Chapter 582: Sudden Change

It was summer, so everyone was wearing short sleeves. Naturally, Su Qing’s friends noticed the vine wrapped around her wrist. However, Su Qing just made up an excuse to brush it off. They all just thought it was one of her little quirks and didn’t pay it too much mind.

For several days in a row, there was no activity from the vine. Su Qing wasn’t worried, though. She just waited quietly, knowing the other party would definitely make a move.

During this time, Su Qing made a point to check on her family’s physical condition, but there was nothing unusual. She breathed a sigh of relief. ’It seems this time, they’re only coming for me.’

However, Su Qing didn’t let her guard down. She told Mr. Li, Li Fenghuo, and Gu Xinsheng about the current situation and asked them to focus on protecting the Li family’s safety. Su Qing had great confidence in the three of them. As long as her family hadn’t been infected by Gu Worms, she didn’t need to worry about their safety with the arrangements Mr. Li and the others would make.

Now, it was just a matter of seeing what the other party would do.

Exactly one week after Su Qing received the Gu Worm, she noticed the leaves and branches of the vine on her wrist slowly lift and point in a specific direction.

Seeing this, Su Qing said to Li Huan, "Cousin, come home with me."

Li Huan blinked. "Qingqing, we still have class this afternoon."

"Let’s go. Something’s come up." Su Qing didn’t plan on telling Li Huan about the Gu Worm, afraid it would scare her. She took Li Huan back to the courtyard and then called Li Fenghuo.

Li Fenghuo answered and reacted immediately. "Qingqing, is something happening?"

"Yes, Uncle. I’ll have to trouble you with my cousin," Su Qing said.

"Don’t worry, I have arrangements in place. Someone will be over right away," Li Fenghuo said with a nod. He’d already arranged the personnel and was just waiting for a signal from Su Qing. Thinking about how Su Qing was about to face an unknown danger, he gave a stern warning, "Qingqing, you have to be careful. You must, must protect yourself, understand?"

"Don’t worry, Uncle. I understand. As long as you all stay safe on your end, I’ll be absolutely fine on mine," Su Qing replied.

"You can rest assured about things here. There will be absolutely no problem."

"Okay."

Su Qing hung up the phone. Li Huan, who had been standing by, was completely bewildered. "Qingqing, what’s going on? Are you in some kind of danger?"

Although Li Huan didn’t know what was happening, her intuition told her something was wrong. She quickly grabbed Su Qing’s hand and said urgently, "Is someone after you again, just like last time? Let’s report it to the police! Let them handle it. Don’t go taking any risks."

Li Huan was so anxious her face turned a little pale, and she gripped Su Qing’s hand tightly.

Seeing Li Huan’s nervousness, Su Qing quickly reassured her, "Cousin, don’t worry. I’ll be fine. Someone is coming over right away. You stay here in the courtyard and don’t go anywhere, understand?"

"Qingqing, what on earth is happening?" Li Huan’s face grew even paler. A wave of fear suddenly washed over her, and she clung to Su Qing. "Please tell me. I’m so worried."

"Don’t worry," Su Qing quickly soothed.

Just as she spoke, there was a knock on the courtyard gate.

Li Huan glanced toward the gate, confused. "Who could be here at this hour?"

"I’ll get the gate. Don’t worry," Su Qing said, patting Li Huan’s shoulder.

Outside the gate stood a young woman in her twenties. She had short hair and a resolute expression, cutting a sharp and impressive figure. She nodded at Su Qing and said, "My superior sent me."

When Su Qing saw the woman, a dark glint flashed in her eyes. She nodded and stepped aside to open the gate. "Come in."

"Okay." The woman gave Su Qing a nod and walked into the courtyard.

Su Qing led the way and asked in a neutral voice, "You came on orders?"

"Yes."

"I see." Su Qing turned and gave the woman a faint smile.

The woman gave Su Qing another slight nod.

Su Qing turned her head back, and the dark glint in her eyes intensified.

Seeing Su Qing lead a strange woman over, Li Huan asked curiously, "Qingqing, who is this?"

"I’m here to protect you," the young woman said to Li Huan with a faint smile.

Li Huan frowned. "Protect me?"

As she spoke, Li Huan looked at Su Qing, her face a picture of confusion.

Su Qing smiled without a word, then suddenly, without warning, she lashed out with a palm strike at the woman.

The woman reacted instantly. Her gaze sharpened, and she threw a punch at Su Qing’s arm.

Li Huan never expected Su Qing to attack without a word. Her jaw dropped. She opened her mouth to speak, but her unconditional trust in Su Qing stopped her. ’Qingqing must have a reason for this. The best thing I can do is stay out of her way.’

With that in mind, Li Huan immediately retreated to the very back of the main room, ducking behind a table. She also grabbed the vase from the tabletop, ready to smash it over the strange woman’s head if she came lunging for her.

The young woman’s skills were quite impressive. Although Su Qing couldn’t use her superpower in front of Li Huan, as a Superpower User, her skills and physical fitness were ultimately superior. The two of them exchanged blows for seven or eight minutes before Su Qing finally landed a kick on the woman’s chest, sending her flying.

The young woman was kicked into the middle of the courtyard. She felt a sharp pain in her chest, and then her head lolled to the side as she passed out.

Su Qing went over to check on her, casually took out a pill, and stuffed it into the woman’s mouth to ensure she wouldn’t wake up for at least a day. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.

"Qingqing, wh-what’s going on?" Li Huan saw what happened and ran out, asking in a small voice.

"There might be a problem." Su Qing pursed her lips. She was certain this person was the one her uncle had sent; the woman’s bearing was unmistakable. But what Su Qing had never imagined was that this person was carrying a Gu Worm.

Su Qing hadn’t expected them to place the Gu Worm on an outsider instead of a member of the Li family. This made it much harder for her to detect. After all, with so many people, she couldn’t know if someone had been afflicted with a Gu Worm unless she got very close.

As for the woman before her, she had only discovered the aura of the Gu Worm the moment they met.

’What a vicious move!’

Su Qing couldn’t help but grit her teeth. She first tied the woman to a chair before saying to Li Huan, "Cousin, I’ll explain everything in a bit."

"Okay." Although Li Huan was terrified, she still nodded obediently.

Su Qing quickly dialed Li Fenghuo’s number.

Hearing Su Qing’s voice, Li Fenghuo asked, "Qingqing, did the person arrive?"

"Yes, Uncle. I need to tell you—"

Before Su Qing could finish, a knock came from Li Fenghuo’s end.

Li Fenghuo called out, "Come in."

Seeing who it was, Li Fenghuo asked, "What is it? You—"

Then, Li Fenghuo’s voice vanished from the other end of the line, and the call was disconnected.

Su Qing’s heart dropped.