Chapter 69: Staying for Her
Si Jin’s thumb remained at the corner of Yun Sheng’s forehead. He didn’t apply any pressure, but the subtle touch made her more tense than any physical restraint could have.
"It’s just a scratch. It doesn’t even hurt."
Si Jin said nothing.
He lowered his head, his gaze locked on the bloody scratch. Something dark seemed to settle and churn in the depths of his eyes.
Then, he did something Yun Sheng never expected.
He slowly lowered his head and gently blew on the tiny wound.
As the warm breath brushed against her skin, Yun Sheng’s entire body went stiff, and her breathing hitched.
The gesture was far too intimate, even carrying a hint of tenderness that stood in bizarre contrast to the cold, oppressive aura Si Jin radiated.
"Si Jin..." Yun Sheng called out instinctively, her voice holding a faint tremor she herself hadn’t noticed.
"It was my oversight. I should have been faster."
Si Jin released his arms from around Yun Sheng. His eyes scanned her entire body, and only after confirming she had no other hidden injuries did the surging darkness in his eyes subside somewhat.
"Can you stand? Let’s get out of the car first."
Yun Sheng nodded, her heart beating a little fast. She was nervous, too.
’That gesture of him blowing on my cut... it was just too intimate, too ambiguous. It’s left me feeling completely unsettled.’
Before she could dwell on it, Si Jin had already pushed open the slightly warped car door.
Outside, the accident scene was a chaotic mess.
The front of the freight hovercar that had caused the crash was severely damaged, lying sideways in the middle of the road and spewing thick smoke.
Of the two smaller hovercars it had sent flying, one lay overturned on its side by the road, its chassis twisted.
The other was in even worse shape, almost crushed flat with parts scattered all over the ground.
Farther down the road, several other vehicles that couldn’t swerve in time had caused a chain-reaction pile-up.
Cries, shouts for help, and a cacophony of other noises mixed with the smell of burning and the acrid stench of leaking energy liquid. The scene was truly gruesome.
Si Jin got out of the car first and, with almost no hesitation, turned and extended his hand to Yun Sheng.
"Give me your hand."
She placed her hand in his palm and was immediately guided out of the car by a steady force.
Just then, an urgent shout came from nearby.
"The door... The door won’t open! There’s a kid in the back seat, still moving! Everyone, come help!"
In front of the most heavily damaged hovercar, a few passersby were trying to pry open the severely warped door, but they couldn’t get it to budge.
Energy liquid was continuously leaking from under the car’s chassis; it could explode at any moment.
"Si Jin!" Yun Sheng grabbed his arm and cried out urgently, "You can open it, can’t you? Please, save that child!"
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with absolute trust and pleading, and even a dependence she herself hadn’t realized was there.
Si Jin looked at her in silence for two seconds, then his gaze shifted to the precarious vehicle.
The passersby’s efforts were clearly futile. A door made of highly synthetic metal, warped to that degree, couldn’t possibly be moved by ordinary human strength.
He didn’t say a word, simply guiding Yun Sheng gently to a relatively safe open area nearby.
"Stay here. Don’t move."
With that instruction, he turned quickly and walked toward the damaged hovercar.
The few people gathered around the car trying to help felt his powerful, oppressive presence as he approached. One by one, they let go and even instinctively made way for him.
Si Jin made no move to gather his strength. He simply reached out and hooked his fingers into a gap in the warped door. The lines of his arm muscles tightened under his clothes, and with a teeth-grinding screech of twisting metal, he ripped the jammed door clean off the car’s body!
"My god!" someone gasped.
"That... that strength..."
"He’s a Sentinel! He must be an Advanced Sentinel!"
A series of gasps erupted from the crowd, and everyone stared at Si Jin with expressions full of awe.
With the door removed, the situation inside was laid bare.
In the back seat, a little girl of about four or five was being held tightly beneath her mother. The mother’s back was crushed by the crumpled roof, and she was no longer breathing.
The little girl’s face was covered in tear stains and blood, and she was letting out faint whimpers.
Si Jin carefully avoided the sharp metal edges that could cause further injury, leaned inside, and lifted out the still-sobbing little girl.
His movements were in stark contrast to the power he had just displayed, suffused with a careful restraint.
He handed the child to a middle-aged woman nearby who looked relatively calm.
"Please look after her."
Now out of the dangerous vehicle, the little girl seemed to finally feel safe and began to wail.
Her cries were like a thin needle, piercing Yun Sheng’s heart.
A powerful impulse washed over her.
’I can’t just stand by and watch so many people struggle on the brink of life and death.’
But reason immediately sounded an alarm in her mind.
’An accident this big... the police, the Tower’s regular patrol teams, and even the military will be here soon.’
’What about Bai Ye? Will he come? If he shows up, Si Jin’s identity will very likely be exposed...’
In an instant, Yun Sheng made her decision.
She took a deep breath, hurried to Si Jin’s side, and said in a low voice, "Si Jin, you have to go. The police and the military will be here soon. You can’t stay here."
Si Jin glanced sideways at her but said nothing.
"I want to stay and help. Every person I can save counts. But you have to leave immediately to avoid being exposed."
Without waiting for his response, Yun Sheng turned and ran toward the nearest crashed car.
’I know my own strength is limited, but even just bandaging a few wounds is better than doing nothing at all.’
Si Jin remained where he was, not leaving. His gaze followed her slender figure.
He watched as she knelt beside an injured person to bandage their wounds, then struggled over to another spot to try and move a shattered piece of interior paneling—one that wasn’t huge, but was clearly beyond her strength.
Once, twice... Yun Sheng’s arms trembled with the effort, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead, but the panel had barely budged.
Just then, a large hand reached out from beside her, easily gripping the panel she couldn’t move with all her might. It then lifted the piece and set it aside.
Yun Sheng whipped her head around in astonishment.
Si Jin had appeared behind her at some point. His tall frame loomed over her, and his eyes, as he looked at her, were so calm it was unnerving.
"You... Why didn’t you go?" Yun Sheng said, panicked. "Leave, quickly!"
"It’s too late to leave now. Regular rescue teams and police won’t see through my disguise. But if Bai Ye shows up... what I did just now, saving that child, has already left a trail of suspicion. Leaving now would just make me look guilty."
After speaking, Si Jin walked straight toward the next person calling for help.
Yun Sheng took a deep breath and finally trotted after Si Jin.
With him there, the rest of the rescue effort went much more smoothly.
Si Jin took charge of breaking through obstacles, moving heavy objects, and stabilizing the injured.
Yun Sheng, in turn, used what little first-aid knowledge she had to check on the wounded, stanch their bleeding, calm them down, and guide the lightly injured or other helpful bystanders to safer areas.
Just as they were helping carry a man with a leg injury to an open space on the roadside, the rhythmic and oppressive thrum of an engine grew louder as it approached from the distance.