Chapter 250: Ambushed

Shen Lu returned to the back kitchen and helped the employees roll fish balls for a while. She also prepped some radish skins. Seeing that there wasn’t much left to do, she told Cai Su to pay the person delivering metal materials later, as she needed to go out.

"If you see my family members delivering materials, accept them as usual. Just pay them in Star Coins."

Cai Su nodded. "Got it, Boss."

Shen Lu went out.

She wanted to check on the situation at Fragrant Sky and also buy a couple of outfits for Fu Cheng.

Fu Cheng didn’t seem to mind coming and going in his loungewear every day, but Shen Lu felt it would be better to buy him a couple of sets of clothes suitable for exercise.

At this moment, Shen Lu was still unaware that a pair of sinister eyes was staring at her from the shadows.

Seeing her walk out of the shop alone, the person almost laughed out loud in excitement.

’This couldn’t have been easier. I was just wondering how to lure her out alone, and here she is, walking right into my trap.’

Jin San let out a cold chuckle and silently tailed her.

Shen Lu didn’t have any superpowers, so she couldn’t sense that someone was following her. However, the system detected it and alerted her.

’Host, someone is following you.’

Shen Lu froze. "Who is it? Someone from the Commerce Association?"

The system’s perspective was limited, and it couldn’t see the tracker’s face.

’I’m not sure, Host. Why don’t you just head back?’

The shop’s current defense level was 7, capable of withstanding attacks from Third Level Superpower Users and below. Besides, with three security guards inside, it was relatively safe.

Shen Lu was a very pragmatic person. Even though she had the privilege of 100% damage reflection, she took the advice and started walking back.

Seeing her turn back, Jin San didn’t realize he had been exposed. He just assumed Shen Lu had suddenly remembered she’d forgotten something and needed to go back for it.

He found a hidden corner and concealed himself, planning to wait for Shen Lu to come back out after retrieving her things.

He didn’t dare to rush her directly. Shen Lu was only a little over a hundred meters from Little Deer Cuisine—an awkward distance, neither far nor near. If she called the security guards from the shop over, he wouldn’t be able to handle them alone.

However, the men sent by Boss Jin and the members of the Thunder Mercenary Corps who had just arrived didn’t share his reservations. They charged forward to grab her.

Jin San’s expression changed. At first, he thought someone was trying to cut in on his prize. But when he got a clear look at their faces, he was furious.

’Aren’t those my big brother’s men?!’

’My brother actually didn’t trust me! He sent other people besides me!’

Jin San could no longer contain his anger. His face dark, he charged forward.

’Screw it. This plan was my idea. I have to play a part in it somehow, or I’ll really look like a useless piece of trash.’

Four or five men brazenly lunged at Shen Lu. None of the surrounding passersby showed any intention of helping; instead, they moved aside to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

Shen Lu immediately sent a message to Huo Qian and Lin Zhou. Her hand tightened around the stun gun she now held in her palm.

She didn’t know if the stun gun would be effective, but holding a weapon in her hand gave her a greater sense of security.

The first one to attack Shen Lu was Yu He of the Thunder Mercenary Corps. His superpower was Hand Beastification; when activated, his hands transformed into razor-sharp tiger claws, tripling his strength.

With one swipe of those claws, even if a chunk of flesh wasn’t torn off Shen Lu, the tips would dig deep into her, making escape impossible.

Yu He was a Third-class Mercenary in the Thunder Mercenary Corps, usually assigned to less dangerous missions, like today’s task of capturing an ordinary young woman.

This barely even qualified as a mission. Yu He felt he could have handled it alone, but the client had insisted on hiring two more corps members.

’It was a blatant humiliation!’

At this thought, Yu He gritted his molars and struck with even more ferocity.

’He would prove to everyone that he could complete a minor task like this perfectly on his own. The employer had no need to hire two extra people!’

Shen Lu didn’t dodge—mainly because she couldn’t. A black shadow flashed before her eyes, and the next moment, she felt a hand clamp down on her shoulder.

’But she felt no pain. The 100% damage reflection must have activated.’

Without hesitation, Shen Lu jabbed the stun gun against the man and cranked the setting to maximum.

’No need to worry about killing someone in the street. This was self-defense. Even if the police questioned her, her actions would be justifiable.’

Yu He was sure he had used his full strength and had successfully grabbed her. So why was his own shoulder in so much pain? Before he could figure it out, a powerful electric current surged through his body, so strong it paralyzed his limbs.

THUD!

Yu He collapsed. His left shoulder was a bloody mess, as if something had torn through it. The man’s face was filled with shock and confusion as he clutched his chest with his right hand, his lips pale.

’His... his heart... it stopped beating!’

Shen Lu cast a quick glance at the person on the ground, then paid him no more mind.

In truth, she had no time to spare. The second and third Superpower Users were already upon her.

Having learned from Yu He’s example, the two were clearly more cautious and didn’t attack rashly.

The employer’s original request was just to capture Shen Lu, not to harm her. They were only to resort to other measures if she resisted violently and left them no choice.

One of them threw out a rope. It shimmered with a metallic luster but was surprisingly soft. In the blink of an eye, Shen Lu was bound tightly by it.

Shen Lu struggled but found she couldn’t break free at all.

Shen Lu: "Tongzi, did the 100% damage reflection privilege stop working?"

’Host, the privilege has not been disabled.’

Shen Lu: "Then what’s going on? Don’t I get to use it three times a day? I just used it once!"

’But Host, they didn’t hurt you...’

Shen Lu’s brain short-circuited.

’That’s right. They had only restrained her; they hadn’t harmed her.’

’No harm meant the privilege couldn’t be activated.’

Just as Shen Lu was stunned, the sound of something cutting through the air rang out.

Jin San, who had been a step too slow, was now emboldened by malice and raised his hand to slap Shen Lu.

’Capturing Shen Lu had been his idea, but before he could even make a move, she had already been caught.’

’They hadn’t left him any chance to contribute.’

’He was furious, but he couldn’t take it out on Boss Jin, so he decided to vent on Shen Lu instead.’

’Perfect. He could play the bad cop while his big brother played the good cop. In a way, he was still helping his brother.’

’And he could get some revenge while he was at it.’

"You bitch, how dare you resist! Stay still!" Before the words were even out of his mouth, Jin San’s palm swung toward Shen Lu’s face.

The next second, something strange happened.

Although the palm connected with Shen Lu’s face, the force behind it had inexplicably weakened. It was less of a slap and more of a caress.

And yet, Jin San’s own head snapped violently to the side, as if someone had viciously slapped him. The force was so great it nearly twisted his face out of shape.

Jin San was shocked. Jin San was stunned. Jin San was furious.

"Who?! Who’s hiding and launching sneak attacks?! If you have any guts, come out and fight me one-on-one!" Jin San roared. "Don’t be a spineless coward who only knows how to ambush people!"

The surroundings were quiet, with only the whistling of the wind. No one appeared, and no one answered Jin San.