Ning Bei's rescue team had already completed their deployment around Bai Hao's cabin. The reason they hadn't opted for a forceful, door-breaking entry was, of course, concern for the safety of the Yan family's little princess. Members of the first and second squads had been positioned in several small rooms nearby, ready to move at a moment's notice. As for Ning Bei, his presence in the restroom wasn't due to some peculiar command post preference; it was merely a matter of urgent timing. What he hadn't anticipated was that the situation would shift precisely during this interval, and that the kidnapper would walk right towards him.
Watching the feed transmitted by his subordinates, Ning Bei wasn't about to let this golden opportunity slip. The moment Bai Hao stepped into the restroom, he immediately issued the order to strike, while hurriedly fastening his trousers, ready to personally arrest the fool who had chosen the path to hell.
Over a dozen officers from the first squad burst from their rooms upon receiving the command, swiftly converging on Bai Hao's cabin. Finding the door locked from the outside, one particularly brawny squad member immediately launched a powerful kick against it.
BANG!The wooden door flew open almost instantly under the impact. Yan Xiaoshi, engrossed in her mecha game, was startled. She turned to see a burly, armed man charge into the room and make a direct lunge for her.
The rescue officer who entered first scooped up the girl from the bed and quickly retreated from the room. Yan Xiaoshi, terrified, grabbed the game console in her panic, pounding it against the arm of the man who held her captive. Tears streamed down her face as she cried out, "Big Brother, save me!"
Bai Hao had just entered the restroom when he heard the crash of the door and, immediately after, Xiaoshi's desperate cry for help. Realizing she was in danger, he tried to rush out, only to find a tall man in his thirties blocking the exit.
A cold smirk played on Ning Bei's lips as he stared down at Bai Hao, who stood a good half-head shorter. "Kid, you've got a death wish, daring to kidnap the Yan family's little princess," he sneered.
"You—" Bai Hao managed only a single syllable before Ning Bei struck. His right fist shot out with a faint whistle of air, aimed squarely at Bai Hao's head.
Faced with the ferociously incoming punch, Bai Hao jolted in alarm. His pupils contracted sharply. His left hand snapped up, palm open, to intercept while his body simultaneously propelled itself backward. With less than a meter between them, blocking such a committed, close-range strike head-on would be difficult. Drawing on his sparring experience with "Lezi," his instincts screamed to create distance.
Ning Bei was slightly taken aback. His lightning-fast, near-sneak attack had missed its mark at such close quarters, his fist landing only on the other's palm, which felt like a sea of mud, instantly dissipating the force of the blow. Undeterred, he pressed his advantage, closing the distance and following up with a left uppercut aimed at Bai Hao's chin.
Bai Hao, however, was prepared. He tilted his body slightly, evading the rising fist, while driving a sharp elbow strike into Ning Bei's left arm to disrupt any potential combo.
Thud.
Their forearms collided with a dull, heavy sound.
The mutual impact forced both men back two or three steps. Feeling the burning pain in his left forearm, Ning Bei's expression grew more serious. This brief exchange revealed that the seemingly ordinary young man before him was no pushover. He had not only deftly neutralized a swift, near-ambush attack but also held his own in a contest of raw strength. For a man who had once earned a C-level combat instructor certification, a sliver of professional admiration surfaced. "Kid, not bad—"
Bai Hao had no desire for conversation. Xiaoshi's pleas for help echoed in the corridor outside. As her protector, rescuing her was his most urgent priority. As for the man before him, already deemed an enemy, he needed to be dealt with as swiftly as possible. So, Bai Hao attacked. He lunged forward, closing the gap, his left fist already driving toward its target.
The punch was fast, arriving in an instant.
This was Bai Hao's full-force strike. From their previous clash, he had already roughly gauged Ning Bei's strength—inferior to his own. In that case, the quickest, most efficient way to subdue him was to overwhelm him with sheer power.
Facing the rapidly approaching fist, Ning Bei's heart sank. Instinctively, he opted for defense, crossing his arms in front of his torso, poised to counter. However, when the punch truly connected, he realized his mistake—a naïve and ignorant miscalculation. The force behind the blow far exceeded his expectations.
Stunned by the impact, Ning Bei was momentarily dazed. He had no time to react before Bai Hao's right hook landed solidly against his side. An excruciating pain instantly shot through his brain, and a cry of agony escaped his lips reflexively.
In such a moment, Bai Hao's sole focus was ending the fight quickly. His strikes were heavy. While he avoided vital areas, the blows were more than enough to give Ning Bei a severe beating. Were it not for Ning Bei's fairly solid musculature, a rib or two might have snapped.
Having gained the upper hand, Bai Hao left no opening. He followed up with a vicious kick to Ning Bei's shin.
Battered by the consecutive attacks, Ning Bei lost all composure. The kick to his leg destabilized him, sending him sprawling toward the floor. Bai Hao seized the chance to unleash a flurry of punches and kicks, though he meticulously targeted non-vital areas—places guaranteed to inflict intense pain and incapacitate.
Curled on the floor, arms feebly shielding his head, Ning Bei let out a series of pained groans, utterly devoid of any fight left in him.
Seeing this, Bai Hao immediately turned and sprinted for the restroom exit. But as he reached the doorway, he skidded to a halt. A dozen gun barrels were now trained directly on him.
The men aiming the weapons were Ning Bei's second squad. For the covert rescue operation, they weren't in standard security uniforms but plain clothes. Upon receiving the arrest order, they had immediately rushed toward the restroom. To their surprise, halfway there, they heard their boss's cries of distress. A collective dread settled over them—had something happened to the chief?
Seeing Bai Hao burst from the restroom, the dozen men instantly leveled their firearms at him. One barked loudly, "Hands in the air!"
Under the unwavering aim of multiple guns, Bai Hao harbored no illusions about his martial arts skills making a difference. He obediently raised his hands. A man with dreams didn't want his life ending here and now.
The squad members let out a collective, subtle sigh of relief. Three of them immediately rushed forward, forcing Bai Hao to the ground, pinning him, and handcuffing his hands behind his back. Several others charged into the restroom. The sight that greeted them—their usually imposing chief curled on the floor, groaning in pain—made their eyes nearly pop out of their sockets. This was a far cry from the formidable Security Chief they knew; he'd been soundly thrashed.