Chapter Thirty-Four: The Trusted Confidant of the Cao Family

"You brat! You dare accept my deposit, drag me into this mess, and even lay a hand on me? Today I’ll chop you into pieces!" Cao Yin cursed viciously once more, then suddenly spat at Wang Ling across from him.

Having never experienced anything like this before, Wang Ling was holding on by sheer force of will, his nerves stretched to their limits. A sudden flash before his eyes left no time for thought; instinct alone made him swerve his head aside, assuming Cao Yin had thrown some hidden weapon.

A rush of air swept past Wang Ling’s ear as he turned. Before he could look back, his body reacted automatically—he raised his short sword, but a jolt of numbness shot through the fingers gripping the hilt, forcing him to let go.

A metallic clang followed by a heavy thud—the sword blocked only part of the blow. Cao Yin’s iron rod still struck Wang Ling’s head. The blade’s intervention saved him from an instantly shattered skull, but even so, being hit in the head with a solid iron rod was no small matter. The world spun; Wang Ling’s vision blurred, and his mind grew hazy, as if a thousand flies buzzed inside his skull.

"Brother!"
"Wang Ling!!"

As Wang Ling’s swaying body teetered on the brink of collapse, Xu Hong and Jia Jie, who had just struggled to their feet with each other’s help, stared wide-eyed, their gaze bloodshot. Their shouts were useless; Wang Ling seemed not to hear, his eyes dull as he staggered, staying upright only by force of will.

With a grim smile, Cao Yin swung again. Xu Hong and Jia Jie heard the sickening crack of Wang Ling’s shoulder blade, but powerless to help, they tried in vain to support each other and stagger forward, only for Cao Yin to knock them both back to the ground with a single sweep of his rod.

"Look at yourselves! Still think you can bargain?" Cao Yin rubbed his swollen cheek—Wang Ling’s earlier punch had not been light, the swelling now pulling at his eyelid and fueling his fury. He raised his iron rod and brought it down on Jia Jie, who lay before him, in a wild, merciless assault.

Jia Jie let out only a few muffled groans before he became the first of the three brothers to die—not only were his bones shattered, but his head burst open like a smashed watermelon, flesh and bone scattering in a grotesque spray, reds and whites pooling on the floor and spattering with every swing.

"Old Jia!! Brother..."

Xu Hong, dazed, opened his eyes just in time to witness the horror, his mouth agape in a silent scream, tears streaming down his face. But Cao Yin’s iron rod showed no mercy, swinging coldly at Xu Hong.

A dull crack silenced Xu Hong instantly. His neck twisted at an unnatural angle, impossible for a living man, but his eyes, filled with rage and unwillingness, remained wide open, refusing to close even as the last sparks of life faded, twin fires of anger still burning in his pupils.

"Useless! All three of you, useless!" Cao Yin, recalling his young master’s insults, smashed Xu Hong’s corpse a few more times with the iron rod, then, still unsatisfied, strode toward Wang Ling, who had collapsed by the bed, his blood-soaked face twisted and monstrous.

"Useless! Only you’re left now!" He stopped before Wang Ling, whose cheek was streaked with blood, and suddenly lowered his rod, poking Wang Ling with it, sneering, "Boy! Open your eyes, look—see what happened to your two good brothers!"

It was as if Wang Ling understood. He slowly turned his head, a flicker of clarity returning to his gaze. Then, as he took in the scene, his body jerked and his eyes went vacant again, as if what he saw was beyond the limits of his comprehension.

"This is your fate! Think you can play me? Is my deposit so easily pocketed?" Cao Yin, now in no hurry, squatted before Wang Ling, slapping his face in mockery. "So, will you take deposits again? Look—your brothers died because of you!"

Suddenly, Wang Ling turned his head, his gaze sharp as a blade. But this only made Cao Yin laugh uproariously. He slapped Wang Ling twice, then stood with a sneer, "What? You want revenge for them? Ha!"

"You’re right," Wang Ling replied calmly, his eyes suddenly tranquil, even tinged with pity as he looked at Cao Yin. "I am going to kill you."

"What’s that? Kill me? Ha!" Cao Yin froze for a moment, then laughed even more wildly, slowly raising his iron rod, his voice turning icy cold. "I’ll kill you now, then toss you into the sea so there’s nothing left of you!"

As the rod rose, murder gleamed in Cao Yin’s eyes, but suddenly a commotion erupted outside the door, making him pause and listen.

A thunderous crash made Cao Yin jump in fright, and the scene before him drove him several steps back in terror. The makeshift wooden wall had been smashed open, and Ding Li, arms crossed over his head, burst through. In each hand he wielded a sharp dagger, and as he moved, droplets of blood flew from their blades.

Cao Yin gasped, especially as Ding Li, the moment his feet touched the ground, lunged for him. Instinctively, Cao Yin retreated further, swinging the iron rod in defense.

He thought this might at least buy him time, but Ding Li didn’t hesitate; both arms swept forward, his daggers weaving a dazzling web of cold light.

In that split second, at least a dozen clashes of steel rang out. Despite gripping the rod with both hands, Cao Yin could hold on no longer; his numbed fingers lost their grip, and he was left defenseless.

What followed was even more terrifying. If Ding Li’s daggers were like serpents striking, then Cao Yin now faced a dozen deadly vipers.

In mere moments, Cao Yin felt nothing anymore; pain vanished, and blood spurted in slender arcs as Ding Li’s daggers carved through him in the cramped room, painting a scene of ghastly beauty amid the carnage.

Without pause, the two daggers plunged into Cao Yin’s heart, one after the other. He never made a sound; his terrified eyes remained fixed on Ding Li as his mouth opened, but only a gurgle emerged, drowned by the blood flooding his throat.

With a final blow of his elbow to Cao Yin’s neck, Ding Li leapt back, avoiding even a single drop of the spraying blood. He glanced around, shuddered at the carnage, then frowned at Xu Hong, knowing the man was truly dead. Without delay, he hurried to Wang Ling’s side, grabbing his arm and urging, "We must go! We’ll figure out the rest later!"

"It’s you?" Only now did Wang Ling make out Ding Li’s face, his expression conflicted as he stared at him, a hint of resistance in his arm. Wang Ling couldn’t help but blame Ding Li for what had happened, yet he also knew that Ding Li had just saved his life—and avenged Xu Hong and Jia Jie. His heart was in turmoil. More importantly, he understood that Cao Yin was only a pawn; the real culprit was the young man outside.

"We have to move! There’s no time!" Ding Li’s grip was firm, and Wang Ling, unable to resist, was pulled to his feet. Seeing Wang Ling’s gaze fixed on the devastation behind them, Ding Li guessed his thoughts and, after a moment’s consideration, said bluntly, "If you want revenge, you must stay alive! Let’s go!"

This time, Wang Ling did not resist, letting Ding Li lead him out through the breach, though his eyes lingered on the ruined wall, where, in the dim light, his two closest friends lay.

"Catch them! They’re at the back!"

They had barely run ten meters when several men, torches in hand, called out to their companions nearby. But Ding Li, swift as ever, hurled a dagger toward the firelight; one man fell without a sound, the torch dropping onto his own face.

The survivors threw their torches aside in panic, desperate not to meet the same fate. They ducked behind cover, not daring to shout again, for fear of drawing Ding Li’s deadly attention.

"Cao Yin is dead! Young master, Cao Yin is dead!"

Behind Ding Li, a tumult of exclamations erupted as people rushed into the battered shack. The young man who entered after them frowned deeply, his face as cold as ice. Though he had cursed Cao Yin as useless, seeing his trusted aide dead before him still stung—Cao Yin was one of his few confidants.

"Search! Notify Cao Si and Cao Chen!" the young man ordered, his tone icy and full of murderous intent. "Turn the city upside down if you have to! Find the escapees and their accomplice!"

"Yes, young master! I’ll notify them right away!" a servant replied nervously, bowing low but not daring to leave until further instructed.

"And send men to Fuxu Harbor! Immediately, tonight!" The young man stood in thought, then waved his hand, adding, "Pass on my orders—have Cao Hai and Cao You act at once, then return to the city. I need their help here!"

"Understood, young master!" The servant nodded, but seeing the young master still frowning in thought, asked softly, "Any further instructions? I’ll relay them at once!"

"You go ahead. Remember—be quick!" The young man shook his head, spoke softly, and waved the servant away. He turned and left, his head bowed in deep thought, lost in plans only he knew.