"I... I was just passing by," Su Xiaoxi stammered, backing away slowly.
The man let out a cold laugh and advanced. "It was you last night, wasn't it? The little rat with the camera."
Su Xiaoxi's back hit the cold brick wall. The man pulled a switchblade from his pocket and flicked it open with a sharp *click*.
"Hand over your phone," he ordered.
Her hands trembled as she reached for her pocket—then she suddenly remembered Lin Yi's instruction to *"walk on my left."* It hadn't just been about protection; it was a habit to keep her away from potential roadside threats. If only he were here now...
"*Now!*" The man brandished the knife impatiently.
At that critical moment, a shadow flashed across the alley entrance. Before the man could react, a swift chop struck his wrist, sending the knife clattering to the ground. Lin Yi materialized between them like a ghost, shielding Su Xiaoxi with his back as he faced the armed assailant.
"*Leave.*" Lin Yi's voice was glacial.
The man cursed and threw a punch. Lin Yi sidestepped, seized his arm, and flipped him over his shoulder in a single motion, slamming him onto the pavement. The movement was so fast Su Xiaoxi barely processed it.
The man scrambled up—this time pulling a gun. Su Xiaoxi's scream caught in her throat.
But Lin Yi seemed to have anticipated it. He closed the distance before the trigger could be pulled, driving an elbow into the gunman's wrist while striking his throat with a knife-hand blow. The man grunted as the gun fell. A spinning kick sent him flying three meters back.
"Next time won't end this easily." Lin Yi picked up the gun, ejected the magazine, and spoke with lethal calm.
The man staggered to his feet and fled.
Su Xiaoxi's legs gave way. Lin Yi turned and steadied her, his brow furrowed. "Are you hurt?"
"You... how are you *here*?" Her voice shook.
"I followed you," Lin Yi admitted bluntly. "From the moment you left the office."
"You *stalked* me?" She shoved him away. "Who gave you the right?"
Lin Yi bent to retrieve the silver case. He opened it, and his expression darkened. "Do you know what this is?"
Inside were dozens of small plastic bags filled with white powder.
"D... drugs?" Su Xiaoxi's eyes widened.
"K-73. A new synthetic compound with a fatality rate five times higher than heroin." He snapped the case shut. "What you photographed last night was a deal involving this batch."