Strange man

Linyun traced his fingers over the imprint on the yellow tome, yet his fingertips still felt nothing but the softness of his own skin. A surge of astonishment welled up within him—how had this enigmatic book become embedded within his very being? 

A peculiar sensation arose from the mark on his chest, like an intangible key carving itself into the depths of his consciousness. 

"So, this is the spiritual imprint that grants access to the barrier?" Linyun mused. Testing his mental energy, he gently probed the mysterious mark. Instantly, the world shifted, and he once again found himself inside Elder Yu's enchanted boundary. 

Having mastered the technique of activating the imprint, Linyun finally sprang from his bed. A glance at the clock in the living room revealed that it was already three in the afternoon. Hours had passed in what felt like mere moments—time spent meeting Elder Yu, conversing, and ultimately taking him as his master. 

His parents, occupied with work, always had their meals at the company cafeteria, leaving the house empty. Though Linyun wasn't particularly hungry, he realized he had not eaten or drunk anything for nearly a day. Out of habit, he retrieved last night's leftovers from the fridge, heated them in the microwave, and devoured his meal with relish. 

After finishing, he reached for his phone, initially intending to call Li Lingling. However, reconsidering, he instead dialed Zhang Yunfeng's number. He had called Zhang Yunfeng that morning, yet there were no missed calls or messages in return. A sense of unease crept in—had the boy kept his phone off all day? 

A cold, mechanical female voice answered, "The number you have dialed is powered off or out of service." 

Linyun frowned. "Where could that brat have gone? He was waiting for my news just yesterday, and now he's vanished." Muttering to himself, he grabbed the remote and switched on the television, expecting the local news to cover the recent case of the missing girls. 

Sure enough, the same bespectacled news reporter from the previous day appeared on screen. 

"…According to our latest report, early this morning, a van was discovered in the outskirts of the city containing the five missing girls who had disappeared over the past few days. Upon investigation, authorities confirmed that these girls had been unconscious since their abduction and remain completely unaware of what transpired. They are currently undergoing medical evaluation at the city hospital…" 

Li Lingling must have kept her silence. Linyun nodded to himself. He decided to wait until things calmed down before taking Elder Yu to assess whether the Yin Spirit's possession had left any lingering effects on her. The matter weighed heavily on his mind, and he would not find peace until he uncovered the truth. 

Just as he was lost in thought, his phone rang. Glancing at the screen, he saw Zhang Yunfeng's name flashing. A chuckle escaped him as he answered, "Where have you been all day? I've been trying to reach you." 

A brief silence followed before an unfamiliar, composed male voice came through the speaker. "Are you Linyun?" 

Linyun's expression hardened. "Who are you? Why do you have Zhang Yunfeng's phone?" 

The man's tone remained indifferent. "Your friend is with me. I hear you're his leader? Care to come and have a chat?" 

Shock and anger surged within Linyun. "Who the hell are you? How dare you take someone against their will?" 

A low chuckle echoed from the other end, tinged with unexpected amusement. "Now, now, don't be so quick to accuse. I merely invited your friend for some tea. He, however, was rather uncooperative. Quite a tough one, I must say. It was only thanks to his phone that I managed to find you; otherwise, I would've had to wait a few more hours." 

Linyun forced himself to stay calm. "Where are you? I'm coming." 

"Good, you're straightforward. I'm not too familiar with Tongjiang City. Xiao Ping, where are we?" The man's voice momentarily faded as he asked someone nearby, before returning with an address. 

"I'll be there in ten minutes," Linyun replied coldly. "I suggest you treat my friend with respect until then." Without waiting for a response, he ended the call. 

As he hurriedly put on his jacket, frustration gnawed at him. One crisis barely settled, and another had already surfaced. Li Lingling's situation remained uncertain, and now Zhang Yunfeng was in trouble. He had always been a quiet loner, cherishing the rare friendships he had. Now, both of his friends were in danger at the same time. 

The address provided was all too familiar—an abandoned heavy machinery factory in the Fourth District. The place had long been slated for demolition, but due to the developer's financial struggles, it had remained untouched. Over time, it had become a haven for vagrants and petty criminals, notorious for its lawlessness. 

Ten minutes later, Linyun arrived at the desolate site. As he stepped through the half-closed, rusted iron doors, his gaze swept the dimly lit factory floor. A handful of figures stood within, their silhouettes casting long shadows under the flickering overhead light. 

Among them, a few faces were unmistakable—Mago and his gang of thugs, whom Linyun had beaten down and handed over to the authorities not long ago. Recognition flashed in Linyun's eyes, and the pieces instantly fell into place. 

So that's how it is. Mago, unwilling to accept his repeated humiliations, had brought reinforcements. 

But why did they stand so stiffly? Why the unnatural silence? 

Then, Linyun noticed them—two men standing before the gang, their presence alone commanding absolute deference. 

Mago and his lackeys didn't even spare Linyun a glance, their expressions frozen, their posture disciplined, almost fearful. 

The two men were strikingly different yet equally imposing. Both appeared to be in their mid-thirties, tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in standard-issue military green camouflage uniforms. One had thick eyebrows, sharp eyes, and a square, chiseled jaw, exuding an air of unyielding authority. The other, in stark contrast, bore a sharp chin, an aquiline nose, and eyes that gleamed with a cunning glint. 

Zhang Yunfeng stood beside them, his posture tense but unharmed. His hair and clothes were slightly disheveled, and exhaustion was evident in his expression. But when his eyes met Linyun's, they briefly lit up with relief before darkening with worry. 

"You came…" Zhang Yunfeng's voice carried both gratitude and apprehension. "Linyun, is Lingling safe? Have you found her?" 

Linyun, touched that his friend's first concern was still Li Lingling's safety rather than his own predicament, smiled reassuringly. "Relax, Yunfeng. Lingling is perfectly fine. In fact, she's waiting for us to bring her something delicious." 

His words were lighthearted, but his gaze remained sharp as he turned toward the two men. This encounter was about to get interesting.

"That's good. As long as Lingling is safe, I can rest easy," Zhang Yunfeng murmured. 

The two men regarded Ling Yun with keen interest. When they first laid eyes on him—a seemingly frail young man—they exchanged a glance, their expressions betraying a flicker of surprise. 

The man with thick eyebrows and sharp eyes spoke first. "So, you're Ling Yun?" His voice was unmistakably the one that had called him earlier. 

"Yes, I am," Ling Yun replied evenly, his gaze sweeping over the two men with neither fear nor arrogance. "Zhang Yunfeng is my friend. May I ask why you took him?" 

Even with just a glance, Ling Yun's heart stirred. These two men stood as steady as mountains, their presence as deep and unfathomable as the sea. Though they stood there casually, they exuded the unwavering strength of ancient pines. It was evident at first sight—they were far from ordinary. Ling Yun's sharp eyes quickly took in the details: the glint in their gaze, the taut muscles on their arms and chests, and their hands—fists clenched with an effortless power. Their knuckles, smoothed from years of striking sandbags, bore the marks of relentless, disciplined training. 

The thick-browed man smiled slightly. "For someone so young, you had the courage to come here alone for your friend. It speaks volumes of your loyalty and righteousness. You are a man of true character." 

Ling Yun remained silent. He knew they hadn't lured him here just to shower him with praise—there was more to come. 

"In truth," the man continued, "I invited your friend here primarily to draw you out. I wanted to meet you in person. After all, you took down Ma Ping and his men single-handedly—I imagine your skills are rather impressive." He glanced at Zhang Yunfeng with a hint of admiration. "Your friend, however, is quite the steadfast one. No matter what, he refused to reveal your whereabouts. I had no choice but to use his phone to find your number." 

Ling Yun's voice turned cold. "Did you harm him?" 

The man burst into laughter. "Of course not. Even I, Chen Feng, would not stoop to tormenting a mere student. Besides, I admire his spirit. If you don't believe me, ask him yourself." 

Ling Yun turned to Zhang Yunfeng, who met his gaze and nodded. "He's telling the truth, Ling Yun. But he is strong—he's here to avenge Ma Ge. I didn't want you to walk into danger, so I figured I'd take responsibility myself." 

"Yunfeng…" Ling Yun was momentarily at a loss for words. He had always considered Zhang Yunfeng and Li Lingling friends, but deep down, he had kept a certain distance. After all, there was an insurmountable gap between those with abilities and ordinary people. Yet, in this moment, hearing Zhang Yunfeng's words, he felt an unexpected warmth. For the first time, he truly accepted Zhang Yunfeng as a friend. 

Chen Feng's voice remained indifferent. "I have no intention of making things difficult for you, Ling Yun. After all, you're just a student. However, Ma Ping is my cousin. I have little regard for his ways, but blood ties are blood ties. Since you injured him severely and even had the police arrest him, don't you think that was excessive?" 

Ling Yun's fury flared. He pointed at Ma Ge and his gang. "Ask them what they did. They tried to assault my classmate in broad daylight—even their own subordinate's girlfriend wasn't spared. They're worse than beasts. If I hadn't stopped them, would you have preferred they continue their crimes unchecked?" 

"Matters of the underworld should be settled in the underworld," Chen Feng said flatly, ignoring Ma Ping's attempted crime. "He lives by the rules of the streets. If you had the strength to beat him, then you should've been prepared for his retaliation. Why involve the police?" 

"We are students, not gangsters," Ling Yun retorted, his voice icy. "When he sought revenge, should we have just played the hero instead of seeking lawful protection?" 

Chen Feng chuckled coldly. "You're still naïve, Ling Yun. You haven't seen true darkness or cruelty. In this world, justice and fairness don't exist—power is the only currency. The elite will never reason with the weak. Ma Ping has me backing him. That alone makes him stronger than you. If you choose to stand against him, you must bear the consequences." 

"Then what do you want?" Ling Yun's patience had worn thin, his tone hardening. 

"You took Ma Ping down with ease, so you must have some skill," Chen Feng said, a hint of cruel amusement flickering in his eyes. "Yet, I can't quite see what kind of training you've had. Here's the deal—last five minutes against me. Win or lose, I'll let you and your friend walk away unharmed, and I promise Ma Ping won't bother you again." 

The sharp-faced man, who had remained silent, finally spoke. "Chen Feng, isn't this a bit much? He's just a boy." 

"I know what I'm doing," Chen Feng replied impassively. "This kid has potential, but he's too naïve. If he doesn't taste a real lesson now, he might suffer even worse in the future." 

The sharp-faced man sighed but said no more. 

"Let's get this over with. I still need to get home for dinner." Ling Yun didn't even acknowledge their conversation. He simply stepped forward, impatience written all over his face. 

Chen Feng's cruel smirk faded slightly. He scrutinized Ling Yun's unimpressive stance, his confidence momentarily shaken. Was this boy truly as ordinary as he seemed? Or was he hiding his strength, playing the role of the weak to lure his opponents into carelessness? 

For the first time, doubt crept into Chen Feng's mind. 

He and his companion were both former special forces operatives—masters of combat who had fought in life-or-death battles, hunted terrorists, and survived the true horrors of underground warfare. Their instincts had been honed through fire and blood, and those instincts had never failed them. 

Yet now, standing in a small city, facing a teenager who looked utterly unremarkable, his gut was telling him nothing. 

Chen Feng advanced slowly, his eyes locked onto Ling Yun. Then, without warning, he sprang into action. 

Like a lightning strike, he leaped into the air, his iron-hard leg cutting through the wind as it hurtled toward Ling Yun's temple.