Lin Xiaotian watched the group with a smiling gaze, his smile widening on his face. "How about I poke a few holes in each of you, so you can experience the same pain as your boss?"
"Didn't you want to broaden my horizons? Then today, I'll give you that chance."
As he spoke, several silver needles appeared in his hand and were flicked out with extreme speed.
Zheng Laohu, who had been trying to escape from the back of the crowd, endured the searing pain throughout his body and had just managed to get up. Before he could take two steps, he was pierced by the silver needles.
At that moment, he felt as if countless knives were simultaneously slicing his flesh.
The pain made him let out a heart-wrenching scream.
Lin Xiaotian's face remained wreathed in a brilliant smile. "Everyone, if you want to run, you'd better see if you have the ability to leave first."
"I originally came here today to buy a painting and to help this old man."
"I wanted to be a good person and do a good deed, but you insisted on forcing my hand. Then don't blame me,"
Upon hearing this, the others were already terrified out of their wits. With a casual flick of two silver needles, they could make their boss howl like a ghost, and judging by his appearance, he was enduring unimaginable agony. His muscles were spasming uncontrollably, and he was trembling on the ground.
The sight of him opening his mouth in a silent roar sent a chill down their spines.
Now, they didn't dare to say another word.
They didn't even dare to meet Lin Xiaotian's eyes. With so many people present, they harbored a sliver of hope that Lin Xiaotian wouldn't take them out first.
Just then, Zheng Laohu struggled to his feet and crawled towards Lin Xiaotian, grabbing the man's trouser leg and hoarsely uttering a few words.
"Please... spare me!"
Lin Xiaotian's smile became even brighter. "You just said you wouldn't kill us and would let us fend for ourselves. What goes around comes around. I won't chop you up directly, I'll just give you a chance to fend for yourself."
"What if I were to hang you from this tree right now? Would anyone come to save you then?"
"Probably. After all, this old gentleman is kind-hearted."
"So leaving you here might be a burden to this old gentleman. After all, if the money is given to this old gentleman, it's very likely you'll snatch it away. To be safe, I've decided to turn you into a wooden man."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Laohu's face turned ashen. He opened his mouth to say something, but a silver needle from Lin Xiaotian shot out, piercing his vital point completely.
At that moment, he felt his entire body completely out of his control, but the pain intensified exponentially.
Bloodshot veins rapidly spread across his eyes, making them appear as if they would burst at any moment, turning blood red.
The intense pain caused him to lose control of his bodily functions.
Lin Xiaotian casually pulled a rope from the courtyard wall, secured his feet, and hung him upside down from the tree.
He dangled there, swaying in the wind, like a man without bones.
At this point, Lin Xiaotian's gaze turned to the others present.
Those people's hearts were already in turmoil. They felt that they would rather die than end up like their boss.
Some, unable to bear the fear, immediately fell to their knees with a thud.
"Please spare us. This was all our boss's idea, it has nothing to do with us. He himself wanted to snatch the painting and sell it, and that painting is still hidden by him. We know where the painting is."
"Please let us go, and we'll bring the painting to you immediately."
"We know where that painting is hidden. As long as you let us go, we'll get the painting for you right now."
Lin Xiaotian's face showed a brilliant smile upon hearing this. "Even if I don't let you go and kill you all, this guy will still be alive. He can also bring the painting to me."
"I just need to ask him where he hid the painting."
"Besides, I said I wouldn't kill you, so don't worry. I'll definitely let you live healthily. Perhaps you'll even grow plump and fair in the future, since lying around all day without exercising will surely lead to weight gain."
After his teasing words, several silver needles appeared between his fingers.
As the needles flicked, their hearts seemed to jump along with them, and fear began to spread in their hearts.
Lin Xiaotian's smile became even more pronounced. "You can run now, but don't get caught by me. If I catch you, the result might be worse than death."
"Next, I'll be picking people at random. Whoever I catch, hehe!"
Upon hearing this, those people wished their parents had given them two more legs. They crashed through the dilapidated wooden door and fled the scene at the fastest possible speed.
Lin Xiaotian had no intention of doing anything to those people. Although they carried some resentful energy, it wasn't significant.
These people's crimes did not warrant death, let alone a fate worse than death.
Only Zheng Laohu carried a very strong resentful energy, and he had also done many wicked deeds.
He even wanted to kill the uncle who had treated him so well. Such a person deserved no forgiveness.
Old Zheng finally reacted, his face filled with uncontrollable excitement. "Are you the immortal who has come to save us old couple?"
Lin Xiaotian raised an eyebrow, a proud little smile appearing on his face. "Old man, you can consider me a little immortal. Don't worry, I will definitely help you find your painting back, and I'll also give you a high price for it."
Upon hearing this, Old Zheng's voice choked up, and he lay on the ground, weeping profusely.
"The heavens have finally opened their eyes!"
"If it weren't for encountering the little immortal, we might have been completely buried here now. Heaven has shown mercy!"
His tears of relief touched Lin Xiaotian.
"Old man, let's not waste any more time. The painting is hidden on him."
"Regardless of whether the painting is genuine or not, I will definitely help you save your wife. It can also be considered our fate."
Lin Xiaotian had actually noticed earlier that Zheng Laohu was carrying something. Although he had hidden it very well, it was clearly visible.
Moreover, such a person would never hide a painting in a place known to everyone. He was afraid of being tricked.