Chapter 53: Unlike Before

"You're insane..."

Brushing it off, Lin Tian merely muttered in dissatisfaction. Keeping his head down, he barged right past, flicked his sleeves, and walked away without looking back.

Shoved forcefully, Zhou Xiaoli lost her balance and tumbled to the ground with a stagger.

"Lin Tian—!"

Gritting her teeth, she glared daggers at his retreating back, her fury reaching its absolute peak. After clambering to her feet, she hurried in a light jog toward the restroom and whipped out her phone to make a call.

"Brother, someone at school has been bullying me repeatedly!"

On the other end of the line, a deep voice rang out: "What did you say? Someone actually dares to bully you at school?"

"Yes," Zhou Xiaoli whined through the screen, sounding deeply aggrieved. "It's that guy I mentioned to you before!"

"Still him? Wasn't he already given a severe beating by the people I sent?" the voice on the other end asked, sounding somewhat surprised.

Zhou Xiaoli bit her lip and poured out all her grievances in one breath: "The group you sent last time were completely useless. Not only did they fail to teach that guy a lesson, but they got thoroughly beaten up by him instead."

A clattering sound came from the other side of the phone, accompanied by the man's suppressed roar, "What in the world is that brat's background? Tell me every single detail."

"Well..." Zhou Xiaoli then spilled all of Lin Tian's information in one go, including his background and identity.

After hearing this news, the person on the other end pondered for a long while. "That makes no sense. Where did he learn such skills? This brat might just be a martial artist."

"Ah? Does that mean he's very hard to deal with?" Zhou Xiaoli's eyes dimmed slightly.

"That's hardly the case. At most, he's just a nobody, not anyone significant. Listen, after school today, I'll send a more skilled batch of men to handle him. If that still doesn't work, I'll step in personally."

Hearing the reply from the other end of the line, Zhou Xiaoli finally let out a satisfied hum. "Then I'll wait for your good news."

On the other side, Lin Tian was completely unaware that he had once again become a target.

Right now, in class, he was whispering back and forth with Long Yuqing.

Normally, Long Yuqing, who was devoted to her studies, would never do such a thing, but she had been feeling a vague sense of unease regarding Lin Tian's situation, which compelled her to keep asking questions.

Lin Tian actually found it quite annoying. After all, he had already told her numerous times that everything was fine.

Long Yuqing still wanted to ask something more, but the teacher at the podium finally couldn't stand it any longer and covered their mouth with a soft cough.

Realizing this was a reminder aimed at her, Long Yuqing thought better of saying anything further.

In the blink of an eye, it was time to pack up after school and head home. Since Long Yuqing had cleaning duty, Lin Tian grabbed his bag and walked out alone.

After walking for a few minutes, passing through the bustling commercial district, he stepped onto the familiar path leading home.

The lingering glow of the setting sun spilled across the streets, draping the city in a golden coat, but Lin Tian's thoughts had already flown back home.

As he walked, he pondered what to have for dinner—perhaps a steaming bowl of ramen, or some braised pork ribs made with his own hands.

Passing by a small alleyway, his brows twitched. A chill washed over his back, and his entire nervous system instantly tensed up.

Danger!

Suddenly, crisp sounds echoed from the narrow alleys in all directions.

In the span of a breath, dozens of well-trained, burly men had surrounded him.

Having just turned into a secluded alley, he had already sensed the atmosphere growing bizarrely heavy.

The walls on both sides of the alley were mottled, and occasional gusts of wind brought a biting chill.

Consequently, Lin Tian's pace unconsciously quickened, but abruptly, his steps ground to a halt.

At the far end of the alley, a group of figures clad in black appeared silently, trapping him in a tight encirclement.

They were dressed in tight black clothing and wore black masks, revealing only pairs of cold, ruthless eyes.

In the dim light, these men looked like demons born from the shadows, exuding a blood-curdling aura.

Lin Tian's heart sank heavily, but he quickly composed himself. He knew all too well that panic would only plunge him deeper into despair.

He swiftly scanned his surroundings, attempting to find an escape route, only to realize that these men in black were not only numerous but also positioned with tactical precision, sealing off practically all his paths of retreat.

"Who are you people? What do you want?" Lin Tian's voice echoed in the alley. Though he forced it to sound steady, the slight tremor betrayed his inner tension.

A tall man stepped out from the crowd of men in black, slowly pulling down his mask to reveal a grim and merciless face.

His gaze radiated an unquestionable authority, as if he were the absolute ruler of this world.

"Lin Tian, you've finally fallen into our hands." His voice was deep and powerful, every syllable striking like a hammer against Lin Tian's nerves.

A strange sense of familiarity welled up in Lin Tian's heart, yet he couldn't place where he had seen this man before. He frowned, trying desperately to recall, but his mind remained a complete blank.

"I don't know who you are, but you'd better let me go, or I'll call the police." A hint of warning edged Lin Tian's voice. He tried to deter them with this threat, but the man merely sneered.

"Call the police? Do you really think there's any signal here?" A mocking smile curved the tall man's lips. "Lin Tian, you have nowhere to run. Today, this account is settled, combining last time's failure with interest!"

Lin Tian's heart tightened; he realized he might truly have walked into a colossal trap.

Yet he did not surrender; he knew he couldn't allow himself to be captured without a fight here. He rapidly assessed his surroundings, searching for any exploitable advantage.

At that exact moment, one of the men in black made a move.

Drawing a gleaming dagger from his waist, he lunged straight at Lin Tian.

Lin Tian reacted with lightning speed, sidestepping abruptly. The blade grazed past his clothes, leaving behind a deep tear.

"Looks like you've got some tricks up your sleeve."

A trace of disdain crossed the tall man's face. "However, do you really think you can withstand so many of us?"

Lin Tian's heart sank further. He knew the man was right. These black-clad figures possessed remarkable agility and carried weapons. While he possessed some self-defense skills, taking on a crowd like this was nearly an impossible mission.

Still, Lin Tian refused to give up, knowing he could not sit idly by and wait for death.

He regulated his breathing rapidly to maintain his composure. He understood that only by staying calm could he spot the enemy's flaws.

The group of men in black launched another assault, moving with the synchronized coordination of trained soldiers as they closed in on him from all sides.

Though Lin Tian relied on his agility and reflexes to momentarily evade their onslaught, new wounds quickly accumulated on his body.

Fresh blood seeped out, staining his clothes crimson.

His breathing grew increasingly ragged, yet his determination remained unbroken. He knew that as long as he drew breath, a chance remained.

Right then, Lin Tian spotted an opening.

One of the men in black exposed a momentary flaw during his attack.

Seizing the opportunity instantly, Lin Tian lashed out with a fierce kick to the man's knee, sending him crashing to the ground in agony.

"Damn it!" Rage flashed across the tall man's face. "A bunch of useless trash, you can't even handle a mere kid."

Lin Tian's heart clenched; he knew their fury would only drive them to greater frenzy.

Yet he did not retreat, knowing retreat meant certain death.

The assailants renewed their offensive with redoubled ferocity, making Lin Tian's evasions increasingly perilous.

Still, fueled by sheer willpower and courage, he continued to circle and parry.

Just as he felt on the verge of collapse, another opening presented itself.

Another attacker exposed a lapse in defense.

Mimicking his previous move, Lin Tian swiftly capitalized on it, driving another vicious kick into his opponent's knee and dropping him.

"Useless idiots!" The tall man's expression twisted with fury. "You really are a pack of fools, letting a brat flip the script on you twice."

Ideas raced through Lin Tian's mind at lightning speed.

He recognized that their anger would make them reckless.

He stood his ground, knowing that giving up here meant forfeiting his life entirely!

The crowd pressed forward in a dense wall of attacks, their assault growing fiercer by the second. Escaping became an uphill battle.

Yet he pressed on, refusing to yield.

Amidst the chaos, Lin Tian noticed a smaller-statured assailant whose movements were comparatively sluggish.

Adjusting his position instantly, Lin Tian launched himself straight at the individual.

As he closed the distance, Lin Tian grabbed the man's arm and twisted it with all his might. A miserable shriek tore from the man's throat as his dagger clattered to the pavement. Seizing the weapon, Lin Tian drove it straight into the man's abdomen.

"Argh!"

With a blood-curdling scream, the man collapsed.

Lin Tian's heart hammered against his ribs. He knew the gravity of his actions, but desperation left him no alternative.

Gripping the dagger, he charged directly into the remaining crowd.

Caught off guard by his sudden counterattack, the black-clad group faltered momentarily.

Capitalizing on their hesitation, Lin Tian pressed his advantage.

The dagger flashed through the air in arcs of cold light, every strike finding its mark with deadly precision.

Confusion rippled through their ranks; their tight coordination dissolved into panicked, individual self-preservation.

Seizing the opening, Lin Tian mowed them down one by one.

The tall leader's expression turned hideous; he had never expected Lin Tian to withstand their assault.

Snatching a handgun from his holster, he took aim at Lin Tian.

"Lin Tian, you're dead!" Fury and desperation laced his voice.

Lin Tian's chest tightened; firearms presented a lethal threat.

Even so, he refused to surrender.

Right as the tall man's aim wavered slightly, Lin Tian spotted his chance.

Bursting forward, he closed the distance in a heartbeat, seized the gunman's arm, and wrenched it violently.

A cry of agony escaped the man as the pistol dropped from his hand.

Snatching the weapon up, Lin Tian pulled the trigger repeatedly into the man's stomach.

"Ah!"

With a piercing shriek, the tall leader crashed to the ground.

Ignoring the escalating danger, Lin Tian turned the gun on the remaining thugs and charged.

Stunned by this sudden reversal, the attackers hesitated once more.

Lin Tian drove forward relentlessly.

Gunfire flashed through the dim alley, each shot striking true.

Panic broke their formation completely, turning the fight into a desperate rout.

Pushing through his exhaustion, Lin Tian fought with everything he had left.

Before long, his breathing turned heavy and ragged, his limbs trembling from exertion.

Though he had taken down several men, their sheer numbers and agility were overwhelming.

Sensing he was reaching his absolute limit, Lin Tian clenched his teeth, searching desperately for a final breakthrough.

Just as he prepared for one last desperate charge, unexpected chaos erupted at the far end of the alley.

Lin Tian froze for a fraction of a second. Following that, a figure burst into the alley like a dark whirlwind, tearing directly into the enemy's encirclement.

"Are you alright?" A deep, resonant voice sounded right beside his ear, accompanied by a powerful yank that pulled him backward out of harm's way.

Turning his head, Lin Tian saw a tall man clad in a black trench coat standing behind him. The man's gaze was sharp as an eagle's, his expression stern yet carrying a glint of concern.

"Who are you?" Lin Tian panted, a hint of confusion in his voice.

"Who I am doesn't matter. Step back first," the man said in an unquestionable tone, his eyes locked firmly on the enemies ahead.

The group of thugs seemed momentarily thrown off balance by this unexpected intervention, but they quickly regrouped, their weapons gleaming coldly in the dim illumination.

The bruised and battered leader of the men in black struggled back to his feet, his eyes burning with murderous intent.

"You think you can save him?" he sneered, waving his hand to order another all-out assault.