"Esteemed gentlemen, you've been following us for quite some time. May I ask what business brings you here?" Xiang Ri turned around, his gaze fixed on the group of a dozen hooligans who had trailed them from the school to this secluded spot.
"Paid to solve problems," the mole-faced youth replied expressionlessly.
In truth, regret had already begun to seep into his heart. Though the man before him was dressed plainly, the two women by his side were evidently people of great wealth and status. That someone could walk so intimately with them suggested that this man was far from ordinary.
But what unsettled the mole-faced youth even more was not merely the man's apparent connections. Typically, any ordinary student surrounded by such a hostile crowd would have panicked by now. Yet, the man before him remained utterly unfazed, as if he didn't regard them as a threat at all. This calmness gnawed at his nerves, filling him with an ominous premonition that he was about to suffer an unexpected defeat.
"That's quite the classic line," Xiang Ri remarked innocently, lightly brushing his nose with his fingers. A glimmer of cold sharpness flashed in his eyes. "But are you certain you have the capability to back it up?"
Before the mole-faced youth could respond, the brash blond at his side cut in arrogantly, "Four-eyes, you'll find out soon enough if we have what it takes." As he spoke, he menacingly brandished a spring knife that had appeared in his hand, though his gaze remained fixated with fiery intensity on the two women.
"And who is this kid? Your lackey?" Xiang Ri cast a disdainful glance at the blond youth before turning his eyes to the leader with a mocking smirk. "Recruiting such an idiot as your underling must give you a constant headache, doesn't it?"
"Damn it!" The blond youth, enraged, was about to charge forward when the mole-faced youth grabbed him firmly. "Xiao Jin, are you implying that your boss is dead?"
"No, boss, it's this four-eyed guy who—"
"Shut up!" The mole-faced youth's expression darkened as he silenced his subordinate mid-sentence. Though he, too, wanted to end this quickly, the growing sense of foreboding in his heart urged him to proceed with caution.
With this thought, he refrained from rushing in, turning instead to the man who seemed to be their target. "I assume you know why we're here?"
"Not entirely sure," Xiang Ri replied casually, his tone as light as if engaging in idle chatter. "What is it? Do you want my hand, or perhaps my leg?"
The mole-faced youth's eyes flickered at the man's nonchalance. "Your right leg."
"It seems my right leg must be worth quite a bit," Xiang Ri remarked, feigning indifference. But inwardly, he was already piecing together who might be behind this. Thankfully, he hadn't offended too many people recently, so narrowing it down wasn't difficult. His mind settled on one prime suspect: the scumbag surnamed Ma, a former "high school classmate" whose leg he had broken in a hotel suite not long ago. Ironically, it was Ma's right leg that had been fractured. With that realization, Xiang Ri was almost certain of the culprit.
"One hundred thousand!" The mole-faced youth named the price for Xiang Ri's leg.
"One hundred thousand? That's quite a sum!" Xiang Ri nodded nonchalantly, then broke into an inexplicable smile. "But don't you think there's something odd about this situation?"
"Hmm?" The mole-faced youth frowned, uncertain of what the man was implying.
"Have you ever wondered why, knowing full well you were following me, I kept heading toward quieter, more desolate places?" Xiang Ri asked, his face radiating mischief.
The mole-faced youth felt a jolt of alarm. Indeed, he had overlooked this critical detail. If the man had known they were tailing him, why would he avoid the main road and deliberately choose deserted paths? Such behavior would be sheer stupidity—yet the man before him did not strike him as a fool.
This could only mean that the man was brimming with confidence, possibly relying on some hidden advantage. But how? The mole-faced youth had observed him closely all the way here; he hadn't made a single phone call, so there was no way he could have arranged for backup at this location. Then how could his apparent "recklessness" be explained? Was it blind faith in his own combat skills? A ploy to intimidate them into retreating? Or was there an even deeper motive lurking beneath the surface...?
Seeing their leader deep in thought, the blond youth chimed in impatiently, "Boss, let's act quickly. We've already wasted so much time. I think this four-eyed guy is just trying to scare us and stall for time..."
"Stalling for time?" The mole-faced youth's eyes lit up. Yes, it was entirely possible that the man was delaying them, awaiting reinforcements. There was no other plausible explanation.
Among the three, the man was clearly no threat—frail in appearance, injured in his right hand, and evidently devoid of combat strength. The two women, with their pampered demeanor, were unlikely to be fierce warriors. This trio seemed entirely at their mercy. Their calm composure could only be attributed to extraordinary courage.
"You nearly fooled me!" Confirming his suspicions, the mole-faced youth wasted no further words. With a subtle glance, he signaled his group of over ten men to encircle the trio.
Yet, despite Xiang Ri's unnervingly composed demeanor, the mole-faced youth remained somewhat wary. "Brother, you seem like someone who knows the rules of the game. If you obediently let us take one of your legs, I'll let you and your two women walk away. How about it?" To him, this was already an act of magnanimity. If the man failed to comply, he could blame no one but himself for the consequences.
Though spoken in a tone of negotiation, the threat was unmistakable, especially the emphasis on "your two women," a blatant attempt to leverage them against Xiang Ri.
"Can I trust your words?" Xiang Ri, who had been prepared to act, relaxed slightly upon hearing this. He decided to gauge the man's "sincerity" before determining the level of force he would use.
"Of course!" the mole-faced youth affirmed.
But the blond youth by his side couldn't contain his dissatisfaction. "Boss, letting him go is fine, but as for those two babes by his side, I think—"
"Shut up!" the mole-faced youth barked angrily. His growing discontent with this subordinate was evident. Not only did the young man speak without orders, but he was consumed by lust despite his youth. It was only a matter of time before he caused serious trouble.
The blond youth immediately fell silent but continued to cast greedy glances at the two women, his eyes darting with scheming intent.
Chu Chu and Shi Qing both shot him looks of disdain. Chu Chu tightened her grip on Xiang Ri's sleeve, while Shi Qing clenched her fists in quiet anger.
Noticing their reactions, Xiang Ri's gaze turned cold. Any thought of mercy vanished entirely. Dare to covet my women? I'll make you regret even wishing for death!
"Some people just won't shed tears until they see their own coffin," Xiang Ri remarked with a shrug. He gestured for his disciple to protect Chu Chu, confident that her skills were more than enough to handle this gang of thugs. As for himself, his focus locked onto the blond youth.
This bastard... When I strike, I'll ensure he becomes a eunuch.