Yang Haoranβs mind raced at breakneck speed as he strategized his next move. If it were three or four grown men, his current physical condition would have been enough to handle them effortlessly. But against nine adults, all armed with weaponsβ¦
Yang Haoran knew clearly that he would likely have to fight for his life. He didnβt panic. Instead, he calmly addressed the leader, the one called Brother Tiger: βIβm just a student. I donβt usually offend anyone. Iβm curious who would be willing to spend money to hire you to cause trouble for me.β
Brother Tiger hadnβt expected the young man to be so composed. He was taken aback for a moment before saying, βThis isnβt some TV drama. I know villains die because they talk too muchβ¦β
Just as he was about to signal his lackeys to attack, Yang Haoran, understanding his intention, immediately cut him off and shouted to the group:
βWhoever tells me who hired you, Iβll give them a hundred thousand!β
The moment these words left his mouth, the crowd, who had been eager to rush forward, froze. Their breathing hitched. A hundred thousand? Holy shit, is he that rich?
They were, at best, idle members of societyβunemployed, hanging around with the gang, only getting paid when there was work to do, their monthly income unstable and barely reaching a few thousand.
Faced with the prospect of a huge sum of a hundred thousand right before their eyes, even if they doubted the young man could actually produce the money, they couldnβt help but feel greedy. They all turned to look at Brother Tiger, clamoring:
βBrother Tiger, who hired us? Maybe just spill it.β
βAre you stupid? Heβs taking us for fools. Do you really believe he can cough up a hundred thousand?β
βWho knows? The employer didnβt pay much anyway. Why not switch sides? Whoever pays more is the boss.β
βBrother Tigerβ¦β
βBrother Tigerβ¦β
Tigerβs face darkened, and he scolded them, βIf heβs really got money, wonβt he hand it overδΉδΉε° after we beat him up? Whatβs all the noise about? Isnβt getting double the pay better?β
He had embezzled most of the money Li Dongze gave him, sending it back to his hometown, so he hadnβt given his lackeys much this time.
Li Hu, afraid that too much talk might lead to mistakes, waved his hand for the lackeys to attack while he himself took several steps back, holding a machete.
The crowd swarmed forward. A steel pipe whistled toward Yang Haoranβs shoulder. Yang Haoran sidestepped it, but a sharp pain exploded in his waistβheβd been hit squarely.
Fuck, no respect for martial ethicsβ¦
Yang Haoran cursed inwardly. He kicked one assailant down, then ducked to avoid another pipe that grazed his earlobe. Relying on sheer brute force, he caught another pipe bare-handed, and amidst excruciating pain, lifted his foot to kick the wielder away, seizing the weapon.
However, with too many people surrounding him, even two fists were no match for four hands. Yang Haoran ended up taking five or six blows all over his body. One reckless fool even aimed for his head, but thankfully he dodged, and it landed on his shoulder.
The intense pain shooting through his limbs fueled Yang Haoranβs rage. Backing away while fighting within the circle of eight attackers, he stubbornly withstood the groupβs assault.
Five or six minutes later, bodies lay groaning in pain at his feet. Yang Haoranβs entire body felt numb. His face was bruised and swollen, and he stood panting heavily, barely upright. He looked at Li Hu: βWere you doing that on purpose? Or are you just that confident? This doesnβt seem like what you said earlier.β
The other man had been watching the entire time. With his robust build, the machete in hand, and the scarred face, he was undoubtedly the most dangerous, both in terms of physique and weaponry.
βHehβ¦ Thatβs because I took double the pay.β
Li Hu chuckled, then suddenly lunged forward, thrusting the machete into Yang Haoranβs waist. Blood instantly gushed out, dyeing his clothes red. Simultaneously, Li Hu kicked Yang Haoran hard on the thigh.
Too drained to react in time, Yang Haoran staggered and fell. He immediately wrapped his arms around Li Huβs leg, using every ounce of his strength to tackle him to the ground, and punched Li Hu square in the face.
As if devoid of all sensation, he threw punch after punch. Li Hu, however, didnβt put up any defense, offering no resistance whatsoever as he was pinned down and took several hard blows to the face before losing consciousness. His last thought wasβ¦ This kidβs fists are really heavyβ¦ before everything went black.
A moment later, a breeze blew past. Yang Haoran shivered and looked down. Li Huβs face was covered in bruises and blood, unconscious. He reached out to check his breathing, relieved to find he was still alive.
Turning to look at the others, he noticed several had fled at some point, while a few others lay unconscious.
Yang Haoranβs head felt heavy and muddled, but he knew Li Huβs reaction wasnβt right. It seemed intentionalβstabbing him on purpose, then not resisting on purpose. Why?
Blood continued to flow from the wound in his abdomen, pooling on the ground. Yang Haoranβs consciousness grew increasingly blurry. Overwhelmed by excruciating pain throughout his body, he collapsed on top of Li Hu. In his fading vision, he saw a tall, slender figure gracefully emerging from the darknessβ¦ She looked familiarβ¦ Then, his consciousness gradually sank into darkness.
βYou seeβ¦ Ruoxi was willing to come see you after allβ¦β
Yang Haoranβs nearly extinguished consciousness jolted violently. He saw that enchanting, breathtakingly beautiful face crouching before him. He let out a bitter laugh: βAuntie Shenβ¦ This is truly a hellish jokeβ¦β
Then, he could hold on no longer, and his consciousness plunged into darkness.
β¦
He didnβt know how much time had passed. In a hazy, half-conscious state, Yang Haoran seemed to hear his motherβs voice by his ear. She seemed to be anxiously asking something, the sound blurry and indistinct amidst the beeping of medical equipment.
Yang Haoran felt his eyelids were incredibly heavy. No matter how hard he tried, he couldnβt open them, as if pressed down by sleep paralysisβweak and powerless.
Soon, he lost consciousness again.
β¦
When he opened his eyes again, it was a sunny morning. Yang Haoran looked around; he was in a hospital room. A beautiful woman was leaning against the bedside, fast asleep. That face⦠the one he dreamed of day and night.
Mom!
Yang Haoran tried to sit up, but a wave of sharp pain shot through his entire body, making him tremble and break out in a cold sweat.
The movement of him getting up woke Liu Ruoxi.
βLie down. You sure know how to find trouble when Iβm not around.β
Liu Ruoxiβs stunning face was stern, devoid of any tenderness, her voice icy cold.
Seeing his motherβs cold expression, Yang Haoran was taken aback and fell silent. The indifference on her faceβ¦ felt too alien.
A sharp pain gripped his heart, making Yang Haoran feel suffocated. He didnβt argue, didnβt explain, didnβt try to joke around. He just wanted to lie there quietlyβ¦ lie thereβ¦
Seeing her son turn his head away, refusing to look at her, Liu Ruoxi felt both angry and exasperated. Her voice cold, she said, βDonβt you have anything you want to say?β
βI donβt want toβ¦ You already know everything anyway, Mom.β
Yang Haoran didnβt turn back, his voice muffled.
βHehβ¦ Who are you throwing a tantrum for?β
Liu Ruoxi let out a cold laugh, her full, high chest heaving sharply with anger. She demanded, βDid I or did I not give you a chance to explain before? How did you answer me then?β
Yang Haoran was rendered speechless, not daring to make a sound.
βSpeak! I havenβt even settled the score with you yet! Scheming to do that to your mother in private, and then wanting to do that to Yaoyao tooβ¦ Yang Haoran, donβt you think your tastes are far too deviant?β
ββ¦β