Chapter 17: Undying, Unyielding

The dog kennel manager took out a remote control and pressed it a few times. First, the heavy gate of the kennel slammed shut, then the cages inside automatically opened one by one. Hundreds of large vicious dogs burst out as if possessed, charging straight at the dozen or so assassins. Though these killers were ruthless and hardened, they had never witnessed such a terrifying scene. Their faces were filled with horror, and panic overtook them. They tried desperately to flee, but were quickly surrounded by the pack. Though they managed to kill a few dogs, it was futile; one by one, they were tackled to the ground, their screams echoing in agony.

Autumn Rain Dream ran to the window to watch, her pretty face flushed with excitement as she pulled out her phone to record, only to be stopped by Cao Mang.

“Step aside, I want to film this for my girlfriends.”

“Idiot, are you trying to leave evidence of a crime?”

“It’s not like I set the dogs on them…”

“Smack!”

Cao Mang struck her on the side, making her stiffen before she lashed out in fury.

“How dare you hit me—I’ll kill you…”

In the end, she was pressed against the windowsill and subdued by Cao Mang until she calmed down. The dog kennel manager pretended not to notice.

The battle between man and beast in the yard gradually ended, the dogs now fighting over the remains, not even sparing the carcasses of their own dead. Autumn Rain Dream was too exhausted to stand, falling to her knees and screaming in shock, “Are you insane?”

Cao Mang had stripped off her raincoat and goggles, and carried her out of the workroom in a princess hold. The vicious dogs, unable to claim the bodies, stared at them with bloodshot eyes, terrifying Autumn Rain Dream even more so that she scrambled upward and ended up perched on Cao Mang’s shoulders.

To her surprise, the dogs didn’t dare approach, only growling softly and tucking their tails, making way for them.

Jia Haoren felt a tinge of disappointment. The kennel manager had dealt with the intruders in such a manner, and Autumn Rain Dream had escaped as well, leaving him with no reasonable opportunity to eliminate her; he would have to wait for another chance.

The Hummer sped away from the kennel and headed straight for the tattoo shop. Autumn Rain Dream took a long time to catch her breath, crossing her legs and lighting a cigarette.

Exhaling smoke leisurely, she said, “I think my sister is planning to elope with Ye Bufan.”

Cao Mang immediately perked up, though he feigned indifference. “It’s not like she hasn’t eloped before. How do you know?”

“I only get fifty thousand a month for spending money, and I can barely make ends meet. Yet she came to borrow from me, and even asked me to trick Dad into giving her more. She must want the money to run away with Ye Bufan, so they can be together.”

“The head of the family has already put her under house arrest and assigned guards. She can’t possibly get out.”

“That’s not necessarily true. My sister’s mind is all over the place—she’s practically asking to be cheated out of her money and her dignity. Who knows what she’s thinking!”

You have the nerve to say someone else is out of their mind?

Cao Mang shot her a sideways glance, remaining silent, intentionally letting her nurture the seeds of malice within her heart, knowing she would eventually reap what she sowed.

They arrived at the tattoo shop to continue their session. Autumn Rain Dream’s three girlfriends were already there, including the one who had been punished before. The four were as close as ever, chattering ceaselessly. Their conversation soon turned to men, and then to Cao Mang—when they learned he was only eighteen, they were all astonished.

These wild girls were bold, locking the door and drawing the curtains, letting the tattoo artist work on Cao Mang’s front first. The previously punished girl was coaxed into approaching him.

“My name is Ling Zhu, remember it.”

Autumn Rain Dream pressed down on Cao Mang’s shoulder. “Don’t move, let us see.”

The request was baffling, but as a bodyguard, he couldn’t refuse, so he went along.

He looked at the tattoo artist. “Don’t get distracted and mess up.”

The artist grinned, baring her teeth. “Don’t worry, I’ve seen it all.”

The ensuing scene left the girls wide-eyed, deeply impressed. They managed to keep their composure, though Ling Zhu was far more uninhibited.

Cao Mang couldn’t help but ask, “Your surname is Ling—are you related to Ling Xingyu?”

Ling Zhu lay limp on his lap, wiping sweat and replying weakly, “I’m his sister, though an illegitimate one. I’m not acknowledged.”

A flash of interest appeared in Cao Mang’s eyes, but he didn’t press further.

At dusk, they left the tattoo shop. Returning to the Autumn family mansion, they caught sight of the kennel manager leaving. Cao Mang pretended not to notice, but he knew full well that this man, like himself, would surely become one of Old Yang’s trusted aides.

Back in his room, he sent a message to Ye Xingmei and lay down to continue sorting through the chaotic memories he had acquired. Memories could be deleted by timeline, but Cao Mang didn’t want to miss any useful information or skills, so he was careful not to erase them at random.

Around midnight, the sound of helicopter blades suddenly tore through the sky. He sprang up as if jolted awake, leaping off the balcony.

A transport helicopter circled overhead, lowering a rope. A figure slid down, crashing through a window and seizing Autumn Rain Rou in his arms.

On the rooftop, Autumn Zhenhu roared furiously, “Stop them!”

The figure was none other than Ye Bufan; holding Autumn Rain Rou, he deterred anyone from acting. Even Old Yang, with his hunting rifle, didn’t dare pull the trigger.

Cao Mang snatched a kukri from a bodyguard and hurled it skyward.

The helicopter ascended as cries rang out below. The spinning blade struck the rope above Ye Bufan’s head.

A bloodcurdling scream escaped him as he plummeted, impaling himself on the pointed top of a streetlamp, instinctively letting go.

“Help…”

Autumn Rain Rou screamed as she fell, only to be caught by Cao Mang as he rushed forward.

Just then, a figure appeared at the helicopter door, firing a submachine gun.

“Rat-a-tat-tat…”

Autumn Rain Rou was petrified, and if not for Cao Mang rolling with her to dodge, she would have been riddled with bullets.

The helicopter descended under cover of gunfire. Ye Bufan, his face twisted in pain, reached for the dangling rope.

“Cao Mang, I won't rest until you're dead…”

Another scream. As the helicopter pulled him up, the bloodstained tip of the streetlamp was revealed, half a foot long.

Ye Bufan left a trail of blood and filth until he was dragged into the cabin.

Smack!

Autumn Rain Rou slapped Cao Mang, “Let go—don’t touch me with your filthy hands.”

Autumn Rain Dream ran over to defend Cao Mang.

“Sis, if not for him, you’d be dead!”

Despair filled Autumn Rain Rou’s eyes. “If not for him, I’d already be with Bufan, together forever.”

Smack!

Autumn Zhenhu arrived and slapped Autumn Rain Rou, stunning her.

Clutching her face in disbelief, “Dad, why did you hit me?”

Autumn Zhenhu roared, “Are you still blind to reality? Ye Bufan is now a wanted man, surrounded by criminals. The one who fired just now was a woman—she clearly meant to kill you!”