However, just when Tan Ran was on the phone, Lu Tianxing and Lin Qianru were already following the Tan Family into the backyard, arriving at the door of a house.
Meanwhile, in the room, a middle-aged man and woman, both in their fifties, were pacing back and forth with anxious expressions. Just yesterday, they had heard from Tan Heng that their daughter had returned to Hang City with a man and that she planned to take them away from the Tan Family today, which made them extremely worried.
As natives of Hang City, they were well aware of the Tan Family’s power. Their daughter coming to the Tan Family was like a lamb walking into a tiger’s den, a needless sacrifice. Wouldn’t all their previous efforts have been in vain? They would rather suffer themselves than have their daughter come to harm.
Yet, they were powerless and could only pray in their hearts that their daughter would be safe and not do anything foolish.
Just then, the door to the room was pushed open from the outside. Lin Zhanpeng and Cai Shuya, parents of Lin Qianru, immediately turned their gaze to the door. Upon seeing Lin Qianru, both were noticeably taken aback, then their faces showed an utmost anxious look, thinking that perhaps the Tan Family had captured Lin Qianru.
Lin Qianru’s mother, Cai Shuya, began to tremble uncontrollably, and even her voice became choked up, "Qian... Qian Ru, why are you here? Did the Tan Family capture you? Leave quickly, go fast. Your dad and I will make sure you get out of the Tan Family safely."
Lin Zhanpeng didn’t speak, only clenching his fists and looking around coldly for an opportunity to break out.
"It’s not that, mom and dad, it’s not that."
Hearing her mother’s words, Lin Qianru shook her head desperately, her eyes couldn’t help but well up with tears, and she suddenly threw herself into Cai Shuya’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably. It had been so many years since she had seen her parents. Now, finally seeing them again, she realized her parents had aged, appearing even older than before.
"Qian Ru, why are you crying? Don’t cry, tell mom, did someone from the Tan Family bully you? Tell me, did they?" Seeing her daughter crying so heartbreakingly, Cai Shuya became somewhat frantic and comforted her immediately.
"Mom, I’m fine, really fine."
Only then did Lin Qianru remember the purpose of her visit and hurriedly said, "Dad, mom, I’m here today to take you away from the Tan Family, to bring you back home with dignity."
Lin Zhanpeng, who had been silent until now, was slightly stunned, not quite understanding, and looked at Lu Tianxing who had come in behind, asking with confusion, "Qian Ru, and who is this?"
Hearing her father’s question, Lin Qianru suddenly remembered Lu Tianxing, whom she had seemingly forgotten, and hurriedly explained, "Dad, mom, let me introduce him to you. This is Lu Tianxing, he’s my boyfriend. It’s because of him that the Tan Family were willing to compromise today. From now on, we no longer have any ties with the Tan Family."
"Hello, uncle and auntie," Lu Tianxing quickly greeted when Lin Qianru introduced him, his demeanor respectful without showing any arrogance, his gaze surveying Lin Zhanpeng and Cai Shuya.
Lin Qianru’s mother, Cai Shuya, appeared to be in her forties or fifties, but because she took great care of herself, she looked no different from a woman in her twenties, strikingly beautiful with the typical Jiangnan woman’s gentleness, adding a mature charm beyond that of a twenty-year-old girl, with a strong attraction to men. However, her current expression was very weary, indicating that she was not in a good place mentally.
Lin Qianru’s father was tall, around one meter eighty, exuding an elegance from head to toe. Dressed in a suit, he looked distinguished; one could tell at a glance that he was a successful businessman. Standing on the street, he would probably make countless girls scream. Handsome and elegant, wealthy, caring and mature, such a man was indeed the ideal boyfriend for many women.
"Lu Tianxing, hello... Is what Qian Ru just said true?" Cai Shuya asked Lu Tianxing in a soft voice.
"Yes, auntie, Qianru wasn’t lying to you. From now on, the Tan Family won’t force you anymore. I’ve dealt with the Tan Family, and from now on, no one can threaten you anymore," Lu Tianxing replied earnestly.
"What? You said you’ve dealt with the Tan Family?"
Surprise and disbelief spread across the faces of Lin Zhanpeng and Cai Shuya. They could never have imagined that this young man before them could make the Tan Family yield, to make them capitulate. It was simply unbelievable.
They knew that in Hang City, the Tan Family was like an emperor, and with Luo Hun as their protector, many families wanted to take their place, only to end up with their own families destroyed. That was why the Tan Family’s reputation in Hang City was so formidable. If Lu Tianxing had made the Tan Family yield, didn’t that mean the force behind him was even more frightening than the Tan Family, that even Heaven-level Martial Artists couldn’t touch him?
"Uncle, Auntie, don’t worry, the Tan Family wouldn’t dare to do anything reckless. If you don’t believe me, let me take you outside to see for yourself,"
Lu Tianxing smiled and nodded, then led the way outside with the group.
Along the way, each member of the Tan Family looked at Lu Tianxing and his group with eyes filled with hatred, yet no one dared to make a move. The dead bodies in front served as a bloody lesson.
In response to the surrounding gazes, Lu Tianxing sneered silently, not saying anything. However, in his heart, he had already made up his mind: the Tan Family must be eliminated at all costs. They were like a nest of poisonous snakes, leaving them alive would be an endless threat.
Meanwhile, outside, the entire Tan Family Courtyard was surrounded by police, sealed off completely. This was Tan Ran’s plan, to use state power against Lu Tianxing. He knew that Lu Tianxing was powerful and that ordinary police would not be able to deal with him. However, he still employed these police forces with the objective of forcing Lu Tianxing’s hand. If Lu Tianxing dared to strike at the police, it would be tantamount to opposing the state, and the Yanhuang Group would not let him off the hook.
As long as the Yanhuang Group made a move, from then on, Lu Tianxing would be like a dog that had lost its home, forced to flee everywhere. Tan Ran did not wish to kill Lu Tianxing; he wanted to make Lu Tianxing’s life a living hell.
At this moment, the entire Tan Family was dead silent, everyone’s hearts trembling, all awaiting what would come next. If Lu Tianxing could overcome the Tan Family, the local snakes, then the Tan Family would no longer be able to make a comeback. But if Lu Tianxing were to lose, the Tan Family might decline, but they certainly wouldn’t perish. The saying that a lean camel is bigger than a horse wasn’t just empty words.
Hang City’s Police Chief, Sun Buping, also wore a solemn expression. Someone had boldly carried a coffin into the Tan Family, killed their people, and even Luo Hun, one of the Tan Family’s top experts, had died at this person’s hands. This made his heart feel as though a massive stone was crushing his chest, leaving him breathless. If this person could kill Luo Hun, could his men apprehend him?
Sun Buping was unsure, and he didn’t dare to act rashly. He was caught in a dilemma, to be honest; he hadn’t wanted to come at all. But the promises the Tan Family had made to him were too tempting. He had held this position for over a decade and was about to retire, likely never to move up in rank again for the rest of his life.
But Tan Ran had promised him something: if he could bring Lu Tianxing back to the police station today, the Tan Family would ensure that he moved up the ranks. That was the reason he came here, plus, Tan Ran explicitly told him that Lu Tianxing wouldn’t dare do anything because of the presence of the Yanhuang Group.
That was the source of his confidence, the confidence with which he dared to confront Lu Tianxing.
Inside the Tan Family Courtyard, all the police were on high alert, fully armed. They weren’t fools; the sight of crowd after crowd lying beaten on the ground outside the courtyard made it clear that their target was extremely dangerous, not the kind easily captured. Now, they only hoped that nothing unexpected would happen.
And at that moment, as Lu Tianxing and his group emerged from behind, his expression turned icy upon seeing the courtyard full of police. It seemed the Tan Family had not given up; they were planning to fight him with their overt power.
Lin Zhanpeng and Cai Shuya were shocked at the scene. How could there be so many police? What on earth had happened? They were still unaware that Lu Tianxing had fought his way into the Tan Family and thought instead that he had used his family influence to suppress the Tan Family.
Lin Qianru’s face instantly tensed with nervousness as she tightly clung to Lu Tianxing’s arm, her lips pursed together, ready to stand or fall alongside Lu Tianxing no matter what.
"Uncle, Auntie, please stay here. I will go and deal with them. Qian Ru, take good care of Uncle and Auntie," said Lu Tianxing as he instructed them with a cold smile, then took steps towards Tan Ran.
Upon Lu Tianxing taking his first step, the surrounding police instantly went on high alert, raising their guns and aiming at Lu Tianxing.
Lu Tianxing ignored the surrounding police and walked step by step to Tan Ran’s side, then slowly spoke out, "Do you really think that I dare not wipe out the entire Tan Family?"
Hearing Lu Tianxing’s words, Tan Ran’s face twisted, and he said ferociously, "To annihilate my Tan Family, today I will make sure you have no grave to lay in. You killed my people, injured my grandson, and killed the worshipper of the Tan Family. If I don’t wipe you out, it will weigh on my conscience. I want to crush your bones and scatter your ashes."
Lin Zhanpeng and Cai Shuya trembled at Tan Ran’s words, their shocked gazes falling on Lu Tianxing. They finally understood why the Tan Family had looked at them with such bone-deep hatred; their future son-in-law had not just used his status to pressure others but had actually fought his way into the Tan Family and even killed the Tan Family’s worshipper.
This was more than just a slap in the face; it was an absolute life-or-death struggle. To tread on the Tan Family in front of all the powerhouses of Hang City would make the Tan Family an utter joke from now on. No wonder Tan Ran was willing to fight Lu Tianxing to the bitter end.
PS: I had planned to write something about putting someone in their place, but as everyone knows, when writing urban fiction, there are certain things you can’t touch because it’s too risky, so I had no choice; I apologize.