"Hee.....Zhang Ziwen, Ziwen." Tang Shu said teasingly, "Brother Wen, your name sounds so scholarly."
"Yeah, Brother Wen's so good at fighting, his name doesn't seem to match him at all." Chen Ya joined in, discussing Zhang Ziwen's name.
The two girls kept calling him "Brother Wen," making his bones tingle. Their youthful, beautiful smiling faces were constantly moving in front of him, chattering non-stop. And the soft, full curve of their arms brushed against him from time to time. They had only known each other for a few minutes, yet they acted like they were old acquaintances. Did he really have that kind of appeal? Zhang Ziwen was slightly disoriented for a moment.
Suddenly, he heard the sound of chaotic footsteps from behind. Sensing something was wrong, he turned around and saw the punk who had first run away from the bar leading a large group of people towards him. There must have been more than twenty of them, all carrying baseball bats, some even dragging crowbars and chains that made harsh metallic noises on the ground.
Damn it, Zhang Ziwen cursed inwardly, the kid had gone and brought reinforcements.
The two girls, who had been cheerfully chatting just a moment ago, turned pale at the sight of so many hoodlums. Zhang Ziwen positioned them behind himself and retreated towards a corner. If they were surrounded, the girls could get hurt. It was safer to retreat to where he could prevent them from being surrounded.
Seeing the menacing crowd carrying weapons, passersby veered clear. Those who were more timid hurriedly fled, afraid of getting caught up in the trouble, while the braver ones chose a good observing spot at a distance and watched the unfolding drama. Damn, not a single one pulled out a phone to call the police. Zhang Ziwen noted the cold indifference of society.
By the time Zhang Ziwen and the girls retreated to the corner, the punks had closed in. They had obviously seen the sorry state of their accomplices in the bar and stopped a few meters away from Zhang Ziwen and the girls, brandishing their weapons but not daring to attack rashly.
Zhang Ziwen could feel the two girls clinging to his clothes shaking terribly. He didn't blame them; it had been a frightening ordeal for the two girls.
Zhang Ziwen turned around and gave them a reassuring smile, signaling them not to worry. He had this under control.
Seeing Zhang Ziwen so calm in the face of danger, even managing a smile, somehow gave them the courage to stop shaking. They placed their trust in Zhang Ziwen's solid back that had become their safest barrier.
Soon, the punks started to get restless. Three of the stronger-looking ones sprang forward, swinging their baseball bats from different angles. The trio seemed to be experienced fighters; their attacks were aimed right at Zhang Ziwen's vital spots.
Zhang Ziwen moved forward half a step, catching the wrist of the first punk with lightning speed, pushing away the baseball bat aiming for his lower body. At the same time, he leaned to avoid another bat aimed at his head. A twist of the wrist, a kick, a grab for the bat, and within two-thirds of a second, two of the punks were down. In the remaining third of a second, the third punk fell as Zhang Ziwen's bat hit him.
In the span of three seconds, three men had fallen before Zhang Ziwen. It all happened within a one-meter radius of him. Given the number of opponents, Zhang Ziwen didn't have the luxury of holding back. His actions were swift and ruthless.
If it wasn't for the girls behind him, Zhang Ziwen would've rushed into the group of punks and taken them all down within three minutes.
Seeing him take down their comrades so easily, the punks hesitated. One of them, who appeared to be the leader, shouted: "Guys, this kid's had training. Aim for his shoulders!"
But their numbers emboldened them, and several more charged forward, their weapons slashing through the air. Zhang Ziwen grinned in anticipation, brandished his baseball bat, and pounced head-on. The sounds of metallic clangs and bone-breaking crashes followed by pained howls filled the air. The few who dared to attack were quickly defeated, their broken bodies writhing on the ground in pain. Their screaming cries were particularly piercing in the thickness of the night.
The remaining punks were stunned by the scene and dared not approach. Witnessing Zhang Ziwen's ruthless onslaught was enough to deter them.
Seeing the fear in their eyes, Zhang Ziwen cursed inwardly. Damn, they were all cowards. If he were to use his full strength, they would probably wet their pants.
Seeing that their fighting spirit was snuffed out, Zhang Ziwen took the opportunity. He roared and twirled his bat, feigning an attack and looking quite imposing.
The punks cried out in fright, dropped their weapons, and scrambled to get away as quickly as possible. In no time at all, they were all gone, leaving behind only the ones lying on the ground in agony.
No loyalty at all, Zhang Ziwen thought with disdain, abandoning their own like that.
Just then, a van that seemed to be passing by screeched to a halt. The door slid open with a swoosh, and a few strong men with cropped hair jumped out. They approached Zhang Ziwen with swift, practiced movements. Judging by their coordination, Zhang Ziwen guessed that these guys could pose a challenge.
Damn it, not again, Zhang Ziwen thought, his temper flaring. These people just wouldn't go away. Zhang Ziwen decided to strike first. Not waiting for them to close in, he lunged at Little Flat Head, who was leading the charge. His baseball bat swung with lightning speed. Little Flat Head nimbly sidestepped his powerful strike, but Zhang Ziwen anticipated this and followed up with a side kick. With a sharp crack, Little Flat Head was sent flying three meters away. At least three of his ribs must have been broken by Zhang Ziwen's kick.
Zhang Ziwen didn't pause. He accurately aimed another blow at a man trying to flank him. His bat sped towards the man, striking his shoulder blade with a crunch. The man grunted in pain and bent over.
After taking down two of them, three more were already closing in. They moved swiftly, undeterred by Zhang Ziwen's ferocity. But as Zhang Ziwen's swung his bat again, he found himself frozen. His body was still in the midst of a swing, but he couldn't finish the motion. He was staring down the barrels of three black pistols.
Damn it. He should have realized something was off when he saw them fumbling around their waists as they had charged him. Turns out, they were reaching for their guns. Despite having anticipated so much, he hadn't accounted for these thugs to be carrying real weapons. "Type 97," he mused, dropping his bat and bitterly smiling. Glancing at the two girls huddled in the corner, he made a helpless gesture towards them.
One of the guns was suddenly pressed against Zhang Ziwen's forehead. The other two men quickly twisted his arms behind his back, handcuffing him with a practiced efficiency. Damn, since when do gangsters carry handcuffs? Something wasn't adding up, Zhang Ziwen thought.
And he was right. Little Flat Head, who had pressed the gun to his head, flashed a badge in front of him. A police badge. They're cops. Damn it. Why hadn't they identified themselves earlier? A big misunderstanding. Those two cops that he had taken down must have been seriously injured.
"You got the wrong guy," Tang Shu pleaded, stepping forward when she saw Zhang Ziwen being handcuffed. "Brother Wen is a good man. He was trying to save us."
"You really have the wrong person. The bad guys are over there," Chen Ya added hurriedly.
Little Flat Head holding the badge glared at them. "That'll be sorted out at the station. It's not up to you to decide." His harsh tone left the two girls speechless.
Little Flat Head added, "And don't think of leaving. You're coming with us to give your statements."
Seeing the girls growing scared, Zhang Ziwen reassured them with a smile. "It's nothing, just a misunderstanding. It'll be fine once we explain."
Whether it was their trust in Zhang Ziwen or his comforting smile, the two girls soon calmed down. They quietly walked over to him, their fear making them appear vulnerable and endearing.
The police escorted Zhang Ziwen and the two girls into a van. Two more officers called for an ambulance and nearby patrol car. In a few minutes, there were more police and several ambulances. The wounded thugs and the two injured officers were soon loaded up.
A police car lead the way, blaring its sirens with the van that held Zhang Ziwen, Tang Shu, and Chen Ya following behind, rushing towards the police station.
The girls couldn't understand why Zhang Ziwen kept shaking his head and smiling bitterly in the van. Little did they know that he'd only just been released from jail that evening, no more than a few hours ago.
Zhang Ziwen checked his watch; it wasn't even midnight. Great, his birthday wasn't over, and he was already back in police custody. What rotten luck.
At the station, Tang Shu and Chen Ya were taken to a room to give their statements while Zhang Ziwen was led into a small cell. His hands were still cuffed behind his back while he was seated in a specially designed chair. Looking around, he realized the layout was similar to the interrogation room at the detention facility. At least tonight would start with an interrogation, unlike the previous night when he had been forced to spend the night in jail.
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Sometimes, bad luck just comes in waves. You can't catch a break, and misfortunes pile upon each other. Such is fate.