Become a Knight Across the World

“About two months ago… I received a secret invitation to make a house call. The offer was extremely high, and they required confidentiality. I went… It was a trap set in a villa in the mountains.” Ye Chen’s voice began to tremble, and fear showed in his eyes.

"I hadn't been there long when I was surrounded by a group of unidentified, highly trained assassins. They weren't after money... they wanted my life! Or rather, they wanted some secret information I possessed... about the health of certain important figures."

It was a fierce battle. Ye Chen, relying on the Six Meridian Divine Needles and medicine he carried with him, instantly turned the tables and killed several people.

“I killed seven…and seriously wounded eight…but there were too many of them, and they came prepared, using poison…my right arm was severed…my left leg was injured when I jumped from the third-floor terrace of the villa to avoid poisoned crossbow bolts, and landed on a rock…I am incredibly lucky to have survived.”

He raised his only remaining left hand and unconsciously stroked his empty right shoulder, where the old wound seemed to throb faintly.

"I was fortunate enough to escape and went into hiding to recover from my injuries. During that time, some of my close female friends who had said they were willing to give everything for me... quickly cut ties with me shortly after my disappearance, claiming to have nothing to do with me, and some even turned around and joined the arms of hostile forces..."

He read out several names that had once been quite prominent in A City's social circles, his tone flat, yet carrying a chilling undertone.

“Some…tried to help me, to pass on messages, to raise funds. But they…they all…” Ye Chen’s voice choked, and tears welled up again, mixing with dirt and dripping onto the floor.

“Wang Mengyao…she came to see me secretly, and those people found out…they gang-raped her in front of me…and then…silenced her…The Wang family and the other two Wang sisters also became my enemies because of her death…” Ye Chen’s one arm dug into the ground, his nails cracked and bleeding, but he seemed to feel no pain, only overwhelming grief and helplessness.

"And then there's the eldest daughter of the Liu family, the most shrewish of them all, whose family has some influence. She tried to use her family's power to protect me, but was forcibly placed under house arrest by her family. In the end, for the sake of her family's interests, she was sent away for a political marriage... It's said that she committed suicide on the eve of her wedding..."

“Zhang Rou… she used to be a nurse. She tried to smuggle me out of City A, but we were caught at the dock… to give me a chance to jump into the sea and escape, she… she deliberately drew away the pursuers… I later heard that after she was caught, she suffered all kinds of humiliation and was sold to the lowest-class brothel, where she was tortured to death within a few days…”

Each name represents a story interwoven with blood and tears. Ye Chen recounted, haltingly, the stories of the women who had crossed paths with him. Whether their feelings were genuine or feigned, most met tragic ends because of his involvement. Some were violated to death, some perished, and some were forced to compromise.

Fortunately, he protected some innocent and kind girls, pushing them away in the most decisive and hurtful way, lying that he had never been moved, so that they would give up and leave.

During his recovery, his painstakingly built clinic was swiftly seized by his rivals, and his investments were completely divided up.

The so-called "connections" he had accumulated, those who fawned over him and called him brother when he was in power, either avoided him like the plague after he fell from grace, pretending not to know him; or they took advantage of his misfortune to seize his resources and the women he worked at the clinic; some even went so far as to directly participate in the persecution and forced possession of him and the women around him.

When a wall falls, everyone pushes it down; when a drum breaks, everyone beats it. He went from being a genius doctor admired by all to a rat that everyone hates, a cripple who has lost his usefulness and may cause trouble.

Once his injuries began to heal slightly, he was forced to begin a life of constant hiding and fleeing. His money quickly ran out, and his crippled body prevented him from doing any decent work.

His former pride and dignity were crushed bit by bit in the face of survival. In the end, he was left to live on the streets, barely surviving on the meager earnings from begging.

"Sometimes I think... it would have been better if I had just died in that villa..." Ye Chen's voice was barely audible, filled with utter despair and self-abandonment, "At least... I wouldn't have implicated so many people... at least, I could have retained a shred of dignity..."

He looked up at Lin Yue through teary eyes, his expression incredibly complex, filled with regret for past mistakes, resentment at his own incompetence, and even more so, fear of his painful past.

“Lin Yue… I know I was a jerk before… I shouldn’t have bothered you… It’s understandable that you look down on me… But now… I really only have this worthless life left… I don’t know who else I can turn to…” He spoke incoherently, completely exposing his most vulnerable and wretched side to Lin Yue.

Lin Yue listened quietly, her expression remaining largely unchanged throughout. However, a closer look revealed that her fingers, resting on her knees, tightened almost imperceptibly when she heard about the women's tragic experiences.

Ye Chen's fate was a complete tragedy. His arrogance and womanizing brought him trouble; his abilities and the secrets he possessed became his death warrant; and those around him became victims of the power struggles and conflicts of interest. This world can sometimes be so cold and cruel.

She didn't entirely sympathize with Ye Chen; he had indeed paid a heavy price for his arrogance and negligence. But the fates of the women who suffered unjustly because of him were truly heartbreaking.

After a long while, Lin Yue slowly stood up. "You can stay here for now." Her voice remained calm, revealing neither joy nor anger. "Your wound needs treatment, and you smell terrible. Go and wash yourself clean. I'll bring you some food and clean clothes."

She didn't offer any further words of comfort, nor did she make any comment on Ye Chen's past.

Ye Chen was stunned, seemingly not expecting Lin Yue to so readily accept his mess. He stared at her blankly, his lips trembling, wanting to say something to thank her, but ultimately unable to utter a word.

Lin Yue stopped looking at him and turned to leave the room. Her feelings were not as calm as she appeared.

Power... is sometimes not just manifested in devastating destruction, but also in the silent yet easily crushing reality.

She first went to a nearby pharmacy and bought disinfectant alcohol, gauze, bandages, and some basic anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications. Then she went to a budget clothing store and, based on her general impression, bought Ye Chen two sets of loose and comfortable clothes and underwear.

Finally, she ordered two light meals of porridge and rice from a small restaurant on the street.

When she returned to the small hotel with these things, Ye Chen had barely managed to finish washing up and changed into the simple bathrobe provided by the hotel. He was leaning against the bed, his face pale, but his eyes were a little brighter than before.

His wet hair clung to his forehead, revealing his once handsome features. Though haggard, his former charm was still faintly visible. Seeing Lin Yue return, he struggled to sit up straight.

"Don't move," Lin Yue stopped him and placed the things on the table. She took out the food first, "Eat first, then we'll talk."

Ye Chen looked at the still steaming porridge and food, his Adam's apple bobbed violently, and his eyes instantly welled up with tears.

He said nothing more and began to eat eagerly with his only remaining left hand. He ate very slowly, clearly having been hungry for a long time and with a weak stomach, but he ate each bite with utmost care, as if he were savoring the most delicious delicacy in the world.

Lin Yue sat in the chair, quietly watching the night deepen outside the window, without disturbing him.

After he finished eating, Lin Yue picked up the medicine bag and walked to the bedside. "Let me take a look at the wound."

Ye Chen's body stiffened, a hint of embarrassment and awkwardness flashing across his face. His mutilated body, devoid of limbs, was the shame he least wanted to show to others. But under Lin Yue's calm and unwavering gaze, as if she were merely handling an ordinary object, he finally trembled and slowly untied his bathrobe.

The severed area on the right shoulder was gruesome. Although it had healed, the scars were twisted and dark in color, clearly indicating a severe initial injury and rudimentary treatment. The same was true for the stump of the left leg; the bones appeared to have healed abnormally, and the skin was covered with both old and new scars from friction and ulceration.

Lin Yue's gaze swept over the wounds, her expression unchanged. She skillfully picked up an alcohol swab and began to clean the fresh wounds and minor ulcers caused by friction due to his limited mobility at the stump of his limb.

The stinging sensation of the alcohol against the wound made Ye Chen gasp, his body tensing instinctively. He bit his lip tightly, making no sound, and simply stared intently at Lin Yue's focused and calm profile, which was so close to his own, with his one intact eye.

Her movements were light yet efficient, without the slightest hesitation or disdain, as if she were handling something utterly ordinary. This calm, almost indifferent attitude strangely soothed Ye Chen's shame and unease.

Cleaning, applying medicine, bandaging. Lin Yue did it meticulously; although her technique wasn't exactly professional, it was clean and efficient enough.

After doing all this, she placed the remaining medicine and clean clothes by the bedside.

“Take these medications on time. Change your clothes. You'll stay here this week; I'll pay for your room this week.” She straightened up and looked at Ye Chen. “What happens after that is your own business.”

Ye Chen wrapped his bathrobe tighter, lowered his head, and said in a hoarse voice, "Thank you... Lin Yue... really... thank you..."

Lin Yue did not respond to his thanks, but simply said, "Living is harder than dying. But since you've chosen to live, don't live like that grotesque creature you just saw."

Her words were direct, even somewhat harsh.

"I...I know."

Lin Yue nodded, said nothing more, and turned to leave the room.

Lin Yue found Ye Chen's situation somewhat strange.

Logically speaking, Ye Chen should not have fallen to this state. Even if there was any danger, he could have turned the danger into safety with the protagonist's halo. How could he be like a stray dog ​​now?

The protagonist's halo... Lin Yue suddenly thought of something.