Chapter 82: Beyond Expectation

After pondering for a moment, Qin Lan shook her head. “That’s impossible. The loan shark is just a minor character. He couldn’t afford to hire someone of that caliber.”

Lu Ming nodded in agreement.

To injure Qin Lan, at the very least, would require a master of the innate realm. Such an expert wouldn’t move for less than ten million in payment. Qin Lan owed that man barely over two million; there was no reason for him to go to such lengths.

If it wasn’t someone from Macau, then who could it be?

Lu Ming reviewed everything that had happened recently.

The Huang family, since the death of Huang Zhen, had suffered a devastating blow, reduced to a third-rate clan, terrified by Lu Ming. And with Futu lurking nearby, watching for a chance to avenge Huang Chao, they could barely take care of themselves, let alone dare to provoke him.

If it wasn’t the Huang family, then the only ones he had enmity with were the Feng family.

He had forced Feng Xi Fan to jump into the sea, uncertain whether he was alive or dead, but regardless, Feng Ying Cai surely knew about it by now. With his wealth, it was only natural he could trace things back to Lu Ming. Qin Lan likely suffered on his behalf.

Thinking this through, Lu Ming said, “I think I know who it is. Don’t worry, focus on recovering—I have something to take care of.”

Qin Lan nodded. “I want to kill that bastard myself.”

“Don’t worry. The one who hurt you, I’ll bring him before you. Do with him as you please,” Lu Ming replied with a smile.

Qin Lan smiled, the movement tugging at her wounds, pain flickering across her face.

Yun Ke Tian, seeing this, looked anxious.

Lu Ming added, “I’ll make sure your body recovers fully. Don’t let it weigh on you.”

“I trust you, Boss,” Qin Lan said.

Lu Ming nodded and left the hospital room.

Yun Ke Tian followed him out, escorting Lu Ming to the hospital entrance.

Lu Ming patted Yun Ke Tian’s shoulder. “You did well. This is all thanks to you.”

“Lu bro, no need for gratitude. It’s what I should do,” Yun Ke Tian replied, worry clouding his face.

Lu Ming looked at him, puzzled. “I’ve noticed you’re not yourself lately. Something wrong?”

Yun Ke Tian flustered, hurriedly answered, “No, nothing at all.”

Lu Ming thought for a moment, then shook his head. “Forget it, I have things to do. Just keep Qin Lan safe.”

“Don’t worry, Lu bro,” Yun Ke Tian replied, nodding vigorously.

Lu Ming hailed a taxi and headed straight for the airport.

On the way, he booked the earliest flight to the capital.

Qin Lan’s safety was assured for now—the hospital was a public place, full of surveillance, and Yun Ke Tian had a team of special forces guarding her. If anyone dared to attack Qin Lan under such circumstances, they’d have to be desperate.

Special forces represented national armed strength. Anyone who dared strike at them would be a criminal, opposing the state itself. Not even a grandmaster would dare, much less an innate master. It was highly unlikely.

...

At half past eleven that night, Lu Ming emerged from the capital’s airport, took a taxi, and headed straight for Purple Cloud Mountain.

As the nation’s capital, the city was the largest and most prosperous in all of China.

Purple Cloud Mountain had once been a suburb outside the capital, but as the city expanded, it became part of the urban area.

With its rare elegance amidst the bustling city, it became the residence of choice for the wealthy. The villas here were astronomical in price, starting from hundreds of millions at the foot of the mountain, the price rising the higher one went.

It was said that the villa at the mountain’s peak was worth over a billion, a true mansion.

And that topmost villa, Number One, belonged to Feng Ying Cai, the richest man in China.

The taxi stopped at the foot of the mountain. The driver turned to Lu Ming, “Sorry, sir, this is as far as I can go.”

Lu Ming nodded, paid, and got out.

This was where the rich gathered; security was exceptionally strict. Even three miles from the villa complex, there was a team monitoring all vehicles. If a license plate wasn’t registered, it was stopped immediately.

The taxi turned away. Lu Ming glanced at the nearby guard post, then vanished into the trees.

Within ten minutes, Lu Ming climbed down a cliff and arrived at the gate of Villa Number One.

The gates were tightly shut, the area shrouded in darkness.

Lu Ming considered for a moment, then stepped forward and pressed the doorbell.

He wasn’t yet certain that Feng Ying Cai was behind this. He needed answers.

There was always a culprit behind every grievance. Feng Xi Fan had tried to kill him first; forcing him into the sea was his own doing. If Feng Ying Cai sought revenge for this, Lu Ming could accept it—let skill decide.

But if it wasn’t him, it wouldn’t be appropriate to storm in without cause.

Moments after ringing the bell, the villa was ablaze with light. Floodlights illuminated the surroundings, exposing Lu Ming completely.

Footsteps echoed from the courtyard, along with the sounds of weapons being readied.

Soon, the gates opened. Thirty armed security guards, wielding various guns, aimed at Lu Ming.

Lu Ming surveyed the scene with a cold sneer.

It seemed highly likely Feng Ying Cai was behind it—such thorough preparation spoke volumes.

These guards were far from ordinary. Along with standard firearms, they even had military-grade weapons—heavy firepower. He sensed, too, that two sniper rifles were trained on him from the shadows.

If nothing was amiss, even the richest man in China wouldn’t warrant such exaggerated security.

The captain, holding a Desert Eagle, addressed Lu Ming.

“Raise your hands. Submit to inspection.”

Lu Ming sneered, then suddenly smashed his fist into the ground.

Fragments of stone flew everywhere.

The villa’s gates collapsed with a crash; shattered stones struck the guards, sending them flying, bloodied and groaning on the ground, utterly incapacitated.

Amidst the dust, Lu Ming kicked two stones.

They shot out like arrows.

Two anguished cries rang out from the darkness.

Only then did Lu Ming stride into the villa.

Passing the wounded guards, he reached the inner courtyard door.

Lu Ming kicked it open.

Inside, an elderly man in his sixties sat in the living room, dressed in a robe and pajamas, solemnly watching him.

Beside him stood two middle-aged men, both in their forties. Their presence was steady; Lu Ming sensed at once they too were innate masters.

Without hesitation, Lu Ming entered the living room. The two masters lunged at him from both sides.

Lu Ming snorted, his figure flickering. A punch and a kick sent both flying, gravely injured, unable to withstand even a single move of his divine fighting technique.

Lu Ming then stepped forward, seizing Feng Ying Cai by the neck and lifting him.

Looking into his eyes, Lu Ming spoke slowly, “Did you send someone to hurt my people?”

“You kidnapped my son. Isn’t that enough? Killing me—what good will it do you?” Feng Ying Cai struggled to speak, his throat gripped tight.

Lu Ming frowned.

The two injured masters, blood seeping from their lips, struggled to speak. “Let Mr. Feng go.”

They had been instantly incapacitated by Lu Ming, losing all ability to fight. As highly paid bodyguards, they felt both shock and deep shame at their failure.

Lu Ming glanced at them, then gently set Feng Ying Cai back into his seat. “What do you mean by that?”

Feng Ying Cai rotated his neck, adjusted his robe, and, after a moment, addressed Lu Ming.

“Isn’t my son your hostage? If you want money, just say so. I’m only a businessman. All these theatrics—are they meant to prove how strong you are?”

Hearing this, Lu Ming fell into thought.

Something wasn’t right.

“When was your son kidnapped?” Lu Ming asked.

Feng Ying Cai looked at him, snorted coldly. “Don’t you know what you’ve done? It’s been three months. You’ve said nothing all this time. Now you show your strength, your menace—I admit defeat. Whatever your terms, just state them. But my son—I deserve to see him alive, or at least his corpse.”