Soon they reached the neighborhood where Ye Tianming lived, and the car pulled up before the familiar alley entrance.
A brief silence settled inside the carriage.
Jiang Muwan glanced sideways at Ye Tianming. He had his eyes closed, his profile resolute and handsome.
*This guy... looking at him like this, he actually seems quite handsome.*
Jiang Muwan bit her lip, a strange, lingering sensation inexplicably welling up in her heart.
True, this man's background was so humble, worlds apart from her own.
Yet today, he had saved not only her grandfather, but her as well.
The scene from moments ago was practically branded into her mind. In that moment of extreme danger, Ye Tianming had practically risked his own life to protect her...
A corner of her heart unconsciously softened.
At that moment, Ye Tianming opened his eyes, the momentary daze within them instantly clearing.
"We're here?"
"Yeah... did you just fall asleep?"
"No, just resting for a bit. Didn't sleep well last night."
Thinking of goodness knows what, Jiang Muwan's cheeks suddenly flushed fiercely.
Ye Tianming glanced at her. "I'm heading back."
Just as he was about to get out, Jiang Muwan suddenly spoke up. "Wait, what's your number?"
Ye Tianming raised an eyebrow, teasing, "Didn't you detest me? You were practically dying for us to have nothing to do with each other—why do you want my number?"
A flush of red flickered across Jiang Muwan's pretty face. She glanced at him and said coolly:
"Don't flatter yourself. It's for my grandfather. Just in case anything happens to him, I'll have a way to reach you."
Ye Tianming shrugged and left his number.
He pushed the door open and stepped out. Just as he started to walk away, the car window rolled down, and Jiang Muwan's voice sounded from behind.
"Figure out how to make that ten billion. If you need it, I can offer you some assistance."
Ye Tianming paused in his tracks without looking back. "No need. I can earn it myself."
Jiang Muwan froze. Watching Ye Tianming's figure disappear into the small alley, a complex mix of emotions surfaced on her pretty face.
*This guy... really does seem a bit different from ordinary people...*
Arriving at the entrance of his small courtyard, Ye Tianming stepped inside. "Dad, Mom, I'm back!"
No one answered. A sense of foreboding rose in Ye Tianming's heart. He pushed open the door to the main room and immediately took in the scene inside.
In an instant, Ye Tianming's gaze turned incomparably cold and fierce!
The room was in absolute disarray; someone had clearly been here to cause trouble!
Bowls and chopsticks were smashed to pieces, and the table, chairs, and other furniture had been battered into utter ruins!
A slip of paper was stuck to the wall. Ye Tianming pulled it down, and as he looked at the characters written on it, his eyes filled with a chilling, violent murderous intent!
The note contained a short, single line!
*"Your parents are in our hands. If you want to save them, come to Mingwu Hall!"*
A terrifying aura suddenly erupted from Ye Tianming's entire body, and the note instantly disintegrated into fine powder in his hand!
"Mingwu Hall? Today I'll beat you lot until you change your name to Mingwu Dog Hall! A bunch of pathetic clowns—when a tiger doesn't bare its teeth, do you really take me for a sick cat?"
Ye Tianming clenched his fists so hard they cracked, turning and leaving the courtyard without a backward glance.
On the other side of Longhai City, the Bai family's seaside villa estate.
Inside the central villa, all the members of the Bai family had gathered together.
The slap mark on Bai Yuruo's swollen face had still not faded, and the middle-aged couple beside her wore expressions of intense heartache.
The woman was Bai Yuruo's mother, Li Xiaofeng, and the man was Bai Yuruo's father, Bai Longbo!
Li Xiaofeng gently touched Bai Yuruo's face, tears welling in her eyes, and the next second she cursed with venom:
"That bastard! I'll make him die for daring to strike my daughter! I, Li Xiaofeng, will hack him to pieces myself!"
Beside her, Bai Longbo's expression was also grim to the extreme, his voice low and laden with deep hatred:
"Our Bai family is one of the Six Great Influential Families of Longhai. Out there, who dares not show us respect? For someone to dare strike Bai Longbo's daughter, I am sworn enemies with him!"
Bai Longbo cast his gaze toward an old man sitting at the head of the hall, speaking with bitter resentment:
"Dad! Little Yu was beaten this badly, and the person who hit her is none other than the fiancé who originally signed an engagement contract with her! That brat is not some big shot like you made him out to be at all; he's just a trashy scavenger picking up junk! It's only natural that Little Yu looked down on him and wanted to break off the engagement, but how dare he actually raise a hand against her? I cannot swallow this anger..."
"Enough!"
The old man at the head of the hall wore a weathered expression. He waved his hand and sighed. "I didn't know the truth back then either, and I assumed the old gentleman was genuinely introducing someone of great stature to Little Yu. I never anticipated his background would be so humble; indeed, he is unworthy of Little Yu. However..."
The old man paused, then continued: "However, that old gentleman did render a kindness to our family back then. So, let the engagement be broken off, and stop tormenting the young man."
Standing below, Bai Yuruo covered her face, her eyes burning with venom. "Grandfather, I am not reconciled to this! He hit me in front of so many people! I want to cripple him! I want to break his hands and legs and turn him into a complete useless cripple!"
The old man on the seat frowned and remained silent.
With a look of resentment and unwillingness, Bai Yuruo continued: "Grandfather, to tell you the truth, I've already made my move ahead of time. I'm going to torture that fellow thoroughly! I've already sent people to grab his parents; they're locked up right now in that abandoned courtyard behind our house. What's more, I left a note telling him to go to Mingwu Hall. Heh, he's in for a world of pain!"
The old man's expression shifted drastically. "Yuruo, have you lost your mind? Why on earth did you go and kidnap his parents? You're driving him into a corner with no way out! Besides, as for Mingwu Hall, that's a force we avoid tangling with whenever possible—are you even still my, Bai Yaohua's, granddaughter?"
Bai Yuruo scoffed, "Grandfather, don't worry. That brat is just a good-for-nothing. Even if I drive him into a corner, there's nothing he can do; he's just an ant the Bai family can crush with a single hand."
Panting heavily with rage, the old man slammed his cane heavily against the floor:
"You girl are simply acting lawless! No matter what, your fiancé is still the disciple of that old gentleman; our family owes him at least that much face! Besides, can you guarantee that your fiancé is definitely good for nothing? What if he deliberately put on this act just to test the sincerity of our families? What will we do then?"
Bai Yuruo said dismissively, "Grandfather, you're overthinking it. He's not putting on an act—he really is trash."
The old man grew so angry that his vision darkened. "Child, you're still too young. I've told you repeatedly: never push anyone into a dead end. Even if this Ye Tianming is a useless nobody, touching his parents means forging a blood feud! Furthermore, you haven't the slightest clue about his true background. What if he really did fake all of this..."
Interrupting him, Li Xiaofeng chimed in, "Dad, stop worrying. Little Yu is right. If that fellow really had any capability, how could he possibly dress like a beggar? Besides, Little Yu was genuinely and solidly slapped across the face, and I can't swallow this grievance either. We must make that fellow pay the price; otherwise, if this gets out, where will the Bai family's dignity be? People will die laughing at us!"
Bai Yaohua stroked his whitening beard and let out several heavy sighs. "Utterly lawless. It's my fault for failing to keep you all properly in check. I'm tired. Someone, help me back to my room to rest!"
"Yes!"
Two servants immediately stepped forward to support Bai Yaohua as he left the main hall.
Only Bai Yuruo remained in the hall, wearing a sinister smile. Yet at this moment, she had no inkling of what was about to come her way...
***
Elsewhere in Longhai City, a taxi stopped outside the gates of Mingwu Hall.
The taxi driver glanced at the man in the back seat, a trace of curiosity on his face.
"Young man, you don't look like someone who practices martial arts. What brings you here?"
"To settle a score."
A harmless, innocent smile appeared on Ye Tianming's face, as if he were discussing something utterly trivial.
The driver's expression shifted, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead. "Young man, are you here to cause trouble?"
Ye Tianming let out an "hmm" and asked curiously, "Driver, is this place strictly for practicing martial arts?"
Seeing the innocence on Ye Tianming's face, the driver offered some kindly advice:
"Young man, take an old timer's advice: absolutely do not come here looking for trouble! This Mingwu Hall isn't just a place to practice martial arts—the people inside are practically all enforcers! They even have ties with some of the grey-market underworld syndicates in Longhai. You mustn't do anything foolish, young man!"
With that, the driver cast a wary, fearful glance at the rather imposing gates of Mingwu Hall, his complexion turning somewhat pale. It was clear this place terrified him.
Ye Tianming merely smiled faintly, pulled two banknotes from his pocket, and handed them to the driver. "Thanks, driver. I know this place isn't simple, but I happen to be someone who loves causing trouble."
Without lingering for even a second, he pushed the door open and stepped out.
"Young man, hey..."
The driver called out once more with good intentions. Seeing that Ye Tianming didn't turn back, a look of pity and sorrow crossed his face.
"Sigh, such a fine young man, what a pity he won't make it past today..."
Sighing, the driver pulled away from the curb...
The gates of Mingwu Hall stood wide open, carved with dragons and phoenixes, flanked by red-lacquered pillars, green tiles, and white walls.
Amidst the concrete jungle of the city, this martial arts gym possessed a rather quaint, ancient charm.
Without the slightest hesitation, Ye Tianming stepped through the gates. Walking a few more steps forward, he unexpectedly came upon an iron barred gate!
Two men stood on either side of the barrier. Dressed in black, they possessed robust physiques with bulging veins on their arms and sharp gazes locked directly onto the approaching Ye Tianming.
Ye Tianming swept a glance over the two of them, instantly sizing them up with a rough mental judgment:
Trained fighters, possessing some skill, considered experts in the eyes of ordinary people.
With an indifferent expression, Ye Tianming walked closer step by step.
One of them instantly turned icy, barking coldly:
"Halt! State your business!"
As if drifting like a ghost, Ye Tianming was already right before the gate. Looking at the two men inside, he suddenly grinned broadly:
"Lads, open the door. Let me in to play!"
"You're courting death!"
Both men simultaneously reached for their trouser pockets!
With a swift glance, Ye Tianming smiled coldly, "Want to pull blades?"
Before his voice had even faded, his hands shot forward like lightning, instantly clamping tightly around their windpipes!
The faces of both men turned a purplish-red in an instant. Staring at Ye Tianming, their bulging eyes were completely filled with shock and terror!
How could the man before them be this terrifying? This formidable?
"Where are my parents?"
Ye Tianming's voice rang out beside their ears, cold as if it had risen straight from the depths of hell.
"We... we don't know..."
"You don't know? If you don't know, then go die!"
With an icy gaze, Ye Tianming tightened his grip, snapping their windpipes with a crisp crunch.
Casually tossing the two bodies aside, Ye Tianming kicked open the iron gate and strode inside.
***
Step, one step, two steps, three steps...
With every step Ye Tianming took forward, a flurry of footsteps echoed in his ears. The corners of his mouth curled into a cold smile as he paid them no mind at all.
After walking a few dozen steps, a massive, open arena came into view. As he stepped into the center, a gust of wind blew, and a withered leaf drifted slowly down.
The air grew thick with a murderous intent.
With both hands shoved into his pockets, Ye Tianming lowered his head slightly, kicking a small stone on the ground. Speaking as if to himself or hinting at something, he said indifferently:
"All of you, come out."
The moment his words fell, dozens of whistling winds rang out.
Dozens of men dressed in black gradually emerged around the perimeter of the arena, each radiating a fierce aura, their eyes cold enough to kill.
The leading man sported dreadlocks and a tattoo covering half his face. Staring at Ye Tianming, a mocking undertone laced his voice:
"It's been a long time since anyone dared to cause trouble at Mingwu Hall. Do you know what the consequence is for making trouble here?"
Ye Tianming fished a cigarette from his pocket, popped it between his lips, lit it, and took a deep drag.
"Where are my parents?"
"Your parents?"
The leader paused for half a second before realization hit him. Then he burst into laughter, his laughter dripping with utter derision.
"And here I thought you were somebody important. Turns out you're just that garbage scavenger."
"Where are my parents?!"
Ye Tianming repeated, his voice flat.
The half-tattooed man smiled coldly, "You don't need to know anymore. Someone gave orders that I have to cripple you today, and once I do, naturally I'll let you reunite with your folks."
"Why must you all court death?"
Ye Tianming sighed softly, a sigh that seemed meant for himself as much as for the surrounding men.
It was like the gaze of the heavens looking down in pity upon foolish mortals.
"Heh, we're courting death? You're the first person in Longhai City to ever say that to Mingwu Hall! I'm crippling you today for sure!"
As the words fell, the surging figures surrounding him instantly rushed toward Ye Tianming.
Standing alone in the center of the crowd, Ye Tianming looked like an ant about to be swallowed by a flash flood!
For anyone else, the outcome would be singular: death!
But he was Ye Tianming!
He was the man who had swept through every single martial arts expert across the entire territory of China within three years, maintaining an undefeated record of absolute crushing dominance!
The moment the surrounding men moved, Ye Tianming moved as well.
His figure vanished right where he stood, like a cut in a film reel, and the next second he blinked straight into the thick of the crowd!
Every pupil constricted; this terrifying speed made them think for a split second that their eyes were playing tricks on them!
A chorus of wails immediately erupted from within the crowd as figures were sent flying through the air, one after another, like a runaway truck plowing through a mob.
Wherever Ye Tianming went, heart-wrenching screams followed instantly.
In that instant, these elite enforcers of Longhai City were completely dumbfounded. How could anyone be this terrifying?
They couldn't even catch sight of Ye Tianming's body; they could only sense a blur of afterimages darting back and forth through the crowd.
By the time they reacted, Ye Tianming's fists and kicks had already arrived!
Countless men had their limbs snapped, collapsing to the ground to vomit blood and wail, while others were knocked unconscious on the spot, leaving bodies strewn across the floor.
Ye Tianming held back. If he truly wanted to, he could have turned this place into a slaughterhouse within a minute, running rivers of blood.
The remaining group felt like wooden dummies. Compared to Ye Tianming's speed, they were absolute fools!
And on top of this unimaginably terrifying speed was a brute force that made their very souls tremble and shudder!
Ye Tianming casually slapped a hand toward a black-clad man directly in front of him. The man's body was sent flying dozens of meters back as if struck by a cannonball, crashing heavily into his comrades with shattered limbs, spitting blood on the ground.
A fist came hurtling from the side. Without even glancing, Ye Tianming casually caught the man's wrist and twisted.
The man's arm warped into a twisted pretzel. With a casual kick to the chest, the man's ribs caved inward instantly, his breathing stopped, and his body sailed dozens of meters away.
Ye Tianming's speed gradually slowed; he walked through the crowd with total casualness.
The movements of those around him seemed slowed down countless times. With every single palm strike, punch, or kick he threw, a large group of men collapsed.
One by one, more and more people fell unconscious. Soon, the floor was covered with bodies, and the atmosphere grew quiet.
With one final punch blasting away the man before him, everything fell silent.
Only two people remained standing in the arena: Ye Tianming, and the man with the tattooed half-face.
The man's face was deathly pale, etched with terror, his entire body trembling and shaking uncontrollably.
Swallowing hard as he stared at Ye Tianming's back, he stammered:
"Who... who the hell are you?"
Ye Tianming rolled his neck. In the span of a single breath, his figure appeared directly before the tattooed man, his large hand tearing through the air to flash forward and seize him by the windpipe.
"Tell me where my parents are. I don't want to kill."
Struggling in agony, every shred of the tattooed man's psychological defense collapsed in that instant, and he wheezed out in terror:
"At... at the Bai family..."
"The Bai family?!"
Boundless fury erupted from Ye Tianming in an instant: "Bai Yuruo, you're looking to die!"
He tightened his grip. Feeling the presence of death closing in, the tattooed man wept and begged:
"Please... please don't kill me... I was wrong..."
"People who do wrong must pay the price!"
"I... I'm willing to follow you and serve you from now on, please let me go..."
The man begged in agonizing terror, tears streaming down his face from fright.
Ye Tianming raised an eyebrow. As he slackened his grip slightly, the man collapsed to the ground like a dead dog, clutching his throat and coughing violently.
Looking down, Ye Tianming gazed at him coldly:
"What's your name?"
"My name is Red Demon, milord."
The tattooed man's voice trembled.
"Remember what you just said. I'll spare your dog's life."
"Yes... milord, milord... the Bai family planted someone here at Mingwu Hall. The original plan was to cripple you after a bit and bring you to the Bai family..."
"Where is he?"
Red Demon swallowed hard and cast his gaze toward a man hiding behind a tree in the corner.
The man's face was as pale as a sheet of paper. He was staring at Ye Tianming in absolute horror. Seeing Ye Tianming's gaze shift toward him, he shrieked in fright, spun around, and tried to run.
"Running?"
With a cold snort, Ye Tianming kicked a stone off the ground.
The stone shot forward like a bullet, striking the man directly in the knee!
A red line of blood burst from the man's knee as he let out a scream, losing his footing and crashing heavily to the ground!
With a grim expression, Ye Tianming appeared beside him like a ghost, grabbing him by the back of the neck and speaking coldly:
"Are you from the Bai family?"
"It has nothing to do with me... The Young Miss told me to wait for you here..."
The man was practically frightened to tears; his body convulsed, and a yellowish, foul-smelling liquid began to soak through his pants.
Frowning in disgust, Ye Tianming delivered a fierce backhand slap across his face!
Blood spurted from the man's nose and mouth as his vision went black, nearly knocking him out cold.
Ye Tianming's cold voice rang out:
"Take me to the Bai family! Right now!"
***
Inside the Bai family's main hall, Bai Yuruo wore a puzzled expression.
She dialed the number again, but still, no one answered.
She muttered, "That's strange. Why isn't anyone picking up?"
Beside her, Li Xiaofeng asked, "What is it, daughter?"
Frowning, Bai Yuruo said, "I stationed one of our family bodyguards named Awei at Mingwu Hall, telling him to call me the moment he had any news. It's been this long and there's still not a peep, and he's not answering my calls either."