Villain Is Bodyguard of Heroine’s Poisonous Stepmother

Chapter 126: The Brutal Beating of Li Zhong

“Explain to me exactly how Zi Xuan died,” demanded Luo Mingde, his eyes seething with murderous intent as he stared down Ah Da and the others.

He felt a surge of anger toward these three incompetents for failing to protect Luo Zixuan, resulting in his son’s death.

“Young Master Luo was killed by Ye Chen. He wanted revenge on Ye Chen, so he devised a plan to kidnap Li Ting to draw Ye Chen out for an ambush. Ye Chen proved stronger than we anticipated, managing to seize Young Master Luo even amidst our siege. Holding Young MasterLuo, we hesitated to attack. We used Li Ting as leverage for his release. However, Ye Chen didn’t care about our threats and killed Young Master Luo directly,” Ah Da recounted, slightly altering the narrative as Chen Luo had instructed.

“My son was killed by Ye Chen,” Luo Mingde repeated, his gaze chillingly cold.

Having held the power within the Luo family for over a decade, Luo Mingde possessed a formidable presence. Ordinary people would likely struggle to even make eye contact with him.

Ye Chen had previously crippled his son’s hand, and now he had gone further to end his life. Luo Mingde felt he would be failing as a father if he did not avenge this grievance.

“Mr. Luo, we’ve brought back Li Ting,” Ah Da gestured to Ah San, who quickly brought Li Ting forward.

The previously unconscious Li Ting was now awake.

“Luo Mingde, I’m warning you to let me go, or my father won’t spare your Luo family. Ye Chen will definitely rescue me.”

To say Li Ting was thoughtless would be an understatement; she dared to shout at Luo Mingde, especially when he was enraged.

Slap!

Without mercy, Luo Mingde slapped Li Ting across her face, causing her fleshy cheeks to quiver and quickly swell up.

“How dare you hit me! You old fool, you actually dared to hit me!” Li Ting glared at Luo Mingde with venomous eyes.

“Did you know Ye Chen killed Zixuan?” Luo Mingde coldly asked.

Upon hearing of Luo Zixuan’s death, a flicker of regret crossed Li Ting’s eyes, but remembering he had kidnapped her, that sentiment quickly dissipated.

“He got what he deserved for daring to kidnap me. Just let me go already. My father will soon find me, and then your Luo family will pay.”

Li Ting was utterly blind to the murderous intent emanating from Luo Mingde.

“Fine, Zixuan liked you, didn’t he? Then be prepared to join him in the afterlife,” Luo Mingde stated, his eyes brimming with an icy, murderous intent.

“Mr. Luo, Li Zhong has arrived,” announced Luo Mingde’s assistant, who hurried over.

Li Zhong’s timely arrival, having been informed of Li Ting’s abduction to the Luo household, was orchestrated as per Chen Luo’s plan, with Ah Da and his team deliberately leaking the information.

“He’s here?”

A cold glint flashed in Luo Mingde’s eyes before he commanded, “First, lock this dead woman up. Let her wait to join Zixuan in death.”

“Release me! Dad, save me!”

Li Ting’s screams, resembling those of a slaughtered pig, were heart-wrenchingly tragic, almost making one believe an actual pig was being slaughtered.

Now truly frightened, Li Ting realized Luo Mingde’s intentions didn’t seem like a joke. He genuinely wanted her to accompany Luo Zixuan in death. She couldn’t bear the thought of dying for Luo Zixuan, even if it was Ye Chen she would still be unwilling.

Bang!

The door was forcefully kicked open as Li Zhong, accompanied by his people, stormed in. Despite Luo Mingde’s assistant hastily informing him, Li Zhong had already decided to confront the situation head-on.

“What do you plan to do with my daughter, Luo Mingde?” Li Zhong demanded, his eyes seething with anger at Luo Mingde.

“Dad, you have to save me! This old man wants to kill me. He wants me to accompany Luo Zixuan in death,” Li Ting’s plea caused Li Zhong’s expression to harden.

The idea of his daughter accompanying Luo Zixuan in death was absurd. Was Luo Zixuan really dead?

Unaware of the full details, it was clear to Li Zhong that his daughter’s kidnappers were linked to the Luo family. Regardless of Luo Zixuan’s fate, demanding his daughter to accompany him in death was unforgivable, and Li Zhong was not about to let it slide. The sight of the slap mark on Li Ting’s face filled him with distress.

“Release my daughter,” Li Zhong commanded Luo Mingde.

“Impossible. I’ve said she’ll accompany Zixuan in death, and there’s also a matter I need to settle with you.”

“Settle a matter with me? You’ve kidnapped my daughter, and I haven’t yet settled this matter. Now, you seek to settle scores with me?”

Li Zhong’s face was a portrait of rage, but he also realized that Luo Mingde’s complaint must truly mean Luo Zixuan was dead. With his savvy, Li Zhong thought that if Ye Chen hadn’t killed Luo Zixuan, Luo Mingde wouldn’t be directing such wrath at him.

“Hand over Ye Chen. He killed my son, and for that, he must die.”

As Li Zhong had anticipated, Luo Zixuan’s death was indeed at Ye Chen’s hands.

Ye Chen’s whereabouts were a mystery, leaving Li Zhong uncertain about how to surrender Ye Chen. If he could find Ye Chen, Li Zhong might genuinely consider handing him over to pacify Luo Mingde’s wrath in exchange for Li Ting’s freedom.

“You want Ye Chen. Once I find him, I will deliver him to you. For now, release my daughter,” Li Zhong said, attempting to have his team retrieve his daughter.

Yet, before they could reach Li Ting, they were quickly subdued by Ah Da and his group.

“Your daughter will be released once Ye Chen is delivered to me,” Luo Mingde said, his tone icy.

Luo Zixuan’s death demanded retribution, and the murderer must pay.

Despite Ye Chen being his son’s killer, Luo Mingde had no intention of sparing Li Zhong. Consumed by madness, Luo Mingde sought not only Ye Chen’s death but also that of anyone who had helped him, including the Li and Wang families.

Despite these families being formidable adversaries to Luo Mingde, he was determined to exact revenge. Luo Zixuan had affection for Li Ting, and although Luo Mingde initially disapproved, now with Luo Zixuan gone, he was determined to fulfill his son’s wish by making Li Ting accompany Luo Zixuan in death.

“Alright, very well,” Li Zhong said, seething with anger at Luo Mingde, then commanded his followers to act.

Li Zhong had brought a significant number of allies, aware of their encroachment on the Luo family’s turf. He had intentionally brought additional forces, but would their numbers prove effective?

Even though Ah Da and the other two had suffered injuries in the fight with Ye Chen, they were still more than capable of handling Li Zhong and his crew. In fact, Ah Da even knocked Li Zhong to the ground with a kick.

“Beat him up,” Luo Mingde coldly commanded, looking at Li Zhong sprawled on the floor.

Ah Da and his group didn’t hold back, pummeling Li Zhong mercilessly. Yet, they carefully controlled their force to not kill him. A living Li Zhong was far more valuable than a dead one.

Without Li Zhong, who would lead the Li family’s fight against the Luo family?

Despite their restraint, the beating was harsh for Li Zhong, who was left in a pitiable state after the relentless assault.

“Dad, how dare you attack my father!” Li Ting shouted, her eyes blazing with anger.

However, soon Li Ting was also kicked to the ground, and together with Li Zhong, they both endured a brutal beating. A miserable sight for father and daughter.

Luo Mingde watched Li Zhong with a cold detachment, harboring a to kill him at that moment.

However, Luo Mingde restrained himself. Despite his anger over Luo Zixuan’s death, he maintained his composure. While killing Li Zhong might offer temporary relief, the repercussions could be catastrophic, possibly ensnaring himself in the fallout. Without having avenged Luo Zixuan by dealing with Ye Chen, Luo Mingde couldn’t justify risking his own downfall over Li Zhong.