Chapter 65: Is This Our Father? (Asking for Recommendations, Add to Your Bookshelf)

“What?” Even with the blade still pressed to his throat, Jiang Liliang couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Wasn’t it four million to buy back my leg!” His eyes were wide, and his voice had risen in pitch.

“That’s right. Originally, it was supposed to be both your legs, but now it’s just one. I didn’t say otherwise, did I?” Hua Tianyu replied solemnly. “Did I ever say four million was for both your legs?”

“You…” Jiang Liliang faltered.

Thinking back carefully, it was true—Hua Tianyu had never actually said four million would save both his legs.

But even with kidnappings and ransoms, who had ever heard of redeeming one leg at a time!

“Hua Tianyu, don’t go too far! Do you really think the Jiang Family Martial Arts School only has Yongxing Hall?” Jiang Liliang’s family held deep roots in Shangjiang City, and their influence extended far beyond just Yongxing Hall. So he straightened his neck, forcing himself to sound tough, and threatened.

Behind Hua Tianyu, two Yongxing Hall men began inching quietly toward the discarded weapons from earlier.

Hua Tianyu seemed oblivious to their actions. He stared at Jiang Liliang, expressionless, though the corners of his mouth curved upward ever so slightly. Suddenly, a dangerous aura erupted from his body!

“Brother Tian, look out!” Tian Li cried out.

In almost the same instant, a blade flashed like lightning—sweeping from before Hua Tianyu to behind him!

The strike was as swift and thunderous as a bolt from the heavens!

The two men saw only a flash of steel—there was no time to react.

“Aaah!”

Two screams rang out in unison.

Arms arced gracefully through the air before falling to the ground. Only after the limbs landed did blood spurt from the wounds at their shoulders.

Everyone from Yongxing Hall froze in place, petrified—none dared move an inch.

Just moments ago, they seemed to have forgotten how terrifying this man truly was.

Now, they remembered. This was a man who could destroy them all if he so wished.

Especially when he wielded his blade—the murderous intent radiating from him sent chills down their spines even at a distance.

Feng Wenhu, too, dared not budge, afraid that a single wrong move would see Hua Tianyu lop off one of his arms without hesitation.

Hua Tianyu noticed Lin Lin’s temples beaded with sweat, her cheeks flushed from uneven breathing.

So he paid no further attention to Feng Wenhu. Unhurriedly, he rested the blade back on Jiang Liliang’s throat. This time, Jiang dared not even try to dodge.

“See? If I don’t leave you a little something to remember, you’ll forget too easily.” Hua Tianyu shook his head, feigning regret.

“Four million! I’ll pay another four million! Take the other leg!” Jiang Liliang dared not play any more tricks, not even haggling over the price. In fact, he braced himself for the possibility that the price might go up by several more million.

Hua Tianyu paused for two seconds. “I’m sorry. The other leg is not for sale.”

Jiang Liliang was speechless.

“Five million!”

“Six million!”

“Ten million! I’ll pay ten million!” Jiang Liliang screamed in desperation.

With a crippled leg, he and Jiang Yong would struggle to survive in the violent underworld, where fists did the talking. He had made plenty of enemies both inside and outside the Jiang Family Martial Arts School, let alone in the northern district or all of Shangjiang City.

Even with the family’s backing, for now no one might dare touch him, but relying on favors was never the same as holding power in your own hands.

Money could be earned again. But a ruined leg would never grow back.

Yet no matter how he raised the ransom, Hua Tianyu remained completely unmoved.

Seeing that Wan Rong still hadn’t acted, Hua Tianyu pointed at him and said coolly to Xia Yang, “Count to three. If he still doesn’t do it, break both his legs.”

“Understood!” Despite his injuries, Xia Yang had no problem breaking the legs of someone just standing there.

With a curt reply, he hefted his crowbar and strode toward Wan Rong.

“One!”

Wan Rong jolted with fright. “I’ll do it! I’ll cripple him myself!”

...

Jiang Liliang passed out from the pain. After Wan Rong tore his Achilles tendon and broke his leg, the breath he’d been forcing himself to hold finally gave out. His vision went dark and he collapsed.

With their leader gone, Yongxing Hall’s men lost all will to resist. Apart from the few writhing on the ground in agony, the rest cowered in silence.

Supporting one of the wounded, Wan Rong was about to help his people into the cars when Hua Tianyu’s voice rang out.

“Leave four vehicles. We’ll be taking them.”

Wan Rong was speechless.

Did this man have no shame? Wasn’t the four million for the van supposed to compensate him? Why was he confiscating their cars now?

There were twenty of them and they needed four cars. But he was leaving forty men to squeeze into four vehicles—what was he thinking?

Wan Rong gritted his teeth. “Leave them. Let’s go!”

A wise man knows when to yield! He dared not bargain, lest Hua Tianyu take his right hand as well. Four cars it was—just let it go.

Xia Yang stared at Hua Tianyu in disbelief. Was this really happening?

The girls, led by Tian Li, let out a cheer.

Earlier, the car Xia Yang had driven had been drafty and cramped. They had barely managed to squeeze ten people in, with no air conditioning and windows that couldn’t even shut properly. Most of the others had arrived by cab.

Now, with four business vans left behind, each with a driver and seven seats, their twenty or so people could travel in comfort.

Naturally, the girls were happy not to have to squeeze together anymore, and cheered again.

Tian Li ran up and planted a kiss on Hua Tianyu’s cheek, eyes sparkling with delight.

Seeing the other girls gathering around, Hua Tianyu paused for a moment, then said, “Follow Tian Li’s fine example! Please line up for your kisses!”

The girls giggled, but none of them moved forward.

Hua Tianyu shook his head and clicked his tongue in mock disappointment.

Tian Li giggled, then suddenly bit his neck before scampering off with the other girls, laughing.

Hua Tianyu was left speechless.

From his distant hiding place, Hou Qingyi hadn’t seen exactly how Wan Rong managed to cram forty men into four vans, but he had seen Hua Tianyu sever two arms with a single stroke and force Jiang Liliang into unconsciousness.

The tall, thin man, seeing Yongxing Hall’s convoy starting up, sidled over and asked, “Boss, should we take this chance to strike at them again?”

Hou Qingyi shot him a glance, pinched his arm, and retorted, “Do you want to lose your arm too?”

The lanky man fell silent.