Chapter 04
---
Meanwhile...
The three thugs edged closer to Long Shiqian, their sneers growing more menacing with each step. The lanky man reached out, his grimy fingers just inches away from her hair.
Long Shiqian, on the other hand, had lost all hope. Her body was trembling and sweating with fear as her last vestige of hope evaporated.
Soon...
She closed her eyes and braced herself for the inevitable humiliation, knowing there was nothing she could do to retaliate.
"Who gave you the courage to cause trouble in my area? Are you tired of living? Or has that puny White Wolf of yours lost his mind?"
Zhang Yuchen's voice rang out, strong and clear, cutting through the oppressive atmosphere.
He had long recognized these thugs; they worked for the White Wolf gang, a group of rogues who lend money to people and then thrive on the interest.
Hearing him, the thugs halted, their attention snapping to the source of the interruption.
Zhang Yuchen stood tall, his eyes blazing with fury and determination, his hands in his pockets.
"Damn it, who dares to ruin our fun? Bastard! Are you tired of living?" snarled the lanky thug, stepping back instinctively. But before he could say more, the broader thug placed a hand on his shoulder, recognition dawning in his eyes.
"Wait," he said, "that's Zhang Yuchen, one of the Five Tigers of the Chen family. He works for that damned Chen Mu whom even our boss respects... What should we do, elder brother?"
The third thug, the scrawny one with the nervous twitch, also turned, his eyes widening as he assessed the situation. Soon, he sneered.
"So what if he's related to the Chen family? What's his place there? Isn't he just a dog who wags his tail when his owner throws a biscuit? Haha! Besides, this area is far from their reach, and he's alone. What the hell are you even scared of?"
The lanky thug's face twisted into a cruel smile.
"Brother, you're right. Let's teach him a lesson. Break his legs, and then we can take the woman."
Hearing them, Zhang Yuchen's eyes flashed with an intensity that sent shivers down one's spine.
"You dare lay a hand on her, and I'll show you the meaning of true fear. Your future won't be measured in years, but in seconds. Think twice before crossing that line, because once you do, there's no turning back. I'll make sure of it... you'll be begging for death."
At this moment, Long Shiqian's eyes slowly fluttered open, the soothing resonance of Zhang Yuchen's voice reaching her ears like a lifeline, calming her frayed nerves.
Gazing up, she saw a tall, muscular man standing before her, with broad shoulders and bulging muscles pulsating with sheer strength. His handsome face softened as he gazed at her, his empathetic green eyes meeting hers.
His black long coat fluttered in the wind, and his blond hair shone under the sunlight, his hard black boots almost cracking the ground with each step as he approached.
At that moment, she realized she had seen this man in the building before.
But was he always this handsome? She couldn't recall him being such a looker.
"Why do I feel so calm hearing his voice, as if it's soothing my heart? Maybe it's because I'm so desperate and no one else has helped me. But what if this young man gets into trouble because of me? If things turn against him, I'll tell him to run...But I don't want him to...Please, someone, call the police,"
She thought, her heart pounding with hope and fear.
"Hahahaha! Hahahaha!"
The broad thug laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Big words for a lone dog. Boys, let's show him what happens when you mess with the White Wolf gang."
The lanky thug, emboldened by his leader's words, sneered. "You think just because you're one of the five tigers, we're scared? Out here, you're nothing but a stray."
Zhang Yuchen soon arrived at a cemented area not far from the entrance of the building. Iron railings lined the edges, and a set of stairs led up to a higher level.
He yanked a wooden plank that had been placed there, but after a moment's thought, he dropped it.
Seeing this, the lanky thug laughed. "Is that all you've got? Scared already? Beg this grandpa if you want mercy."
Zhang Yuchen ignored him and started shaking the railing. With a powerful heave, he yanked a sturdy iron pipe out of the cemented floor; it wouldn't have been possible if the building wasn't old enough. The gangsters' expressions shifted from mockery to confusion.
"You think I'm scared of you? Bring it on!" Zhang Yuchen's voice was steady, and his eyes seemed to contain a cold gleam.
"You asked for it, bastard!"
"Get him, break his third leg!"
"You are dead! Die for me!"
Swoosh! Thump!
The three thugs rushed him simultaneously. The lanky man lunged forward, thrusting his knife toward Zhang Yuchen's face; he hated this arrogant face too much, he wanted to make it miserable. Zhang Yuchen swung the iron pipe, blocking the attack with a resounding clang. Sparks flew as metal met metal.
Clang!
Soon the thug was repelled and dropped to the ground.
Thud! Thump!
The broad thug saw an opening and aimed a powerful kick at Zhang Yuchen's face, but Zhang Yuchen blocked it with his other hand. Muscles strained, but he held firm.
Boom! Block!
The third thug tried to take advantage of the distraction, sneaking up from behind. Zhang Yuchen sensed the movement.
Swiss! BOOM!
He spun around, delivering a brutal kick to the assailant's jaw. The thug's tooth flew out, blood spraying in a crimson arc, while his yellow tooth seemed to sparkle in the sunlight.
"Argh!" The thug screamed, clutching his face.
At this time, already having enough space, Zhang Yuchen grabbed the head of the broad thug and soon he hit him with his own head, colliding with the thug's nose, breaking it completely.
BAAAM!!!
"Ahh...Son of bitchhhahhh!" he cried out.
The lanky thug, undeterred, came at Zhang Yuchen again, slashing wildly with his knife. Zhang Yuchen dodged, the blade grazing his cheek.
Swoosh!!
Clang!!
With a fierce swing of the iron pipe, he struck the thug's wrist. The crack of breaking bone was followed by the knife clattering to the ground.
"You bastard!" The broad thug roared, charging with a furious punch aimed at Zhang Yuchen's gut, seeming reluctant and wanting to take revenge. Zhang Yuchen sidestepped, bringing the pipe down on the thug's back with a sickening thud.
Thud!! Thud!!
The thug collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath, but Zhang Yuchen didn't stop there, firmly grabbing the iron pipe and delivering a vertical slash; his head was nearly broke apart, blood sprayed like a fountain, if not for the hard bone the thug would have died.
Boom! Clanck!!
The lanky thug, now cradling his broken wrist, tried to kick at Zhang Yuchen. Zhang Yuchen caught his leg and twisted it sharply.
Snap!!
The sound of snapping ligaments echoed through the surroundings. The thug howled in pain, crumpling to the ground.
"Ahhh"
The scrawny thug, despite his bleeding mouth, lunged at Zhang Yuchen with a wild scream. Zhang Yuchen swung the pipe in a wide arc, smashing it across the thug's temple. The thug dropped like a stone, nearly unconscious before he hit the ground.
"Who's next?" Zhang Yuchen growled, his voice low and dangerous. He glanced around, the iron pipe dripping with blood. The broad thug, still on his knees, looked up with wide, fearful eyes.
---
( End Of This Chapter )
---