Chapter Eighteen: Beating the Dog

Before the three could grasp what was happening, bang—a door slammed open. A pampered, powder-faced young heir, clearly a pretty boy, strode in with an air of arrogance. Behind him, several thuggish youths followed closely, their hair dyed, earrings gleaming, smoke curling from their lips.

“Leng Nini, why are you here?” The young man who entered glanced at Leng Nini across the room; his swagger evaporated instantly, his expression turning from fierce to ingratiating, adopting a gentle demeanor like a docile kitten. Yet when he spotted Lin Yang beside her, his face tightened, his eyes sharp with fury, as if Lin Yang’s presence ignited a burning jealousy.

“Jiang Tao, why is it you?” Recognizing the notorious playboy of the Jiang Group—her nominal fiancé—Leng Nini’s brows furrowed. Her voice was cold, her expression sour, her eyes filled with undisguised disgust.

“Who is he?” Jiang Tao ignored Leng Nini’s icy words and hostile expression, instead pointing accusingly at Lin Yang, his tone sharp as though Lin Yang had stolen his wife.

Sensing the threat of escalating trouble, the young, pretty waitress at the door quickly fled, her melodious shouts echoing for help from management. After all, most patrons were distinguished guests; offending the wrong person could spell disaster for their hotel.

“Jiang Tao, get out of here!” Already irritated by his presence, Leng Nini’s anger flared at his accusatory tone. She pointed at his loathsome face, her words unrestrained—a furious roar. Even Lin Yang, who thought he understood her well, couldn’t help but stare in astonishment at Leng Nini, who now resembled an enraged turkey.

“Who is he, really?” Jiang Tao, blinded by jealousy, seemed deaf to her shouting, stepping forward to point at Lin Yang again.

Seeing her words ignored, Leng Nini’s eyes sparkled with inspiration. She moved to Lin Yang’s side, declared solemnly, “He’s my boyfriend,” and added firmly, “Jiang Tao, you’d best give up. You and I are parallel lines—we’ll never cross. Besides, you’re not my type.”

“Boyfriend?” Jiang Tao roared like a lion whose tail had been stepped on, his face flushed with rage, jealousy burning fiercely.

“Boyfriend?” Lin Yang, only now processing her words, pinched his nose in bewilderment, unable to hide his skepticism. He wondered if girls throwing themselves at men had become fashionable these days.

The Tiger, standing nearby, was no fool. Knowing Leng Nini and seeing Jiang Tao’s arrogance, he realized the newcomer was not ordinary. Since the conflict didn’t involve him or Lin Yang—yet—he chose to watch. But should Jiang Tao target Lin Yang, the Tiger would not hesitate to pounce and give the arrogant youth a beating.

“Yes, he’s my boyfriend.” Leng Nini repeated, her determined gaze leaving no room for doubt.

Seeing Jiang Tao’s envious, hate-filled eyes, she added with a tone of threat, “From now on, you’d better not harass me. Or face the consequences.”

“Hmph, does your Leng family dare threaten me?” Humiliated in front of his cronies, Jiang Tao could hardly endure such disgrace. He started to lose his temper, but as he raised his hand, it was abruptly halted—Lin Yang’s steel-like grip clamped around his wrist.

Lin Yang released him with a cold snort, his inner energy flaring; Jiang Tao dropped to the floor in misery.

“You brat, you’re asking for trouble!” Jiang Tao leapt up, furious, and shouted to his cronies, “Get them! Teach these fools a lesson!”

There was no earth-shattering brawl, only a one-sided thrashing.

Lin Yang alone faced ten thugs with ease, especially with the Tiger—a man infamous for his ruthlessness—by his side.

Cracks, screams, and groans echoed through the private room. In less than half an hour, a dozen men were writhing on the floor. Jiang Tao, leaving a vicious threat, led his battered cronies away in disgrace.

“Brother Yang, I’m sorry for the trouble,” Leng Nini murmured, her head bowed, lips pouting, her pitiful appearance stirring a protective impulse.

“Just chased off a pack of wolves—what trouble? It’s not my fault our Nini is so lovely,” Lin Yang shrugged, savoring a bite of shark fin.

“Go to hell!” Amused by his antics, Leng Nini’s anger faded, though she still frowned in the direction Jiang Tao had left. She knew his arrogance and vindictiveness well; scaring him off was no easy feat. Even if Lin Yang had skills, two fists couldn’t beat four hands.

Lin Yang read her concern, but he was no pushover. If someone got too arrogant, he wouldn’t hesitate to cripple them.

Seeing her worried, Lin Yang shook his head and changed the subject: “Nini, it’s getting late—let’s finish these dishes.” He gestured to the dwindling spread on the table.

Leng Nini returned to herself, but had lost her appetite. “You eat. I’m not hungry.”

“Are you worried that Jiang Tao will seek revenge?” Lin Yang asked, seeing her troubled expression.

“Mm, Jiang Tao is petty and vengeful,” she replied, then regretted it, glancing helplessly at Lin Yang’s playful face. “I dragged you into this.”

Lin Yang understood her meaning, but wasn’t concerned about any future retaliation—he wasn’t someone who feared trouble.

To lighten the mood, he teased, “Hey! It’s not our fault Nini is so beautiful. No wonder wolves are drawn to her.” The wolf in question was, of course, Jiang Tao.

Leng Nini couldn’t resist a smile, her tearful face dissolving as she laughed.

With their appetites gone and time slipping by, Lin Yang suggested they leave.

“Yes, let’s go!” Leng Nini wished to leave quickly, knowing that if they lingered, Jiang Tao might have men waiting outside to ambush Lin Yang.

Just as the three rose to leave, the waitress returned with a matronly supervisor. Seeing the calm room, the supervisor turned to the waitress and asked sternly, “What happened?”

The girl glanced at the now-vanished troublemakers, awkwardly about to apologize, but seeing Lin Yang and his companions getting up, she quickly asked, “Is there anything else I can do for you?” She hesitated, lowered her voice, and said, “I’m sorry about earlier…”

The Tiger interrupted, “Nothing. Check, please—we’re in a hurry.”

“Of course.” The relieved waitress led them to the cashier, since their bill was too high for cash.

Nearly fifty thousand spent on a meal—an extravagance, to be sure.

Yet the Tiger swiped his card without care, and Lin Yang could only shrug.

Leaving the hotel, Lin Yang—now cultivating the internal techniques of “Heavenly Spirit Thirteen Blades”—felt his senses heightened. He immediately detected thick murderous intent. He paused, glanced at a shadowy corner across the street where several mysterious men in loose black cloaks and hats, faces concealed, stared at him.

Sensing Lin Yang’s hesitation, Leng Nini turned and asked, “Brother Yang, what’s wrong?”

“Uh, nothing. My eyes are playing tricks—I thought I saw someone,” Lin Yang replied, avoiding her gaze, his lie clumsy.

“Really?” Leng Nini doubted him, glancing across the street. The corner held only some windblown scraps of paper. She watched Lin Yang’s cheeky face for a long moment, but said nothing more.

“Brother Yang, should we take action?” The Tiger, unconvinced, whispered in Lin Yang’s ear.

“No, let’s go. This isn’t the place,” Lin Yang murmured.

Leng Nini opened the car door, smoothed her skirt, and settled gracefully into the driver’s seat. With a roar of the engine, the three vanished into the busy avenue.

As soon as they left, the black-cloaked men reappeared silently, ghostlike.

“Yu, they’ve gone. Should we keep following?” A gaunt, monkey-faced man adjusted his black octopus hat and whispered to the burly man beside him.

“Of course. You know how Jiang Shao operates,” the apparent leader replied, lifting his hat’s brim and scolding.

At his words, the cronies shuddered, recalling Jiang Tao’s cruel treatment of enemies.

“Let’s go. Follow quietly, stay hidden. Strike when possible,” the leader commanded, heading toward a black Buick parked nearby. The monkey-faced man followed, while the others squeezed into a silver-gray van.

Engines roared as the two vehicles sped off, pursuing the trio into the night.