Chapter 378 Give Me a Little More Time

"I really want to take her away, to fly far away, just the two of us in one car, driving on The Highway."

"But I can't."

"I can't do anything."

"I wish she had never gotten on the car."

"I wish she had never met me."

Chen Yu was silent for a long moment, then pressed: "So, Lin Yue is controlling Xiao Li?"

"Yeah."

Lin Yuan felt desperate. He smiled bitterly: "Lin Yue planted a crystal near Xiao Li's heart. If she wants to... Xiao Li will die instantly..."

Lin Yuan couldn't continue.

He started kowtowing again, slamming his forehead against the stone floor—thud, thud, thud—each time harder than the last.

Skin broke, and blood seeped out.

"Big Brother Chen Yu, please, give me a little more time..."

"I'll be able to save Xiao Li soon, really. I've found a lead in the Trading Zone. Someone has a medical-type item, and I've already gathered some Energy Cores..."

"Just give me a little more time... just a little bit..."

"Once I've gathered enough items, once I remove the crystal near Xiao Li's heart... then, you can do whatever you want... I'll help you catch Lin Yue, I'll help you lure her out, you can even hack me to death... but just don't... don't catch her yet... I'm begging you..."

Mira stood behind the two of them. Hearing Lin Yuan's words, even as someone from the Gold-Swallowing Hall, she felt a chill down her spine.

Planted a crystal near the heart? What kind of heaven-defying method is this?

Chen Yu shook his head: "But you can't save her."

Lin Yuan lifted his head, his forehead covered in blood: "No, it's definitely possible! There's someone in the Trading Zone named Li Hai. His item is called [Impurity Filter], it can remove impurities from the body. He wants twenty Energy Cores, I'm almost there, almost..."

Chen Yu interrupted him: "Do you think Lin Yue's SSS-Rank Talent product can be solved by an A-Rank sustainable medical item?"

Lin Yuan's body stiffened abruptly, losing all strength.

Chen Yu sighed softly: "Why not ask me for help directly? I could have helped you. After all, we already reached an agreement."

Lin Yuan spoke urgently: "If you go to catch Lin Yue now, she'll know I snitched, and Xiao Li will definitely die. I'm begging you, give me a little more time..."

Chen Yu said coldly: "What if I refuse?"

"I... I..."

Lin Yuan froze, unable to speak.

He was the one who lied first.

He lied to Chen Yu, hid from Chen Yu; what right did he have to ask for Chen Yu's help now? What right did he have to ask Chen Yu to take risks for him or disrupt his plans?

Based on his understanding of Chen Yu, a refusal was highly likely, and Xiao Li would definitely die...

"Just kill me."

Lin Yuan resigned himself to his fate, looking at the ghost head blade in Chen Yu's hand, ready to throw himself onto it.

But Chen Yu tilted the blade away and put it directly into his backpack. This caused Lin Yuan to stumble, falling onto the ground with his head buried, trembling continuously.

Chen Yu pulled out a bottle; the liquid inside glowed with a pale golden light.

He crouched down and placed the bottle in front of Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan was slightly stunned, reaching for the bottle with trembling hands. When a flash of information appeared...

His whole body shuddered, and his eyes widened.

S-Rank... an S-Rank one-time item, [S-Rank Life Essence]?

This wasn't comparable to any of the medicine he'd seen in the Trading Zone.

This was medicine that could pull someone back from the gates of hell.

Things like this didn't circulate in the Trading Zone at all.

"Save her, then tell me the address."

Chen Yu turned and walked away, his voice echoing in the alley: "Don't lie to me again this time."

Lin Yuan clutched the Life Essence tightly in his hand and slammed his forehead heavily against the ground.

"Thank you..."

"...Thank you, Big Brother Chen Yu..."

He kowtowed frantically behind him, crying as he did so.

But Chen Yu had already left the alley with Mira.

Mira couldn't help but whisper: "Just letting him go like that? That's not your style. After all, you seem very eager to find that girl named Lin Yue?"

Chen Yu didn't answer.

Not far away, Deng Yuxin and Li Mengyao just caught up, both panting, having chased after them all the way.

"How did it go?"

"Where is he?"

The two peeked their heads in, scanning the alley; there was a figure lying on the ground.

Chen Yu didn't explain.

He raised his left hand, a virtual panel unfolded in the air, and he swiped his finger twice.

Li Mengyao's vision flickered—

[Chen Yu is trading with you: mirage pearl × 1]

[mirage pearl]

Description: A misty gray bead with a dull surface, cool to the touch. After prolonged wear, the bead will pulse slightly in rhythm with the wearer's breathing.

Effect: When kept close, the mirage pearl will continuously absorb the energy aura around the wearer.

'Continuously absorb energy aura?'

After seeing the effect, Li Mengyao immediately understood what Chen Yu meant.

She hadn't expected Chen Yu to give such an important item to her.

Chen Yu said calmly: "Take Water Bubble and follow that person in the alley. Don't get too close; just confirming the location is enough."

Li Mengyao nodded.

With something like the mirage pearl, her and Water Bubble's energy would be masked.

Combined with her B-Rank Talent [Superficial Disguise], she was indeed the most suitable candidate for tracking.

Chen Yu was willing to trust her at a time like this; did that mean...

She didn't ask about the details of the mission, just brushed past the others.

Chen Yu waved his hand: "Stay safe, don't get too close."

Li Mengyao's lips curled up slightly as she turned sideways and walked into the alley to follow the boy.

Chen Yu withdrew his gaze and turned to say to Deng Yuxin: "Let's head back first."

Deng Yuxin glanced at him, then looked toward the alley, but didn't ask further.

Chen Yu, Deng Yuxin, and Mira left immediately. As soon as they stepped out of the Trading Zone, the buildings on both sides of the street faded into monotonous gray outlines.

Chen Yu seemed to sense something; as he walked, his footsteps suddenly paused.

He looked down at the ground.

His own shadow was fading?

He looked up.

The sky was darkening at a visible rate, spreading twilight layer by layer.

"What's going on?"

Deng Yuxin also looked up and complained: "It's still the afternoon..."

The crowd on both sides of the street began to stir.

Some people ran out of shops, craning their necks to look at the sky, cursing under their breath.

Some thought it was a solar eclipse and started taking pictures with their virtual panels.

From the direction of the Trading Zone, exclamations and discussions rose one after another.

"What the hell? Why did it suddenly get dark?"

"It's only three o'clock! Three o'clock! Have you ever seen it get dark at three?"

"Did someone use a skill?"

"Hey, hey, hey, stop pushing! Who stepped on my foot—"

Deng Yuxin asked in a low voice: "Mengyao... won't be in trouble, will she?"

Chen Yu shook his head: "With Water Bubble there, it shouldn't be a big problem. Let's wait for her news."