Chapter 002: Consumed by Madness

The crowd around had already been stunned. Lei Gang, relying on his numbers, had bullied them for years, lording over everyone. Most of them had suffered at his hands, so watching Lei Gang get beaten up by Lin Le now, they all secretly cheered.

Lei Gang was dizzy from Lin Le’s blows. “Big brother, I truly know I was wrong. Please spare me.”

Lin Le smiled faintly. “Alright, I’m not an unreasonable man. As I said before, cripple your own right hand, and I’ll let you go.”

A cold gleam flashed across Lei Gang’s eyes.

Lin Tenghui, standing nearby, gave an awkward laugh and tried to persuade him, “Le, maybe let it go…”

He worried Lei Gang would seek revenge against Lin Le and didn’t want things to go too far. All he wished for now was peaceful days.

Lin Le felt the same, but he knew all too well the nature of men like Lei Gang. The moment he struck, retaliation was inevitable—so he might as well see it through to the end.

Without looking at Lin Tenghui, Lin Le gazed calmly at Lei Gang. “Do you want me to do it myself?”

“No!” Lei Gang cried out in fear. “I’ll do it myself.”

He picked up a brick from the ground, gritted his teeth, and brought it down hard.

A sickening crack echoed—the entire back of his hand smashed, blood gushing out.

“Ah!” Lei Gang screamed in agony.

The crowd drew sharp breaths; to cripple his own hand, Lei Gang was ruthless even to himself.

Yet their greater astonishment was for Lin Le. This slender young man’s methods were truly startling.

“Can I leave now?” Lei Gang asked.

“You may.”

Lei Gang was just about to get up and leave when Lin Le stopped him. “Wait!”

Lei Gang’s shoulders trembled.

“How much does my father owe that Zhao fellow? I’ll pay it back,” Lin Le demanded.

Lei Gang’s lips twitched. “You… you don’t have to…”

He dared not take the money now.

“No, I insist!” Lin Le pressed. “The Lin family stands tall—we owe no one!”

“Le…” Lin Tenghui, hearing these words, was moved to tears.

He could hardly remember the last time he’d spoken so boldly, standing straight as Lin Le had. Three years of humiliation flowed out with his tears.

“Four hundred fifty thousand,” Lei Gang answered.

“Le, I’ll find a way,” Chen Qiang said chivalrously.

Four hundred fifty thousand was no small sum for Chen Qiang, much less for the fallen Lin family.

“No need.”

Lin Le took out a bank card from his pocket.

“There are three hundred thousand on this card. The password is the last six digits. The remaining one hundred fifty thousand—come for it at the end of next month.”

He tossed the card at Lei Gang’s feet. “Now you may go.”

Lei Gang snatched up the card and fled with his men.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

“Le, Uncle Lin is hurt!” Chen Qiang cried.

Before Lin Le arrived, Lin Tenghui had scalded his arm when Lei Gang poured hot porridge on him. His whole arm was red.

Lin Le’s face tightened. He quickly asked Chen Qiang to fetch ice water and a towel from the fridge for Lin Tenghui.

“If I’d known, I wouldn’t have let that bastard leave so easily!” Lin Le cursed.

“Let it go, Le. It’s not worth it with people like that.”

Lin Le glanced at Lin Tenghui. Over these three years, his father had changed so much. Had it been before, Lei Gang would never have survived in Haizhou!

And that so-called Mr. Zhao, who sent Lei Gang to collect debts—Lin Le knew him well.

Zhao Mingyi, once just a minor figure beneath the Lin family’s notice, now dared to bully them. A tiger fallen to the flatlands is hounded by dogs!

Lin Le clenched his fists. All this humiliation—I will repay it, twice over!

“Dad, don’t worry. From now on, no one will dare to bully us!” Lin Le vowed.

“Le, you’ve truly grown up!” Lin Tenghui smiled with relief.

Lin Le now was utterly different from the troublesome wastrel of three years ago.

“Oh, Le, that three hundred thousand…” Lin Tenghui wondered where the money had come from.

Lin Le laughed. “Dad, I’ve been out in the world for three years. I managed to save a little. Don’t worry, I’ll pay off the rest next month.”

Thinking about the three hundred thousand, Lin Le felt a pang. Damn it, three years of hard-earned money, just handed over to Zhao Mingyi, that scoundrel—he could hardly bear it.

And with another one hundred fifty thousand due next month, Lin Le regretted his promise. If only he’d said he’d pay next year instead—where would he find that much money in a month?

But he couldn’t worry about that now.

Lin Tenghui’s burns were serious and needed hospital treatment.

Chen Qiang drove them swiftly to the hospital.

The wound was quickly treated, and after getting some anti-inflammatory medication, they planned to head home.

Just as they entered the hospital lobby, a commotion broke out outside.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!” Several medical staff in white coats were thrown inside from outside.

Immediately after, a gray-haired old man in his seventies burst in.

“Ah! I’ll kill you all, kill you all!” The old man roared madly, his eyes bloodshot, clearly not in his right mind.

People scattered, afraid to be hurt by the madman.

More medical staff and security guards tried to subdue him, but were thrown to the ground.

Lin Le shielded his father, eyes narrowing at the old man.

Though crazed, the old man’s movements had form and technique.

A martial artist? Lin Le saw it clearly.

Just then, a young woman stepped forward, panic on her face. “Grandpa, please stop! It’s me, Gu Ya!”

Her appearance instantly drew every eye—not for her relation to the old man, but for her beauty, which was breathtaking.

Her features were exquisite, as if painted; her skin was fair and delicate, like snow-touched peach blossoms.

Even more remarkable, her figure was flawless.

A white fitted T-shirt accentuated her proud curves, while pale blue jeans outlined her long, slender legs.

Such perfection stunned everyone present.

Even Lin Le couldn’t help but glance twice.

But Gu Ya ignored the looks, focused only on her grandfather’s illness.

“Director Jia, please, find a way to save my grandfather!” Gu Ya urgently grabbed a bespectacled middle-aged man nearby.

Director Jia’s face was troubled; he seemed at a loss. “Alright, hold Mr. Gu down, I’ll inject a sedative!”

Seven or eight medical staff fought to restrain the old man, and Director Jia readied the injection.

“Wait!” A voice suddenly rang out.

“You’re wrong. This will kill him!” Lin Le said coldly.

“Hm?” Director Jia paused.

Seeing the speaker was a mere seventeen- or eighteen-year-old student, Director Jia’s face flashed with disappointment.

“Child, don’t speak nonsense if you don’t understand!” Director Jia snapped.

Mr. Gu’s status was distinguished, and Director Jia was careful, not wanting to be disturbed by this yellow-haired kid.

The crowd found Lin Le’s words laughable.

Everyone knew Director Jia was the head of this hospital and the best doctor in Haizhou, with a stellar reputation in the medical community.

Yet this kid dared to publicly say Director Jia was wrong—how arrogant!

“I’m not speaking nonsense. This old gentleman is a martial artist. His current state is due to a qi deviation while cultivating internal energy. Your sedative won’t help him at all!” Lin Le declared.

He wouldn’t have bothered, but he couldn’t bear to see a living person killed by a quack.

Gu Ya’s stunning face showed surprise—because the young man’s words were entirely correct. Her grandfather was indeed a martial artist, and his condition was caused by a qi deviation in training.

The crowd scoffed, thinking Lin Le’s words sounded plausible, but surely weren’t.

Director Jia snorted coldly, feeling the young man was overstepping, daring to question his authority in public—an embarrassment!

“Hmph, what qi deviation! You’ve read too many martial arts novels! Yes, Mr. Gu practices martial arts—his clothing makes that obvious. Young man, I advise you not to use unscrupulous means to get what you want!” Director Jia said, glancing meaningfully at Gu Ya.

The crowd instantly understood: this boy was trying to impress the beauty by slandering Director Jia, acting like a clown.

Young people these days are hopeless!

Even Gu Ya frowned, thinking Lin Le’s motives questionable.

After all, he was just a student her age; in medicine and experience, how could he compare to the esteemed Director Jia?

Lin Le smiled bitterly inside. He’d wanted to do a good deed, only to be taken for a lust-stricken fool—truly speechless.

“If you allow, I can cure your grandfather,” Lin Le said calmly to Gu Ya.

Just then, Mr. Gu grew more frenzied, nearly breaking free.

“Miss Gu?” Director Jia held the injection, awaiting Gu Ya’s decision.

He was confident she would choose to trust him.

“I…” Gu Ya hesitated, then finally said, “I trust Director Jia’s medical skill. Please proceed, Director Jia.”