Scar Man drove his long knife down; Salena shut her eyes in despair, already waiting for death to arrive.
Just as the blade was about to pierce Salena's chest—
A black shadow flashed from Scar Man's side, kicking his shoulder hard and sending him flying.
Who?
None other than Su Yan.
He had reached the square a little after Salena, but while she was signing autographs for fans Su Yan had wandered over as well.
The commotion Scar Man caused quickly caught his attention.
Keeping his distance, he spotted Scar Man targeting Salena; without hesitation he moved closer.
But he had no intention of acting recklessly.
He was flesh and blood—he couldn't take on a blade bare-handed.
He shadowed Scar Man at a fast walk, signalling another guy on the opposite side who also wanted to help to grab a chair and throw it to draw attention.
Meanwhile he closed in even faster.
Scar Man was seeing red; he figured no one would dare touch him before the cops showed up.
Seizing the time,
he planned to hack away to his heart's content.
Salena had dodged once by falling; survival instinct rolled her out of the way of a second slash.
That enraged Scar Man, driving him berserk—he wanted Salena dead, no matter what.
It focused every bit of his attention on her.
Bad news.
Good news: it gave Su Yan the perfect opening; he charged in long, rapid strides.
A life-or-death moment.
A split second that decided fate.
He caught up and kicked Scar Man to the ground.
To an ordinary person that kick was terrifying; even a tough guy couldn't absorb it.
Thud!
Scar Man crashed to the pavement.
Every bone felt like it was falling apart; he screamed in pain, but still crazed,
he clenched the fruit-knife, struggled to rise, ready to cut down Su Yan and Salena together.
Hmph!
Su Yan snorted, rushed forward in three quick steps and stomped on Scar Man's knife-wielding hand.
Aaaargh!
Scar Man screamed again; his fingers sprang open in reflex, the blade slipping free.
Su Yan flicked it away with a follow-up kick.
Fast moves, cool form.
With the knife gone the danger was over; Su Yan dove, straddled Scar Man and pummelled him.
He's unarmed—get him!
Someone in the surrounding crowd shouted, and a swarm of people who'd had enough surged in.
They beat him mercilessly.
It looked like they were going to beat him to death.
Su Yan quietly stepped back from the mob.
He walked to Salena, helped her up and murmured, Scared? It's okay, it's over.
N-no!
She said she was fine,
but her trembling voice and shivering body told Su Yan she was terrified.
Of course—
one second slower and Salena might have been gone; anyone would be shaken.
Su Yan said nothing more; he peeled off his shirt and wrapped her arm to stop the bleeding.
Then he held her, giving her a sense of safety.
For now that was all he could do; once she calmed he'd take her to hospital.
On the square
Scar Man was half-dead, barely breathing.
Police arrived, ambulances too.
Compared with the others Scar Man had slashed, Salena's wound was light; it was mostly shock.
Those people needed urgent care.
The madman had gone on a five-minute spree of random attacks.
One person had died on the spot.
Seven were injured; apart from Salena, five were badly hurt.
Scar Man's acts were horrific.
And with the attack happening near an NBA venue, tomorrow it would rock the league!!
Barely half an hour later
media reporters showed up to film.
Some shameless ones even chased to the hospital, ignoring victims' conditions for a scoop.
Naturally
Salena was targeted.
The reporter was a black guy who looked far kinder than Scar Man,
but to Salena he was a nightmare shadow.
The moment she saw him her fear spiked; she buried her head in Su Yan's chest, shaking harder.
Su Yan tightened his arm around her and shot the reporter a cold glare. Beat it, you piece of trash!
A stream of curses left the black reporter standing bewildered in the wind.
Su Yan led Salena away, asking if she wanted a hospital; she shook her head—she didn't want to go.
The wound didn't look deep,
but to be safe he took her to a quiet little clinic, cleaned and re-bandaged her arm.
Then
Su Yan found a nearby hotel and checked her in.
Right now she needed a quiet place to rest.
After settling her on the bed he turned to leave.
Salena caught his hand, voice quavering, Please don't go—I'm so scared!!!
Su Yan hesitated, then sat by her bed, holding her soft hand gently. I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay here and protect you. Sleep; no one can hurt you.
O-okay...
She gripped his hand and gave a soft reply.
Soon gentle snores sounded—Salena had fallen asleep.
Just then her phone buzzed in her bag; the caller ID read Assistant Sis.
He answered.
After hearing what had happened Salena's assistant rushed over.
She had come with Salena today but had been busy arranging later schedules, and Salena had wanted some time alone.
So she hadn't followed.
She'd called to ask when Salena planned to head back.
Thank you, thank you, really, thank you! I'll make sure Salena thanks you in person another day. Thank you so much tonight, Mr. Su Yan!
In the living room
the assistant kept thanking him.
It was a life-saving debt; gratitude was endless.
No problem.
Su Yan waved her off. Salena's safe—that's what matters. I'll leave her to you now.
Yes, yes.
The assistant nodded through tears. Really, thank you. Be careful—this area doesn't seem safe.
Mm.
Su Yan answered and left.
The riot on Colonel Commercial Street would headline tomorrow across the States.
Secondly,
the attack on Salena couldn't be hidden; it would send quakes through the entertainment world!
Of course,
Su Yan's heroic rescue would be exposed as well!!
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