Chapter 058: The Wolf Invades

Tang Nianchen had no desire to continue discussing anything related to that damned Lin Le. She bid her parents goodnight and went straight upstairs. Once back in her room, she shed the sharp business suit she’d worn all day and stepped into the bathroom, submerging her flawless, delicate body into a bathtub strewn with flower petals.

Though Tang Nianchen was only in her early twenties, she had already displayed a maturity in the business world far beyond her peers. The Datang Group, while still officially under her father Tang Baisheng’s leadership, had many of its affairs managed by Tang Nianchen in her role as the company’s manager.

In recent times, with Tang Baisheng gravely ill, the full weight of the company—its countless big and small matters—had fallen squarely on Tang Nianchen’s shoulders. On top of this, she had to endure the immense pressure from all sides as the group teetered on the brink of collapse, a burden no one her age should have to bear.

Now, finally with a moment’s respite, Tang Nianchen lay in the tub and felt the tension melt away, almost drifting off to sleep.

Downstairs, after discussing the annulment of the engagement with the Lin family for a while longer, Tang Baisheng and his wife were preparing to retire for the night.

But just then, a sudden commotion erupted outside.

Tang Baisheng’s brow furrowed immediately. “Lao Kang, what’s going on outside?” he asked.

“I’ll go check right now,” Kang Bo replied, opening the door to step into the courtyard.

But as soon as he opened the door, there was a dull thud—a heavy foot sent Kang Bo sprawling backward into the living room.

A man dressed all in black strode in with a look of satisfaction. It was Zuo Tianlang.

Madam Tang shrieked in fright.

“Who are you? How dare you barge into my house!” Tang Baisheng demanded in a low, angry voice. “Guards! Guards!”

“Don’t bother shouting. No one can save you now,” Zuo Tianlang sneered.

Before Zuo Tianlang had entered, all the bodyguards in the estate had already been dealt with by his subordinates. At this moment, the entire Tang family manor was left completely unprotected.

“What?!” Tang Baisheng was alarmed. “Who are you? What do you want?”

“I want nothing more than your life,” Zuo Tianlang replied with a chilling smile.

Tang Baisheng’s heart sank. “I have no enmity with you. Why kill me?”

“My apologies. I’m just a man paid to do a job. When you meet the King of Hell, don’t blame me for your fate.”

“Someone wants me dead? I’ve never made enemies—who could possibly wish me harm?” Tang Baisheng was utterly at a loss.

“That’s not something you need to know,” Zuo Tianlang replied, lips curled in a cold grin.

“How much are they paying you? I’ll pay you ten times more!” Tang Baisheng gritted his teeth.

“Ten times? Ha! As expected of Haizhou’s richest man—generous indeed.” Zuo Tianlang snickered. “Too bad not even all your wealth can save your life this time!”

Within the Shadow Ranking, there was a strict code: under no circumstances could one reveal the client’s identity, nor could one betray the commission for greater profit. Breaking this rule meant not only exile from the underworld, but also becoming the target of every assassin on the list—a death so swift and certain, one might not even know how it came.

Just like Tang Baisheng now—what good was a fortune of billions? In death, not a penny could be taken along.

Zuo Tianlang had no intention of dying for a payday; he would never give up his mission for Tang Baisheng’s offer.

“Well then, Mr. Tang, say your farewells to this vast business empire of yours!”

A menacing light flashed across Zuo Tianlang’s face as he advanced on Tang Baisheng.

Tang Baisheng stumbled backward in terror, knocking a glass off the table, shattering it on the floor.

“Dad, Mom, are you all right?” A voice called from upstairs.

It was Tang Nianchen, who had heard the commotion and called out in concern.

Hearing his daughter’s voice, Tang Baisheng’s heart clenched with fear.

But Zuo Tianlang’s lips curled into a sinister smile. “So the illustrious Miss Tang is home as well? I’ve long heard of her unrivaled beauty. It seems fortune smiles on me tonight…”

A lecherous glint appeared in Zuo Tianlang’s eyes. Lustful by nature, he had planned to enjoy himself in the red-light district after finishing his business at the Tang residence, but now that such a stunning beauty—and a pure maiden at that—was within reach, his excitement was palpable.

“If you want my life, take it, but leave my daughter alone!” Tang Baisheng roared.

“Enough with the nonsense. Men, go upstairs and bring Miss Tang down here,” Zuo Tianlang ordered his men.

Two subordinates immediately started up the stairs.

“Don’t touch my daughter!” Madam Tang rushed to block their way, only to be shoved to the floor.

Upstairs in the bathroom, Tang Nianchen had caught snatches of the disturbance below and sensed something was wrong. She instantly became alert, rising from the bath to reach for a towel.

But just as she stood, the bathroom door was suddenly yanked open from the outside, and a man appeared in the doorway.

Tang Nianchen’s face blanched in shock. Before she could scream, a hand clamped over her lips.

She was stunned to recognize the man—it was the very same apprentice of Liang Qiuyang she’d met just yesterday, the one called Xiao Mu.

Lin Le had disguised himself on the way here; he didn’t want the Tang family to know his true identity.

At that moment, Tang Nianchen’s mind swirled with questions. She couldn’t fathom why this man had suddenly appeared in her room, nor why he was acting this way.

Her impression of him was already exceedingly poor; she was certain his presence could mean nothing good.

Worse yet, she had just stood up from the bath, her body entirely exposed to him. For someone as proud and aloof as Tang Nianchen, such humiliation was maddening—she even felt an urge to kill him.

Without a thought, she slapped him hard across the face.

Lin Le seethed inwardly. He’d raced all the way here to save her, only to be greeted with a slap.

He kept one hand firmly over Tang Nianchen’s mouth and with the other arm, pulled her tightly against him.

“If you value your life, stay quiet!” Lin Le hissed.

But in the next instant, as he glanced down at her, his anger vanished, replaced by another, more complex emotion.

Tang Nianchen’s figure was simply flawless—like a fairy descended from the clouds, her skin dewy and adorned with flower petals, radiating an enchanting allure.

At this moment, she was pressed tightly against him.

A delicate fragrance wafted to Lin Le’s nose, stirring an irresistible temptation. He found himself momentarily entranced, almost forgetting his purpose for coming.

But before he could lose himself further, Tang Nianchen landed another slap across his cheek, snapping him out of his reverie.

Lin Le gestured for silence, and as Tang Nianchen looked at him in confusion, footsteps sounded at the door.

Tang Nianchen instantly understood, not daring to make another move, her eyes tense and fixed on the doorway.

Only then did Lin Le release her and move to stand guard at the entrance.

Moments later, the door swung open and a burly man stepped inside. Lin Le wasted no time; he struck the man’s neck with a swift chop.

The man’s windpipe was nearly crushed, his cry choking off in his throat. Lin Le followed with a fist that sent him sprawling to the floor.

Another thug at the rear gasped in shock, but before he could shout, Lin Le lunged at him like a tiger, his knee slamming into the man’s chest. The man crashed into the wall and slumped, unconscious.

“Who are these people? What on earth is happening?” Tang Nianchen asked nervously, clutching a shirt to her chest.

Unfortunately, a single shirt offered scant cover, leaving much of her pale skin exposed to Lin Le’s gaze.

He silently cursed this woman as a natural troublemaker, always stirring his heart and distracting him.

“If you don’t want to die, stay put and don’t go anywhere! And for heaven’s sake, put some clothes on—you’re making my head spin…”

With that, Lin Le turned and strode out without another word.