These four individuals, each possesses a strength no less than Xu Lie, perhaps only slightly less than Ayolu Qubi.
The combined might of these four forced even Lin Ying to retreat; how could Li Zhonglou possibly contend?
More importantly, their leader, Chen Rong, had yet to make a move.
Seeing Li Zhonglou forced into a continuous retreat, Fan Liang couldn't help but clap his hands in approval.
However, Fan Meng and Qi Yu's eyes were filled with worry.
"This is troublesome. With Sister Lin occupied and Brother Li being no match, what will happen if they can't hold on?" Fan Meng suddenly regretted speaking up for Qi Yu.
She had thought that with Li Zhonglou and the others by her side, she would fear no one.
But she never expected the situation to reverse so abruptly with the appearance of Chen Rong.
The consequences were unpredictable.
Fan Meng desperately wanted to seize the chaos and escape, but her heart wouldn't allow it.
After all, if she abandoned Li Zhonglou and the others to flee, she would never be able to associate with them again.
In that moment, Fan Meng was consumed by anxiety.
She reached into her satchel, pulled out her phone, and prepared to call the police.
Unfortunately, her movements were no match for Chen Rong's speed.
"Hand it over." The moment her phone was unlocked, Chen Rong snatched it away.
He then dragged her over to Fan Liang, saying, "Young Master Fan, this woman is yours. Don't forget your promise afterward."
Fan Liang grinned broadly, fawning over him, "I wouldn't dare, wouldn't dare. With Boss Chen making a move, he's invincible."
If Chen Rong hadn't arrived today, he would have surely been killed by Li Zhonglou.
The thought fueled his resentment towards Fan Meng and Li Zhonglou.
*Slap!*
He raised his hand and slapped Fan Meng fiercely across the face, his expression twisted as he sneered, "My dear cousin, you're helping a good-for-nothing against your own cousin, turning your back on your own kin. Do you know what your end will be?"
A red imprint instantly appeared on Fan Meng's face, burning with pain.
She stared intently at Fan Liang, unable to utter a single word.
Man was the blade, she the fish.
With the tables turned, she couldn't even call the police. What else could she do?
"And you, little slut, you chose the hard way instead of the easy way."
Fan Liang then turned his attention to the pale and terrified Qi Yu, grabbing her into his embrace and leering, "Keep resisting, I'd like to see who can save you now."
"Ungrateful wretch, after I'm done with you, I'll let these brothers share the fun!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Rong chuckled dryly, "Young Master Fan, it's fine if you enjoy yourself. My little brothers won't be able to bear such fortune."
Those who practiced martial arts were most susceptible to lust.
After all the effort in cultivating his trusted henchmen, he couldn't let Fan Liang ruin his plans.
Fan Liang didn't dare to challenge him further. Believing Chen Rong disapproved of his actions, he reluctantly released Qi Yu but signaled the uninjured bodyguard to restrain her.
No matter how Qi Yu struggled, it was to no avail.
Qi Yu knew that she likely wouldn't be so lucky today, unable to escape the clutches of this beast. Shame and hatred surged within her.
Her eyes were bloodshot.
While Fan Liang reveled in his triumph, Li Zhonglou was already at his wit's end.
The four opponents' fists were a relentless storm, their coordination impeccable. Even with his strong physique, and speed and strength far surpassing ordinary people, he found it difficult to parry.
Struck by several punches and kicked twice, he was wracked with tearing pain.
"Senior Sister, you run!" Li Zhonglou kicked one of them back and roared.
The situation was dire; if they continued to stall, everyone would perish here.
Only by letting Lin Ying escape first could they find a way to rescue everyone.
This scene reminded him of his predicament back in Qin Province facing Li Hanlong.
Mid-level was a hidden dragon's den, with so many experts, it had caught him completely off guard.
Moreover, he knew Chen Rong's ruthless nature. Falling into his hands would be a fate worse than death. He couldn't let his senior sister be dragged down by him.
"We leave together, or we die together," Lin Ying's reply was decisive.
She couldn't abandon Li Zhonglou to save herself. Even though she knew it was the optimal solution, she couldn't overcome her own conscience.
Every living being has self-preservation, but humans are human precisely because they have a bottom line. Otherwise, they are no different from beasts.
To save her own life and abandon her junior brother would not only betray her father but also her own pride.
She couldn't recall the last time she had been pushed into such desperate straits.
This fueled the defiance in her proud heart.
*Bang!*
Taking advantage of Lin Ying's momentary distraction, one of the attackers swept a low kick at her thigh.
Lin Ying's delicate brows furrowed as she dodged the attack and retreated a couple of steps. Her movements were no longer as fluid, clearly showing the injury from the leg sweep.
Seeing this, a chilling glint flashed in Chen Rong's eyes. "All of you go quickly and subdue that brat. I'll deal with this woman myself."
With that, he twisted his neck with a *crack*, threw off his suit jacket to Fan Liang, and strode towards Lin Ying.
Seeing Chen Rong personally engage, the four attackers immediately retreated and joined the encirclement of Li Zhonglou.
Li Zhonglou, already struggling to cope, was now even more overwhelmed. Within seven moves, he was kicked down and then pinned to the ground, his limbs restrained.
He struggled desperately, but it was completely useless.
In that moment, he truly understood the meaning of "there's always someone stronger, one mountain higher than another."
Not long ago, he felt invincible after reaching the second level of the sheepskin scroll cultivation, "Divine Valley."
For ordinary people, both his strength and speed were things they could only look up to.
But now, facing these henchmen, he realized how far he still was from his goal. A few mere thugs under Chen Rong were enough to capture him.
He was still too weak, too weak!
So weak that he could only rely on his senior sister for protection, unable to save himself in such a critical moment.
Hatred surged within him.
Not hatred for Chen Rong and Fan Liang, but for himself. With so much time available, why was he content with his current progress and didn't strive for further cultivation?
If he had reached the third level, "Qi Movement," earlier, he wouldn't be in such a passive situation.
He would also not implicate his senior sister.
Li Zhonglou strained his neck, trying to see the situation on his senior sister's side.
He didn't care about his own predicament. Someone who had already died once feared death no longer. But he feared his senior sister being captured like him.
*Clap, clap, clap, clap...*
On the other side, Chen Rong personally attacked, his hand strikes like lightning, forcing Lin Ying's steps to become unsteady.
The hair tie holding her hair was violently shaken loose, and her hair scattered and fluttered.
Though not entirely disheveled, she was certainly not at ease.
Chen Rong fought with increasing excitement. Having dominated Mid-level for over twenty years, he had never encountered such a capable woman, which ignited his excitement.
He wasn't lustful, but he was intensely competitive, unable to tolerate anyone trying to step on him, and certainly wouldn't show weakness before a woman.
Fighting with all his might, he gave Lin Ying no chance to breathe.
Lin Ying had first dealt with the combined assault of four opponents, and now she faced Chen Rong's storm-like hand strikes.
Finally, with a slip-up, her face was grazed by a fingernail.
She let out a soft gasp, "Ugh..."
Chen Rong seized the opportunity, advancing and slashing his hand horizontally towards Lin Ying's delicate neck. It was a killing move, showing no mercy.
If this strike landed, even with Lin Ying's years of martial arts training, she would likely be severely injured.
She might even suffer a fractured spine and be permanently paralyzed.
"Stop!" Li Zhonglou roared, his eyes bloodshot.
Unfortunately, he couldn't interfere with Chen Rong at all.
However, Lin Ying's experience far surpassed Li Zhonglou's. In the nick of time, she raised her hand to protect her neck, blocking Chen Rong's hand strike.
*Crack!*
Her hand was struck directly. The immense force, though intercepted by the back of her hand, preventing her spine from being broken, caused her to completely lose her balance and fall to the ground.
Her face turned pale, and she spat out a mouthful of blood, her complexion like withered gold.
Her beautiful eyes were filled with unwillingness. She tried to push herself up, only to have Chen Rong step on her hand.
The pain caused cold sweat to bead on her forehead, yet she gritted her teeth and refused to cry out.
"Senior Sister!" Witnessing this, Li Zhonglou's eyes turned crimson, his veins bulging on his forehead. His chest felt like a furnace about to explode, and he roared like a maddened beast.
Unfortunately, he was firmly held down by the attackers, unable to move even an inch.
Fan Meng was utterly bewildered, completely stunned.
In such a desperate situation, no matter how extraordinary Li Zhonglou's abilities, he couldn't possibly turn the tide.
What to do?
Was she truly going to stay here and wait for death?
No... she couldn't die. If she died, what would happen to her family fortune and her father?
Fan Meng's mind was in turmoil.
Just then, Fan Liang clapped his hands and tossed her aside, walking towards Li Zhonglou with a mocking smile.
He approached Li Zhonglou, crouched down, and gently patted his face with his palm, jeering, "You little bastard, you think you're so tough? Show me how tough you are."
"You think you're something to challenge me, Young Master Fan? You're just trash."
"If I want you dead, you die. I don't care who your backer is, you're dead today."
Li Zhonglou stared intently at Fan Liang, his gaze as cold as glacial ice.
He uttered each word from his mouth, "Fan Liang, you're finished."
"Damn it, you dare talk back to me when death is upon you? Just you wait, if I don't make you wish you were dead today, my name isn't Fan!" Fan Liang's heart pounded with unease at Li Zhonglou's eyes, and he stood up, looking for something to vent his frustration.
He intended to teach Li Zhonglou a severe lesson and force him into complete submission.
At that moment, Fan Meng suddenly dropped her satchel and bolted.
This scene was completely unexpected by everyone, even Fan Liang was stunned.
He only reacted when she reached the door, shouting, "Catch her! Don't let her escape!"
Unfortunately, his shout was a bit late. By the time the bodyguards heard his command, Fan Meng had already burst out of the door. Without even taking her own car, she jumped into a car that was just starting to move.
Qi Yu stared, dumbfounded, a flicker of disdain and despair in her eyes.
She truly hadn't expected this woman to abandon her companion and escape alone.
As for herself, she couldn't escape and didn't wish to. Life had cornered her, leaving her with no other options. It was Li Zhonglou who had shown her a glimmer of hope.
But now, that glimmer of hope was about to be extinguished.
However, Lin Ying's unyielding spirit was inspiring and reminding her.
She would rather die with Li Zhonglou than live a life of cowardice!
"Damn it, useless! All of you are useless!" Fan Liang cursed in frustration as his bodyguards failed to catch Fan Meng.
Meanwhile, Chen Rong was crushing Lin Ying's hand under his foot, tormenting it.
The pain, piercing through her fingers, was comparable to being sliced by a thousand knives, yet Lin Ying remained silent.
She didn't want Li Zhonglou to see his senior sister in such a weak state.
"You surprise me. You're stronger than many men. It's a pity we're enemies."
Chen Rong looked at Lin Ying's silent resistance and said menacingly, "If you beg me, and follow me from now on, I'll spare you."
"How about it? I guarantee no one in all of Mid-level dares to bully you..."
*Pfft!*
Before he could finish speaking, Lin Ying spat directly into his face, spitting his remaining words back at him.
"You're courting death!" Chen Rong's eyes twitched with rage. He raised his foot to stomp down on Lin Ying's neck.
If this kick landed true, even with ten lives, she wouldn't survive.
Li Zhonglou's vision turned blood red, his hatred reaching its peak.