Chapter 23: The Heroine and the Shameful Retreat

"I... I... Big brother, spare me, please..." The stout man's Adam's apple bobbed up and down, fear evident in his eyes as he glanced at his two blood-soaked accomplices in the distance. His knees buckled, and he immediately knelt down, almost on the verge of tears, about to call Lin Yu 'father.' He finally realized something was amiss; this young man wasn't someone to trifle with.

"Spare you? Alas, that's truly impossible." Lin Yu appeared genuinely troubled, contemplating for a moment. He shook his head with a conflicted expression and then proceeded to the other side. Swiftly, his feet sent Huang Mao and the tall, skinny guy tumbling and crawling over, joining the stout man in kneeling.

"You," Lin Yu motioned to the stout man, beckoning with his finger towards the dagger embedded in Huang Mao's arm. The stout man, astute enough, comprehended the leader's intent. He reached out and swiftly yanked the dagger from Huang Mao's arm, causing a spray of blood. Huang Mao nearly fainted from the pain, tears streaming down his face, and his runny nose ended up in his mouth.

"Well done, quite clever of you; there's potential." Lin Yu accepted the dagger, revealing a toothy grin.

"Big brother, we were blind and offended you. Please forgive us this time. We won't dare again." The stout man trembled on the ground, imploring like a broken record.

"There are matters left unfinished; it's really impossible to spare you for now," Lin Yu sighed with regret. This sent chills down the spines of the group. What more did this fellow intend to do? Was he planning to eliminate them all?

As they pondered this, Lin Yu weighed the blood-stained dagger in his hand, swung it in the air, then shouted loudly, "Robbery!"

"Eh?" The group stood there petrified, unable to react for a good while.

"Apologies, but I'm quite poor, you see. Shortly, I've got something of great importance to attend to. I'll need to hail a cab and all, but I'm short on cash. It's an emergency; could you assist me?" Lin Yu seemed to be suggesting a negotiation, albeit with an embarrassed smile. However, his grip on the knife betrayed no hint of shyness, tracing it over the noses of the several ruffians, causing goosebumps to ripple across their bodies.

Lin Yu couldn't help but wonder, why was fortune so unfavorable today? It was either encountering the underworld or pickpockets when stepping out. Was he exceptionally tied to them in some peculiar way?

"Thieves targeting thieves?" The three ruffians dumbfoundedly entertained this notion.

"Gentlemen, I'm pressed for time. Could we hurry this along?" Lin Yu amiably negotiated with them, simultaneously, seemingly accidentally grazing the dagger across Huang Mao's right arm. Though the cut wasn't deep, it appeared long enough to be quite menacing, causing Huang Mao to scream in pain.

After much chaos, the three petty thugs finally, tremblingly, handed over all the money in their pockets. Lin Yu, with gleaming eyes, successively collected the money from them. The way he looked at it made the three ruffians feel oddly sympathetic. It seemed he was truly struggling, a pity considering his remarkable skills.

"Uh, if each of you cuts off one of your own fingers, you can leave. Apologies, but quickly now, present them. I'm in a hurry!" Lin Yu brandished the knife, grinning with a row of teeth glinting, intermittently checking his phone as if truly in a rush. Cutting off a finger meant losing a means to sustain oneself, an extremely ruthless move indeed.

"Ah? Big brother, have mercy! We truly erred..." The several petty thugs, upon hearing this demand, were on the verge of losing their minds. They had handed over money and now had to sacrifice their fingers. Was there no room for survival?

Kowtowing as if pounding garlic, they pleaded incessantly.

"Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit." Lin Yu retracted his smile, a glint of coldness flashing in his eyes. He advanced, kicking the stout man to the ground, seizing his right hand underfoot, and lifting the dagger—ready to strike.

"Hold it!" Just then, a shrill voice pierced the air. Lin Yu paused, turning to behold a surprise.

A young girl with a camera slung across her chest pointed her phone directly at him. Though assertive in speech, there was a hint of tremor in her tone. Her legs quivered slightly, indicating a trace of fear.

Her entrance was loud, her demeanor modest, yet her actions contradicted the meekness.

The girl wore faded jeans that snugly hugged her long legs. Her upper body sported a pink camisole paired with a sequined shrug. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, fresh and tidy, topped with a sun hat that framed a face naturally charming and enchanting, capable of dazzling with a mere touch of makeup.

Though in the simplest attire, it accentuated her peculiar, extraordinary beauty, defying the scorching sun with the exuberance of youthful vitality.

Lin Yu furrowed his brows, appraising this sudden arrival, not entirely grasping her intentions. However, her next words elucidated her motive.

"Brazen daylight robbery! Do you believe there's no justice or law in this world? Drop the knife! Let me tell you, I've already reported to the police. They'll arrive soon. If you persist, your crime will be compounded, and you'll face the full force of the law," the girl, brimming with righteousness, rebuked and threatened Lin Yu while pointing her phone at him. She seemed to consider herself a modern-day police judge.

"Ah, a female knight-errant. My apologies, I misspoke." Lin Yu almost laughed aloud, straightening up and walking towards the girl.

"Don't come any closer! Drop the knife! I'm telling you, I've already called the police!" The girl, in her fervent speech, observed Lin Yu advancing with the knife. Blood droplets adorned its tip, making the sight all the more intimidating.

The valiant spirit of heroism and justice fled in the face of danger. She screamed, clutching her phone as if it were a firearm. She had made up her mind; if Lin Yu dared to take one more step, she wouldn't hesitate to... then she turned and ran.

Unexpectedly, Lin Yu obediently took a few steps, dropped the knife, raised his hands, and walked towards her. Astonishingly, a tinge of shame appeared on his face. "I'm sorry. Today, I've truly understood the essence of intervening when seeing injustice. Your righteousness and justice have made me deeply realize the shamefulness of my actions earlier. Therefore, I genuinely acknowledge my mistake. I am ready to surrender. Please, go ahead." Lin Yu spoke swiftly, displaying an unusual sense of shame. Without a backward glance, as if truly repentant and embarrassed, he briskly circled around the girl and walked away, as if his wrongdoing had been publicly exposed and chased away.