"Whoosh!"
Su Ming's figure blurred as he darted toward Leng Yueling, yet he hesitated, his hands frozen at his sides. He didn't dare touch her—not with the risk of causing further injury. Falling from such heights was dangerous enough; any careless movement might make things worse.
A sharp pang of anguish twisted in Su Ming's chest.
"Su… Su Ming, don't grieve… I… I was already destined to die… Don't… don't get yourself into trouble for me!"
Leng Yueling's voice was faint, each word trembling like the flicker of a dying flame.
These were her final words. As soon as they left her lips, her gaze clouded over, dull and vacant, and the faint pulse of life within her faded away entirely.
"How could this happen… Who? Who did this?"
Su Ming stared blankly at Leng Yueling's motionless form before his eyes shifted abruptly. In the distance, two shadowy figures leapt down from the second floor. They rolled upon landing to absorb the impact, then sprang to their feet, intent on fleeing.
"Stop!"
Su Ming's voice rang out, cold and commanding.
But the pair ignored him, accelerating instead.
"Hmph…"
A low snort escaped Su Ming's lips as he reached out.
"Shh!"
An eerie whistle sliced through the air.
In an instant, a translucent thread shot forth from Su Ming's fingertips, streaking across several meters before latching onto the ankles of the two fugitives.
With a gentle tug, Su Ming yanked them off their feet, pulling them back to hover helplessly before him.
"What in God's name is this?! Are we hallucinating…?"
The two men froze, their faces pale with terror, eyes wide as saucers.
At that moment, Su Ming finally got a clear look at their features. Strangers. Their hardened expressions marked them as professionals—likely hired guards or enforcers.
"Who sent you?"
Su Ming's voice was devoid of emotion, flat and cutting like steel.
"Let us go! She fell by herself!" one of them blurted out hastily.
Without a word, Su ming's energy thread coiled tightly around the man's foot, then cinched mercilessly.
"AHHH!"
The man screamed as his foot contorted grotesquely, waves of searing pain radiating through his body.
"Answer the question," Su Ming said again, his tone colder than ice.
"What did you do to us?! Let us go!" The other man shrieked after hearing his companion's agonized cry.
Su Ming's gaze flicked to him. With a swift extension of the thread, it wrapped itself around the second man's foot, repeating the same cruel process.
Crack.
The sickening crunch of bone echoed loudly.
"AHHH!"
Another scream pierced the air.
Su Ming remained silent, his focus unwavering. The threads spiraled higher, creeping along their calves, tightening inch by inch.
Their screams grew louder, more desperate.
Unmoved, Su Ming watched as the threads continued their ascent. Though no blood seeped from their skin, the flesh beneath began to collapse inward, rotting away invisibly.
"AHHH! Fine, I'll talk—I'LL TALK!"
Finally, the two men broke under the unbearable torment, howling in agony.
Su Ming paused, his icy glare pinning them in place.
"It was Mr. Luo! Mr. Luo ordered us to bring Leng Yueling back to the Royal Dynasty Hotel!"
"We—we never expected her to panic and fall from the building!"
"Please, spare us! We were wrong—we're sorry…"
The burly men sobbed uncontrollably, their tough exteriors shattered.
"Hmph… The Royal Dynasty Hotel…"
"Luo Ao."
Su Ming let out a disdainful snort, his aura flaring briefly. A surge of power washed over the two men, and they slumped unconscious, their screams cut short.
Ding! Option triggered!
Option 1: Avenge Leng Yueling. Reward: Master-level skill—Sky Step.
Option 2: Honor Leng Yueling's last wish and avoid causing trouble. Reward: 10 billion in cash.
Without hesitation, Su Ming dismissed the second option and chose the first.
Crouching down, he gently lifted Leng Yueling's lifeless body. With a thought, she vanished, reappearing moments later in his private dimensional space.
Turning on his heel, Su Ming strode to his car. He revved the engine, slammed the accelerator, and spun the vehicle around in a sharp turn, heading straight for the Royal Dynasty Hotel.
As for the two kidnappers, Su Ming left them where they lay. He hadn't killed them—but their legs were beyond repair. Permanent disability awaited them.
---
Arriving at the Royal Dynasty Hotel, Su Ming stepped inside, his face a mask of unyielding resolve.
"Sir, may I assist you?" the receptionist greeted with a polite smile.
"I'm here to see your Mr. Luo," Su Ming replied curtly.
"Do you have an appointment, sir?" she asked, still smiling warmly.
Her pleasant demeanor was wasted on Su Ming. His patience had run thin. A chilling aura of menace radiated from his piercing gaze, freezing the receptionist in place.
"S-sir…" she stammered, her voice shaking. "T-the top floor! Mr. Luo is on the top floor!"
"Thank you," Su Ming said coolly, his killing intent receding as he headed for the elevator.
Gasping for breath, the receptionist leaned heavily against the counter, trembling uncontrollably. "That was… terrifying…"
---
On the top floor, Su Ming found only one person waiting.
"Who are you?" the man demanded sharply.
"Are you Mr. Luo?" Su Ming asked, his tone indifferent.
"No, I'm the deputy general manager. Mr. Luo and Chairman Chen have taken Young Master Luo Ao to the Chen family estate!"
"Where exactly is that?" Su Ming pressed.
The man hesitated, unsure whether to answer. But something in Su Ming's steely gaze compelled him to speak. "It's located in the western suburbs."
Nodding slightly, Su Ming turned and left without another word.
---
Back in his car, Su Ming dialed Ning Fengqing's number.
"What is it, Su Ming? Calling so late?" Her voice carried a hint of curiosity.
"The Royal Dynasty Hotel—what's its connection to the Chen family?"
Ning Fengqing paused, sensing the tension in his voice. "The hotel belongs to the Chen Group. Its director, Chen Lin, is the eldest daughter of Chen Ankun. Her husband, Luo Baida, serves as the general manager. They have a son—you've met him before."
"Send me the location of the Chen family estate," Su Ming instructed.
"Alright." She complied immediately, then added, "What's going on, Su Ming? Can you tell me?"
Su Ming hesitated for a moment. "It's complicated. I'll explain later." He hung up without waiting for her response.
---
Meanwhile, at the Chen family estate…
The Chen residence sprawled across acres of land, rivaling the grandeur of the Ning estate. Su Ming parked his car and approached the main gate.
Two black-clad guards stepped forward, blocking his path. "Who are you? Stop right there!"