Outside the entrance of Seaside Thirteen Nightclub, a large crowd of people with varying expressions was gathered, while the unrelated bystanders and nightclub staff had cleared the area, ensuring that nothing would disrupt the ongoing events.
"I know who you are," Xu Le heard the words clearly and looked at the man speaking to him, asking, "Why stoop to our level?"
This seemingly ordinary young man, at least equal in strength to the personal bodyguard of the brother and sister, seemed to display a sense of strength by appearing weak in this situation. The man gazed at Xu Le and smiled, saying, "My younger sister needs a lesson, and no one can stop me."
The smug smile of someone from a privileged background filled Xu Le with disdain and callousness. However, he maintained his ordinary expression and said, "He is my friend, and what you did was wrong. Continuing in this manner is not right."
"From Eastwood, huh?" The man listened to Xu Le's voice and said, "The stone in Eastwood's portrait restroom is hard and smelly, just like you. But even if you're as hard as a stone, I will crush you today."
The nightclub owner accompanied the man calmly, standing by his side. In a soft voice, he said, "Major Zou, these two people have disrupted your interest. Why don't we have our men handle them, instead of getting involved ourselves?"
Zou You, the current Major Staff Officer of the Third Military Region's Board of Military Operations, had achieved such a rank at a young age due to his powerful family background. According to reliable sources, the father of this brother and sister pair was a deputy director at the Rear Services Headquarters of the Ministry of Defense. The nightclub owner had received hints from influential figures in Seaside to build a good relationship with Major Zou. Therefore, he cautiously offered his assistance, although he was somewhat concerned that Major Zou might find it meddlesome since he rarely interacted with people from that circle.
The nightclub owner didn't expect the young man in front of him to directly confront the brother and sister. What could an ordinary person like him do in this situation? In this society, strength was everything, and the ability to fight was more important than skills.
"Thanks," Zou You responded to the nightclub owner's subtle suggestion, smiling politely. Then, he pointed his finger at Xu Le and said, "I don't want to waste too much time. Either step aside and let me teach this drunkard a lesson, or you can take his place."
"I don't have a custom of eating excrement," Xu Le wiped away the blood trickling from his nose and looked at the people surrounding him. Finally, he couldn't suppress his anger anymore. No matter how small and weak an unimportant person may be, they shouldn't allow others to bully them. He stared at the brother and sister and said in a low voice, "If you have a custom of eating excrement, feel free to demonstrate it on me."
Hearing Xu Le's words, Major Zou's expression turned dark. These brother and sister had come to Seaside with the intention of arranging an encounter with an important figure, building connections and maintaining a low profile. However, they had encountered unexpected resistance today. From the perspective of ordinary people, they seemed mean and cruel, but not in the eyes of this proud and arrogant younger sister.
Major Zou's expression became instantly gloomy, and his bodyguards, who were as unyielding as stone, also had a change in their expressions. The atmosphere seemed to darken, like a gathering storm ready to burst. Major Zou drew a pistol from his pocket and pointed it at Xu Le's head.
Four pistols were aimed at Xu Le's head, and at any moment, a trigger could be pulled. This shocking scene had everyone's attention, especially the nightclub staff. After all, this was happening in Capital Star Circle S1 near Hai State, and the sight of people brandishing pistols in public was highly unsettling.
Xu Le looked at the four barrels pointed at his head and naturally felt fear. These privileged individuals from the capital star seemed to have little regard for human life. Perhaps they were actually willing to open fire. His complexion paled slightly, but a forced smile appeared on his lips. For the third time in half a year, he found himself facing the barrel of a gun, as if his fate were bound to these unfortunate circumstances.
"I don't know who you are, but someone already mentioned that you have status," Xu Le tightly clenched his fist, unable to move. He addressed the man in the azure suit and said, "The federation is a society ruled by law. Pointing a gun on the street is a serious offense. Would the elders in your family allow such behavior?"
Although Zou You understood Xu Le's reasoning, as a major, he was not inclined to change his ways. Sometimes, the most important thing for certain unfamiliar individuals was to maintain their image. Face often represented power or influence.
The situation shifted toward the brother and sister, and Xu Le, an insignificant person, became inconsequential. Even if he trembled with an erupting internal fury, there was no way for him to evade bullets. Firearms were strictly controlled in the federation, yet unexpectedly, these siblings brought guns and brandished them so brazenly in public.
"I won't kneel, because I am not wrong. Besides, you are not my parents," Xu Le narrowed his eyes and stared at the man in the azure suit. He continued with a determined tone, "Unless you knock me down, or you can try shooting me."
He was betting his life, challenging those individuals with status who were unwilling to be troubled by an insignificant person. Zou You coldly regarded the stubborn Xu Le, wondering why this person, who clearly feared death, continued to resist. Eastwood stone, indeed living up to its reputation.
A fist ruthlessly struck Xu Le's abdomen, causing him intense pain. If he were to kneel willingly after being hit, the brother and sister would naturally not be polite. Their punches and kicks mercilessly rained down on Xu Le's body. Faced with the threat of the guns, this ordinary person could only endure the beating motionlessly. Standing firm in the face of such an assault was no small matter. A small crack appeared on the surface of his right chest, where a hidden worry lay, possibly a small fracture in his ribs.
Zou Yu, wearing a red windproof coat, watched this with appreciation. The more brutal the beating, the more she unleashed her pent-up resentment. A gradually wicked smile graced her charming and indifferent face.
...
...
"I just said your perfume was overpowering, was there a need to be so ruthless?" The hand that had stopped hitting her face had affectionately made contact with Miss Zou's shoulder, but the force used left a red mark on her cheek.
Zou Yu let out a startled scream, unable to comprehend what had just happened. The surrounding crowd, particularly her brother and the soldier bodyguards, responded swiftly. Initially, the four barrels aimed at Xu Le redirected toward her. After Zou Yu screamed, silence fell, and everyone turned away, only to be met with an unfamiliar face.
...
...
As the privileged people of the federation threatened and beat Xu Le, nobody noticed the motionless figure on the ground. The center of attention had shifted. Shi Qinghai, who had been drinking, was awakened
by the icy ground or, more accurately, the pain inflicted by Xu Le's fall. Unsteadily, he approached the woman in red and placed his hand on her shoulder like a hooligan.
There were many onlookers, and Zou Yu, on the edge of the crowd, never expected that the drunken man from before would silently approach her from behind and... climb onto her shoulder.
Shi Qinghai, hugging Zou Yu like a lover, affectionately patted her cheek. Perhaps he was still under the influence of alcohol, as his speech was somewhat slurred. He said, "My lady, you have a fiery temper. I dare not touch the young master's friend."
A slap landed forcefully on Zou Yu's cheek, leaving an imprint. Everyone watched in astonishment, wondering how this handsome young man would regret his actions once he sobered up.
Zou Yu had never felt so humiliated in her life. The subsequent, increasingly heavy blows were gradually developing into full-fledged slaps. The person hitting her was the one she was currently embracing, and his breath carried the stench of alcohol. Her face turned red with anger and humiliation. She looked at her bodyguards, who were pointing their guns at her, and screeched, "Kill him! Kill him!"
No one dared to act, not even her blood brother, who looked on indifferently. They had noticed that the man clinging to Miss Zou's body appeared somewhat unconscious. His entire weight was resting on her delicate frame. What was even worse, the man's partly untied suit revealed a small leather case—everyone was familiar with it. It was a rifle scabbard.
Major Zou You's expression turned cold as he stared at the man who held his sister hostage. He introduced himself, "I am Major Zou You, board of military operations staff officer for the Third Military Region. Have we met?"