Chapter 54: Full of Twists and Turns

"Heh..."

The corners of the man's lips curled upward into a sneer of utter disdain.

Without a word, he swiftly shrugged off his trench coat and tossed it aside in one clean, fluid motion.

The next instant, he lunged forward like a hunting leopard, plunging directly into the encirclement of men in black.

The air in the alley seemed to freeze instantly, punctuated only by a flurry of rapid, heavy blows.

The man's movements were astonishingly fast, every strike executed with pinpoint precision as though rehearsed thousands of times.

The trajectories of his fists and kicks left ghostly afterimages in the air, each assault carrying overwhelming force that targeted the vital points of the black-clad assailants.

The momentum of the enemy group was instantly crushed. Despite their rigorous training, they appeared utterly helpless before him.

Every movement of the man possessed the grace of a dance, yet carried a lethal threat.

His figure darted back and forth among the assailants like a bolt of black lightning, leaving a trail of fallen bodies in his wake.

Lin Tian stood frozen to the spot, staring at the spectacle with wide eyes and a slack jaw. He had never witnessed such formidable martial prowess; the sheer, superhuman velocity and power left him in profound shock.

He even found himself doubting whether this man truly belonged to this world.

"Who on earth are you?" Lin Tian could not help but ask.

The man smiled faintly, offering no reply.

His gaze remained fixed unwaveringly on the leader of the men in black ahead.

The leader's face had paled significantly, as he realized he had encountered an opponent far out of his league.

Drawing a short blade from his waist, the leader charged blindly toward the man.

The man's lips twitched upward once more. He arched his back sharply, effortlessly evading the leader's lunging slash.

Immediately afterward, his body sprung up like a coiled steel spring, delivering a vicious kick straight to the attacker's chin.

The leader let out a muffled groan as he was sent flying backward, slamming heavily against the brick wall before sliding limply to the ground, completely motionless.

The sounds of violence in the alley gradually subsided, leaving behind only the sound of the man's heavy breathing.

He swept his gaze across the surroundings; all the men in black had been neutralized, leaving only a chorus of groans echoing from the ground.

Lin Tian finally let out a long breath, feeling his legs grow weak and his body tremble slightly from the lingering adrenaline and exhaustion.

The man stepped up to him and patted him lightly on the shoulder.

"Are you alright?" he asked, a trace of genuine concern in his voice.

Lin Tian nodded, but his knees buckled suddenly, nearly sending him sprawling to the pavement.

The man caught him swiftly, furrowing his brow as he asked, "Are you injured?"

Only then did Lin Tian realize that he had sustained multiple wounds, and warm blood was steadily seeping through his torn clothes.

His vision began to blur, and his strength rapidly drained away.

"I... I'm fine," Lin Tian forced a weak smile, though his voice was barely audible.

The man's expression shifted. He immediately supported Lin Tian's weight and called out, "Hey! Hang in there!"

Lin Tian's consciousness began to fade as he felt himself lowered gently onto the ground by a pair of strong, steady arms.

The man pulled out his smartphone and quickly dialed the emergency services.

"This is XX Alley, someone is injured, hurry!" The man's voice was urgent and resolute.

After receiving confirmation from the dispatcher on the other end, the man hung up and hurried back to Lin Tian's side.

He removed his own jacket, draped it gently over Lin Tian, and crouched down to look into the youth's face.

"Hold on, the ambulance will be here soon," the man murmured, his tone remarkably gentle.

Lin Tian gave a faint nod. Though his consciousness was slipping away into darkness, his heart swelled with profound gratitude.

He did not know who this man was, nor why he had intervened so abruptly, but he knew that surviving this day was entirely thanks to this stranger.

At that moment, a commotion erupted from the mouth of the alley as a group of passersby rushed in.

Seeing the chaotic scene before them, they gasped in alarm.

"Good heavens! What happened here?"

"Look, that kid is hurt!"

"Someone's injured, clear the way!"

The crowd quickly swarmed around them. Someone immediately called the police while others began trying to restore order.

Seeing this, the man heaved a quiet sigh of relief. He stood up and retreated a few paces, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes.

Before long, the wail of sirens pierced the night, echoing sharply through the narrow alley.

Paramedics rushed into the scene, immediately assessing Lin Tian's wounds and commencing emergency treatment.

The man watched in silence as Lin Tian was loaded onto a stretcher and wheeled toward the ambulance.

"Are you a family member?" a paramedic asked.

The man shook his head and replied indifferently, "No, just a passerby."

The paramedic nodded and pressed no further. Watching the ambulance tail-lights fade into the distance, the man turned and walked toward the far end of the alley, vanishing into the nocturnal shadows.

Inside the hospital emergency room, Lin Tian lay on a cot, wrapped in bandages.

His face bore an expression of utter exhaustion, yet his eyes retained a spark of stubborn resolve.

Doctors and nurses bustled about, tending to his injuries.

"This boy is extraordinarily lucky. If someone hadn't found him and brought him in time, the consequences would have been unthinkable," a doctor sighed, shaking his head as he spoke to a nearby nurse.

The nurse nodded in agreement, gently adjusting the flow rate of Lin Tian's IV drip.

Lin Tian blinked his eyes open, gazing at the busy medical staff with a heart full of gratitude.

"Thank you..." he whispered weakly.

The nurse smiled warmly. "No need to thank us, it's our duty. All you need to do now is rest, and you'll be as good as new soon."

Lin Tian nodded, a flicker of bewilderment crossing his gaze.

He thought of the man who had saved him, wondering how he could ever find him.

Though he knew neither the man's identity nor his motives for helping him, he was deeply indebted to him.

At that moment, the door of the ward creaked open, and a police officer walked in. Seeing Lin Tian awake, the officer nodded gently and pulled up a chair beside the bed.

"Kid, how are you feeling?" the officer asked in a gentle, caring tone.

Lin Tian managed a faint smile. "I'm fine, thank you, Officer."

The officer nodded, retrieved a small notebook from his pocket, and spoke earnestly, "Can you tell me what happened today?"

Lin Tian nodded, piecing his memories together starting from his walk home from school, all the way to the arrival of the mysterious man and the ensuing brawl.

The officer listened attentively, occasionally jotting notes in his book.

"The man you mentioned—can you describe his appearance?" the officer inquired.

Lin Tian frowned slightly, straining to recall the man's features. "He was tall, wearing a black trench coat, with sharp eyes and an aura of overwhelming power."

The officer nodded and sighed softly. "You were incredibly fortunate today, kid. If it weren't for that man, you might not have made it!"

Lin Tian nodded silently, a profound sense of indebtedness filling his heart.

He wondered if he would ever see that man again, but he vowed never to forget the debt of life he owed him.

"Officer, will you help me find him?" Lin Tian asked softly.

The officer smiled reassuringly and patted his shoulder. "We'll do our best. Get some rest for now; once you've recovered, we'll figure something out."

Lin Tian nodded, his eyes shining with determination. He had to repay that man someday!

Night deepened, and the city lights twinkled in the distance.

Lying in his hospital bed, Lin Tian stared up at the starry sky outside the window, his heart filled with anticipation.

Just then, the ward door pushed open, and a familiar figure stepped inside.

"It's you," Lin Tian said, his eyes widening in surprise.

Liu Qingqing approached the bedside, checking the IV line while shaking her head with a sigh. "How long has it been? How on earth did you end up back in the hospital looking like this again?"

Lin Tian remained silent.

Liu Qingqing asked a few more concerned questions, which Lin Tian casually brushed off with vague excuses.

Sensing his deliberate attempt to keep her at a distance, Liu Qingqing tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and smiled. "Rest well, then. I'll take my leave. Just press the button by the bed if you need anything."

Lin Tian watched her depart.

At that moment, his ears caught a familiar voice drifting from the neighboring ward.

"Mom... I'm really fine. My brother didn't mean to beat me to death, just some scrapes... Ouch... A little rest and I'll be fine."

Xiao Chusheng?

Realizing who was next door, Lin Tian ripped the IV needle out of his arm himself, pulled off the tape, threw on his clothes, and bolted out of the room.

He had no intention of letting the Xiao family catch him in such a pathetic state.

Rushing out of the ward, ignoring the aches and pains across his body, Lin Tian only wanted to escape the hospital as fast as possible.

He hurried down the long corridor, his footsteps echoing in the quiet hospital.

Xiao Chusheng—a name he loathed to even recall. Ever since their first encounter years ago, whenever that person crossed his path, it spelled profound trouble.

Xiao Chusheng was nominally the second young master of the Xiao family, but in reality, he was their only treasured heir. Spoiled rotten since childhood, he was arrogant, tyrannical, and utterly lawless.

Barring a miracle, Lin Tian would despise him for the rest of his life!

Reaching the back exit of the hospital, Lin Tian took a deep breath, trying to calm the panic surging within his chest.

He knew he could not linger. If any of those loose thugs from earlier discovered he was here, they certainly wouldn't let him go.

Without a second thought, he strode out of the hospital grounds, flagged down a taxi, and gave his home address.

As the car sped away, Lin Tian leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes, replaying the day's harrowing events in his mind.

The sudden appearance of the mysterious man felt like a twist of fate, snatching him from the jaws of death at the hands of those terrifying men in black.

Yet, he still had no clue who the man was or why he had intervened.

The taxi soon arrived near Lin Tian's residence. He paid the fare and walked the remaining distance with heavy, weary steps.

The night was late, the surroundings dead silent except for the dim, flickering glow of the streetlights.

Lin Tian quickened his pace toward his modest little shack, but suddenly, an intense wave of unease washed over him.

He halted and scanned his surroundings, but everything appeared quiet and undisturbed.

"Perhaps I'm just being paranoid," Lin Tian muttered to himself, resuming his walk.

However, as he reached the entrance of his building, he spotted a shadowy figure lurking in the stairwell.

His heart skipped a beat, and his instincts screamed at him to turn and run, but the figure stepped out abruptly, blocking his path.

"Lin Tian, long time no see," a chilling voice rang out.

Lin Tian raised his head. In the dim amber glow of the streetlight, he recognized the face before him.

It was a grim, vicious visage, brimming with malice and fury.

"You... why are you here?" Lin Tian's voice trembled slightly.

The man in black sneered and advanced slowly, every step radiating palpable menace.

"Kid, did you really think you could escape?" The man's voice carried a blood-chilling confidence. "Let's see who saves you this time!"

Countless thoughts raced through Lin Tian's mind. He knew he couldn't stand his ground here, or the consequences would be fatal.

Without hesitation, he spun around and bolted toward the exit of the courtyard, dragging his battered body along.

However, the assailant was faster. Lunging forward, the man grabbed Lin Tian by the shoulder and violently slammed him down onto the pavement.

"Where do you think you're going?" the attacker snarled, madness flashing in his eyes.

A wave of excruciating pain wracked Lin Tian's body, but he refused to surrender. He struggled to push himself up, only to receive a brutal kick to the abdomen that sent him sprawling once more.

"Stop fighting it, kid! This time tomorrow will be your anniversary!" The man's voice carried a suffocating pressure.

Just as despair threatened to swallow Lin Tian whole, a dark figure suddenly materialized from the shadows, charging straight into the assailant and sending him flying several feet before crashing heavily to the ground.

"Are you alright?"

The familiar voice rang out.

Lin Tian lifted his head to see the mysterious man standing before him, a trace of concern in his sharp eyes.

"You... why are you here?" Lin Tian asked, a mixture of astonishment and confusion in his voice.

The man smiled faintly, ignoring the question. Instead, he stepped toward the recovering thug and spoke in a freezing tone, "You'd better leave this place, unless you want to find out what happens next."

Struggling back to his feet, the thug glared with bitter resentment and lingering fear. Meeting the man's icy gaze, he dared not make another move.

"You... just wait. I won't let this go!" the thug hissed through clenched teeth before fleeing the courtyard.

The man walked over to Lin Tian, gently helping him to his feet. "How are you holding up?"

Lin Tian shook his head. "I'm okay. Thank you."

The man smiled lightly. "No need to thank me. This is what you deserve."