When Tang Yubo handed the two-million check to Jing Yushu, Ni Yuan wept uncontrollably, unsure how to express his gratitude.
Tang Yubo, sensing the timing was right, exchanged a few superficial pleasantries before saying, “Uncle Ni, although I’ve helped you repay the debt, according to the law, you should give me an IOU, correct?”
Ni Yuan hastily nodded, grabbed a black pen from the table without a second glance, and flamboyantly signed his name on the paper.
Tang Yubo watched him sign with a sinister smile. “Uncle Ni, let’s rest in the private room next door! You’ve had quite a shock today.”
Without suspicion, Ni Yuan followed him into the sealed compartment.
With a click in the pitch-black room, lights blazed on. Only then did Ni Yuan see the walls covered with torture devices of all sizes.
What appeared to be an ordinary room from outside could more accurately be described as a sealed prison cell.
The more Ni Yuan looked, the more his heart trembled. Why had he been brought here? What did Tang Yubo intend to do to him? Even more terrifying was the thought that if he were to die here, he might turn to dust without anyone knowing.
“Tell me, Tang Yubo, why have you brought me here? Are those things on the wall just props?” Ni Yuan asked cautiously, cold sweat drenching his body.
Tang Yubo looked at Ni Yuan’s pathetic state with disdain. Sitting on the sofa and crossing his legs, he laughed, “Whether they’re real or not, you’ll know if you try them.”
Ni Yuan forced a dry chuckle, waving his hands frantically. “No, no, no, this old body of mine couldn’t handle it.”
Jing Yushu entered, slamming the door shut with a thud. Ni Yuan turned to see Jing Yushu and then glanced at Tang Yubo, suddenly realizing he had fallen into their trap.
Jing Yushu kicked Ni Yuan to the ground, forcing him to kneel before Tang Yubo.
Tang Yubo laughed. “Yushu, help him up quickly. Having someone his age kneel before me might shorten my lifespan. Get a chair for him to sit, so we can have a proper talk. Isn’t that right, Uncle Ni?”
Uncertain of Tang Yubo’s intentions, Ni Yuan had no choice but to comply.
Jing Yushu, understanding Tang Yubo’s glance, brought a chair and placed it behind Ni Yuan, smiling. “Uncle, please have a seat!”
As Ni Yuan glanced at them, anxiously wondering how they would treat him, he suddenly let out a piercing scream.
Ni Yuan sat on the chair in agony, unable to either sit or stand properly, blood dripping from his buttocks onto the floor.
“Uncle Ni, is sitting so uncomfortable for you? In that case, why don’t you stand up?” Tang Yubo uttered the cruelest words with nonchalance.
Jing Yushu grabbed Ni Yuan and yanked him up from the chair, eliciting another scream from the old man.
Collapsing on the floor, his pants soaked in blood, Ni Yuan gasped and cursed furiously, “You inhuman monster! What grave offense have I committed against you to deserve this?”
Tang Yubo chuckled. “Uncle Ni, you’re so quick to blame. I offer you a seat, and you’re unhappy; I tell you to stand, and you curse me. What exactly do you want?”
Ni Yuan pointed at the chair, shouting, “You told me to sit on that chair! Are you blind? Can’t you see the rows of nails on it?”Tang Yubo casually opened a nearby beer, took a few sips, then walked over to stand before him, looking down from above.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, Uncle Ni, look at you like this. How am I supposed to explain this to your daughter!”
“Tang Yubo, I warn you, you cannot lay a finger on my daughter. Do you hear me!” Ni Yuan roared.
Tang Yubo shot a glance at Jing Yushu, then ran his hand along the wall, his fingers stopping as they brushed against something unknown.
“I ask you, does your daughter have anything that sets her apart from others? Do you know?” Tang Yubo no longer concealed his purpose and questioned directly.
Ni Yuan laughed, “My daughter is wonderful and sensible. In my eyes, every part of her is unique. I don’t know which aspect you’re referring to?”
Tang Yubo angrily retorted, “Ni Yuan, do you have a death wish, or do you want another taste of the Barbed Whip in my hand?”
Ni Yuan lay on the ground, powerless to resist. It seemed now that their target wasn’t him, but his daughter, Ni Manxin.
He couldn’t understand when Ni Manxin had ever offended them. From their tone, it seemed there was something on Ni Manxin that they desperately wanted.
If that was the case, aside from Tang Yubo and his group, were there other hidden forces coveting Ni Manxin? He needed to return and question Ni Manxin thoroughly.
“I truly don’t know. Even if you beat me to death, I wouldn’t know. If you really want answers, I can tell you this—go find her yourself.”
Tang Yubo immediately asked, “Who? Is it Dong Yue?”
Ni Yuan shook his head, “It’s my wife. Go ask her at her gravesite! Perhaps she’ll tell you.”
Tang Yubo’s suppressed rage erupted instantly. He tossed the Barbed Whip to Jing Yushu and leisurely sat on the sofa, feigning sleep.
Agonized wails rose and fell until, severely injured, Ni Yuan fell unconscious.
Although Jing Yushu was whipping Ni Yuan, he was deeply shaken by Tang Yubo’s ruthlessness. Such cruel methods were beyond ordinary people. Who was Tang Yubo, and why did he harbor such hatred?
“What? Feeling soft? Do you want to be the next Ni Yuan?” Tang Yubo raised an eyebrow and smirked.
Jing Yushu quickly shook his head, not daring to say more.
Tang Yubo looked at Ni Yuan lying in a pool of blood and said to Jing Yushu, “Clean this place up. I really dislike the smell.”
With that, he left. Looking at the IOU Ni Yuan had given him, he laughed, “Ni Manxin, I wonder how you’ll react when you see this.”
For several days in a row, Ni Manxin had been calling her father, but his phone was always off. She had no idea how he was doing outside. She paced restlessly in her room.
“Ni Manxin, are you home?”
Ni Manxin opened the door to see Tang Yubo holding a pile of snacks and shouting outside. She couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him.
Making such a racket, as if he wanted everyone to know she lived here.
“What brings you here today?” Ni Manxin asked.
“Huh, your dad still isn’t back?”
Ni Manxin shook her head and went to the fridge to grab a drink, tossing it to Tang Yubo.
“Tang Yubo, there’s something I’d like to ask for your help with!” Ni Manxin began, finding it difficult to speak.
Tang Yubo smiled, “Go on! What is it?”
“Could you take me to the casino? I think my dad might be there.”
Tang Yubo pondered for a moment, then looked at Ni Manxin before smiling and saying, “How about this? I know some friends in the underworld who can help search for him. Don’t worry! Your father should be fine.”
Ni Manxin’s face lit up with surprise as she grabbed Tang Yubo’s hand, asking excitedly, “Really? Is that truly possible? That’s wonderful! I was worried about going alone and was going to ask you to come with me! This is perfect!”
After speaking, she couldn’t resist stepping forward to hug Tang Yubo. Tang Yubo froze—this was the first time in all these years that someone had embraced him.
How he had longed for his parents to hold him just once in the past, yet reality often fell short of his hopes.
He never expected that such a simple gesture of help would move him so deeply. Tang Yubo gazed intently at Ni Manxin.