Chapter 498: Exchange People
Upon hearing this, Lin Kuang’s footsteps halted, and the murderous intent in his gaze intensified.
"You’re threatening me with Shen Yanxia? Isn’t she your woman?" Lin Kuang asked, his tone icy.
"My woman? HAHA! We’ve only ever held hands. Does that count as being my woman?" Gao Dongran roared angrily.
Although he had always wanted to sleep with Shen Yanxia, she simply wouldn’t let him—holding hands was the most they had ever done.
"Oh? Not your woman? Tsk tsk. Do you think you can use her to threaten me just because she’s Shen Yanyu’s sister?" Lin Kuang sneered, taking slow steps toward Gao Dongran.
"Wh-what? Lin Kuang, Shen Yanxia is Shen Yanyu’s sister! Shen Yanyu has always liked you so much. Do you really want to watch her sister die by your hand? Lin Kuang, you better think this through!" Gao Dongran shouted, his eyes red with desperation.
This is my last card to play, an idea from Gao Li. My own brain could never have come up with this. Shen Yanxia is my final bargaining chip. If Lin Kuang doesn’t care about her, I’m finished.
"Yes, she is Shen Yanyu’s sister, after all. I can’t just watch her die," Lin Kuang said as he walked, his voice tinged with faint helplessness.
Upon hearing Lin Kuang’s words, Gao Dongran finally breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Lin Kuang cared about his connection to Shen Yanyu, threatening him with her sister was all he needed.
Just as Gao Dongran was sighing in relief, Lin Kuang suddenly smiled. "I won’t kill you, but I do have to make you suffer a bit!"
As he spoke, the Nameless in his hand thrust out.
The distance between them was less than three meters. With Lin Kuang’s speed, Gao Dongran had no chance to dodge. In an instant, Lin Kuang’s sword pierced through Gao Dongran’s thigh. Blood gushed out as a pained scream escaped Gao Dongran’s lips.
However, that wasn’t the end of it. The Nameless in his hand danced again, and both of Gao Dongran’s shoulders were pierced in quick succession.
"Gao Dongran, I can spare your life," Lin Kuang said, his tone glacial as he looked at the agonized man. "But what I despise most is being threatened, especially with a woman!"
Hearing this, Gao Dongran gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with fear. He had never imagined Lin Kuang could be so ruthless, but at least he would live. As long as I can get back alive, I’ll gather men and kill him! I have to kill Lin Kuang!
"Let’s go. I’ll take you, and you will hand Shen Yanxia over to me," Lin Kuang said.
"No! I have to go back by myself. Once I return, I’ll release Shen Yanxia," Gao Dongran said through clenched teeth, his expression pained.
"Do you take me for a fool? Do you really think you’ll keep your word if I let you go?" Lin Kuang withdrew the Nameless Sword, his voice chillingly calm. "Gao Dongran, don’t try to pull a fast one on me. Either I take you to the exchange, or I kill you right here. You have two choices. Decide."
Gao Dongran’s face turned ugly. He knew Lin Kuang wasn’t bluffing; if he refused, Lin Kuang would really kill him. Thinking this, Gao Dongran could only grit his teeth and concede. "Fine, I agree."
"Good. But I’ll decide the location of the exchange," Lin Kuang said with a grin.
Gao Dongran’s expression changed again. "No!" he said quickly.
"You’re my prisoner," Lin Kuang stated flatly. "You’re in no position to negotiate. Agree, or die."
Looking into Lin Kuang’s cold, indifferent eyes, Gao Dongran had no choice but to agree.
Taking Gao Dongran with him, Lin Kuang left the site and drove to a secluded roadside. Afterward, Gao Dongran made a call to Gao Li, asking him to bring his men over.
Gao Li felt rather helpless himself. He had already prepared for this scenario; if Gao Dongran lost, they would use Shen Yanxia to threaten Lin Kuang. He had even arranged for numerous men to be positioned around the area with explosives, all with the intent of blowing Lin Kuang to smithereens, but Lin Kuang never showed up at their expected location. The truth was that Gao Dongran was afraid of dying. If he had been willing to risk his life, Lin Kuang might have had to reconsider his own actions.
Ah, forget it. I’ll just rescue him first and figure out the rest later, Gao Li thought. With that, he led his men, bringing Shen Yanxia with them, toward the agreed-upon location.
Less than half an hour later, Gao Li and his crew arrived. They all got out of their cars and approached Lin Kuang and Gao Dongran.
Standing a meter away from Lin Kuang, Gao Li said calmly, "Mr. Lin, I’ve brought the person. Now release Young Master Gao."
Hearing this, Lin Kuang chuckled and nodded. "Gao Li. I should have known it was you. I knew that pig-brained Gao Dongran could never have come up with such a plan."
Smiling at the man before him, Lin Kuang continued. He had seen Gao Li before and knew his status in the Gao Family—he was their great Think Tank.
"You jest, Mr. Lin. I have brought the person," Gao Li replied with a smile.
"Very well. Release her," Lin Kuang said, also smiling.
"Okay," Gao Li agreed calmly.
"Don’t, Gao Li! Damn it, don’t release her!" Gao Dongran roared, terrified. "If you do, he’ll kill all of us!"
Hearing this, Gao Li smiled faintly and unbuttoned his shirt. "I don’t think Mr. Lin would do such a thing."
Seeing the explosives strapped to Gao Li’s body, Lin Kuang’s pupils narrowed slightly.
"Gao Li truly is Gao Li. Courageous and strategic. Quite impressive," Lin Kuang commented, a note of admiration in his voice. Gao Dongran also heaved a sigh of relief; those explosives were more than enough to blow Lin Kuang to bits.
"Mr. Lin flatters me. Release her," Gao Li said again.
At his command, Gao Li’s men pushed Shen Yanxia forward.
Shen Yanxia was not a fool. Seeing the scene before her, she instantly understood what was happening. Her beautiful eyes were red, tears welling up within them. She could never have imagined Gao Dongran would treat her like this. She also never expected that Lin Kuang, for her sake, would give up the chance to kill Gao Dongran.
Looking at Gao Dongran, she asked painfully, "Why? Why are you doing this to me?"
"Why? There is no why. You’re not my woman, so how else should I treat you?" Gao Dongran sneered, his expression ugly.
"Yes... indeed, we’re nothing to each other," Shen Yanxia cried.
She wasn’t even sure what her feelings for him were. Had she approached him out of a defiant need to prove something? Or had she genuinely admired his strength? Who could say?
Gao Dongran returned to Gao Li’s side, while Shen Yanxia went to Lin Kuang’s.
After helping Shen Yanxia into the car, Lin Kuang turned back and said with a smile, "Gentlemen, perhaps we’ll meet again."
Without waiting for a reply, he got in and immediately drove away.
When the car was nearly fifty meters away, a Desert Eagle appeared in Lin Kuang’s hand. He aimed its dark muzzle directly at the explosives strapped to Gao Li’s body.