Yama Reborn
Chapter 43 - 41 [Rescuing Chen Yanluo]

Chapter 43: Chapter 41 [Rescuing Chen Yanluo]

Chapter Forty-One: Rescuing Chen Yanluo

BEEP BEEP BEEP...

With the blare of an alarm, the winch on the ship whirred to life, rapidly spinning as the chains were slowly retracted.

On the early morning sea, the fishing vessel floated in solitude, its hull gently rocking with the waves.

Divers surfaced, waving and making several hand signals to the crew operating the machinery.

The recovery operation proceeded in an orderly fashion.

Anderson stood on deck, calmly smoking. The morning sea breeze was cold and biting, yet Anderson wore only a thin coat.

Finally, the salvaged item broke the surface. A commotion erupted on deck as workers quickly gathered around.

Anderson, however, took a few steps back. He cast a cold glance, then withdrew it and turned towards the bow.

Standing at the bow, Anderson took out a satellite phone and forcefully flung his cigarette butt into the sea.

"The remains of Gold Digger No. 4 have been found," Anderson said casually. "Next time, could you please not assign me such boring tasks? Salvage operations like this can be handled by just about anyone, right?"

"...Mm-hm, I know. My investigation has made some progress, and I’ll send the results back as soon as possible."

"...Alright. Now, it seems our Gold Digger No. 4 died rather miserably. Shouldn’t we do something?"

"No, no, talk of revenge isn’t necessary. He’s just a Gold Digger, after all. But I believe taking some action is necessary. We need to send a signal: messing with our people comes at a price."

After hanging up, Anderson shook his head.

He glanced back at the stern. Some of the salvage workers had seen what was brought up...

Ah, some were already vomiting.

"Heh, mortals," Anderson muttered disdainfully, taking out his sunglasses and putting them on.

「 」

Zhang Linsheng felt he was finished.

Originally considering himself the top dog of the senior class at No. 8 Middle School (at least in his own mind), Zhang Linsheng had thought his career as a street badass was just dawning, like the rising sun.

He had no interest in academics; he knew he wouldn’t get into university anyway. This year, he’d occasionally hung out with some petty delinquents and even participated in several gang brawls. Although he mostly just cheered from the sidelines, when a fight was going their way, he’d jump in and land a few kicks.

These experiences became his capital for bragging at school.

Well, alright, in this era, influenced by a few idiotic gangster movies from the preceding years, almost every rundown school had a group of deluded teenagers emulating those on-screen gangs. Every school had its share of Brother Haonans and Mountain Chickens.

As for other roles, like Big Sky Two or Banana Peel, no one bothered fighting over them.

Initially, as the senior class’s Brother Haonan, Zhang Linsheng thought he carried some weight. He could rally a few ’brothers’ and extort pocket money from younger students. Of course, in his mind, how could that be called extortion?

It’s obviously collecting protection money! The legitimate business of any stylish young gangster!

Besides collecting protection money, he would also back up his gang members in fights at school or secure a basketball court during playtime.

Zhang Linsheng had always felt quite formidable.

This morning, however, he felt that formidability was crumbling.

All morning, he sensed his classmates pointing and whispering about him.

Even Mountain Chicken, the second-in-command of his small group, wasn’t showing him the usual respect.

My standing in the school’s underworld is on the verge of collapse!

Thinking about it filled him with rage and sorrow. Yesterday, he had gone out with his ’brothers’ to show off, planning to be impressive.

But then... he got carried away?

Carried... away...

Can you imagine? In the movies, when Brother Haonan faces off against the big boss Crow, they’re about to fight! But what if, before the fight even began, Crow suddenly grabbed Brother Haonan and ran off with him? Would Brother Haonan still have a place in the underworld? Could he even call himself a man anymore?!

In the morning, over some minor issue, he had a verbal spat with Mountain Chicken. That asshole really has a foul mouth. Pointing at Zhang Linsheng, he sneered, "I wonder who it was that went to fight yesterday, and before anything could happen, got carried off by some guy..."

Zhang Linsheng’s blood rushed to his head instantly! If a few of his ’brothers’ hadn’t held him back, Brother Haonan from No. 8 Middle School would have started an internal war with Mountain Chicken right there, Tongluo Bay style!

No! Absolutely not!

To salvage his teetering underworld reputation, Zhang Linsheng thought all morning. The only solution was to find that kid named Chen Nuo! He had to teach him a severe lesson! And it had to be done in front of everyone, beating Chen Nuo until he knelt and begged for mercy! Only that could restore his dignity!

「 」

Chen Nuo also had a bit of a headache.

The appearance of Long-legs Sister was completely unexpected. He hadn’t anticipated her persistence; relying solely on memory, she’d sketched the words "Jiangning No. 8 Middle School" from his uniform and then traveled thousands of miles to find him. She had even transferred schools directly!

If it were someone else causing him so much trouble... Yama would naturally have ways to deal with them.

But... Long-legs Sister was different. She was the Firefly who had entrusted her life to him in their past life, following him as he danced on a knife’s edge, through life and death. In this life, she was Li Yingwan, whom he had personally rescued from a nightmare.

What else could he do? It’s not like he could actually bury her!

After a brief conversation at the hotel last night, Chen Nuo laid down a few rules for Long-legs Sister. First, she was absolutely forbidden to reveal that he had saved her family back in Seoul. Li Yingwan understood this clearly; she regarded Chen Nuo as a superhero. The young girl was then immersed in the thrilling excitement of being the only companion who knows the superhero’s true identity! Second, Chen Nuo and Li Yingwan coordinated their stories, concocting a cover for how they knew each other.

And then... then that was it! The girl was adamant about not leaving!

He couldn’t really bury her, could he?! What a headache!

Furthermore... Chen Nuo knew Li Yingwan’s personality very well. The girl was extremely stubborn, perhaps even a bit obsessive. Her tragic experiences in her past life had only amplified this trait. Fundamentally, she was inherently prone to extremism. Once she set her mind on something, it was incredibly difficult for her to give up.

Again... He couldn’t really bury her, could he?!

「 」

For a whole morning, Chen Nuo was in hiding.

Classes were manageable, but during breaks, Li Yingwan was as lively as a swallow, chirping away in front of Chen Nuo in her clumsy Mandarin. Chen Nuo had instructed her not to reveal she could speak South Korean, and he, in turn, wouldn’t speak it with her if others were present. The young girl remembered this and did her best to converse in Mandarin. If she got flustered and accidentally let slip a few words in her native tongue, Chen Nuo would feign ignorance.

After enduring two classes, as soon as the lunch bell rang, Chen Nuo bolted for the cafeteria.

He got himself a serving of pickled vegetable and shredded pork soup—hold the shredded pork—and a bowl of sausage and egg fried rice—hold the sausage. To be honest, it barely had any egg either.

Chen Nuo had just taken a bite when School Belle Sun walked over, huffily plopping down in the seat opposite him.

...Ah, can’t bury this one either, Chen Yanluo thought, looking gloomily at the sky outside. This girl had hugged him just last night, full of soft grievances and melancholy—that tender charm and delicate, lingering affection unique to young women...

Although School Belle Sun wore a stern expression, she wasn’t truly furious. She had spent the morning observing the interactions between Chen Nuo and that ’little grasshopper’ from Goryeo.

Yes, a grasshopper! Hmph, having such long legs... what else could she be but a grasshopper!

THUD!

A paper bag landed on the table. Inside lay two plump, round, snow-white steamed buns.

"Eat these. They’re filled with three-delicacy bamboo shoots," School Belle Sun said in a low voice. "Don’t eat too much from the cafeteria. My dad told me they don’t even wash the rice they use."

Chen Nuo smiled and took a bite of a bun.

A smile flickered in School Belle Sun’s eyes. Soon, a few of her female friends came over and called her to join them at an adjacent table. After all, girls in this era were generally quite shy and wouldn’t dare to sit and eat with a boy in public at lunchtime.

But... Li Yingwan dared!

Chen Nuo had just finished his first bun when Li Yingwan, bringing a whiff of fragrance, hurried over and sat right next to him. _{f .r e\ewebnov(e)(l).c om}

"Oppa! What delicious thing are you eating!" the South Korean girl exclaimed, her voice carrying that distinctive, easily excitable tone.

"...Steamed buns."

"Oppa, I want some too!" Saying this, she leaned her small face closer, her almond-shaped eyes narrowing into crescents, her small mouth open. "Ah..."

WHOOSH!

Chen Yanluo instantly sensed an icy glare from the side. School Belle Sun sat at the next table, her chopsticks clenched so tightly her knuckles were white!

Looking at the long-legged girl before him, her mouth open, and feeling School Belle Sun’s piercing gaze... Chen Yanluo broke out in a cold sweat!

Seriously, not even in his past life when facing ’Wizard,’ another top figure in the Underground World, in a one-on-one duel had Chen Nuo ever broken into a cold sweat!

He cast a complicated glance at the two girls.

Still the same thought... can’t bury them both, can I?!

"Oppa, just one bite, please? Don’t be so stingy," Li Yingwan wheedled, rubbing her hands together. "Please!" She then opened her little mouth again, her face even closer. "Ah..."

CRACK! The disposable chopsticks in School Belle Sun’s hand snapped.

What do I do... Chen Yanluo despaired internally.

"CHEN!!! NUO!!!"

A thunderous shout echoed from the cafeteria entrance!

Instantly, more than half the eyes in the room darted towards the sound.

Zhang Linsheng strode in, head high, chest puffed out!

Chen Yanluo breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

"Chen Nuo! You can’t escape today! I..." Zhang Linsheng deliberately boomed, showing off. As more and more eyes turned his way, Brother Haonan of No. 8 Middle School felt increasingly thrilled. Today is my comeback!

No one noticed Chen Nuo’s chopsticks tremble slightly, sending a small, slippery piece of fried egg silently to the floor.

Zhang Linsheng quickened his pace. "...I won’t let you... ARGH, FUCK!"

Suddenly, his foot slipped! Zhang Linsheng’s body instantly lost balance. Because he was rushing, his strides too large, this slip sent his front foot sliding forward and his back foot backward...

Everyone heard a loud RIIIIP!

The seam of his pants had torn!

Brother Haonan landed in a perfect split, plopping onto the slippery cafeteria floor!

Onlookers: GASP...

Zhang Linsheng wailed, "FUUUUCK~~" The end of the expletive trembled.

Splayed on the floor, Zhang Linsheng felt an intense tearing sensation from his groin, pain making his whole body go limp.

Chen Nuo had already stood up!

Zhang Linsheng, still on the ground, looked up at Chen Nuo... Fuck, a bad feeling! A very bad premonition!

Chen Nuo looked down at Zhang Linsheng.

Their eyes met, an instant, unspoken understanding passing between them.

Zhang Linsheng: ...No, don’t...

Chen Nuo: Oh yes, you want this!

"Zhang Linsheng! What happened? How did you fall so badly? Don’t worry, I’ll take you to the infirmary!"

Chen Nuo bent down. Ignoring Zhang Linsheng’s feeble attempts to push him away, he slid one arm under Zhang Linsheng’s neck and the other under his knees.

And up he went!

The surrounding students again: GASP...

If being carried off on the field yesterday afternoon wasn’t sensational enough—after all, that was more like being slung over a shoulder like a sack of rice—then this standard PRINCESS CARRY... well...

Chen Nuo, head high, chest out, princess-carried Zhang Linsheng with confident strides out of the cafeteria, across the sports field...

Past one classroom building...

Then another...

Countless students stared, pointed, and whispered along the way.

Zhang Linsheng had given up resisting.

Lying in Chen Nuo’s arms, a single thought consumed him:

My glorious career in the school’s underworld... is over... No. 8 Middle School... will have no Brother Haonan anymore!

「 」

[I, Asura Field 2.0, pay up!]

More tonight...