Chapter Twenty: Truly Ruthless

“Nini, it seems we’re being followed.” Lin Yang stared intently at the black Buick behind them through the rearview mirror, his voice low and grave.

The hour-long traffic jam was finally easing; the earlier ambush seemed to have sunk without a trace and was quickly forgotten. Lin Yang drove with exceptional care, now more vigilant after the lesson he’d just learned, paying close attention to every movement around him. Owing to his training in internal martial arts, his mental acuity was far beyond that of ordinary people. When he focused intensely, noticing abnormalities was only natural.

“The black Buick behind us?” Nini’s brows furrowed as she gazed at the same car in the rearview mirror.

“Yes,” Lin Yang nodded silently, but he did not turn his head to look.

“What should we do?” Nini asked, a hint of anxiety in her voice. As a young woman, she naturally feared bloody violence, and since she’d slipped away from her family without a single bodyguard, her lack of security was understandable.

“I’ll speed up. We need to shake them off; it’s no good letting them tail us like this.” With that, he stomped hard on the accelerator, and the Audi surged ahead, its performance more than adequate.

“Yu, we’ve been spotted,” Guozi, the driver of the black Buick, said coldly.

“Hmph, chase them!” came the curt reply.

On the expressway, a wild scene unfolded: two cars racing in pursuit, heedless of red lights. For half an hour they sped madly, but the highway’s openness and the interference of other vehicles kept Lin Yang from fully unleashing his skills. Unable to shake off the skilled Guozi behind, Lin Yang finally turned off the expressway, heading toward the suburban roads, where he could truly display his remarkable driving.

The condition of the suburbs was almost primitive—rutted roads, occasional pools of water that sent mud splattering when the car passed through. The once pristine sedan was now smeared in filth. On these bumpy dirt roads, spinning, drifting, and racing brought a unique thrill. The Audi performed well, and with Lin Yang’s superb driving, the black Buick, once tight on their heels, was left far behind after just fifteen minutes.

About ten miles away, on a hillside, the black Buick came to a halt.

“Yu, the right rear tire blew out. We can’t keep pursuing,” Guozi explained with a bitter expression. He’d done his utmost, matching Lin Yang’s wild driving skill for skill, but fate intervened—a steel shard punctured the tire, ruining their efforts.

“Forget it. We’ve done all we could. I’ll report to Jiang now.” Yu fished out his phone and dialed.

“How is it, Tong Yu? Did you get rid of that brat?” Jiang Tao’s eager voice came over the line.

“No, Jiang. That kid is tough—tried once, failed.” Tong Yu reported truthfully. He dared not hide anything from Jiang Tao, the ruthless son of a wealthy family; having taken his money, he had to play by the rules and recount everything exactly.

“Hmph, useless! Letting the pigeon slip from your grasp—what use is feeding you lot?” Jiang Tao spat, his face twisted with rage and icy contempt, fists clenched as if he could crush the boy who’d humiliated him.

“Remember, by any means—find out everything about that kid. The moment you learn anything, report to me.” With that, Jiang Tao hung up in fury, turned toward the floor-to-ceiling window, and stared out. A beast-like roar escaped his throat: “No matter who you are, kid—dare to steal my woman, and I’ll make sure you die without a grave!”

Hearing the dial tone, Tong Yu shook his head h