Chapter 5: The Divine Physician Entrapped in a Web of Schemes

The night was as dark as ink, pressing heavily upon Qingxue Zhan and Yichen Niu, yet it could not conceal the growing warmth between them.

They stood on the villa’s terrace, far from the clamor of the world, as if time itself had paused.

Qingxue Zhan wore a delicate champagne-colored negligee, moonlight tracing the graceful curves of her figure.

Her eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky, shimmering with a hidden affection.

“Yichen,” she whispered softly, her voice a tender murmur.

Yichen Niu was silent for a moment, gazing intently at her.

Bathed in moonlight, his expression was serene, yet beneath it surged a tempest of emotions.

Qingxue Zhan leaned gently against his chest, feeling the strength of his arms, as steadfast and towering as an ancient tree shielding her from the storm.

“I want to be with you forever,” she said with unwavering resolve, her words carrying a yearning for a steadfast peace amid life’s upheavals.

Inhaling the faint scent of orchids in her hair, Yichen’s heart swelled with profound emotion.

He reached out and softly stroked her long hair, his eyes deep and warm.

For such an independent and resilient yet tender woman, a fierce desire to protect blossomed within him.

“Qingxue, with me here, you need not worry,” he promised in a low voice, simple yet brimming with infinite tenderness and determination.

But amidst this tender moment, Yichen sensed an invisible pressure closing in.

As a reclusive healer, he was not only skilled in saving lives but also possessed a keen instinct.

That shadowy sensation lingered in his mind.

“The stars are exceptionally bright tonight,” Yichen remarked casually, though his eyes glinted with vigilance.

Qingxue Zhan did not notice his unease; she smiled faintly and nestled even closer.

“What if tomorrow isn’t as bright as today?” she teased softly.

Yichen smiled subtly, offering no reply. Under the moonlight, his handsome face grew even more captivating.

He held her tighter, as if that alone could ward off any unease.

Yet beneath the night’s calm, a surging undercurrent was already approaching.

Yichen closed his eyes briefly, silently making a firm decision.

The future was uncertain, but the warmth he held must be fiercely protected.

“When dawn breaks, everything will be revealed,” he murmured, a mysterious smile curling on his lips.

Suddenly, the villa’s silence was shattered by the urgent ring of the telephone.

Yichen answered, his expression darkening instantly.

“Qingxue has been kidnapped?” His voice was icy, like a chilling wind from the depths of hell.

On the other end came a distorted voice, laced with mockery: “If you want to save her, do exactly as I say.”

“Who are you?” Yichen suppressed his fury, his voice low and menacing.

“Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t. Follow my instructions, or…” The line went dead, leaving only a busy signal.

Yichen clenched the phone tightly, knuckles whitening.

The caller left vague clues pointing to a mysterious organization.

The hints seemed genuine but bore the marks of deliberate fabrication.

Frowning deeply, Yichen sensed he was entangled in a vast conspiracy, with Qingxue as its centerpiece.

“Trying to trap me with such petty tricks?” Yichen sneered, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes.

He did not immediately pursue the leads but returned to the terrace, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

The air still carried Qingxue’s faint fragrance mixed with subtle herbal notes.

“Child’s play,” Yichen murmured, a confident smirk playing at his lips.

From his pocket, he drew a silver needle and lightly pricked his fingertip. A drop of blood fell to the ground.

The blood seeped into the earth, as if drawn by some unseen force, spreading toward a certain direction.

“Trying to deceive with smoke and mirrors? Too bad you picked the wrong man,” Yichen said as he opened his eyes, which now blazed with fierce determination.

Following the trail of blood, he strode forward with unshakable resolve.

The night deepened as Yichen’s figure vanished into the vast darkness.

His pursuit led him to an abandoned factory.

The factory gates were tightly shut; inside was pitch black and eerily silent.

“Qingxue, wait for me,” Yichen whispered, then slipped inside.

Within the factory, in a dimly lit room, Qingxue Zhan was bound to a chair, her mouth sealed with tape.

Opposite her stood a man dressed in black, holding a sharp dagger.

“Who are you? Why have you kidnapped me?” Qingxue’s eyes blazed with fury, though no sound could escape her lips.

The man merely sneered coldly, raising the dagger and slowly advancing toward her.

Just as the blade was about to touch her skin, a cold voice echoed from the shadows.

“Stop!”

Like a phantom, Yichen appeared in the room. The man in black startled, and the dagger veered away.

Qingxue’s eyes flickered with a glimmer of hope upon seeing him.

Yichen’s gaze was icy as he scanned the surroundings, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

“Is that all? I thought it would be some elaborate trap. Is this it?” he taunted.

Enraged and humiliated, the man lunged at Yichen with the dagger.

Yichen moved like lightning, effortlessly dodging the strike and countering with a palm that sent the man crashing to the ground.

“Kidnapping? Cosplay?” Yichen crouched and tore off the man’s mask, revealing a familiar face—Hao Ran Zhan, Qingxue’s cousin.

“You’re playing dirty, huh?” Yichen looked at Hao Ran with a half-smile, teasing.

Hao Ran’s face was pale, eyes filled with terror.

“I... I don’t know what you’re talking about...” he stammered.

Yichen sneered. “Don’t know? Then let me help you remember.” From his pocket, he withdrew another silver needle and pricked Hao Ran lightly.

Instantly, Hao Ran felt an unbearable itch spread across his body. He began scratching frantically as red rashes bloomed on his skin.

“What is this?” Hao Ran asked in panic.

Yichen smiled faintly. “A little something to show you what ‘pleasure in deep itch’ means.” He jabbed a few more times, and Hao Ran’s body trembled uncontrollably, groI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.