Chapter 110: Hostage in Hand

Watching Liu Qingling get captured, Feng Cheng was horrified and rushed forward.
“Stop!”
Lin Dong raised his right hand slightly, and the black iron kitchen knife left a trail of blood on Liu Qingling’s neck.
Feng Cheng, furious, lifted his toes slightly, and the long sword on the ground flipped into his hand as he pointed it at Lin Dong: “Let him go!”
“If you don’t want his life, you can try!” Lin Dong said coldly. “Everyone, retreat to the inn’s main hall from the back yard.”
Feng Cheng’s expression changed rapidly, but he dared not move. His senior brother’s nephew had been captured, and if anything else went wrong—especially if the opponent was a skilled fighter—there would be no face left to show anyone.
With a creak, the door opened slightly. Old Ding, with his messy hair and sleepy eyes, scanned the yard. He was about to ask Lin Dong if he needed help when Lin Dong shook his head first: “There’s some trouble at the inn. It’s better if you go back to your room.”
Rubbing his slack face, Old Ding turned and closed the door.
It was noon, yet there were still many guests in the lodging building. They had already heard the sounds of swords clashing, and now with such a loud noise, they were naturally alarmed. They opened their doors and went downstairs, only to see fierce fighting at the back door of the main hall, with tension also high in the back yard.
Lin Dong quickly ordered Jiang Kui to wake Ma Chun.
Under Jiang Kui’s vigorous shaking, Ma Chun slowly woke up. Seeing Lin Dong holding a kitchen knife against Liu Qingling’s neck, he couldn’t understand the situation at first: “Owner…”
“Greet the guests and find a way to get them back to their rooms. Give each of them some turtle stewed with maple leaves. Decide on the rest yourself—make sure to calm them down.”
Ma Chun nodded hurriedly and ran off.
With Ma Chun around, his eloquence, combined with the fighting on both sides, would make it easy to persuade the guests to return to their rooms.
If it weren’t for desperation, Lin Dong wouldn’t have resorted to this tactic. Resentful, his gaze toward Feng Cheng turned cold.
“Get out!”
Feng Cheng’s expression turned icy, his eyes dark as vultures. After staring intently at Lin Dong, he slowly turned his gaze to Jiang Kui, tightening his grip on the long sword in his right hand.
Lin Dong was enraged. Before Feng Cheng could act, he swung his right arm sharply, and a flash of cold light descended.
An arm, covered in bright blood, flew out.
Feng Cheng was struck like by lightning, his head ringing. His two disciples also stared in disbelief at the arm rolling on the ground.
“Get out!” Lin Dong raised the black iron kitchen knife again against Liu Qingling’s neck.

In an instant, Feng Cheng was filled with remorse. If only he had acted sooner, things wouldn’t have turned out this way. In this state, not only could he not save the others, but even if he did, he might not be able to face his senior brother.

“How cruel!”

Veins on Feng Cheng’s forehead writhed like terrifying green snakes.

Seeing Lin Dong’s right arm tremble slightly, though filled with hatred, Feng Cheng dared not hesitate any longer and suddenly turned around.

“Go!”

The next moment, he leaped up and, with a few flaps of his wings, carried the two apprentices over the wall.

“Jiang Kui, go back to the kitchen. Don’t come out unless necessary!”

After giving that instruction to Jiang Kui, Lin Dong grabbed Liu Qingling and headed toward the main hall. Along the way, Liu Qingling’s body convulsed, and he suddenly regained consciousness.

A moment later, a pig-like scream erupted.

“My arm! My arm… Oh heavens! Lin Dong, I’ll kill you! I’m the eldest son of the Liu family! I’ll kill you…”

“Shut up!” Lin Dong swung his sword sharply down on Liu Qingling’s head.

With a crack, Liu Qingling’s screams ceased, and his body continued to convulse.

“I’m the eldest son of the Liu family! How dare you…”

His weak voice made Lin Dong smile coldly. “So what if you’re from the Liu family? Since things have come to this, there’s no room for mercy. Today, either my Lin’s Inn will be destroyed, or your Liu family will be wiped out!”

Liu Qingling’s body trembled, and his voice sharpened. “With my uncle here, you’re all doomed! Let me go quickly, or I’ll grind you to dust!”

“I thought you’d beg for mercy first, crying and sobbing, and only become arrogant after your uncle showed up,” Lin Dong said indifferently.

Liu Qingling regretted everything. If it weren’t for his attempt to play the fool first, he wouldn’t have ended up like this. Excessive blood loss and severe pain made his face pale as paper and twisted beyond recognition.

They had only gone halfway when a figure appeared inside the door. Lin Dong’s heart tightened, and the black iron kitchen knife on Liu Qingling’s neck grew heavier.

“Shopkeeper Lin, you still haven’t left?” Seeing the situation in the backyard, Jiang Zhen was stunned. He had been sent to investigate—either to see if Lin Dong had escaped or if he had been trapped—but he never expected Lin Dong to have taken hostages.

“Jiang Zhen!” Lin Dong relaxed slightly.

Glancing at the hostage in Lin Dong’s hands, Jiang Zhen’s expression brightened. “Shopkeeper Lin, doesn’t he seem to be the eldest son of the Liu family?”

“Mm!” Lin Dong nodded.

Jiang Zhen hurriedly said, “The opponent is extremely strong. Our master and the others are already struggling. Can you hand over the hostage to me? With a hostage in hand, we should be able to buy time until Manager Lin sends reinforcements.”
Lin Dong shook his head. With a hostage in his hands—none other than the eldest son of the Liu family—he had no intention of using him merely to buy time.
An idea flashed through his mind, and he immediately came up with a new plan. If he could use Liu Qingling as bait to lure the opponent’s strongest fighters to bind their hands, then use the kicking ability to surprise Huo Yuan into attacking, even if Liu Qingling managed to break free from the ropes in time during the attack, he would still be unable to avoid Huo Yuan’s strikes, greatly increasing the chances of success.
Slapping Liu Qingling’s face to wake him up a bit, Lin Dong demanded, “Who is the leader of the experts your Liu family hired?”
“My uncle! My uncle will grind you to dust!” Liu Qingling screamed.
“What’s the relationship between the others and your uncle?” Lin Dong pressed further.
“W-why should I tell you?” Liu Qingling’s lips trembled, already turning bluish-green.
“If you don’t want to lose your left hand, you don’t have to say,” Lin Dong sneered.
Frightened, seeing the kitchen knife from his neck removed, Liu Qingling lost all courage and hurriedly said, “They’re my uncle’s junior brothers and disciples.”
Lin Dong breathed a sigh of relief. This made things easier. Since these experts weren’t hired by the Liu family, they surely wouldn’t ignore Liu Qingling’s life.
“Jiang Zhen, tell Elder Huo and the others to retreat,” Lin Dong ordered immediately.
“Manager Lin, but you…” Seeing that Lin Dong had no intention of fleeing, Jiang Zhen looked troubled.
“It’s fine. I have a way to deal with them,” Lin Dong waved his hand.
Jiang Zhen was also decisive. Seeing Lin Dong so calm, he bowed and quickly returned to the main hall.
Before long, Huo Yuan and the others rushed back to the backyard like a tide, mostly injured and breathing heavily.
A moment later, a young man in a blue robe rushed into the backyard. After confirming there was no ambush and seeing Liu Qingling in Lin Dong’s hands, he let out a shout. Liu Lixiong took the lead, gripping his iron fist, and charged in furiously.
“Uncle, save me! Uncle, save me…” Liu Qingling’s eyes shone with hope.
Seeing Liu Qingling’s severed arm, Liu Lixiong’s anger flared. On this return, having seen Liu Qingling as steady and intelligent, he had even thought of ways to help the Liu family further. But now, all his hopes had been shattered.

As the head of a family, wisdom is merely supplementary; strength is what truly determines how far the family can develop. With one arm, and moreover the right arm, this strike was destined to sever the hopes of advancing the Liu family. His fierce and terrifying gaze lifted slightly, pausing briefly when it touched Lin Dong’s face. Instantly, Liu Lixiong’s heart shattered!