Chapter 121: Heaven on Earth

Sitting in the back seat, Zhao Ming thought of his younger sister, who should have been continuing her university education but was forced to suspend her studies to make ends meet. He felt a deep sense of resentment toward his own incompetence; if only he were more capable, his sister wouldn't have to suffer. Fortunately, however, everything was about to end, and a fresh start was within reach.

Zhang Ding turned his head and asked, "Old Zhao, where is your sister working? We'll drive over to pick her up and take care of her resignation paperwork while we're at it."

Zhao Ming snapped out of his thoughts, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, and said, "My sister works at the Heaven on Earth Entertainment Club. To be honest, I'm not exactly sure where it is. My sister told me on the phone that it's a decent place, the pay is good, and the work isn't too grueling."

To pay off debts and reduce the financial burden, Zhao Ming's sister had worked part-time while in school. Half a month ago, overwhelmed by the pressure, she chose to suspend her studies and, through a friend's recommendation, started working at the Heaven on Earth club. Because he was always busy, Zhao Ming hadn't gone to visit her, keeping in touch only by phone.

His sister had always been well-behaved, so Zhao Ming trusted her completely and believed everything she said.

Hearing the name "Heaven on Earth," Zhang Ding, a former taxi driver, saw his expression shift drastically.

Ling Tian, who hadn't heard of it, asked, "Heaven on Earth? What kind of place is that? The name is quite intriguing."

Zhao Ming scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed. "I've been so busy I haven't been there myself. According to my sister, a classmate recommended it to her. They say it's a place that serves the upper class, like for hosting conferences or private gatherings."

Zhang Ding, who was about to speak, shut his mouth tight, but his face remained grim. He knew that the Heaven on Earth club wasn't as simple as it sounded. Although he had never been there himself, as a well-informed taxi driver, he had heard some rumors.

Ling Tian knew Zhang Ding was well-connected, so he asked, "Zhang Ding, how much do you know about the Heaven on Earth club?"

Zhang Ding looked conflicted. If he spoke, he feared worrying Zhao Ming; if he didn't, the truth would come out eventually anyway.

After struggling for a long moment, Zhang Ding finally opened his mouth. "I don't know that much. By the way, Zhao Ming, how long has your sister been there?"

Still unaware of the reality of the club, Zhao Ming remained calm. "She's been there for over half a month. It was recommended by a classmate. They say it's a very promising job—not only can she earn money and learn a lot, but if she's lucky, she can make connections with the wealthy and powerful in high society, building a broad network for her future."

The more Ling Tian heard, the more he felt something was wrong. He was also suspicious of Zhang Ding's behavior; the guy was usually as talkative as any other taxi driver, but today he was stammering—there was definitely something fishy going on.

"It hasn't been that long. Alright, hold on tight, I'm going to speed up." Zhang Ding knew some things couldn't be said yet. Perhaps, as Zhao Ming said, his sister was doing legitimate work and hadn't been tricked. But if she had been deceived into doing something illicit, he trusted that with Ling Tian there, nothing would go wrong.

Zhao Ming frowned. What did he mean by "it hasn't been that long"?

There was clearly a hidden meaning behind those words! Zhao Ming couldn't sit still anymore. He asked anxiously, "Zhang Ding, what do you mean? Is my sister in danger?"

Just as Zhang Ding was about to speak, Ling Tian cut in: "Zhang Ding, keep your eyes on the road."

After instructing Zhang Ding, Ling Tian turned to Zhao Ming. "Don't worry, it's nothing major. Even if there is danger, as long as I am here, it won't be a problem."

Seeing Zhao Ming so anxious, Zhang Ding couldn't help but add, "The Heaven on Earth club is relatively formal, but I've heard that because the competition is so fierce, there are often incidents of senior staff bullying new hires." He only said half of it, not daring to utter what lay beyond that.

Could his beloved sister be suffering? Zhao Ming was furious on the spot. She was his only remaining family; he had always handled her with the utmost care, terrified she might be hurt. How could he let her suffer out there?

"Don't worry, we'll be there soon," Ling Tian comforted him, while silently resolving that if anyone dared to bully Zhao Ming's sister, he would personally send them to hell. "Your sister is clever and sensible; she shouldn't be easily taken advantage of," Ling Tian continued.

Ling Tian had already caught a different scent in Zhang Ding's words, and he was ready to explode if necessary.

After about half an hour, Zhang Ding parked the car in front of a luxurious building. Under the guidance of a guard, he slowly pulled into the parking lot. Before the car had even come to a complete stop, a frantic Zhao Ming opened the door, jumped out, and rushed toward the entrance of the building.

Ling Tian and Zhang Ding exchanged a glance and followed closely behind him.

"Tell me the truth, what is the Heaven on Earth club really like?" Ling Tian asked as they walked.

Zhang Ding hurriedly replied, "It seems to be owned by the Situ family, one of the Four Great Families. It's relatively legitimate, but as I said, there is constant bullying of new staff by the veterans."

"What else?" Ling Tian pressed. He didn't believe that was the only thing going on.

Zhang Ding continued, "I'm worried that today's situation won't be easy to resolve. I heard Zhao Ming say his sister was introduced by a classmate. I fear she was tricked—sold to the club for a high price. You know how it is; these so-called high-society figures love female university students. They are young, beautiful, and educated—it makes them look good. So, there are these middlemen who, under the guise of 'introducing jobs,' sell people into these places."

"Keep going!" Ling Tian said in a low voice. He had heard of such things—innocent girls lured away to other cities or entertainment clubs. They start with flowery promises about great pay and bright futures. The naive girls believe it, thinking it's all true.

It was the classic case of someone being sold and then stupidly counting the money for their captors.

These scammers deserved to be shot!

"But there shouldn't be a major problem yet. New hires undergo a month of professional training, so she shouldn't be in any real trouble yet. The biggest concern is just the bullying."

As they spoke, the three reached the entrance. The glass doors were framed in gold, glistening and opulent. A massive plaque hung above the entrance with the words "Heaven on Earth Club" written in bold, sweeping, and imposing calligraphy.

Ling Tian frowned slightly. You can tell a person's character from their handwriting, and the person who wrote this must have been an open-minded gentleman of extraordinary stature. Why then did the club have such a poor reputation? Furthermore, Ling Tian felt the font was familiar—he felt like he had seen it somewhere before.

He searched his memory but couldn't place it.

As they stepped inside, two security guards immediately stepped forward to block their path. "Please present your membership cards, gentlemen."

"Membership card?" Ling Tian frowned, but he immediately understood. This wasn't like other entertainment centers; they operated on a high-end membership model, unlike places like the Fookang Entertainment City where anyone with money could walk in.

The guard nodded, speaking unhurriedly, "The Heaven on Earth club operates on a membership basis. Only members are qualified to enter. If you don't have a card, I must ask you to leave."

"I'll buy one now," Ling Tian said calmly. The guard's attitude was acceptable; after all, they were just following the rules.

"I'm sorry, sir. To apply for a membership card, you must first register your name, and we only process applications collectively on Mondays."

They were here to save someone; there was no time for such nonsense. "Ling Tian—Ling as in 'soaring,' Tian as in 'sky.' And I am buying one right now." Ling Tian’s tone was uncompromising. He didn't know what state Zhao Ming's sister was in, so he couldn't afford to wait.

When the guard heard the name "Ling Tian," his eyes lit up as if he had discovered a new continent. He pulled out his phone, checked it, looked at Ling Tian, and then wore a look of pleasant surprise. He immediately turned to the other guard and said, "Let them in."

He then hurried away. He was certain that Ling Tian was the person the head of the family was looking for. When the old master of the Situ family had issued the order to find Ling Tian, this guard had happened to be present and had taken a photo of the portrait on his phone. It had been a long time, so he hadn't immediately recalled it, but hearing the name had triggered his memory.

As for why he was rushing to report it, the reason was simple: if he delivered this great news to the old master personally, he would surely be handsomely rewarded.

The other guard was puzzled but followed his partner’s instructions and let Ling Tian and the others into the club.

Ling Tian was also confused as to why the mention of his name had caused such a reaction, and why they were allowed in. Was his reputation really that well-known?

Once inside, the three bypassed the service desk and charged into the main hall.

As soon as they arrived, they heard some passing girls whispering: "Those new girls are in for it today; they actually dared to defy orders."

Hearing this, the hearts of Ling Tian and his companions tightened. Just as Ling Tian was about to step forward to ask questions, a well-dressed, refined-looking man walked up to the beautiful receptionist and said, "I'm here to settle the bill."

"Settle the bill? Didn't you already settle for the students you brought last time?" the receptionist asked, puzzled.

The man grinned. "There were four left over from last time that weren't settled, have you forgotten?"

"No, those four can't be settled yet because they are still in the 'adjustment' period," the receptionist said immediately.

The man laughed. "Don't worry, I've already arranged for someone to go and 'persuade' them. Women, sometimes you can't coddle them; a good beating and they'll be obedient."

Hearing this, Ling Tian's eyebrows nearly stood on end. Putting it all together, those university students had to include Zhao Ming's sister, Zhao Min.

"I'll go check on how the 'persuasion' is going. Once you've inspected them, I'll come back to settle the bill." The man winked at the receptionist and left the hall. Ling Tian and the others followed closely behind him.

The man arrived at a private room, and the moment he opened the door, a miserable, piercing scream erupted from within...