Chapter 35: No Room for Escape

"Brother Long, how many brothers should we bring along?" Zheng Rutong asked cautiously.

Zhou Hailong narrowed his eyes. "Bring every brother we have in Luocheng."

Wiping out a mere Lin family was certainly not worth Zhou Hailong making such a grand display by mobilizing the entire Hailong Gang. The decision to bring everyone was twofold. First, they were going out today to establish their authority, and the more imposing the display, the better. Second, the operation he had ordered last night to annihilate the Black Panther Hall had not gone smoothly. Li Yunbao’s combat skills seemed to have improved significantly overnight. He had expected that sending a few hundred men would easily crush the Black Panther Hall; instead, not only did they fail, but Li Yunbao had also injured many of his men again. This filled Zhou Hailong with fury.

If his intelligence was correct, Li Yunbao and his Black Panther Hall members would be with the Lin family tonight.

"Hmph, Li Yunbao, is this the source of your sudden confidence to stand against my Hailong Gang?" Zhou sneered. "Tonight, I will make you realize that even if your cultivation has improved, you are still nothing in front of me."

As night descended, the massive assembly hall of the Hailong Gang was packed with over two thousand people. Zhou Hailong, seated at the head of the hall, suddenly stood up and leapt to the front of the formation. He raised his right hand, signaling his men to set out.

"Dad!"

Zhou Pengfei suddenly ran to his father’s side. He glanced at the two thousand gang members behind them, his face filled with righteous indignation. "Dad, I want to come with you. I want to see the Lin family and the Black Panther Hall wiped out with my own eyes."

In reality, he was thinking that once the Lin family was destroyed, he would be the first to seize the two stunning beauties of the Lin family for himself. Seeing his son’s expression, Zhou Hailong assumed it was a burning desire to avenge his men and nodded. He then waved his hand and gave the order: "Move out! To Emerald Mountain!"

He had long ago planted spies to monitor the movements of the Lin family’s key figures, learning that the entire family had gathered at their villa on Emerald Mountain. For Zhou Hailong, this was the perfect opportunity to wipe them all out in one fell swoop.

With over two thousand brothers led personally by Zhou Hailong, they marched out in full force without any attempt at concealment. This caused an immediate sensation across Luocheng. Wherever they passed, households slammed their doors shut in fear. Only after the Hailong Gang had long departed did people dare to emerge and gather to gossip.

"The Hailong Gang is moving in full force! Who on earth had the guts to provoke Brother Long?"

"Just the sight of that formation is enough to scare someone to death."

"I heard the Hailong Gang is heading for the Lin family."

"The Lin family? They’ve always been fine; how could they have offended the Hailong Gang?"

"Remember that guy who got engaged to the second Miss Lin a while back? He’s the one who provoked the gang. I heard he injured over a dozen of Brother Long’s men. Wouldn't you be furious if you were him?"

"Oh, this... that future son-in-law of the Lin family is truly blind. He’s dragging the entire Lin family to their graves!"

"The Lin family is cursed to have run into such a disaster!"

"Exactly. Brother Long has already declared that tonight, the Lin family and the Black Panther Hall will be no more."

"Why is the Black Panther Hall involved?"

"Heh, you don't know? That Li Yunbao has grown a backbone, and not only is he hanging out with that ill-fated son-in-law of the Lin family, but word is that his men were involved in hurting the Hailong Gang brothers."

"Tsk tsk, then he is absolutely begging for death!"

Upon learning that the two thousand members of the Hailong Gang were headed for Emerald Mountain on the outskirts of the city, many wealthy residents living in that area fled immediately, terrified of being caught in the crossfire when the Lin family met its end. Even those who were bolder only dared to climb nearby peaks to secretly observe the impending carnage.

Zhou Hailong showed no courtesy to the Lin family. Upon arriving at Emerald Mountain, he immediately ordered his men to surround the villa until not even a drop of water could pass through.

"Lin family!"

"Come out and die!"

After the villa was tightly encircled, Zheng Rutong shouted toward the main entrance. Inside, every member of the Lin family was ashen-faced. In truth, long before the Hailong Gang arrived, Lin Guodong had considered fleeing with his family, but Zhou Hailong had not given them the chance. Hours before the main force arrived, hundreds of gang members had already laid an ambush around the perimeter. With only a dozen or so pathetic bodyguards, it was impossible for Lin Guodong to get his family out safely.

"There are people everywhere," Lin Guoan said, looking out from the second-floor balcony after pulling back the curtains. Despair filled his voice. "Brother, looking at this formation, Zhou Hailong has brought his entire gang."

Without Lin Guoan needing to say it, everyone could tell from the deafening clamor outside that the number of men the gang had brought was staggering. The members of the Lin family, and even the bodyguards, felt their legs trembling involuntarily at the terrifying show of force.

"Hiding here won't solve anything. We have to face what we must. Let’s go out," Lin Guodong said to his two brothers, sighing. At this point, the only thing he could do was use every bit of leverage the Lin family had left to beg Zhou Hailong one last time.

"All of you stay inside and don't move. Wait for our word," Lin Guodong instructed his trembling wife and daughters. He stepped out first, and his brothers, Lin Guoliang and Lin Guoan, who had always stood by his side, followed him resolutely.

As soon as they pushed open the front door, the first thing they saw was Xiao Nan, Li Yunbao, and a group of Black Panther Hall members. They had already stepped out and were standing in a standoff against the overwhelming darkness of the Hailong Gang’s forces.

Amidst his grief, Lin Guodong felt a sliver of relief. He hadn't misjudged Xiao Nan. At the moment of life and death, facing such a terrifying killing machine, Xiao Nan had not retreated but had chosen to stand at the very front. Unfortunately, while his heart was noble and his courage commendable, it was nothing more than a mantis trying to stop a carriage; it was utterly meaningless.

"Xiao Nan, all of you, get back into the villa! Do not act rashly!" Lin Guodong shouted toward him. In his eyes, although Xiao Nan was brave, he acted without regard for consequences. He was here to plead with Zhou Hailong, and if Xiao Nan said or did anything to provoke Zhou or his son, there would be no room left for negotiation.