Lin Yun returned to the city with an uneasy feeling gnawing at his chest.
Madam Li was gone.
He went straight to the inn and searched every corner—rooms, courtyard, even the rooftop. No sign. No note. His heart sank slightly, a rare crack in his calm facade. Then he remembered—this morning she had mentioned needing to buy something and would return late.
But this was far too late.
A bad feeling grew stronger, like ice spreading through his veins.
Lin Yun went to the marketplace, blending into the evening crowds, scanning faces, listening to chatter. He asked shopkeepers and locals if they had seen her. Some shook their heads. Others avoided his gaze, hurrying away.
Nothing.
As he passed a patrol of guards, he slowed his steps and listened.
One guard laughed crudely.
"Today was a good day. We captured a beautiful lady for our superior."
Another snorted.
"Haha! With this, we'll finally get our promotion. After he plays with her, we can have our turn too."
Lin Yun's expression froze.
His blood ran cold.
There was a very high chance they were talking about Madam Li.
He turned and vanished into the shadows.
The city prison was heavily guarded—but to Lin Yun, it posed little challenge.
He slipped inside silently, moving from cell to cell like a ghost, scanning each prisoner's face in the dim torchlight.
She wasn't there.
Then where…?
He stopped near two guards whispering in a corridor.
"Fuck, that bitch was so strong—she knocked down more than five guards before we took her down."
The other one sighed. "It's a pity. She was so beautiful. If that bastard hadn't reported it to the superior, we could've had some fun with her."
"But now that she's in the city lord's mansion, we can't do a thing."
Lin Yun's eyes hardened.
He searched his storage and took out a human skin mask—the one left behind by the old man.
An idea formed instantly.
Moments later, a middle-aged man with a scarred face and short beard stood in the alley. His aura surged subtly—enough to intimidate without drawing attention.
Lin Yun appeared before the guards like a specter.
The moment they felt his pressure, their bodies froze, fear etching deep lines across their faces.
"Don't scream," Lin Yun said coldly.
He grabbed a nearby iron bar and bent it effortlessly with one hand, the metal twisting like clay.
Their resistance shattered in an instant.
"Who is your superior?" he demanded in an angry tone. "Where is he?"
The guards hurriedly spilled everything, voices trembling.
"Our lord was changed a few days ago! We don't know much about the new lord—we just know he lives in the City Lord's Mansion!"
That was enough.
Lin Yun rushed toward the mansion under the cover of night.
As he moved, his mind worked rapidly.
The city lord changed suddenly and silently. Most people don't even know his name. It seems like someone from high status… likely connected to a sect.
He infiltrated the mansion with ease—guards patrolling the walls, but none saw the shadow that slipped through.
Inside one of the inner chambers—
Madam Li was there.
Her clothes were torn in several places. Her hands and feet were bound with rough rope. A cloth gagged her mouth.
Yet her eyes were clear.
Cold. Defiant.
A young man in his mid-twenties stood nearby, drunk and holding a wine glass, his face twisted with lust.
He came closer to Madam Li, but she wasn't afraid. She cursed him silently in her mind, searching for an opportunity to strike. But her thoughts were shattered when the man grabbed her face roughly.
"What a fierce beauty," he sneered. "You even killed some of my men. But I like this type of lady—because it's fun to tame a wild animal."
With those words, he tore some of her clothes and slapped her hard.
The slap echoed through the room.
Lin Yun, hidden in the shadows, felt something snap inside him.
Rage, cold and controlled, coiled in his chest. He was turning to his past self—when he was going to kill the serpent at any cost. He didn't even look at his body's condition. His all senses were screaming to kill this disgusting thing in front of him.
He stepped out without a sound.
In a frightening tone, he whispered: "Is this fun?"
The man was alert and tried to turn to see who was behind him.
But Lin Yun twisted his neck with a sharp crack, killing him easily.
Lin Yun didn't even let the body fall. He absorbed it directly into the Mysterious Land—clean, silent, without hesitation.
Madam Li, in pain, tried to speak something through the gag.
But Lin Yun struck her neck gently—precise, merciful—to make her unconscious.
He grabbed her carefully and left Madam Li in the Mysterious Land, then quickly left the place.
Her body began healing quickly in the Mysterious Land.
After returning to the inn, Madam Li slowly opened her eyes.
She saw Lin Yun sitting next to her with his eyes closed.
He opened his and stood up, giving some clothes to Madam Li.
"We'll talk after you change."
But Madam Li wasn't listening to him. She hugged him from the waist tightly, trying to hold back her tears.
Lin Yun, who didn't know how to console someone, just rubbed his hand on her head.
"Hey, now don't cry," he said softly. "I saw how you cursed the city lord. And you've changed so much."
He said this in an easy way, but Madam Li, like a little child, punched Lin Yun on his stomach lightly and said, "Bastard, how can you say such words to someone?"
Lin Yun looked directly into Madam Li's eyes.
"You know what? You were right," he said calmly. "This is how I am."
But Lin Yun changed the topic and said, "We can't stay here. We have to leave this place."
End of Chapter
Rescue complete, but the real trouble's just starting... What did you think of Lin Yun's rage moment? I love hearing your thoughts — comment below! If you enjoyed, please rate/review/share. Next up: escape from the city. Stay tuned!