Chapter 128: A Brutal Beating for Cheng Liang (Second update, continuing to ask for votes!)

"Yang Tian?! Hmph, so you've come to deliver yourself to your death!" Although the people in the alley were blinded by the car's headlights, Cheng Liang, standing not far away, could see clearly that Yang Tian had arrived on his bike wearing only a T-shirt and shorts.

"Indeed, Young Master Cheng. I was planning to deal with him next, but since he's run right into our hands, let's take them all out at once!" Old Li sneered incessantly.

"Make it quick! I suspect this kid Yang Tian has already called the police." A look of satisfaction appeared on Cheng Liang's face; this was the method he had always used to settle personal scores back in the Guangzhou area.

"Understood, Young Master Cheng. Just wait to enjoy Miss Zhang!" Old Li quickly donned a veil and slipped among the men in black, preparing to coordinate the assault on Yang Tian.

But before they were ready, Yang Tian had already made his move. Under the cover of the headlights, he flashed in front of Zhang Xiuxiu. When the gang of men surrounding her finally caught sight of him, they were struck with panic, for Yang Tian was staring at them with a cold, mocking smile.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!* A series of loud thuds echoed through the alley. Yang Tian’s movements were incredibly swift; the five men surrounding Zhang Xiuxiu collapsed to the ground instantly, their screams filling the air.

"Yang Tian?!" A look of joyful surprise crossed Zhang Xiuxiu’s face. She had only pressed the shortcut key on her phone as a desperate gamble; she hadn't truly expected him to appear.

"Do you know how to ride a motorcycle?" Yang Tian asked urgently, hoping to send her away on his bike.

"No!" Zhang Xiuxiu replied, looking embarrassed.

"Then hide behind the car. If anything happens, scream as loud as you can!" Yang Tian instructed softly. He had already identified the man with the scar as the greatest threat, so after giving Zhang Xiuxiu a brief word of advice, he lunged toward him.

The scar-faced man had seen Yang Tian take out five thugs in one breath and realized the kid had some real skill. However, having spent years drifting along the China-Vietnam border, he had seen plenty of tough characters and naturally didn't take this young, fresh-faced boy seriously.

"This guy fights with extreme cruelty. You're likely no match for him. Take the young lady and leave. I'll hold him off!" Although Xia Dong was injured and weak, he gritted his teeth and stepped in front of Yang Tian, fearing he wouldn't be able to handle the scar-faced man.

"If you're hurt, don't talk so much. Go over there and protect Zhang Xiuxiu!" Yang Tian took the opportunity to light a cigarette and shoved it into Xia Dong’s mouth. Xia Dong rarely smoked, but he held it between his lips, coughing sharply. Yet, the pain seemed to ease significantly.

"Kid, sticking your nose where it doesn't belong, are we?" The scar-faced man sneered, flashing the military bayonet in his hand. It was still stained with Xia Dong’s blood, making it look all the more sinister.

"Better to be a busybody than a stray dog that bites people at someone else's command!" Yang Tian drew his own long-sealed military bayonet—a domestic model given to him by Zhou Bing back in middle school. It was highly lethal.

"Oh ho! You know how to use this thing too? Fine then, Uncle will play with you today!" The scar-faced man laughed triumphantly, lunging forward to stab at Yang Tian’s heart. Zhang Xiuxiu and Xia Dong both gasped in horror; after all, Yang Tian was still just a student. How could he possibly fight a hardened thug from the Vietnam War?

But then, a shocking scene unfolded. Before the man’s bayonet could reach Yang Tian’s chest, Yang Tian’s own blade suddenly flashed out, striking the man’s face.

Following through with a quick pull, Yang Tian ripped away a chunk of the man's flesh along with his veil. Blood sprayed everywhere, causing Zhang Xiuxiu to scream.

Xia Dong was also stunned. He knew Yang Tian had trained, but such speed was truly astonishing; had it been him, he would have surely been the one stabbed.

***

The scar-faced man let out a miserable howl, his bayonet clattering to the ground. Yet, he still glared, his eyes reflecting a vicious ferocity.

With a roar, he lunged at Yang Tian again, fists and feet flying.

Facing the man’s desperate state, Yang Tian remained calm. He stood as cold as ice, waiting for the attack. As the man closed in, Yang Tian threw a left hook, striking the man’s wound, causing him to wail in agony.

Then, Yang Tian’s right hook followed through with a *boom*, knocking the man to the ground, unable to move. That punch could have punched through a steel plate; it was likely the man’s jaw would never close properly again.

The men in black standing nearby were dumbstruck, then dropped their knives and fled in all directions.

Old Li was merely a lackey who had intended to show off to win Cheng Liang’s favor. Unexpectedly witnessing this turn of events, he couldn't run as fast as the thugs. Yang Tian grabbed him by the collar and tossed him toward the motorcycle.

"Don't hit me, don't hit me! Young Master Cheng, help!" Old Li’s veil fell off, and his face was twisted in terror as he screamed for help toward the nearby alley.

Old Li’s panic immediately exposed Cheng Liang, who, realizing things had gone wrong, had already chosen to flee.

Just as Cheng Liang prepared to turn and run, a large club appeared behind him. A familiar, short figure shouted from behind: "You animal! I knew there was something wrong with you! You’re always calling me an idiot and a loser behind my back. Let’s see how I handle you today! How dare you bully my sister!"

The one wielding the club was Zhang Zhi. Yang Tian had called him on the way over, telling him not to rush in but to sneakily find the mastermind. As Yang Tian expected, the mastermind was hiding nearby.

Zhang Zhi and Zhang Xiuxiu shared a close bond. As a child, Zhang Zhi had become physically frail precisely because he had tried to protect his sister. Seeing someone bully her made him go into a violent rage—he was even ready to kill.

Had Kong Lei and the police officers not arrived in time, Zhang Zhi might have beaten Cheng Liang to death. The soft-skinned Cheng Liang was beaten until his skin was torn and raw, his pleas for mercy almost hoarse, yet no one wanted to intervene, and Zhang Xiuxiu even rushed in to help beat him.

"Zhang Zhi, that’s enough! Let us handle it from here!" Kong Lei grabbed Zhang Zhi; if he kept blocking him, it would end in a fatality.

"I’m calling my father right now! From this day on, the Zhang family cuts all ties with the Cheng family! Furthermore, I will use every connection the Zhang family has to destroy Cheng Liang!" Zhang Zhi ranted in a blind rage. He never liked relying on his family’s influence, but for his sister’s sake, he was willing to do it.

"A-Zhi, A-Zhi, calm down. We will handle this!" Kong Lei was a friend of Zhang Siguo and naturally sided with the Zhangs.

Kong Lei took Cheng Liang and his group away. Xia Dong was sent to the hospital, and Zhang Xiuxiu returned to the Zhang family villa, accompanied by Zhang Zhi and Yang Tian.

Upon returning, Zhang Zhi was still livid, cursing Cheng Liang while making calls to inform the family patriarch. The entire Zhang family was outraged by the news and demanded an explanation from Cheng Huaiyu.

***

Cheng Huaiyu was so infuriated by the news that he was hospitalized. He and Zhang Youcai were family friends of several decades, a relationship built over many years of business cooperation.

Now that his reckless son had caused such a disaster, the Zhang and Cheng families were bound to become enemies. The Cheng family’s business would inevitably suffer, especially since many in the Zhang family held government positions in the mainland; destroying the Cheng family would be easy.

To apologize, Cheng Huaiyu spoke from his hospital bed, promising that once he recovered, he would personally come to Binhai to apologize to Zhang Xiuxiu, and he pledged to severely punish his wayward son.

Anyone could see that Cheng Huaiyu was just playing for time, hoping to keep the Zhang family from escalating the situation, otherwise, Cheng Liang would certainly face imprisonment.

The Zhang family patriarch was furious, but he was a man of composure. He didn't let Zhang Zhi immediately sue Cheng Liang, telling him to hold off. After all, if this became a massive scandal, it would benefit neither family, especially regarding Zhang Xiuxiu’s reputation.

"It’s a good thing you arrived in time. Otherwise, Xia Dong would surely have been beaten to death," Zhang Xiuxiu said, smiling at Yang Tian as she sat on the sofa. Despite the false alarm, she had been terrified; the sweat on her forehead had yet to dry.

"If I hadn't come, you would have been the one in the worst shape, not him," Yang Tian replied thoughtfully. He felt sure Cheng Liang was harboring a far more sinister scheme, or he wouldn't have been at the scene himself. As for what he intended to do, anyone with half a brain could guess. He had been coveting Zhang Xiuxiu for a long time. Back in Guangzhou, under the watchful eye of the Zhang patriarch, he hadn't dared to act out, but here in Binhai, where the Zhang family’s power was limited to Zhang Siguo’s branch, Cheng Liang felt emboldened.

"Why me?" Zhang Xiuxiu asked, confused by such matters.

"It’s not easy to say," Yang Tian replied, feeling awkward about spelling it out, as it was only his speculation.

"Not easy to say? Then tell me anyway. Every time you speak, you only say half of it. Are you tired of talking?" Zhang Xiuxiu drank a glass of strong spirits, finally steadying her heart.

"Oh, Sis, are you stupid? If he just wanted to beat you and Xia Dong, why would a bastard like Cheng Liang follow along in the middle of the night? It’s obvious he wanted to… sigh!" Zhang Zhi interjected, sighing loudly with rage.

Zhang Xiuxiu froze. She had always known Cheng Liang had designs on her, but she had merely dismissed him as a playboy. Only today did she realize what kind of person he truly was. She felt both shocked and terrified; if Yang Tian hadn't received that call and arrived in time, then…

"Don't worry, this time I won't let Cheng Liang make a comeback, so he can't harm anyone else in the future!" Zhang Zhi declared firmly. Although he usually avoided using his family's influence to get things done, he knew the Zhang family still held enough power to deal with the Cheng family.

"It won't be that easy. Even if Cheng Huaiyu goes bankrupt, he will likely try to protect Cheng Liang. Besides, right now, he can be charged at most with hiring thugs to assault someone; that won't be enough to take him down for good," Yang Tian reminded him softly. Even with the Zhang family’s intervention, given the Cheng family’s resources, it would be difficult to truly ruin Cheng Liang. He would soon be back to his old ways elsewhere.

"No, this time I must make him taste bitterness. Do you have any good ideas, Yang Tian?" Zhang Xiuxiu finally regained her composure. She was angrier than anyone and asked Yang Tian urgently.

"Call your patriarch and ask what his plans are, then we’ll talk," Yang Tian said after a moment of reflection. The Zhang patriarch was a man of great stature; he would certainly have a plan.

Until the Zhang family made their stance clear, Yang Tian wouldn't easily use any of his own ruthless methods.