Chapter 280

Chapter 280

Fortune Favors the Bold

"Zheng Jie is spineless!" Lin Nannan remarked scornfully after learning how Lin Kangnian had forced Zheng Jie to chop off his own hand in Nan City while still grinning obsequiously.

Lu Hang agreed.

"He is indeed lacking. But with so many factions emerging in Nan City, the Zheng family dares not act recklessly. His actions are somewhat justified." Though not from the capital himself, Lu Hang had known Zhang Shengguo for years and was well aware of the Zheng family's motives. Their meddling in Nan City stemmed from their inability to secure power in the capital, yet their unwillingness to relinquish its privileges had led to this predicament.

Lin Nannan sidled up to Lu Hang with a wicked grin. "Since he has his fears, why don’t we pay him a visit? I’d love to see his face contorted in rage when he realizes he can’t lay a finger on us!"

Lu Hang hesitated. While it would be amusing to witness Zheng Jie’s frustration, putting Lin Nannan in his line of sight carried risks. He sensed Zheng Jie’s ambitions ran deep and feared for Nan Nan’s safety.

Noticing his reluctance, Lin Nannan whined, batting her eyelashes. "What’s there to fear? At worst, we can involve Commander Zhang and the others. Who knows what shady dealings Zheng Jie has hidden? Seeing him in person might reveal something. Besides, didn’t he think you were an easy target, even wanting you dead? Strut around right under his nose—see if he dares make a move!"

Emboldened by the adage "fortune favors the bold," Lu Hang couldn’t resist her coaxing. Moreover, a smoldering fury within him yearned to uproot the Zheng family entirely. He knew all too well that without Nan Nan, his family’s fate would have been dire.

Some grudges couldn’t be buried. Had it not been for Nan Nan, his family would have been destroyed long ago. The Zheng family had sought their lives over a mere chance encounter—how could he possibly let them off now?

After deliberating, the two decided to make a bold, public appearance. With Zheng Jie under scrutiny from multiple factions, he wouldn’t dare act recklessly. Showing up openly would turn the screws on him.

Zheng Jie was stunned. The very duo who had thrown Nan City into chaos now stood before him, brazenly taunting how their hunters’ stupidity backfired—how the ambushes had inadvertently shielded them instead. His face darkened with each word, his rage seething just beneath the surface.

"Ah Jie," Lu Hang greeted amiably after exchanging pleasantries with acquaintances, spotting Zheng Jie standing aside. "Fancy meeting you here—every time I’m in Nan City, I seem to run into you."

"Indeed," Zheng Jie replied with veiled sarcasm. "You’ve given everyone quite the scare this time. Such a major incident, yet you didn’t think to reach out? While I may not hold absolute sway in Nan City, I still have pull here."

Lu Hang chuckled lightly. "We weren’t aware you were here. Had we known, we’d have gladly borrowed your influence to smoke out the rats infesting Nan City—sparing its people further harm."

Lin Nannan watched with amusement as Zheng Jie’s smile twitched with barely restrained fury, his malice barely concealed.

*Amateur*, she mused. *He can’t even keep his cool.* Had it been her, she would’ve navigated the situation with far more subtlety—unlike Zheng Jie, whose snarl masked as a smile was downright pathetic.

After needling Zheng Jie further, Lu Hang gestured politely to his companion. "This is my wife, Lin Nannan. Ah Jie, you likely haven’t met her before. Nan Nan, this is Zheng Jie—Commander Zhang’s childhood friend."

Lin Nannan offered a shy smile before tilting her head curiously. "If he’s Commander Zhang’s childhood friend, shouldn’t he be from the capital? Did the capital kick him out?"