The sky was just beginning to brighten.
Lin Chuyue's phone rang.
When she answered, Han Jianye's cold sneer came through the line. "Lin Chuyue, don't think that just because that mutt killed the Eight Vajras, your Lin Family is off the hook!"
"Let me tell you, the Chen Family still has countless masters! They could crush you with ease!"
What was bound to happen had finally come.
Lin Chuyue did her best to remain calm. "What will it take for you to spare the Lin Family?"
"Simple! I'll give you one chance. Come to Wuwang Mountain Villa, and I'll consider letting the Lin Family live."
"But you have to come alone. If you try any tricks, I guarantee the Lin Family will be wiped from the face of Jiangcheng!"
With that, Han Jianye hung up with a CLICK.
Lin Chuyue wearily closed her eyes. 'I knew it wouldn't be over this easily.'
'Since all this trouble started because of me... then I'll be the one to end it!'
'I can't let anyone else get dragged into this!'
Half an hour later, Lin Chuyue took a taxi to Wuwang Mountain Villa.
Gazing at the imposing Han Residence before her, she walked in resolutely.
Soon, she came face to face with Han Jianye.
Lin Chuyue stopped in her tracks. "I'm here, just as you demanded. I didn't tell anyone."
"I'll take full responsibility for the Lin Family's affairs. Kill me or torture me, I'm at your mercy."
"I only hope your Han Family will keep its word and give the Lin Family a chance to survive."
"Spare the Lin Family? HAHAHA, in your dreams!"
Han Jianye threw his head back and roared with laughter. "That mutt killed so many members of my Han Family and even left my son without a body to bury!"
"And you... you're the cause of all this!"
"Men! Seize her and tie her up!"
THUD!
Several large men seized Lin Chuyue and forced her to kneel at Han Jianye's feet.
Her knees hit the ground with a sharp pain, but she held her head high, refusing to submit. "What will it take for you to spare the Lin Family?"
Han Jianye grabbed a handful of her hair, his eyes filled with rage. "Only when you're all dead will I be able to quell this burning hatred in my heart!"
Beside him, Han Jiancheng sneered mockingly, "A woman with big boobs and no brains. Did you really think we'd let you go just because you showed up?"
"Heh heh, what a waste of such a pretty face."
As he spoke, he dragged his fingers across Lin Chuyue's delicate skin.
Lin Chuyue glared at him fiercely. "Get away from me! Don't touch me!"
SLAP!
Han Jiancheng slapped her across the face. "Bitch, I was being too easy on you, wasn't I?"
"Since you're here, I'll show you what a living hell really is!"
Lin Chuyue bit her lip. She had always known the Han Family was shameless, but for the sake of the Lin Family, she had come here clutching one last sliver of hope.
Now that hope was gone, she was like a fish on the chopping block, at their mercy.
'I can lose my life, but the Lin Family's spirit must not be broken!'
"Han Jianye, if you're any kind of man, just kill me! What kind of man tortures a woman?!"
"You want to die? It's not that easy!"
Han Jianye raised his hand and slapped her again. "Putting on airs for me, huh? Today, I'll see just how chaste you really are!"
With that, his hand shot out, grabbed the collar of Lin Chuyue's shirt, and ripped it down forcefully!
'Even if I die, I won't let this bastard have his way!'
In a fit of desperation, Lin Chuyue lunged forward and bit down hard on Han Jianye's hand!
She used all her strength, and the coppery taste of blood instantly filled her mouth.
"AHH!" Han Jianye screamed in pain. "Damn it! You dare bite me?!"
The nearby Han Jiancheng grabbed her hair, but she refused to let go, as if her life depended on it!
"Fuck!"
Han Jianye yanked and pulled desperately, finally wrenching his hand free.
The bite marks were clear, and blood was steadily seeping out.
"You dare to bite me? I'll fucking kill you!"
Han Jianye got up and was about to kick her, but Han Jiancheng stopped him. "Don't kill her yet! Let's get that mutt over here and kill him first!"
"Right. I'll deal with you later!"
Han Jianye took out his phone and dialed the Lin Family's number.
The moment Lin Aoshan answered, Han Jianye's arrogant voice blared through.
"Old man, your granddaughter is in my hands. Get that mutt Xiao Ye over here right now, alone!"
"And bring the Lin Family's Golden Saber with him! If anything is missing, you can prepare to collect your granddaughter's corpse!"
"I'm only giving you half an hour. After that, I'll take her for myself! And for every five minutes you're late, another man will have his turn with her!"
"Grandpa, don't let Xiao Ye come!"
"You fucking bitch, shut your mouth! Lin Aoshan, listen to me carefully. If you can't do it, your precious granddaughter is going to suffer miserably, hahaha!"
"You—"
Lin Aoshan finally realized that Lin Chuyue was truly at the Han Family's residence. A wave of panic and rage washed over him, and he clutched his chest, collapsing to the ground with a thud.
The other end of the line went silent. Lin Chuyue cried out in panic, "Grandpa!"
"If anything happens to my grandfather, I'll haunt you even after I'm dead!"
"You pack of bastards, you animals, you'll all die horrible deaths—Mmph!"
Han Jiancheng grabbed a rag and stuffed it tightly into her mouth.
Meanwhile, at the Lin residence, Lin Aoshan's face was deathly pale. He struggled to lift a hand, his trembling fingers knocking over a kettle on the table.
CRASH!
Xiao Ye heard the sound and looked downstairs.
Seeing Lin Aoshan collapsed on the living room floor, he rushed over immediately.
"Old Master, you're having... a heart attack. Don't be afraid, I'll save you now."
The situation was critical. Xiao Ye took out his silver needles and, using the Infinite Needle Technique, expertly inserted them into the points behind Lin Aoshan's ears.
"Ugh—"
Lin Aoshan managed to force a sound from his throat and finally started to recover.
When he saw clearly that it was Xiao Ye who had saved him, tears streamed down his old face as he begged, "Quick... go save Chuyue! She's been taken by the Han Family!"
Xiao Ye's expression turned instantly to ice. "Where is she?!"
"Wuwang Mountain Villa, on the mountain encircling Jiangcheng! The Han Family only gave us half an hour! For every five minutes we're late, Chuyue will..."
"I understand." Xiao Ye quickly inserted a few more needles. "Take these out in five minutes. Don't worry about Chuyue. I'm on my way now!"
「Wuwang Mountain Villa.」
Han Jianye glanced at the time. "The thirty minutes are up. I don't think we need to wait any longer."
"No matter how stupid that kid is, he knows this is a trap. He's not dumb enough to walk to his death."
"In that case, let me have a taste of this legendary 'phoenix fate'!"
"That's right! She's the one who got Han Fei and Dad killed. Today, we'll get a taste of Jiangcheng's number one beauty!"
Han Jiancheng pulled out his phone and switched to video mode. "Brother, you go first. I'll be second."
The two brothers closed in, their sinister faces utterly repulsive.
A wave of nausea washed over Lin Chuyue. Her pretty face turned pale as she cried, "Get away! Don't touch me!"
"I'll do whatever the hell I want with you!"
Han Jianye sneered viciously, his hand reaching for Lin Chuyue's full chest.
The stretch of fair skin was enough to make one's mouth water.
SWISH!
Just then, a sharp whistling sound cut through the air.
A common pebble, a river stone, was embedded in the back of Han Jianye's hand.
"My hand! My hand!"
Han Jianye clutched his hand and howled in agony.
Lin Chuyue whipped her head around to see Xiao Ye standing ten meters away, a Golden Saber resting on his shoulder.
The morning sun broke through the clouds, its light glinting off the dazzling saber.
It made Xiao Ye's already tall and straight figure seem all the more handsome.
'He... he actually came!'
A warmth spread through Lin Chuyue's heart, and her eyes reddened slightly.
"You idiot," she murmured. "You knew it was a trap, yet you still came to die."
"Couldn't be helped. Who told you to be my wife?"
Xiao Ye strode forward. Seeing the handprint on Lin Chuyue's face, his eyes grew cold and dark. "You dare hit my wife? You're courting death!"
Lin Chuyue snapped back to her senses. "Stop trying to act cool! Just go, it's a trap!"
"Shut up! You think you can just leave? Not so easy!"
Han Jiancheng roared, pulling out a pistol and pressing its cold muzzle to her temple.
"You mutt, I know you can fight, but are you faster than a bullet?"
"If you move, I'll blow her brains out first!"
"Four Great Masters, he's all yours!"