Chapter 125: Saving the Nation by a Winding Path

Doing things, especially great undertakings, is like playing chess—one wrong move can lead to total defeat.

Lin Yu knew that Wang Kezhou, the city mayor, was someone he had to rely on. If Wang was killed by Jia Quan’s bodyguard Wang Yan, the effort against Jia Quan would be significantly weakened, perhaps to the point of collapse. A centipede may die, but parts of it live on; as long as Jia Quan was left breathing, he posed a grave threat to Lin and his family.

At this moment, everyone stepped back, except for Lin Yu—an eighteen-year-old youth—who had no choice but to stand in front of the city mayor Wang Kezhou.

“Anyone who blocks me dies!” Wang Yan shouted fiercely, his voice booming like a bell. His inner strength was evident in the tone alone.

“There’s a saying: ‘One man guards the pass, ten thousand cannot break through.’ Today, I want to see if I can hold the line,” Lin Yu said as he rapidly stirred his body’s energy. The other’s intent was to kill, so he had to be fully prepared.

Life is lived but once, to be treasured as it goes. Lin Yu, who had yet to experience the joys of “a simple home by the water, a pot of wine and a roll of books, a segment of time and a story—how beautiful, how fortunate,” naturally cherished the fortune bestowed upon him.

“You’re still just a child, but a soldier’s duty is to obey. I must complete my mission. Sorry to offend you,” Wang Yan whispered as he closed in, then suddenly delivered a seemingly ordinary straight punch. Though it looked simple, the power behind it was considerable.

Before the fist arrived, the force of the punch swept through the air.

Lin Yu felt as if it carried the weight of a thousand pounds—unyielding and solid. It was basic military boxing, but Wang Yan wielded it with the subtlety of a master swordsman, deceptively simple yet immensely effective.

“I can’t dodge, or I’ll fall into his counterattack. If only I knew Tai Chi to use his strength against him!” Lin Yu thought, then made a snap decision.

He had no choice but to meet force with force. Resolute, he swung his arm with all his might, turning his body to deliver his best right punch.

With a dull crack, both staggered backward in opposite directions. Wang Yan retreated only a step, while Lin Yu stepped back three times, his hand aching as if shattered.

“It really is strong. But my goal is just to hold him off for a few minutes until the police with guns arrive. Then I must change tactics,” Lin Yu silently pondered his strategy.

In truth, the mayor Wang Kezhou held a replica toy gun—unnoticeable from afar but clearly visible to Lin Yu, who was up close. Otherwise, Lin would have snatched it away and broken Wang Yan’s leg without hesitation.

“Uncle Wang, step back a bit,” Lin Yu advised, gaining some distance between them. After the warning, he prepared to strike first, as taekwondo is primarily offensive.

But no sooner had he steadied himself than Wang Yan launched a fierce kick—a strike as ruthless and powerful as a hunting hawk’s dive.

Though cautious, Lin Yu grinned inwardly; Wang Yan’s kick played right into his hands. Having endured a punch, he would now meet the kick head-on.

With that thought, Lin Yu lifted his leg to clash with Wang Yan’s.

Under the worried eyes of Lin Tiancheng, Wang Chunhua, and Yang Zhilin, the young man held his ground, neither suffering a great loss. The two evenly matched, each stepping back three paces.

Watching from a distance, Jiang Lele’s eyes sparkled with admiration. To her, Lin Yu was remarkably handsome today—reminiscent of the stylish yet rebellious protagonist Li Yinsheng from the novel *That Guy Is Really Handsome*.

“You’re not bad. But now, I’m getting serious,” Wang Yan, who had been held off for half a minute, said grimly. Seeing Mayor Wang retreat seven or eight meters, he prepared to switch tactics.

Having just employed standard military combat moves, he was now ready to unleash specialized killing techniques from his special forces training.

Noticing the change in Wang Yan’s gaze, Lin Yu’s heart jolted; the opponent was clearly prepared to be lethal.

At that moment, Lin Yu calmed his rising anxiety and recalled his idol Bruce Lee’s words: “I never claim to be the best in the world, but I also refuse to admit I’m second.”

Martial arts is like this—you must have unwavering confidence and never show weakness. If the enemy does not move, neither do you. That is all.

Yet, unexpectedly, Wang Yan advanced only half a step at a time—slow and deliberate, an eerie approach that exerted immense psychological pressure.

As Wang Yan crept closer, Lin Yu felt helpless, unsure of how he would strike and thus lacking a countermeasure. A vague sense of danger loomed.

Wang Yan’s aura resembled that of Lieutenant Wang Yalin from *Escape from the Amazon*—everywhere he went, an air of deadly menace followed.

“No, I can’t match his strength. I must outwit him. I don’t have to fight to the death,” Lin Yu suddenly smiled brightly.

This strange reaction stunned Wang Yan, who halted just a meter away, baffled.

“I’m not fighting anymore. I can’t beat you, and I’m afraid you’ll kill me. It’s that simple. Since I can’t stop you, why risk my life? And, just so you know, the mayor is holding a fake gun,” Lin Yu said as he stepped aside.

“You brat...” Wang Yan had no retort, but Mayor Wang Kezhou nearly fainted from anger. Revealing the gun was fake shattered his last hope.

The situation now boiled down to whoever wielded the greatest force would control the outcome.

From the mayor’s slowly lowering hand and his suddenly terrified expression, Wang Yan knew Lin Yu spoke truth. Cautiously, he brushed past Lin Yu.

“I’m doomed!” Mayor Wang cried inwardly, feeling more endangered and pitiful than Jia Quan himself.

Witnessing the much-anticipated climax, Jia Quan and his men—who had been ready to leave once they learned the gun was fake—now watched with shining eyes.

Jia Quan, battered tonight, felt a surge of resentment and gratitude—thankful that, unwittingly, he had saved Wang Yan’s parents and earned their sincere loyalty.

Cornered by the fierce and advancing Wang Yan, Mayor Wang Kezhou’s heart tightened; he never imagined a simple government banquet would spiral into such chaos.

Powerless and unable to resist, he panicked in his final moments.

His wife, Wu Jinlian, was already weeping uncontrollably, terrified beyond words.

The scene was suffocating and brutal.

Everyone else watching felt Mayor Wang’s life hung by a thread as Wang Yan passed Lin Yu by.

The only one without such fear was Lin Yu, who, once Wang Yan put some distance between them, suddenly sprang into action, sprinting in the opposite direction.

He dashed straight at an unprepared Jia Quan. Before Wang Yan could reach Mayor Wang, Lin Yu had swiftly subdued the number one figure in the enemy camp.

Gripping Jia Quan’s throat with one hand, he hissed coldly, “Wang Yan, stop right now, or I’ll send Jia Quan to the grave!”

Hearing this, Wang Yan froze in place, stunned.

Lin Yu’s move combined the strategies of Tian Ji’s horse racing and the classical tactic of rescuing Wei by besieging Zhao, achieving a clever and indirect victory.

[Once again, a reminder about this book’s first reader group on QQ: 24346366. Everyone is welcome to join; nearly a hundred members have already gathered. Join quickly before it fills up, or you’ll have to look for the second or third group. Led by Banya and a lively crowd of girls and handsome guys, we eagerly await your arrival~~~]