Chapter 13: Woman, You've Escaped Again
"Master…" Bingya, the loyal bodyguard, fidgeted nervously. He couldn't bear the thought of his master, Nan Shaojie, being in harm's way. Nan Shaojie was the only heir to the Nan Syndicate, the pillar of their future. His safety was paramount.
"Nan Shaojie, after all these years, your Bingya is still as impulsive as ever. He hasn't changed a bit," a voice rang out from the shadows, laced with eerie mockery.
"Who's there?" Bingya's instincts went on high alert. He moved swiftly to shield Nan Shaojie, his sharp gaze scanning the darkness for the intruder.
A figure emerged from the shadows, flanked by a sharp-looking man in a meticulously tailored suit.
Bingya's eyes widened as recognition set in. Tension rose as he instinctively stepped back to protect his master. In a low voice, he warned Nan Shaojie, "Master, it's Nightwing from the Dark Night Syndicate."
Nan Shaojie remained still, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon, where Liang Xiaoluo had disappeared. Fury bubbled beneath his composed exterior.
Earlier, he had watched as Ye Tianlin carried Liang Xiaoluo right past him. He could have stepped forward, could have stopped Ye Tianlin, could have claimed her back. But instead, he had chosen to remain hidden, invisible in the shadows.
The self-loathing gnawed at him. The woman he loved more than anything had been right in front of him, and he had failed her. He lacked the strength to fight for her, to reclaim her.
Nightwing approached, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Nan Shaojie. His gaze followed the same direction as Nan Shaojie's, a sardonic smile playing on his lips. "Nan Shaojie, watching the woman you love being taken by another man—doesn't it just crush your soul?"
"Nightwing! How dare you insult my master! I'll make you regret it!" Bingya erupted in rage, his protective instincts kicking into high gear as he prepared to teach Nightwing a lesson.
Before Bingya could act, Nightwing's bodyguard, Mufeng, stepped forward, blocking his path. "Bingya, this is a matter between Nightwing and your master. We should stay out of it."
"Out of it? Over my dead body!" Bingya snarled, his temper flaring. "Anyone who dares to harm my master will answer to me in hell!"
The tension between the two bodyguards reached a boiling point. They were seconds away from clashing when a single commanding word from Nan Shaojie froze Bingya in his tracks.
"Bingya!" Nan Shaojie's voice was cold, authoritative.
Bingya released his clenched fists reluctantly, throwing a venomous glare at Mufeng before stepping back. Mufeng, too, withdrew without a word.
Nightwing chuckled softly, his eyes flicking toward Bingya. "Loyal as ever, I see," he murmured, his tone dripping with casual disdain.
The silence between Nightwing and Nan Shaojie grew heavy, oppressive. Finally, Nan Shaojie broke it, his voice like ice. "Why her?"
Though his tone was calm, his eyes betrayed the storm raging within him.
Liang Xiaoluo was his childhood sweetheart, the pure and genuine girl he had cherished for years. Her warmth, her honesty—these were the things he adored most about her. Yet in his absence, everything had fallen apart. Her family was ruined, her life shattered, and she had been reduced to a mere object in a sordid auction.
When he had returned from his grueling training in the United States and learned of her plight, he had rushed to the auction, hoping to save her. But Ye Tianlin had ruined everything, and Nightwing—Nightwing had orchestrated it all.
Nightwing said nothing, his sharp gaze fixed on the distant horizon, his silence a taunt in itself.
Nan Shaojie's frustration boiled over. "She has nothing to do with you. Why are you involving her in your games?"
Nightwing finally turned, meeting Nan Shaojie's glare with a smirk. "Don't you think it's entertaining? A simple woman caught between two powerful men. Isn't that a spectacle worth watching?"
The words struck like a whip. Nan Shaojie's fists clenched, his knuckles white. "Nightwing," he growled, his voice low and menacing, "you'll pay for this."
Nan Shaojie turned abruptly, calling out, "Bingya!" Without another word, he leapt from the deck onto his waiting yacht. Bingya followed closely behind, shooting one last glare at Nightwing before retreating with his master.
Nightwing watched their departure with an amused smile. His bodyguard, Mufeng, stepped forward, his expression stoic. "You're just letting them leave?"
Nightwing chuckled, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Mufeng, don't be so heartless. After all, Bingya is your younger brother…"
Mufeng stiffened at the mention of his sibling, but his expression quickly returned to its usual impassive calm. Glancing back at the raging flames consuming the ship, he muttered, "This fire is going to cost us dearly."
Nightwing's gaze followed Mufeng's to the inferno. The flames reflected in his eyes like a living thing, wild and untamed. "We never lose," he said, his tone casual yet cryptic. "And as for her…" His voice softened, almost tender. "Xiaoluo, I promised I wouldn't hurt you."
Meanwhile, Ye Tianlin's yacht docked smoothly at L City's harbor. He carried Liang Xiaoluo in his arms, her struggles futile against his iron grip.
"Let me go! Let me go!" Liang Xiaoluo's protests were relentless, but Ye Tianlin remained unmoved, his steely determination unshaken.
He carried her directly into a waiting car. Once inside, his secretary closed the door and awaited instructions.
"By tomorrow afternoon, I want to know exactly who was behind the fire," Ye Tianlin ordered coldly.
"Yes, sir," the secretary replied before shutting the door.
The car began to move, its interior a confined space that heightened Liang Xiaoluo's unease. Trapped with Ye Tianlin, she felt the walls closing in.
"Where are you taking me? Let me out!" she demanded, her voice rising.
Ye Tianlin shot her a withering glare. "Be quiet."
"Let me out now!" she insisted, her defiance flaring.
Veins bulged on Ye Tianlin's temple as his patience snapped. He yanked her wrist, pulling her toward him with a force that left her breathless.
Pinned beneath his weight, her heart raced with fear. "What… what are you doing?" she stammered.
He leaned in close, his breath warm against her ear. "What do you think? I'm finishing what we started."
Panic surged through Liang Xiaoluo. She thrashed and kicked, desperate to escape, but Ye Tianlin caught her flailing limbs effortlessly. Holding her chin firmly, he murmured, "I warned you to be quiet."
Before she could respond, his lips crashed onto hers, silencing her protests.