Chapter 71: Loneliness Like Snow, Enchanting Every Beauty Under Heaven

The bald man actually had a gun? This revelation startled many people. In the underworld, matters were typically settled with sticks, and if things escalated, with machetes. Even if someone ended up at the police station, it wasn’t too serious. But guns were a different story altogether—a completely different level. Besides, firearms weren’t something just anyone could get their hands on. In gang wars, the side with more guns inevitably had the upper hand, but gangs with that kind of arsenal were certainly formidable.

No one had expected the bald man to be armed, but clearly, Ling Tian had anticipated it and managed to dodge with ease.

“Ling Tian! You dodged one shot, but I still have over a dozen bullets left. I don’t believe you can avoid them all, nor do I believe your men can. You’d better kneel and admit defeat now, and I might spare your life!” The bald man shouted viciously, aiming his gun at Ling Tian.

Ling Tian laughed. “You want to play with guns against me? You’re too green. Let me show you how it’s really done.”

Bang! Before he finished speaking, a gun had already appeared in Ling Tian’s hand. In less than a second, he fired, hitting the bald man precisely on the wrist holding the gun.

The weapon clattered to the ground. The bald man was stunned—he never imagined Ling Tian would have a gun too, or that he’d be so fast. Was he even human?

Ling Tian blew on the barrel of his gun with satisfaction, looking at the bald man and saying with a smile, “I never considered you my opponent. I only let you be my underling before because I thought you had potential. Who would’ve thought you were so clueless? You think just because you have a gun, you’re my match? I was playing with guns before you were even born!”

Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but scoff inwardly. Playing with guns before the bald man was born? Ling Tian looked only seventeen or eighteen at most, while the bald man was at least twenty-five or six. This was quite a boast.

Since the bald man and Viper’s side had been utterly defeated, their remaining men stopped fighting, watching the scene unfold. It was obvious Ling Tian had the power to cripple the bald man for good.

“Dai Jin, Yuanbao, come here and smash their kneecaps. Let’s settle this score once and for all! Make sure they can’t stand for at least two years!” Ling Tian kept his gun raised. No one else dared move under his threat, forced to watch as Dai Jin and Yuanbao approached with iron bars.

Bang! Bang! Just as Dai Jin and Yuanbao reached Ling Tian, two gunshots rang out from the entrance. Everyone looked toward the door.

Suddenly, more than twenty people surged in, led by a burly man all in black. The rest wore jeans and black T-shirts with buzz cuts—obviously his crew.

“It’s Tiger! Tiger’s here!”

The bald man’s followers brightened instantly, overjoyed that their savior had arrived. They hurriedly parted to clear a path for Tiger.

“Who the hell dares cause trouble in my place? Do you have a death wish?” Tiger roared before he even reached the group.

He was truly infuriated. After so many years working for Sister Yue, no one had ever dared make a scene on his turf—until today.

Tiger strode closer and spotted Ling Tian immediately, gun in hand and aimed right at him. At Ling Tian’s feet lay a dozen bloodied men, and the bald man’s wrist was a horrific mess.

Ling Tian recognized Tiger as well, pausing for a moment before grinning. He hadn’t expected to see Tiger under these circumstances, but perhaps it was inevitable; Viper and the bald man were both his subordinates. The only surprise was how soon their paths crossed.

“Tiger, who are you talking to? Who has a death wish?” Ling Tian smiled, confident that Tiger wouldn’t dare oppose him—not even if someone lent him the courage.

“Uh... Brother Tian!” Tiger was stunned.

He never imagined the one causing trouble on his turf would be Ling Tian—Sister Yue’s future boyfriend. This was a case of family fighting family without realizing it.

“Brother Tian, what’s going on here?” Tiger asked in astonishment after a moment’s daze.

Hearing Tiger address Ling Tian as “Brother,” everyone else was struck dumb. What kind of relationship was this? For Tiger to call someone “Brother,” who was Ling Tian, really?

“Tiger, save us! Ling Tian came here to wreck the place and has injured a lot of the brothers!” the bald man complained, not believing Ling Tian had any deep connection with Tiger. Perhaps Ling Tian was just some local boss; Tiger’s “Brother” might not mean anything.

“That’s right, I came to smash the place—and cripple these men while I’m at it,” Ling Tian said, gesturing at the bald man and his crew with his gun.

“Brother Tian, this is my place—I’m the owner here. The bald man is one of my men. How did they offend you? I hope you’ll show mercy and spare them,” Tiger pleaded. Surveying the scene, he guessed the bald man must have provoked Ling Tian. Damn it, of all people to cross, he had to pick this one—the one even he couldn’t handle, the man Sister Yue herself was eager to win over.

“So this is your place? For Yue’s sake, I won’t wreck your club. But those men—I must cripple them to avenge my brothers,” Ling Tian replied. He was willing to give Tiger some face, but he would never let the bald man and his crew off.

“May I ask how they offended you?” Tiger asked cautiously, glancing at Ling Tian’s gun and lowering his voice.

“Just the day before yesterday, while we were both in detention, the bald man and Viper led a dozen men to cripple three of my brothers. Their kneecaps were shattered. What’s more, they drugged my brothers using a woman first—otherwise they never would have succeeded.”

The memory soured Ling Tian’s mood. Everything had happened at once, and he was in detention with his phone confiscated—Viper and the bald man’s actions were truly despicable.

“So it was them? What a disgrace! When did my men become so shameless? They deserve to die!” Tiger’s anger flared as he recalled why Ling Tian had been in such a hurry that morning. To think his own men were behind it, and on the same day, Ling Tian was helping him deal with the Jin Gang and even treating his injuries—wasn’t that biting the hand that fed you?

Though Tiger was a man of the streets, he was also honorable and valued loyalty. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became—he slapped the bald man hard across the face.

“It was them who grabbed our territory and tried to collect protection money first! Ling Tian wanted me to be his underling, completely disregarding your authority,” the bald man protested, aggrieved.

“Bullshit! What territory? Brother Tian is my boss—my turf is his turf. From now on, keep your eyes open. If it weren’t for him watching out for me in detention, I’d be finished. From now on, he’s my elder brother. Did you all hear me?” Tiger looked at his men.

He was keen to foster a good relationship with Ling Tian. With his skills and extraordinary medical abilities, Ling Tian was worth befriending, especially since Song Ziyue wanted to recruit him for Ziyue’s organization.

“We hear you,” the men chorused, realizing they’d really kicked the hornet’s nest. Who was Ling Tian? Tiger’s boss! But some wondered—wasn’t Sister Yue their boss? When did that change?

The bald man and Viper looked as if they’d swallowed flies. They never imagined Ling Tian was so formidable, or that he’d have such close ties with Tiger. Their hopes for rescue evaporated; Tiger wouldn’t save them now.

“Tiger, if Brother Tian is your boss, is Sister Yue still your boss?” one of the more clueless men finally voiced the question on everyone’s mind. There was usually only one boss in this line of work.

“Of course Sister Yue is still my boss. Brother Tian is Sister Yue’s future boyfriend—he’s pursuing her. They’re both my bosses,” Tiger replied without hesitation. Seeing that Song Ziyue wasn’t rejecting Ling Tian’s advances, he figured Ling Tian had a good chance and revealed the gossip early.

“Pursuing Sister Yue? Damn!” Someone was dumbfounded, looking at Ling Tian with admiration.

“He’s got guts. Sister Yue—none of us would even dare think about her, but he’s actually chasing her,” another said, gazing at Ling Tian with awe.

Coming from Tiger, people knew this was no baseless rumor—it was almost certainly true.

The bald man and Viper were even more dejected. They realized no one could save them now; they’d offended someone they never should have. If only Tiger had gotten out a day earlier, none of this would’ve happened. But they didn’t know that if Tiger had been free a day earlier, he’d never have met Ling Tian inside. Fate really had it in for them.

Ling Tian, meanwhile, was feeling quite pleased with himself. Seeing the admiration and envy in everyone’s eyes, he was even more determined to pursue Song Ziyue. One day, when he showed up with her on his arm, these people would be utterly astounded.

“Ah, I’ve bested all my rivals, outshined the world, and my medical skills are unmatched through the ages. Life is as lonely as falling snow! I have no great ambitions left—just to win the hearts of beautiful women everywhere. Yue, I will win you over. When that day comes, I’ll invite you all to our wedding banquet.” Ling Tian boasted, leaving the crowd speechless.

“Um, Brother Tian, considering the circumstances, could you spare the bald man and his crew? If they’d known who you were, they wouldn’t have dared harm your people even if they had a death wish,” Tiger pleaded, seeing that Ling Tian was in a good mood. He knew the chances were slim, but he had to make an effort.