Chapter 125: Momentum

Ling Tian and Zhao Ming exchanged glances and smiled. Zhao Min’s swift recovery from this calamity was truly a blessing. It was well known that a young girl, still immature, undergoing such a great ordeal could easily suffer wounds to her tender soul—wounds that might affect her for life.

Zhao Min secretly glanced at Ling Tian and Zhao Ming, seeing the relief on their faces and finally exhaled. As a strong-willed girl, she did not want her two elder brothers to worry about her any longer. They had already sacrificed so much, especially Zhao Ming.

While repaying a massive debt, Zhao Ming was also supporting his sister’s education. At barely over twenty, he should have just graduated from university, eager to make a mark in the world and perhaps court a beautiful girlfriend. Yet, for his sister, he had given all that up.

“Now, it’s time to talk about my sister,” Ling Tian said, nodding toward the eight staff members lying unconscious on the ground. Then, turning to the scowling, overweight man before him, he smiled faintly. “Come, sit opposite me. Let’s have a proper conversation.”

Ling Tian’s tone was calm, but his sharp gaze made the fat man tremble inwardly.

The fat man glanced around. There were at least a dozen people standing nearby, yet none dared to step forward. They were all terrified. Eight people had attacked at once and were knocked out before they could even react.

Who in their right mind would dare approach now? It was a death sentence.

As the fat man’s eyes swept over the crowd, everyone instinctively stepped back, turning their heads to avoid his gaze. After all, they were ordinary laborers here to earn a living, and none wished to risk their lives needlessly.

“You useless bunch of idiots!” The fat man roared in frustration, furious that no one was available to back him up. Usually, the prestige of the Situ family kept troublemakers at bay. But today, their reputation counted for nothing; the opponent was alarmingly formidable.

After venting at his men, the fat man obediently sat across from Ling Tian and offered him a cigarette, his face plastered with a fake smile. “Brother, have a smoke. As for Zhao Min, I believe this is all a misunderstanding. I think we should sit down calmly and find a proper solution.”

Ling Tian glanced disdainfully at him and said coolly, “Cut the nonsense. My demands are simple: burn the contract, then I’ll take my people and leave. As for Jiang Yang, I suggest you hand him over to the police. I never want to see him again.”

The fat man’s expression stiffened for a moment but quickly returned to normal. Inwardly, he cursed, “You’re pushing your luck, thinking this is your home where you can do as you please.” Though furious, he dared not reveal it, maintaining a smile. “That’s easy enough. Whatever you want, it can be arranged.”

This was a classic delaying tactic, avoiding the main issue. Moreover, the fat man’s eyes flickered nervously, as if waiting for something.

“Give me one minute to prepare,” Ling Tian said calmly. He knew the fat man had more tricks up his sleeve. If he didn’t crush him completely today, the matter wouldn’t be so easily resolved. “I’m curious to see what else you have.”

Zhao Ming and the others, confused by the situation, decided to ignore it and quietly gathered to chat.

After about a minute, Ling Tian suddenly stood, grabbing the fat man by the collar. His voice was cold: “Honestly, I hate using violence. I prefer peaceful ways to make money. But you scum leave me no choice—forcing my hand.”

The two-hundred-pound fat man was hoisted up like a chick, his feet kicking wildly. His face flushed red, suffocated by fear. This time, he was truly terrified.

“Brother, please! Let’s talk this out. Don’t hit me!” he begged.

Ling Tian raised his hand and delivered a loud slap, leaving five red marks on the fat man’s face. “So damn fat—one slap and your chubby cheeks tremble.” Ling Tian wiped the grease from his hand on the man’s shirt.

The pampered fat man was stunned—this was his first beating. Under Ling Tian’s overwhelming pressure, his flesh quivered uncontrollably. Struggling to breathe, panic surged within him. He believed Ling Tian would not hesitate to kill him with a single blow—decisive, cold, merciless. That was the impression Ling Tian gave.

“Let go!” A steady voice called from a distance, accompanied by a series of measured footsteps.

Ling Tian turned to see a middle-aged man approaching briskly, dressed in a crisp Zhongshan suit, holding a black pistol aimed squarely at his head.

“No wonder you were stalling—you were waiting for backup,” Ling Tian sneered, then flung the fat man aside and faced the newcomer arrogantly.

The fat man, nearly in tears, scrambled over, clutching the man’s leg and whining, “Big brother, you finally came! If you’d been any later, they would’ve beaten me to death.”

The middle-aged man frowned, his cold gaze fixed on Ling Tian. From him radiated an intense aura of fury and killing intent. It was as if Ling Tian was not a mere man but a battle-hardened warrior emerging from a sea of corpses.

As the saying goes, amateurs watch the spectacle, experts see the tactics.

By his aura alone, the man knew Ling Tian was no ordinary opponent. Even if not stronger than himself, he was certainly no weakling.

While the man observed Ling Tian, Ling Tian studied him in return. His gait was steady, expression cold; the pistol’s aim never wavered—a clear sign of a formidable expert.

The fat man continued, “Brother Yanfei, this man is making trouble, insisting on taking our employees away, and even injuring eight of them. You must help me teach him a lesson.”

Yanfei cast a cold glance at the fat man. “Listen carefully. I’m not your henchman. I only live here temporarily. If someone causes trouble, I might help. But remember your place—you have no right to order me around.”

The fat man trembled in fear at the rebuke, quickly pleading, “I know all that. I’m just asking for your help!”

Yanfei snapped, “Step aside. I’ll handle their departure.”

Seeing Yanfei agree, the fat man slinked away, casting a cold glare at Ling Tian. In his heart, he thought: once Yanfei acts, you’re finished. He didn’t know Yanfei’s true identity but knew his strength rivaled even the Situ patriarch’s.

Yanfei raised his pistol and strode forward, stopping precisely three meters from Ling Tian. That distance was deliberate—close enough to fire effectively without risk of the target dodging. This was experience honed by his own prowess.

Ling Tian hated being threatened with a gun. Others had tried before, but they all ended up as corpses. This time would be no different.

“I’m giving you one chance to leave,” Yanfei said coldly.

Ling Tian laughed. “You stole my line. And I suggest you put the gun down—otherwise, you might shoot yourself by accident.” His breath locked onto Yanfei’s every movement. Any slight twitch would be met with swift, fierce retaliation.

Feeling the breath lock, Yanfei sensed a beast’s gaze upon him—any move might trigger a lethal strike. The feeling was terrifying. After years of experience, this was the first time he had felt such dread. He gasped inwardly: “Could there really be someone like this in Yunhai City?”

Yanfei’s disdainful eyes shifted to respect and solemnity. For the first time, he feared he might lose.

He tried to push the thought away but failed.

In the first clash of aura, Yanfei was utterly overwhelmed—these two were leagues apart. No, they were incomparable.

“Who exactly are you? How did you end up in Yunhai City?” Yanfei asked gravely, now seeing Ling Tian as the strongest adversary he had ever faced.

“Who I am is irrelevant, and you have no right to ask. I’m here to take my people. Move aside if you don’t want to die.” Ling Tian showed no mercy. To him, anyone blocking his path was an enemy, and enemies deserved no courtesy—only death.

Yanfei froze, acknowledging the man’s strength, yet doubting he was impervious to bullets. From what Yanfei knew, resisting bullets required reaching the Qi Refinement realm at least. To withstand gunfire physically, unscathed, one had to attain the legendary Postnatal or Prenatal stages.

“Aren’t you afraid of death? This pistol is specially made—within a hundred meters, it can pierce through a human body,” Yanfei threatened.

Ling Tian laughed. “I can’t match the speed of bullets, but as long as I’m faster than your trigger finger, that’s enough. I’ll say it again—put the gun down.” His tone turned icy cold as murderous intent surged forth, pressing down on Yanfei.

Such powerful aura from someone so young! Could he be a descendant of an ancient martial sect or an old martial family? It had to be. Otherwise, how could someone so young reach this level?