C19 Get Some Money to Spend

"Who exactly is targeting you?" Ye Fan asked with a grave look, his voice low.

"Ye Fan, thank you for saving me once again, but I really can't tell you. Knowing too much could put you in danger," Su Yurou replied, still unwilling to divulge the full story to Ye Fan.

"If you still consider me a friend, then tell me. Don't worry, I'll be fine," Ye Fan urged with sincerity.

Looking into Ye Fan's eyes, which shone like stars, Su Yurou felt a flicker of emotion. She sighed and confessed, "It's the Su family. They've always been after my shares."

"Is this a family feud? Were they behind the last incident too?" Ye Fan probed further.

Su Yurou nodded in confirmation.

Helping Su Yurou to her feet, Ye Fan suggested in a hushed tone, "Then take a couple of days off work. Lay low for a bit."

Panic spread across Su Yurou's face as she bit her lip and insisted, "I'm fine, I can handle it."

"Listen, Miss, they've resorted to underhanded tactics. Can't you see how serious this is?" Ye Fan was puzzled. Despite the gravity of the situation, Su Yurou was determined to keep working.

"I have a plan," Su Yurou stated with conviction.

"You're something else. Should we call the police?" Ye Fan inquired.

Shaking her head, Su Yurou advised, "Let's not involve the police just yet. We'll wait for the right moment. We don't have solid evidence right now. Trust me, I'll handle this."

Ye Fan was surprised by Su Yurou's ability to stay cool-headed under such circumstances.

"How about I act as your bodyguard for the next few days?" Ye Fan offered, struck by a sudden idea.

Su Yurou paused, taken aback, and asked, "You? Aren't you scared?"

"Scared? Ha!" Ye Fan chuckled, patting his chest confidently. "With my fighting skills? I'm not afraid. I'll take on anyone who comes at us. If a whole group shows up..." He paused, giving Su Yurou a meaningful look.

"What happens if a group shows up?" Su Yurou couldn't help but ask.

"If a group comes, I'll grab you and we'll make a run for it."

Su Yurou laughed, her laughter bringing a rosy hue to her once pale cheeks.

"You look beautiful when you laugh," Ye Fan said, captivated.

Blushing even more, Su Yurou felt her anxiety diminish after Ye Fan's playful banter.

"Ahem, right, Ye Fan, you mentioned you had something to tell me? What is it?" Su Yurou recalled that Ye Fan had yet to reveal what was on his mind.

"That... Oh yes, I meant to say that I'd like to work part-time as your bodyguard," Ye Fan said, his eyes brightening as he came up with an excuse.

"Really?" Su Yurou was clearly skeptical.

"Really, truly," Ye Fan assured her quickly.

"Okay then. Since you're not scared, I'll tentatively accept your offer. But you must be careful," Su Yurou said earnestly.

"No problem, rest assured. If you have any errands to run during this time, make sure to call me."

"Okay." Su Yurou nodded.

[Ding! The host has successfully completed a protection task, triggering the system's critical strike. The system's energy is now fully restored.]

Ye Fan was slightly thrilled by the sweet electronic voice in his mind. A critical strike had occurred, and his energy was at full capacity. Now he could advance to the Qi Refining Realm. He decided to enhance his strength that very night. Ye Fan was still preoccupied with the events of that day, eager to discover who had saved him and why.

In a secluded corner, a man dressed in an odd black outfit pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

"I've warned her, but she wasn't shot. There's a skilled young man with her."

"Understood, I'll investigate this person. If he becomes a problem, we'll take care of him too."

This individual was the same one who had fired the shot earlier, an assassin employed by the Su family, known by the moniker Old Eagle, a name with some renown in the world of hitmen.

The man in black ended the call, took out a cigarette, and just then, a faint voice reached his ears.

"You... Damn it."

The man in black was taken aback and immediately reached for his pistol, barking, "Who's there? Show yourself!"

Qing!

Was that the wind? No, perhaps the rustling of sand and stones? Neither. Maybe the whisper of leaves? Still no.

It was the sound of someone landing gently on the ground. Dressed in white, the figure's attire was peculiar, reminiscent of ancient garb. A white jade belt cinched his outfit at the waist. Considering it was summer, his choice of clothing seemed unbearably warm.

His features were strikingly clean, his eyebrows faint, and his gaze profound. No one could discern the secrets hidden behind his eyes. In his hand, he wielded a sword.

What century was this? The twenty-first century, and yet here was someone brandishing a sword.

The white clothing fluttered in the soft breeze, the man exuding an aura of otherworldly grace. In ancient times, his attire would mark him as a master without equal. But in the twenty-first century, the age of firearms like the pistol gripped by the black-clad assassin, this man held a sword.

The silver-white scabbard was adorned with a finely carved azure dragon, and the hilt was a pale blue. Though the sword remained sheathed, it still radiated a formidable presence.

The assassin in black paused, taken aback by the man's appearance, then burst into laughter. "Hahaha, buddy, are you joking with me? You must be some kind of hermit master, right?"

The assassin obviously mistook the man for someone posturing, his face twisted in mockery.

The man in white gave him a fleeting, detached glance. That single look made the assassin feel as though he'd been laid bare, instilling a fear of those emotionless eyes that seemed to regard him as no more than a corpse.

The assassin raised his pistol, fingers itching to pull the trigger.

But in the next instant, his terror was realized. He found himself paralyzed, unable to control his own body, not even to move a finger to fire his weapon.

Puff!

Blood gushed from the assassin's throat as he collapsed to the cold ground.

Until his final breath, the black-clothed assassin remained clueless about what had transpired. His eyes were wide open as he died, unable to find peace.

At some point, the figure of the man in white had vanished without a trace.

Ye Fan, of course, was unaware that the assassin who had taken a shot at Su Yurou had met his end with unresolved grievances.

After a pleasant conversation with Su Yurou, he escorted her back to her place.

He had been reluctant to let Su Yurou return, but she reassured him that the villa was more secure. Besides, Ye Fan had no suitable alternative to offer the stunning woman, so he acquiesced to her preference.

Su Yurou, however, entrusted her car to Ye Fan. For the next few days, he would act as her part-time bodyguard, driving her to and from work.

Yet, Ye Fan faced a dilemma of his own.

He was out of money, and it was a significant issue. He could have borrowed some from Su Yurou, but that wasn't how Ye Fan operated. If borrowing from a woman was his style, he would have asked already.

After some thought, Ye Fan resolved to secure funds quickly.

A spark of inspiration struck him; he would try his luck at the casino.

Gambling was, after all, the quickest way to amass wealth.

But Ye Fan had never gambled before, simply because he had never had the funds.

Now, the situation felt different to Ye Fan. Not only did he possess a powerful system, but his abilities had also advanced to the innate level. He believed he could employ subtle tactics while gambling without getting caught.

With this in mind, Ye Fan pulled out his phone and, after a moment's hesitation, dialed Liu Gang.

Liu Gang was an old acquaintance of Ye Fan's, not the kind to keep close, but good enough for occasional drinks and tall tales.

"Hey, is this Liu Gang? It's Ye Fan," he said as the call connected.

On the other end, Mu Qingyu paused, then responded with excitement, "Ah, Brother Ye, are you calling to grab a drink?"

"I need some information. Do you know where the big casinos are in Blaland?" Ye Fan inquired.

Liu Gang remarked, "What's the latest, Brother Ye? Where have you been raking in the cash lately? Remember your old pal if you've struck it rich, alright?"

"Rest assured, if I hit the jackpot, you'll be the first to know," Ye Fan responded.

"Brother Ye, there aren't any legal casinos in Blaland, just a handful of big underground ones. But you can put your mind at ease. These places are pretty open about their business and have extensive connections. No need to fret about getting cheated. If luck's on your side, hauling in a few million or even tens of millions isn't out of the question. Of course, there's always the chance you could lose it all."

"Which one's the largest?" Ye Fan inquired eagerly.

Liu Gang paused briefly before replying, "The largest is Ocean's Edge, located at 66 Health Road."

He was puzzled by Ye Fan's sudden interest but decided to be honest with him. His hesitation stemmed from a previous loss at that casino, which had left a sour impression on the regulars there.

Liu Gang just hoped Ye Fan wouldn't bring him up during his visit. That was his silent wish.

"Got it."