After receiving Xu Hao's call, Qin Tian rushed towards the direction of Xia Nuannuan and the others at his fastest speed. He happened to meet Xu Hao on the way.
When the two arrived near the scene, they encountered the two accomplices who had fled.
Frightened by Zhang Peng and having run a certain distance, the two now realized they had been tricked and were arguing about whether to go back.
One insisted on returning to redeem themselves, to get back at the scoundrel who had tricked them, and to recapture the two girls.
The other opposed returning, stating that since someone had already come looking for them, the police might already be nearby.
"Master, those two should be the accomplices of the snatchers. The owner of the shop said they were wearing masks," Xu Hao said to Qin Tian with a serious expression as he looked at the two men.
Without any further words, Qin Tian charged directly at the two, shouting loudly.
"Hey, where are those two girls?"
"Master..."
Xu Hao was stunned for a moment, then immediately followed.
The two snatchers were startled and only then noticed Qin Tian and Xu Hao. A fierce glint flashed in their eyes.
"Master, be careful, they have knives!" Xu Hao shouted urgently when he saw the weapons in their hands.
"So there are others. Stab them, and we'll make a run for it."
"Okay!"
The two snatchers instantly reached a consensus and ferociously attacked Qin Tian.
Qin Tian showed no fear towards these two thugs armed with weapons, nor did he intend to hold back.
He unleashed the Wing Chun he had acquired from a system mission days ago, executing a "Empty Handed Seizes White Blade" move while simultaneously delivering a heavy kick to the opponent's knee.
"Crack!"
A crisp bone-cracking sound was accompanied by screams as the thug in front fell directly to the ground.
The other man's face changed drastically. With a surge of resolve, he thrust the knife in his hand directly towards Qin Tian's chest.
If this stab had hit, Qin Tian, no matter how strong his physique, would have been in grave danger.
In a flash, Qin Tian dodged the attack by sharply turning his body, simultaneously returning a blow with his elbow.
The man's eyes bulged wide, the knife slipped from his grasp, and he fell backward, curling up on the ground and wailing in agony.
In just one exchange, both were dealt with cleanly and efficiently.
Xu Hao, who had been watching from behind Qin Tian, was utterly stunned.
"Where are the people?"
Qin Tian stepped on the man's hand, applying pressure and asking in a cold voice.
"Ah—"
The man's screams intensified, and he pointed with his other hand towards the alley.
"Over there, over there..."
"Hao, they're all yours. Don't let anyone escape, I'm going that way!" Qin Tian said, and then sprinted in the direction indicated by the thugs without looking back.
"Huh? Okay, okay, got it, don't worry!" Xu Hao snapped back to reality and nodded his head repeatedly in agreement.
Fortunately, these two were clearly incapacitated. Otherwise, facing two armed thugs, he wouldn't have dared to take on the task.
...
...
"Let go of me, damn it, you're asking for death, I'm going to kill you!" The leader, pinned down by Zhang Peng, yelled hysterically.
"You stabbed me and now you want to kill me? Spit! You can dream about that in the clink, hiss... it hurts!" Despite being injured, Zhang Peng was still defiant. He accidentally agitated his wound, causing him to grimace in pain again.
"Zhang Peng, are you... are you okay? You're bleeding a lot." Xia Nuannuan's face was pale, her voice filled with worry.
"It shouldn't have hit any organs, just a bit painful." Zhang Peng gritted his teeth as he struggled to hold the man down. His face was even paler than Xia Nuannuan's due to blood loss.
Not far away, Tian Jiajia, her voice trembling, was frantically telling the paramedics her location.
"Yes, yes, it's here. Hurry up and get the ambulance over here! He's bleeding a lot, mhm... hurry up!"
"Nuannuan, Zhang Peng!" Suddenly, a familiar voice called out.
The three faces lit up with joy as they looked towards the sound and saw Qin Tian sprinting towards them.
"Brother Tian, you're finally here! This bastard stabbed me, help!" Zhang Peng's heroic demeanor instantly crumbled, and he cried out pitifully for help.
"What?" Qin Tian's expression changed drastically.
Perhaps seeing Qin Tian, Zhang Peng instinctively relaxed his grip, and the force he applied lessened.
"Get lost!" The man shouted angrily, seizing the opportunity to break free and shove Zhang Peng off him.
Xia Nuannuan shrieked and took a step back in terror.
"Nuannuan, get out of the way!" Qin Tian yelled urgently.
The man quickly got up and targeted Xia Nuannuan, attempting to grab her as a hostage.
"Damn it!" Zhang Peng cursed, ignoring the pain of his wound, and lunged forward to grab one of the man's legs.
The man's movement faltered, and he fell face-first again. He desperately kicked backward at Zhang Peng, spewing curses. Zhang Peng endured, refusing to let go.
By then, Qin Tian had arrived. Without a word, he lifted his foot and stomped hard on the man's lower leg.
A piercing scream erupted. Under Qin Tian's merciless force, the man's lower leg bone directly snapped. Even if it was reattached later, he would be a cripple for life. Furthermore, the intense pain caused the man's eyes to roll back, and he passed out.
Xia Nuannuan's legs went weak, and she almost collapsed to the ground, but Tian Jiajia, who had also rushed over, managed to support her in time.
"Hiss... it hurts so much!" Zhang Peng rolled over and lay on his back on the ground. The man's kick had also swollen his face, and his nose was bleeding profusely.
"Brother Tian, it's over, it's over. I'm going to be disfigured."
"Don't worry, you won't be." Qin Tian rolled his eyes, speechless, and then looked at the wound on his abdomen, asking, "You still have the mind to joke, are you okay?"
"I'm fine!" Zhang Peng grinned, his bruised and swollen face looking rather comical.
"Let me see!" Qin Tian squatted down and lifted his shirt to examine the wound.
Seeing that the wound was not deep and likely hadn't hit any organs, Qin Tian breathed a sigh of relief. He asked Tian Jiajia to fetch the thugs' knives, cut two strips of cloth from the unconscious man's clothes, and roughly bandaged Zhang Peng's wound. After that, there was nothing more he could do but patiently wait for the ambulance.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?" Qin Tian stood up and looked at Xia Nuannuan with concern.
"I'm fine!" Xia Nuannuan shook her head, her eyes moist and red.
"Qin Tian, I'm sorry, it's all my fault, I..." Tian Jiajia apologized with deep guilt.
Before she could finish, Qin Tian raised his hand to interrupt her.
"None of that matters now, as long as everyone is safe." He then walked forward and hugged Xia Nuannuan, without any words of blame, only gently stroking her back and murmuring in a soft voice, "It's okay, don't be afraid, it's over, it's over."
"Sob sob..." Xia Nuannuan could no longer hold back and buried her face in his warm embrace, sobbing uncontrollably.
Tian Jiajia walked over to Zhang Peng and looked down at him lying on the ground, her expression complex, as if she had something to say but hesitated.
"Alright, don't make that face, it doesn't suit you at all," Zhang Peng said with a smile.
Tian Jiajia merely hummed in response and lowered her head.
"I have cigarettes and a lighter in my pocket. Can you light one for me? I don't have any strength left." Zhang Peng requested.
"Okay!" Tian Jiajia agreed, wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, then crouched down, took the cigarettes and lighter from his pocket, pulled one out, placed it in his mouth, and lit it with the lighter.
"Hoo..." Zhang Peng, imitating the dying protagonists in Hong Kong movies, exhaled a puff of smoke with a world-weary expression.
"Damn it, I'm so handsome!" He suddenly declared.
"Pfft!" Tian Jiajia couldn't help but be amused by his words, nodding and agreeing with a mix of tears and laughter, "You are a little handsome."