151 - Cinderella’s Dream: Together Forever

Brigadier General Yao thought for a moment before speaking, "We've known each other for some time. Initially, I was willing to plead with Commander Yang on your behalf, and perhaps there would have been a way to spare your lives. But regrettably, you attacked the military, which is a consequence you couldn't bear." Chen Wan let out a bitter laugh, "I didn't expect that guy named Yang is still around. Wasn't he the one who decided to abandon those ordinary people at the Bunam City base? Who would have thought he'd have such a stubborn life, still alive now?" "Chen Wan, how dare you speak of him like that? You can't blame us for being ruthless. We're merely acting under orders." In the next moment, more than fifty soldiers, along with four armored vehicles, opened fire on Chen Wan and her group. Yet, despite their quick movements, Athena was no pushover. With a gentle sweep of its shield, all the bullets were deflected outside the light barrier. Simultaneously, Aegis Shield's passive ability activated, and all the attackers turned into stone statues, frozen and immobile. Brigadier General Yao, hearing the silence behind her, turned to see the fifty-plus soldiers all turned to stone. Her gaze fixed on Chen Wan and her group, and she furrowed her brow. "Do you have someone with mental abilities among you? I don't believe it. Chen Wan, just wait and see—water and fire are merciless. I don't believe you can withstand even that." Two soldiers at Yao's side unleashed water and fire, attempting to scatter Chen Wan and her allies, but Yao hadn't accounted for Aegis Shield's capabilities. It could repel all attacks, even Zeus's lightning. Moments later, the two soldiers beside Yao were also turned into statues after a flash of white light reflected from Aegis Shield. The two remaining soldiers with Yao—one a strength-type and the other a speed-type ability user—watched their comrades' fate in horror and retreated several steps, seemingly intending to call for backup. However, Qin Ke wouldn't grant them this opportunity. With two crisp gunshots, they fell to the ground. Meanwhile, the space where Brigadier General Yao had stood flickered, and she seemingly vanished, reappearing behind Jiang Yan Xin with a swift motion, clamping down on Jiang Yan Xin's neck. Everything happened too quickly. Athena's shield hadn't managed to form a protective cover over Jiang Yan Xin before Yao had already seized her. Chen Wan tried to approach to rescue her, but Yao pressed a sharp knife against Jiang Yan Xin's neck, eyes red as she warned Chen Wan and the others, "Step back, or she'll be a dead woman." As she spoke, Yao embedded the knife slightly into Jiang Yan Xin's neck skin, creating a shallow cut. Qin Ke surreptitiously reached for her gun behind her back, preparing to take decisive action against Yao. But Yao had already noticed Qin Ke's intention. She inched the knife deeper into the cut and told Chen Wan and her group, "I advise you all to behave. If that one named Qin Ke tries reaching for her gun once more, I'll take us both down." Qin Ke quickly raised her hands, fearing Yao's anger might endanger Jiang Yan Xin. "Let's discuss, everything can be negotiated. Just don't press any harder," Chen Wan urged, her heart aching as if she had been stabbed herself, seeing the wound on Jiang Yan Xin's neck. "We can talk," Yao began, "but you lot dared attack military personnel, you should have expected consequences. Don't think you're the only ones with abilities." As she spoke, Yao held firm against Jiang Yan Xin's neck, retreating backward. Blood seeped from the wound as Jiang Yan Xin felt a pang of regret. Her own abilities were so powerful that she had dropped her usual guards, assuming Athena's presence ensured safety. She hadn't accounted for Yao's teleportation-like ability. "Stand still, don't move, and definitely don't touch anything, or I'll kill her first." Yao dragged Jiang Yan Xin back several steps, then paused, sneering at Chen Wan, "Want to save her? I'll tell you how: use a knife to sever the tendon in your right hand, and I'll stop cutting her. Otherwise, I'll keep going." "Don't, Chen Wan. I'm fine, don't do anything rash," Jiang Yan Xin cautioned, fearing that Chen Wan might act impulsively out of concern. She then felt another pain as the knife bit deeper. Jiang Yan Xin clenched her teeth in silence, not uttering a word. Chen Wan took several deep breaths as her mind raced. "Brigadier General Yao, stay calm. I know this is a big blow for you, hard to explain when you return. Listen, all of us are ability users. As long as you don't harm Yan Xin, we are willing to go back with you, even help the military if necessary." Chen Wan did her best to negotiate with Yao. The current situation was unfavorable, so she had to make such promises to save Jiang Yan Xin first. Yao sneered, "Do you take military for fools? Let this woman go only to become a statue myself? Chen Wan, why would I trust such rebellious words?" Meanwhile, in the RV, Ye Lan saw her daughter being held hostage and began crying helplessly, holding Cai Cai as she urgently spoke to Jiang Zhao Yuan and Jiang Wan Ning, "What should I do? Old Jiang, I must go save Yan Xin." "Please, don't add to the chaos," Jiang Zhao Yuan replied, eyes also reddening, trying to reassure himself as much as Ye Lan. "Chen Wan is negotiating, she must have a plan. Our daughter will be okay." Cai Cai looked outside, seeing the bad woman restraining her mom and hearing Grandma cry, she couldn't help but join in, crying "wa-wa-wa" in distress. Her little hands pointed at the bad woman, and noticing the woman holding something around her mom, Cai Cai sobbed as she pointed, "Hit bad, woo woo~ hit bad!" As Cai Cai's words fell, Yao felt an invisible force yanking her hand holding the knife away. The force was so strong that the knife flew from her grasp. Jiang Yan Xin, feeling the pressure on her neck lighten, gave Yao a hard stomp and broke free, running toward Chen Wan. Not only Chen Wan, but Yi Yi also heightened their vigilance, standing protectively around Jiang Yan Xin. Caught off guard, Yao felt panicked, and Athena's spear was already thrusting toward her. In the next instant, she activated her teleportation again, this time appearing behind Qin Ke. But Qin Ke, with years of special operations experience, sensed the danger. As Yao attempted to choke her, Qin Ke instinctively dropped to the ground, rolled, and quickly stood up, dodging the attack and drawing her handgun, aiming both guns at Yao. Yet, as she pulled the trigger, Yao disappeared again. Realizing something, Chen Wan felt a bone-chilling cold spread through her body as she glanced at the RV, already too late. Yao had teleported into the RV. Due to Jiang Zhao Yuan and Hua Hua's obstruction, she hadn't caught Cai Cai and Ye Lan, but Jiang Zhao Yuan was caught with a chokehold. Ye Lan, in tears, retreated holding Cai Cai, shocked that Yao had gotten inside. Hua Hua glared fiercely at Yao, bristling and preparing to attack. But Yao, unfazed, warned, "Come any closer, and I'll kill him." The Hua Hua, mutated creatures with intelligence, understood and dared not move. The other defenders, protecting Cai Cai, stood guard, worried about Cai Cai’s safety. With their attempts to intervene thwarted, Yao warned through gritted teeth, "Take one more step, I snap his neck. Chen Wan, if I go down today, I'm taking you with me, along with that little brat." Still distraught, Cai Cai heard Grandpa being choked and was filled with fear. Her tiny hand pointed to the kitchen knife on the cutting board, the one Mom used for cooking. Too exhausted to speak from crying, Cai Cai summoned her remaining strength to move the knife. The knife silently lifted into the air as Yao focused mainly on Chen Wan and her group, oblivious to the knife moving behind her. Using the last of her strength, Cai Cai's face flushed red as she flung the knife at Yao's back, fainting from exhaustion into Ye Lan's arms. Cai Cai's mental power was insufficient, and she wasn't sure where precisely to aim the throw. The kitchen knife, when tossed, hit Brigadier General Yao’s lower back. Yao let out a muffled groan, feeling unsteady on her feet, her consciousness momentarily slipping. In that instant, Qin Ke seized the opportunity, firing and bringing Yao to the ground. Inside, the RV was somewhat chaotic, but Chen Wan and her group couldn't afford to be concerned with the mess. Chen Wan hurried to examine Jiang Yan Xin’s neck wound, her heart aching, her eyes reddening with emotion. Jiang Yan Xin quickly reassured her, "It's okay. She didn't press too hard, only a slight cut. It'll heal with a little ointment later." "Even so, it's not alright. It's my fault. Things have been going too smoothly recently, and I forgot the other side might have ability users too," Chen Wan said, still feeling guilty. Before they could say much more, Ye Lan's voice came from inside, "Yang Yang has fainted, come quickly!" Qin Ke had just dragged Brigadier General Yao from the RV and tossed her by the roadside. Upon hearing that Cai Cai had fainted, everyone rushed into the RV to check on her. Chen Wan quickly took Cai Cai from Ye Lan's arms, her eyes rimmed with concern as she gently shook her. "Sweetheart, don't scare Mommy. Mommy can't do without you. What happened? You were fine just now. Were you frightened?" Yi Yi also came over, placing her hand on Cai Cai's small chest to gauge her condition. "How is she?" Jiang Yan Xin asked anxiously. Yi Yi’s expression was not severe, and she explained, "The little one used her mental energy for the first time today, and she did it three times. She's exhausted and fainted, similar to when Chen Wan fainted at Bunam University. She just needs a good sleep to recover. Later, we can help Yang Yang slightly increase her mental energy threshold, so she won't deplete herself so easily." Only then did Chen Wan breathe a little easier. Having experienced mental exhaustion herself during the Bunam University incident, she could empathize. She kissed Cai Cai’s pale cheek, her eyes still wet with tears as she praised her, "Our Yang Yang is the best, helping us out so much today, saving both Mommy and Grandpa. Sweetheart, you must wake up soon. Mommy will prepare your favorite big watermelon for you." Cai Cai lay there, her face pale and still as if she were just sleeping. "Let's take Yang Yang back to the room for a good sleep. She'll be fine after she wakes up. Everyone else, check for any injuries and tend to them," Yi Yi reminded. Chen Wan gently placed Cai Cai on the large bed, covering her with a blanket to let her rest. She then took the medical kit to tend to Jiang Yan Xin’s wound. The cut on her neck was about five centimeters long but not deep. Chen Wan prepared some alcohol, softly coaxing, "Let me disinfect it first; it might sting a bit." "Okay." Jiang Yan Xin nodded. Chen Wan leaned in, softly blowing on the wound while cleaning it with alcohol, applying a layer of antiseptic bandage, and wrapping it with gauze. The wound wasn't deep, and by tomorrow, the dressing could be removed. As she finished tending to Jiang Yan Xin’s wound, a wave of fear caught up with Chen Wan. She hugged Jiang Yan Xin tightly. Trying to comfort her, Jiang Yan Xin kissed Chen Wan's lips lightly. "It's alright. It's not your fault. None of us knew Yao's abilities. Thankfully, our Yang Yang is also amazing. Despite being so little, she knows how to protect me." "Thinking back, it still terrifies me. If that madwoman had truly acted then, it could have been over for me," Chen Wan trembled slightly. When Jiang Yan Xin's spiritual power had been manipulated before, and she herself was the target, she hadn’t felt this strongly. But now, seeing Jiang Yan Xin and the others hurt pained her as if she'd been stabbed. Fearing Chen Wan might overthink, Jiang Yan Xin changed the subject, "I wonder if Dad was scared too. Let's go check on him." "Alright." Chen Wan agreed, holding Jiang Yan Xin for a bit longer before standing up. Outside, Jiang Zhao Yuan was surrounded by people; a red mark encircled his neck where Yao had grabbed him, and he appeared quite shaken but unharmed physically, though his legs still felt weak. Sighing, Chen Wan remarked, "We’ll need to be more cautious in the future. With more ability users emerging, we all must enhance our skills. Besides using crystal cores, Mom, Dad, and Wan Ning, you all need to practice shooting. Once the RV is upgraded, we'll stay somewhere temporarily, and Qin Ke and I will teach you firearms and some basic combat techniques. You never know when it might save a life." Ye Lan nodded quickly. Feeling powerless earlier was painful for her. Even Yang Yang had contributed to their team today, and she certainly wanted to learn more to avoid being a burden.