Ten minutes later, Shen Yuxuan had dragged Gao Weiwei a considerable distance before they finally stopped, both panting heavily. Gao Weiwei's face was streaked with tears, and Shen Yuxuan's expression was equally complex. She had never expected that the man who had harmed Gao Weiwei five years ago would actually reappear. But Xiao Tiance had acted too impulsively, crippling Zhou Jie on the spot. The Zhou family would never let him off the hook for that.

Gao Weiwei bent over, hands on her knees, gasping for breath as tears streamed down her face. Her mind was filled with the image of Xiao Tiance appearing like a savior at her most desperate moment, suddenly drawing his blade. He had told her that Xiaoxiao was safe now, but he himself was surrounded.

"Yuxuan, do you think... do you think something will happen to him?" Gao Weiwei asked Shen Yuxuan, her eyes full of anguish.

Shen Yuxuan's heart grew even more conflicted. From her perspective, what did it matter if Xiao Tiance lived or died? After all, the child and Gao Weiwei were now safe. But she couldn't deny that Xiao Tiance had drawn all of the Zhou family's wrath onto himself, a move that took great courage—something few could achieve.

After a long silence, Shen Yuxuan avoided Gao Weiwei's question and said, "Weiwei, don't overthink it. If he dared to do that, he must have some confidence. Besides, he seems quite skilled, likely a former soldier. If that's the case, the military might get involved. You don't need to worry. The most important thing right now is to find Xiaoxiao quickly and get out of here."

"But... but if we leave, what about him?" Gao Weiwei bit her lip.

Shen Yuxuan gritted her teeth and said, "Don't worry. My dad will be back early tomorrow. I'll have him step in to suppress this matter. Take Xiaoxiao and go. The last thing you want is for the child to witness what's going to happen next. She's too young; it would terrify her. I believe Xiao Tiance intends the same—don't let his efforts be in vain."

Just as Gao Weiwei was about to say something more, a military jeep suddenly stopped in front of them. After the window rolled down, Tianyi spoke to Gao Weiwei, "Sister-in-law, get in the car. Xiaoxiao is in the back, just finished receiving an IV. My brother wants me to take you both back to Beijiang. Hurry, your and the child's safety are the most important."

Gao Weiwei glanced at Tianyi, then at Xiaoxiao, who was peacefully sleeping in the back seat, her face full of tears. The child was here, but her father was surrounded by so many people. She was torn, unsure of what to do.

Would the child have to be separated from her father again, just after they had reunited? Gao Weiwei's heart was filled with pain.

Tianyi knew that Xiao Tiance was already filled with killing intent. He wanted Gao Weiwei and Xiaoxiao to leave so they wouldn't witness the upcoming bloodshed.

Shen Yuxuan gripped Gao Weiwei's hand tightly and said, "Weiwei, go quickly. Don't worry, I'll do everything I can to get my dad to help. Don't think about it anymore. Xiaoxiao needs you, and staying here won't help—you might even make things worse. Go."

Tianyi nodded in agreement. "Sister-in-law, get in the car. Xiaoxiao is very weak and needs care. She's been through a lot in the past few days; she needs you."

Gao Weiwei hesitated for a moment longer, then bit her lip and got into the car. Once inside, she carefully cradled Xiaoxiao in her arms and looked through the window at Shen Yuxuan with a pleading expression. "Yuxuan, please, you have to help him. Help him."

Shen Yuxuan nodded solemnly. "I will, don't worry. You're my best friend, my only friend!"

The car started, and after Tianyi nodded to Shen Yuxuan, he hit the gas and drove out of the city. Inside the car, Tianyi drove while Gao Weiwei held Xiaoxiao, tears streaming down her face.

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Tianyi sighed deeply. Now that Xiao Tiance had returned, the safety of Gao Weiwei and Xiaoxiao was no longer a concern. Who would dare to insult the wife and daughter of the Lord of the Heavenly Temple? Xiao Tiance wouldn't let those people live—no, even death would be a luxury for them.

With a cold glint in his eyes, Tianyi drove further away. This was his mission.

At that moment, Xiao Tiance was completely surrounded by hundreds of Zhou family members. Zhou Jie was still wailing miserably under his feet. Zhou Zhenglong sneered at Xiao Tiance and said slowly, "Ten minutes have passed, and those two women have run far. Isn't it time for you to let my nephew go?"

Xiao Tiance snorted. "Hmph, did I say I was going to let him go?"

Hearing this, Zhou Zhenglong narrowed his eyes and stared at Xiao Tiance for a long time before nodding. "Kid, you've got guts."

"Boss, why waste words with him? Just kill him! He wouldn't dare kill the young master; otherwise, he wouldn't survive either!" one of Zhou Zhenglong's men said, pointing at Xiao Tiance.

Xiao Tiance laughed, but it was a strange laugh filled with immense killing intent. After laughing for a while, he looked up at Zhou Zhenglong with a gaze as cold as death. Zhou Zhenglong involuntarily took a step back and instinctively asked, "Why... why are you laughing?"

Suppressing the killing intent in his heart, Xiao Tiance looked at Zhou Zhenglong and said with amusement, "Zhou Zhenglong, you should be glad you're not this trash's father, or you wouldn't still be standing."

Zhou Zhenglong's face changed, and he stared at Xiao Tiance. "Kid, I admit you're tough and have a heavy aura of death about you, so you've likely seen blood before. But if you think you can threaten me all by yourself, aren't you overestimating yourself? Shouldn't you first ask the three hundred brothers around me if they agree?"

Xiao Tiance said nothing. He had no interest in dealing with these low-level thugs. At that moment, just as Zhou Zhenglong finished speaking, Tianqi's figure appeared on the roof of a nearby two-story house, along with two other warriors from the Heavenly Temple behind him.

The night wind rustled Tianqi's robes as he appeared and said with amusement, "Hah, kill you? My big brother doesn't need to dirty his hands with trash like you. A bunch of garbage—do you really think they can protect you? So naive."

Zhou Zhenglong quickly turned to see Tianqi and the others. "Hah, it's been a long time since anyone's been this arrogant in front of me. Do you really think I'm an easy target? Any random dog or cat dares to bark in front of me?"

Zhou Zhenglong's expression turned cold as he ordered, "Kill them!"

As soon as Zhou Zhenglong gave the order, dozens of thugs rushed toward Tianqi and his companions.

Tianqi remained silent, a disdainful sneer on his face. In an instant, he leaped down from the roof and charged directly at Zhou Zhenglong with incredible speed, sending anyone in his way flying.

"Impossible! Stop him! Stop him!" Zhou Zhenglong's face turned pale as he saw Tianqi break through the crowd. Terrified, he ordered his men to intercept him.

But it was useless. Tianqi's speed was unmatched. If it weren't for Gao Weiwei being there earlier, he would have acted long ago. He had been holding back all this time. Now that Gao Weiwei was gone, he no longer needed to restrain himself.

In an instant, Tianqi broke through another group of thugs and appeared beside Zhou Zhenglong. The next moment, a pitch-black dagger was pressed against Zhou Zhenglong's throat.

"Don't move, or your head will roll," Tianqi said with a smirk.

A drop of cold sweat slid down Zhou Zhenglong's face, which turned deathly pale. His men were equally shocked, their disbelief evident.

The two Heavenly Temple warriors who had accompanied Tianqi quickly moved to restrain Zhou Jie. Xiao Tiance, ignoring everyone else, walked over to the now-terrified Zhou Zhenglong and paused before saying, "As I said before, you should be glad you're not that trash's father. Tell Zhou Zhenghao that I'm taking his son. In three days, he can come to the villa by the river in the eastern suburbs to collect him. His son kept my daughter locked up for three days; I'll do the same. Don't even think about trying to rescue him during that time, or I can't guarantee you'll get him back alive."

Xiao Tiance then took the unconscious Zhou Jie and left, with Tianqi releasing Zhou Zhenglong. Even after Xiao Tiance and his group had gone far away, Zhou Zhenglong didn't dare send anyone after them. He had truly felt the threat of death just now—Xiao Tiance really could have killed him.

"Who are these people?" Zhou Zhenglong thought, utterly shaken.