Chapter 13: Only the Bold Dare Cross the River

Jiang Tailong's lascivious eyes brazenly swept over He Meixuan's most sensitive areas. In his mind, he was already imagining the lurid scenes of her writhing beneath him, exclaiming in awe, "See that? Now that's what you call a beauty—a face of an angel, a body of a devil, legs for days below the chest. I like it."

"Brothers, we're in for a treat tonight, haha..." Several bald, burly men waved their machetes in celebration, eyeing the two stunning women and swallowing greedily. Such rare beauties were far more exciting than the usual women they played with in nightclubs.

"Hey, you filthy brutes, what do you think you're doing? My brother Zijun is a Taekwondo black belt, eighth dan. Watch out, or he'll beat you senseless!" While shouting, He Xiaoying quickly hid behind Zhao Zijun.

"Dragon still thinks your delicate fists are more lethal to me," Jiang Tailong's gaze landed on the petite beauty, lingering over her slender figure as he couldn't help but swallow. A lewd smile spread across his face. "Little sister, with your fair skin and tender flesh, you're the freshest delicacy. You're in high demand right now. Later, I promise Dragon will take you to cloud nine."

"You disgusting brute, I'd rather smash my head against the wall than let you get your way!"

"That's not up to you," he replied.

He Xiaoying felt sick just looking at his repulsive face and hurriedly urged Zhao Zijun, "Brother Zijun, hurry up and beat them—this is your moment to shine!"

He Meixuan held her sister close, her face betraying a hint of panic. She hadn't expected to encounter such a situation. Fortunately, Zhao Zijun, the martial arts expert, was present. Clearly, both sisters pinned their hopes on him.

Rumors had long held that Zhao Zijun was a Taekwondo black belt, eighth dan, a formidable fighter who could easily take down seven or eight opponents. Perhaps he could help them escape this disaster.

Zhao Zijun stood just over six feet tall, his build robust, and he truly had trained in Taekwondo—though not to the exaggerated extent of a black belt, eighth dan.

Facing five or six burly men wielding machetes, he couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated, but outwardly he maintained a calm and confident demeanor.

Instead of retreating, he advanced, warning, "What do you think you're doing? Don't you know the Zhao and He families of Ninghai?"

"Sorry, we don't know, and we're not interested!"

"But you must be interested in money. Name your price and I'll satisfy you," Zhao Zijun tried to buy their way out.

"Dragon's not short of money. What I lack are beauties like this—I want a taste of something fresh."

Jiang Tailong was unmoved, shaking his head with a sly grin. He no longer wasted words, and with a wave of his hand, two machete-wielding brutes charged forward.

Zhao Zijun, determined to protect the women, felt a surge of strength despite his underlying fear. The brutes, equally driven by lust for the stunning women, came at him full force.

Zhao Zijun decided to stick to his strategy—wait and react. As the two brutes approached, he suddenly unleashed a powerful high kick, sending one man's machete flying. Seizing the momentum, he delivered another precise kick to the brute's chest, who groaned and collapsed.

"You dare hurt my brother, you're asking for death!" The other brute, realizing what had happened, swung his machete furiously, hacking and slashing without finesse.

Zhao Zijun's Taekwondo training now shone through. Agile and strong, he dodged the attack, seized the brute's right wrist, and with a twist, forced him to drop his weapon, knocking him down in seconds.

"Brother Zijun, you're amazing! Keep it up! Meixuan and I believe in you!" He Xiaoying cheered from the sidelines, clapping and blowing a kiss.

He Meixuan, witnessing Zhao Zijun's valor, smiled with satisfaction, as if seeing hope of escaping their fate.

Buoyed by their encouragement, Zhao Zijun's confidence soared. Having knocked down two men, he suddenly felt as if Bruce Lee's spirit had possessed him.

But his luck soon ran out.

Four enraged brutes brandished their machetes and attacked together, hacking and slashing in a frenzy.

Though Zhao Zijun had trained and already performed exceptionally, the earlier brutes had attacked one at a time, underestimating him. Now, facing four furious men at once, he couldn't keep up. After holding out for several seconds, he was finally overwhelmed, hacked to the ground.

What followed was a savage beating.

"Trying to play the hero? Now you're nothing but a coward."

Fortunately, these bald brutes seemed uninterested in taking lives; they had only struck with the backs of their blades. Though Zhao Zijun was thoroughly beaten, he wasn't seriously injured.

"Let go of Brother Zijun! I'll fight you all!" He Xiaoying, seeing Zhao Zijun being brutalized, charged at the brutes, her tiny fists doing nothing but tickling them. She was quickly subdued.

"Who sent you?" He Meixuan, now discerning the situation, let her panic fade, displaying unexpected composure.

Clearly, these men weren't mere predators; otherwise, they wouldn't refuse money and their actions were measured. The entire incident—from the crash onward—seemed orchestrated.

They were obviously acting on someone's orders.

"Miss He, you're quite astute. Indeed, we're here on someone's behalf. But why ask questions you know won't be answered? We're just hired hands."

Jiang Tailong chuckled and continued, "Rest assured, we won't kill anyone. We just want you and your companions to star in a little passionate film for us. Afterwards, you'll be free to go. I hope you'll cooperate, or I can't guarantee things won't take a turn for the worse."

"Let my sister go. I'll stay," He Meixuan said, realizing she had no other choice. She had fallen into a carefully laid trap, with no hope of rescue. It seemed inescapable. She even considered ending her life once her sister was safe.

If there was no other way, she would do just that.

"Good. Miss He, you're a smart woman. She'll be released, but only after everything is done. Rest assured, Jiang Tailong always keeps his word. I won't go back on it!"

"No. You must let my sister leave first, or I swear I'll kill myself before you succeed," she insisted.

Seeing her still bargaining, Jiang Tailong’s patience wore thin. His face darkened. "Miss He, you seem not to understand your position. This is no longer up to you."