Scarred Hearts — A Girls' Love Tale - Chapter 69

“We don’t have what you’re looking for,” Ying Sha took a deep breath and looked straight at the Artist. The Artist didn’t even look up, casually playing with her nails as if she didn’t care. Ying Sha held back her anger and impatience, speaking politely.

Black nails—what’s so cool about them? Like they’re poisoned or something. Black absorbs heat; that’s not smart. Her fingers are the worst.

Yan Shuangfei glared fiercely at the Artist. She had taken the blame for nothing, lost a finger, and suffered so many injuries. This mess wasn’t getting cleaned up but only getting worse. People say it’s good to accumulate virtue, but she already carried enough guilt. Taking on a few more sins was no big deal—whether she went to hell and got cut ten thousand times or eleven thousand, it made little difference. But she had done a good thing by saving a life. Why did it cause so much trouble?

It’s all fate! She sighed inwardly. But as the saying goes, misfortune and fortune depend on each other. Without this series of events, Luo Qinghan wouldn’t have easily resolved her inner struggles. Being with her meant gains and losses—so there was no reason to complain.

The Artist remained expressionless after hearing Ying Sha’s words. Though she didn’t look at them directly, Ying Sha clearly felt the lowering pressure from the Artist’s aura. The two sides stood facing each other without anyone making a move. After a long moment, the Artist slowly raised her head and looked straight at Ying Sha. Ying Sha refused to back down, and they stared quietly for a long time.

Finally, the Artist moved first. She lightly raised an eyebrow, reached up to tuck her falling hair behind her ear, then calmly said, “You say that thing isn’t in your hands?”

“I think what I just said was clear enough. No need to repeat it,” Ying Sha replied.

“Good,” the Artist nodded. “Then, if it’s not with you, where exactly did it go? Don’t tell me it’s with that kid Han Yu. He definitely doesn’t have it.”

“It’s gone,” Ying Sha shrugged with her empty hands, looking helpless.

Yan Shuangfei understood and quickly scanned their surroundings. While Ying Sha stalled, she tried to find a way out.

“Shuang’er,” Luo Qinghan tugged at Yan Shuangfei’s clothes and whispered to her. Thanks to the noisy environment and the distance, the Artist’s attention was still fixed on Ying Sha, unaware of Luo Qinghan’s subtle movement.

“I have a plan,” Luo Qinghan said urgently and quickly shared her idea.

“Gone?” The Artist repeated the word, silent for a moment as if chewing on it. Then her expression turned cold and her gaze sharpened. “Gone means it was stolen or…?” she asked, probing.

“I don’t know why you torture experts want that thing so badly, staring me down like this,” Ying Sha answered, dodging the question and throwing one back.

“No way,” Yan Shuangfei immediately shook her head. Luo Qinghan got nervous and hurriedly explained, “They clearly came prepared. We can’t win in a straight fight. You might escape if you run, but panic leads to mistakes—who knows what traps are around? You saw that thing just now, didn’t you?”

Sweat streaked down Yan Shuangfei’s face. Her voice was low and hoarse. “This time, it was my plan that went wrong.”

“This isn’t about who’s right or wrong now,” Luo Qinghan snapped, frustrated that Ying Sha wasn’t focusing on the key issue. “The important thing is how we get out of here.”

“You’ll die!” Yan Shuangfei’s eyes reddened.

“Believe me or not, I’m the best choice in the Artist’s eyes,” Luo Qinghan shot back.

“I’ve always worked for myself. As for your schemes, sir, you’d better not meddle too much,” the Artist said slowly. “So, what’s your answer?”

“Gone. It’s just gone,” Ying Sha stepped forward and sneered at the Artist.

Darkness filled the Artist’s eyes, but her tone stayed friendly. “Then I wasted my effort. Didn’t expect you’d be willing to just toss it away.”

“Flattered,” Ying Sha said as she picked up her weapon. The Artist didn’t rush; she smiled and watched Ying Sha’s every move like she wasn’t worried about what would happen next. Once Ying Sha was ready, the Artist spoke coldly, “So… you’ve stalled long enough?”

“It doesn’t matter that it’s gone,” the Artist said calmly. “But I wonder—how much is the Shadowland Chief’s identity token really worth?”

Ying Sha’s face changed. The token was supposed to be with her. Losing it was like slapping Shadowland across the face. Not only would her reputation be ruined, but losing Shadowland’s threat meant she wouldn’t just be hunted by the Artist anymore. The people who once held back because of her status—especially those remaining Hell cult members—would want to tear this traitor apart.

“Do you think you can just take that whenever you want?” Ying Sha repressed her anger and laughed bitterly, “Try me if you dare.”

The Artist shrugged carelessly, confident.

In an instant, both sides moved. Gunfire erupted chaotically. Yan Shuangfei’s team were elite from the Yan family. The Artist’s assembled group wasn’t weak either—slightly weaker than Yan Shuangfei’s, but with clear numerical advantage and the element of surprise. Yan Shuangfei and her team felt constrained and soon fell behind.

“Damn it.” Yan Shuangfei cursed when a bullet hit her upper arm. She ignored the wound, took aim, and knocked down a shooter in front of her.

“Good skills.” During the firefight, the Artist praised her. Her hair was messy, but it couldn’t hide her beauty. This woman always kept her image intact no matter what. “Looks like capturing you won’t be so easy,” the Artist said, pretending to be troubled, but no real worry showed.

“Excellent!” The Artist hadn’t fought yet. Luo Qinghan was dragged roughly to her side by the “Judger.” The Yan family didn’t dare shoot hard to avoid hurting Luo Qinghan, and the Artist’s side waited for orders. Both sides fell into an awkward stalemate.

“Xiao Ying,” the Artist smiled smugly, satisfied by Ying Sha’s grim expression. “I have a very important hostage now. She’s your best friend’s lover. What’s more important to you—your own face, or your friend’s woman?”

The Judger mercilessly knocked Luo Qinghan unconscious.

Ying Sha felt guilty, knowing the woman was trying to sow discord and confuse the truth. Yan Shuangfei’s face darkened—who knew if she believed it, or if it planted suspicion toward Ying Sha.

Once seeds of doubt are planted, they grow into towering trees. The Artist looked sympathetically at Yan Shuangfei. “If you want your lover back, it depends on your best friend.” The Artist emphasized “best friend” heavily.