Chapter 551: Can You Let the Person Go?

Lin Yuan learned the situation was urgent and dared not delay.

He hurriedly changed clothes, grabbed the car keys and ran downstairs.

He drove his Tesla Models, speeding all the way...... rushing to the destination!

To gain time, Lin Yuan repeatedly sped on the street……

The wheels screeched against the road, and the streetlights outside the window flew backward.

Lin Yuan eventually arrived.

After 16 minutes, he drove his Tesla and burst through the half‑open gate of the abandoned steel factory.

Lin Yuan alone ventured into this desolate place.

The Tesla stopped in the center of the factory's spacious hall.

But all around was dead silent, with no one in sight?

Lin Yuan frowned, his heart filled with suspicion and vigilance.

He slowly opened the door and stepped out, warily scanning his surroundings.

The instant his feet touched the ground, …… chaotic footsteps suddenly came from every corner of the factory!

A large group of Ancient Martial Arts Bandits wielding weapons swarmed out, quickly surrounding Lin Yuan and forming an airtight encirclement.

Lin Yuan's face was as still as water, his sharp gaze sweeping around.

He took in the positions of all the bandits at a glance.

These bandits had already cut off all of Lin Yuan's escape routes.

Obviously, they were all professional ancient martial arts masters.

They knew how to block escape routes and leave Lin Yuan with no way out.

Lin Yuan's voice icy: "Where is Mu Lingxue? I've arrived—release her now!"

"Hahaha!"

At that moment, outside the encirclement, a burly, steady‑breathing masked bandit stepped forward.

That leading masked bandit gave a fierce, cold laugh.

As this masked bandit appeared, the other bandits all bowed respectfully.

Obviously, this bandit was the leader.

The leader waved his hand.

Two lackeys behind him immediately escorted a woman out.

It was the bound Mu Lingxue.

Lin Yuan's gaze instantly locked onto Mu Lingxue.

Seeing that Mu Lingxue, aside from a slightly pale face and a bloodstain on her forehead from the earlier collision, had no other new injuries and her clothes were intact,

Seeing that Mu Lingxue was unharmed, Lin Yuan's anxious heart eased a little.

Evidently, the bandits had not harmed her yet, using her to restrain Lin Yuan.

"Lingxue, it's fine—I'll take you away right away," Lin Yuan said softly to Mu Lingxue.

Mu Lingxue weakly lifted her head; upon seeing Lin Yuan appear, she burst into tears.

She shook her head in despair: "Lin Yuan, are you crazy? What are you doing here? Coming here is just to die…… They're targeting you! They kidnapped me just to lure you here—don't bother with me, run! I'm a police officer; they wouldn't dare harm me—run!"

At that moment, Mu Lingxue anxiously shouted at Lin Yuan.

She did not want Lin Yuan to take risks.

She wanted Lin Yuan to run quickly!

But the bandit leader slapped Mu Lingxue and then sealed her mouth with tape.

"Shut up, you little wench," the leader said coldly.

Lin Yuan's pupils contracted, a flash of killing intent crossing his eyes.

"Release Mu Lingxue now," Lin Yuan gritted his teeth.

The leader sneered, "Release this policewoman? Hah, that depends on your sincerity."

Lin Yuan's eyes were full of chill as he fixed the leader and coldly said, "You're also remnants of the Thunder Tiger Sect, right?"

The leader's body stiffened slightly at the words.

He obviously hadn't expected…… Lin Yuan would directly expose their identity??

After a stunned pause, the leader snorted, "Oh? You know the Thunder Tiger Sect? Hah, it seems we no longer need to hide our identity from you. Indeed, we are members of the Thunder Tiger Sect!"

Having said that, the leader pulled off his black mask, revealing a face covered in flesh and a fierce gaze.

The leader crossed his arms, looked down on Lin Yuan, his tone tinged with arrogance.

The leader introduced himself: "Let me introduce myself—I am Luan Bao, one of the Four Great Protectors of the Thunder Tiger Sect!"

This time, the one leading the blockade against Lin Yuan was none other than Luan Bao, one of the Four Great Protectors of the Thunder Tiger Sect!

This Luan Bao is far stronger than the eighteen bandits Lin Yuan previously slaughtered.

Lin Yuan's expression hardened.

He had long sensed, via the keen perception of an ancient martial arts expert, the deep inner power within Luan Bao.

Luan Bao's breathing was extremely deep and slow, each inhale and exhale precisely controlled, so steady as to have almost no fluctuation.

Such a breathing rate is something an ordinary ancient martial artist could not possess.

At a glance, Luan Bao is clearly a top master who has cultivated inner strength for years, his skill undoubtedly superb!

Lin Yuan's gaze instantly grew grave, his heart secretly on guard.

Luan Bao's strength is nowhere comparable to those petty lackeys before.

Today's affair must not be taken lightly.

Lin Yuan slowly gripped the Silver Needle hidden in his palm, not daring to be careless in the slightest.

"This matter has nothing to do with Mu Lingxue; the person you're looking for is me." Lin Yuan stepped forward and said coldly, "I'm already here—let her go. If you have any business, come at me."

Luan Bao, hearing this, revealed a mocking smile on his face.

Luan Bao glanced at Lin Yuan with contempt: "Let her go? Sure."

As soon as Luan Bao finished speaking, he took two cold-glinting daggers from a bandit behind him…

Luan Bao casually tossed the two daggers to Lin Yuan's feet.

Luan Bao gestured and said, "You, stab these two daggers into your own sides. If you do so, I will immediately release this female police officer."

"Mm! Mmm!" Mu Lingxue, bound, instantly broke down, shaking her head desperately.

Her mouth was sealed shut by the bandits with tape, making it impossible for her to speak.

Mu Lingxue could only emit urgent sobs, her tear-filled eyes fixed firmly on Lin Yuan.

Her beautiful eyes were full of pleading and despair, hoping Lin Yuan would understand her meaning and absolutely not do such a foolish thing!

Lin Yuan's expression hardened as his gaze fell on the two daggers at his feet.

Lin Yuan instantly understood Luan Bao's intention.

As a martial artist, he knew better than anyone that the space between the ribs is a vital deadly point for practitioners.

This area is densely packed with crucial acupoints related to qi and blood circulation.

Once a sharp weapon pierces the ribs, it not only causes excruciating pain but also directly seals off the body's qi and blood flow.

By then, Lin Yuan would be unable to mobilize any of his internal energy.

He would then become… a completely useless cripple at the mercy of others.

These bandits had no intention of letting him go easily.

Rather, they wanted him to first abolish his own martial arts with his own hands, then leisurely avenge the deaths of their eighteen comrades.

Lin Yuan's eyes flickered violently, and the Silver Needle in his palm was gripped even tighter.

Lin Yuan's knuckles turned white.

But when he lifted his head… he saw Mu Lingxue shaking her head in despair, with blood and tears mingling on her forehead.

Lin Yuan's inner struggle vanished in an instant.

Lin Yuan took a deep breath, slowly squatted down, ignoring Mu Lingxue's increasingly urgent sobs and struggles…

He reached out and picked up the two cold-glinting daggers.

The dagger handles were icy and bone-chilling, the blades giving off a sinister cold light.

Lin Yuan rose to his feet, gripping a dagger in each hand, his eyes locked on Luan Bao.

Lin Yuan said in a low voice, "I'll meet your condition. But you must keep your promise and let her go."

Luan Bao sneered, raising his chin noncommittally: "You do it first, and I will naturally honor my promise."

Lin Yuan said no more, took a deep breath,

He suddenly raised his arms, both hands exerting force, holding the two daggers… and viciously stabbed them into his left and right ribs!

"Pfft—!!"

Two muffled, piercing sounds rang out simultaneously!

The sharp dagger blades… pierced through the clothing without obstruction, viciously thrusting into the gaps between the ribs!

The blade sank in nearly halfway, leaving only a short stub of the handle exposed.

Excruciating pain… instantly swept through his whole body!

Lin Yuan's body uncontrollably twitched, and beads of cold sweat instantly appeared on his forehead!

His complexion… turned deathly pale at a visible speed.

Warm blood… gushed wildly out along the dagger's slit!

The blood quickly soaked his chest clothing, the crimson stain continually expanding and spreading, appearing especially glaring under the dim factory lights.

Lin Yuan could clearly feel that the passageway for qi and blood circulation inside his body was instantly severed.

His internal energy… dissipated like a kite with its string cut, unable to gather even a trace.

Stabbing the ribs is a major taboo for martial artists!

This is one of the deadly points for martial artists.

"Ugh—!!" Seeing Lin Yuan actually plunge the daggers into his own ribs, Mu Lingxue broke down completely in tears.

Her tears… rolled down like beads from a broken string.

The teardrops, mixed with the blood on her forehead, traced two dark-red streaks across her cheeks.

She desperately twisted her body bound by coarse hemp rope, not minding the deep red marks the rope left on her shoulders.

Mu Lingxue emitted desperate, urgent sobs from her mouth, her eyes glued firmly to Lin Yuan.

She was filled with pain and guilt.

If it weren't to save her, Lin Yuan would never have ended up in this situation.

The ribs are inherently one of the most vulnerable parts for a martial artist.

Now, the two daggers are deeply embedded in Lin Yuan's ribs, his bodily strength almost completely restrained—let alone mobilizing internal energy, even raising a hand or taking a step becomes extraordinarily difficult.

With every slight movement Lin Yuan makes, the agonizing pain in his ribs feels as if it will tear his body apart.

He forced himself upright, his body swaying slightly, barely stabilizing his stance by leaning against the Tesla car behind him.

"Hahaha! Good! Good! Good!" Luan Bao, seeing this, immediately let out a ferocious, triumphant laugh that echoed in the empty abandoned factory.

Luan Bao, full of unrestrained arrogance, said, "Lin Yuan, you too have your day! You've finally fallen into my hands!"

Having laughed enough, Luan Bao's eyes turned cold as he waved at the bandits behind him: "Tie him up! Don't let him pull any tricks!"

Two bandits immediately stepped forward, holding thicker hemp ropes, and without mercy bound Lin Yuan's hands behind his back.

The bandits then wrapped the rope around his body... several times, tying the knots tight and firm, which made the wound in his ribs hurt even more.

Fresh blood seeped out through the gaps in the knots.

Lin Yuan groaned in pain, but did not struggle.

He knew that at this moment he was like a fish on a chopping board, and resistance would only add to his suffering.

After being tightly bound, Lin Yuan strained to lift his head, enduring the intense pain, his gaze fixed firmly on Luan Bao.

Lin Yuan's voice was hoarse, yet it carried an unquestionable question: "I've done as you asked... now, can you release Mu Lingxue?"