Lan Yan's eyes turned cold, and she sneered, "The leader of the elite force is nothing more than this, threatening to kill at the slightest provocation."
"This condition is too disadvantageous for me. If I lose, I will do as you please. But if I win, not only will I leave, but I will also take you all with me. You must abide by the agreement and obey the Shen family members who took the jade pendant."
Seeing that Lan Yan still had the mind to negotiate terms with her at this juncture, the leader acknowledged her boldness and said, "Alright." However, very few could survive three palms from her.
One could only blame this person's identity for being too suspicious.
Lan Yan quickly adjusted herself. While stretching her joints, she consulted the system, "System, I desperately need your help. Do you have any medicine that can help me endure three palms?"
The system glanced at the interface and found no medicine to offer. Seeing Lan Yan's state, it seemed she might actually die under these three palms. With a determined grit, it exchanged its own level for a life-saving medicine.
"This is for you."
Lan Yan held a pill in her palm, hidden in her sleeve. She was a bit puzzled why the system was so obliging today. She found it incredible, but since the system had already gone offline, she quickly took the pill.
She then stood steadily before the leader and called out, "Come on."
The leader watched Lan Yan and adjusted her breathing, channeling all her strength into her palm before striking at Lan Yan.
Lan Yan endured the palm strike head-on, staggering back a few steps and clutching her chest. Although she had the system's medicine, the blow still hurt. It took her a while to recover.
"If you can't take it, surrender now." The leader, seeing Lan Yan's delicate appearance, was sure she wouldn't be able to withstand a second palm.
Lan Yan straightened up again, smiling, "I won't. Again."
The leader blinked, a flicker of curiosity about the person before her. She raised her hand, "I only used fifty percent of my strength just now. This palm will be with my full power. Have you thought it through?"
"Enough talk." Lan Yan clenched her fist, awaiting the leader's strike.
With a bang, she was sent sprawling to the ground this time, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Heavens, her chest felt like it was going to explode. This leader's martial arts were indeed not weak.
If she could subdue this elite force, the war effort would be reliable. She propped herself up on her hands, trying to stand again, but dizziness overwhelmed her. "Wait, let me catch my breath."
The leader had always admired true warriors. They, as military commanders, competed in this manner. This trial was not just for Lan Yan, but also for herself.
Seeing Lan Yan's pale face, she kindly advised, "Surrender. You can't stand anymore."
"Who says?" Lan Yan chuckled, "Just you wait."
At this moment, her subordinates stepped forward and approached the leader. "Leader, that man is causing trouble. Should we bring him back to let him see this lady's appearance?"
They had initially disliked Lan Yan, but now a sense of respect grew within them.
The leader hesitated, then finally waved her hand, "Unlock his room."
"Yes." The subordinates went to the room behind, unlocked the door, and were startled by Jun Yelan's fierce eyes.
Jun Yelan exuded a chilling aura, enraged. "Where is she?" Since early that morning, he hadn't heard Lan Yan's voice and guessed someone had taken her.
He had been pounding on the door, finally seizing this opportunity. He raised his still bleeding palm, grabbed one of the leader's subordinates, and asked again, "Where is she?"
"In, in the courtyard ahead."
Jun Yelan let go of the subordinate and quickly ran towards the courtyard.
In the courtyard, Lan Yan had already stood up, her steps unsteady, feeling as though her body was no longer her own. Knowing she wouldn't die, she wiped the blood from her lips and shouted, "Third palm!"
The leader was also shocked, clenching her fists. It seemed she would have to use all her skills. She rotated her palms and struck at Lan Yan.
Lan Yan stared directly at the leader, her eyes filled with determination, preparing to receive the blow.
However, someone suddenly appeared, blocking her.
Jun Yelan took the strike on his back, let out a cold snort, and gently embraced Lan Yan with both hands. He stroked her back, suppressing the turmoil within his heart, his eyes moist with tears.
"Lan Yan, I will not let anyone who harms you get away." He swept Lan Yan into his arms, placing her behind a nearby tree. As he turned, his eyes were filled with hatred as he stared intently at the leader before him.
The leader was stunned and, before she could react, was struck by Jun Yelan.
At the same time, Jun Yelan grabbed her wrist and twisted it fiercely. "I showed you some leniency out of respect for my father. But you hurt her, and everything has changed!"
He attacked the leader like a madman, forcing her to retreat repeatedly, sustaining injuries all over her body.
Everyone else in the courtyard, members of the elite force, felt a sense of dread seeing Jun Yelan like this. "How can this man be more terrifying than a woman? The leader is about to be defeated."
"Exactly."
The leader spat out several mouthfuls of blood but could only focus on defense, or she would die at Jun Yelan's hands.
Lan Yan leaned against the tree to rest for a moment, finally regaining her senses. Seeing Jun Yelan about to beat the person to death, she called out, "Jun Yelan." But Jun Yelan's eyes were red with fury, and he couldn't hear her.
She stood up and walked forward step by step, pulling Jun Yelan's sleeve as she had before. "Jun Yelan, I'm in pain. I want chicken legs."
Jun Yelan's palm was about to fall on the leader's head. Hearing this aggrieved, cooing complaint, he immediately stopped. He lowered his hand, then scooped Lan Yan into his arms and walked towards the courtyard gate.
He would rather not have this elite force than see Lan Yan like this.
The leader knelt on one knee on the ground, having saved her own life. "The leader of the elite force is willing to take you as her lord and serve you from now on." Her other leg also bent down, and her subordinates followed suit.
Jun Yelan stopped, looking coldly at the leader, "How can I trust you?"
"I already promised your wife just now. Now that I have lost, I offer the elite force to you." The leader shouted at Jun Yelan's back. She was truly convinced.
Jun Yelan turned his head, looking indifferently at the leader, "If you ever break your oath, I will personally send you on your way."
"Yes, sir." The leader kowtowed.
Jun Yelan then looked at Lan Yan in his arms. Seeing her smiling at him, his anger dissipated by more than half. "Prepare chicken legs and send them to my room."
He didn't bother with the leader and left with Lan Yan.
Lan Yan lay comfortably in Jun Yelan's arms. This place was quite comfortable. She had coughed up quite a bit of blood earlier and now lacked much strength, gradually closing her eyes.
Jun Yelan slowed his pace, placed Lan Yan on the bed in the room, and stayed by her side. He was about to call for a doctor when he heard Lan Yan's even breathing and let out a sigh of relief.
He held Lan Yan's hand, lowered his head, and kissed the back of her hand, murmuring, "A fool, yet you have walked into my heart."