Chapter Four: A Menacing Visitor

"Who is this foolish thief who doesn't know his place?"
Liu Jingye naturally wouldn't let him succeed. The 'ghost' he had prepared for Yuan Xiaoying could now serve a double purpose.
Suddenly, he let his phone's ringtone blare and switched on the lights.
In an instant, the howling wind broke the silence of the night, sounding as if countless vengeful spirits were dancing wildly. At the same time, Liu Jingye pressed the power switch repeatedly, rhythmically turning it on and off. The lightbox at the door flickered, so too did the eyes of the 'ghost,' shimmering ominously...
Dangling from the rooftop, it seemed as though someone had just been hanged there.
"Ah..." Two simultaneous shrieks rang out—one male, one female, both piercing and desperate.
Liu Jingye watched as the black-clad figure, moving like a wall-crawling gecko, let out a miserable cry and fell from the wall, crashing heavily to the ground.
But immediately the man rolled over, sprang to his feet, and fled toward the courtyard wall, intent on escaping.
Liu Jingye would not allow such an opportunity. He leaped from the rooftop, ignoring the four or five meters' drop, landing nimbly on the ground.
The moment he touched down, Liu Jingye became a hunting leopard, a shadowy bolt of lightning, appearing behind the black-clad man in an instant.
Startled, the man tried to propel himself forward to escape.
But Liu Jingye was faster, his movements simpler—he extended his leg, swift and ruthless.
With a crisp snap, the man's body stiffened as if struck by lightning; his foot separated from his leg, his ankle shattered under Liu Jingye's force.
The man collapsed instantly, curling up in agony, his body trembling violently.
Liu Jingye seized the moment, pinning him down, his powerful arm pressing against the back of the man's neck. With a flex of his elbow, he could crush two vertebrae in an instant.
He pressed his arm down, the man enduring the pain, lying motionless, though unable to suppress the tremors racking his body.
Liu Jingye lowered his voice. "Who are you, and what are you doing here?"
The man gave no answer. Liu Jingye sneered, then punched him hard in the ribs—a sharp crack signaled a break.
Unable to endure the agony, the man quickly replied, "I'm looking for a woman—and a pair of earrings she has."
...
For the sake of clarity in the plot, the recent chapters have been a bit shorter. I hope you'll forgive me; things will stabilize soon. Meanwhile, please consider adding to your favorites and voting. Thank you to all the brothers who have supported with votes, monthly tickets, and tips.