Chapter Fifteen: Heartstrings Pierced, My Friend

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Upon hearing the chime from Green Coriander in her mind, Shen Qingli was instantly on alert. She immediately turned her gaze toward the driver.

“Wait, I want to get out!”

No sooner had she spoken than the car lurched suddenly, making her head spin even more.

“I said, I want to get out…” Shen Qingli tried to speak, but her vision grew increasingly blurry, and she could no longer make out Green Coriander’s words.

“Get out?” A man’s mocking voice came from the driver’s seat. Glancing at the rearview mirror and seeing Shen Qingli holding her forehead, his smile grew wider.

“What do you mean, get out? Once you’re in this car, there’s no getting off!”

The driver’s voice echoed in her ears, and Shen Qingli’s heart sank as she realized she’d been trapped again.

[Host… power pill… quick…]

Green Coriander’s voice faltered and faded in her mind, but Shen Qingli caught the crucial phrase: power pill!

She immediately fumbled in her pocket, but before she could find it, the passenger who had been “asleep” beside her suddenly woke up.

“What are you looking for, pretty lady?”

A man’s wicked laugh sounded beside her. Shen Qingli looked over to see the man removing his hat, revealing a scarred face.

The scar-faced man grabbed her wrist with a sudden movement, licking his lips as he sized her up like a predator eyeing its prey.

“Bang!”

With narrowed eyes, Shen Qingli landed a punch straight to the man’s face, but the power pill she’d nearly grasped slipped back into her pocket.

The man, struck hard, clutched his nose and cursed, “Damn woman, you hit like a demon!”

Seeing the situation, Shen Qingli quickly reached for the car door. As soon as she managed to open it and was about to jump out, a pair of arms suddenly yanked her back inside.

The scar-faced man glared at her viciously and pressed a drugged cloth over her nose and mouth.

“Bitch, let’s see what you can do this time!”

Shen Qingli struggled with all her might, but the man was skilled, pinning her neck with his other arm.

The pungent smell from the handkerchief invaded Shen Qingli’s nostrils, making her frown. Before she could react further, darkness swallowed her consciousness.

Her mind echoed with two words before she blacked out: demonic poison.

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After Shen Qingli lost consciousness, Green Coriander’s presence also faded away.

Meanwhile, at the Lu Corporation, Xie Jinchuan’s face darkened the moment he sensed the severance of his spiritual link. He stood up at once.

“The meeting is adjourned!”

Before anyone could react, he exited the boardroom with a tense expression, quickly pinpointed Shen Qingli’s location, and sped off in his car.

Shen Qingli was in trouble!

At that moment, the car carrying Shen Qingli stopped in front of an abandoned factory.

The scar-faced man got out, cursing, then dragged the unconscious Shen Qingli from the car and slung her over his shoulder as he strode inside.

“That rotten woman hit hard enough to give me a nosebleed!” he grumbled to the driver, who smirked and, upon seeing Shen Qingli’s face, licked his lips.

“I’ll say this, she’s a real beauty—and fiery, too. If we weren’t under orders not to touch her yet, I’d love to get a taste!”

The driver’s eyes were filled with obsession as he stared at Shen Qingli.

The scar-faced man dropped her to the ground and, after hearing his companion, looked her up and down. “You’re right—she’s as tender as they come, nothing like those middle-aged hags.”

He even reached out to pinch her cheek.

As the two men prepared to take further liberties, Luo Yu appeared behind them, her eyes flashing red as she spoke coldly, “It seems you two don’t want the money after all.”

At her words, the men immediately froze.

“Wake her with water. I want her to see her end with her own eyes,” Luo Yu sneered, drawing a dagger from her bag.

With a splash, ice-cold water jolted Shen Qingli awake. Her blurry vision cleared to reveal the ruins around her and Luo Yu approaching with a dagger.

“So it’s you,” Shen Qingli said coldly. She tried to stand but found her limbs powerless.

“Feeling weak?” Luo Yu’s smile grew ever more twisted, her grip on the dagger tightening.

“The drug hasn’t worn off yet, Shen Qingli. You think you can seduce President Xie just because of that pretty face?”

She sneered, crouching down and gripping Shen Qingli’s chin.

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“Tell me, if I were to ruin your face, would President Xie still care for you?” Luo Yu raved, drawing the dagger ever closer to Shen Qingli’s face, her eyes sparkling with mania.

“You’re insane!” Shen Qingli struggled, calling out to Green Coriander in her heart, “Coriander, now—teleport!”

[Yes, host.]

Just as Green Coriander’s weak response echoed in her mind, Luo Yu slashed down with the dagger—but her hand suddenly met no resistance.

She stared in disbelief as Shen Qingli vanished from before her eyes, reappearing a short distance away.

Seeing Luo Yu only a few steps from reaching her again, Shen Qingli quickly asked, “Coriander, what happened?”

A feeble voice sounded in her mind, [Host, the demon power in the drug is suppressing my abilities. That was the furthest I could move you…]

Hearing her companion’s weakness, Shen Qingli bit her lip. She would have to rely on her own strength now.

“Grab her!” Luo Yu shouted, snapping out of her shock.

All three stared at Shen Qingli in astonishment—they’d seen what just happened with their own eyes.

The two men quickly seized her again. Luo Yu, realization dawning, exclaimed, “No wonder President Xie is so bewitched by you—you’re a demon!”

Feeling a bit of strength return, Shen Qingli broke free from their grip while they were distracted and ran to the side.

Luo Yu, dagger in hand, gave chase. “A creature like you will never get near President Xie again!”

She yanked Shen Qingli back forcefully. Shen Qingli gritted her teeth, struggling with all her might, but was no match for Luo Yu’s strength.

Luo Yu hurled her against the wall, the red light in her eyes deepening as she strode forward, dagger aimed straight at Shen Qingli’s chest.

“Die, monster!”

With the sickening sound of blade piercing flesh, pain exploded in Shen Qingli’s heart. In her mind, she heard Coriander’s voice, [Spiritual power conversion—damage taken!]

Then Shen Qingli’s consciousness was swallowed by darkness…