Lan Tingting helplessly shook her head, thinking this kid was a real numbskull. With so many opponents, and in this kind of place, he didn't know to hide away. The middle-aged man on the second floor holding a cigar also snorted coldly and prepared to return to his room.
At this point, some of the onlookers who had been outside joined in, each with a different expression on their faces.
"Boss Fang..." The youngster on the second floor suddenly called out.
It turned out that the middle-aged man was the owner of the bar, Fang Kuohai. Fang Kuohai was startled when his subordinates called him, after which he looked down below. To his surprise, he saw Xiang Yu walking in alone, unsteady on his feet, while the crowd looked at him as if he were a monster.
"Interesting, this kid's got some skills," Fang Kuohai remarked, then walked back and leaned over the second-floor railing.
Seeing Xiang Yu, Lan Tingting herself was startled, then stopped her work to watch him. Xiang Yu seemed to be unharmed, not even a tear in his clothes.
Xiang Yu paid no mind to the others and returned to his seat, glancing at Lan Tingting, "Another beer," he said calmly.
"Drive everybody out, we're closing for today," Fang Kuohai instructed those around him. After speaking, he slowly made his way down from the second floor.
The music in the bar stopped as well, and those below, sensing something was about to happen, all walked out, feeling regretful they couldn't stay to enjoy the show.
In just a few minutes, the inside of the bar had quieted down. Lan Tingting quickly packed up her things and left. She was only working here, after all, there was no need to get involved in the bar's affairs. She only worried that Xiang Yu might not see the next day's sun.
Inside the bar, a group of men circled Xiang Yu in the center, while he simply continued drinking, as if nothing had happened.
"Boss Fang, this lad's got some moves, be careful," said a man with a swollen face standing beside Fang Kuohai. He had just scuffled with Xiang Yu and still didn't know what had happened when he found himself lying on the ground.
"Kid, you've got some guts, know where you are?" Fang Kuohai's bodyguard stepped forward to say.
Xiang Yu just drank his beer, ignoring him, which made the bodyguard snort coldly in his heart, ready to take action. After all, he was Fang Kuohai's top bodyguard, and with such status, his martial arts skills were profound.
The bodyguard, named Shi Jian, was also an ex-soldier. Back in the military, he was a notable figure. When his father was seriously ill and in desperate need of money, no one around him was willing to help. Finally, it was Fang Kuohai who gave him the money. Although his father didn't survive, Shi Jian decided to stay by Fang Kuohai's side to repay the kindness.
"Kid, what's your name?" Fang Kuohai raised his hand to stop Shi Jian, then took a glass and sat beside Xiang Yu.
Seeing the boss himself step in, Xiang Yu picked up his glass in a toasting gesture, drank down all the liquor, "I'm called Xiang Yu, just arrived in town," he said, turning to face Fang Kuohai.
"Oh? New in town, eh?" Fang Kuohai's eyes gleamed with shrewdness; he could tell this youngster was extraordinary. Not only for his fighting ability but being surrounded by so many and still maintaining such composure, something ordinary people couldn't achieve.
"Do you know the consequences of hitting my men?" Fang Kuohai asked.
"I don't know, nor do I care. This is a bar; I just wanted to come here for a drink," Xiang Yu replied and took the bottle beside Fang Kuohai, pouring himself another glass.
"Since you don't know, let me tell you. Causing trouble in my bar, the light punishment is to break hands and feet, the severe one is to meet King Yan," Fang Kuohai said coldly.
"Oh? So do I count as a light case or a severe one?" Xiang Yu's eyes stared at Fang Kuohai like sharpened blades.
The crowd around them, seeing Xiang Yu's demeanor, were all itching to rush forward. Such occasions were rare; they were used to bullying others, hardly ever facing a challenge. Now encountering one, they wanted to show off.
Fang Kuohai chuckled and said, "You're definitely a severe case."
"So today's the end for me here?"
"Humph, I'm in a good mood today. Plus, seeing you're new to the city... Well, if you can beat the bodyguard behind me, I'll let you off," Xiong Kuohai glanced at Shi Jian.
Shi Jian nodded confidently at Fang Kuohai.
"Why should I listen to you? You tell me to fight, and I just do it? Who do you think you are?" Xiang Yu said unappreciatively.
"Of course, you can also choose not to fight, up to you," Fang Kuohai said, standing up with a sigh, ready to return upstairs, while his brothers gripped their weapons, prepared for action.
"Alright, alright, I'll fight. Bring it on, lad," Xiang Yu strode towards the center, "It's not that I'm afraid of your numbers; I just think it'd be too embarrassing for you if I knocked all of you down," Xiang Yu declared.
"Cocky kid, stop your bluster," Shi Jian said, not bothering with more words. He had few rivals in the military, and now, scorned by a young punk, his anger was seething, eager to teach Xiang Yu a lesson.
Xiang Yu, facing an opponent with an above-average physique and swift movements, knew he was a seasoned fighter with significant skills, and thus didn't dare to be careless. As Shi Jian's punches came flying, Xiang Yu quickly sidestepped to avoid them.
Seizing the opening, Shi Jian threw punch after punch relentlessly. However, Xiang Yu just dodged left and right as if he had no opportunity to fight back. Those around them cheered as they saw Shi Jian seemingly locking Xiang Yu down.
The four who had been beaten earlier were especially hopeful for Shi Jian to give Xiang Yu a sound thrashing, to get revenge on their behalf.
Even as Shi Jian pressed aggressively, he couldn't land a single blow. Xiang Yu was like a slippery eel in water, impossible to catch. He kept retreating until he was backed up against a sofa with no way out.
"Hmph! Kid, let's see where you hide this time," Shi Jian said and threw a punch.
With no escape, Xiang Yu stood his ground. As Shi Jian's fist almost reached his face, Xiang Yu suddenly ducked and avoided the punch, then slapped Shi Jian's face with an open palm loudly.
The surrounding crowd watched in shock; they couldn't believe what they saw. Shi Jian was clearly dominating moments before, but how did he end up getting hit all of a sudden?
Feeling humiliated in front of his brothers, Shi Jian bellowed and swung another punch at Xiang Yu, who still didn't budge, delivering yet another slap to Shi Jian.