Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Iron Tree of Ten Thousand Years

After a while, Xingan heard nothing more; it seemed everything had returned to calm. From the rearview mirror, Cheng Jiu saw the car stopped by the roadside. No one got out, likely afraid they would be shot. Xiao Shi immediately asked, "Ninth Brother, should we just go?"

"Go," Cheng Jiu replied.

He didn't know who those people were, how many there were, or how much firepower they carried. It was late at night, and with Xingan in their car, the danger was even greater.

With Xingan in mind, Cheng Jiu couldn't take any risks. Otherwise, he would never have let those people go.

Xiao Shi immediately stepped on the gas, quickly leaving the pursuers far behind.

Cheng Jiu did not chase them. It wasn't his usual style, and Xiao Shi didn't quite understand, but seeing Xingan's pale, terrified face, he held his tongue.

The rear window had been shattered. When Xingan finally regained her composure and looked back at the broken glass, she nearly lost herself. Her fingers trembled uncontrollably. At the center of the cracks, she saw a black object: a bullet.

Xiao Shi wanted to say something, but catching sight of Cheng Jiu's expression, he thought better of it.

Xingan asked, "Did they have guns?"

"Yes," Cheng Jiu replied.

"Is it so easy to get firearms and ammunition?"

"It's illegal."

Clutching her chest, Xingan felt, for the first time, just how close she had come to death. If that bullet had struck some part of her body—she dared not finish the thought.

Outside, the air was growing colder. The night wind was chilly, but she felt nothing, letting the wind pour in through the open window.

Cheng Jiu couldn't stand it and said, "If you keep this up, you'll be in the hospital again tomorrow."

She stared out the window, unresponsive.

"Xingan."

Her eyelids fluttered. "Hmm?"

Cheng Jiu ordered Xiao Shi, "Roll the window up."

Xiao Shi did as told.

They dared not stop in this area and kept driving until they reached the nearest town. By the time they arrived, dawn had not yet broken. Only the streetlights were on. They finally found a small inn with its lights still on. The three of them entered, one after the other. Xingan's legs were weak and she lagged behind, so Cheng Jiu slowed his pace to wait for her.

The innkeeper, woken from sleep, rubbed his eyes and asked, "How many of you?"

"Three. We need two adjoining rooms."

"Let me see your IDs."

Xingan was the last to place her ID card on the counter. Her fingers still trembled visibly, clear evidence of her fright.

Cheng Jiu regretted bringing her along.

"Alright, just a moment," the innkeeper said, collecting their IDs. His gaze lingered on Xingan with ill-concealed intent.

Cheng Jiu glanced at his watch. It was past three in the morning. As he lifted his eyes, he caught the innkeeper's lecherous stare. He reached out and pulled Xingan behind him by the wrist. "What are you looking at?"

When Cheng Jiu grew stern, his presence was intimidating, far from friendly. The innkeeper dared not delay and hurried to check them in.

Xingan tried to break free when she realized what was happening, but Cheng Jiu's grip was firm.

She had no strength left to struggle and let it be.

Xiao Shi, doing his utmost to make himself invisible, took a few steps back when Cheng Jiu grabbed Xingan's wrist. He wore an expression caught between curiosity and fear, sneaking a glance but not daring to look too openly. Fortunately, Cheng Jiu didn't notice him, and Xiao Shi quietly reveled in the moment.

At last, the perennial iron tree seemed about to blossom.

So thought Xiao Shi.

Upstairs, outside her room, Cheng Jiu finally let go of Xingan's hand. "Be alert while you sleep. If anything happens, call out loud for me—I'm right next door."

In an inn like this, the walls were thin and the rooms side by side; a raised voice would be easily heard through the partition.