Chapter Forty-Nine: Crippling One of Your Hands

Lin Feng jabbed a finger into my shoulder as he spoke. I frowned, staring at him in silence. Noting my lack of response, Lin Feng pressed on, “What’s wrong, scared? Weren’t you so tough before? Why are you shrinking away now?”

He grew more brazen, slapping me across the face. My expression darkened as I glared at the group surrounding us.

“Boss Feng, you called us all just to deal with this little punk? He doesn’t look like much,” one of the thugs remarked.

The others nodded, laughing. “Boss Feng, aren’t you making a mountain out of a molehill? You could probably take him with one hand tied behind your back.” Another one stretched out his arm, grinning.

Lin Feng’s face soured, for he remembered that even with six people that morning they hadn’t managed to handle me—let alone with one hand tied. He forced himself to sound nonchalant. “Of course! Still, if you apologize to me right now—kneel here and bang your head to the ground—we’ll let you off. Don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. Take my advice: if you don’t apologize…”

“Hey,” I suddenly interrupted. Lin Feng looked at me suspiciously. I smiled slightly. “You want me to apologize? Did I knock you silly this morning? And you—your hand’s still bandaged. Why are you stirring up trouble again? Wasn’t it painful enough the first time?”

As I spoke, I pointed at one of them. He hesitated, glanced at the bandage on his hand, and stammered, “Mind your own damn business. Try moving, and I’ll break your legs.”

But his voice wavered. Lin Feng, angered by my attitude, jabbed a finger at me. “Damn it, what are you being so cocky for? Either apologize or leave a leg behind! Do you know who my father is? The chief of police! With your poor looks, do you think you can afford to cross me? If you don’t apologize, you can forget about having a good life in Chongqing. Trash like you, daring to challenge me!”

After he finished, the others hefted their clubs menacingly. I grinned, amused. My demeanor tried their patience, and one of them cursed, “What the hell are you laughing at? Are you tired of living? Boss Feng, we’re just waiting for your word!”

Lin Feng stood before me, eyes fierce. The onlookers, sensing a fight, began to murmur, “Here we go, looks like a real show’s about to start.”

“Nothing to see here. So many people ganging up on one, someone might get killed. Someone go call a teacher, quick.”

I cleaned out my ear, leaned closer to Lin Feng, and met his gaze. “If you’re going to fight, stop wasting time. I want to go home.”

At last, Lin Feng couldn’t restrain himself any longer. He shouted, “Break his leg! Damn it!”

His words had barely left his mouth before the others swung their iron bars at me. I spun, lashed out with a kick, sending the man behind me flying. Dodging a club, I punched another in the stomach, making him stagger back, and to my astonishment, he vomited bitter bile before collapsing in agony. I didn’t hesitate, turning to face the next attacker—and just as I turned, a baseball bat came down toward my head. I caught it with both hands, twisted it aside, and the assailant cried out in pain, letting go. Seizing the bat, I spun it in a wide arc, and the remaining thugs shrank back. I spat to the side. “Numbers are useless if you’re all for show. Weren’t you going to break my leg? Seems your mouths are sharper than your hands. Aren’t you ashamed? Well? Aren’t you?”

My taunts infuriated them; they charged at me all at once. I ducked under a swinging bar, kicked another opponent away, then swung my own iron rod backward, striking yet another’s shoulder with a metallic clang. His weapon clattered to the ground as he fell, clutching his arm and howling. In moments, twenty had dwindled to six or seven, the rest sprawled on the ground, incapacitated.

I wiped blood from my face—not sure whose it was. Glancing around, I saw one man’s nose bleeding uncontrollably—clearly the culprit. Lin Feng had yet to lift a finger, expecting a show, but the sight before him left him dumbstruck: twenty men couldn’t take me down. His fear was palpable.

The crowd no longer whispered, all staring at me as if I were some kind of monster. I looked at Lin Feng, exhaled deeply, and, feigning exhaustion, frowned. “Wow, I really haven’t exercised in a while. Only managed to drop a few, and I’m already tired. Hold up, let me count.”

I counted the bodies on the ground. “Thirteen. Only thirteen, and I’m already worn out? I really need to get back in shape.”

Talking to myself, I shook my head. Lin Feng, brow furrowed, barked at the remaining few, “What are you standing there for? Get him! I didn’t pay you to stand around.”

The last seven hesitated, glancing at each other, but having taken Lin Feng’s money, they reluctantly charged. I sighed. “None of you know when to stop. You’d rather lie on the ground than listen. Fine, let’s finish this quickly.”

Clapping my hands, I darted forward, sending one flying with a kick. Grabbing another by the collar, I was about to punch him when a shout came from behind. Without looking, I swung a backward kick, hitting my target’s head perfectly. But then a sharp, tearing pain shot through my groin. Grimacing, I punched the man in front of me away and clutched myself, muttering, “Damn, that was too much.”

My face contorted, a hiss escaping my lips—a pain every man knows all too well. Meanwhile, Lin Feng, seeing his numbers dwindle, began to panic. He picked up a rock and hurled it at me. Caught off guard, it struck me squarely in the forehead. Blood ran down my face. Now my head hurt as much as… elsewhere. Where I’d once been playful, anger surged. I wiped the blood away and charged at Lin Feng. He turned and ran, but he was no match for me. I caught him by the shoulder and tripped him to the ground.

Gripping his wrist, I said coldly, “So you like playing dirty, huh?”

Lin Feng thrashed in my grasp, cursing, “Let me go, or I’ll send people to harass you every day. Not just you—I’ll make sure that little slut Chu Mengxi gets it, too. I’ll show you what happens when you cross me. Let go of me!”

He struggled harder, but at the mention of Chu Mengxi, something inside me snapped. My face darkened. “Say that again, if you dare.”

“Oh? Say it again? Not only will I harass you, I’ll keep going after Chu Mengxi, that little slut. What, you think you can stop me? You won’t be going home today.”

I closed my eyes, exhaled, then glared at him, voice seething. “You’re asking for death.”

With that, I twisted his arm behind his back. Lin Feng struggled, sweat beading on his brow. “You bastard—you dare—my father’s on his way here!”

But before he finished, I gave a sharp wrench. There was a sickening crack. Lin Feng screamed, collapsing limply as I released him. His arm hung useless at his side. I crouched beside him, face expressionless. “Even if the emperor himself showed up, it wouldn’t matter. If you don’t know how to talk, I’ll teach you. I told you this morning I’d cripple one of your arms. Now I’ve kept my word.”

I patted his sweat-soaked face and stood up. The crowd, witnessing this, regarded me as if I were a monster, shuffling aside to clear a path. I approached a student. “Hey, do you have any tissues? Give me a few.”

The student nodded blankly, fishing some tissues from his pocket. I took them, thanked him, and walked away. Pressing the paper to my forehead, blood still streaming, I headed for the school gate. Just then, I saw Teacher Mu rushing over with several security guards. Seeing my bloodied face and the bodies sprawled beyond, he was aghast. “Lin Xuan, what happened? Why is there so much blood? Quick, call an ambulance!”

The guards hurried to help the injured. I shook my head. “It’s nothing, teacher. Don’t worry about me. I’m heading home.”

Without another word, I walked on, leaving Teacher Mu standing there in shock. But just as one problem ended, another began. Before I’d gone far, several police cars pulled up. I watched as an officer rushed to the crowd, secured the scene, and carried Lin Feng, his arm broken, back to the cars. Standing before the police cruiser, I frowned.

Soon, a policeman approached, flashing his badge. “You, student. You’re suspected of fighting and causing injury. Come with us. Xiao Ming, bring the others as well.”