” Lin Fan beckoned. Based on his experience, purple energy had a restraining effect on sinister forces. Since his divine eye could perceive it, it should be able to remove the amulet’s dark aura.
Zheng Yue’s pretty face flushed. In her haste to argue, she had forgotten that the amulet was a personal item, kept in a rather intimate place.
“Hurry up, actions speak louder than words. You’ll believe it when you see it yourself,” Lin Fan said, oblivious to the situation. Tian Mengyao, however, had realized the awkwardness but, as a fellow girl, felt it would make Zheng Yue even more embarrassed if she pointed it out.
“I’m going to the restroom,” Zheng Yue said, taking a deep breath to suppress her annoyance. She walked away quickly, her high heels clicking, her expression displeased.
Only then did Lin Fan understand her embarrassment, and he felt a bit awkward himself.
Zheng Yue returned quickly and handed a black amulet inlaid with gold and silver to Lin Fan. “Here.”
“Oh,” Lin Fan took the amulet. It was still warm from Zheng Yue’s touch, and carried a faint scent of milk. A fleeting thought of intimacy made Lin Fan lose himself for a moment.
“Hmph!” Zheng Yue was furious, regretting her impulsive decision to believe Lin Fan’s nonsense.
Zheng Ke’s eyes blazed with fury, his fists clenching so tightly they crackled. He wished he could smash Lin Fan’s head with a single punch.
“Sorry, I’ll start now.” A sharp pain in his arm brought Lin Fan back to his senses. Tian Mengyao glared fiercely at Lin Fan, her eyes warning him: *You’ll pay for this later!*
In an instant, a faint black aura coiled around Lin Fan’s palm. The dark energy seemed alive, attempting to seep into Lin Fan’s skin. Lin Fan’s palm immediately grew hot as his purple energy instinctively protected him.
*Sss*
A sound like water boiling in a hot pot arose. The moment the purple energy came into contact with the amulet, it reacted like a chemical agent. A large amount of dark energy instantly turned into steam. Tendrils of black mist billowed from Lin Fan’s hand, looking terrifying!
“Miss, be careful!” Zheng Ke’s heart lurched. He quickly grabbed Zheng Yue’s arm and pulled her back several steps. Everyone watched the incredible scene in front of them with wide eyes, their mouths agape.
“Hiss~” Lin Fan suddenly felt a chilling force, like steel needles, piercing his skin and trying to burrow into his body through his meridians.
“Break!” Lin Fan shouted, intensifying the power of his purple energy.
The next second…
“Waaaah~” A shrill cry of agony echoed in everyone’s ears. The sound made their scalps tingle and their hearts pound double time.
After a while, Lin Fan dispelled the dark energy within himself and unleashed a powerful counterattack.
*Crack!* A crisp sound. The amulet snapped in half.
Zheng Yue cried out in alarm, her face losing all color. “Give it back to me!” Zheng Yue lunged forward and snatched the amulet from Lin Fan’s hand.
“Hey, don’t snatch!” Lin Fan was still struggling with the dark energy and, in a moment of inattention, Zheng Yue took the amulet. Zheng Yue looked at the crack on the amulet, feeling a pang of sadness and distress. This was a gift from her mother, incredibly precious, and now Lin Fan had ruined it!
“Give it back to me! I only removed half of it. It’s even more dangerous now than before,” Lin Fan said urgently, standing up.
“I don’t believe you!” Zheng Yue glared at Lin Fan furiously and turned to leave.
“Why aren’t you listening…” Lin Fan tried to chase after her, but Zheng Ke blocked his path, adopting a fighting stance. Only after Zheng Yue and her secretary had left the coffee shop did Zheng Ke slowly back away.
“Is she crazy?” Tian Mengyao pointed at Zheng Yue’s retreating figure. “That dark energy, and those creepy screams, doesn’t she see there’s a problem?”
“This is going to be a big trouble,” Lin Fan said, his brow furrowed with worry.
“What did you say?” Tian Mengyao’s pretty eyebrows knit together.
Lin Fan took a deep breath and said grimly, “The amulet was subtly changing her luck before. But after I attacked it, it has completely become an object of great misfortune.”
“Then… what will be the consequences?” Tian Mengyao felt a chill run down her spine upon hearing this.
Lin Fan replied, “The worst-case scenario, she could die.”
“What?” Tian Mengyao’s eyes widened. “Then we…”
“We have to follow her,” Lin Fan sighed. “We can’t let our efforts be in vain, can we?”
“Hmph!” Tian Mengyao grabbed Lin Fan’s ear. “Tell me! Are you into her?”
“Don’t pull, it hurts, it hurts!” Lin Fan winced, covering his ear. “Mengyao, don’t overthink things. I’m so annoyed with her, I’d never be interested in her.”
“I’m overthinking?” Tian Mengyao said indignantly. “When you were holding that amulet, you were practically drooling. Do you think my eyesight is bad and I didn’t see anything? Are you…”
“No, absolutely not!” Lin Fan wasn’t lying. He had been momentarily dazed, but not to the point of drooling. He had experienced the company of beautiful women before and wouldn’t act like a pervert.
“Hmph, I’ll believe you this once. Don’t let it happen again.” Tian Mengyao finally relented.
They followed Zheng Yue all the way to the hotel’s underground parking lot. Inside a Wrangler, a faint fragrance wafted through the air.
Tian Mengyao gave Lin Fan a playfully reproachful look. “Still thinking about it?”
“Thinking about it!” Lin Fan chuckled, a silly, lingering smile on his face.
Tian Mengyao impatiently pushed Lin Fan’s hand away, muttering, “Annoying!” She adjusted her clothes and asked, “Are we just going to wait here the whole time?”
Lin Fan put his arm around her delicate shoulders. She didn’t resist, leaning obediently into his embrace.
“Based on my estimation, around midnight, when the yin energy is at its peak, the amulet will come out to harm people.”
“Ah? We have to wait until midnight!” Tian Mengyao was displeased.
“Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. Let’s consider it an act of good karma,” Lin Fan said grandly.
“You’re not planning on being a hero, saving the damsel, and then having that Fifth Miss Zheng marry you, are you? Tsk tsk, a rich Siamese magnate, a leader of Chinese merchants, impressive!” Tian Mengyao said sarcastically.
“Heaven is my witness, I really didn’t expect a young lady like her to show up,” Lin Fan stroked Tian Mengyao’s pretty face. “Besides, she’s Siamese. Even if I had the intention, my influence wouldn’t reach that far, would it?”
“You’re being honest,” Tian Mengyao said, giving Lin Fan a peck on the lips.
Lin Fan, wanting more, leaned in and kissed her back.
“Mmm~” As the kiss deepened, their tongues intertwined. Lin Fan’s hands also became restless.
“Where are you touching?” Tian Mengyao suddenly sat up, raising her small fists and hitting Lin Fan. The blows landed solidly, and it felt quite satisfying.