154: Chapter 153 He Ting's Frustration

Before these people could even get close to Cao Xiao, Duan Hong and the other eleven bodyguards had already formed a protective perimeter around Cao Xiao's party. Dressed in matching black Zhongshan suits and wielding short batons, they stared the crowd down with cold expressions. Seeing the bodyguards' burly physiques, the people hesitated. However, two men, confident in their own strength, tried to charge through. They were met with metal batons as fast as lightning. With no unnecessary flourishes, the batons struck their necks with just enough force to knock them unconscious. The others were terrified and instinctively backed away.

Cao Xiao cast a cold glance at them before returning his gaze to Linghu Yashu, whose face had turned a purplish hue. No matter how much Linghu Yashu punched and kicked, Cao Xiao remained motionless, as if he felt no pain. The Tianxing Type 1 Bulletproof Vest was far superior to ordinary bulletproof vests. While it might not stop the internal strikes of an Anjin Martial Artist, even the maximum attack force of a peak Mingjin Martial Artist could not transmit power through its buffer layer—let alone the kicks and punches of someone as pampered and weak as Linghu Yashu.

Fearing Linghu Yashu might suffer if held too long, Cao Xiao intended to release him. But at that moment, a figure lunged from the crowd and struck Li Quanshuo in the chest. Despite the vest's buffering, the blow knocked Li Quanshuo back to Cao Xiao's side. Cao Xiao's pupils constricted; he knew without a doubt the newcomer was a martial artist, specifically one from the Xing Yi Quan lineage who had mastered Obvious Power. That move was clearly the Pao Quan of Xing Yi Quan. Pao Quan was the most ferocious technique in Xing Yi Quan. Had it not been for the vest's protection, that single strike would have certainly left Li Quanshuo severely injured or dead. The strength of a Mingjin Martial Artist was no joke. Cao Xiao did not look down on them just because he had successfully ambushed several Anjin Martial Artists. He practiced martial arts himself and knew how formidable even a novice Mingjin Martial Artist could be. This man had attacked with lethal intent from the start, showing no regard for life. He was likely Linghu Yashu's bodyguard; only the Linghu Clan had the resources to hire such a martial artist to protect their scions.

"Kill!"

Seeing the opponent about to reach him, and with He Yueyou behind him, he couldn't retreat a single step. At this critical moment, Cao Xiao's mind was incredibly clear. In a split second, he let out a sharp shout, released Linghu Yashu, and instead of retreating, he lunged forward. With one foot planted and the other stomping the ground, he crossed his arms in front of his chest, elbows pointed outward, and slammed his side into the man with all his might.

In his desperation, Cao Xiao used the Baji Tieshankao, but instead of a shoulder lean, he concentrated his full body's power into his elbow to extend his reach. The movements were seamless, and in an instant, he collided with the opponent's chest.

However, the opponent reacted even faster. Without slowing down, he used a cross-arm block to parry Cao Xiao's elbow strike. Then, before Cao Xiao could react, he suddenly planted his feet and delivered a Beng Quan strike to Cao Xiao's chest. The power generation of Xing Yi's Beng Quan was not a simple linear thrust; it channeled force from the body into the fist, followed by a slight vibration that transformed the gathered power into a supple force, crashing into the target like a tidal wave. It already carried a hint of Anjin.

Cao Xiao felt a massive shock in his chest and was sent reeling backward by the immense force. Fortunately, his horse stance prevented him from falling flat on his back, but he still had to retreat several steps to barely dissipate the impact. His expression was grim. Having experienced it firsthand, he realized the man truly intended to kill him. Luckily, the strike hit the area covered by the bulletproof vest; had it hit his head or throat, he would have been killed instantly.

This person was too dangerous to be allowed to continue attacking. As Cao Xiao retreated, one hand was already behind his back, preparing to draw his pistol. However, the man did not continue his assault but instead rushed to Linghu Yashu's side to help him up.

"Young Master, are you alright?"

"He Ting, why did you only act now?! Take them all down immediately and break that kid's limbs! No one has ever choked me or pointed at my face and cursed me since I was a child! All of you will pay for this!" Linghu Yashu finally caught his breath. He shoved his bodyguard aside and glared at Cao Xiao's group with a distorted, gnashing expression.

"The opponent is a martial artist! Don't get close! Use the Hand Crossbows!"

The bodyguards had been alerted when Cao Xiao was attacked and were ready to charge He Ting with their batons. Fearing they would suffer, Cao Xiao quickly warned them. Simultaneously, his hand gripped the handle of the loaded pistol he had retrieved from his space and tucked into his waistband, ready to draw and fire at any moment. In fact, Duan Hong and the other five bodyguards who had gone to Qian Province with him all carried pistols. They now held legal military status to carry firearms, but they could only fire in self-defense. Otherwise, Cao Xiao would have ordered them to fire warning shots immediately.

"Hands on your head and squat down! Otherwise, you will be shot on the spot!"

Hearing Cao Xiao's warning, the bodyguards stopped immediately and retreated a few steps, maintaining a distance of about two meters from He Ting. They threw their metal batons to the ground, rolled up their right sleeves with their left hands to reveal the Hand Crossbows on their arms, and placed their left hands on a small round button. They shouted at He Ting. When Cao Xiao created these Hand Crossbows, he designed a tensioning device to handle emergencies. When the crossbow arms are folded, power is stored through an internal spring mechanism. With a press of the button, the arms snap open, and the string instantly fires the first bolt. Spanning was only required for the second shot.

He Ting had never seen such a strange Hand Crossbow, one where the arms weren't even open. However, he didn't dare be careless. He was confident he could dodge a single crossbow bolt or even a bullet. Even with over ten crossbows pointed at him, he believed his speed would allow him to break out and counterattack, even if he took a few bolts. But his employer was right behind him. His own injuries didn't matter, but despite being a rare Mingjin Martial Artist, the Linghu Clan's power meant they could even hire Anjin Martial Artists if they paid the price. In the clan's eyes, a Mingjin Martial Artist like him was not that important. If anything happened to Linghu Yashu, he would be held responsible even if he died ten thousand deaths. If he failed to protect him, the Linghu Clan would surely vent their fury on him. He would be lucky to survive with his skin intact. Thus, he could only choose to shield Linghu Yashu. As a martial artist, he had his dignity; he did not squat as ordered but stood in a heavy, guarded stance, ready to block any bolts for Linghu Yashu.

"Cao Xiao! You're dead! No one can save you for doing this to me!" Linghu Yashu's face was livid. He pulled out his phone and roared hysterically at Cao Xiao.

"Heh! I told you to squat down. Do you not understand?" Cao Xiao looked at Linghu Yashu with disdain, drew his pistol, and pointed it at He Ting as he approached, shouting.

"You bastard! Do you want to die? You dare pull a gun!" Linghu Yashu's pupils shrank slightly when he saw the gun, and his movements stopped. Fear finally set in, but he quickly composed himself. He didn't believe Cao Xiao would actually dare to fire, thinking it was just a bluff. He pushed He Ting aside, walked up to Cao Xiao, and stood right in front of the muzzle, berating him indignantly.

"Brother Duan, get a few men to take this guy down! He dared to attack active-duty military personnel; send him to a Military Court!" Cao Xiao pointed the gun back at He Ting and instructed Duan Hong.

"Bastard! You clearly started it; we were just acting in self-defense! Even if you are soldiers, your behavior violates military discipline. You have no right to arrest him. I'm calling the Provincial Military Region right now to file a complaint against you." Linghu Yashu trembled with rage. He hadn't expected Cao Xiao's bodyguards to be active-duty soldiers. Now that Cao Xiao was twisting the facts, if the charges were made to stick and He Ting was sent to a Military Court, even his father wouldn't be able to protect him. He had to call for help and find a way to resolve the crisis.

"Ignore him, do it! This man attacked with lethal intent from the start. If we weren't capable, Li Quanshuo and I would be dead or severely injured today!" Cao Xiao ignored Linghu Yashu and spoke to the slightly hesitant bodyguards.

"There's no need for you to act. As long as you let my young master leave safely, I will submit to your disposal!" He Ting sighed and spoke through gritted teeth.

"You aren't in a position to negotiate with me. If this weren't domestic soil, you would already be a corpse!" Cao Xiao said, looking coldly at He Ting.

"Wait! Cao Xiao, He Ting was just worried about my safety and didn't control his strength in the heat of the moment. I apologize on his behalf! Let's talk this out! Don't do anything rash!" Linghu Yashu finally understood why Cao Xiao was refusing to let He Ting go. He had seen He Ting practice martial arts and remembered that He Ting had attacked Cao Xiao with heavy force. That was why Cao Xiao was acting this way. Now that the bodyguards were about to move, it would be too late even if he found help. A wise man knows when to retreat; he had to get through this first. He anxiously tried to persuade Cao Xiao, not even noticing the pleading tone in his voice.

"How about I shoot you once and then apologize?" Cao Xiao asked seriously, pointing the gun at Linghu Yashu's heart.

"Young Master, don't beg him. I don't believe he dares to do anything to me. Come on!" He Ting thought to himself that in the five years he had followed Linghu Yashu, he had never encountered such a situation. Anyone who knew Linghu Yashu's identity would at least show some respect, if not be completely subservient. Yet this man dared to threaten Linghu Yashu's life with a gun. It seemed this wouldn't end peacefully today. He believed the Linghu Clan wouldn't abandon him, so he didn't think the opponent would actually kill him. Linghu Yashu's safety came first. If he surrendered himself, even if he suffered some injury or humiliation, it would be worth it as long as the opponent's anger was appeased and Linghu Yashu could leave safely.

"Good! As expected of a martial artist, you have guts! Brother Duan, tie him up!" Although Cao Xiao praised He Ting, he was sneering inwardly. If he didn't give He Ting a harsh lesson today, his anger wouldn't be quelled. He pulled a roll of rope, slightly thicker than yarn, from his pocket and threw it to Duan Hong.

He Ting calmly held out his hands for Duan Hong to bind. However, to his surprise, the man tied not only his hands but his feet as well. He wasn't afraid, thinking he'd see what tricks they were playing; if they really tried to kill him, this thin rope wouldn't hold him. But Duan Hong's next move left him stunned. Duan Hong looped the end of the rope from his feet through his hands and pulled hard. Caught off guard, He Ting's body was pulled into a bow, his hands and feet drawn together. Losing his balance, he tumbled to the ground. Duan Hong took the opportunity to wrap the rope again and tied a dead knot.

He Ting was dazed from the fall. It wasn't the pain; rather, his brain had stalled, unable to process what his eyes were seeing. This wasn't a way to tie a person! This was how they tied pigs for slaughter in the countryside! A dignified Mingjin Martial Artist was being tied up like a pig! If word got out, how could he ever hold his head up among his peers? Was this guy a pig butcher from a mess hall? When he snapped out of it, his eyes turned bloodshot, his breathing became rapid, and his face twisted into a feral mask of rage. He was about to curse Cao Xiao, but as he turned his head, he only saw Linghu Yashu's back. Just as he opened his mouth to roar, a greasy, filthy rag was shoved into his mouth. The rag was used for wiping the stone-cutting machine and was covered in stone dust. The dry, coarse dust entered his throat, making him choke painfully. With his mouth blocked, he couldn't cough it out. He felt suffocated, his face turning beet red and tears streaming down.

At that moment, his only thought was to get the rag out; he had forgotten all about Linghu Yashu and Cao Xiao. He instinctively tried to burst the ropes on his hands and feet. He surged his power outward, but the result left him in despair. He didn't know what material the thin rope was made of, but it was incredibly strong and had absolutely no elasticity. After a few desperate struggles, the rope bit painfully into his flesh, but it didn't budge at all.

Due to his excessive exertion, he accidentally inhaled more stone dust, making him feel even worse. Combined with the rapid blood flow from his rage and the restricted circulation from being bound, his body curled on the ground as the blood rushed to his head and pressured his nerves. His vision went black, and he grandly fainted away.

"Mr. Cao, he's fainted!"

Hearing Duan Hong's words, Cao Xiao walked around Linghu Yashu. When he saw He Ting's current state, he couldn't help but burst into laughter. He thought to himself that Brother Duan was truly talented! To tie someone up like that! Was he planning to sell a hog? Seeing He Ting forced into such a ridiculous pose and actually fainting from rage, much of his anger dissipated. If this sight were seen by more people, it would definitely be more painful for He Ting than death. Thinking of this, Cao Xiao put away his gun, took out his phone, opened the camera, and squatted down to take several close-up shots of He Ting from various angles before standing up satisfied.

"Brother, let me take some photos. I want to make him an internet celebrity. Sisters, it's time for you to do your part!" Seeing the danger had passed, Liu Chang excitedly ran over to He Ting, nudged Cao Xiao aside, and started taking pictures with her phone while calling the others to join.

"Cao Xiao, a man can be killed but not humiliated. I'll admit defeat today, but if you really post those photos online, then my Linghu Family will fight you to the death!" Linghu Yashu's expression was unusually calm now, his words ringing with an unmistakable weight and an air of non-negotiability.