238: Chapter 238 Rescuing Xia Linzi

That day, Xia Linzi was heading home after work as usual. Just as she reached the bottom of her Residential Complex, a strange man suddenly covered her mouth and dragged her into a black van.

She struggled desperately, kicking her legs and screaming for help, but the man was very strong. He used a towel to cover her mouth, preventing her from making any sound.

She was taken to an old rental house in the suburbs and tied up securely to an iron chair. Her hands were bound behind her back, and the coarse hemp rope bit deep into her wrists, leaving dark red marks and even oozing blood.

Scarface slapped her a few times, leaving her face bruised and swollen and her mouth bleeding. Then he coldly told her, "Zhou Chong sent me. He paid a hundred thousand to buy your life and told me to get rid of you."

At that moment, all of Xia Linzi's illusions were shattered, and all her hopes vanished into thin air.

She knew that Zhou Chong really wanted to kill her, to truly erase her from this world. To protect his wealth and status, he would stoop to anything, even murder.

She cried and pleaded with Scarface, begging him to let her go. She said she was willing to give him all her money and promised never to cause trouble for Zhou Chong again.

But Scarface remained unmoved; he only cared about the money and Zhou Chong's orders.

She stopped begging and crying, sitting quietly in the chair, reminiscing about her life and every moment she had spent with Zhou Chong.

From the innocent heart-fluttering moments in high school, to the humility of dropping out of school to work and support him, to the pain of enduring abuse as his mistress, and finally to the despair of being betrayed and hunted after he achieved success.

Every scene was like a knife, repeatedly cutting into her heart, causing her unbearable pain.

She hated her own stupidity, her naivety, and her inability to see people for who they were. She hated that for an unworthy man, she had given up her education, her youth, and her dignity, ruining her entire life.

She hated Zhou Chong's hypocrisy, selfishness, cruelty, and heartlessness. She hated how he exploited her love and trampled on her sacrifices, and how he didn't hesitate to kill her just for his own interests.

But by now, there was nothing she could do.

Tied to the chair and unable to move, her cries for help went unanswered. She could only wait for death, wait for Scarface to make his move, and wait for her life to end.

Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened, and the light in the room grew dimmer. Scarface toyed with a gleaming dagger, his gaze becoming increasingly sinister as the moment to act drew closer.

Xia Linzi closed her eyes, tears sliding from the corners of her eyes and dripping onto her clothes, leaving dark stains.

In her heart, only endless regret, despair, and a bone-deep hatred remained.

If there were a next life, she would never fall in love with Zhou Chong again, never give up her life for anyone, and never be so foolish and naive.

If she had the chance, she would definitely make Zhou Chong die a miserable death and make him pay the most painful price for his actions.

This was her final obsession and her only wish before death.

...

The night was as dark as ink, completely swallowing the suburban area of Zhongzhou City.

The plaster on the walls of the old residential buildings was peeling off in patches. The sound-activated lights in the hallways were flickering, occasionally lighting up only to instantly extinguish, leaving behind a suffocating darkness.

Inside that cramped rental house on the 6th floor, no lights were on. Only the faint moonlight filtering through the window barely outlined the room's interior.

Xia Linzi was tied tightly to the iron chair. The hemp rope around her wrists had long since bitten into her flesh, and the blood oozing out clung to the coarse rope. Every slight struggle brought piercing pain.

Her face was covered in bruises, the wound at the corner of her mouth still throbbed with pain, and her messy hair clung to her face, obscuring eyes that had long since lost their luster.

Scarface sat on the worn-out sofa opposite her, toying with a cold, gleaming dagger. The blade reflected the icy moonlight, and every turn seemed to announce the countdown of Xia Linzi's life.

He had a cigarette in his mouth, and amidst the swirling smoke, his scarred face appeared even more hideous and terrifying.

Just then, on the road outside the Residential Complex, a black off-road vehicle slowly drove past. Its headlights cut through the night, sweeping across the old residential building.

Inside the car, Cao Kun was driving, heading home.

[Ding! New mission issued: Rescue the victim Xia Linzi, who is about to be murdered. Expose all the crimes of the mastermind, Zhou Chong, ensuring he faces the full weight of the law, is disgraced, and ends up behind bars.]

[Mission Reward: 400,000 in cash.]

The cold system notification sounded in Cao Kun's mind, instantly perking him up.

His originally lazy eyes instantly became as sharp as an eagle's, and the aura around him suddenly turned bone-chillingly cold.

Cao Kun stopped the car, pushed open the door, and stepped out. He looked at the dilapidated residential building with piercing eyes.

His steps were light and swift, like a leopard in the dark of night, as he silently slipped into the old Residential Complex.

His figure flashed like a ghost as he quickly climbed the unlit stairs.

The stairwell was filled with clutter, smelling of mold and garbage, but Cao Kun didn't care. His steps were light, without making a sound.

Soon, he reached the 6th floor. The door to the rental house was slightly ajar, and the voices inside became clearer.

"Beautiful, don't blame me for being heartless. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for offending the wrong person."

Scarface stood up, holding the dagger, and walked toward Xia Linzi step by step. "In your next life, remember to keep your eyes open and don't fall in love with such a heartless bastard again."

The cold light of the dagger drew closer. Xia Linzi could even feel the icy chill it brought; the shadow of death completely enveloped her.

She slowly closed her eyes, waiting for her life to end.

Just as the dagger was about to pierce Xia Linzi's heart...

"Bang!"

With a loud crash, the wooden door of the rental house was kicked open, wood splinters flying everywhere.

Scarface was startled by the sudden noise. He whipped his head around and glared fiercely at the door. "Who is it?!"

Under the moonlight, a tall, upright figure stood against the light, radiating a suffocating sense of pressure.

Cao Kun slowly walked into the room, his cold gaze sweeping over Scarface before landing on the dying Xia Linzi tied to the chair.

When he saw the bruises on Xia Linzi, the blood on her wrists, and the extreme despair in her eyes, a wave of overwhelming rage surged from his heart.

He could imagine what kind of suffering and torment this girl had endured over the past eight years—exploited and betrayed by the man she had loved for eight years, only to be brutally murdered in the end.

"Are you the hitman hired by Zhou Chong?" Cao Kun's voice was bone-chillingly cold, like a freezing wind in the dead of winter, each word carrying a thick intent to kill.

Scarface felt an inexplicable surge of fear as he looked at Cao Kun. But relying on his large stature and the dagger in his hand, he feigned composure and said fiercely, "Kid, don't meddle in other people's business! This is between me and her. If you know what's good for you, get lost, or I'll kill you too!"

"Kill me?" Cao Kun sneered, the murderous intent in his eyes deepening. "With just you?"

Before he finished speaking, Cao Kun's figure had already moved.

His speed was extreme. Before Scarface could react, Cao Kun was already in front of him.

Scarface turned pale with fright and swung his dagger at Cao Kun, but Cao Kun easily dodged it.

Immediately after, Cao Kun delivered a sharp sidekick, accurately hitting Scarface's wrist.

"Crack!"

The crisp sound of bone breaking rang out. Scarface let out a shrill scream as the dagger fell to the floor. His wrist twisted at a bizarre angle, clearly broken.

Cao Kun didn't stop. He threw a heavy punch with his backhand, slamming it into Scarface's chest.

"Pfft!"

Scarface spat out a mouthful of blood. His body flew back like a broken kite, hitting the wall hard before slumping to the ground, unconscious.

The entire process took less than three seconds.

After dealing with Scarface, Cao Kun didn't linger for a moment and immediately walked over to Xia Linzi.

He knelt down and looked at the bruised girl with hollow eyes. The rage in his heart subsided slightly, replaced by a hint of pity.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here to save you." Cao Kun's voice softened, carrying a reassuring power.

He carefully untied the hemp rope around Xia Linzi, his movements gentle for fear of hurting her.

The rope on her wrists had been tied too tightly and had bitten deep into her flesh. Once untied, it left behind rings of hideous bloody marks.

Xia Linzi slowly opened her eyes. In her blurred vision, a face with sharp features and a cold, aloof temperament appeared.

This man's eyes were bright and warm, like a beam of light in the darkness, instantly illuminating her world of despair.

"Who... are you?" Xia Linzi's voice was hoarse and dry, almost inaudible.

"My name is Cao Kun," Cao Kun replied softly. He took off his coat and gently draped it over Xia Linzi, covering her wounds and disheveled appearance.

"From today on, no one can hurt you again. I will help you take back everything Zhou Chong owes you, bit by bit."

Xia Linzi looked at Cao Kun, and tears surged again. This time, it wasn't despair and pain, but grievance and relief.

For eight years, she felt what it was like to be protected for the first time.

"He... Zhou Chong... he wants to kill me..." Xia Linzi Choking back tears, recounting her ordeal in fragments—from her high school crush to dropping out of school to support him, to becoming a mistress and enduring humiliation, and finally being betrayed and hunted.

Every word was like a knife stabbing into Cao Kun's heart.

Cao Kun listened quietly, his expression growing colder and the surrounding pressure dropping lower.

He finally understood what kind of purgatory the last eight years had been for this girl.

"Don't worry," Cao Kun held Xia Linzi's cold hand, his voice firm and resonant. "I promise you that this beast, Zhou Chong, will pay the most painful price for what he has done. His wealth, his Listed Company, his everything—I will destroy it all with my own hands. I'll make sure he's disgraced and ends up behind bars to spend the rest of his life in prison."

Looking into Cao Kun's determined eyes, a surge of unprecedented courage rose in Xia Linzi's heart.

She knew that her salvation had arrived.

...

Cao Kun picked up Xia Linzi in his arms. Her body was very light, so light it made his heart ache.

He carried her carefully, avoiding the bloodstains and clutter on the floor, and slowly walked out of the rental house.

The sound-activated lights in the hallway were triggered by his footsteps, their dim yellow glow illuminating Cao Kun's tall figure and Xia Linzi's pale, haggard face.

Being held in Cao Kun's arms, Xia Linzi felt an unprecedented sense of security.

His embrace was warm and strong, with a faint scent of cedar that dispelled the fear and cold in her heart.

She gently leaned her face against Cao Kun's chest, listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat. Her nerves, which had been tense for so long, finally relaxed. The fear, exhaustion, and despair of the past few days surged up together, and she couldn't help but burst into tears in his arms.

Her crying was suppressed and full of grievance, as if she wanted to cry out all the suffering and pain of the past eight years.

Cao Kun didn't speak; he just gently patted her back with gentle and patient movements, letting her vent her emotions.

Reaching the bottom of the building, Cao Kun drove straight to the hospital.

In the car, Xia Linzi's crying gradually subsided. She curled up beside Cao Kun, her eyes still holding a trace of panic as she tightly gripped his sleeve, as if clutching her last lifeline.

"Are you hungry? Do you want some water?" Cao Kun asked softly. He took a bottle of warm water from the car fridge, unscrewed the cap, and held it to Xia Linzi's lips.

Xia Linzi nodded and took small sips of water. Her dry throat was finally moistened.

"Thank you... Mr. Cao," Xia Linzi said softly, her voice still hoarse.

"You're welcome," Cao Kun smiled slightly. "I said I would help you. By the way, the wounds on your body need to be treated immediately, or they'll get infected."

Xia Linzi looked down at the bloodstains on her wrists and the throbbing wounds on her back, feeling a pang of bitterness.

These injuries were inflicted on her by Wang Peng and Zhou Chong.

"I'm fine..." she whispered.

"No, they must be treated," Cao Kun said firmly.

Xia Linzi felt a warmth in her heart and nodded, no longer resisting.

The car soon pulled into the hospital.

The doctor carefully examined Xia Linzi's injuries. There were rope burns on her wrists, multiple belt marks on her back, minor soft tissue contusions on her face, and some slight external injuries. Although they looked frightening, they were not life-threatening; she just needed proper rest and recovery.

"Sir, this young lady's injuries need to be disinfected and bandaged promptly. Additionally, she needs to rest for a while and supplement her nutrition," the doctor told Cao Kun after the examination.

Cao Kun finally felt relieved.

The doctor and Nurse began to treat Xia Linzi's wounds. The stinging pain from the disinfectant touching her wounds made Xia Linzi frown and her body tremble slightly.

Cao Kun immediately held her hand and comforted her softly, "Don't be afraid, it'll be over soon. Just bear with it."

His palm was warm and dry, and the strength it conveyed allowed Xia Linzi to gradually calm down.

After treating the wounds, the Nurse covered Xia Linzi with a soft blanket. The hospital room was warm and comfortable, a world apart from that cold and dilapidated rental house.

...