The gang of about twenty thugs, all armed with steel pipes, presented a formidable sight.
Standing behind Chen Yang, Su Qing's face turned pale with fear. Although she knew Chen Yang was capable, she couldn't help but worry that he was outnumbered.
"Damn!" Chen Yang spoke first, "Don't try anything stupid! I'm pretty badass, and I'll take you all down again if I have to."
"Hahaha..." The gang burst into laughter at Chen Yang's seemingly hollow bravado.
In reality, Chen Yang was as tough on the inside as he appeared on the outside. But the crowd assumed he was just putting on a brave face.
Qi Donglai looked at Chen Yang with disdain and said, "Who do you think you are, Ip Man? One guy taking on ten?"
Chen Yang chuckled, "I'm not Ip Man. I'm better than Ip Man. Because I can take on all... twenty of you."
Qi Donglai couldn't help but laugh, "Where did this idiot come from?" After a pause, his eyes darkened as he ordered, "Beat him up!"
At his command, the thugs raised their steel pipes high and charged at Chen Yang, intent on beating him to a pulp.
Su Qing closed her eyes in fear, her mind going blank.
Chen Yang, however, let out a cold laugh. He suddenly sprang into action. To him, the thugs' movements seemed painfully slow. With a strange battle cry, he unleashed a flurry of kicks – thirty-six in rapid succession.
These thirty-six kicks were no ordinary moves. They were the legendary Northern-style martial arts technique known as the Thirty-Six Tan Leg Strikes.
When the Tan Leg Strikes are unleashed, even ghosts and spirits tremble!
Chen Yang's kicks were faster than the legendary "Shadowless Kick" of Foshan. In an instant, accompanied by cries of pain, over ten thugs were sent flying.
The remaining thugs, still unsure of what had happened, continued their charge.
Chen Yang, mimicking Donnie Yen's moves against Japanese fighters in movies, took them down one by one. For every two that came at him, he'd drop them both.
His movements were so fast that the small-time thugs couldn't even see what was happening.
By this time, Su Qing had opened her eyes. She immediately witnessed Chen Yang's display of prowess.
Jiang Yuchen was equally stunned. Her eyes sparkled as she exclaimed, "Holy crap, he's even more badass than Bruce Lee!"
Just then, the last two thugs swung their pipes at Chen Yang. With a swift palm strike to one thug's wrist, Chen Yang made him drop his weapon. Catching the falling pipe with style, Chen Yang then struck the thug on the forehead. The man immediately staggered back, his head bleeding. Chen Yang had controlled his strength, causing only a superficial wound without damaging the skull.
As the other thug swung his pipe, Chen Yang blocked it with his own, then twisted it away with a flourish.
Chen Yang spun the two pipes in his hands like wheels of fire, looking incredibly cool. The thug watched in awe before Chen Yang kicked him away.
Having dealt with the gang, Chen Yang turned his attention to the blonde-haired Li Sheng and Qi Donglai.
Chen Yang grinned and said, "Well, didn't I tell you I could do it?"
Qi Donglai's face turned pale as he stammered, "What do you want?"
Chen Yang's expression darkened. He stepped forward and suddenly struck Li Sheng's hand with a pipe. Li Sheng clutched his hand and cried out in pain – it was a comminuted fracture. Chen Yang said coldly, "You insulted my mother earlier. This is just a small lesson."
Chen Yang hadn't forgotten Li Sheng's earlier crude remark about his mother. Although Chen Yang didn't know what his mother looked like, he wouldn't allow anyone to insult her.
Chen Yang's actions were far from playful – he was the type to hold grudges. Qi Donglai grew even more terrified. Chen Yang gave a cold smile and said, "He insulted my mother once and lost the use of one hand. You wanted to sleep with my woman and beat me to death. What kind of lesson do you think you deserve?"
Qi Donglai was on the verge of tears. He knew that despite Chen Yang's seemingly foolish appearance, he was ruthless in his actions. He couldn't help but beg, "Brother, I was blind and stupid. Please don't hold it against me."
"Chen Yang, let it go. Let's just leave," Su Qing urged, afraid that Chen Yang might end up in jail again if things escalated further.
Chen Yang gave Su Qing a calm look and said, "I know what I'm doing."
His tone carried a hint of authority, and Su Qing realized that as a woman, it wasn't her place to interfere at this moment.
She stepped back.
Chen Yang turned back to Qi Donglai with a smile and said, "Normally, I'd at least gouge out both your eyes to teach you a lesson. But since your attitude in admitting your mistake isn't bad, how about this – pay me some compensation for emotional distress, and we'll call it even."
Hearing this, Qi Donglai breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, "Of course, of course. Just name your price, brother."
Chen Yang said, "I won't be too harsh. Just a casual 1 million will do. That's RMB, not yen, by the way."
Qi Donglai, who had just felt relieved, immediately looked crestfallen again. "Brother, I really don't have that much money."
Chen Yang's face darkened as he said, "Well, then I have no choice. Come here, I'll just cripple both your hands and take out your eyes." He raised the steel pipe, ready to smash Qi Donglai's hands.
Terrified out of his wits, Qi Donglai suddenly fell to his knees, wailing, "Master, please, no! I'll get the money for you. I'll find a way!"
Chen Yang sighed slightly and said, "See how pathetic you are? Why didn't you just agree earlier?"
Qi Donglai was on the verge of tears. However, a barely noticeable glint of malice flashed in his eyes.
Then, Qi Donglai stood up and cautiously said, "Young master, I really don't have that much money on hand. I need to borrow it from my big brother. Could you give me some time to gather the funds?"
"Oh, I see," Chen Yang said. "I'm a reasonable person. I'll give you ten hours. Have the money ready by 8 AM tomorrow. How's that?"
Qi Donglai was slightly surprised that Chen Yang was so accommodating. He quickly agreed, "No problem."
Chen Yang continued, "Write down my number, and give me your ID card. If you try to cheat me, I'll come to your home to find you."
Qi Donglai agreed repeatedly. Right now, he just wanted to get away from Chen Yang, whom he saw as a devil incarnate.
Chen Yang dictated his number to Qi Donglai and made sure he saved it on his phone. Then he confiscated Qi Donglai's ID card. Only after all this did he wave his hand, allowing Qi Donglai and his gang to leave.
Jiang Yuchen had initially wanted to challenge Chen Yang to a friendly match, but seeing how fierce he was, she became a bit scared and left reluctantly.
The gang came quickly and left just as fast.
After they left, Chen Yang said to Su Qing, "Let's head back."
Su Qing had many questions but felt it wasn't the right time to ask. She got in the car with Chen Yang.
Then, Chen Yang started the engine.
The car quickly drove out of the bar street.
It was already 10 PM, with stars twinkling in the sky and bright street lamps lining both sides of the road.
Su Qing couldn't help but ask Chen Yang, "Chen Yang, I don't understand why you asked that thug for 1 million. He surely doesn't have that kind of money. Besides, we're not short on cash! We came to the bar street to check it out and consider opening a bar. Although you're not afraid of these thugs, they're like thorns – even the smallest thorn can hurt your foot. In this world, it's best not to offend women and petty men. Why bother?"
Chen Yang chuckled and said, "Sister Qing, are you saying you're one of those who shouldn't be offended?"
Su Qing was in no mood for jokes and said, "Chen Yang, I'm really worried."
Chen Yang smiled and said, "Sister Qing, just focus on preparing to be a boss lady. I know what I'm doing."
Su Qing was slightly taken aback, but then she remembered Chen Yang's capabilities. Even when he was in detention, he had been able to secretly outmaneuver the young master of Yangshi Group in Jiangnan City, eventually making Yang Ling compromise. Compared to that, dealing with some small-time thugs seemed trivial. She realized her concerns might be unnecessary and decided not to say more.
Around 10:30 PM, they returned to their rented apartment.
Su Qing went to take a shower first, and Chen Yang immediately snuck a peek into her room. The earlier encounter with Jiang Yuchen had left him somewhat aroused. So, watching Su Qing's graceful figure as she showered, he began to relieve himself.
Although he had seen every inch of Su Qing's body before, Chen Yang still found himself captivated every time he watched her shower.
After taking care of his urges, Chen Yang felt calmer. He then lay on his bed and began practicing the Great Sun and Moon Technique.
Chen Yang had long reached the peak of the Energy Controlling realm, just one step away from the Earthly Immortal realm. He had always wanted to break through this barrier and enter the Earthly Immortal realm. But for years, he couldn't figure out what he was missing, and made no progress.
Tonight, Chen Yang continued to practice the Great Sun and Moon Technique. His mind was serene, and his qi and blood reached their most vigorous state. However, he still made no progress towards the Earthly Immortal realm.
The gap between the peak of Energy Controlling and Earthly Immortal seemed like just a thin membrane, but it was as significant as a carp leaping over the dragon gate.
Without crossing the dragon gate, no matter how powerful one was at the peak of Energy Controlling, they were still mortal.
Only by crossing the gate and becoming a Golden Core stage expert could one be considered an Earthly Immortal.
The difference between immortal and mortal lay in a single thought.
Chen Yang practiced until 3 AM but still made no breakthrough. He wasn't anxious, knowing that at this level of cultivation, haste makes waste. So, he went to the bathroom to take a shower.
After showering, he went straight back to sleep.
At 7 AM the next morning, Chen Yang's phone rang.
It was Qi Donglai calling.
Chen Yang, with his eyes still closed, fumbled for his phone on the bedside table and answered.
Qi Donglai spoke very politely on the other end, "Brother Yang, I hope I didn't disturb your rest?"
This guy had gone through three different ways of addressing Chen Yang in one day. In the end, he felt that "Brother Yang" sounded the most cordial.
Chen Yang yawned and said, "You woke me up from my sleep. What do you think? Have you gathered the money? If you have, I might forgive you for disturbing me."
Qi Donglai was at a loss for words. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Brother Yang, my big brother wants to have a word with you."
Before Chen Yang could respond, a booming male voice came through the phone. The voice said casually, "Is this Brother Chen?"
Chen Yang sat up, responding lazily, "You must be Qi Donglai's big brother, right? Have you prepared the money for me? If not, I'm not interested in chatting with you."
The big brother was slightly taken aback, then laughed heartily and said, "Brother Chen is indeed a straightforward man. I like that. Money is not an issue. How about this – I'll set up a banquet at the Hongyu Restaurant at noon today. We'll be waiting for you to come, have a drink, and collect the money."
Chen Yang chuckled and said, "Alright, no problem."