Urban Seduction: Housewives Club Chapter 2129 - 450: Pain Isn’t the Point 1

Switching back to Wang Yue—once he absorbed Zhang Lingtian’s justification, a frosty snort burst from him. "You’ve got some nerve. You even played your own father."

"Just survival instincts, Senior," Zhang Lingtian answered, forcing a fawning grin onto his face.

"Oh? And if I hadn’t intercepted you, and your father had checked that spatial ring later, how exactly were you planning to ’survive’ then?" Wang Yue questioned, his curiosity now fully aroused.

Deep down, he suspected the young man hadn’t really concealed the treasures "somewhere else" but was instead bearing them right there on his body through a clever, undetectable technique.

"The value of those resources is astronomical. Even if my father found out, he wouldn’t have dared to touch me because he’d need me alive to get his hands on them later," Lingtian elaborated.

Wang Yue’s eyes narrowed just a fraction. This fellow ran deep—shrewd and unflappable. It proved impossible to discern whether he spoke honestly or wove a clever lie.

Wang Yue couldn’t be faulted for his uncertainty. Though his soul had endured for countless ages in his previous existence, he’d passed that era in utter seclusion. His real-world savvy remained linked to his present body’s youth—scarcely fifteen years old. Sure, he carried himself with more poise than the typical teen, but that was the extent of it.

Moreover, those fifteen years unfolded within the cozy, supportive haven of the Wang clan. He found himself outmatched when clashing cunning against a "viper" nurtured amid a den of serpents.

None of that altered the facts. Wang Yue’s greatest asset lay in his lack of reckless pride. He recognized the value in handing off duties. Experts handled specialist work; he simply had to master their employment.

In a sudden move, he lashed out, rendering Zhang Lingtian senseless with one palm strike. He then slung the slack form over his shoulder and flicked his wrist, storing the wrecked vehicle alongside it.

The spatial ring seized from the Zhang Family’s Third Ancestor proved enormous and largely vacant, offering just sufficient space for the folded-up machine.

Wang Yue held little regard for the vessel itself—especially with Yan Fangfei waiting at home. She embodied the pinnacle of tech savants; she could tweak a cheap gadget into a superior version of this fancy gadget without breaking a sweat.

Yet, since the whereabouts of the Zhang clan’s 70% resource cache remained unknown, he refused to abandon any item potentially tied to Lingtian.

Task complete, Wang Yue carted Zhang Lingtian clear of the compound.

During the whole incident, no member of the Zhang family emerged to probe—not even their Ancestor. Having glimpsed those two horrifying sword slashes from afar, the elder grew even more certain of his utter hopelessness. He chose caution, opting for a patient strategy instead.

On top of that, Jianyuan’s betrayal had shattered the family’s spirit. As Ancestor, he busied himself merely containing the chaos threatening to engulf his kin.

Upon reaching Zhang Hong’s hideout, Wang Yue passed Zhang Lingtian into his care.

In sheer might, Wang Yue now dwarfed Zhang Hong by leagues, but for worldly wisdom and "interrogation" skills, the veteran outshone him. Best to entrust the grilling to an expert.

The gaping breach in the bedroom’s wall got a crude repair job. Zhang Hong had no intention of sticking around, so he converted the space into an impromptu questioning den.

Wang Yue lingered, issuing Zhang Hong a pointed directive: uncover the supporter of Zhang Jianyuan. His former life imparted the lesson that a middling regional outfit like the Tianhai Zhangs lacked the audacity to challenge Jinling’s three premier clans solo. Jianyuan served as mere cannon fodder.

Zhang Hong hauled Lingtian into the bedroom as Wang Yue remained in the living area, passing the time chatting idly with Li Yingying, Li Gang, and Wu Li.

By this point, Li Gang’s power had ascended to the Tianyuan Realm. Such rapid progress verged on the miraculous—truthfully, it rivaled the pace of Wang Yue’s own companions.

Wang Yue took it in stride; if anything, he viewed Li Gang’s advancement as sluggish. Considering the foes they confronted now started at the Mortal Shedding Realm minimum, Li Gang amounted to baggage in genuine combat.

Wang Yue resolved that post-resolution in Tianhai, he’d station Li Gang here to continue honing under Zhang Hong’s guidance.

Even should Li Gang never join the vanguard battles for him, he could enforce in Tianhai. Given Li Gang’s exceptional build, claiming the title of this city’s mightiest wouldn’t hinge on possibility but timing—and that moment loomed near.

As dawn broke, following a full night of "questioning," Zhang Hong at last stepped out from the bedroom.

Zhang Lingtian’s psyche had shown remarkable resilience; Zhang Hong’s mental tactics failed to crack it.

That said, Zhang Hong’s arsenal extended beyond psychological ploys—he excelled at corporeal "convincing." He’d always despised Lingtian, so he applied full force without restraint.

Lingtian may have shone as a tactical genius, yet he remained a spoiled heir untouched by true agony. Beneath Zhang Hong’s savage torment, he crumbled swiftly and confessed all.

A backer did indeed stand behind Zhang Jianyuan: the formidable Kong Family from the Capital.

Wang Yue recognized the title—it rang with mythic status. They ranked among the secular martial world’s top four clans, supported by Transcendence Realm titans. They numbered among the rare forces bold enough to clash directly with the fabled Martial Arts Holy Lands.

Armed with this revelation, everything fell into sharp focus.

The Zhangs had followed the Kongs’ commands to undermine Jinling’s three great families. This explained Wang Yue’s second aunt, Su Mengchen’s, reluctance to step in openly. The Kongs matched the Yang family of the Holy Lands in strength, prompting her to dispatch only subtle safeguards.

The Kongs mirrored this caution—they feared the Yangs, thus lurking in secrecy while paying Zhang Jianyuan to handle their underhanded schemes.