Chapter Fifty-Four: A Self-Styled Hero Rushes to the Rescue

If Lin Yang had still been lost in Tang Yixue’s tender embrace at this moment, then the sound of Leng Nini’s sobs over the phone was like a bucket of icy water, instantly extinguishing the warmth that had risen in his heart.

The moment he answered the call, he was greeted by Leng Nini’s anxious cries. Only after Lin Yang’s persistent and gentle reassurance did she manage to give a rough account of what had happened. After days of searching, her family had finally discovered her hiding place; that very night, they had come to the Tiger’s villa in Tianchen District to take her away.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Lin Yang hurriedly hung up the phone. With Tang Yixue’s approval, the two of them quickly dressed and hurried downstairs, preparing to leave together. However, having just experienced the events between them, Tang Yixue found it awkward and painful to walk. With every step, sharp, needle-like pain radiated through every inch of her body.

Despite Lin Yang’s repeated attempts to persuade her to rest, her stubbornness was unshakable. Tang Yixue refused outright.

Driving the borrowed police car with Tang Yixue beside him, Lin Yang floored the accelerator and sped through the night. He feared that if he was even a moment too late, Leng Nini would be taken away. With the Leng family’s power and influence, reclaiming someone in a small county city like Jinhai was child’s play.

Had Leng Nini not mentioned that the bodyguards in the villa had been beaten so badly, he might not have been in such a hurry.

“Don’t worry, Xiaoyang. That girl’s blessed—she’ll be all right,” Tang Yixue tried to comfort him when she saw his grim expression. She knew exactly when to play coy and when to stay sensible.

Lin Yang remained silent, focusing on driving. From the very first time Leng Nini had escaped using such an unusual method, he’d understood that there was no one decent in the Leng family—especially her good-for-nothing, philandering father. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have had to flee. Besides, as a child, he himself had endured more than a few rounds of bullying from the Leng brothers. Though years had passed, the memories remained vivid. It was true what they said: children hold grudges. Lin Yang, however, had no intention of waiting ten years to take his revenge.

A police car was indeed the best way to run red lights and make special progress; what was usually an hour’s journey, with his frantic driving, was halved.

When the car screeched to a halt at a right angle before the villa’s front gate, Lin Yang spotted four luxury vehicles parked outside: a Range Rover, a stretched Lincoln, and two black Buicks standing guard on either side.

He leapt out of the car, pulling Tang Yixue along as they quickened their pace toward the villa.

At the door, two men in black suits, apparently bodyguards, had just finished their work. Seeing someone approach, they moved to intercept without a word.

That was the last straw for Lin Yang. This was the place he was staying, yet he was being stopped at the door by strangers? As a regular here, he couldn’t tolerate such a blatant insult.

Their arrogance was truly beyond compare.

Enraged by their rudeness, Lin Yang didn’t hesitate. He drew a finely crafted throwing knife from his belt and, with swift precision, slashed at each man’s wrist—one strike per person, each fast and accurate.

The blows were so sharp and precise that not a drop of blood was spilled, nor was a wound visible. Yet the excruciating pain made the men want to scream.

But Lin Yang was even faster. Before their screams could escape their throats, his left forefinger shot out like lightning, jabbing at their windpipes. Two dull cracks resounded as their bones dislocated, leaving them incapable of making a sound.

With their wrists in agony and their throats unable to utter a cry, the two men stared at Lin Yang as if he were a ghost. Humiliation and anger mingled in their eyes, and in a fit of rage, they reached for the guns hidden beneath their jackets, eager to teach this brash upstart a lesson.

They shouldn’t have moved. That single motion sealed their fate: they would be crippled for life. The guns never left their holsters; their remaining uninjured wrists suffered the same fate. Lin Yang’s fearsome technique could not only set dislocated bones but also dislocate healthy joints, and with the added force of his internal energy, even the best orthopedic surgeon would find it impossible to restore their arms.

With lightning speed, Lin Yang retrieved two silenced pistols from their chests, his already grim face turning even darker. Bodyguards carrying firearms—this was lawlessness incarnate. Clearly, the Leng family was willing to break the law to reclaim Leng Nini.

Then again, it made sense. With their influence in the military, the Lengs had every reason to act with impunity—especially in a small place like Jinhai.

Knocking both bodyguards unconscious with a punch each, Lin Yang pulled Tang Yixue inside, moving with utmost caution. He didn’t know what awaited them within. If these outlaws went berserk and unleashed a hail of bullets, he’d be nothing but a sitting duck. With the defenseless Tang Yixue beside him, any mishap would haunt him forever.

Yet, since the group hadn’t left, one thing was certain: Leng Nini hadn’t been caught. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be lingering here.

The villa wasn’t large, but the attic was full of rooms—three floors, nearly eight rooms on each, with a complex layout. If Leng Nini was well hidden, even a dozen people searching might take hours to find her.

Slipping through the main door, Lin Yang ducked behind a corner, peering toward the attic. Thanks to his extraordinary senses, he could see clearly even at a distance of nearly fifty meters. He estimated that eight people were searching the rooms on the side facing him, rummaging through drawers and cabinets with reckless abandon. The sight of them destroying such fine furniture stoked his anger; they tossed things to the ground and kicked them in frustration, smashing whatever they could.

Lin Yang’s gaze finally settled on the sofa in the main hall downstairs. Seated directly across from the entrance was a young man in a tailored suit, his features chiseled and masculine, about Lin Yang’s age, a cigarette dangling from his right hand.

Beside him sat a strikingly beautiful, effeminate middle-aged man—dashing and debonair, with two extravagantly dressed women in his arms. His hands roamed freely over them, utterly unconcerned with the people around him.

At the sight of the young man with the cigarette, Lin Yang’s face twitched, his fist clenching involuntarily.

“Leng Qing,” he growled through gritted teeth, his gaze locked on the young man—especially the two bodies at his feet. Lin Yang’s eyes blazed with murderous intent.

There was no other reason: the two men on the floor, already more dead than alive, were the Tiger’s bodyguards assigned to the villa. He had yet to find the other three. Seeing his brothers-in-arms so grievously wounded, Lin Yang’s rage surged like molten lava.

Tang Yixue, clutching his left hand, sensed his volatility. With a frown, she whispered, “Xiaoyang, what’s wrong?”

Her eyesight was nowhere near Lin Yang’s; she couldn’t make out the people inside, let alone the two fallen men.

Suppressing his fury, Lin Yang forced a smile more painful than tears. “It’s nothing. Why don’t you hide here? I’ll be right back.”

With guns even at the entrance, who knew how many were inside? He didn’t want Tang Yixue taking unnecessary risks. Surprisingly, she didn’t argue this time. She nodded solemnly, reminded him to be careful, and hurried back to the car, knowing it was the safest place for her.

With Tang Yixue out of the way, Lin Yang was finally free to move. Surveying his surroundings, he slipped along the walls and circled toward the attic. Thanks to the villa’s rock garden and small grove, and his own speed, he avoided catching the attention of the two black-clad guards beneath the attic.

After some effort, he reached the outermost window on the first floor. Luckily, there were no iron bars, and the window was unlocked. He pushed it open and slipped inside, landing softly. Through the crack in the door, he saw a bodyguard sweeping the area.

He quickly hid behind the door, tightening his grip on the throwing knife. As the guard stepped through, Lin Yang’s left hand locked around his neck while the knife pressed against his throat. The cold blade drew a thin line of blood, the sting making the would-be tough guy break out in a cold sweat.

Covering the man’s mouth, Lin Yang asked coldly, “How many of you are there?”

The guard mumbled, unable to speak, so Lin Yang loosened his grip slightly. The moment he did, the man tried to cry out, but Lin Yang ruthlessly kicked his thigh, the pain making him think twice about trying anything again.

“How many?” Lin Yang demanded in a low voice, tightening his grip on the knife to make his threat clear: try anything, and you die.

Mouth covered, the guard finally wised up. He gestured a number—twenty-five, though Lin Yang couldn’t be sure it was reliable.

“And the one you’re after?” Lin Yang pressed, just to confirm Leng Nini hadn’t been caught. If she had, the group would’ve left already.

Seeing the guard shake his head, Lin Yang didn’t ask further. A single blow rendered the man unconscious.

With the two at the main door, the four on the sofa, and this one now out cold, that left twenty inside. The odds were daunting. If the Leng family found Leng Nini first, there’d be trouble. And if twenty-odd guns were trained on him, even a god would be hard-pressed to survive.

As he pondered his options, a sharp shout reached his ears.

“We’ve got her! We’ve got her!”