The front of the car was instantly destroyed, with smoke and tiny sparks rising from the engine hood.
Lu Nanzhi slammed on the gas pedal, the truck's tires emitting smoke and dust as she sped toward the crash site.
"My 500 EXP is in trouble," she muttered, catching the acrid scent of burning metal and diesel.
She pushed the speed to its limit to arrive as quickly as possible.
When she got within range, a small explosion erupted, and fire began to spread.
The smell of burning intensified.
She leaped out of the truck.
Thick smoke filled the air as she pulled clothes from her inventory, soaked them thoroughly with water, and tied them around her mouth and nose.
The driver's seat wouldn't budge, so she grabbed a large rock and smashed the car's windows.
Luckily, the glass wasn't shockproof.
Crack—
Shards of glass flew, leaving scratches on her cheeks and hands.
The metal surface, blistering hot from the flames, seared her skin. Her hands turned red, marked with burns, but her mind was consumed by one thought: the 500 EXP.
Completing this task would let her skip several levels in one go.
Peering inside, she saw a ghastly sight: a bloodied, unconscious man in a tuxedo, slumped over the steering wheel.
His raven-black hair and coat were soaked with blood, and her heart leapt into her throat.
Before she could reach him, a small black leather shoe flew at her face.
"Bad guy! Don't touch my uncle!"
Startled, Lu Nanzhi instinctively dodged.
She shifted her focus and noticed a child, about five or six years old, in the passenger seat.
His baby-fat cheeks gave him a dumpling-like appearance, but his face was scrunched with fear and accusation, as though she were a villain about to commit a heinous crime.
The moment he realized she was a woman with long hair—not one of the bad guys chasing them—his expression softened.
"Sister, please help my uncle! He's hurt really badly!"
The tinted glass had obscured the scene inside, and the system had only prompted her to "save the injured person," leading her to believe there was only one target.
Now, she had two.
"Come here, kid! Let's get you out of here!" Lu Nanzhi squeezed inside and unfastened the child's seatbelt.
"I can't! My foot's stuck!" The boy tugged at his right foot, but it wouldn't budge.
Seeing he wasn't lying, she clenched her jaw and decided to save the other one first.
"Wait for me," she said, giving him her makeshift mask. "Cover your mouth and nose with this."
If only she had more water. This mission would have been easy with better preparation, but life didn't offer second chances.
The child trembled, eyes glistening with unshed tears, but he didn't complain.
His expression pricked her conscience.
"This man's heavier than he looks," she muttered as she carried the man to safety before racing back, breathless.
She found the boy slumped against his seat, gasping for air.
"Sister… am I going to die?"
"Don't say such things!"
I just crawled back from death. I'm not dying here!
After what felt like an eternity, she finally freed his trapped foot. She scooped him up just as a smaller explosion shook the car.
Flames erupted, shattering the remaining windshield glass.
"Sister!" the boy whimpered weakly.
Lu Nanzhi shielded him with her body.
Bang—
Moments later, a figure emerged from the smoke and fire: Lu Nanzhi, carrying the unconscious child.
She escaped just before the car was completely consumed by flames.
Her heart pounded with adrenaline as she took a deep breath.
The little dumpling in her arms had fainted, likely from smoke inhalation, but aside from minor burns and scratches, he seemed fine.
She glanced at the man. His breathing was faint but still present.
Through the bloodstains, she caught a glimpse of his features.
Despite his injuries, his striking appearance was undeniable—sharp nose, long lashes, dark brows, and perfectly contoured lips. But what held her gaze was the faint beauty mole beneath his right eye.
A groan snapped her attention to his injuries. She spotted the bullet wound on his shoulder, bleeding profusely.
At this rate, the 500 EXP would be gone.
She performed first aid, grumbling as she discovered his lean, well-toned build beneath the tuxedo.
After loading both the man and the child into her truck, she heard the unmistakable roar of engines.
Two military off-road vehicles screeched to a halt beside her. Soldiers in uniform jumped out, racing toward her.
"Master!"
"Young Master!"
Their shouts echoed as the system's prompt appeared.
[Congratulations! Mission completed.]
[You've received 500 EXP.]
[Congratulations on upgrading to level 5!]
[New function unlocked.]
It seemed she didn't need to take them to the hospital after all.
She glanced at the soldiers' decorated uniforms. Whoever these people were, they weren't ordinary.
Still, she had no desire to find out. Her goal was clear.
Unfortunately, from the moment she accepted the mission, her fate was bound to theirs. But that was a story for another time.