PEERLESS GENIUS SYSTEM

by Kideo11

Xiao Luo and his girlfriend had been in love with each other for four years when she proposed a break up. Because of this, Xiao Luo sped his car in the night and ended up in a car accident. But it was a blessing in disguise as he unexpectedly fused with a high tech system that originated from a universe hundreds of billions of light years away. From this moment on, the entire world

1. Chapter 001 - 100

Chapter 1

Xiao Luo clearly regained consciousness and found himself lying on a hospital bed. The strong odor of disinfectant permeated the air.

"This is... a hospital? Why am I in a hospital?"

Xiao Luo frowned, feeling extremely puzzled. But his brain, which had recovered its functions, quickly told him everything.

After his girlfriend, Zhao Mengqi, broke up with him, he drove his cheap domestic car to the suburbs, where he sped down the road to vent his emotions.

It had been raining earlier, and the road was slick. Moreover, it was late at night. He very unluckily got into an accident. The car, which was going more than 120 miles an hour, careened off the road and plunged headfirst down a three-meter drop into farmland. He could not remember anything after that and did not know who the good Samaritan was who had found and brought him to the hospital. That was the only reason he was still alive.

Creak.

At that moment, the door of the ward was pushed open, and a sweet-looking nurse carrying a tray of liquid medications walked in.

"Ahhh."

When she saw that Xiao Luo had awakened and was sitting up, frowning in contemplation, she immediately cried out in alarm. The liquid medications in her hands crashed to the ground and spilled all over the floor. She looked as if she had seen a ghost. Her eyes were wide open, and she pointed at Xiao Luo with her trembling right hand and stammered, "You, you, you... how are you awake?"

Xiao Luo didn't know what was going on and thought in his mind, Is this nurse new? If not, why is she having such an intense reaction to seeing a patient who had awakened?

He looked up and down at himself and then from left to the right. Afterward, he spread his hands and said, "This is obvious." He asked carefully, "Is there... anything wrong?"

"How could you have awakened? There's no way that you could have you awakened, how..."

The nurse still looked as if she had seen a ghost; her eyes and delicate mouth were wide open. She stared at Xiao Luo with an incredulous expression. It seemed that she could not believe the facts that were in front of her eyes.

No way he could have awakened!

Xiao Luo really felt a little stumped; he did not understand why the nurse would say such a thing.

Just as he was about to ask her a question, the nurse turned her head and ran out. Her hysterical shrieking echoed down the corridor, "Dr. Zhang, this is bad. The patient in Ward 438 is awake!"

Just what was happening?

Xiao Luo was at a total loss. He could not figure out the reason for the situation. Besides, he was speechless about his ward number: "438" was not an auspicious number; its homonym was "damned fool."

At this moment, a series of system notifications suddenly sounded in his mind, the tone of which was just like the system voice of a popular online game, "League of Legends." This also was the highly-modulated voice of a female with an expansive and exaggerated quality.

"DING. Congratulations! You've earned ten points. Would you like to open the mall to proceed with redemption?"

Xiao Luo sucked in a breath of fresh air. What motherf*was this?

As a new youth of the twenty-first century, he could not believe such an outrageous thing could happen. This simply went against all common sense.

He thought he was hallucinating, perhaps the result of a concussion, but then a lighted panel appeared before his eyes. It was like a high-tech resume that showed a series of information about him.

Host: Xiao Luo

Age: 26

Points: 10 points

Current Identity: Huahai Corporation employee

Level of Current State: Mediocre

...

What? M... Mediocre?

Seeing this, Xiao Luo immediately returned to himself. He found this unacceptable and thought, In any case, I'm still an engineer of Huahai Manufacturing Corporation. If even engineers are considered mediocre, no one in this world is not mediocre!

It seemed that the system had heard the thoughts in his mind, and its notification tone sounded again, "Ding! Host, your ability to communicate in foreign languages is poor, and your body is in a sickly condition. In terms of morality, intelligence, physical fitness, and aesthetics, you are no good in any of those. What are you if not mediocre."

F*ck you!

Xiao Luo had an outstanding temperament, but his capacity for tolerance had reached its limits. At this moment, he could not help but spit out another swear word. Then he asked, "What the hell are you?"

"Ding! I'm called the Genius System Without Equal, and I come from a parallel universe that is a hundred billion light-years away," the system's voice responded.

"Parallel universe?"

Xiao Luo's shock could not be put into words. The facts in front of him forced him to believe the words spoken by this invisible and intangible system. Because he already knew the concept of a parallel universe, he subconsciously asked, Is there an Earth there too?

"Ding! Of course, but the level of technology there is a hundred thousand years ahead!"

F*ck me!

For a short time, Xiao Luo's brain could not accept what he was hearing. A level of science and technology that was a hundred thousand years ahead? What kind of scene would it be? The humans there had probably escaped the cycle of rebirth and death through the power of science and technology.

"Ding! I arrived at this universe because of the chaotic flow in time and space. I became a parasite in you who was on the verge of death. I'll especially give you a free life extension!"

Xiao Luo was astounded. With his IQ, he immediately understood why the nurse had lost her composure when she saw that he had awakened.

So that was the reason. I wasn't supposed to wake up so quickly, but I did because of the life-extension from the system. In other words, Xiao Luo came to after being diagnosed by a doctor as a hopeless case. The nurse's overreaction made sense in this light.

His mind felt more at ease when he figured this out. He changed the topic by asking, "What else can you do for me besides extending my life?"

"Ding! This system can build you into a genius without equal."

"A genius without equal? Is it some kind of freak who knows everything?" Xiao Luo asked.

"Ding! You could say!"

"What's the price?" Xiao Luo didn't believe in free lunches.

"Ding! By using points to redeem various abilities in the mall, the more applicable the abilities are, the more points are needed."

After the system's introduction, the light panel changed to show the mall; various abilities were packed in the display. There were foreign language abilities, gaming abilities, memory abilities, and more. Xiao Luo couldn't take them all in at a glance.

After looking through it once, he felt like cursing. Among the thousands of abilities shown, none could be redeemed for only ten points.

"System, can you tell me what abilities can be redeemed for ten points?" Xiao Luo didn't give up. He wanted to test if this was a hallucination or maybe someone's prank.

"Ding! You cannot redeem any abilities for ten points!"

Xiao Luo was exasperated. "Are you messing with me?"

"Ding! Points can be earned. Host, do not worry."

So points could be earned!

Xiao Luo's eyes brightened. "How do I earn points?"

"Ding! Surprise, curiosity, shock ... and any other human emotional reactions caused by the host will be automatically distinguished and absorbed by the system, and then automatically converted into corresponding points based on the depth of the emotion."

"I see!"

Xiao Luo immediately understood. This was not a genius system without equal. This clearly was a cheat-code system that allowed him to continually act like a pretentious jerk, to play the sheep to catch a wolf. The ten points he had must have been earned from the nurse just now.

Bang.

Suddenly, the door of the ward was pushed open. A large group of doctors in white coats. When they saw Xiao Luo sitting up, they all stood rooted to the ground, as if they had been petrified. Their eyes were wide open in shock as they looked at Xiao Luo.

Chapter 2

Xiao Luo saw shock, confusion and doubt in their eyes ...

"The patient has septic shock, ruptured intestines, bleeding, and contusion of the liver and spleen. How could he have awakened in only half a day?"

"Not only that, the patient also suffered contusions on both lungs, multiple rib fractures on both sides, comminuted skull fracture, torn right abdominal muscles, hemorrhage of the digestive tract and a pelvis fracture. With such severe injuries to his body, how did the patient regain consciousness just like this?"

"Unbelievable, this is a medical miracle!"

The group of doctors sized up Xiao Luo carefully, as if they were looking at an alien. Their shock and horror could not be articulated. The female nurse who screamed earlier was amongst them.

Xiao Luo was equally shocked, because the value of his points was increasing rapidly. It suddenly rose from the previous ten points to one hundred points. It did not stop at one hundred but continued to increase to a thousand and one points before finally stabilizing.

"DING, Congratulations! You've earned nine hundred and eleven points. Do you want to enter the mall for redemption?" The system notification sounded.

Xiao Luo blinked and got a hold of his mind, he remembered his weak constitution and inquired, "System, is there anything that can improve my physical strength?"

As soon as the words were spoken, an ability called "Constitution of: King of Mercenaries" appeared on the lighted silver screen. But it would cost a thousand points to redeem it.

"Why isn't there an explanatory note?" Xiao Luo was puzzled.

"Ding, the 'Constitution of: King of Mercenaries' can enable the host to quickly possess a mercenary king's ability. This includes but is not limited to physical strength, combat experience, ability to respond, knowledge of firearms, etc. Once redeemed, it will be permanently in effect. Do you wish to proceed with redemption? "The system voice said.

F*ck me!

Xiao Luo drew in a breath of cool air. This was more than just a "cheat code". It was like going into the script of a game and directly modifying the characteristics of the main character.

"Redeem!"

The word was barely squeezed out from the cracks between his teeth. He still could not believe that this system really existed, unless his body suddenly became stronger for real.

"Ding, Congratulations! You've received 'Constitution of: King of Mercenaries' and used up one thousand points!" The system notification voice said.

However, the doctors in the room looked at each other in dismay. It was because they could not see the lighted silver screen or hear the system's notifications. All they could hear was Xiao Luo's voice.

Seeing how Xiao Luo was talking to himself as he sat on the bed and how his brows occasionally scrunched together and relaxed, they uniformly agreed that Xiao Luo's brain had been damaged. Although he had awakened, he had now become a mental patient.

Moreover they had completely calmed down by now as they realized a major problem, and that was the person who had diagnosed the patient last night. He was an intern who had not arrived in the hospital for long.

Their understanding of the patient was also based on the diagnostic report by the intern. After all, they had only arrived for work a short while ago and did not have the time to check the patient's condition personally.

So, could this be a misdiagnosis, a case of getting the wrong report? This was not a medical miracle at all?

"Have you contacted the patient's family?" A middle-aged doctor turned his head and asked the female nurse next to him.

The female nurse nodded, "We're about to contact the patient's family through his cell phone. A man named Zhang Dashan just happened to call and he said he's the patient's good friend. We told Zhang Dashan the patient's situation and he immediately agreed to come over. He should be on his way now. "

The middle-aged doctor said, "Very good. Remember to inform Zhang Dashan of the patient's medical expenses!"

"Hmm, okay." The female nurse nodded in answer.

"By the way, arrange another full-body examination for the patient. I strongly suspect that his examination report was wrong. What? Tearing and bleeding of the right eye? Look at him, there's no injuries anywhere on his body. Did Xiao Lai, who took over my shift last night, doze off on the job?" The middle-aged doctor scowled.

Just then, a chilly atmosphere suddenly spread across the ward without any warning.

The doctors in the ward could not shake off this cold feeling. All of them could not take their eyes off Xiao Luo, who sat on the hospital bed. They were experiencing a strong misperception at this moment, that it was not a person sitting on the hospital bed, but an extremely dangerous bloodthirsty beast. It was as if it could devour them at any time, leaving nothing but a pile of bones.

Especially Xiao Luo's eyes; his chilling aura pressed upon them. And his fiendish intent was overwhelming. It was like the eyes of a wild beast, and they truly felt a tremor that started from their souls!

How did this happen?

Was it a hallucination or a misperception?

The doctors were all stunned, and they foolishly could not tell whether it was real or not. But their foreheads could not stop breaking out in cold sweat. They could not understand how a person's temperament could change so dramatically in an instant.

Xiao Luo felt very strange and wonderful at this moment. His body seemed to have endless strength, and the ankylosing spondylitis that had troubled him for more than two years seemed to have been cured. His entire back now felt extremely light. His body had never experienced this full and unrestrained sense of ease and comfort.

Even his sight had become much clearer, he could even easily see the tiny creatures in the ward, such as the spider lying quietly on the wall waiting for the prey to serve itself up.

"Lao Xiao!"

A loud voice blew in from outside the ward, and it was quickly followed by the door slamming open. A young man similar in age to Xiao Luo appeared at the doorway.

The young man had a fleshy face. His entire face was plump and round, but his body was not fat, it was even on the thin side. It looked like a fat man's head grafted on a thin man's neck; he wore a crew cut and had some distinct forehead wrinkles. The skin on his face was very rough too.

The young man looked around before his gaze finally landed on Xiao Luo on that hospital bed. Then, he completely disregarded the doctors, treating them like air as he ran straight towards Xiao Luo.

After a general examination of Xiao Luo's body, the loud voice suddenly shouted, "F*ck, which quack doctor said that my brother was in shock and was going to become a vegetable. I rushed over without even having breakfast. What in the bollocks were you trying to do? "

As soon as this statement was spoken, the group of doctors in the ward suddenly flushed red, especially the middle-aged doctor. Even though the diagnosis was written by Xiao Lai, the intern doctor last night, as Xiao Luo's primary physician, wouldn't the label of "quack doctor" still be directly tacked onto him?

"Ahem..."

Xiao Luo coughed dryly a few times and felt a wave of embarrassment. His buddy Zhang Dashan really had the guts to say anything. Was he not afraid of getting beaten by the group of doctors?

The row of doctors looked at each other, and then stepped out in succession. After closing the door, some of the doctors with bad tempers could not help but flip out. 𝓵𝒊𝓫𝓻𝓮𝓪𝒅.𝓬𝓸𝙢

"Just what kind of reputation is Xiao Lai trying to establish? To even make this kind of mistake, did he doze off as he was diagnosing the patient last night?"

"An intern is an intern. He is not serious at all in his work. I suggest that we cancel his qualification to become a regular employee. He should stay in the hospital for another three months."

"Yes, misdiagnosis is a major taboo for us as doctors. This is the first time that I've seen such a huge misdiagnosis in my life."

Obviously, these doctors had determined that Xiao Luo's waking up was not a medical miracle at all, but a huge misdiagnosis. And the one responsible for the misdiagnosis was Xiao Lai, a new intern in their hospital.

The middle-aged doctor said nothing, but his expression was unusually ugly.

Xiao Lai was an intern under his name. This was also the first time that he had seen such a huge misdiagnosis as a doctor.

He was usually loved by others and had even been given a plaque that said "Hua Tuo Of Our Lifetime". It was totally unlike the insulting names that he had suffered since early morning of today, such as "quack doctor". He would settle all these with Xiao Lai.

Chapter 3

Xiao Luo could not be bothered to find out who the doctors wanted to pin the blame on.

He was now completely immersed in the excitement of the Constitution of the King of Mercenaries brought about by the Genius System Without Equal. The iron railing of the hospital bed had been twisted and deformed by his bare hands. He had now thoroughly confirmed the very real existence of the system. This was not a hallucination produced after the concussion.

"'If one does not perish in a great disaster, blessings will surely follow'. The words of the ancients really don't lie, hahaha ..."

Xiao Luo could not suppress himself and laughed heartily. He felt as if he had woken up and found that he had turned into Superman who wore his red underpants on the outside and could fly in the sky. It was difficult to describe the excitement in words.

"Hey hey hey, Lao Xiao, what's up with you? Don't scare me. Why are you getting happy all by yourself in such a silly way?" Zhang Dashan clapped his hands in front of Xiao Luo's eyes, but he did not see how Xiao Luo had twisted the iron railing of the bed into a deformed shape.

Xiao Luo looked at his ex-college room-mate and buddy in front of him, he really wanted to tell him about the Genius System Without Equal.

But he thought better of it. It was better to keep this matter to himself. If he said it, he would only be treated like a lunatic by Zhang Dashan. After all, this was too ridiculous. Who would believe that he had merged with the Genius System Without Equal from a parallel universe a hundred billion light years away?

"What are you looking at? I'm nothing to look at. Tell me, why are you lying in the hospital?" Zhang Dashan jabbed at Xiao Luo's chest with a finger, putting all his strength behind the motion.

"Ah... disappointment in love!"

Xiao Luo sighed. He followed up with an account about how Zhao Mengqi broke up with him, after which, he drove his car at high speed in the suburbs late at night and ended up in a car accident.

After listening, Zhang Dashan sighed, "F*ck me, you've really survived a great disaster!"

"Can't you understand the main point?" Xiao Luo rolled his eyes.

Zhang Dashan immediately scolded, "The main point is bollocks. Zhao Mengqi is less than a fart. Breaking up with you is her loss. You are so outstanding. You even have an occipital bun at the back of your skull. The physiognomy books have said that this is a feature of an emperor. One day, sooner or later, you will become rich and powerful. When that time comes, the only thing left for Zhao Mengqi to do is to secretly cry by herself. "

Xiao Luo did not know whether to laugh or cry. He patted Dashan's shoulder, "Dashan, I really salute you for your skill at talking drivel. No one can beat you at this."

"Get lost!"

Zhang Dashan waved his hand impatiently, and then said with a serious expression, "By the way, do you feel any discomfort now? For example, do you feel like vomiting?"

"There's nothing wrong with me. I'm lucky this time, only the car was thrashed, I'm totally fine and can be discharged now," Xiao Luo said.

"Lao Xiao, we can't brag about this, the body is an asset for revolution. You can't afford to be careless about it. If you have no money for treatment, I have. I don't have millions, but I can definitely come up with three to four thousand dollars for you." With their relationship, Zhang Dashan was a straight-talker who did not hide things or beat about the bush.

"There's really no need for that!"

Xiao Luo immediately leaped from the bed. Not only did he jump three times on the floor, he also walked upside down to prove that his body was better.

Zhang Dashan's eyes widened, "Oh my lord, when did you learn to walk upside down? You've hidden that skill so well."

He now completely believed in his heart that there were no major issues with Xiao Luo's body.

"Ding! Congratulations. You've earned five points."

Xiao Luo ignored the system notification and ended the handstand. He dusted his palms and said irritably to Zhang Dashan, "So, according to what you've said, do I have to report to you even when I go to the bathroom?"

"I'm not interested in you going to the bathroom, but I would love to hear about it if you have sex with a girl. The more detailed the better, hehe..." Zhang Dashan laughed in a vulgar way.

"F*ck your sister!"

"Bwahaha!"

Zhang Dashan ran out with a hearty laugh to complete the discharge papers for Xiao Luo.

They had a simple breakfast together after leaving the hospital. Xiao Luo and Zhang Dashan went to the Traffic Police where his domestic car was. The car was seriously deformed, even the engine was broken. Even if it was repaired, it would still bounce heavily on a flat road like the broken car that it was. He could only apply for it to be scrapped.

"Don't feel bad about it, it's just a car. 'If the old doesn't go, the new will not come'. The same logic applies to girlfriends. There's always a good car, a good woman in this world that belongs solely to you," Zhang Dashan consoled.

Xiao Luo smiled and didn't speak. After barely escaping from the Grim Reaper's clutches, he had gotten over many things in his mind. His mental state was much more calm and collected than before.

"Do you want to go home or the company?" Zhang Dashan opened the driver's door of his Corolla and asked Xiao Luo.

"To the company."

"F*ck, you insist on going to work even after a car accident. If I'm Jack Ma, I'll definitely send you a dedication blessing card." (A category in an AR game by Alipay where one can win money)

"I'm not going to work, but to resign!" Xiao Luo said helplessly.

Zhang Dashan frowned, feeling a little agitated, "You're resigning just because of Zhao Mengqi? My bro, aren't you acting too much like a loser?"

Xiao Luo sighed, but did not explain. He opened the door to the front passenger seat and got into the car.

In fact, he had thought about resigning long ago. Not only was working in a manufacturing factory a repetitive grind every day, it also lacked challenges. He could not see any future in this. 𝑙𝘪𝒷𝘳𝑒𝘢𝑑.𝒸𝑜𝑚

He had never felt particularly happy about this job. If Zhao Mengqi did not also work at Huahai Group, he would have chosen to leave long ago. Now that he had the Genius System Without Equal, there was no need to restrict his career path to Huahai Corporation.

Zhang Dashan stopped shooting his mouth off and got into the driver's seat. He drove Xiao Luo to Huahai Corporation.

"Lao Xiao, cheer up. We are men. There is no need to be sad and depressed over a woman who doesn't care for you," Zhang Dashan spoke again in consolation.

"I've opened my mind; I can adjust myself well."

Xiao Luo's heart warmed, "By the way, you should pay attention when you're driving, don't learn from me and run yourself off the road."

"Touch wood... No good words can be expected from a scoundrel like you. I'm leaving. I'll call you up again for a good time when I'm free." Zhang Dashan stepped on the accelerator and boldly drove his Corolla away.

Xiao Luo watched him leave until he couldn't see the shadow of the car any more. He collected his gaze and turned around, swiping his employee card and walking into Huahai Corporation

His resignation was finally completed just before noon.

Holding a box of his stuff, Xiao Luo walked down the main pathway of Huahai Corporation, where he had worked for three years. All sorts of feelings welled up in his heart. This was his first job after graduating from university. He still remembered when he had first arrived, full of dreams and ideals. Each and every scene flitted across his mind like a movie.

"Xiao Luo, stop right there!"

A familiar voice rang out behind him, with a hint of command behind her tone.

Xiao Luo stopped and turned back to meet a beautiful face. That was Zhao Mengqi, a stylishly dressed woman with a sweet appearance.

He was not surprised at all that Zhao Mengqi had known about his resignation. After all, she worked in the HR Department. There were thousands in Huahai Corporation, whether they stayed or left, the HR department had detailed records of all of them.

"Is there something wrong?" Xiao Luo asked indifferently.

Zhao Mengqi ran up to him in her high heels. She glanced at the contents of Xiao Luo's box with a scornful expression in her eyes, "Xiao Luo, can't you be a bit more mature? You and me, we've come to the end, but do you have to resign over this and ruin your future? Even if you don't want to think about yourself, you have to consider your family. You would have no source of income after you resign. Do you intend to go back and live off your parents? "

Chapter 4

Xiao Luo felt that he had been reborn after the car accident. He did not really have many complaints about Zhao Mengqi. He felt more numb than anything else and expressed his understanding about her choices. After all, the world had always been very realistic and cruel.

"I resigned due to personal reasons, it has little to do with you."

Xiao Luo smiled, "If there's nothing else, goodbye!"

A goodbye to put a perfect full stop to their four year relationship. There were no entanglements between them, no pestering. He would not lay down the dignity he had as a man to appeal for anything more. He turned around airily and left. 𝙡𝙞𝓫𝙧𝒆𝙖𝓭.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Zhao Mengqi stood rooted in the same spot and only felt emptiness in her heart. She originally came to rant about Xiao Luo's shortcomings and to also confirm that her choice of leaving Xiao Luo was correct – such a weak and incompetent man was not worthy of her at all.

But the result was not what she had expected. Xiao Luo did not plead with her to stay, nor did he have any sad feelings, which suddenly made her feel a little indignant. Things should not be like this.

"Xiao Luo, don't pretend that you don't care. I know that you really hate me, but this is reality."

Zhao Mengqi shouted, "I can almost predict the trajectory of your life. You can't escape from the fate of a working man. Maybe you'll succeed one day, but whether it's ten years or twenty years later, who knows? You can afford it, but I can't afford to waste my youth. I don't want to live in a narrow rental house with you after marriage, and I don't want to be a slave to our mortgage for thirty years after the down payment for a house. That is not how I want to live like that. "

Xiao Luo turned his head and said with a blank expression, "So?"

"So I chose to leave you and make plans for my own future." Zhao Mengqi blurted out, answering in a self-righteous voice.

"Well, you did it right."

Xiao Luo kept a smile on his face from beginning to end. His ease and calm remained unchanged, "Thanks for giving me a lesson in the school of hard knocks."

Zhao Mengqi was stunned once again. She did not understand why Xiao Luo could still be so calm. Shouldn't he have lost all rational thought and gone mad? Was this guy pretending or did he really not care?

"Qiqi?"

At this moment, a Lamborghini sports car stopped next to Zhao Mengqi. The window rolled down, revealing the face of a handsome young man. With one glance, one could tell that he was a young master who had been pampered since childhood. His skin was very fair and he was dressed in branded apparel.

Xiao Luo recognized at a glance that this was Hua Haifeng, the son of the Chairman of Huahai Corporation, also known as Young Master Hua. He was said to be a total playboy. Many beautiful, unmarried women in Huahai Corporation had a little history with him.

"Qiqi, what are you doing here?"

Hua Haifeng alighted from the sports car before realizing that Xiao Luo was there. He pointed at Xiao Luo with a hostile expression,

"Who is he?"

Zhao Mengqi was rather embarrassed, but didn't hide anything. She said coquettishly, "He's Xiao Luo."

"Xiao Luo? So he's your ex."

Hua Haifeng had a sudden realization; it was obvious that he knew about Xiao Luo's existence and the relationship between Zhao Mengqi and Xiao Luo.

He glanced at Xiao Luo, and a nebulous expression flashed across his eyes, "Since he's your ex, it would be impolite for me, as the current, not to say hello to him."

"Young Master Hua, with your status, there is no need for you to say hello to him. Let's just go," Zhao Mengqi said.

Hua Haifeng and Xiao Luo formed a sharp contrast. The more she looked at Xiao Luo, the more she felt that he was incapable and powerless. He truly belonged to the bottom of the pile. She did not want to see any interaction between Hua Haifeng, who had a distinguished status, and Xiao Luo.

"Qiqi, you can't say that. After all, he took care of you before I showed up. It is only natural that I thank him for that. Wait for me here, I'll be right back."

After which, Hua Haifeng walked towards Xiao Luo.

With his back to Zhao Mengqi, Hua Haifeng did not bother to conceal anything. A peculiar and self-satisfied smile appeared on his face as he strutted like a victor.

He put his hand out, giving a phony and evil smile, "Hello, I'm Hua Haifeng, glad to meet you!"

Xiao Luo harrumphed and said in a monotone, "Sorry, I'm holding stuff. I can't put my hand out."

The rumors did not do him justice. Now that Xiao Luo had seen Hua Haifeng in person, he completely believed that those bad rumors about Hua Haifeng were true. He had caught the smell of a scum even from far away.

"Xiao Luo, it's your honor that Young Master Hua is shaking hands with you. Why are you so ignorant of the greater picture?" The anger that Zhao Mengqi experienced was not only because of this incident. She said this in front of the two men to show that she stood firmly on Hua Haifeng's side.

Xiao Luo turned a deaf ear to her. There was nothing he felt towards Zhao Mengqi apart from disappointment. Their four year relationship had become a sacrificial object as she courted Hua Haifeng's favor. He suddenly felt that he had been blind for the past four years; he had wasted four years on this relationship.

At this moment, Hua Haifeng laughed, "Xiao Luo, you're quite a character. I really admire you. By the way, are you interested in being my assistant? I guarantee that you'll get an annual salary of twenty-eight thousand dollars."

Of course, he was not sincere about inviting Xiao Luo to be his assistant. Instead, he wanted to use this as a pretext to deliberately mock Xiao Luo and strike him down. Hua Haifeng would feel a special sense of accomplishment and thrill to seize someone else's "cake" and eat it in front of him.

"I'm not interested!"

Xiao Luo dropped those three words and turned away.

Hua Haifeng's eyes narrowed and emitted a chilling light, "Wait." He went up to Xiao Luo and put his mouth close to his ears. He revealed his true nature by saying, "I f*cked your woman for you last night. Her body is great, it was so good I could die. I tried all thirty-six moves on her. I didn't expect that a pretentious d*ck like you had never f*cked her once in those four years. I got a bargain in the end. Hehe... "

"Congratulations on turning another girl into a woman for this society!" Xiao Luo smiled and said without any grief or joy.

Hua Haifeng's expression instantly froze. He never expected Xiao Luo's response to be so dull. This suddenly caused him to feel a great sense of failure and frustration.

He reached out and grabbed Xiao Luo's shoulder. He gritted his teeth and said, "Aren't you angry?"

To Xiao Luo's ears, the challenging words sounded like they came from an ignorant fool. He mocked, "She's your woman now, but you're telling another man about your private lives, have you become addicted? If there's a next time, you might as well invite me to observe the scene, I'll surely applaud and cheer for you from the sidelines. "

It was only then that Hua Haifeng realized, yeah, he was Zhao Mengqi's man now.

To be counteracted and crushed by Xiao Luo, Hua Haifeng suddenly felt so humiliated that he became enraged. He grabbed Xiao Luo's collar in one move and sneered, "Piece of garbage, what are you talking about?"

Xiao Luo's expression turned cold, "Release me!"

With just two simple words, Hua Haifeng felt as if he had fallen into an ice hole. He shuddered involuntarily from head to toe. Especially when he met Xiao Luo's eyes, he could not control the hair on his body from standing straight up.

How could this kid's eyes be so scary?

Hua Haifeng was terrified, he could not believe that Xiao Luo could scare him with just a look from his eyes.

Subconsciously, he was about to let go, but how could he admit defeat when Zhao Mengqi was standing behind him? Moreover, he did not believe that Xiao Luo would dare to do anything to him when they were in the Huahai Corporation.

"So what if I don't let go, you want to hit me? Come on, I can lend you ten times the courage. Let's see if you really dare..."

His voice suddenly broke off. This was because Xiao Luo had jolted him away with his inner force. Xiao Luo then struck a foot on his chest without mercy.

Chapter 5

As his right foot pounded firmly on Hua Haifeng's chest, the force of the impact surging outward from the center point of attack.

"Ah."

A sad and blood-curdling screech rang out of Hua Haifeng's body, which weighed 65 kilograms. He flew backward immediately as if hit by a locomotive and fell hard on the solid ground four or five meters away.

His teeth bit through his tongue, and blood flowed in a mad gush, streaming from the corners of his mouth. Feeling as if his internal organs had been rearranged, Hua Haifeng lay on the ground, moaning in pain.

That move by Xiao Luo's foot was like an attack from the legendary aquatic dragon–a complete whirlwind executed in one smooth motion. It was direct and efficient!

Zhao Mengqi was wholly stunned and stood motionless. Her eyes were wide, and she looked at Xiao Luo with an incredulous expression as he exuded a murderous air. She simply could not believe Hua Haifeng was kicked four or five meters away by Xiao Luo.

"DING, Congratulations. You've earned fifty points!" The system was notified.

"Fifty points? How did I get fifty points?"

Xiao Luo looked around, only to find four security guards at the main entrance who had also seen what happened.

The four security guards quickly ran to them.

"Young Master Hua!"

The four of them, together with Zhao Mengqi, who had regained her composure, supported Hua Haifeng to stand up.

Hua Haifeng was furious. He pointed at Xiao Luo and bellowed, "Beat him up. I want him dead. He won't be taking one step out of Huahai's door!"

The four security guards did not dare to disobey. Besides, this was an opportunity to distinguish themselves and prove their mettle. Who could say for sure, perhaps they would be able to accomplish a shocking achievement all of a sudden simply because they taught someone a lesson on behalf of Hua Haifeng. Although they witnessed Xiao Luo's power, they still pulled out the black iron truncheons hanging at their waists and threw themselves at him.

Why would Xiao Luo be afraid of mere security guards who watched the entrance? Without relinquishing the box, he executed a series of kicks and jabs with his legs. Each foot landed squarely on a security guard's chest. Four voices screamed; the four security guards were thrown backward like Hua Haifeng. Even the iron truncheons in their hands dropped to the ground.

At this moment, the anger had drained out of Hua Haifeng. He looked at Xiao Luo in extreme horror; it was as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight. He shivered when Xiao Luo's gaze locked on him. Cold sweat instantly broke out across his body. He could not believe that Xiao Luo could have such freakish and terrifying skills.

Zhao Mengqi was in the same state. She now felt that Xiao Luo was even more of a stranger. This was not the Xiao Luo she knew before.

When Xiao Luo walked toward Hua Haifeng, she subconsciously placed herself in front of him and stared at Xiao Luo nervously, "Xiao Luo, what... What do you want?"

Xiao Luo ignored her. He just smiled and looked at the badly frightened Hua Haifeng. He said in a chiding tone, "Young Master Hua, if you have nothing to do, don't go around grabbing other people's collar. That's very ill-mannered of you. I warned you, but you didn't let go. You shouldn't be indignant about getting a kick from me." His gaze turned toward Zhao Mengqi, and he said with a grin," Everyone wants to wear the princess's robe, but for how long can you wear it? Three months or half a year?"

A tremor went through Zhao Mengqi's body. Xiao Luo's words stabbed right at her worry.

Yes, although she became Hua Haifeng's girlfriend as she wished, Zhao Mangqi did not have the slightest sense of security and always felt that she could be abandoned by him at any moment. This was also the main reason she went to look for Xiao Luo today. Deep down in her heart, she still hoped to have him as her back-up plan, which would give her a sense of security.

"Of course, this is just my advice. Feel free to disregard it!"

After saying this, Xiao Luo left without looking back.

Zhao Mengqi seemed to have lost her soul all of a sudden. She stood there in the same spot, looking like an idiot. She thought that breaking up with Xiao Luo was definitely the right thing to do. But when the man really turned and left, the only thing she felt was an infinite sense of loss, sadness, and loneliness.

Every little detail of her four years living with this man emerged in a non-stop stream in her mind. Every scene was normal and ordinary, but she could not let go of them entirely.

She missed the egg fried rice Xiao Luo made, his meticulous care when she was ill, and even more so his narrow but hot chest... She had to admit that her four-year romantic relationship with him was the best time of her life.

Looking at Xiao Luo's back as he left, her vision was slowly blurred by tears. Her feelings became indescribably complicated; she felt as if she had lost a crucial thing!

Walking along the bustling street, Xiao Luo felt a lightness he had never experienced before. For a while, he couldn't explain why he was in such a mood. Perhaps it was because he had seen Zhao Mengqi's true nature, or could it be because he had left Huahai Corporation?

Not long after, he came to the entrance of a department store, and his gaze landed on a corner of the square.

There was a little girl in rags, about seven or eight years old. She was begging from the flow of tourists.

The little girl was unkempt, her long black hair so filthy and messy that knots had already started to form. Her legs were curved in an abnormal state, and her leg muscles were severely atrophied. She could not stand up and walk; she could only rely on her young and tender hands to slowly crawl forward like a poor little seal as she pushed along a chipped bowl.

Her long trouser legs dragged windingly on the ground. They were covered in dust and looked like two filthy rags. After a while, the little beggar girl crawled to his feet and shook the chipped bowl gently. The sound of coins clinking against the container rang out.

Xiao Luo lowered his head, and his gaze collided with the little girl. Although she was dirty and even emitted a pungent odor, her eyes were crystal clear and alert, so bright that they resembled the stars in the sky.

"Please, do a good deed and give me a few bucks!" The little girl said, hopefully.

Xiao Luo saw that she was pitiful, so he lowered the box, took out a two-dollar note from his pocket, and put it in the bowl.

"Thank you, mister. Buddha will bless you!" The little girl kowtowed and put her hands together palm to palm.

The people of Jiangcheng believed in the Buddha, and there was nothing wrong with the little girl's words of gratitude.

Xiao Luo thought she was very bright and quick-witted, so he then took out two ten-dollar notes and stuffed them into her pocket. "Quickly go home and get your family to buy you something delicious."

He truly felt that the little girl was pitiful. She was still so young but had to suffer like this. 𝙡𝙞𝓫𝙧𝒆𝙖𝓭.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Home?"

The little girl's petite body trembled slightly, and her bright eyes became lifeless. She seemed to be mumbling to herself, or perhaps she was recounting her tale, "I have no home now."

She revealed a great sadness and loneliness despite her young age. Her eyes became red, forming two reddish circles.

Xiao Luo was puzzled. "Everyone has a home and parents. Why don't you have a home?"

The little girl shook her head and then smiled staunchly. She changed the subject and said, "You're a good person, thank you."

After that, she moved her petite body with great difficulty and crawled away.

Xiao Luo thought this little girl was extraordinary; she had a story. After thinking about it, he quietly followed her...

She finally crawled into a gloomy alley, where a young man with an ugly and ferocious countenance was waiting.

Seeing her return, the young man put the knife he was playing with back into his pocket and walked up to the girl. He looked down at the chipped bowl that she used for begging and immediately flew into a rage. He kicked the little girl aside, "Motherf*cker, you're knocking off after getting only this little bit of money? You motherf*cking brat doesn't want to eat today? "

"You dare to stop begging? I'll teach you a lesson today!"

The angry young man had a fierce and sinister expression. He rolled up his sleeves and rushed toward her, grabbing the little girl's hair with one motion and raising her entire body into the air.

"It hurts... it hurts ..."

Her feet were lifted off the ground, and the intense pain made her cry. She felt so aggrieved.

"Why are you crying? Hold it in!"

The young man slapped her with his hand. "Pow." He hit her again. Huge slaps landed on the girl's face in succession, with no concern for her at all.

She could only endure the pain, gritting her teeth to keep herself from crying out, but the tears kept overflowing. Her face was swollen and distorted.

Chapter 6

"Let her go!"

A cold, hard voice rang through the empty alley.

The ugly and ferocious-looking man turned his head, only to meet with regular features set in a face that exuded a noble spirit. Then he raged fearlessly as if he was on the right course. "I'm disciplining my daughter; it's none of your business. Don't meddle in other people's affairs. Scram!"

"I'm telling you to let go of her!"

Xiao Luo shouted coldly, the imposing manner of his body suddenly intensified.

Without warning, the brute felt a bone-piercing chill, a chill that made his hair stand on end. He was like a frog under the watchful gaze of a poisonous snake; he was walking a perilous edge. Unable to help himself, he took a step back.

While he was in a daze, Xiao Luo lost his patience.

Xiao Luo's body turned into a streak of black lightning that rushed toward him. In the blink of an eye, he was knocked seven or eight meters.

The man with the hideous and brutish appearance only felt something flicker in front of his eyes. He had no time to fight back. A clenched fist greeted his face and was closely followed by an intense pain that flooded his head. His body was thrown back helplessly, a bloody tooth jutting from his mouth.

The little girl fell but was caught firmly by Xiao Luo.

When she found out that it was the same man who'd given her a lot of money, she stared blankly at first before bursting into tears, feeling aggrieved.

"Is he your dad?" asked Xiao Luo, pointing at the hideous hulk on the ground.

Shaking her head, she said, "No. He's a bad man. He broke my legs and forced me to beg for money. Please, call the police. Tell them to take me away. I want to go home, I want my daddy and mommy, boohoohoo... "

She cried her heart out, her young and soft body heaving with each sob.

Xiao Luo immediately understood. The little girl was abducted by human traffickers. These people brutally broke both her legs, forcibly turning a healthy person into a miserable, disabled beggar. She was nothing more than a cash cow for them, thrown to the streets to beg like a lump of dirt.

At this point, the guy got up from the ground, spat out the blood in his mouth, and pulled out the switchblade from his pocket. He glared at Xiao Luo savagely. "Boy, hand her over to me now, and we can still talk things over. Otherwise, I'll kill you with this knife!"

"I really want to know how you intend to kill me."

When Xiao Luo stamped his foot, a loud bang was heard as the ground ruptured, spreading cracks from under his foot to the surrounding area, like spider webs.

Gulp.

The man swallowed his saliva with difficulty, wondering where this monster came from. He cracked the surface of the cement with one stomp of his foot.

"You... You just wait!"

After speaking these harsh words, he fled in defeat and disbelief. He didn't think his body was stronger than the concrete path.

Xiao Luo immediately swept toward him and blasted this guy back with his fist. As the man flew back, two bloody teeth jutted hideously out of his mouth.

"DING! Congratulations. You've earned ten points!" The system notification rang out.

Xiao Luo was too busy to pay attention. He collected his gaze and looked at the little girl, comforting her as she shivered. "Don't be scared. Everything's all right!"

"Hmm!" The little girl wiped away her tears unceasingly.

Half an hour later, Xiao Luo appeared with the little girl at the Public Security Bureau.

"Stay here. The police will send you home to your parents." Xiao Luo did what he could do; now it was time to leave.

"Mister, thank you!" The little girl was very sensible. She knew that she had met the right person; otherwise, she would still be suffering in the hands of the traffickers.

Xiao Luo smiled at her, and then walked out of the police station, accompanied by a police officer slightly older than he was.

"Mr. Xiao Luo, please rest assured that we will send her back to her birth parents."

"Thanks for your trouble!"

"This is our duty and responsibility as the police. It's no trouble at all."

The policeman ushering him out was full of smiles. He solemnly shook Xiao Luo's hand. "Nowadays, we need more people like Mr. Xiao Luo in this society. There would be fewer crimes!"

Xiao Luo did not say more. He just nodded and stood up to leave.

A policewoman was walking toward them near the entrance of the police station.

She must have been in a hurry, for she was walking quickly. If it wasn't for Xiao Luo's quick response, the two of them would have collided. However, his ability was just so, and their shoulders still touched.

The policewoman turned back, and Xiao Luo did the same.

Their gazes met in mid-air, the former shivering; the later cool and collected. After smiling apologetically, he left without looking back.

"Team Leader Gu!" The policeman ushering Xiao Luo walked up and greeted the policewoman.

She pointed at Xiao Luo's back and asked, "Who is that guy?"

The policeman grinned and said, "He's one good man."

"A good man?"

The policewoman was stumped for words. The moment their gazes intertwined, she clearly felt a suffocating chill that made her break out in goosebumps all over. The expression in his eyes was sharper and scarier than the drug pushers she'd dealt with before.

The policeman nodded and smiled, "He rescued a little girl from an underground criminal gang that specializes in enslaving children for begging, he's clearly a good guy."

"I see!"

The policewoman's wariness against Xiao Luo disappeared immediately, and she dropped her gaze from Xiao Luo's back. "By the way, where is that little girl?"

"She's in our office."

"Very well, this should be an opening. As long as we carefully tear it open, we can wipe out the entire underground criminal gang in Jiangcheng, who enslaves children for begging." The policewoman's eyes showed a flash of extreme hatred as she quickly walked into the building of the police station.

Back in his rental house, Xiao Luo browsed the mall in the system. He now had a total of two hundred points. After redeeming a foreign language ability, he was down to zero points.

Fortunately, this foreign language ability did not refer to only English; it also included Russian, French, German, etc. There were as many as a dozen languages.

Xiao Luo personally found more than a dozen movies in the corresponding languages and discovered that not only could he understand all of them, he could also fluently repeat the characters' lines in the movies.

"This ability should be beneficial in finding a job!" Xiao Luo was quite satisfied.

Ring, ring, ring.

It was his mobile phone.

Xiao Luo looked at his phone. It was his sister, Xiao Ruyi, who worked as a nurse.

As soon as he pressed the answer key, Xiao Ruyi's voice could be heard from the phone. "Bro, I heard from Zhang Dashan that you and Zhao Mengqu broke up."

Xiao Luo scowled and called out to Zhang Dashan in his mind, You big mouth! Can't you keep a secret?!

"Hmm!" he answered indistinctly.

"Well done. I've never felt she was a good woman or right for you from the first time I laid eyes on her. Her bag was branded and one article of clothing cost more than a hundred dollars. There was also an unpleasant perfume smell about her, and her features were sharp and unkind. You would have definitely been asking for trouble if you married her; even the family could expect to have a hard time, "Xiao Ruyi said.

Xiao Luo didn't know what to say. Raising his voice, he said, "Xiao Ruyi, I had a breakup, but you're offering no words of comfort. You seem to be gloating. I'm starting to wonder if you're my real sister."

"Bro, I'm two hundred percent your sister. I care about your happiness because I'm your sister, hehe..."

Xiao Ruyi chuckled. "By the way. We recently recruited a few beautiful young nurses. When you're ready, I can introduce you to some. They're definitely better than that Zhao Mengqi woman."

Xiao Luo almost spat out the tea he just sipped. "Have a good life as a couple with Tang Ren. Don't worry about your brother's affairs."

"No. You're my elder brother. Your happiness is important to me. When we have a holiday someday, I will bring a girl I've selected to see you. So that's settled. I'm working now, bye!"

Xiao Ruyi didn't wait for Xiao Luo's refusal before hanging up.

"This girl!"

Xiao Luo tossed the phone aside with a helpless expression.

Chapter 7

Xiao Luo did not tell his family about his resignation and car accident. As a man, and a twenty-six-year-old man at that, he would try his best to hide anything that would cause worry for his family.

Besides, he had more than 4,000 dollars in savings. Even if he had no source of income, that money would still cover him for a while. Not to mention, he had now merged with the Genius System Without Equal. Work could be done in minutes; there was no need to worry about anything at all.

He stretched and yawned.

In his three years of working for Huahai Corporation, he had to rotate shifts (day shift and night shift) once a month, every month. There were various sorts of overtime. His daily routine was highly irregular, plus he had just been in a car accident. Although he was saved by the system, his body did not seem to be entirely back to its nimble state yet. He felt tired and sleepy at the moment.

He collapsed into bed, pulled the sheets over his head, and immediately fell into a deep slumber. His rest was extraordinarily stable and pleasant: the best he had experienced in these three years.

When he woke up, it was already past nine in the evening.

After entering the bathroom and taking a bath, he went out for supper to solve the practical problem of hunger.

He paired a black shirt with slim black pants. Dressed from head to toe in black, he gave off a mysterious feeling.

He chose to have supper at a small stall. The stall owners were a middle-aged couple. The husband grilled while the woman cooked some noodles. Also, there was beer and other beverages. The business was quite good.

Xiao Luo often came here to eat. As time passed, he became familiar with this middle-aged couple.

"Coming!"

The husband, greeting him warmly, said, "The usual?"

"Hm, yep. The same old."

Xiao Luo nodded and found an empty table where he sat down.

Zhang Dashan was calling him on his mobile.

Xiao Luo really wanted to chew him out. He was such a big mouth that he could not keep any secrets.

"Why do you always call me about nothing? You think phone calls are free?" Xiao Luo complained unhappily when he pressed the answer button.

Zhang Dashan was startled. "F*ck me. Did you eat explosives or what? You're so angry. Okay, okay. I'll call you on WeChat.

"That'll exceed my data."

"Do you think I'm stupid? You have 4GB per month, but you don't listen to music or watch movies that often. Exceed your data? Bullsh*t!" Zhang Dashan became impatient.

At that moment, a bowl of Sanxian noodles was served.

Xiao Luo coughed dryly, and said in a stern voice, "Okay, I'm not talking nonsense with you anymore, I'm eating now."

"Motherf*cker, why didn't you call me to eat too? Aren't we bros?" Zhang Dashan complained immediately.

Xiao Luo grew exasperated. "You are more than 40 kilometers away. Would you actually have come if I called you? Just the petrol alone is enough for you to eat several bowls."

"My bro, you can't calculate it like that. Compared with our friendship, that little bit of petrol money is less than nothing." Zhang Dashan nagged earnestly.

Xiao Luo couldn't be bothered with him now. He was too hungry. Picking up his chopstick, he became engrossed in his food.

Zhang Dashan also became serious as he spoke of proper matters. "By the way, Lao Xiao, did you really resign today?"

"Yes."

Xiao Luo answered truthfully, and then quickly urged, "Don't tell my sister about this, or else I'll end our friendship."

His sister, Xiao Ruyi, was a big mouth like Zhang Dashan. If Xiao Ruyi knew about his resignation, he could guarantee that his phone would be blowing up with calls from his family the next day.

"F*ck. You still don't trust me. Any secrets you tell me are absolutely safe with me," Zhang Dashan solemnly vowed.

Xiao Luo rolled his eyes and asked with a profound meaning. "Are they?"

"Of course. Never mind. Let's drop this and talk business. Today I asked a colleague from my HR department if our bank is still recruiting. Do you want to come over? The amazing teamwork between us will guarantee an awesome monthly performance," Zhang Dashan said.

"No. I'm not interested in working in a bank," Xiao Luo answered.

"What's wrong with you? Are you looking down on our countryside credit union? There is a saying, no matter how small a mosquito's legs are, they are still meat. Our credit union was established according to regulations. We'll still get a pension every month even when we collect our old-age pension."

"I'm not talking about that. Anyway, I understand your intentions. But, when it comes to working, I'll take care of it myself," Xiao Luo said.

Zhang Dashan knew there was nothing he could achieve by insisting, so he softened his tone. "Okay. Call me when you've thought it through. Even if I have to sell my *ss, I'll find a way to use my connections to get you in."

Xiao Luo's heart melted. He knew Zhang Dashan truly meant well for him. "Thanks, Dashan!"

"No need for thanks. We're bros, we're good. You're me and I'm you. That's it then, enjoy your meal. I have a female client who asked me to meet her at her home. It seems that I have to sacrifice myself a little tonight. Let me tell you, she's a married woman who is delicate, pretty, and young. "

"Restrain yourself." Xiao Luo shook his head helplessly.

"What nonsense. When the woman asked me to go to her house, she said to also bring a can of Red Bull. A can of Red Bull, bro! I want to restrain myself too, but look at this situation: she clearly wants to squeeze me dry.

"Why do I feel you're showing off to me?"

"Hahaha... I've been outed. Hanging up now. The female client is calling. Call you back later!" Zhang Dashan hung up the phone.

Xiao Luo put the phone back in his pocket and continued to eat his remaining Sanxian noodles.

From the corner of his eyes, he glimpsed a middle-aged man in a western suit and leather shoes sitting not too far from him. The guy was extremely dignified, and his body exuded the confident manner of someone from the upper-class. He even had two grim-faced bodyguards beside him. They donned sunglasses even at night.

He was obviously a person of high status!

Xiao Luo found it inconceivable that someone like that would be eating at a small stall. Moreover, he seemed somewhat familiar, as if he had seen him before somewhere.

But a commotion rocked the street at this moment. Dozens of people gathered around the stall, and all of them looked murderous. They were like beasts that had just emerged from the mountains, causing people to tremble in fear. They even wielded gleaming machetes and steel pipes.

Their leader was a bald man with a severe, stocky build; he had no eyebrows. His body was covered with tiger and leopard print tattoos; his eyes were fierce and malevolent. He wore an insufferably arrogant and insolent expression on his face.

"Boss, that's him. He's the one who rescued that little b*tch!"

A man with an ugly and ferocious-looking face said that savagely as he stepped out and pointed at Xiao Luo, who was eating his noodles. It was that horrible guy from today, the one who enslaved the little girl and made her beg.

The bald man threw a vicious glance at Xiao Luo, then he looked up and swept his eyes over the other customers at the stall. He yelled coldly, "Except for this kid, everyone screamed!"

The row of customers in front of the stall scattered in all directions, leaving this hornet's nest.

"Sir, please. We can always talk things out. Please don't drive away my customers!" 𝑙𝒾𝘣𝘳𝑒𝒶𝒹.𝑐𝘰𝓂

The stall owner hurried forth and pulled out $20 to $40 and stashed the money into the bald man's pocket.

This area was a district of Jiangcheng; it was also an area that was far away from the city center. This was a case of central authority not being able to penetrate remote areas. Moreover, because of the many factories here, good and bad people intermingled. People from all over the country rubbed shoulders here. Law and order was not well maintained. Hooligans and gangsters often made trouble, so the stall owner thought they were here to collect protection fees again.

The bald man dropped him to the ground with a kick and pointed at him. "This is none of your damn business. Stay on the side obediently, or I'll chop you up as well."

But he did not return the money to the stall owner.

The woman quickly ran to help her husband up. She shook her head to signal her husband not to provoke the local mafia boss.

Chapter 8

"Bang~"

The bald man slammed the table where Xiao Luo was at. He watched Xiao Luo with a vicious pair of eyes, "Boy, because of your nosiness, all of my twenty cash cows have been confiscated. Even five of my brothers have been brought in. How do you think I should settle this score? "

Hatred radiated from his malevolent gaze. The so-called cash cows referred to the children who had been bought by him and then had their legs broken and thrown on the streets to beg.

Because of a little girl who had escaped, the police officer Gu Qianlin, who had always been known as the "Flower of Justice", led her team to seize their den of illegal activities. Naturally, the blame was pinned on Xiao Luo who had rescued the little girl.

Xiao Luo raised his head and glanced at the bald man indifferently, "Whatever business you have, we can talk about it after I've finished eating this bowl of noodles. Now, please distance yourself a little more, because I have no appetite when I look at your face."

When he finished talking, he buried his head and continued to eat his noodles.

As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere of the entire space became sluggish.

All of the men, who numbered in the dozens, were stumped for words. They could not believe that this fellow could be so calm when he was facing them. Was his head damaged?

In the distance, the middle-aged man dressed in a western suit and leather shoes was also stunned for a period of time. Then, he smiled in comprehension, "He's neither servile nor overbearing, instead, he's unperturbed and unhurried. Either he has some real abilities," he pointed at his head, "or there's a problem here."

"Boss, for the sake of your safety, let's leave." The bodyguard on the left suggested.

The middle-aged man waved his hand, "No, their goal is that young man. They're not going to make things difficult for an old man like me."

He grinned and looked at Xiao Luo who nearly had his head buried in the bowl as he ate. Suddenly, he remembered the days when he came to Jiangcheng to make a living. He was still very young at that time. He often came to the street stalls to eat when he was hungry. There was even once when he was maliciously confronted by dozens of men who came wielding chopping knives to get him to pay his debts.

A sense of empathy suddenly arose in his heart, and his fingers tapped lightly on the surface of the table with great rhythm, "He's exactly in his prime and full of mettle; an age where he's full of creativity. It would really be a pity if he felt like this." He turned his head and ordered the bodyguard on the right, "Leng You, depending on the situation, intervene to help this young man."

"Yes, boss!" The bodyguard responded respectfully.

At this time, the bald man had returned to his normal composure and immediately became furious.

"Motherf*cker!"

He overturned Xiao Luo's table and sent it flying. The remaining Sanxian noodles scattered across the ground, and the bowl containing the noodles were shattered.

The bald man stepped on the Sanxian noodles on the ground with great strength. The noodles were stomped on until they resembled nothing more than dirt. He glared furiously with an expression full of loathing and thundered, "Eat, keep eating, don't you want to eat noodles? Come on, kneel and pick up these noodles that are mushy as sh*t and swallow it. Don't waste the soup too, lick it clean. If you don't, I'll cut your tongue out." He shoved at Xiao Luo's shoulder with great force, "Motherf*cker. Why are you still staring so stupidly? You want me and my bros to give you a helping hand? "

Xiao Luo looked at Sanxian noodles that had fallen all over the ground, the expression on his face slowly grew cold and congealed. He threw away the chopsticks in his hand and slowly stood up. His eyes sharp and fierce as he stared coldly at the bald man like a tiger or a leopard.

Hiss ~

Everyone could not help but suck in a breath of cold air. Their bodies could not help but shiver to dispel a coldness that would not leave. They suddenly had the misperception that the person standing up was a cruel butcher with endless blood on his hands.

The bald man was also slightly stunned. He was about to say something when a big hand stretched out swiftly but silently for him like electricity. Five fingers spread out like a python opening its big bloody mouth on a hunt to clutch his neck. The hand lifted his entire body up. The powerful force around his neck instantly squeezed his windpipe and esophagus tightly together.

An intense, burning pain and the pain of suffocation flooded his brain. He could not help but make a hoarse muffled sound. His hands kept beating against the iron arm that restrained him, trying to get the other party to release him. But no matter how hard he tried, that hand did not budge in the slightest. It was like a pair of steel pliers had rigidly clamped itself around his neck.

"I said to wait until I've finished this bowl of noodles, why do you refuse to listen?" Xiao Luo's brows scrunched in a deep frown.

The bald man and his dozens of subordinates were dumbfounded. They never expected that such a scene would happen. The power displayed by Xiao Luo really shocked their minds. He lifted their boss with a single hand. Was he motherf*cking human?

The middle-aged man in the distance opened his mouth slightly, his eyes were filled with surprise.

The two bodyguards next to him were even more stupefied. It was hard to believe that a guy who did not look strong at all could actually lift a big man weighing seventy-five kilograms with one hand. Even they could not do it.

The man with the ugly and ferocious countenance could not help but become alarmed and frightened, "Fight! Let's save the boss together!"

He shouted loudly, but backed away himself.

The dozens of men immediately reacted. They yelled and raised their machetes and pipes, rushing towards Xiao Luo like a tidal wave. The blades whooshed through the air sword and they were filled with a savage, murderous intent.

Xiao Luo sneered, "I'm returning him to you!"

He threw the bald man in his hand towards the crowd that was rushing towards him like he was playing shot put.

The bald man flew backwards at an extreme speed. He was like a cannonball about to crush his own subordinates.

Their expressions changed slightly and the five or six people who were rushing at the front of the group reached out to catch him. They thought that with their joint effort to catch the boss, it would be enough to grab a hold of him. But before they could raise their arms, the body of the bald man slammed onto them.

"Crash ~"

Blood sprayed from their mouths. They were like bowling pins that had been hit by a bowling ball. Four of them were thrown backwards and fell down while one collapsed on the ground moaning in pain.

A powerful explosion that shocked everyone!

The dozens of big men forced themselves to stop all movement. They did not dare to act lightly. Their eyes were opened wide and they looked at Xiao Luo in horror.

Just when they became inactive and lifeless, Xiao Luo's eyes grew cold. He threw two punches without hesitation.

"Bam Bam ~"

It was as if the two closest men were hit hard by a speeding car. They let out a mournful scream as their bodies were flung backwards uncontrollably. Several of their comrades were knocked down in succession before the bodies were stopped. They struggled to get up, but only felt pain in their sternums. Then, two men who managed to push their torsos up spit out blood at the same time and passed out.

The middle-aged man's pupils suddenly shrank and shock that could hardly be hidden was written all over his face. He never expected that Xiao Luo's skill would be so overbearing and powerful.

His two bodyguards were also stunned. This class of skill and strength was beyond shocking. They looked at each other and saw incredulity in each other.

"Motherf*cker, chop him to death!"

The bald-headed man was seriously injured, but not to the point of passing out. He covered his chest, which felt heavy and extremely painful, as he roared hysterically.

He had heard from the ugly and ferocious looking man that the other party possessed extraordinary skills, but he did not expect that he would be so powerful. But so what? One tiger, no matter how fierce, could not hold off a pack of wolves. No matter how formidable he was, was he not just one person while they were a large group?

Dozens of burly men who were fierce and belligerent even on a typical day rushed towards Xiao Luo. Their postures were reminiscent of a group of hyenas chasing deer.

"You want to be ruthless about this? Okay, I'll drop everyone who comes today!"

Xiao Luo's mouth showed a cruel smile. Not only did he not retreat, he moved forward to take the initiative in repulsing their attack.

Chapter 9

The big guy at the head of the thundering mob was running at full speed. With eyes as round as plates, he headed toward Xiao Luo. Before his machete could chop him in two, the guy realized he couldn't stop the momentum of his feet, and the two men collided.

Ahh

The guy let out a blood-curdling screech as all the bones in his body fractured from the impact of hitting Xiao Luo. He slammed to the ground, skidding four or five meters before coming to a halt. In the process, several men tripped over each other or were knocked down.

Xiao Luo had a taunting smile on his face, his eyes cold. His right hand changed direction to seize another man's left leg that was delivering a kick. He slapped the guy's leg against his knee and bent it backward in a V shape. An awful scream was heard.

Then he hurled the injured man's body into the crowd that was following closely behind.

Caught off guard, some of those people lost their footing and fell down, end over end. 𝙡𝙞𝓫𝙧𝙚𝓪𝒅.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Taking advantage of this situation, two guys wielding machetes lashed out at Xiao Luo's back. He instinctively turned and formed his hands into fists that blasted forth, meeting force with force.

Bam

The two men hugged their dislocated wrists and retreated as they lost their center of balance. The pain was so intense they couldn't hold back their tears or miserable bawling.

Xiao Luo was like a fierce tiger, a cheetah. He was an unstoppable force!

The men's expressions changed as their attacks became weaker. They were shocked, but Xiao Luo, who had been provoked into a rampage, didn't hesitate while rushing madly at them. He carried a lethal aura and a roiling, fiendish intent in his violent attack.

Each move was more vicious than the previous one; his fighting style was strong and fierce as if they were being bombarded by violent storms and gales. Blood was streaming everywhere amid sad, shrill screeching...

By now, there was no trace of anger left in the bald man. His eyes were full of fear, and his body could not stop shaking. Bean-sized beads of sweat rolled down his forehead unceasingly. He never thought the other party would be so fierce. Was he human? No, he was a monster!

In the blink of an eye, this monster-man cut down a dozen people. The middle-aged man in the distance could no longer keep his calm. His eyes and mouth were open wide in a state of total shock.

His two bodyguards also went pale as they stood in shock, horror, and amazement. They were retired veterans of the special forces, state-trained machines, tough and unyielding. From head to toe, they had a perfect mastery of their abilities and believed it would be hard for them to meet a worthy opponent. But they were floored: They did not understand how Xiao Luo had made his moves.

Bam

While these two bodyguards were still in a state of shock, Xiao Luo punted another person, sending him flying seven or eight meters. Then he reached out and grabbed a machete.

With the desolate and chilling aura of death filling the air, he rushed into the crowd and raised the blade to swing it down. The line of the machete flew at a bold and unrestrained speed, whizzing like a tornado as it ravaged the enemies nearby.

One guy after another collapsed in a pool of blood. No one had imagined that the lamb, which was supposed to be a prey, would suddenly turn into a bloodthirsty beast, exposing its savage and cruel fangs.

The ugly, ferocious-looking man–scared witless–had run off a while ago to an unknown location.

When the last guy collapsed, letting out a wretched howl of pain, Xiao Luo turned and looked coldly at the bald man, his machete dripping blood that pooled in the ground.

The bald-headed man was stiff, the terror on his face palpable. When he saw Xiao Luo approaching him step by step, he turned white "What, what do you want to do? We... We are the Dragon Gang ..." he stammered.

"What is the Dragon Gang!"

Xiao Luo snorted in ridicule in a low voice. In the next second, he was running wildly, like a black smear of tearing wind as he pressed down on the bald man with inhuman strength. Like a wild wolf running madly on the open plains, the machete then cut a gleaming and vicious path in the air. The sword was about to chop down violently with an unstoppable force.

The bald-headed man's pupils shrank, and his scalp felt numb. The gleaming machete cleared his vision. It was as if he was looking at the Grim Reaper beckoning at him.

Bang

Just as Xiao Luo's machete was about to descend and split the head of the bald man in half, an ear-piercing gunshot exploded like a sudden clap of thunder, causing everyone to tremble.

"Stop!" the woman shouted sternly.

Bzzz

Xiao Luo's machete stopped in an instant. It hung in the air atop the bald man's head like the Grim Reaper's scythe.

Looking at the bloodthirsty machete, the bald man turned, deathly pale, eyes wide open. A rank and pungent odor rose from his crotch: He had lost control of his bladder and bowels and fainted immediately after. He had totally passed out from fear.

Xiao Luo turned his head and saw that both sides of the streets were blocked by five or six police cars. Two explosion-proof cars tore through the blockade line. There were more than 20 riot police in identical outfits and equipment holding up their shields. They looked intimidating as they struck their poses. There were also ordinary criminal police holding uploaded firearms with muzzles aimed at him.

"You have five seconds to drop the knife!"

A policewoman lowered her gun pointed toward the sky and picked up a loudspeaker from a police officer next to her. She shouted at Xiao Luo expressionlessly as she counted down, "Five, four, three ..."

She had fresh, clean, and beautiful features and a tall, athletic, and spirited figure. Her short hair was sleek and coiled behind her ears. Her bright and elegant eyes were pure as water, and her black police uniform could not hide her svelte and glamorous figure.

Xiao Luo remembered that this policewoman was the woman whom he had the opportunity to meet at the police station earlier in the day.

Although his strength had increased, he did not consider meeting the police head-on. When she counted down to two, he threw the machete on the ground.

Two special police officers rushed up. One placed himself on Xiao Luo's left and the other on his left as they restrained him.

Looking at the ground full of people who were hurt and groaning in agony, Gu Qianlin's black brows knitted in a scowl. She said with loathing, "Gathering a group of men together on the streets and using knives to hurt others; you're disregarding the nation's laws and the safety of the people. You've caused a terrible impact on society. What a bunch of bastards, bring them all in! "

"Yes," a cadre of police officers responded.

Xiao Luo didn't want to explain anything now, because he knew it wouldn't do any good. The police would not listen. His answers would only have meaning after they brought him back into the bureau for questioning.

The middle-aged man dressed in a western suit and leather shoes only stood up after Xiao Luo, and the bald man's group were taken away by the police.

"Find out that young man's information. Also, get him a public defender. This young man is mine."

"Yes, boss!" Leng You answered respectfully.

The next day, in the police interrogation room...

"Name?"

"Xiao Luo."

"Age?"

"Twenty-six."

"Why did you use a knife and hurt someone in public?"

"It was a legitimate case of self-defense!"

Xiao Luo, wearing handcuffs, sat in the interrogation chair. He answered every question Gu Qianlin asked.

"Legitimate self-defense?"

Gu Qianlin snorted and threw the report from the hospital on the table. "Twenty minor injuries and eight serious injuries. All of them are now lying in the hospital's acute ward. You're telling me this is legitimate self-defense?"

"Officer, there is the police Skynet surveillance system on that street. Go into the system and look for yourself. You'll see if what I said is true," Xiao Luo said calmly.

"I don't need you to teach me how to handle the case, but I can tell you very regretfully that there are no surveillance cameras at the place where you wielded the knife to hurt others." Gu Qianlin propped herself with both hands on the interrogation table and stared at Xiao Luo.

Xiao Luo raised a brow, "There are no surveillance cameras, but surely there are eyewitnesses. The stall owner can prove I was forced to defend myself."

Chapter 10

Qianlin looked Xiao Luo up and down. Now she recognized him: He was the guy who rescued a little girl from a crime gang earlier and whom she had a brief encounter with outside the entrance to the police station.

It was because of his actions that she was able to crack a criminal gang that cripples kids and forces them to work as street beggars. Today, she saved 20 enslaved children who had their hands and feet broken. Thinking about this made her soften her gaze toward Xiao Luo.

"Team Leader Gu?"

The door of the interrogation room opened, and a police officer leaned half his torso in. It was evident he had something to report.

Before leaving the room, Gu Qianlin ordered the other two officers to continue interrogating Xiao Luo.

"Team Leader Gu, we've investigated the identities of those people. The bald guy, Li Dawei, goes by the name Baldie. The other 20 are his subordinates. We now know they're part of the same group as the five we arrested this afternoon," the male officer reported dryly.

Gu Qianlin was startled. Suddenly she felt as if everything became clear at once. "So, Li Dawei and his group started the fight to take revenge on Xiao Luo?"

"It looks that way." I also spoke with the stall owner, who corroborated Xiao Luo's story. They said he was just sitting there eating his noodles when Li Dawei and his gang suddenly ran over with knives and steel pipes, looking to make trouble. Li Dawei even flipped over Xiao Luo's table; that's what started the conflict."

Gu Qianlin's gaze drifted. She turned to another topic and asked, "Have you checked Xiao Luo's biodata?"

"Yes. He was born into an ordinary farmer's family in Xi Province and graduated from Xisheng Aeronautical University three years ago. He had been working for Huahai Corporation. His parents are one hundred percent farmers. He also has a younger sister who's married and works as a nurse in a hospital in Jiangcheng. He ... "

Gu Qianlin waved and interrupted, "Xiao Wang, do you think anything's wrong with this biodata?"

Officer Xiao Wang had a blank expression on his face, not understanding the nature of her question. He shook his head and said, "This is a very ordinary biodata. I found nothing amiss."

"His biodata is fine, but Xiao Luo has a big problem."

Gu Qianlin's black brows knitted slightly, and she said in all seriousness, "He dealt with 28 crime members armed with knives and clubs all by himself. Not only was he not injured, but he caused 20 minor injuries and eight serious injuries. His combat skills put our entire elite SWAT team to shame. 𝑙𝒾𝒷𝘳𝑒𝑎𝒹.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Upon hearing this, officer Xiao Wang understood the problem.

He furrowed his brows and scratched the back of his head. His face was full of astonishment and doubt. "Yeah, Xiao Luo is an ordinary person according to what's written in his biodata. But how could an ordinary person have such freakish skills?"

"So, there must be a problem with him!" Gu Qianlin asserted.

"But that can't be right. His biodata clearly states that he neither received any specialized training nor joined any organization. Also, his sister, Xiao Ruyi, who works at the People's Hospital in Guangming district, confirmed that his biodata records are accurate, not false. Could he have received guidance from an expert when he was a child?"

"What do you mean?"

Gu Qianlin was even more puzzled: How could an ordinary person suddenly become a superhero with terrifying fighting abilities?

Officer Xiao Wang further expounded, "I mean, would there be an expert who happens to live as a hermit in their mountain village? The expert would have seen that he was dealing with a child prodigy and that Xiao Luo possessed an extraordinary physical constitution when he imparted his skills to him. After all, it's impossible to include something like that in a person's biodata. "

"Are you thinking of making a movie now? An expert living like a hermit? Hah!" Gu Qianlin rolled her eyes.

Officer Xiao Wang laughed in embarrassment. He had watched similar movies; that's how he came up with a wild guess like that.

At that moment, a fresh-faced young police officer came running over and saluted Gu Qianlin. "Team Leader Gu, a lawyer Ge, of Jiangcheng Law Firm, is here to post bail for a man named Xiao Luo."

Lawyer Ge of Jiangcheng's Law Firm?

Ge Zhongtian?!

The expression on Gu Qian Lin and Xiao Wang's faces changed slightly. Ge Zhongtian was a well-known attorney at Jiangcheng, a top firm. Even if someone had money, it was almost impossible to retain his services if the person had no status. Just who was this Xiao Luo that the likes of Ge Zhongtian would condescend to bail him out?

She had planned to investigate Xiao Luo further, but it seemed unlikely now.

"DING! Congratulations. You've earned ten points!"

"DING! Congratulations. You've earned twenty points!"

...

In the interrogation room, the system notifications sounded in Xiao Luo's mind. The system had been reminding him of the points he was earning when he started fighting with the bald man and his group. So far, he has accumulated more than 250 points.

The door of the interrogation room creaked open, and Gu Qianlin and Officer Xiao Wang came in. She ordered two other police officers to remove the handcuffs from Xiao Luo.

She said icily, "You're free to go, Xiao Luo!"

"You've confirmed that I acted in legitimate self-defense?" Xiao Luo stood up and asked with a smile.

"Your problem can be legitimate self-defense or excessive self-defense. If it wasn't because you indirectly helped the police deliver a blow against crime, I wouldn't be letting you go so easily," said Gu Qianlin proudly as she stuffed her hands into her pants pocket.

"Oh, it seems that I have to thank Team Leader Gu for your generosity!" Xiao Luo strode toward the door.

"Wait." Gu Qianlin suddenly stopped him.

Xiao Luo halted and said, "Officer? Is there anything else?"

"Where did you learn your fighting skills? Your biodata made no mention of your receiving any special training." Gu Qianlin stared at him as if she was interrogating a suspect.

Xiao Luo froze for a moment, then he laughed and said, "I learned from an old beggar in our village when I was a child."

Officer Xiao Wang was astonished. So I was right with my stupid guess! Isn't this too much of a coincidence?

"What's the old beggar's name?" Gu Qianlin carefully observed the microexpressions on Xiao Luo's face to confirm if he was lying.

"He was a horrible old geezer who used to victimize others for food and drink. I received my fair share of bullying from him when I was a kid."

"What's his name?"

"I don't know his real name; the villagers used to call him Old Loony."

"Where is he now?"

"He died a few years ago and was buried in the mountains. His body has probably fully decomposed by now."

Xiao Luo knew this question would eventually come, hence his glib answer. Moreover, there really was a person like that in his village. He came over in the early years to escape famine and beg for food. There would be no cracks in his story if someone wanted to check it out.

Gu Qianlin was demoralized. Asking these questions was the same as not asking. Besides, her skill and technique at observing microexpressions, something she was proud of, seemed to be ineffective now. She couldn't tell whether Xiao Luo was telling the truth or lies.

...

At the gate of the police station, Ge Zhongtian, a grizzled man with gold-rimmed glasses, shook hands with Xiao Luo solemnly, "Hello Mr. Xiao!"

Xiao Luo immediately understood why he was released from the police station so quickly.

"You're the one who bailed me out?"

Ge Zhongtian nodded, "Yes, at Mr. Chu's orders."

"Mr. Chu?" Xiao Luo frowned. He couldn't remember meeting anyone by that name.

"The boss of Chongshan House, Chu Yunxiong!" Ge Zhongtian said with a smile.

Chapter 11

The name set off alarm bells in Xiao Luo's head.

Chu Yunxiong was one of Jiangcheng's most prominent business tycoons. He started the company from scratch and slogged away for 20 years, establishing Chongshan House in the process. He now owned half the restaurants in Jiangcheng as well as outlets in hundreds of cities nationwide. He had indeed built a food and beverage empire.

Perplexed and doubtful, Xiao Luo hadn't the faintest idea when or how he became intertwined with Chu Yunxiong.

"Mr. Xiao, Mr. Chu is waiting for you!" chuckled Ge Zhongtian.

Looking in the direction in which Ge Zhongtian was pointing, Xiao Luo's eyes landed on a black Rolls Royce parked at the side of the road.

Since Mr. Chu had posted bail for him, Xiao Luo had to give him a face. Besides, he also wanted to know why Chu Yunxiong was helping him.

After saying goodbye to Ge Zhongtian, Xiao Luo walked toward the Rolls and glanced at the back seat. What he saw got his attention! He gasped in surprise. "It's you?"

It wasn't just anyone. It was the middle-aged guy he had eaten with last night.

Because it was so dark, and there was some distance between them, Xiao Luo didn't realize that the middle-aged man was Chow Yunxiong. Moreover, it never occurred to him that someone of such stature would be eating at a street food stall just like him.

Dressed in a chic suit, and sitting calm and collected on the black leather seat, Chu Yunxiong was full of vigor, despite the ample streaks of white in his hair. He chirped to Xiao Luo, "Get in, young man! Let's talk!"

Though his smile was kind and warm, his comportment exuded dignity and grace.

Xiao Luo realized this was a rare opportunity, so he opened the door and got in the car.

"Team Leader Gu, that car seems to belong to Chu Yun Xiong, the boss of Chongshan House."

On the second floor of the police station, Officer Xiao Wang was watching the departing Rolls Royce in astonishment. "Who is this Xiao Luo, really? He got Chu Yunxiang to post bail for him?"

Gu Qianlin was equally astounded: One was a tycoon at the top of the food chain; the other, a little nobody at the bottom. There wouldn't have been an intersection between the two of them–or would there? What was up with that?

Like Xiao Luo last night, she didn't recognize Chu Yun Xiong and took him to be a passer-by.

She was now very interested in Xiao Luo and determined to resolve all the mysteries surrounding him, eventually.

Ten minutes later, the Rolls Royce pulled up in front of a café next to the mall. They walked past the gigantic water fountain, into the café.

"Boss!"

The service staff and the manager were lined in two rows, respectfully welcoming Chu Yunxiong's arrival.

Xiao Luo surmised that this café had either already been booked or was perhaps owned by Chu Yun Xiong.

The two of them settled at a secluded corner on the second floor. The room was surrounded by large potted plants and was incredibly serene and peaceful. Meanwhile, Chu Yunxiong's two bodyguards, Leng Zuo and Leng You, remained alert and watchful of the surroundings.

"You must be hungry after spending the night at the police station," said Chu Yunxiong, with a smile on his face.

" Well, a little!" Xiao Luo replied modestly with wide eyes.

With a snap of Chu Yunxiong's fingers, the waitstaff began serving them plates of rolls, desserts, congee, corn soup, steak, and more. The table was soon filled with a mouth-watering assortment of aromatic dishes.

Xiao Luo was not all pretentious. He was indeed hungry, so he dug into the sumptuous spread.

Chu Yunxiong admired his enthusiasm. "It is, indeed, good to be young. You can eat whatever you want. But if old men like me satisfy our cravings on a whim, it would be detrimental to our health."

He then leisurely took a sip of the corn soup. 𝙡𝓲𝙗𝙧𝓮𝒂𝒅.𝙘𝓸𝒎

"Mr. Chu, allow me to get to the point if I may. I don't think you bailed me out just to treat me to breakfast." Xiao Luo took a bite of the roll and spoke as he chewed.

"Haha...okay, you are indeed a straight shooter!"

Chu Yunxiong had a feeling that they would get along well. With a wave of his hand, he summoned Leng You, who brought him a copy of a contract and placed it in front of Xiao Luo.

"What's this?" Xiao Luo was mildly alarmed.

"Last night, I watched how you dealt with those gangsters and hooligans. You were not merely courageous. You were also a highly-skilled fighter. You single-handedly took down more than 20 heavily armed thugs. I have nothing but admiration for you. Hence, I'd like to hire you to protect someone for three months. You will be paid two million for your trouble."

Two million to protect a person for three months?

No matter how composed Xiao Luo was, it still took him a while to fully absorb what he had just heard. He scrutinized the contract; it spelled out the agreement clearly in black and white, proving that Chu Yunxiong meant every word he had just said.

"Protect who?"

"My daughter."

"Your daughter?"

Xiao Luo looked up in bewilderment. "Mr. Chu, you have too high an opinion of me. Are you sure you want to entrust your daughter's safety to someone you've known less than a day?"

"I wouldn't be hiring you if I doubted your abilities. You managed to save a kid who was wholly unrelated to you. I have faith in your character and capabilities." Naturally, he had already conducted a background check on Xiao Luo.

"Even so, why don't you have them do it?"

Xiao Luo gestured at Leng Zuo and Leng You. "As professionally trained bodyguards, surely they're better qualified than I am."

Chu Yunxiong set down the glass in his hand, shaking his head. "It's because they're bodyguards. That's why they're not suitable."

This puzzled Xiao Luo. Bodyguards specialize in protecting people; why would Chu Yunxiong say that they weren't suitable?

"The problem lies with my daughter, Chu Yue. She doesn't like being followed by bodyguards and would devise all sorts of tricks and methods to keep them away. This has caused me many headaches," Chu Yunxiong let out a long sigh.

Xiao Luo nodded empathetically. A young lady born to a wealthy family would be used to getting her way.

He then asked, "Where does Mr. Chu's daughter work?"

"She's still a student, currently enrolled at Huaye University."

"A student?"

This surprised Xiao Luo, but he managed to regain his composure quickly. "Mr. Chu wants me to act as a student to protect her in secret?"

"Exactly. Only by doing this would she not keep her guard up."

Xiao Luo didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I must tell you; I'm already 26 years old."

He was implying that it was hardly appropriate for him to pass or act as a student.

"Age isn't important. What matters is that you're still very young, so no one on campus will suspect you."

Chu Yunxiong laughed. "This is also the main reason I set my eyes on you. My bodyguards, no matter how skilled, would hardly pass as students..."

His words trailed off as he shook his head. It was clear what he was getting at, even if he hadn't said another word.

Xiao Luo nodded in acknowledgment.

" Well, if you're agreeable, shall we sign the contract now?" Chu Yunxiong was also a straight shooter.

"I have one last question."

"Go ahead."

" Why three months?" Xiao Luo asked.

Chu Yunxiong tapped the table lightly with his fingers. "I have confidence that I'd be able to make my competitor go out of business within three months. When that happens, he won't have any extra resources to hire thugs to go after my daughter and me, and I would also be able to devote more time to keeping her company..."

Chapter 12

Xiao Luo agreed to Chu Yunxiong's request when he had no more questions. Putting aside the fact that he would be paid 140 grand for this transaction, more importantly, the skills he had obtained from the system – the Constitution of: King of Mercenaries – seemed more than sufficient to ensure Chuye's safety.

Moreover, he needed the money. Whether it was for his family or his future career, this first bucket of gold was a necessity.

After he signed the contract, 70 grand was immediately deposited into his bank account. This was the first payment. The balance would be paid after he had completed the task of protecting Chuyue.

Xiao Luo felt immeasurably self-satisfied and went to the bank to transfer all the money to his father's account. Then he called home to share the good news. "Dad, I transferred some money to your account. Check it when you're free. "

Silence. Suddenly his mom's voice rang out.

"Son, your dad is busy. He didn't take his mobile with him. You just said that you transferred some money? How much?"

Xiao Luo was not surprised. A farm was a huge responsibility and had to be adequately managed. Of course, Dad was busy. He laughed and said, "Seventy thousand. Get Dad to check it out at the credit union when he's free."

"Seventy thousand? Son, why do you have so much money, you... did you rob a bank?" his mom exclaimed in surprise.

Xiao Luo was lost for words. "No, I didn't. I won the lottery."

"Won the lottery? When did that happen?" Mom smiled.

"A few days ago. I redeemed the prize today. By the way, don't make this public knowledge; others will be jealous."

"I know. Your mother's not stupid." Excitement and joy were shining through her words.

"He Ying, who called?" A man's steady voice came through the phone.

Xiao Luo knew it was his father's voice. He was probably returning from his farm chores.

"It's our son. He bought a lottery ticket and won the jackpot. He just transferred us 70,000 dollars. Hurry, go to the credit union above the dike. It's so much money and can't be swallowed up by the credit union," said Mom, burning with anxiety.

"Look how happy you are! Give me that phone. I want to say something to Xiao Luo."

Mom passed the phone to Dad. An old-fashioned voice said, "Xiao Luo, is it true what your mom said? You bought a lottery ticket and hit the jackpot?"

"Dad, you'll know when you check your account at the bank." Xiao Luo chuckle gleefully.

"Even if you won 70,000, why remit the money? Isn't it good to keep it and use it for your career? Men should have a career and work hard in it forever."

"Dad, I see you and Mom working hard. I also know that you owe the bank a loan of 57,000 dollars. This money can help alleviate your burden. I'm still young. I can slowly build my career."

"Yes, that's right. Our son is dutiful, so why are you reprimanding him? Can't you praise his good points?" Mom said in Xiao Luo's defense.

Dad's tone changed. "You're a woman. What do you know? You're short-sighted, getting all smug because of 70,000 dollars. This will rub off on your son, and he'll become easily satisfied. Men should not feel satisfied but should be as greedy as a wolf. When he has earned a 100,000, he should have the desire to make a million, and when he's made a million, he should want to make 10 million. Do you understand? "

"Okay, okay. You're right. Everything you're saying makes sense. I'm short-sighted." Mom didn't want to argue.

Feeling a bit awkward, Xiao Luo raised his brows and said, "Dad, I still have something left. Both of you need to take care of yourselves. Say hello to Grandpa and Grandma for me."

He finished talking and quickly hung up the phone; he was in no mood to listen to his dad's nagging.

Xiao Luo exhaled a long breath. Calling home always filled him with trepidation. He couldn't remember getting any decent praise from his dad while growing up. Like the time he was among the quota of students with the second-highest batch of results in the college entrance exam. And what was Dad's reaction? "Don't be full of yourself. This achievement is nothing."

****** 𝙡𝙞𝙗𝒓𝙚𝓪𝙙.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Early the next day, Xiao Luo dressed like a poser. Oh no, it should be said that he was dressed smartly and looked energetic. He brought his luggage along and took the subway to Huaye University.

Since he was entrusted with a task, he vowed to do his best to do it to the best of his ability. What's more, he was being paid royally for his services and was very enthusiastic about this mission.

Of course, Chu Yunxiong had also made it clear that in addition to him, there were a few other professionally trained bodyguards on campus who were covertly protecting Chu Yue. Arranging for him to go into the school was just an additional layer of security for Chu Yue.

He changed subway lines several times and traveled more than two hours. At last, he took a taxi for another fifteen minutes before finally arriving at the gates of Huaye University.

As a world-class academy, even the front gates of the university gave off an air of majesty. Standing below them made one feel very small.

Xiao Luo took out his mobile phone and dialed the number Chow Yunxiong had given him.

Not long after, a woman wearing glasses for myopia and who looked to be around the same age as him came out. She was wearing a short pink off-shoulder dress, the bow cinching at her tiny waist sentimental and cute. Layers of lace embellished the beautiful dress, complementing the wavy hair draped gracefully over her shoulders.

She was not exactly pretty. The acne scars that married her face were the main detracting factor. Other than that, her facial features were quite well-proportioned and lovely.

"Xiao Luo?" The woman approached Xiao Luo and asked out loud.

Xiao Luo nodded, "Yes, that's me."

"We just spoke on the phone. I am Qin Nanyu, a counselor with the English Department." The woman introduced herself effusively.

"Hello, Teacher Qin!" Xiao Luo smiled politely.

A counselor wasn't considered a real teacher; he or she could only be regarded as a nanny in the life of college students. When Xiao Luo addressed her as "Teacher," Qin Nanyu's smile immediately brightened; she also became more enthusiastic. "Let's go. I'll take you over so you can meet your classmates. It's almost time for class to end so everyone will be present."

"Thanks for your hard work!" Xiao Luo smiled lightly.

He followed Qin Nanyu as they walked on the long main road. They passed by a beautiful artificial lake before going through a rockery and finally a teaching block. It just so happened that the bell was ringing, signaling the end of class. University students brimming with energy and vitality walked out of the classroom in groups. The entire building became noisy.

"Wait here; you can come in when I call for you!"

Qin Nanyu urged Xiao Luo and then entered the classroom in front of them.

She clapped her palms several times to signal the English language sophomores who were preparing to leave to sit down again, "Students, don't leave yet. I'll be introducing your new classmate."

"New classmate? Counselor, are you sure you spoke correctly? This is a university, not a middle or high school. How could a transfer student be coming in halfway through the term?"

"An Huanhuan, you don't understand. If one's course credits in the previous year are seriously lacking, a student would have to repeat a year. It doesn't only include the transfer students that you've mentioned."

"Yes, there is also another situation where this is applicable: those who change majors!"

Qin Nanyu kept them in suspense. "Don't make blind guesses. It's better to let the student introduce himself."

After speaking, she threw a look at Xiao Luo, who was at the door of the classroom.

After getting the signal, Xiao Luo took a deep breath and stepped in. When he stood at the podium and looked down, he was dumbfounded. The class was all girls. Only two boys sat in the most inconspicuous corner of the back row.

He had long heard that majors like English Language were female-dominated with a few males, but this was too crazy. Only two boys?

Chapter 13

He couldn't just stand there stupefied like an idiot; he had a job to do. Xiao Luo quickly calmed down and introduced himself, "Hello everyone. My name is Xiao Luo. I'll be having lessons with you and learning together. Please take care of me!"

He gave a polite and humble bow after he finished speaking.

But his words received no response. All the girls looked at him as if they were admiring a cultural relic. This was called "whatever is scarcer is more precious." When Xiao Luo, a guy who could be considered handsome, entered the classroom, this group of sophomore girls from the English Language Department stared at him fixedly.

Xiao Luo was a little embarrassed. Although he had attended some important events–he once hosted a product-development conference for 20 or 30 people–he was not entirely composed when being stared at by 40 or 50 girls.

"Ahem...What are you all waiting for? Please, welcome your new classmate!" Counselor Qin Nanyu reminded everyone with a cough.

The girls finally reacted and welcomed Xiao Luo with enthusiastic applause. Some even cheered and called him "classmate"; others called out "hey, handsome," and a few called him "oppa," Korean slang that meant "an older brother or friend." They were not only enthusiastic and considerate but also much more emotional than when they had finished class just now.

"Welcome, handsome. My name's An Huanhuan. I don't have a boyfriend; can you give me your mobile number?" A sweet-looking girl with a petite and cute figure approached the podium. She took out her phone and asked Xiao Luo for his mobile number.

The class immediately booed...

"An Huanhuan. Isn't a big guy from the northeast enough to satisfy you? Don't be a menace to our handsome Xiao Luo."

"Yes, that's right. You don't believe we'll hang you up and beat you to a pulp if you dare to get it on with two guys at the same time?"

"Now that we finally have a guy in class who's fit to be seen with, he can be anyone's boyfriend except yours, An Huanhuan. Hurry and get down from there."

The girls in the class slammed her down in unison.

"Drop dead! This is pure jealousy on your part!"

The girl named An Huanhuan flattened her lips unhappily after saying this. Then she leaned close to Xiao Luo and gave a backhanded compliment, "Handsome, don't listen to them. Be careful of them, because when they devour men, there'll be no bones left to spit out."

Xiao Luo squeezed out a smile with great effort. He didn't feel that he had come to the English Language department. Instead, he felt as if he had fallen into a den of wolves, a den of she-wolves.

Without waiting for him to say anything, a large group of girls ran up and gathered around him, demanding his mobile number, WeChat, and QQ. They were enthusiastic and excited as if they were in the presence of a superstar.

But some girls remained indifferent, like the girl sitting on the left side of the front row.

She had a clean, sleek bob that fell just below her ears, her hair slightly concealing the enchanting face that blushed shyly. Her delicate and fresh features were intelligent and alluring.

The white off-the-shoulder dress fell just to her wrists; her chest displayed a natural curve. The pattern of lace followed her lithe waist until it reached the fluffy flared hem of the dress, which was covered with tulle and suffused with a pale gold tint. She looked like the archetypal pretty daughter from a humble family. Her figure was not exaggerated, but neither was she thin and small. Her beautiful shoulders and tender, lovely skin were sublime. Her voluptuous figure was full yet reserved with plump breasts and a perky butt.

She was like a lotus that had just emerged from clear waters: fresh, pure, elegant. But a lollipop in her rosy little mouth added a sense of playfulness and charm!

"Bai Ling, check his information. I suspect he's another one sent by my loathsome dad," she said to the girl sitting next to her. But her eyes were fixed on Xiao Luo, who was surrounded by a crowd.

The girl named Bai Ling immediately entered a series of codes on her laptop and infiltrated Huaye's student management system. She quickly picked out Xiao Luo's information. Bai Ling glanced at her and smiled, "Young Mistress Chu, you guessed wrong this time. Your dad didn't send this guy. He really is a student of Huaye. He enlisted in the army two years ago while he was still in our school. He's back to finish college after two years of military service; hence that's why he's here."

"Are you sure?" Chu Yue delicate brows knitted in a slight frown.

"It was written very clearly. The results of his various freshman courses are also recorded in detail. He even has a record of receiving a campus scholarship." Bai Ling turned her laptop around to give Chu Yue a better look.

Chu Yue looked it over seriously and went silent, agreeing with Bai Ling's assessment.

"I didn't expect such a handsome classmate to appear halfway through the term. The class will be a lot more interesting now."

Bai Ling also expressed her welcome at Xiao Luo's arrival. After all, there were too few boys in their major. They were only two, and both were hopelessly ugly. She couldn't help but feel a little excited when she thought about attending class with this hot hunk.

"How is he handsome? Doesn't he have two eyes, two ears, a nose, and a mouth? He's dressed kind of dorky, like a country bumpkin. Only this bunch of love-struck fools would think he's handsome." Chu Yue gave a great harrumph. She hated this kind of guy who was a magnet for the opposite sex. Although Xiao Luo was not really like that, this imposter masquerading as a student was just such a person in her eyes.

Bai Ling didn't say a word. At this time, she could not possibly insist that Xiao Luo was handsome and tear down her bestie's soapbox. 𝑙𝘪𝒷𝓇𝑒𝑎𝑑.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"All right, all right, get back to your seats!"

The girls in the English Language Major only returned to their seats when their counselor, Qin Nanyu, told them to. They chatted and laughed as they took out their mobiles and went to Xiao Luo's WeChat and QQ space, feeling extremely curious. They also discussed with each other in which picture he was the hottest.

Xiao Luo was feeling embarrassed. He could understand it if the girls wanted to know his contact information, but why was he being groped by a pervert? He felt someone touching him just now; moreover, the place that they were fondling was the toy that would carry on his family line.

Were these people college girls?

Xiao Luo had some serious reservations about them.

"Zhu Xiaofei, Ding Kai!"

After Qin Nanyu called these two names, the only two boys in the class ran over obediently from the last row.

One of them was so chubby his neck was not even visible. He stood less than 5'6″ tall but weighed more than 187 lbs. He was so rotund he looked like a massive meatball. The other guy? Just the opposite, a bamboo pole. His face was sallow; his body, emaciated body with stooped shoulders. He was about 5'6″ and weighed less than 110 lbs.

Short and fat; tall and thin. The two were a sharp contrast when placed together. One couldn't help giggling.

"Xiao Luo will be staying with you two in the dormitory. Since there are no classes after this, please show him around and help familiarize him with the dormitory's environment," Qin Nanyu said to the two guys.

"Leave Xiao Luo to us. You can rest assured, counselor."

Zhu Xiaofei patted his chest and made a solemn vow. He turned his head and said to Ding Kai, "Kaizi, help me take my books while I carry Xiao Luo's suitcase."

"No need, but thanks. I can carry my suitcase myself." Xiao Luo was embarrassed and quickly refused.

"It's all good. Lao Zhu's very strong. Carrying a suitcase is nothing for him," Ding Kai advised.

Zhu Xiaofei had already hoisted the suitcase onto his shoulders. He yelled at Xiao Luo, "Bro, Xiao Luo, come along. We'll be roommates. No need to stand in ceremony with us."

Xiao Luo reluctantly agreed. He said goodbye to Qin Nanyu and the girls, trundling off with Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai. Before leaving, he intentionally cast a searching gaze around the class and spotted Chu Yue, who was sitting in the first row, sucking a lollipop.

"Young Mistress Chu, Xiao Luo seemed to have taken another look at you before leaving. His judgment is perfect!" said Bai Ling half-jokingly.

"What's so good about that? He looked like a lecher!" said Chu Yue disdainfully.

Bai Ling laughed lightly and said quite meaningfully, "Isn't his judgment good? He doesn't look at anyone, only at you, our campus belle."

"Bai Ling, you nasty girl. Are you making fun of me? Do you believe I'll make you beg for mercy tonight?" Chu Yue laughed coldly like a little devil.

"Queen, please spare my life!"

Bai Ling shivered and swiftly asked for forgiveness as she recalled the scene where Chu Yue tickled her...

Chapter 14

Xiao Luo followed Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai to the male dormitory for the English Language Majors.

Both guys were the talkative type, and it was hardly quiet along the way. They were like a couple of buzzing bees, flying and humming in Xiao Luo's ears. They were also curious about his past. When they learned that he had enlisted in the army for two years before retiring and returning to Huaye to finish his studies, the two started addressing him as Brother Luo.

They initially thought he was about the same age as them. Now, it seemed that Xiao Luo was much older, so it wasn't appropriate to call him Bro or Xiao Luo.

About ten minutes later, the three arrived at the seventh floor of the seventh dormitory.

"Brother Luo, we're here!"

Zhu Xiaofei put down the suitcase and took out the keys from his pants pocket to open the green iron door in front of him.

Xiao Luo secretly took his hat off to Zhu Xiaofei for lugging his 20-kg suitcase such a long distance and climbing to the seventh floor. And he wasn't even panting! So, he wasn't the puffy sort with weak muscles and drooping fat.

Coming to this dorm and smelling the strange odor that only existed in a dorm flooded his mind with a long-lost feeling. Who would have thought that after graduating and working for three years, he would end up in university again? Xiao Luo's heart was filled with emotion.

They opened the door and entered the dorm room. Two metal-framed beds came into view, followed by a row of desks that combined a bookcase, wardrobe, and computer table. Like most male dorm rooms, Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai's room was an unsightly mess: Worn clothes and socks were strewn as if an explosion had gone off. A pile of stinky blankets lay heaped in a corner.

Zhu Xiaofei scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "The room is a bit dirty and messy, Brother Luo Ge, please bear with us!"

"It's all good," Xiao Luo tittered.

In his university days, Zhang Dashan was the biggest slob. He would make the dorm room stink to high heaven with billowing smoke. He couldn't bear it in the beginning but got used to it in the end. He had survived four years of that, so why should he care now when he'd only be here three short months?

Dingkai tidied a bed and said enthusiastically, "Brother Luo, you can sleep in this bed. There's some luggage on that bed above, and it has a lot of dust. I can't clean it for you."

"It's just the two of you in this room?" Xiao Luo asked curiously.

"Yes. The standard dorm room is meant for four people, but there's only the two of us in the class. We're not enough to fill up one dorm room, but students from other majors are unwilling to mix with us, so it's just us here." Ding Kai spread his hands and said helplessly.

So that was it!

Xiao Luo nodded. He opened his suitcase and began to sort out his bed.

Then he began organizing his personal belongings. Naturally, Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai could not help him with that, so they turned on the computer and got ready to play a game.

"Brother Luo, do you play LOL?" Zhu Xiaofei turned his head and asked with anticipation.

Xiao Luo smiled in return and said, "A little!"

During university, Zhang Dashan was a loyal player of this game and brought him into the trap. Still, he played less after graduation when he started working. His rank had always remained at Platinum V.

"Would you like to open up a chat for a game?" Ding Kaixing said animatedly.

"Nah. You guys go ahead. I need to organize my stuff." Xiao Luo refused with a smile. He had no interest in playing this game now.

Dingkai raised his brows, "Oh, all right!"

The two immediately joined to form a group, proceeding with duo rank mode. While waiting for the queue, Zhu Xiaofei went into the group chat for the English Language majors and cried out in surprise. "F*ck! The campus belle Chu Yue is starting her livestream again. She's inviting everyone to go to the live streaming platform to watch it!"

Dingkai howled energetically, too. "Hurry. Ask her to take us along and make us look formidable; let's fly!"

"It's a must."

Zhu Xiaofei fired off a reply in the group chat: Chu MM, please let me ride on your coattails!

Dingkai didn't resign himself to his fate either. He also replied in the group chat: We want to get on the same ride. I beg you. Please take us on. We can give you a gift.

He even added a sad and weak emoji at the end.

Once they posted their replies, the other girls in the English Language Major attacked them.

Losers. You dragged our Princess Chuyue down so badly last time. Do you dare ask her to include you? Shameless.

Zhu Xiaofei, Ding Kai, form your team and trap others to take you along. It's best if you're queued to be opposite Yueyue, then you'll be cruelly beaten by her, hehe ...

Haha... Don't be like this. In any case, they're like the national treasure in our class. It's not good to deliver such a blow to them!

What are you afraid of? There's the handsome Xiao Luo now. They can get off their pedestal as a "national treasure.'

...

Looking at the screen full of remarks attacking them, Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai felt like crying but didn't shed a tear. They wondered why they were hated so much.

Xiao Luo had already sorted things out by now. Hearing the words "campus belle," he guessed it was Chu Yue they were talking about. His mission was to protect her. Naturally, he was motivated when it came to anything related to her.

Hence, he inquired, "Xiaofei, when you said campus belle, did you mean Chu Yue?"

"Yeah, Brother Luo. It's Chu Yue. She was voted campus belle on our school forum; she's the dream goddess of countless boys." Zhu Xiaofei said with an intoxicated expression. It was apparent he adored her. After all, she was a great beauty. Who wouldn't be smitten with her?

Ding Kai added, "She's not only beautiful, but she's also a terrific gamer. She's ranked in the Challenger tier with her official account. She has a secondary unofficial account where she's ranked Platinum II. When she's free, she'll open up a game chat with Bai Ling and do a livestream. Her livestream broadcast has more than 200,000 fans. The money she gets from the live streaming platform every month is more than the wages of white-collar workers who've been slogging away for years." 𝒍𝙞𝙗𝒓𝒆𝙖𝓭.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Xiao Luo was stunned. He didn't expect Chu Yue's level of mastery in League of Legends to have reached the pinnacle.

"She replied!" Chu Yue replied. "She promised to take us on!" Zhu Xiaofei suddenly yelled in excitement.

Xiao Luo looked at the computer screen and saw that Chu Yue did reply. She agreed to get in line with Zhu Xiaofei and Dingkai. At the end, however, she added in a commanding tone, No dragging us down.

"Hahaha ... This is great. I can be on TV now too!"

Dingkai was ecstatic. Then he took out a mirror and combed his hair. "No, I want to tidy up my hairstyle."

"For f*ck? Nobody can see you. Stop being narcissistic." Zhu Xiaofei cursed.

Dingkai didn't mind. He flipped the bangs on his forehead. "If the stage is in my mind, there'll be stages for me to perform everywhere. I want to show my most handsome and coolest side to the audience."

"Blergh." Zhu Xiaofei dry retched.

Beep beep beep

This time Zhu Xiaofei received a message on QQ.

He selected the message to read; it was from Chu Yue. There was only a short line, Get one more to make five people!

"F*ck me. It seems that the great campus beauty is going to show off some real skills this time. We're starting a team with five people ranking, but it's easy to meet an enemy team." Zhu Xiaofei frowned.

"What are you afraid of? She holds the Challenger tier in her faction!" Ding Kai waved his hand dismissively.

"I know, but she asked me to get one more person. This is so last minute. Where am I supposed to get someone of the Platinum tier?"

Zhu Xiaofei frowned, then he realized Xiao Luo's existence and asked, "By the way, Brother Luo, what tier are you in?"

"I think it's Platinum," Xiao Luo replied.

Zhu Xiaofei was pleased. Then he asked, "What's the faction code?"

"Black rose!" Xiao Luo answered without thinking.

Chapter 15

When Xiao Luo said that his faction was the Black Rose, Zhu Xiaofei immediately flew over and held Xiao Luo's hand tightly. He put on a pitiful and delicate act,"Ohhh, Brother Luo, this must be fate. Yes, we are also from the Black Rose faction. Come and join the game chat, you're the only one left. You're not allowed to refuse. This is destined, and destiny has the greater power! "

Xiao Luo felt awkward, he frowned, "But I still need to organize my things..."

"It took a lot of effort for the campus belle to agree to take us on to make us look more formidable, and to let us ride on her coattails to the sky. If you don't help, I'll be slitting own my neck and committing suicide every few minutes." Zhu Xiaofei interrupted, he also made a gesture of slashing his neck with his palm.

Xiao Luo had second thoughts. If he wanted to be an invisible bodyguard, the most important thing was to become friends with Chu Yue first. This was an opportunity.

He thought about this and nodded in agreement, "Well then, I'll play a few rounds with you."

"Haha... Thank you very much, Brother Luo, thank you!" Zhu Xiaofei was so overcome with emotion that he almost kissed Xiao Luo a few times.

Dingkai responded to Chu Yue directly by typing in the group, "Chu MM, we can start the queue ranking. The newly arrived Brother Luo in our class happens to be of the Platinum tier from the Black Rose faction, so we've gathered five people now."

Not long after this message was sent out, the group chat of the English Language class exploded.

"What? The handsome Xiao Luo also plays League of Legends?"

"Hoho, everyone, go to Princess Chu's livestream, the handsome Xiao Xiao Luo will be playing League of Legends!"

"Really looking forward to it..."

A series of messages sprung up in rapid succession, including various memes, the group chat had never been so lively before.

In the female dormitory ...

Looking at the enthusiasm by their classmates in the group chat, Bai Ling said half-jokingly, "Young Mistress Chu, Xiao Luo is very popular in our class. See, as soon as everyone heard that he'll be playing the game, they opened up your livestream in preparation to see him."

Chu Yue sat on a desk chair, her fine black hair was casually spread and her cheeks were rosy, she looked dazzling. Her delicate brows knitted in a frown and feeling dissatisfied, she said, "He is just a fellow that appeals to the crowds using vulgar claptrap. I've had enough of these love-sick fools, it's as if they've never seen a man for decades! "

"Ahem... pay attention to your words, you are broadcasting live." Bai Ling reminded her by coughing a few times.

"Why are you nervous, I haven't turned on the camera yet!" Chu Yue said with pursed lips and an indifferent attitude.

After she put on headphones, her long and beautiful fingers tapped on the keyboard. She sent messages in the groupchat, shouting at Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai, "Hurry up, don't waste my time!"

At this moment, Xiao Luo had just tidied and arranged his computer, he logged into his account.

"The great campus beauty is rushing us, Brother Luo, what's your ID, I'll add you as a friend before adding you into our temporary team." Zhu Xiaofei said.

"Hero Luo!" Xiao Luo replied.

"Hero Luo?"

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai turned their heads at the same time, looking at Xiao Luo with astonishment.

"Don't you think it's too much of a show-off?"

Xiao Luo was a little embarrassed. He also knew that this ID was too loud and aggressive, which did not fit his style. At the time of registration, he thought about it for a long time but could not come up with a good name. Zhang Dashan, who had grown impatient with all that waiting, just typed "Hero Luo" and registered for him. The ID was then used until the present.

"No, no, the name is nice. It's loud, sounds like someone with a great reputation, hahaha ..."

"Yeah, the ID doesn't matter. I have a secondary account with the ID 'Jade Emperor.'"

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai teased each other for a few moments, smoothing over the atmosphere of embarrassment. However, they felt that Xiao Luo's ID was indeed a little pretentious and arrogant.

After joining the team that had been assembled at the last minute, Xiao Luo learned that Chu Yue's ID was "Ziyue" and Bai Ling's ID was "Baise doll". Zhu Xiaofei's ID suited his image, he was called "Gao Lao Zhuang Lao Tzu"; Ding Kai's was humorous and bold, he used the name of the national leader directly.

When the girls from the English Language major knew what Xiao Luo's ID was, the words ``Hero Luo '' dominated the group chat. The girls felt that the name was too cool.

"What? Hero Luo? How egotistical of him, I don't even know if his skills are worthy of the name." Chu Yue snorted disdainfully.

Bai Ling smiled sweetly and teased, "He might really be an expert."

Chu Yue disagreed and typed four words in the public chat room of ?the five-man team, "don't drag us down!" 𝒍𝙞𝙗𝒓𝒆𝙖𝓭.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Xiao Luo knew that she was warning him so he did not reply. He opened the system mall and used two hundred points to redeem the gaming ability. Since he wanted to get to know Chu Yue quickly, his gaming skills must pass muster.

He had not been playing games for a long time. Although he was of the Platinum tier, he would only be able to show a standard of gameplay more suited to the Silver tier if he did not redeem the gaming ability.

"Brother Luo, where do you want to fight?" Zhu Xiaofei turned his head and asked.

Dingkai added, "Chu MM and Bai Ling are a forever-combo of the bottom lane, so we are left with only the top, middle and jungle."

"You guys choose first." Xiao Luo smiled.

"My fighting abilities are terrible, it would be better for me to go to the jungle," Ding Kai said. He then chose Xin Zhao to be the jungler.

"Then I'll choose the baldie and take the middle lane!"

Zhu Xiaofei chose Rune Mage Ryze.

Xiao Luo was in the top lane. Tryndamere the Barbarian King was his favorite champion, For safety's sake, he immediately chose it without any hesitation. He was battling against Gnar the Missing Link.

As soon as Xiao Luo finished selecting his champion, Chu Yue sent a message asking, "A melee champion versus a long-range champion, are you sure you can fight this battle?"

"I'll do my best." Xiao Luo said in a neither servile nor overbearing tone.

Chu Yue did not say more. She chose Twitch the Plague Rat as her ADC while Bai Ling was the auxiliary as Janna the Storm's Fury.

After a short waiting period, the game officially started.

"Brother Luo, you chose the wrong summoner spells." Ding Kai was surprised.

Zhu Xiaofei took a look, it was true. The closer the enemy was, the greater the damage Tryndamere could inflict. Ghost was the most suitable, but the summoner spell that Xiao Luo brought was Flash.

Xiao Luo smiled and shook his head, "It'll be alright!"

"Brother Luo, in any case, no matter what happens, we'll just develop wretchedly. We'll wait for our campus bell to carry us through." Zhu Xiaofei was very worried, he was really afraid that Xiao Luo would give the top lane to the big boss.

Xiao Luo nodded, "Relax, it's okay."

At this time, the Wuju Bladesman, jungler for the opposing team sent a message. He said with sympathy, "You've exploded, Tryndamere!"

"?"

Dingkai sent a few question marks in return.

The Wuju Bladesman immediately replied, "We have a Master at the top lane, he can beat everything into a pulp."

"Tryndamere, I'll burn joss paper for you, have a nice walk." Katarina also sent a taunting message from the opposing team's middle lane.

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai could not bear it, they immediately replied, "You think you're so great because you have a Master? Our Rat at the bottom lane is a Challenger. Tremble, you scum."

"Go on and brag, aren't you afraid of choking on your bullsh*t." Wuju Bladesman of the opposing team said.

"I think he's the King of Bullsh*t, haha..?..." Middle lane Katarina ridiculed.

Zhu Xiaofei was a little angry and he replied, "Childish losers, just wait for your punishment!"

As soon as the word "childish losers'' came out, the opposing team immediately became hostile. All sorts of malicious and dirty curses were thrown wildly about. Some curses involved their mothers, some their ancestors; anyway, the chat box on the lower left corner of the screen was filled with filthy language unfit for one's eyes.

"How did Zhu Xiaofei get into a cussing match with the opposing team?"

Chu Yue banned everyone's messages; out of sight, out of mind.

Bai Ling was equally disgusted and activated her ban on the messages.

Xiao Luo frowned, in the end, he really could not stand the opposing team using the male and female reproductive organs as words of abuse, so he replied, "Do you have to go so far? It's just a game."

It was only a simple sentence to stop the ongoing war, but the Wuju Bladesman of the opposing team immediately turned to Xiao Luo as his bombing target.

Chapter 16

F*ck your mother! Who do you think you are to act all noble and virtuous? The Wuju Bladesman insulted.

Click-click-click. Katarina from the opposing team's middle lane sneered coldly. You shamelessly call yourself Hero Luo and are so thick-skinned not even an arrow can pierce you. We'll make you suffer like dogs in no time. You should change your name to Doggy Luo.

Haha... Doggy Luo, great name! The Sheriff of Piltover and her auxiliary, Leona the Radiant, who were both at the bottom lane of the opposing team, also sent messages mocking them.

Zhu Xiaofei was frustrated on Xiao Luo's behalf and typed in reply, Shut your trap; let's see who'll be suffering like a dog.

Gnar from the opposing team who had not spoken at all suddenly piped up. You can try!

Contempt and supreme confidence oozed from those three simple words.

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai were getting ready to retort when Xiao Luo spoke up to stop them, "It's pointless to say more. Just do your best in the game!"

"Hmph." Zhu Xiaofei nodded.

Ding Kai turned his head and said, "The opposing team's top-lane player is strong. I just checked his battle record. He was MVP (Most Valuable Player) in his last ten games; he must have paid someone to play on his behalf to level up or earn weapons."

Xiao Luo smiled and didn't speak again, but a chilling light flashed across his calm eyes.

"The minions have spawned!"

The computerized, synthetic female voice of the League of Legends game floated out. It was dignified, solemn, and old-fashioned. The attacking minions on both sides began to be spawned from their nexus. They rushed toward the link of the other team like a suicide squad.

I'm battling the red monsters. Chu MM, Bai Ling, help me fight! Ding Kai sent a signal for assistance on the map, hinting Chu Yue and Bai Ling, who were on the bottom lane, to help him fight the red monster.

But he only received a cold response from Chu Yue. Help yourself.

Haha... I like Princess Yue's temper.

Princess Yue, you've become pretty again. Muah, my goddess.

As long as you don't give up, we'll always follow you as your fans.

...

Chu Yue's livestream viewers were increasing exponentially, and many fans were giving her gifts. This moment's efforts brought her 70 to 80 dollars of income.

"The popularity of our Young Mistress Chu is amazing. I don't care; you must buy me that floral dress when you get the money," Bai Ling said coquettishly.

Chu Yue said irritably, "Okay, okay. Seeing how you've been helping me, I'll begrudgingly buy it for you."

"What? Begrudgingly? You seem so reluctant." Bai Ling's cheeks swelled as she panted with rage.

"Madam Hotshot, your floral dress cost over a thousand dollars. It's more than enough that I'm buying it for you even though I don't feel like shelling out." Chu Yue took off her headphones and complained. 𝘭𝒾𝑏𝓇𝘦𝒶𝘥.𝘤𝘰𝑚

Bai Ling smiled in embarrassment, then she changed the subject, "Ah, let's play the game seriously. The five players on the other team are so arrogant. You need to teach them a harsh lesson."

Chu Yue rolled her eyes at her and put on her headphones. She concentrated on controlling her champion as she proceeded with last-hitting and poke.

First Blood!

At this time, the synthetic female voice of the game rang out, indicating that someone had lost first blood.

When Chu Yue took a look, the one who lost first blood was Zhu Xiaofei, who played the rune mage in the middle lane. She immediately fired off a bunch of question marks.

Zhu Xiaofei replied with a bitter expression, Sorry!

"Seems like the middle lane's gonna explode. If Katarina goes to the bottom, we'll have a hard time," Bai Ling said.

"I've been mentally prepared. This game hinges on us at the bottom lane. We can't hope for anything from the other lanes." Chu Yue snorted.

"That's true."

Bai Ling became serious and assisted Chu Yue, poking the enemy's ADC and support continuously.

Great teamwork. Little by little, the Sheriff and Leona, the Radiant of the opposing team, lost nearly half their health, especially the ADC, who also paid for Heal and Flash.

Just as they were ready to kill the enemy's Sheriff with a burst of energy, the synthetic female voice sounded again; An ally had been slain.

The one who was slain was still the middle laner, Zhu Xiaofei.

Chu Yue immediately shot back a message asking, "Zhu Xiaofei, what are you doing?" Behind her words was a tone full of blame.

At this time, livestream fans also lashed out on the bullet screen in droves.

Is this Ryze a pig? He was killed by the opponent twice in three minutes, and the opponent didn't even get any help from his teammates.

How useless. Princess Yue shouldn't take on such a useless thing next time.

Yeah. That guy's the worst of the worst, only suitable for low-end games.

The girls of the English Language Major also hurriedly called for Zhu Xiaofei to play more stably and to strengthen himself sufficiently before going for the enemy.

Zhu Xiaofei was so embarrassed. He weakly explained to Ding Kai, "I could have killed Katarina alone. I was just short of health."

"A little health is a world of difference, Lao Zhu. Keep calm. If Katarina gets up, even 10,000 points of health won't be enough to withstand a few seconds of her spinning," Ding Kai reminded.

"Okay. This time around, I'll strengthen myself steadily first!" Zhu Xiaofei nodded solemnly, determined not to fight boldly with the Katarina on the opposing team again.

Click-click-click. Katarina sent a message. There was only one word – Trash!

Their jungler, the Wuju Bladesman, didn't forget to rub salt into his wound. Baldy, does your family know you're such garbage?

"Those bastards!" Zhu Xiaofei was so furious he gritted his teeth and nearly went crazy.

"Ignore them; they're just keyboard warriors. Let's show them a good game," Ding Kai said.

Zhu Xiaofei endured the rage in his gut and continued playing in silence.

An enemy has been slain!

The computerized, synthetic female voice suddenly rang out. An avatar appeared on the right; it was Tryndamere, the Barbarian King who killed Gnar the Missing Link.

Eh, Brother Luo had such excellent skills?

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai stared at Xiao Luo blankly. What shocked them, even more, was that he had over two 200 health points left after single-handedly slaying his opponent in the top lane, Gnar, of the Master tier. Gnar had paid someone else to practice and strengthen his champion and was killed single-handedly by Brother Luo's Tryndamere. Incredible!

Using the three attributes of Q (Blood lust) – regenerating health, last-hit life steal, and innate life steal. When Gnar of the opposing team got back to the battlefront, Tryndamere's health could recover above the safety line. Now he could stay at the battlefront and suppress Gnar's ranking.

"Brother Luo, be careful. The Wuju Bladesman here to catch you!" Ding Kai suddenly exclaimed.

Sure enough, the Wuju Bladesman circled while preparing to slay the Barbarian King, who had low health. The Bladesman even carried a red buff. Although it was a second rank battling against a third rank, without the protection of the minions on the side of the Barbarian King, the probability of Wuju Bladesman slaying the Barbarian King was almost 100%.

Chu Yue also issued two harsh warning signals, indicating that Xiao Luo should quickly return to the turrets.

Xiao Luo smiled and pressed the button for the health potion. As his health recovered, he used his E key to retreat to the turret quickly. This move was a displacement skill that could soon increase the distance.

Stupid c*nt. You're using E first. You wanna die? The Wuju Bladesman sneered.

A Q-alpha surprise attack neared the Barbarian King from the front immediately. Xiao Luo's health had dropped to hundred-plus points. The Bladesman then used a left-click attack; with the added burn attribute of the red buff, he would be able to take down Xiao Luo's Barbarian King.

At this moment, Xiao Luo's Barbarian King turned around, struck with his sword. In a full Fury state, the blow was a critical strike. The Bladesman's health instantly dropped to half.

After the blow was delivered, Xiao Luo immediately controlled the Barbarian King to retreat from the tower, increasing the distance from the Wuju Bladesman. Because of an insufficient range, the Bladesman's left-click attack still couldn't be executed. He could only keep close to the heels of the Barbarian King and shorten the distance between them.

The Barbarian King carried an attack speed rune; moreover, his rank was one level higher than the Wuju Bladesman. Hence his attack speed was naturally faster than the Bladesman. By the time the Bladesman had shortened the distance and could immediately execute a left-click attack, the Barbarian King had turned around again to deliver a blow. Like before, it was a critical hit. The Bladesman's health dropped to eighty or ninety points in an instant, a state of severely low health.

F*ck!

Seeing a wave of aggressive minions streaming from the back of the turret, the Wuju Bladesman retreated. Otherwise, even the minions would have attacked him until he died.

But the moment he flashed, Xiao Luo's Barbarian King also flashed to keep up with him. Then, his broad sword fell mercilessly. The Wuju Bladesman let out a desperate scream and died. The synthetic female voice of the game rang out on the interface, sounding solemn and emotional, An enemy is slain!

(If you are not interested in the game, you can skip to Chapter 21. Your reading experience will not be affected.)

Chapter 17

Did bloodlust kill Master Yi, despite the Red Buff?

Sh*t. No way this is happening!

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai stared dumbfoundedly at Xiao Luo. Master Yi could have taken out Tryndamere, The Barbarian King, with a 'Q' and an 'A,' but was decimated by Tryndamere? No f*cking way!

Chu Yue and Bai Ling were shocked, too. When the screen switched to the top lane, they both witnessed a fantastic anti-kill, much to their astonishment.

They used an ordinary attack and moved slowly but still managed to evade a regular attack from Master Yi without sustaining any injuries. And they even attacked Master Yi twice? Very well-handled, especially toward the end, where they both flashed almost at the same time. Clean-cut, decisive, incredible reflexes! Bai Ling analyzed.

Blinking her beautiful eyes, Chu Yue regained her composure. The entire livestream was filled with praise for Xiao Luo. She was pissed. Was Xiao Luo trying to steal her thunder?

Although she acknowledged his skills, she refused to admit it verbally. She feigned nonchalance, saying, "It was blind luck. Master Yi was a fool; he didn't attack right away, giving him a chance to execute an anti-kill." She then got serious, "All right, let's not worry about them. It's about time we started on the bottom lane."

At the other end, Zhu Xiaofei was messaging Master Yi with a taunt: What did I tell you? Wait for it, loser!

Infuriated, Master Yi typed in response, Tryndamere, I'll get back at you! Just you wait!"

Xiao Luo just ignored his taunt.

His Tryndamere bought a pair of Berserker's Greaves and Brawler's Gloves. With the Red Buff, his other supplies, and level suppression, Gnar could only CS. But Gnar knew what he was doing and quickly bought a Cloth Armor before coming back online.

Gnar wasn't just skilled at long-range; he also had the Rage Gene, which, when at Maximum, would transform him into Mega Gnar. His Armor/Magic Resistance and attack speed would level up, and using 'E' (hop) quickly put distance between him and his opponent, allowing him to slow down his opponent.

Xiao Luo was patient. He focused on lane freezing, zoning, and blocking. His Tryndamere managed to escape Gnar's 'Q' every single time, foiling Gnar's intention of wearing him out from a distance.

At this moment, Chu Yue and Bai Ling at the bottom lane also executed a double kill with Twitch, The Plague Rat.

You're indeed Campus Queen Chu. The ante has been upped. Haha... Zhu Xiaofei chuckled.

"With MM Chu, of course, we wouldn't lose. Besides, our bro here, Xiao Luo, is also great at this. Look how he managed to defeat Gnar."

Ding Kai turned around and said to Xiao Luo, "Bro, the line is almost at the turret. And you're reaching level 6. How about I help you with a tower dive gank?"

" It's all right. Just help out the other lanes!" said Xiao Luo, smiling.

"Okay, then. Be careful with Master Yi. He might gank you soon."

Ding Kai placed a ward in the triangle bush, then turned around and ran toward the mid lane. It was time to deal with Katarina mid-lane.

Xiao Luo's Tryndamere finally unlocked the ultimate ability 'R 'after taking down a wave of minions. Upon activation, Tryndamere would be immune to death for five seconds and gain 50 points in Fury. The crit chance would improve by leaps and bounds.

His opponent, Gnar, knew he couldn't take down this wave; there were too many minions. It wouldn't even do him any good if he attacked below the tower. He'd have to wait till the minions' inventory ran out before taking on the Barbarian King.

But Xiao Luo wouldn't cut him any slack. Under his command, Tryndamere got closer without any hesitation and immediately attacked him.

Gnar lost half his HP in the attack, and quickly 'E'-ed away, but Xiao Luo followed closely behind with a 'W' and an 'E.' Xiao Luo wasn't as lucky with the strike this time around. Seeing that Xiao Luo was fighting tooth and nail, Gnar fought back equally hard.

That's precisely what Xiao Luo wanted – The damage inflicted by Gnar attracted lots of minions. These minions, who had initially been at the enemy's inhibitor, started attacking Gnar. Xiao Luo's Tryndamere then left the AoE, while the inhibitor reduced the HP to about 200 points. 𝙡𝙞𝓫𝙧𝙚𝓪𝒅.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Sh*t!

Watching the minions diminish his HP, Gnar panicked and started flashing, but to no avail. After a dozen minions launched themselves at him, his HP was depleted, and his computer screen faded to gray-white. The system was indicating he'd been killed.

Xiao Luo calmly circumvented the tower and continued with the last hit. At this moment, a level-5 Master Yi appeared from the bushes, used the Red Smite on him, and rushed over after minimizing the damage taken.

"This guy's insane!"

Xiao Luo smiled pensively. Tryndamere still had a few moves left in him and was still at maximum Fury, so there was no need to fear a level-5 Master Yi. With a terrible scream from Master Yi, the system indicated that there'd been a "double kill." The words appeared on the computer screen.

A barrage of comments filled Chu Yue's livestream.

"Wow, I need to learn from this Tryndamere!"

"96 CS in 10 minutes! That's even more than Princess Yue. This guy's a game guru."

"Barbarian King: Em...that's all basic stuff, guys. Don't get so excited!"

...

The entire livestream was abuzz with what just went down.

And even among the English-speaking pro gamers, the ladies were all gushing about him. "Hero Luo" appeared so many times in the chatroom; some were also saying, "Hero Luo, I'll ditch my boyfriend for you! Be my boyfriend instead!

Everyone started calling him "Hero Luo" and was full of praise and admiration. They were practically idolizing him.

Bro, you're a game guru!

"If killing Master Yi was a fluke, the double kill should leave no doubt about Xiao Luo's extraordinary skills," said Zhu Xiaofei in surprise.

"Nah, it was just because the other party got too complacent."

Ding Kai laughed heartily. "Haha...you're too humble, bro."

Suddenly he got a snarky message from Gnar: Barbarian King, you're not from the Platinum Division.

Whoa, this guy was fuming!

Master Yi also went into a tirade: Muthaf*cka, how dare you pretend you're from the Platinum Division. F*cker.

His words were expletive-filled and personal.

Zhu Xiaofei laughed in disbelief. In response, she typed: Stop barking like a mad dog. Your mommy wants you to go home for dinner now.

My a**. You son of a b*tch. You're here because I f*cked your mama. I'll kill your whole family... Master Yi let loose with another barrage of insults and profanity.

The best*rd!

Zhu Xiaofei didn't have a good temper to start with. After being provoked like this, he pounded the table furiously before jumping up. "If that guy were standing in front of me now, he'd be dead meat."

"Relax, Lao Zhu. Just mute him. We're civilized people. Let's not bother with these childish losers," said Ding Kai in an attempt to calm him down.

Xiao Luo also patted Zhu Xiaofei on the shoulder. It was just a game; no need to get angry. If one wanted revenge, they ought to do it in the game. There's no point in getting mad in real life; it'll ruin your mood.

Chapter 18

Xiaofei slowly calmed down and conveniently banned the messages from the Wuju Bladesman of the opposing team.

Ding Kai's Xin Zhao had always been stationed in the middle lane; hence Katarina from the opposing team first killed Zhu Xiaofei twice. After that, there were no more kills.

Chu Yue and Bai Ling subdued the Sheriff and Leona the Radiant on their bottom lane. The situation had improved, and the opposing team didn't send any more taunting messages.

And like a rolling snowball, Xiao Luo's Barbarian King had been strengthened to a horrific extent: He single-handedly killed Gnar from the opposing team without any limits. He also pushed away the outer turret, turning the upper half of the opponent's jungle into his backyard so that he could enter and exit at will. The red Buff was all but his.

In 12 minutes, the Barbarian King's rank shot up to level ten. His items included a Statikk Shiv, an Infinity Edge, a pair of Berserker's Greaves, a Doran's Blade, and a B. F. Sword. The champion from the opposing team who had strengthened the most was Katarina, who was only at level nine.

The Barbarian King suddenly proceeded with a move using the E key, slaying the Bladesman with a critical strike, who was in the jungle doing a mission. Chu Yue's livestream burst into an uproar. It was insane!

F*ck, one for the Barbarian King!

This is the Bladesman? How in the world is he the Bladesman?

I took a look at Princess Yue's Rat and decided to buy a Barbarian King!

...

Everyone was commenting on Xiao Luo's prowess as if this weren't Chu Yue's livestream any more, but his.

Bai Ling was speechless. How could this be happening? In her wildest dreams, she never imagined Xiao Luo's Barbarian King could be so scary.

Chu Yue was seething: She was doing a livestream, but Xiao Luo had snatched all the attention, putting her in an embarrassing situation.

At the same time, she was blown away by Xiao Luo's skills. The Gnar from the opposing team was of the Master tier, but he was able to beat the crap out of it. This standard was not of the Platinum tier. He could have achieved the Challenger tier just like her.

"He killed the Wuju Bladesman with one slash; what kind of damage is this!" Zhu Xiaofei sucked in a breath of fresh air, looking at Xiao Luo, eyes wide in amazement.

Ding Kai's eyes were full of worship, "Brother Luo, you and Chu MM are both Challengers, am I right?"

"I'm a Platinum!"

Xiao Luo smiled in embarrassment.

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai did not ask anymore. There was no way that Xiao Luo could deny this. His strength was on display for all to see. This level was the standard of operation only a Challenger possessed. 𝓵𝓲𝙗𝓻𝓮𝓪𝙙.𝒄𝓸𝒎

When the Bloodthirster came out, Xiao Luo's Barbarian King ran across the map, taking a swing at the first champion he saw. Except for the offensive tanks–Gnar and Leona the Radiant who needed two slashes– all other champions he met were killed with a single blow. He killed each of those childish players with one blow.

An indescribable joy arose in Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai's hearts, especially when they saw how the Wuju Bladesman died in Xiao Luo's hands six times in a row. The grievance they had previously suffered was washed away in an instant.

"Brother Luo, I wrote a poem for you." Zhu Xiaofei deeply admired Xiao Luo.

Xiao Luo said with great interest, "You can even write poetry? Let me hear it."

"State, family, and world affairs: Those are nothing to me but a slash from a sword!" Zhu Xiaofei read.

"Haha... A good poem, a good poem!"

Ding Kai laughed too. At the same time, Xin Zhao worked with Zhu Xiaofei's Ryze to execute Katarina.

Xiao Luo smiled without saying a word.

By now, the game had evolved into his unilateral slaughter. The champions on the opposing team panicked at the sight of the Barbarian King. They used up all of their Teleport and Flash spells.

After 20 minutes, Xiao Luo had his Barbarian King decked out with a full suite of various items and harvested 22 heads. The Barbarian King went straight for Baron Nashor, challenging him to a duel.

"Oh my god, Brother Luo. Are you going to kill the dragon? Awesome. I'll come over to cover you." Zhu Xiaofei controlled Ryze and walked over excitedly.

At this time, Chu Yue and Bai Ling sent a signal that the two enemy champions at the bottom lane had disappeared.

"Don't tell me they're all coming over!" Ding Kai frowned and guessed.

As soon as the words left his mouth, the Sheriff's big move of "ace in the hole" took the lead in the attack and locked onto Xiao Luo. Then Gnar transformed, flashing down from the wall above the dragon's lair, banging into the Barbarian King. Leona the Radiant used her big move via the R key and proceeded with a hard crowd control ability on the Barbarian King with firm control. The Wuju Baldesman circled from the back and used an R key move, rushing over angrily and aggressively. Katerina used the Warding Totem with the W key and came down too, activating the Death Lotus.

All five of them used their ultimate attacking ability via the R key to fire at Xiao Luo at the same time!

Xiao Luo used Flash, avoiding Leona's move. Then he executed an E key followed by a left-click attack, taking Katarina's head. By this time, the Wuju Bladesman had just finished releasing the Q key when the Bloodthirster fell; the Bladesman gave a blood-curdling yell and died.

Zhu Xiaofei only reacted now, using the Rune Prison ability, binding Leona the Radiant, who was preparing to use hard crowd control on Xiao Luo a second time.

During this brief interval, Xiao Luo took off Gnar's head with two slashes. It just so happened that the Sheriff was running toward him to deliver some damage. The abilities via the E key had just cooled down, and he burst forth, hacking the Sheriff to death with a swing of his sword. Only Leona the Radiant was left, but she was no threat. With two swings of the sword, she was dead.

Calm, decisive, and overbearing!

Penta Kill (Five Kills) !

When a synthetic female voice rang out excitedly, the entire world went silent. People who saw this scene held their breaths for a few seconds.

In the next second, Chu Yue's livestream and the group chat of the English Language majors were overflowing with intense emotions like never before. Comments like "So awesome" occupied nearly the entire screen.

What a prodigy, this is the real five-second man.

So blindingly bright. Too much.

Such was the tempo of five people killing; not only did they not die, they even took a penta kill. F*ck me!

For a while, Chu Yue's livestream exploded with various proverbs, expletives, and obscenities–Only these words could convey their shock.

Xiao Luo took a penta kill and continued fighting the dragon as if nothing had happened. Although he used a big move via the R key against the big dragon, in the end, he beat the dragon in a one-on-one duel.

The opposing team's fighting spirit collapsed instantly...

Do you admit defeat?

Zhu Xiaofei quickly lifted the ban and sent a message to the other five players.

The Bladesman took the lead in responding, F*ck your mother, you bastard. I've slept with your family's women.

You piece of sh*t. I single-handedly killed you twice. Aren't you embarrassed to say this? Mid-lane Katarina mocked.

You won without lifting a finger, so shut your mouth. The Sheriff also sent a message.

Zhu Xiaofei was no longer annoyed. He knew that the more fiercely the opposing team cursed, the angrier they were. He was thrilled to see that, and immediately sent a line of words, Hahaha... expressing his current mood.

F*cking c*nt. Give us your address if you dare. I'll have my guys chop you to death in minutes! The Bladesman roared.

Did they actually want to kill people over a game?

Xiao Luo couldn't help but laugh. He typed energetically: As I said before, it's just a game. No need to take it so far, right?

You lousy, stupid d*ck, acting all noble and virtuous high. If you have the guts, give us your address. If you don't, acknowledge you're a wimp and shut up. The Bladesman was extremely arrogant.

"Brother Luo, these people are childish losers. Don't argue with them," Ding Kai comforted.

Xiao Luo smiled and nodded. He wasn't angry at all. On the contrary, he thought those players were hilarious. But they were taking things too far.

"Why should you be afraid of someone like that? I'll see if they'll come here."

Zhu Xiaofei detested the players of the opposing team. He typed a sentence with disdain, Huaye, Seventh Dormitory, Block 712; I'll be waiting for you here, come if you have the guts!

Then he clicked send.

"Why are you doing this, Lao Tzu?" Ding Kai shook his head helplessly.

"We have to show some backbone and will as human beings. Look how arrogant that bastard is. He'll think we're afraid of him if we don't give him our address," said Zhu Xiaofei unhappily.

With a helpless expression, Xiao Luo raised his eyebrows, "Let's hurry up and end this game already."

It was a good game that deteriorated, so what was the point of dragging it on?

Chapter 19

Xiao Luo's Tryndamere could go against five. There was no suspense to the outcome of this match. Xiao Luo's team got the highest score, and he was naturally the MVP.

Are you a challenger?

In the public chat room, Chu Yue's ID "Ziyue" posed a serious question.

Xiao Luo replied with one word: No.

If your performance in the next game is as good as this one, I'll let you join my team, Chu Yue typed.

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai looked at Xiao Luo enviously.

"Brother Luo, Campus Queen Chu said she'd let you join her team," said Zhu Xiaofei.

Xiao Luo asked, "Is that something to be happy about?"

"Of course, it is. If you join the campus queen's team, you'll get a lot of chances to hang with her, and you'll qualify for the national competition, Battle of Glory. If you take first place, there's five-million-dollar prize money. After dividing it up, everyone can get a million," said Zhu Xiaofei enviously.

Ding Kai nodded and echoed, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's a nice chunk of change, Brother Luo."

Hmm, this is starting to sound good. Joining Chu Yue's team will give me lots of opportunities to hang with her, making my job easier. Becoming eligible to participate in the Battle of Glory is an added plus. I'm no saint. If I can make a million dollars by gaming, why the hell not? I'm in!

Whether it was for Chu Yunxiong's commission or the one-million-dollar cash prize, Xiao Luo made up his mind to try to join Chu Yue's team. He was psyched!

Two minutes later, the second qualifying match began.

"Brother Luo, your Tryndamere is picked," Zhu Xiaofei reminded me.

Xiao Luo gave him a little smile. "It's fine. I know a bit about other heroes."

Whoa. Look at all those system prompts! Because of that one game just now, he gained 4,999 points. Yess! He suddenly felt filthy rich.

Of course, he was well aware that this was due to Chu Yue's live broadcast.

"I never expected the opponent to pick all the ADs. Guys, pull out all stops in this game. Even if we screw up, as long as we drag it to late game and stack up against our armor, they won't stand a chance against us." Ding Kai's voice pulled Xiao Luo back from his thoughts into the moment.

After Xiao Luo took a look, it was indeed their opponent who had a solo top Tryndamere, a solo mid-Yasuo, a jungling Master Yi, and a Miss Fortune AD. Their only AP was to support Lulu. Hence, their opponent had a pure AD lineup.

"Brother Luo, you'll be better off soloing top. I trust you, bro, heheh..." Ding Kai said with a cheeky smile. His gaunt face looked just like a monkey.

Xiao Luo nodded and instantly picked the Armordillo.

When the hero icon of a hedgehog-looking turtle was locked in, Chu Yue sent him a row of question marks.

Ding Kai similarly frowned of out puzzlement, "Brother Luo, you..."

"The Armordillo counters ADs. He's the safest pick for this match!" explained Xiao Luo.

After hearing that, Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai could neither cry nor laugh. How would they not know that the Armordillo counter ADs? They had never seen people use it as a solo top. The Armordillo was usually used as junglers. The hero farms in the jungle during the early game, and with a Powerball combined with a Frenzying Taunt, it could easily take down an enemy with the help of a teammate on the lane.

The chat room in Chu Yue's live broadcast once again heated up...

The hell? An Armordillo solo top? Is he nuts?

Even if this Armordillo gets fat, it'll be nothing more than a meat shield. Could they be hoping that it would save the world for them?"

I highly suspect the pro misclicked over there.

For a while, voices of doubt came from all directions.

Chu Yue pursed her lips and said indignantly, "Just how confident is he to pick the Armordillo?"

Bai Ling recovered from her consternation and chuckled with squinted eyes, "Young Mistress Chu, let's not rush to a conclusion. Perhaps Xiao Luo would pull off a great performance."

"The hell he'll perform well this game!"

Chu Yue said furiously. She was a challenger. She only had seen people foolishly playing a solo top Armordillo in low elo games. It would never appear in high elo games. An Armordillo solo top was no doubt the strangest among the strangest. The hero's pathetic combat range aside, its ability to burst down an enemy was unusually low. When it wasn't using its Defensive Ball Curl, the Armordillo's attributes were way lower than a common tank hero.

Against Tryndamere, Malphite would be the best choice.

However, lots of supporting voices came from the English broadcasting room.

Way to go, Hero Luo. Get the enemy's asses!

You're the best, Hero Luo. I look forward to your performance.

Massacre them all like in the last game.

An Huanhuan, in particular, shouted directly to express her affection, Hero Luo, I want to have children with you!

Pfft

Looking at An Huanhuan's words, Xiao Luo almost spat out the water he had just swigged. He couldn't imagine a college girl saying that. Were the times so different now? Had girls become that aggressive and bold?

"Welcome to the summoner's rift!

The solemn female computer-synthesized voice sounded, marking the start of a game.

What the fark. The enemy Yasuo said in the chat. This is the first time I've ever seen an Armordillo solo top!

Tickle me, please, big god. Haha... the enemy, Tryndamere, also sent a message. There was a sense of irony along all the lines.

The enemy Miss Fortune reminded with a tinge of sarcasm: Be careful, he deliberately picked an Armordillo, seeing that we are all ADs.

Hmph. What could the Armordillo do? Before my Sweeping Blades, he could only tank a few hits!, the enemy Yasuo responded arrogantly.

Yasuo fired off some trash talk during the last match. Zhu Xiaofei felt triggered seeing those words. He typed and taunted, Stfu, and play the game. Stop your trash-talking!

The enemy collectively sent hehe, expressing disdain for Zhu Xiaofei.

"Motherf*ckers, why do we always bump into people like this," said Zhu Xiaofei in a rage.

"Calm down, bro. You should've already gotten used to it after playing LoL for such a long time," Ding Kai comforted.

Zhu Xiaofei immediately let out a long exhale like a rubber ball that was leaking air. He was right. The community of this game was more or less as such. He won't be able to change anything, no matter how cynical he had become.

Minions have spawned!

With the computer-synthesized female voice, minions spawned from both base camps, forming a long line, and dashed toward the other base.

Everyone was carefully last hitting and harassing their opponents in the lane.

Some 45 seconds into the game, the computer-synthesized female voice sounded, First Blood! 𝓁𝒾𝘣𝑟𝑒𝘢𝘥.𝘤𝘰𝑚

The Armordillo at top killed Tryndamere and acquired first blood.

I f*ucked up!

The enemy Tryndamere immediately explained. He was preparing to retreat using Sweeping Blade. With shaking hands, he ended up dashing toward the Armordillo, gloriously feeding the first blood.

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai glanced at Xiao Luo with surprise as the last vestiges of doubt in their hearts vanished.

"See? Xiao Luo has it," Bai Ling told Chu Yue.

"So what if he takes first blood. Armordillo can't stop Tryndamere from growing, "Chu Yue said disapprovingly.

As soon as her words fell, the game prompted that the enemy had been killed. With a close look, the level-two Armordillo killed Tryndamere, who had just spawned and took the second kill.

"Is this Tryndamere a bronze? How could he go against a level-two Armordillo at level one with the creeps hitting him?" said Chu Yue in exasperation.

Bai Ling corrected her, "Young Mistress Chu. Look carefully. The Armordillo dived the tower to kill him and escaped with very little hp. Tryndamere was taunted. As he attacked the Armordillo, he attracted the creep's aggro. That's why he died again..."

Chapter 20

After two deaths, the enemy Tryndamere immediately swapped lanes with Yasuo, lest Xiao Luo began snowballing.

But when Yasuo came to the top lane, he once again gloriously fed a kill. Xiao Luo used Frenzying Taunt in conjunction with Defensive Curl Ball and the Hit and Run technique, smoothly taking down the enemy Yasuo.

On the next creep wave, when Yasuo respawned, the enemy Master Yi came ganking from behind.

At that moment, Xiao Luo's Armordillo coincidently hit level six. First, he dealt with the level 5 Master Yi, then the level 4 Yasuo. At a one-versus-two situation, he easily got himself a double kill.

"He's really good!"

Bai Ling approved Xiao Luo's skills hands down. She had seen it very clearly. The enemy's skills weren't that bad, it was just than Xiao Luo's was above them. The Yasuo's Last Breath never once landed on Xiao Luo. Besides, Xiao Luo was good at exploiting the Siege Minion, and his Hit and Run technique was even more impeccable.

Chu Yue didn't say a word this time around. Every skill that Xiao Luo displayed had left her in shock.

"This Armordillo is really extraordinary!"

"Not only extraordinary, he is sick."

"This is a Platinum game, right? Why does the enemy look like a bunch of Bronzes."

...

The chatroom in Chu Yue live broadcast was filled with various replies left by her fans.

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai were looking at Xiao Luo ecstatically like they've scavenged a treasure.

"Brother Luo, my good old Brother Luo, you are the true master!"

"The top lane has become the enemy's restricted area. I'm impressed that you can play the Armordillo like this."

The two gave a big thumbs up to Xiao Luo.

Towards this, Xiao Luo smiled faintly and didn't say a single word.

The top lane was exactly like what Ding Kai said, it had become the enemy's restricted area. Whoever that goes to the top lane would end up feeding kills. The Armordillo was a tyrant at the top lane, performing all kinds of tower-diving, wave-cutting, and aggro-pulling.

At the 17th minute mark, he already had 190 last hits, 13 kills, and had reached a whopping level 12. His items were Iceborn Gauntlet, Thornmail, Hextech Revolver, and Ninja Tabi.

When the Armordillo morphed into a spinning ball and rushed towards the enemy high ground, everyone was startled. They were thinking, "What is this Armordillo trying to do?"

Chu Yue typed directly, "Xiao Luo, what are you doing?"

Xiao Luo simply replied, "Going for a walk at their high ground!"

"You're crazy. This might be a one-sided match, but that doesn't mean that you can go feed the enemy with kills," Chu Yue said while being utterly discomfited.

Bai Ling echoed, "Quickly, get your Armordillo back! Your head is worth a lot of gold. If your streak is ended, the entire enemy team will be awarded bonus gold."

Zhu Xiaofei was also badly daunted, "Brother Luo, the heck are you doing?"

"Calm down Brother Luo. Our team kills are all on you. If you do not calm down, the outcome of this match will become uncertain," Ding Kai perspired in cold sweat out of terror.

Xiao Luo ignored everyone's dissuasions while he used the Armordillo's Powerball to bypass one enemy tower after another and rushed directly to the enemy high ground.

"You, feeding?"

The enemy Tryndamere immediately sent a message to inquire.

Xiao Luo ignored the message, got up, and left his seat.

"Where are you going Brother Luo?" Zhu Xiaofei asked in exasperation.

"Taking a leak!" 𝒍𝒊𝒃𝓻𝒆𝓪𝙙.𝒄𝙤𝒎

Xiao Luo replied and went straight to the dormitory bathroom.

What?

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai's expression changed drastically. Leaving the Armordillo at the enemy high ground while he goes to the toilet, w-w-w... what kind of international joke is he trying to make?

"Kaizi, get Brother Luo's Armordillo back at once!"

Zhu Xiaofei immediately ordered Ding Kai, who was near Xiao Luo's computer, to control the Armordillo to return from the enemy high ground.

However, at this time, the enemy Tryndamere, Yasuo, and Master Yi already had the Armordillo surrounded, and immediately after, were tossing all kinds of skills and abilities on the Armordillo. On the contrary, the Armordillo wasn't controlled by anyone, only auto-attacking according to the default command.

Next, a scene that Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai would never forget happened.

Tryndamere, Yasuo, and Master Yi who was attacking the Armordillo had their health bars plunging rapidly. Although the Armordillo's health was also decreasing, it evidently wasn't as fast as theirs. When the Armordillo had about 200 health remaining, Yasuo and Master successively perished following a horrible shriek.

The only remaining Tryndamere activated his ultimate and continued to wham on the Armordillo. With a five seconds of death immunity, he refused to believe that he couldn't finish off a low health Armordillo.

But unbelief was one thing, and reality was another. A 200 health Armordillo was as stubborn as a cockroach, refusing to die no matter what. After sustaining five seconds of damage from the Tryndamere that left it with merely over ten health, the Tryndamere was reflected to death by its passive skill, Spiked Shell.

"Triple Kill!"

The computer-synthesized female voice sounded.

"Holy cow, one versus three!"

"What in the world is this?"

"What am I seeing? What the actual f*ck am I actually seeing!"

...

Chu Yue's live broadcasting chatroom boiled up once again. Her numerous fans couldn't believe their eyes. The Armordillo wasn't fighting back properly and was literally just standing there, taking hits. And the outcome was a triple kill, who the f would've believed in this?

Chu Yue and Bai Ling were transfixed. They were deeply impressed by Xiao Luo's Armordillo and couldn't sprout a single word for a while.

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai were like they've seen a ghost under broad daylight, opening their eyes and mouth wide while gawking dumbfoundedly at their default positions. They were shocked to the ground, refusing to believe what they've just witnessed. It was too illogical and unrealistic. They've never seen anyone capable of playing the Armordillo in that way.

What astonished them even more was, when the Armordillo that had ten health left was attacked by two waves of minions, not only that its health didn't plummet any further, it was recovering at an incredible speed.

"Oh my lord. What is this monster? Is he still the meat shield Armordillo I'm familiar with?" Zhu Xiaofei gulped his saliva as he was rendered in shock that couldn't be described by words.

At that time, the enemy Miss Fortune and support Lulu rushed over, and the two took turns firing at the Armordillo.

Back when it had some more than ten health left, the Miss Fortune could very well finish off the Armordillo with a shot. But now that some four to five seconds have gone by, the Armordillo's health had already risen to more than a hundred points. It had 310 armor. The Miss Fortune fired three consecutive shots. Armordillo lost no health, but the Miss Fortune, however, had her own health diving straight down.

Realizing that the situation wasn't good, the Miss Fortune immediately halted her attacks, but a bullet was already fired before the stop attack command could be issued.

"Clink~"

The bullet struck the Armordillo's armor with a crisp sound, but the Miss Fortune fell to the ground with a blood-curdling scream as she was killed by the Armordillo's Spiked Shell.

The support Lulu seemingly had a linked heart with Miss Fortune and had made up her mind to kill the Armordillo. She exhausted all her mana and mercilessly went ham on the Armordillo. At last, she followed Miss Fortune's footsteps and died.

"Penta Kill!"

An agitated female computer-synthesized voice sounded. Adding up with the previous three kills, a Penta Kill was attained.

At this moment, dorm 712 and the girl's dormitory plunged into silence. Chu Yue, Bai Ling, Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Hai held their breaths in for a short few seconds. Their minds were empty as they couldn't believe that Xiao Luo's Armordillo achieved a Penta Kill just like that.

The chatroom in Chu Yue's live broadcast was boiling in an unprecedented hype.

"What is that monster? It that still an Armordillo?"

"What the hell? Getting a Penta Kill without moving on the enemy high ground? That's some true revelation over there!"

"Hero Luo, Hero Luo is his ID, add him to your friend list everyone!"

...

For an instant, the entire chatroom of the live broadcast was filled with replies. Nobody was talking about Chu Yue. Everyone was hyped up by the Armordillo that acquired a Penta Kill on the enemy high ground.

At that moment, Xiao Luo came out from the toilet. Seeing Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai's out of the ordinary gazes, he asked, "What's... wrong?"

Zhu Xiaofei was so agitated that he was almost roaring, "Brother Luo, when you're peeing, your Armordillo got a Pental Kill!"

"Penta Kill, a friggin Penta Kill!" Ding Kai was shouting repeatedly and hopping around like he was on drugs.

Chapter 21

He achieved a Penta kill in auto gaming mode in the time it took to take a pee. Who'd ever believe it if word ever got out? Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai looked at Xiao Luo with a crazed expression.

The funny thing is, Xiao Luo didn't expect to achieve a Penta kill. But he was confident that even if the three from the opposing team ganged up and tried to beat him, his Armadillo Rammus would have handled it. That's why he went to the highland for a stroll.

"The innate skill and rune to regenerate health, plus the passive heal of the Hextech Gunblade, have conspired to create a monster. Xiao Luo has developed a new way of outfitting Rammus."

Bai Ling gasped in amazement before turning to look at Chu Yue. "Young Mistress Chu, this guy's amazing–a genius. You have to give him that!"

"What's so amazing about him? He's just a pretentious d*ck, acting like a sheep to catch a wolf!" Chu Yue harrumphed. She was smoldering because Xiao Luo had stolen her limelight.

"Then, is your previous agreement of letting him join our team still valid?" asked Bai Ling.

Chu Yue snapped, "Of course, it's still valid. Although I hate him as a person, I acknowledge his skills. Besides, my words have always carried weight, and I never return them."

"It's 'never take them back!'" Bai Ling corrected.

"I'll say 'never return.' " What do you care?" said Chu Yue self-righteously.

Bai Ling shook her head and sighed helplessly.

...

Xiao Luo beat them, one against five. He bagged a Penta kill even in auto gaming mode. When a Randuin's Omen and Spirit Visage appeared later, the five players of the opposing team felt defeated. They surrendered collectively in 15 minutes, ending the humiliating game.

After the game ended, Yasuo from the opposing team sent a message asking: Rammus, you bastard. Did you inject code to cheat your way through?

Inject code?

Xiao Luo smiled and ignored him. After redeeming a gaming ability, he had gained a deeper understanding of his fingers, the champions, and the items in the game. Moreover, whenever he met with an attack from the opposing team, he could always avoid it in time. These things explained his remarkable performance.

He glanced at the time. It was already noon, time for lunch.

Although the purpose of coming to Huaye was to protect Chu Yue, eating on time was his habit, so he stopped playing.

"Brother Luo, let's play another round. I want to see you hog their revival point," Zhu Xiaofei begged pitifully.

"Yeah, I'm excited. Let's play another round!" Ding Kai also wanted to continue the game; he especially wanted to see Xiao Luo subdue the other players with his skills.

Xiao Luo shook his head. "I'm going to eat first; I'm a little hungry."

"All right, Brother Luo. Please get my lunch too, thank you, hehe..." Zhu Xiaofei quickly took out his student card from the drawer, walked eagerly toward Xiao Luo, and shoved it into his hands.

Ding Kai derided him, "You're a lazy pig!" However, after criticizing Zhu Xiaofei, he also put his student card into Xiao Luo's hands and said with a mischievous smile, "Brother Luo, please get my lunch too. Um, I want to add one sausage, and just a little spicy is enough for me."

"..."

Xiao Luo was annoyed, but it reminded him of his university days, which were similar to this.

It wouldn't cost him an arm or leg to bring back two more portions of lunch. He didn't dislike the two guys, so he happily consented.

Bang

At that moment, the dorm room's half-closed green iron door was kicked open. A group of well-built male students with menacing expressions stormed in.

"Who are you? Why did you break into our dorm?" Zhu Xiaofei stood up, on the alert.

The one standing in front was a boy with a face full of acne. He glanced at Zhu Xiaofei's computer screen, which was still showing the League of Legends interface, and sneered, "Gaolaozhuang Laozhu, motherf*cker; it's you guys!"

"Just who the hell are you?" Zhu Xiaofei shouted. Uh oh. He smelled trouble.

"B*tch c*nt. I said that as long as you dared to give me your address, I'd come here to kill you!" The boy riddled with acne looked ruthless. Then he kicked Zhu Xiaofei's stool to the floor.

"So it's you guys ..."

The expression on Zhu Xiaofei's and Ding Kai's faces changed dramatically. They never imagined that Wuju Bladesman and Katarina would come to their door to make good on their threat! There were only three of them while the other side had had six. Moreover, the six were tall, muscular, and sturdy. If a fight broke out, the three of them would have no chance of winning.

"Yes, it's us."

The boy with acne took a step forward and casually patted Zhu Xiaofei's face with a heavy hand. He smiled proudly. "Why don't you continue acting all high and mighty? You b*ch c*nt. Weren't you pretty good at acting all high and mighty in the game just now? I'll give you a chance now. Kneel and apologize to me, and this will all go away. Otherwise, I'll beat you up until your mom can't recognize you. "

"Apologize, quickly apologize!"

The other five yelled angrily, looking fiendish. They slammed their fists on the desk and even picked up their books and threw them against Zhu Xiaofei, Ding Kai, and Xiao Luo. They were acting like a bunch of thugs. Their arrogance knew no limits. They seemed to think that they owned the world.

Under their brutal abuse, Ding Kai was so frightened his body trembled uncontrollably. He turned the matter over and over in his mind for a while, then he finally bowed his head and apologized in a small voice, "Sorry!"

A wise man submitted to circumstances, and most importantly, was afraid of getting beaten up.

Zhu Xiaofei gritted his teeth. He wanted to fight them, but the other guys had numbers on their side. They would be on the losing end in a fight. Since Ding Kai had already apologized, Zhu Xiaofei also humbled his attitude in the end and said, "I'm sorry."

" 'I'm sorry,' and it's over? What did I say? Do I have to repeat myself? Kneel!"

The boy with acne became even meaner. He tore down Zhu Xiaofei's computer's keyboard and smashed it on the ground. The plastic keyboard shattered, and the keys scattered across the floor.

"You hear that! Kneel!"

The others also started throwing cups and smashing books, turning dorm room 712 into a mess.

"You guys..."

Zhu Xiaofei's rage skyrocketed. The things in the dorm room belonged to them. To see his stuff being recklessly thrown and smashed by these guys was more than he could bear. The only thing he felt was total humiliation.

Xiao Luo stepped out at this time and said calmly, "You're also Huaye students who are studying in the same school. Is it necessary to be so cruel?"

The boy with a face full of acne turned to Xiao Luo. Squinting his eyes, he said coldly, "Why is your tone making me angry? You must be that motherf*cking Tryndamere." He took two or three steps to Xiao Luo, staring at him with a cold and savage gaze. "You were something else in the game, but in reality, you're a lowly c*nt!"

"There's nothing more to say to them. I can't shake off the anger if we don't give these three a good thrashing." A rather handsome boy came forward, looking at Xiao Luo's, his eyes full of hate.

Xiao Luo smiled, "Are you Gnar?"

The boy sneered, "What's it to you?"

"You lost the game, and now you're getting ready to lose the integrity of a human being?" Xiao Luo chuckled.

The boy with acne suddenly laughed out loud, as if he had heard a funny joke. "B*tch c*nt, you still dare to pretend to be all noble and virtuous? Your brain must be damaged."

The nice-looking boy whispered to him, "Yuze, stop talking nonsense to this loser; let's teach him a lesson."

The acne-riddled boy nodded. A savage light bloomed in his eyes.

When the others saw his expression darken, they took out the metal pipes jammed under their belts and hidden underneath their clothes. The atmosphere became extremely tense.

Zhu Xiaofei turned pale with fright. He never thought this group would be so bold that they dared to carry metal pipes with them.

Ding Kai was timider. He so scared his legs were trembling uncontrollably.

"Wait!" Xiao Luo shouted.

"It's too late for apologies. I want to beat you up until you're unrecognizable!" The boy with acne sneered wickedly.

Xiao Luo chuckled. "You misunderstood. What I wanted to say is that space here is too small. How about we go to the roof?"

When the six boys heard these words, they laughed loudly, mocking Xiao Luo for being ignorant of the severity of the situation.

"Okay, since we're all from the same school, don't say I was too ruthless. I'll meet this b*ch c*nt requirement." The boy with acne pointed at Xiao Luo contemptuously.

Chapter 22

It was very windy on the rooftop. The sky was cloudy, and there was no sun.

At this moment, six boys with smug faces holding metal pipes surrounded Xiao Luo.

"I still want to say something — since you're students, act like students. Don't learn from the gangsters in society and act as they do. We're a society now ruled by law. Your behavior is challenging the law," Xiao Luo patiently advised.

It was only a game; he didn't want to take action to teach these guys a lesson.

"Are you f*cking trying to make me laugh myself to death? We're already at this point, and you're talking to us about the law? What a fool!" The boy with a face full of acne laughed.

The others laughed along with him, looking contemptuously at Xiao Luo the way they looked at lunatics and idiots.

Xiao Luo lowered his head and said helplessly, "There's another way."

The facial expression of the boy with acne quickly changed. He shouted in a low and heavy voice, "Of course there's no other way. Go! Beat the sh*t out of him!"

The other five yelled with deep voices and pounced on him.

Seeing them rush toward him, the expression on Xiao Luo's face slowly congealed. When the boy who was speeding at the forefront flung his metal pipe at him, Xiao Luo's body instinctively stepped back to avoid it. He calmly avoided two other metal pipes that were brandished at him in succession. He dodged nearly every attack by dint of a subtle but effective move.

The five guys rushing toward him were more than a little astonished; they never expected Xiao Luo to be so agile.

After fending off their attacks, Xiao Luo retaliated. In his eyes, the actions of any one of these boys were prolonged so slowly that he could see their blue veins and soft hair fluttering on the back of their hands.

Whoosh 𝙡𝒊𝒃𝓻𝒆𝒂𝓭.𝙘𝓸𝓶

His arms were like two attacking poisonous snakes, moving at breakneck speed. He grabbed two of the guys by the wrist and sent them flying.

The two felt as if the pipes in their hands were caught in a speeding truck that was towing their bodies. They fell head first onto the ground, knocking out their front teeth. Blood splashed everywhere. Blood-curdling screams soon followed.

A boy happened to be holding a metal pipe high above his head at this moment and was about to smash Xiao Luo's head in, but he realized he could not swing the pipe down. It seemed to be stuck. Looking up, he saw a big hand holding the metal pipe like a steel clamp. That hand belonged to Xiao Luo.

No matter how hard the boy tried, the metal pipe did not budge.

"Let... Let go!" The boy cried in horror.

Xiao Luo snorted and eased up a little. Then he quickly snatched his opponent's metal pipe. Stepping forward, he positioned his body as he rammed his shoulder into the guy's chest.

Bam

The guy felt as if a wild bull had hit him. His internal organs trembled violently at this very moment. His body lost control as it was thrown back. He fell with a crash onto solid ground three or four meters away, involuntarily letting out a miserable howl.

Seeing that three of his guys had collapsed in an instant, the eyelids of the acne-riddled boy twitched frantically. Another two of his people stood rooted to the spot, terrified. It was impossible to say that they felt no fear; they never expected that Xiao Luo could be so violent.

Sighing, Xiao Luo said calmly, "I was trying to reason with you all, but you got violent with meYou are pullingng out some metal pipes to frighten people, trying to show me how you're ruthless badasses. Who doesn't know how to do that? If you want to play, we should have some real fun!"

He grinned cruelly, speaking in a resounding and powerful voice.

If Xiao Luo was a smiling angel just now, he was currently an evil, bloodthirsty demon. The three guys, including the one with acne, were so scared they took a few steps back. Their hearts beat wildly, and their breathing became fast and short. They were so nervous they broke out in a cold sweat.

"Chen Jie, go, beat... beat him up!"

The acne riddled boy shouted in a quavering voice at the handsome boy beside him.

How would Chen Jie dare to do that? He pushed forward another guy who was next to him. "Xie Bin, you go!"

Someone pushed him forward. He instinctively wanted to retreat but felt that would be too cowardly. At last, he gritted his teeth, bellowed, and braced himself as he rushed toward Xiao Luo.

Before his metal pipe met Xiao Luo's body, the metal pipe in Xiao Luo's hand was already on its way toward his neck. He administered such a fierce and severe blow to his neck.

Bam

This guy felt as if his neck had shifted. He staggered a few steps back and collapsed on the ground. His body spasmed uncontrollably.

He was cruel and ferocious, leaving them no leeway!

Xiao Luo was expressionless; his eyes were as cold and distant.

Gulp

The acne-riddled boy and Chen Jie couldn't help but swallow their saliva with great difficulty. They broke out in a cold sweat and stared at him in shock and horror.

At first, they were scared. Now they were petrified. Their adversary was almost non-human. Though the six of them were athletes, they were no match for him.

Xiao Luo took a step toward them.

The two were so scared they didn't even hold onto the metal pipes, which fell to the ground with a clang.

"Why, are you scared now?"

Xiao Luo drew closer to them, step by step, with a mocking smile on his face.

"Don't... Don't you come over. Hitting someone with a metal pipe is illegal. Aren't you afraid the police will arrest you?" The boy with acne said in a trembling voice.

Xiao Luo narrowed his eyes and sneered, "Now you're telling me that it's illegal? What were you doing earlier? If you reason with me, I'll reason with you too. If you want to play at who's the more ruthless one, I'll use ruthless methods like payback. There we'll be even."

After hearing this, the two wanted to cry. They were majors of Community Sports. They had a very high opinion of themselves in school and acted like they owned the campus. But they never expected that they would meet their match. No, he was not their match; he was a demon!

"We apologize, you... don't mess around!" Chen Jie cried out in alarm.

"Apologize?"

Xiao Luo shook his head and sneered cooly, "It's too late!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the metal pipe in his hand flew toward the two boys without mercy. They both screamed as if they were pigs to the slaughter.

In the dorm room, Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai went through a painful mental struggle. In the end, they finally conquered their fear.

"This disaster was caused by me. I can't let Brother Luo get beaten up. I'll go up and fight them with all I have," Zhu Xiaofei gritted his teeth and yelled angrily. He lifted the stool and rushed to the rooftop.

"Brother Luo, you just hold on, I'm here!"

Ding Kai was timid, he stood in front of the large mirror and slapped himself a few times. He pretendedothers delivered the slapss, and this bolstered his courage with the help of this rage. Picking up the mop in the bathroom, he too, rushed to the rooftop, shouting and screaming all the way.

Both of them were dumbfounded when they rushed to the rooftop.

Xiao Luo stood in the center like a pencil-straight pine tree, the six people who had come had come to make trouble were all lying on the ground, wailing in pain and misery. The metal pipes were scattered all over the ground in a disorderly manner.

What was going on?

This couldn't be the result of Xiao Luo's actions.

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai could hardly believe their eyes.

"Why did you come up here?" Xiao Luo threw the metal pipe onto the ground and walked toward them.

Zhu Xiaofei subconsciously hoisted the stool. "We're here to help you!"

Ding Kai nodded in agreement, like a chicken pecking at grains on the ground.

"That's not necessary. I reasoned with them, and they all became law-abiding!"

Xiao Luo turned around and scanned the six people, his face was bright and cheerful with a benign smile, but in the eyes of the six boys, it was no different from the devil's grin. They immediately lowered their heads after meeting Xiao Luo's eyes. They did not dare to look at him in the slightest.

They would never forget the fear of being subdued by this guy just now!

And how could Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai believe that Xiao Luo had "reasoned" with them? How did talking reason result in broken bodies?

"One against six? Oh my god. Is Brother Luo the reincarnation of Yip Man?" Zhu Xiaofei muttered to himself, in total shock.

Chapter 23

Xiao Luo dealt with them appropriately; his actions were well within limits, and the six guys would be okay after resting up for three to five days.

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai's worship of Xiao Luo surged like the Yellow River flood. Once it started, there was no stopping it. He was handsome, a brilliant gamer, and an even better fighter: One person challenging six people to a fight? He was an all-around talent.

Luckily, Chu Yunxiong had cleverly designed his character as a student returning from the army to continue his university studies. How else could anyone account for his extraordinary fighting abilities?

"Brother Luo, those troublemakers are community sports majors. They're in the same year as us. Three of them–Tang Yuze, Chen Jie and Xie Bin–are known for throwing their weight around on campus. That's because they rely on support from Song Jianan, a third-year community sports major. If you think they're bad sports at losing a computer game, you should see what happens when they lose a set of basketball. You wouldn't wanna be there."

They even had someone lending them support?

Xiao Luo frowned and asked, "Does Song Jianan come from an influential background?"

"Not really. This guy's a big northeastern jock trained in mixed martial arts and is president of our school's mixed martial arts club. The dude has some serious skills. Like he can split bricks with his bare hands. Everyone's afraid of him," Zhu Xiaofei said, choosing his words carefully and slowly.

"He's also the boyfriend of An Huanhuan from our class!" Ding Kai added.

Xiao Luo nodded to show he had a clear understanding of the situation.

Ding Kai sighed, sick with worry. "I don't know if he'll retaliate. What I'm afraid of is that he'll grab me like a helpless puppy and throw me to ground like I'm nothing. That guy's a bully and a narcissist."

"What are you afraid of? Our Brother Luo used to be a soldier; he's also a trained fighter. Even if Song Jianan dares to darken our door, it's still debatable who'd be the one meting out a lesson," Zhu Xiaofei raised his voice to give his courage a boost.

But Ding Kai was still restless. He said apprehensively, "No, I'll go to An Huanhuan and ask her to put in a word for us. It's better to minimize the issue until things die down. Hopefully, all this will come to nothing. I came to Huaye to study, not to get beaten up. If that doesn't work, I'll tell the counselor."

He hurried about, preparing to go out as he spoke.

Xiao Luo stretched his hand out and put it on his shoulder. "Kaizi, the university is a microcosm of society. You have to deal with all types. Don't panic when you encounter difficulties. Keep calm and think of ways to solve them."

"That might work if you're in elementary school. If you have a problem, you can always go to a teacher or your parents, but that doesn't work when you're in your twenties." "Can you be a bit mature and steady?" Zhu Xiaofei rebuked.

Ding Kai was at a loss, he looked at Xiao Luo, "What should we do?"

"Don't worry. I was the one who beat the six people up. If Song Jianan wants to make trouble, he'll come looking for me. You and Lao Zhu will be fine." Xiao Luo patted his shoulders and comforted him reassuringly.

"Brother Luo, I don't like this. If it weren't for me, Tang Yuze and his goons wouldn't have found us. It's all my fault. I feel so bad about letting you bear this burden alone."

Zhu Xiaofei patted his chest with a vowed solemnly, "If Song Jianan dares to come near us, don't worry. I'll stand by you. I'll go all out and fight him."

These words scared Ding Kai. Fight with the president of the mixed martial arts club? Was he crazy?

But he also summoned up his courage and yelled in trembling voice, "I... I'll fight him too!"

Xiao Luo raised his eyebrows. He suddenly felt that these two roommates were quite impressive. It was going to be an exciting next three months.

That night, the three of them went out to dinner. After slamming some beers, they stumbled back to the dorm. Their relationship was slowly growing closer.

As Xiao Luo lay crashed out on his bed looking at the 10,000 points he had earned in the system, he felt an excitement he could not express. He never expected it to be so easy to earn points. He got a lot of them just by playing two games a day.

Curious, he suddenly asked, "System, what's the most expensive ability in the mall?"

Ding! It's the life-extension ability. One redemption requires 500,000 points! The system responded.

Xiao Luo was so astonished he turned pale. Could he extend his life? This "cheat code" was a little too much.

"Can I extend my life in any circumstances?"

Ding! You can use this ability for all sorts of factors that endanger the life of the host, such as disease, aging, external and internal injuries, etc.

Xiao Luo was shocked, "In other words, as long as I have enough points, I can live forever?"

Ding! You can understand this. But each time you extend your life, the points required next time will increase exponentially. That is, you pay 500,000 points to use the life-extension ability the first time. The second time you want to use this ability, you need to spend five million points. For the third time, you need to pay 50 million points and so on. There is no ceiling on the points that you spend!

Xiao Luo was dumbfounded. Just now, he thought that 500,000 points wasn't expensive at all. Now it seemed that it was just too darned expensive.

Forget it. It was better to cherish life and not think about extending it. Whether he had this system or not, life was precious. Besides, he had escaped the Grim Reaper's clutches once already and, thus, had gained an even greater appreciation of life.

Early morning the next day, Xiao Luo was awakened by Zhu Xiaofei's movements.

"Kazi, where's your toilet paper? Where did you put it? I need to go to the bathroom right now. Hurry up and get it before I sh*t in my pants!"

"It's In the closet; get it yourself," Ding Kai muttered as he turned on his side, still half-asleep.

Zhu Xiaofei opened his closet, dug out the toilet paper rolls hidden under a pile of clothes, and ran into the bathroom. After slamming the door, he did not neglect to complain, "Why hide it so secretively? Isn't it just toilet paper? You treat it like it's your baby. "

It seemed that Ding Kai had kept his resentment bottled up for too long. This was too much! When he heard this, he jumped up from the bed and rushed to the bathroom, scolding, "You have the nerve to say that? We've been roomies for almost a year, and you've never bought a single roll of toilet paper. You always use mine, and in such large quantities. I'm starting to wonder what else you're doing in there!"

"F*ck. So much resentment. Fine, I'll buy some today, okay?" Zhu Xiaofei replied loudly from the bathroom.

"Gimme a break. You say this every time." Ding Kai was hopeless.

Xiao Luo could not help but be amused. He teased, "You mean he hasn't bought toilet paper in over a year?"

"He's never bought any."

Speaking of this, Ding Kai was full of complaints, "Brother Luo, you don't know the half of it. Even though Lao Zhu is fat, he's a total scrooge. He's a Mr. Miser who loves to stretch a dollar to ten dollars. Leaving aside the fact that he's never bought a pack of toilet paper, he never even buys toothpaste, laundry detergent, clothes racks. In this one year plus, he's been using all of mine. "

Xiao Luo nodded in agreement, "That's indeed a little too stingy!"

"It's not just a little, Brother Luo. Look at his slippers again," Ding Kai pointed at Zhu Xiaofei's seat.

Xiao Luo looked at the floorboard at the bottom where the shoes were. A pair of strange-looking slippers came into view. Why were these slippers strange? Because they were made by cutting a plastic Sprite bottle down the middle. Using the mouth of the bottle and then the technique of threading a needle manually, he turned the bottle into a pair of flip-flops. 𝘭𝑖𝘣𝓇ℯ𝘢𝒹.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Lao Zhu made these?"

"Who else? And to save a few dollars that a pair slippers cost. He tinkered and came up with such a lousy pair of slippers," said Ding Kai.

"How ingenious!"

Xiao Luo had to take his hat off to his friend. He acknowledged that Zhu Xiaofei was brilliant at saving money.

"Kazi, you bast*rd. Stop dissing me in front of Brother Luo. What I did was art, so don't talk if you don't understand it." Zhu Xiaofei opened the bathroom door just a little and yelled indignantly.

Suddenly, a stinky odor wafted out; the smell was unspeakable.

Xiao Luo frowned and pinched his nose.

Ding Kai immediately cursed, "F*ck. Just talk. Don't open the door, you dumbass. You're stinking up the room with your sh*t."

Chapter 24

After getting up and having breakfast, Xiao Luo went to the classroom for lessons according to the timetable.

After experiencing the larger influence of society for the past three years, it was very torturous for Xiao Luo to return to the classroom. On the podium, the lecturer talked unceasingly throughout her lesson, but below the podium was him feeling drowsy. His eyelids were like two magnets attracting each other.

He did not manage to overcome the sleepiness in the end; his upper body was sprawled on the table as he snored.

The tutor who was delivering the lecture discovered a student lying on the table sleeping. She immediately stopped and asked with a serious expression, "Students, is my class too boring?"

The whole class was stunned and puzzled for a while, and then they quickly shook their heads in denial.

"No, Tutor Zhong, your lectures are very exciting, especially the history of currency in various countries. We are all listening with keen interest." The petite and sweet-looking An Huanhuan said.

Others echoed her sentiment immediately.

Tutor Zhong Meili pushed up her glasses, then she pointed at Xiao Luo, "If it's really so interesting, why is he sleeping?"

Everyone turned around and looked. Well, it was true, Xiao Luo had his upper body sprawled across the table as he snored and slept soundly.

"Oh my God, didn't Zhu Xiaofei tell Hero Luo that he can sleep in any of the classes with the sole exception of Tutor Zhong's class?" In her heart, An Huanhuan felt anxious for Xiao Luo.

Chu Yue was wearing an embroidered white shirt and an airy jade-green tulle skirt this time. Her black hair was tied back in a smart ponytail, a few strands of hair swayed with the breeze flowing in from the window, she looked beautiful in a crisp and refined way.

Seeing that Xiao Luo was asleep, she could not help but frown, "Is this guy here for the lecture or did he come here to sleep?"

"Tutor Zhong really hate it when someone sleeps in her class, Xiao Luo is in trouble now," Bai Ling shook her head in sympathy.

Xiao Luo did not realize that he had become the focus of the class at this moment. After being woken up by Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai, he even asked what had happened.

Zhu Xiaofei did not know whether to laugh or cry, "My dear Brother Luo, you must not sleep in Tutor Zhong's class."

"Why?"

Xiao Luo did not know the reason. When he attended college in the past, he had never heard that he could not sleep during class. University teachers did not care whether you listened to their lessons or not, they only cared about completing their lectures before letting the class out and that would be all. Was it not the same case in Huaye?

Xiao Luo looked up and received a severe shock. All the girls in class, and even the female tutor on the podium, were all looking at him at this moment.

"The Director of the Academic Council is a relative of Tutor Zhong. The Director wields great authority. As long as Tutor Zhong has a word with the Director, she can immediately add a few strokes on your record. Once, a student skipped her class and she was immediately consigned to repeat a year. She only graduated after five years of university, "Ding Kai said, anxious as a cat on hot bricks.

Xiao Luo realized the seriousness and smiled bitterly, "This is embarrassing!"

"The blame is on me, I forgot about it and neglected to tell Brother Luo the situation in advance, it's my fault." Zhu Xiaofei smacked the back of his head and said in self-reproach.

At this time, a girl stood up and shouted at Xiao Luo in a stern voice, "Xiao Luo, didn't you sleep well last night, how can you sleep in class? don't you know that this is an awfully terrible characteristic?"

This girl had short hair and she was dressed in a straight and narrow manner. She did not wear light makeup like the other girls, she was completely bare-faced. Her face was oval and the eyes could not be considered small. Her facial appearance was not bad. But she was not the sweet-looking type. She exuded a dignified and solemn air all over. She would become a career woman for sure when she entered society.

After Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai's introduction yesterday, Xiao Luo knew that this girl was the class monitor of the English Language major, her name was Huang Ruoran. She was a very principled girl who was proactive about improving herself.

"Quickly admit your mistake to Tutor Zhong and promise not to sleep in class in the future!" Huang Ruoran said in a commanding tone.

Xiao Luo might be able to accept it if it was Tutor Zhong talking to him in such a reprimanding tone. But who was doing so now? A little girl several years younger than him. She even criticized him so openly in in front of so many people. She wanted him to admit his mistake and make a promise? Well, he was not having any of this.

He stood up and bowed to the Tutor Zhong Meili standing on the podium. He said sincerely, "Teacher, it was wrong of me to sleep in class and I admit my mistake." He glanced at Huang Ruoran, and changed the topic of discussion, "I admit it because I realized my mistake. Whether Huang Ruoran spoke up or not, it had no substantial decisive influence on me admitting my mistake. "

As soon as he said this remark, the whole class burst into uproar.

What was Hero Luo doing? Was he declaring war against the class monitor, Huang Ruoran?

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai were terribly frightened. Huang Ruoran was a girl with a strong personality. Now that Xiao Luo had tore down her prestige, he would probably face a difficult future. One must know, she was the class monitor. There were many things which had to be done with the help of the monitor. It would be disastrous if she was to frequently pick on someone or to make things difficult for them

Although she had said that she wanted to add Xiao Luo into her gaming team, Chu Yue was now watching the entertainment. She was not close friends with Huang Ruoran, but she was convinced by and respected Huang Ruoran's scholarly knowledge, personal accomplishments and eloquence. Otherwise she would not have recognize Huang Ruoran's position as the calss monitor.

"I was right, with Xiao Luo's arrival, our class has become much more interesting all of a sudden." Like Chu Yue, Bai Ling was watching the entertainment with no fear of the matter blowing up.

Huang Ruoran looked askance at Xiao Luo. Her eyes were full of loathing and disgust because Xiao Luo was the first person to challenge her authority and prestige as the class monitor.

Tutor Zhong Meili did not show a smile of gratification because of Xiao Luo admitted his mistake. Instead, she looked at Xiao Luo with a sullen expression, "You must be the new student, Xiao Luo, don't know that Ruoran is your class monitor? You were sleeping in class; she criticized you a little for your own good. You should be glad to have such a good monitor, but what kind of attitude are you showing now? You have no respect for your superiors at all and you don't seem like someone who's admitting his mistake. "

Xiao Luo felt that his face growing a little hot. He was already so old but this was the first time he was receiving such a torrent of censure.

The fault was his and it was hard to say anything. He could only act as if he did not hear anything.

"Idiot!"

Huang Ruoran shot a glance at him from the corner of her eye, and scolded him in English before sitting down.

Xiao Luo could not bear it and immediately responded in a cold voice, "Who was the idiot referring to?"

It was not his style to argue with a girl head on, but it was very unfortunate that Huang Ruoran made him very upset. Moreover, he had never considered himself a gentleman. Since he could not endure it anymore, he retorted. Why bother holding it in and making himself feel uncomfortable.

The entire classroom went silent as soon as he spoke,

Everyone stared at him with a peculiar gaze, not because he dared to challengeHuang Ruoran, but because his spoken English was just so good.

If they hadn't seen Xiao Luo speaking with their own eyes, they would have thought that it was spoken by a foreigner just based on the voice. It was too pure, too regular, a real American accent, which was the level of spoken English they had always wanted to attain.

Chu Yue took another look at Xiao Luo now. Obviously, she did not expect that Xiao Luo could speak English so well.

Tutor Zhong Meili was also very surprised. Although Xiao Luo only said a short sentence, she was sure that Xiao Luo's spoken English was at least a level six. So far, only Huang Ruoran had reached level six amongst all the English Language majors. This was why she was so partial towards Huang Ruoran. After all, all teachers liked students who studied well, this was an innate tendency.𝘭𝒾𝑏𝑟𝑒𝒶𝒹.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Chapter 25

"Xiao Luo, what's the meaning of this? Do you have any opinions about class monitor Ruoran?"

"If you are unhappy that Ruoran is the class monitor, you can feedback to the counselor, or, you could offer your own services by recommending yourself to be the monitor. But it's another matter if the class will vote for you ."

"That is, don't think that just because you boys are national treasures, you can be undisciplined, out of control and disrespectful to the class monitor."

Four to five girls stood up and bluntly delivered some harsh words in defense of Huang Ruoran.

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai felt a headache coming on. For Huang Ruoran to be the monitor, of course she had many supporters in class. Those who stood up and rebuked Xiao Luo were either members of the class committee or girls who had a good relationship with Huang Ruoran. This was not a result that they wanted to witness.

Xiao Luo stared blankly before revealing a scornful smile. He felt rather bewildered now. He was merely feeling upset by a girl criticizing him so openly and bossing him around. How did they turn it into a case of him being dissatisfied with Huang Ruoran as the class monitor? It was really sudden how this offense was pinned on him.

At this time, Huang Ruoran said to the girl who stood up, "What are you doing when we are having lessons now? Don't you have any discipline in the classroom? All of you, sit down and pay close attention to Tutor Zhong's lesson. Don't lower yourself to that level."

She still had authority as the monitor. The four or five girls who berated Xiao Luo glared at him, as if in warning, and then sat down.

They should not lower themselves to that level?

Xiao Luo felt very annoyed in his mind. Huang Ruoran was obviously mocking him. "That level" clearly referred to nobody else but him.

"Ahem..."

Tutor Zhong Meili coughed a few times and said sternly, "Okay, let's leave the unpleasantness just now behind and don't bicker too much about it. Moreover, Xiao Luo has admitted his mistake. He just arrived in our class and it takes a while to integrate into this group. Everyone should to be more tolerant. Let's continue the lesson now. Xiao Luo, sit down. "

She spoke up for Xiao Luo because she saw that Xiao Luo's level of spoken English was quite high. Otherwise, she definitely would have helped Huang Ruoran to bring him down a peg or two.

Xiao Luo complied with her words and sat down, but rage churned in his guts. He never thought that he would be so angered by a little girl even though he had been working and living in society for three years, However he thought about it and ultimately put the blame on his male chauvinism.

"My dear, dear Brother Luo, why did you make an enemy out of the class monitor?"

Zhu Xiaofei advised with great patience and sincerity, "Our major has always been female dominated. We may be labelled as a 'national treasure', but well, we're actually suppressed by them."

"Yeah, we're the only three boys. They can't outdo them when they have strength in numbers." Ding Kai said.

Xiao Luo smiled, "I just don't like to be so blatantly criticized by a girl, don't worry, the matter is in the past now, I won't bicker about it with her."

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai looked at each other, they did not believe Xiao Luo's words at all. One must know, when Xiao Luo was ridiculed by the opposing team during the game yesterday, he immediately used his Barbarian King to teach the other parties a lesson that they would never forget with each slash of his sword. They were very sure that while Xiao Luo was someone who would repay a kindness, he also believed in an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. He remained impassive on the surface, but by the time he exposed his fangs, the other party had no time to react at all.

After the brief disturbance, Tutor Zhong Meili continued the lesson. 𝑙𝒾𝘣𝘳𝑒𝒶𝒹.𝑐𝘰𝓂

The content she was presenting today was about the world's various countries' history of currency. Of course, she conducted the lesson in English. After all, she taught oral English. It would be out of step if she she was to teach in Chinese.

"Since the time of our ancestors, there has always been a saying that 'money is the root of all evil'. So, is money really the root of all evil? Students, what do you think of this?" Zhong Meili tossed out a topic.

"Money is certainly the root of all evil. All kinds of crimes have arisen because of money. From ancient times till today, countless people have died for wealth." An Huanhuan stood up and expressed her opinion in English.

Others also agree with this statement one after another. After all, there was a saying in the Chinese state that went like this, "Human beings die in pursuit of wealth, and birds die in pursuit of food." This sentence fully illustrated the status of sin that money occupied.

"Do all students share this view? Ruoran, how about you?" Zhong Meili looked at Huang Ruoran.

Huang Ruoran stood up and organized her speech. She answered in fluent English, "The story of 'Paradise Lost' from the Bible and the teachings of our distinguished Chinese predecessor, Mencius, both explained that it is not by nature that man is evil. It is the external temptations that make people lose their conscience.

I think that money is the root of all evils.

First, money has the real legitimacy of an equivalent exchange with any commodity. It has unlimited effectiveness, and therefore can arouse infinite greed.

Second, not only can money control the power of nature in the field of commodities, it can also commodify non-commodities. It is not only a symbol of material wealth, it has also become a bargaining chip for spiritual values. Power and status can be purchased with money; chastity and honor can be put up for sale in public. Humanity and dignity can be sold to the highest bidder, even the natural order of things and conscience has been contaminated with the stench of money.

Third, people's worship of money has also alienated the relationship between people and money. In reality, money is regarded as a god that people worship. Because of money, people have lost their bearings in this grotesque and variegated world of material desires. It is also because of money that people have lost their innate sense of right and wrong but remain totally oblivious about it.

Shakespeare has long ago revealed that money can turn dark to light, ugly to beautiful, wrong to right, and the lowly to noble. It is precisely because money has the boundless power to confound right and wrong, and to turn the universe upside down that it has become the greatest root of the criminal and wanton spread of evil, so I believe that money is the root of all evil. "

Although they were English Language majors, everyone's English ability had not reached a certain level. They only half-understood what they had heard. But Huang Ruoran re-stated her point of view in Chinese after speaking, and the entire class was deeply convinced by her rational and well-evidenced discourse that even made use of quotes from famous people.

"Indeed, she deserves to be the class monitor. Her speech is just too good."

"The class monitor is right, money is the root of all evil."

"Hmm, human beings are inherently good. Only external causes can make people fall into crime, and money is the cause."

For a while, everyone in the class supported Huang Ruoran.

"Ruoran is really eloquent!" Chu Yue said as she pursed her small mouth.

"Yeah, otherwise our Young Mistress Chu would never have been willing to let her have the position of the class monitor." Bai Ling nodded in agreement.

Chu Yue rolled her eyes at her, "You talk too much."

Bai Ling playfully stuck out her tongue and did not speak again.

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai stared at Xiao Luo without blinking. They always felt that Xiao Luo would stand up to refute Huang Ruoran, they did not believe that Xiao Luo could really swallow down the anger he felt just now.

But both of them felt that Huang Ruoran's narrative was flawless, it was impeccable, even perfect. After listening to Huang Ruoran's narrative, even they, who thought of money as the greatest treasure, felt as if they had been brainwashed. They now firmly agreed that money was the root of all evil. There was no way he could outdo Huang Ruoran. They feared that Xiao Luo would only make a joke of himself if he stood up to refute her, this was not what they wanted to see.

Chapter 26

When Xiao Luo stood up, Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai opened their eyes in astonishment, "Here it comes, indeed, Brother Luo wants to meet our class monitor, Ruoran, in a head-on confrontation."

It was already too late when they wanted to stop him. Xiao Luo stated his point in English in a generous manner, "I don't think that money is the root of all evil!"

Every word was resounding and powerful, ringing clearly in one's ears.

As soon as he said this, the classroom went silent.

All fifty to sixty students of the major looked at Xiao Luo with amazement.

One second...

Two seconds ...

Three seconds ...

Finally, the girl who had just stood up to argue in aid of Huang Ruoran said angrily, "Xiao Luo, just what do you want to do? Do you plan to oppose whatever the monitor says? Don't you know the limits of your abilities? "

Then, the other girls who had a good relationship with Huang Ruoran could not sit still any more and they made sarcastic remarks one after another.

"Who can't make contradictory remarks? I can even say said that the sun orbits around the earth."

"You're just speaking without thinking; convince us if you have the ability to do so."

"Xiao Luo, your character is so bad. Ruoran merely reprimanded you a little but you're holding a grudge?"

Not only did the girls with a good relationship with Huang Ruoran felt that Xiao Luo was of low moral character, at the moment, other girls also felt that he was pettier than a girl. An Huanhuan wanted to say something in defense of Xiao Luo, but ultimately did not speak.

Zhu Xiaofei slapped his forehead, "Oh no, Brother Luo has pissed everybody off!"

Ding Kai also smiled bitterly. They never thought that Xiao Luo was so fierce and unyielding that he actually dared to oppose Huang Ruoran, who was outstanding in all aspects.

Chu Yue and Bai Ling casted sympathetic looks at Xiao Luo.

"There's basically no loopholes in Ruoran's assertion. Really, this guy has the guts to say anything," Bai Ling sighed.

Chu Yue blinking her pretty eyes and said in disapproval, "I've said it before, he's a fellow that peddles vulgar claptrap to please the crowds. Let's see how he's going to put an end to this now."

Huang Ruoran looked at Xiao Luo in disgust; she did not say a word.

"Everyone be quiet!"

Tutor Zhong Meili silenced the entire classroom, then she looked at Xiao Luo with some expectation, "Xiao Luo, since you said that money is not the root of all evil, can you refute Ruoran's assertion?"

Xiao Luo was not being petty, he truly did not think that money was the root of all evil. In addition to that, since it was Huang Ruoran's point of view, he was very happy to turn it on its head.

He said neither hurriedly nor slowly, "I only have four questions. First, there are innumerable evil in the world. Can all the evil be explained solely by money? A robber may murder and commit arson for money, but is the domestic violence and child abuse of today, even genocide, all for money?

Second, the origins of money is actually very intricate and complex. We cannot classify it as a common root. Dictators may eliminate dissidents for money, but could they not do it for power or status? Thus, it can be seen that it is generalizing to treat money as the root of all evil.

Third, the philosopher Sartre had told us this – Man has free will and the right to choose. To blame all crimes on money because one must take all responsibility for his actions, isn't that a direct cover up for the role of one's free will?

Fourth, if money is the root of all evil, why would anyone use the root of all evil to do good? In the Great Sichuan Earthquake, the entire Chinese nation was united in their hearts. Many successful people contributed generously by donating emergency relief money to the disaster area. If money really is the root of all evil, how did this root of all evil produce such good deeds as a result? "

Xiao Luo also restated his assertion in Chinese after speaking.

As soon as his voice fell, the entire classroom was quiet again, not a single voice can be heard. It was so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

Everyone could not believe it. Xiao Luo actually refuted Huang Ruoran's statement. He did not speak without thought and it was not a mess of words. Every word was beautiful and forceful; the four questions were like four heavy punches that instantly crushed and shattered the viewpoint that money was the root of all evil. The logic was so strong, one could not help but be wowed.

The few girls who stood up for Huang Ruoran and made sarcastic remarks were so astounded they turned pale. They never expected Xiao Luo to be able to list four questions, moreover, they could not find any words to effectively refute his points.

"This guy is competent, it's really surprising." Chu Yue was flabbergasted.

"Yeah, not only is his spoken English very strong, his eloquence is in a league of its own. He's equally matched with Ruoran. It seems that this will be an exciting battle," Bai Ling said in surprise.

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai were dumbfounded, they looked at Xiao Luo with admiration. It was a long time before Zhu Xiaofei reacted, he slapped his thigh, "Holy sh*t! How is Brother Luo's brain so good? This is too powerful! "

Tutor Zhong Meili looked at Xiao Luo with new respect. She found out that this new student Xiao Luo was not like the two guys, Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai, who ignorant, incompetent and unmotivated slackers passing their days in a muddle-headed way.

At this time, Huang Ruoran stood up and sneered: "Your four questions are indeed good, but unfortunately the premise is all wrong. In the Cihai Dictionary, the word "wan" has never meant "all". Let me give an example, when we say that a person has gone through all kinds of hardships, does it mean that he really has experienced all the hardships? This is obviously not the case.

'Wan' means 'all'? Of course not. 'Money is the root of all evils' means that money can produce a great number of evil deeds, the variety of evil deeds are also complicated. This has long been proven by history. 𝓁𝑖𝘣𝘳ℯ𝘢𝘥.𝒸ℴ𝑚

When the Roman Empire was dominating its region, conquest brought glory to the empire, it also brought a steady stream of wealth. But soon, the simple and honest Romans fell on their knees to worship money as they indulged in the wantonness of their sensual and luxurious pleasures. The Roman Empire collapsed in this decay and degeneration.

In the Middle Ages, Catholics once took pride in their clean and honest living, but the charm of money finally broke through where their moral and religious beliefs were stationed. For money, Pope John the twenty-second, openly labelled the crimes in the world with a monetary value. One could be exempt from punishment as long as one paid the price of three gold coins. For five gold coins, one who committed rape and adultery can sit back and relax. Even if one murdered someone, with only seven or eight gold coins, one could have the guarantee that their soul will go to heaven.

When even an ancient civilization that has existed for thousands of years has been deeply corrupted by money, can't it be said that money is the root of all evil? There is an old Chinese saying, 'Learn from history and you will know the rise and fall of a kingdom'. Money has given birth to so many evil. If money is not the root of all evil, then what is? "

Huang Ruoran's words were like bombs that exploded in everyone's mind.

Everyone originally thought that Xiao Luo's four questions had created a deadlock, but by merely quoting the interpretation of the word "Wan" in the Cihai Dicitonary, Huang Ruoran managed to overthrew Xiao Luo's four questions based on the premise. Everyone was thoroughly bowled over by Huang Ruoran's eloquence and her extremely wide knowledge.

This was the power of language. Everyone suddenly felt that Huang Ruoran's silhouette was incomparably tall.

Chapter 27

"Ruoran is right. Money is the root of all evil!" 𝑙𝑖𝘣𝓇𝑒𝒶𝘥.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"'Wan' doesn't mean 'all.' If you don't understand, then refer to the Cihai Dictionary."

"Xiao Luo, let's see how you refute this time."

The female students who had a good relationship with Huang Ruoran jeered at Xiao Luo to express their hostility against him even as they applauded enthusiastically in support of Huang Ruoran.

Huang Ruoran looked at Xiao Luo quietly with eyes full of hostility.

Xiao Luo looked at her and chuckled, "No matter how you cut it, one apple can only be one apple after all. It may seem that Huang Ruoran has listed many "evils," but in fact, there is only one, and that is the greed for money. Is the desire for money the only type of evil? The answer is no.

If you say 'wan' doesn't mean 'all' or 'everything,' then I would like to ask, if I say that you 'must not (wan wan bu ke) agree with my position' today? Does that mean that you disagree most of the time, but occasionally, you may agree? The answer is of course not, so the word 'wan' here means 'all.' "

"F*ck me!"

Zhu Xiaofei couldn't help but spit out a swear word. The reason is that Xiao Luo's rebuttal was too convincing, even if someone wanted to be convinced by Huang Ruoran's assertion, it was impossible now. If Huang Ruoran's previous statement was compared to a violent storm, Xiao Luo's counterattack was like a rough and angry sea. The whole world was in a state of turmoil under these two waves of language power.

Everyone's ears perked up. They saw that it was not only Huang Ruoran who had a strong command of English and was highly eloquent but also Xiao Luo. The control the two of them had over spoken language was freaky.

Xiao Luo still kept a slight smile on his face. He continued, "Money cannot comprehensively cover all the evil in the world. According to anthropological research, the forms of evil fall into four categories. Three of them are wholly unrelated to money. Only one of them is greed.

I will not talk about greed for money now. I'll talk about the evil of extremist beliefs. In 1995, some cult members released sarin nerve gas at a Tokyo subway station, killing twelve people. More than 5,000 people were admitted to hospitals for treatment. Also, during the Crusades, it wasn't only adults who were harmed. Many innocent and unarmed women and children were burned alive even as they hid in churches.

These cases account for most of the deaths and injuries. Shouldn't this be included in the so-called 'all evil?'[ And if so, what does it have to do with money?

Wu Sangui let the Qing soldiers enter the pass. He did it for Chen Yuanyuan, not money. Some time ago, the news reported about an obsessed man who killed his girlfriend and dismembered her body into thirteen sections because she found a new love. Is the cause of this evil deed hatred in his heart or the loathing that already exists in him? Or perhaps it's because his girlfriend didn't give him a breakup fee?

Various examples show that money isn't the cause of all evil, so I don't think that money is the root of all evil. At least, it can't even compare to many other types of evil at all! "

The class gasped as they listened. This technique behind this rebuttal was compelling. It was a direct strike against Huang Ruoran's point of view.

Tutor Zhong Meili's eyes welled up with surprise. Her class had not been so lively in many years. Not only did the newly arrived Xiao Luo push her students to an unprecedented peak, but he also made her, as a tutor, excited. She never thought that a topic she had thrown out could actually trigger such a fierce verbal showdown.

At this time, Huang Ruoran spoke up. She met Xiao Luo's question head-on. "The first question you said is primarily a problem of evil cults. Asahara Shoko solely planned the poison-gas incident at the Tokyo subway station. He was the founder of Aum Shinrikyo. He sold one strand of his hair to his worshippers for 30,000 yen and a cup of bath water for 50,000 yen. He might not have said it, but whatever was going through his mind, wasn't it ultimately about money?

If Wu Sangui did what he had done for Chen Yuanyuan, why does he still want to be promoted to a high official position when he had already become the king of Yunnan and had Chen Yuanyuan in the palm of his hand after letting the Qing soldiers through the pass? Why could his mind still not relax? Why does he even want to be the emperor? It's always because of money.

The people of China compare extreme hatred as 'hating someone like they have killed your father and stolen your wife,' but now, some people who have no money can sell their wives, and when they have money, they can sell out their fathers. Is this still hatred? The greatest hatred is caused by money or the desire for money.

You previously said that 'must not' (wan wan bu ke) clearly states the meaning of 'all,' but you are mistaken. The word 'wan' in 'must not' (wan wan bu ke) is an adverb, and the 'wan' in 'root of all evil' (wan e zhi yuan) that we are speaking about today is an adjective. You use adverbs and adjectives as analogies. Isn't this incompatible and irrelevant?

Honoré de Balzac once said money squeezes through every crack to penetrate our society. It controls politics, the economy, and ethics. When everything is controlled by money, what path do we take?

So my viewpoint is the same as before, I think money is the root of all evil!"

The classroom fell silent again. Huang Ruoran and Xiao Luo were engaged in a battle of words. There was no gun smoke here, yet it was more intense than a battlefield. This showdown was bloodless.

The students held their breath and were shocked by the confrontation between Huang Ruoran and Xiao Luo. Every word was beautiful and forceful as it faced the assertion of the other party head-on. They used cases from foreign countries and quoted words of famous people, such a level of knowledge deeply moved their audience. The figures of Huang Ruoran and Xiao Luo now looked like two timeless mountains standing in front of them.

Xiao Luo smiled and said indifferently, "'Wan' is not only an adverb but also an adjective. What is a 'surefire strategy' (wan quan zhi ce) and is 'perfectly foolproof' (wan wu yi shi)? What is universal gravitation (wan you yin li) and 'intelligence of the universe' (wan wu zhi ling)? Doesn't this 'wan' mean all? Is it, could it, possibly refer to exceptions?

The Cihai Dictionary is authoritative, but aren't you quoting out of context and straying from the topic by just looking at the morpheme 'wan' and not the phrase, 'root of all evil' (wan e zhi yuan)? Also, everyone, ask yourself honestly, do humans not have an evil nature? Is everything induced by money? From where do man's greed and brutality originate?

If money is the root of all evil, why were this brutality and greed suddenly not termed as evil before money was invented? So, is it the greed and wicked thoughts in the hearts of humans that is the root of all evil, or is money the root of all evil? Do it still necessary for me to continue explaining? "

Everyone's soul was impacted by this one narrative.

This was undoubtedly a fatal blow. Yeah, would there be no evil if money had not been invented?

There was no way to explain, no way to refute. It was a totally hopeless situation!

Huang Ruoran couldn't speak for a while. Even for her, it was beyond her capability to refute Xiao Luo's statement. She just clenched her teeth and looked at Xiao Luo unhappily, unreconciled with this outcome.

It was now clear who won and who lost!

Everyone was really convinced by Xiao Luo, especially the final statement, which was simply devastating and crushing.

The girls who had ridiculed Xiao Luo before could not say a single word now. Xiao Luo's ability to organize a speech, his ability to rebut, and his command of English were first-rate. He was superb, yet here they were mocking him for speaking without thinking and for not knowing the limits of his abilities. They suddenly realized that they were actually playing the role of the savage, trouble-making villain who would never amount to anything!

They could not help but feel their faces getting hot, none of them dared to raise their heads and meet Xiao Luo's gaze.

Chapter 28

The after-class bell rang, to the dismay of both Tutor Zhong Meili and the English language majors. They hated seeing the lesson end. The verbal sparring between Huang Ruoran and Xiao Luo was exhilarating! Not only were their superior English skills on display, but also their eloquence, logic, and ability to think. They also showed a wide range of knowledge, exuding confidence and charisma.

"The debate between Ruoran and Xiao Luo was captivating. In your spare time, you can all learn something from the points expressed. As for whether money is the root of all evil, this is a controversial topic that will never become irrelevant."

Zhong Meili wrapped up the session succinctly. At the same time, she was giving Huang Ruoran a way out of an embarrassing situation. Zhong Meili's statement could mean that she agreed that money was the root of all evil, or it could mean that she disagreed with this point of view. Her remark, purposefully ambiguous, took both students' perspectives and feelings into consideration. "Okay, students. That's it for today. We'll see each other next time."

After she finished talking, she picked up her laptop and teaching materials before turning to walk out of the classroom.

Just before she exited, she looked at Xiao Luo twice more, her eyes shining with unabashed praise. She didn't expect that this new student would have such in-depth training in the fundamentals of the language and such sophisticated cultivation in his knowledge. For a second-year student, this was rare and remarkable.

After Tutor Zhong Meili left, the classroom suddenly burst into activity.

"Brother Luo, you're my idol from now on." Zhu Xiaofei patted his chest.

Ding Kai guffawed and said sarcastically, "You mean he'll turn you into a nauseating idiot, right?"

"Kaizi, do you want to get beaten up? Trust me. I'll pluck out all your pubic hair." Zhu Xiaofei looked exasperated.

At this point, An Huanhuan, who was petite, cute and sweet-looking, left her seat and ran happily to Xiao Luo. She said with a worshipful expression, "Hero Luo, you're so gorgeous and cool. I'm a big fan of yours."

She was wearing a snow-white, long-sleeved jacket with a pair of navy blue mini shorts. Her legs, fair and delicate, made one's thoughts wander into the gutter. Her elegant, jet-black long hair was draped over her shoulders, giving her a soft and beautiful look. A pair of small dimples evenly distributed on both sides of her cheeks made her look lovely as a fairy when she smiled.

Xiao Luo smiled politely in return.

"Hero Luo, be my boyfriend!" An Huanhuan suddenly grabbed his hand. Her bright eyes shone with expectation.

As soon as this statement came out, many pairs of eyes in the classroom turned toward them, shooting daggers at An Huanhuan.

"Ahem... ahem ..."

Xiao Luo felt overwhelmed by the favor immediately, causing himself to choke as he swallowed the wrong way. He coughed involuntarily.

He shook off An Huanhuan's hand and gave a bitter smile. "I just met you yesterday. It doesn't seem right to be your boyfriend!"

He couldn't help but wonder: was the girl who sneakily "raided" his "toy" for carrying on his family line yesterday An Huanhuan, who was standing right in front of him?

Her behavior was unacceptable. Were there girls who directly called out a guy to be her boyfriend? Where was the reserve that only girls had? Especially this girl, who was quite pretty. Xiao Luo was even more perplexed. Perhaps this era had changed and he was the one who was out of step with the times. It was beginning to seem that way.

"It's right, it's right. I like handsome and outstanding guys like you, Hero Luo. Just be mine forever." An Huanhuan was unyielding, and she grabbed Xiao Luo's hand again, which took him by surprise.

Just be hers forever?

What the f*ck!

Xiao Luo couldn't imagine those words coming out of the mouth of a girl.

"An Huanhuan, can you be a bit more reserved?"

Huang Ruoran had packed her books, and she came over now, reprimanding An Huanhuan.

As the class monitor said her piece, An Huanhuan didn't dare to be so presumptuous any more. She let go of Xiao Luo's hand and whispered to him, "Hero Luo, you're mine. I want you for sure."

After she finished talking, she enticingly batted her lashes at him and left.

Huang Ruoran glanced at Xiao Luo coldly, and with obvious displeasure, then turned and left without saying a single word.

The other girls also left in quick succession.

"Brother Luo, you're having a lot of luck with the ladies!"

Zhu Xiaofei said animatedly, "I once wanted to scoop up all the girls in our major and build a harem, but I'm too ugly. So, it was just filthy thoughts running around in my mind. But Brother Luo, you're different. This debate with Huang Ruoran was so exciting. You've captured the hearts of all the girls in the class. You can be like the emperors of the past. Whichever one you want, you can turn over a token to make your choice, hehe."

"Zhu Xiaofei, what kind of nonsense are you spouting?"

To Zhu Xiaofei, that caustic remark was like a harsh kick to his butt. He was about to get angry, but when he turned around, he saw the faces of Chu Yue and Bai Ling. He immediately withered, his temper drained.

He waved his hands and smiled awkwardly, "I didn't say anything, I was joking around with Brother Luo."

Chu Yue couldn't be bothered with him. She said directly to Xiao Luo, "Seven o'clock tonight. Wait for me at the school gate. There happens to be a party. I'll take you with me so you can get to know the other three members of our gaming team."

Envy and jealousy were written all over Zhu Xiaofei's and Ding Kai's faces. To join the Chu Yue's team was something they had longed for day and night. But in the end, Xiao Luo arrived they were rejected. There was no point comparing oneself to others.

"You haven't even asked if I want to join your team," Xiao Luo said.

His arrogant attitude took Chu Yue down a peg or two.

But she kept her cool. "Don't you want to?" she asked indifferently.

"To have a chance to win a massive sum of prize money? Sure, why wouldn't I? " Xiao Luo said laughingly.

Annoyed, Chu Yue glared with her enormous and beautiful eyes. "Then why did you still ask?" 𝙡𝒊𝓫𝓻𝓮𝙖𝙙.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"It's one thing for me to join, and it's another thing for you to ask me if I'll be joining or not. I'm asking out of politeness," Xiao Luo said.

Pfft

Looking at him talking in such a pitiful way, Bai Ling, who was standing beside them, tittered. She realized she shouldn't have laughed and calmed down after coughing a few times.

But Chu Yue was so furious she stamped her foot on the ground forcefully and raged, "What's wrong with you!"

It just so happened that she stepped on Zhu Xiaofei's toes. Zhu Xiaofei screamed like a stuck pig whose butt was on fire. He jumped up and down on one foot, unable to keep his balance, so Ding Kai reached out to support him. But because of the significant disparity in their builds, both of them fell to the ground.

Since she was the person he was supposed to protect, Xiao Luo didn't tease Chu Yue anymore. He just smiled and said, "I'll meet you at the school gate at seven o'clock sharp."

Then he walked off looking like Mr. Nonchalance. Aargh! He was so annoying!

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai quickly got up and followed him.

"This guy is really..."

Chu Yue gritted her teeth and stomped her feet. She thought that she was quite arrogant and overbearing, but she never expected Xiao Luo to outdo her!

"Xiao Luo is quite a character. Young Mistress Chu, you've met your nemesis." Bai Ling giggled.

"How is he my nemesis?"

Chu Yue snorted slightly, "I'll let Fu Jiawei and the rest of them teach him a lesson tonight. Let's see if he still dares to be so arrogant in front of me."

Chapter 29

At precisely seven o'clock that evening, wearing a white T-shirt and a pair of casual black pants, Xiao Luo arrived at the gate of the Huaye campus.

He was on time, but Chu Yue was not. Half an hour later, she and Bai Ling finally pulled up next to him. He was in a foul mood.

Ignoring the BMW 3 Series that Chu Yue was driving, he snapped, "You're late!"

"It's only natural that we have to dress up since we're going to a party. And of course, that takes time. You only waited for half an hour. You're so petty for a man," Chu Yue said in objection. Her hair was jet black, her skin, as smooth as jade. She had a delicate and perfectly straight nose set in an oval face. Sucking on a lollipop, she looked ravishingly beautiful with a hint of naughtiness.

"There are thirty minutes in half an hour, and thirty minutes is one thousand eight hundred. The world's highest rope-skipping record is seven skips per second. Based on this calculation, the person can complete twelve thousand and six hundred skips in one thousand and eight hundred seconds. A chef with superb culinary talent can even create a feast in that time.

A thousand and eight hundred seconds is enough time for a big player in the stock market to turn everything upside down and set off a storm in the stock market. For me, I can use a thousand and eight hundred seconds to improve the relationship between my new roommates and me significantly. I can use the time to review the notes from today's class. I could have watched an exciting NBA game too.

I have so many things to do, but because you're not on time, I wasted one thousand and eight hundred seconds. During this period, I only did one thing, which was to stand here like a block of wood, doing nothing except waiting."

Chu Yue and Bai Ling were growing impatient. Weren't they only half an hour late? It's normal for girls to be late. What in the world was up with Xiao Luo that he would unload this verbal diarrhea on them like that? For heaven's sake, he was acting as if they'd done something truly egregious.

Seeing how Xiao Luo wasn't about to shut up, Chu Yue quickly drew out thirty dollars from her bag. "Stop. Here's some money to buy the thirty minutes you wasted. Oh no, it's the one thousand and eight hundred seconds. Will this do? "

"That's more like it!"

Xiao Luo wouldn't stand on ceremony with her. He took the bills from her hand and stuffed them in his back pocket. Then he opened the car door and squeezed into the back seat.

The anger boiling up inside Chu Yue was not only because of this incident. She never expected Xiao Luo to call her bluff and snatch her money away so rudely. Although it was only thirty dollars, she was pissed: she felt as if she had been seriously ripped off.

Bai Ling couldn't stop laughing, revealing two cute little eye teeth. Her eyes narrowed into crescents, "Xiao Luo, you're quite a character!"

"Nobody in their right mind would hold a thing against money!" said Xiao Luo self-righteously.

"Country bumpkin, do you only have eyes for money?"

Chu Yue was indignant. Then she started the car. Looking in the rearview mirror, she said, "Sit still and don't move around. These seats are real leather. You won't be able to afford the repairs if you scratch them."

"Your car is a BMW 3 Series. The official price is thirty-six thousand dollars. You should be able to get it imported for forty-six thousand dollars. After spreading out the cost, these real leather seats will cost only about three to four thousand dollars. Although I'm not particularly wealthy, I can still afford such a trifling amount," said Xiao Luo cooly.

"You..."

Chu Yue felt her heart spasm. This guy was going to give her a heart attack.

Beside her, Bai Ling sighed in her mind, "I'm afraid that Young Mistress Chu has met her nemesis!"

In her memory, Chu Yue had never lost a verbal exchange. But since meeting Xiao Luo, she was always so pissed off that she became tongue-tied and had no way to vent. Bai Ling just gave a sympathetic sigh to her bestie.

Chu Yue gritted her teeth and thought, You think you're the only one who can talk? Let's see if you can still say anything later!

It was quiet in the car throughout the entire journey. Finally, they arrived at a luxurious villa in Jiangcheng.

Xiao Luo got out of the car and glanced at the villa in front of him, trying to look nonchalant...Yeah, it must be nice to be stinking rich.

"What are you looking at? You can't afford this villa no matter how many times you look at it. It cost more than a million dollars," Chu Yue delivered a timely verbal blow.

"So it's a villa that cost more than a million dollars!"

Xiao Luo said with all seriousness, "Why do I feel that the trees have become a little smaller? The garden area is minimal, too." 𝒍𝓲𝒃𝙧𝓮𝙖𝒅.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"The trees here are planted in strict accordance with the feng shui pattern. Don't you understand anything? Don't talk nonsense if you don't." Chu Yue panted with rage. This Xiao Luo was a total bumpkin. Geez.

Xiao Luo zipped his mouth. He happened to be her bodyguard, so what choice did he have? Although he was an invisible bodyguard, he couldn't change the fact that as her bodyguard, he shouldn't keep provoking her discontent for the fun of it.

"Princess Yue is here. Come on, let's go in quickly. A lot of people are waiting!"

A well-dressed guy in a slim-fitting suit came out to greet them. He glanced at Xiao Luo. "This must be Xiao Luo bro. Princess Yue wants you as part of our team. Welcome, welcome."

"Fu Jiawei's a member of my gaming team and also owns this villa." Chu Yue explained before making further introductions.

Xiao Luo greeted Fu Jiawei politely, "Hello!"

"Don't be shy. Since we're members of the same team, we're teammates and brothers. Come in." Fu Jiawei was very enthusiastic.

Xiao Luo nodded and walked into the villa with Chu Yue and Bai Ling.

The so-called party was a dance party of those wealthy children who had nowhere to spend their money, so they invited friends around to eat and drink. The dance was on the lawn beside the pool. Many handsome men and beautiful women had already gathered there.

"Princess Yue, Bai Ling!"

Accompanying these two excited voices were two girls who lowered their wine glasses and ran over, kicking up a fragrant breeze behind them.

Xiao Luo sized up the two of them carefully. Although they were tall with a bombshell sultriness, they did not have Chu Yue's fresh and pure vibe. Still, these stunners could make men rise to the occasion countless times in desire.

"Why did you get so drunk?" Chu Yue caught the scent of alcohol and wrinkled her nose.

"Relax, we can't get drunk on this little alcohol. Even if we're drunk, we can spend the night here at Jiawei's place. Anyway, there are many empty rooms in his house. Jia Wei, am I right?" asked one of the girls.

Fu Jiawei nodded eagerly, "I don't have much else here, but I do have a lot of empty rooms!"

"You're just showing off."

The girl rebuked. Then she noticed Xiao Luo, "Eh, Princess Yue, is this Xiao Luo?"

Chu Yue nodded. "Yes."

"Hello, my name is Fang Shulan, and I'm a member of Princess Yue's gaming team. Nice to meet you!" The girl stretched out her hand.

"My name is Ye Yingying, and I'm also a member of the Princess Yue's gaming team," another girl introduced herself.

"Hello!"

Xiao Luo shook hands with them one by one. He dropped their hands as soon as possible; there was no reluctance to let go. His manners were very appropriate for the occasion.

"I heard you'd invented a new way of outfitting the Armodillo. The opposite team was a pure AD lineup, yet you got the high ground in a 1V5 in ten minutes. We can swap pointers when we get a chance," Fang Shulan said with anticipation...

"Sure, there will be a chance." Xiao Luo smiled wryly.

Chapter 30

After getting acquainted with them, Xiao Luo gained a general understanding of Fu Jiawei and his party. They were all rich children like Chu Yue and they were university students too. They were not in Huaye, but in Zhonghua Normal University, which was separated from Huaye by an artificial lake.

When they learned that Xiao Luo came from an ordinary family of farmers, Fu Jiawei, Fang Shulan, and Ye Yingying soon lost interest in him. Their enthusiasm towards him suddenly plunged to the freezing point, they pulled Chu Yue and Bai Ling along as they gravitated to other friends for some chitchat and drinking.

All the people who came to this dance party were the children of Jiangcheng's richest families. They should network more at this time.

Contrary to expectation, Xiao Luo was at ease being all alone. He minded his own business as he ate the food.

He had not had his dinner so his stomach was protesting at this moment. He sat down at a table full of desserts and fruits, and started eating without hesitation. Not to mention, the taste was good, and he couldn't stop eating once he started.

Chu Yue, Fu Jiawei and his friends were looking over here from a distance.

"Princess Yue, why did you introduce such a person into our team? Look at how he eats, how rude. He's not at all elegant. With him around, our team's overall image will be lowered," Ye Yingying complained, her eyes were filled with disgust at Xiao Luo.

"We're all from the same circle, but he's a penniless pauper who's unqualified to be friends with us. If somebody else got wind of this, everyone will certainly laugh at us," Fang Shulan echoed in agreement.

Fu Jiawei did not express his criticism as the master of the house, instead he looked at Chu Yue quietly. He would never criticize the friends brought by Chu Yue before she clearly had expressed her attitude. Although, he felt the same in his heart, that Xiao Luo was not qualified enough to come here.

Bai Ling argued in defense of Xiao Luo, "What's wrong with the way he eats? I think it's good. To be able to eat is a very fortunate thing, don't you know that? Also, my family's finances are not great either. According to what you said, do you mean that I shouldn't be here too?"

"Bai Ling, you are Princess Yue's best friend, how could you be the same as him?" Ye Yingying said.

"That's right, he is he and you are you. How can he be compared to you? Look at how he eats, he's gorging himself, just like a criminal just released from prison. He's not cultured at all," Fang Shulan said coldly.

Bai Ling didn't want to say anything for Chu Yue's sake, so as to avoid spoiling the relationship between everyone. But as a child from an ordinary family too, she felt that their attitude towards Xiao Luo really was a bit too much.

"What's inside or outside the circle? Why haven't I heard of it, I brought Xiao Luo here. Do you want to embarrass me by vilifying him like this?"

Chu Yue spoke up now. Although she was a child of a wealthy family, she was very disgusted with the culture of the insider circle. Otherwise, she wouldn't have Bai Ling as her best friend.

Fang Shulan and Ye Yingying were quite embarrassed. They looked at each other and smiled bitterly. They did not expect Chu Yue to have such a big reaction, she actually criticized them because of a penniless pauper.

Fu Jiawei laughed heartily and broke this awkward atmosphere, "Princess Yue is right, everyone is a student. Things like insider circles are just people messing around. Yingying, Shulan, if you talk about Xiao Luo like this again, I would have some harsh words for you. "

"We said something wrong, Princess Yue, don't be angry."

"Yes, yes, we just said those things randomly. You can't treat it as real."

Ye Yingying and Fang Shulan changed their stance very quickly, they could not afford to have an argument with Chu Yue all because of some penniless pauper.

"I'm not angry with you, what's with the apology?"

Chu Yue shot an angry glance at Xiao Luo with her beautiful eyes, "I brought him here for two reasons. One, to let you guys get acquainted, and two, for you guys to teach him a lesson for me, so that he'll stop acting so arrogant."

"Oh?"

Fu Jiawei, Fang Shulan and Ye Yingying looked at each other, they felt a keen interest immediately.

Chu Yue beckoned them, and the four of them gathered together, discussing in low voices a strategy to make Xiao Luo embarrass himself.

Bai Ling sighed helplessly and cast a sympathic look at Xiao Luo.

...

The music slowly started up, and the handsome men and beautiful women attending the dance party put down their wine glasses, they went hand in hand to the dance floor and began to ballroom dance. The so-called ballroom dance was a pair of man and woman, holding each other's waists while each placed a hand on the other's back. They would gently sway their bodies as they faced each other with loving gazes like a couple and slowly spun.

"How leisurely and elegant these people are!"

Xiao Luo drank a glass of red wine in one gulp and picked up a piece of butter cake. He lifted his spoon, dug into the cake and delivered it straight to his mouth, "This is good too. You guys do your dancing and I'll eat my food. We" find our own interests, hehe...

He had no interest in dancing, but was more interested in continuing to be a foodie here.

"Brother Xiao Luo, why don't you go dance?" At this time, Fu Jiawei came over with a smile on his face.

"I don't know how to!"

"Heheh... it doesn't matter, nobody's born knowing how to dance. How about I get Shulan to teach you?" Fu Jiawei waved at Fang Shulan.

All these had been discussed early on. The purpose was to make Xiao Luo embarrass himself and thereby realizing Chu Yue's wish.

Fu Jiawei added, "Shu Lan is a master of street dance."

"Sorry, I really don't know how to dance."

Xiao Luo refused, there were so much delicious food, how would he do some silly dance.

"It'll be all right, I said that we'll become good bros in the future, don't be so reserved. Also, Shulan is not an outsider, we're all on one team, there's nothing to be embarrassed about," Fu Jiawei laughed and said.

Fang Shulan glanced at Xiao Luo and shouted, "Come here if you're a man, don't be so fainthearted and naggy."

Previously, she thought that Xiao Luo was also from the same circles, so her attitude towards Xiao Luo was very friendly and polite. Now that she knew he came from an unremarkable background, that he was just a penniless pauper from the countryside, she stopped being polite.

The question was now gravely linked to the deep question of his manliness. Xiao Luo, a male chauvinist, could no longer let them trample on his dignity as they liked.

He harrumphed and put down half-eaten cake in his hands. He dusted off the crumbles on his hands, got up and walked towards the dance floor.

At the same time, the system notification voice sounded in his mind, "DING! Congratulations, you've received the dance talent. You've used five hundred points!"

"The fish has taken the bait."

The smile on Fu Jiawei's face grew even fuller and he sneakily threw an OK gesture to Chu Yue in the distance. Then he signaled the sound engineer to play some high energy music.

When Fang Shulan started to dance on the empty and spacious dance floor, one could see that she had a boy's strong sense of rhythm and sharpness. Her street dance was very visually pleasing and attention grabbing. With the addition of the dynamic, high energy music, she seemed to have transformed into a dancing queen. All the magnificence was gathered in her body, which attracted exclamations and enthusiastic applause from the guests on and off the dance floor.

"It's your turn!"

After a segment of street dancing, Fang Shulan panted for air and nodded at Xiao Luo, "It doesn't matter if you don't know. It's street dancing as long as you dance to the rhythm and show the passion."

"It's that simple?" Xiao Luo smiled as he considered.

"It's that simple," Fang Shulan nodded.

However, she was sneering in her mind, "Hell would freeze over if it was really that simple. Just wave your limbs like a clown and make a disgrace of yourself. You're a country hick who shouldn't have come here.𝓵𝓲𝓫𝒓𝓮𝙖𝓭.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Chapter 31

She revealed a devilish grin.

Bai Ling's body quivered. She crossed her hands in front of her chest, feigned a delicate and charming look, and said sweetly, "Young Mistress Chu, I've accidentally spoken out of turn. I beg your forgiveness, for I've displayed much sincerity." Then, she quickly diverted Chu Yue's attention. "Look, Xiao Luo's going to dance."

The diversion was a great success. Chu Yue triumphantly shifted her eyes to the dance floor, her delight evident to all.

At that moment, Xiao Luo could hardly retain his composure. Recollecting some of Fang Shulan's simple movements, he slowly began to sway and shuffle his body. But his stiff limbs made his movements all the more ridiculous. He looked like such a dork!

"What dance is that? Why haven't I seen it before?"

"This is called cluttered dancing, which means screwing around."

"Ye-yeah, cluttered dancing it is, hahaha..."

Everyone was laughing at Xiao Luo with malicious enjoyment.

The grin on Fu Jiawei's face was even more exaggerated. Contempt and disdain were flickering in his eyes. Sure enough, for him, such an uncool and unrefined person was unworthy of being called a friend!

Fang Shulan and Ye Yingying looked at each other, grinning and squinting like an emoji face. In their eyes, Xiao Luo, who to them was nothing more than a yokel, was there to amuse them with his bumpkin ways. They were so mean.

At this moment, Xiao Luo's movements halted, and he transitioned into a robot dance. It was Michael Jackson's signature move, the moonwalk. It seemed as if he was walking in space with his body freed from the clutches of earth's gravity. His movements were like moving clouds and water, smooth and mind stirring!

"Huh? What's going on here?"

Everyone's mouth was agape. Xiao Luo, who was swaying around in his nonsensical dance moves, abruptly performed a turn-around right at the next moment with some impeccable footwork.

The smile on Fu Jiawei's, Fang Shulan's, and Ye Yingying's faces froze.

From far away, Chu Yue and Bai Ling stood there wide-eyed. They couldn't believe Xiao Luo would have something like that up at his sleeve.

Xiao Luo became more and more comfortable in his movements, performing various unnameable one-handed flips and two-handed backflips. He didn't look like a human moving his body, but a spirit who was possessed.

"What the heck? Does he practice the Lightness Skill?"

A guy who was preparing to feast on some desserts was shocked by Xiao Luo, who was randomly performing flips, body waves, and a series of movements that defy human anatomy. He wasn't even aware he had dropped the cake in his hands! Whoa!

Xiao Luo's body flipped rapidly, performing a few jaw-dropping actions mid-air, as he went in the direction of the gourmet table.

Just when everyone thought he was about to topple the table, Xiao Luo forcefully propelled his body, giving people the illusion that he had stopped in mid-air. Then, he tapped both his feet at the corner of the table, did a 360-degree backflip, and landed firmly on the ground.

Phew! 𝓵𝙞𝓫𝒓𝙚𝓪𝓭.𝒄𝓸𝓶

After letting out a long breath, Xiao Luo grabbed a glass of red wine from the gourmet table and guzzled it down with his head raised.

The entire ballroom plunged into a deathly silence.

They were gaping at Xiao Luo as they stood in place, motionless. In their minds, it was still the out-of-the-world robot dance Xiao Luo had performed earlier.

"Clap... clap clap clap..."

A guy slowly began applauding for Xiao Luo. That single clap struck a chord in everyone as thunderous applause and cheering sounded the very next moment. These guests used their actions to express their approval toward Xiao Luo's dance moves.

Fang Shulan, on the other hand, felt a tingling feeling in her heart. From a professional point of view, Xiao Luo's dancing was impressive. Whether his moonwalk or his various body flips–his movements were on point and hugely satisfying to watch. His dancing wasn't just a little bit better than hers.

"Young Mistress Chu, your plan has failed miserably. Far from embarrassing himself, Xiao Luo earned everyone's praise," Bai Ling said gleefully.

Chu Yue fluttered her apricot-shaped eyes as if she had just recovered from the shock. She said while unconsciously gritting her teeth, "This is an accident. This performance is purely an accident. How could someone like him know how to dance so well!"

"I think you should forget about it. I already told you that guy's your nemesis. You will never win against him," exclaimed Bai Ling.

"No. I must and I will take him down. Otherwise, he'll think that I'm a pushover," Chu Yue clenched her fist and said with utter determination.

Bai Ling sighed, "Your plan has failed. What else do you plan to do?"

"Well, I have more than one plan. I prepared three plans," Chu Yue said proudly.

"Three plans?"

Bai Ling was startled. Subsequently, she shook her head and said helplessly, "Young Mistress Chu, just how much do you detest Xiao Luo! And why?"

She felt terrible for Xiao Luo. Didn't he just unintentionally talk back to the young mistress several times? Must she take things to the extreme?

Xiao Luo glimpsed at Fang Shulan and said playfully, "Ms. Fang, my dance moves aren't bad, right?"

"Yeah, they're great. Impressive, truth be told!"

Fang Shulan told him this but was cursing him on the inside. That jerk is mocking at me, he thought to himself.

Xiao Luo snorted faintly but didn't speak again. He was beginning to feel that he had a target painted on his back. Why else would the sons and daughters of the wealthy come forward and offer him dance lessons? So that was it. He was on to them now.

As he kept pondering his situation, he thought about Chu Yue.

He turned to look at Chu Yue. He sighed in his heart, "That young mistress is hard to serve. Two million dollars ain't easy money!"

At this moment, Fu Jiawei approached him from behind and held his shoulders as if they were good brothers, "You're a low-key person, my brother. You can dance so well, but you said you couldn't, and I ended up calling Shulan over to teach you. From what I see, you should be the one teaching Shulan."

"Well, sometimes it's better to be a low-key person," Xiao Luo said with a smile.

As this sentence had a deep meaning, Fu Jiawei went blank for a moment. His expression was becoming unnatural. Later, he once again put on a friendly smile, "Yes, of course, you're right, my brother. By the way, do you play snooker perchance?"

Chapter 32

Snooker?

Xiao Luo was quiet. This plan was another one of Chu Yue's tricks. He unconsciously revealed a smooth arc at the corner of his mouth as he replied, "I've only played pool. Never tried snooker before!"

Fu Jiawei chuckled in his heart: It would be odd if you'd tried something as high class as snooker!

His expression was calm as he pointed to a place not far from the dance floor. "Well, are you interested? I happen to have a snooker table over here." 𝙡𝙞𝓫𝒓𝙚𝒂𝓭.𝓬𝒐𝓶

Looking in the direction where Fu Jiawei was pointing, an open-air building that looked like a giant white swan came into view. Inside was a snooker table. There were fifteen red balls and six colored balls and holes at all four corners and the center of the two longer sides of the table. The green surface of the table was as smooth as a mirror.

Xiao Luo smiled, "I can give it a try!"

He doesn't mind giving these people a lesson and earning some points in the process.

Ye Yingying came forward, "I'll play with you, Xiao Luo."

"A beautiful girl wants to play with me? I'm raising both of my hands in approval!"

Xiao Luo nodded and said casually, "But merely playing won't be that fun. How about we spice things up a little?"

Ye Yingying was surprised. Then, she took out a bank card from her pocket and said, "Sure. There's 50 grand on this card. I'm not asking you to score higher than me. I'll consider that you've won if you score 10 points, and you can have this card."

"Are you sure, Ms. Ye? I must say that I'm not bad at this game. Ten points and I'll win? Aren't you going too easy on me?"

The smile on Xiao Luo's face was vibrant. Not only did he get to eat good food by partaking in this party, but he could also even win some money. For a guy like him who didn't have much cash, happiness came too suddenly.

Idiot, how is pool the same as snooker?

A condescending sneer washed over Ye Yingying's face, mocking Xiao Luo's ignorance.

Although pool and snooker were both billiards, there was a big difference between them, starting with the tables. A pool table was approximately 2.5 meters long and 1.2 meters wide. A snooker table, on the other hand, was 3568mm x 1778mm. The latter was much bigger than the former, and their difficulty was not at all at the same level.

Second, defending, ball control, and strategizing were important in snooker. Those who hadn't tried the game before wouldn't have such concepts in their minds. Their minds would be blank, like a person who had never touched a basketball and was suddenly thrown into a basketball court for a game.

"If you think I'm going too easy on you, so be it. But if you lose, you'll have to give me something to make it fair," said Ye Yingying.

Xiao Luo spread his hands, "I'm not as wealthy as you, ! I don't carry 50 grand on me!"

"I don't want money. Besides, why would I, daughter of the Ye family, be short of money?"

Xiao Luo's expression became curious, "So, what do you want?"

"If you lose, bark a few times like a dog in front of everyone, and clean my heels." Ye Yingying lifted her high heels.

Ah ha. All the guests knew what was going on here: Ye Yingying was trying to humiliate Xiao Luo.

His eyes glazed over. He never expected Ye Yingying's heart to be so cold. "This is about my dignity as a man. I doubt it's worth less than your 50 thousand, Ms. Ye."

"Then, let me up the ante!"

Ye Yingying went all out and took off the watch she was wearing, "This is a Swiss OMEGA series luxury watch, worth at least 50 thousand.

"You're playing pretty big!"

Xiao Luo pretended to be hesitant. He was already giggling in his heart. He was worried about the lack of money, and this poor thing just came offering herself to deliver him some cash.

"Show me some courage and resolution if you're a man! Can you not be that hesitant?" Fang Shulan crossed her hands in front of her chest with a mean face.

When these words dropped, she, Ye Yingying's partner in crime, and all the wealthy sons and daughters spoke.

"Yeah, be quick if you want to play, or just admit you're a pussy."

"He must be afraid of losing. After all, he hasn't tried something as high class as snooker before."

"But his worries can be justified. He'll have to bark like a dog if he loses. He can't possibly humiliate himself like that."

Fu Jiawei smiled contemptuously. If he got this done, Chu Yue might fall for him. Thinking about his future days with a goddess beside him, he could feel the bliss in his heart.

From far away, Bai Ling said anxiously, "Young mistress Chu, do you think Xiao Luo will agree to Ye Yingying's offer?"

"Hmph, if he doesn't, I'll proceed with the vilest plan in the history of humanity!" Chu Yue curled her mouth, resolving to humiliate Xiao Luo.

Vilest in history?!

Bai Ling couldn't help but shudder as she broke into a cold sweat for Xiao Luo.

At this moment, Xiao Luo craned his neck and proceeded to ask, " , what's the password to your bank card?"

What?

Everyone was stunned, as they had no clue about what Xiao Luo was doing.

Yee Yingying also looked puzzled.

Xiao Luo spread his hands and said, "How am I supposed to take money out from this card without the password?"

Pssss

After he came out with those words, the crowd subconsciously took a deep breath as they thought, "This guy is way too arrogant. How can he be so sure he'll win?"

Fu Jiawei, on the contrary, only dismissed a sneer as he murmured in his mind, "Games and snooker are Yingying's greatest hobbies. Even Uncle Da, who had played snooker at international level competitions, recognizes Yingying's skill. Do you want to compete with her in snooker, Xiao Luo? Don't even think of winning even if you have an extra three heads and six arms."

Ye Yingying was so agitated she chuckled. Then, she said in a deep voice, "The password is six ones. Win it from me if you can."

"All right!"

Xiao Luo strode toward the snooker table.

The guests who were initially drinking, eating snacks, and chattering shifted their positions, seeing that an intriguing snooker match was about to begin and moved forward to get a better look.

Xiao Luo picked a snooker cue and weighed it in his hands. "I haven't played in a long time. Let me get the hang of it again."

As he spoke, he bent over and thrust the white ball with his cue. His movements were rusty and stiff, and his shot lived up to everyone's expectations. He slipped. Almost all the thrust force from the cue was funneled to the edge of the white ball, causing it only to roll a short distance.

"Hahaha..."

Fang Shulan and Ye Yingying's friends were rolling in the aisles.

"He can't even hit the ball! He must've never played before!"

"He even boldly claimed he was good at pool just now. It seems like he's just bluffing."

"Yeah, right, I've never seen such an idiot. Is he out of his mind to brag that arrogantly? I wonder how he is surviving in this world."

From far away, Chu Yue became excited, "That guy's going to be barking soon! Haha..."

Bai Ling was baffled, "What's wrong with Xiao Luo? He shouldn't agree if he doesn't know how to play." But after some thought, she was a little relieved. "But that's okay. At least Young Mistress Chu won't get to use her vilest plan."

Since Chu Yue said it was the most vicious plan in history, it was by no means an exaggeration. It would be ten times or even a hundred times crueler than this one.

Chapter 33

Xiao Luo ignored the crowd's taunting, waved the cue stick, and said to Ye Yingying, "Can you let me practice for three minutes? It's been a while. I'm rusty."

Ye Yingying sneered, "Three minutes? I can give you ten or thirty minutes if you want."

"Nah, three minutes will do. And please brief me on the scoring rules in snooker in the meantime."

Xiao Luo bent over to hit the ball, trying to get the feel of the game even though the system already prompted that he had successfully redeemed the talent of playing snooker.

Seeing him slip nine out of ten times, Ye Yingying could hardly wait to do her victory dance. She wanted to laugh so badly, but she still explained the scoring rules to Xiao Luo unhurriedly, "Each red ball is worth a point, and the yellow ball two points, the brown ball, four; the blue ball, five; the pink ball, six, and the black ball, seven. When pocketing the balls, you must follow the 'one red one-color' sequence. That means you can only pocket a colored ball after a red one. When all the red balls are pocketed, you have to pocket the colored balls in the sequence of their respective point value from low to high. When you're supposed to strike a red ball, if the white cue ball doesn't come in contact with any red ball, you will be penalized four points. If you accidentally hit a colored ball, the penalty depends on the point value of the ball, but the minimum will be four nonetheless."

"The rules seem a little complicated!" Xiao Luo scratched his head.

"As an international sport, snooker will, of course, have many restrictive rules. It is because of these rules that snooker is challenging and fun." Ye Yingying lifted her head as her eyes radiated contempt and condescension.

Xiao Luo nodded noncommittally. "Well, that makes sense!"

"Three minutes have passed. Got your 'feel' back yet?" Fang Shulan asked.

Xiao Luo waved his hands and said, "Almost. Let's begin. Who'll go first?"

"As you like!"

Ye Yingying casually took a cue ball from the cue bag.

"Ladies first," Xiao Luo said with a gesture and a smile.

Idiot. Let me see you bark like a dog later!

Ye Yingying snorted faintly. Without saying anything more to Xiao Luo, she went to the break-off position, bent her body down, made a groove with her left hand and held the butt cap of the cue with her right. Then she laid her upper body down and aimed in the direction of the cue ball.

Her right hand, which was gripping the cue stick, remained stagnant. She stood upright, took a small step with her left foot, which corresponded to her shoulder-length, and rotated the tip of her right foot at about 70 degrees, thus positioning herself firmly.

Then she aligned her chin with the center axis of the cue and leveled her eyes to look forward. Her nose, mouth, and chin were on the same vertical plane with the cue ball and her right arm. She exuded a calm temperament and supreme confidence.

You can tell if someone's good at something once they get into action!

It was not necessary to see Ye Yingying striking the cue ball. From her posture, the crowd could tell she was a pro in snooker. Otherwise, she wouldn't be emitting such a lofty and cold temperament. It formed a sharp contrast with the stiff and rusty movements Xiao Luo displayed earlier on. The disparity was that of heaven and earth.

Clack.

Once Ye Yingying thrust her cue, the white ball rolled with a soft impulse toward the red balls gathered in a triangular formation.

This move was a gentle strike to defend. A match between veterans would typically start in this way. It all depended on who revealed their flaws before the other. Ye Yingying naturally did this out of habit. After all, the people who usually played with her were all pros.

After the white ball mildly scattered the red balls, it slowly rolled to the short edge of the table and stopped right behind a brown ball. It was both a flawless defensive and an offensive move. As long as Xiao Luo didn't hit a red or colored ball, his turn would end, and she could even score a few points, buttering both sides of the bread.

"Nice!"

Fang Shulan and Ye Yingying's friends applauded.

The others also nodded as their eyes blazed in praise. From that strike, they could tell that Ye Yingying had an excellent grasp over the white ball's movements. With skills of this caliber, she meagrely possessed the style of an international-level snooker grandmaster. As a hobby, it was rare and commendable for her to have practiced her skills to this extent.

"It's your turn, Xiao Luo. Don't touch the colored balls!" Fu Jiawei said, smiling with his eyes squinted.

"Relax, I'm not that bad!"

Xiao Luo rubbed the cue tip with chalk to enhance the leather tip's friction.

Chu Yue from far away couldn't bear to watch him. She mocked, "That friggin' poser, acting cool by rubbing the cue tip with chalk? Isn't he ashamed of himself?"

Bai Ling kept quiet. She thought Chu Yue was way too critical of Xiao Luo anyway.

...

Ye Yingying left her position and stood to the side. Similar to Fang Shulan, she crossed her hands in front of her chest and looked at Xiao Luo with disdain.

"Girls will be girls, powerless even to thrust the cue. Let me scatter all those red balls!" Xiao Luo bent down, preparing to strike.

When the people around her heard that, they were all holding back their laughter. This attitude was the difference between an amateur and a professional. He doesn't know a thing and thought she couldn't exert enough strength because she's a girl. He knows nothing about snooker.

"You scatter the red balls then!"

"Yeah, hurry up and strike the red balls apart. Let's see your skills."

"Be careful, don't slip again, haha..."

Fang Shulan and Ye Yingying smiled as if they were looking at an idiot as they spouted words of mockery.

Xiao Luo smiled with them, and then forcefully thrust the cue.

Clack

The while ball gushed out like a thundering beast, hitting the long side of the table, and then rushed toward the clumped red balls with unstoppable impetus. With a clatter, the fifteen red balls scattered outward without any art of composition. But none of them pocketed while many of the red balls stopped at positions not far away from the pocket holes.

Xiao Luo frowned. "Well, I thought I could pocket at least one. What bad luck!"

Bad luck?

It's you who was stupid, all right. You thought that snooker is the same as pool, where you can get the balls pocketed by just randomly hitting? 𝑙𝘪𝒷𝓇𝑒𝑎𝑑.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Fang Shulan and Ye Yingying's friends scoffed, thinking Xiao Luo was way too funny.

"Xiao Luo, you can recede now!"

Ye Yingying moved forward as she revealed a confident smile at the corner of her mouth.

"Very confident of you, Ms. Ye. But although I've scattered the red balls, it wouldn't be easy for you as well, right?" Xiao Luo said disapprovingly.

Ye Yingying looked at the black balls clumped together and the white cue nearby that was surrounded by a chain of red balls. She said with a smile, "Open your eyes and watch. Let's see if this will be easy for me."

Upon finishing, she bent down and hit the white ball without much aiming.

The white ball hit a nearby red ball, and the red ball rolled toward the bottom hole and coincidently knocked another red ball that was near the bottom hole, into the hole. A beautiful demonstration of beating the cattle across the mountain!

"Nice!"

When Fang Shulan and Ye Yingying's friends were applauding, Xiao Luo joined them. "Not bad, you're quite good at this, Ms. Ye."

Quite?

Why would a nitwit in snooker hold on to himself so shamelessly?

Ye Yingying wanted to yell at him; however, courtesy had been drummed into her since she was a tyke. She simply glanced at Xiao Luo with disdain and continued to strike the balls.

Ka-drrum!

The blue ball pocketed. Ye Yingying attained six points in an instant.

Seeing the distribution of the red balls on the table, she intensified her smile, as she felt she could clear the table in one turn, denying Xiao Luo even a single point.

Chapter 34

Ka-drrum

Ka-drrum

Following the crisp sounds of balls potting into holes, the number of red balls on the table were decreasing at speeds visible to the naked eye. Ye Yingying's score was also steadily increasing from 10 to 17, 25, 30.

"Yingying is going to clear the table!"

"Even the veteran in snooker, Uncle Da, almost lost to Yingying. She has to be good."

"Clear the table, let that guy score a big fat zero, haha..."

Fang Shulan's and Ye Yingying's friends became tinged with irony and teasing.

Seeing that Ye Yingying had cleared all fifteen red balls and only six colored balls remained, Fu Jiawei felt the urge to look at Xiao Luo's expression, thinking it would be interesting. But when he turned around and looked at Xiao Luo, he was startled because Xiao Luo was at that time sitting on the chair while holding a glass of red wine that came from nowhere. He had his legs crossed and was drinking ever so leisurely without a hint of anxiety.

He went over and asked with feigned concern, "Xiao Luo, my brother. Yingying is about to clear the table. How can you even think about sipping wine?"

"It's fine. There are still six colored balls left, which hold a total of 27 points," Xiao Luo said calmly.

What the f*ck? Just how big is your ego?! 𝘭𝒾𝒷𝓇𝘦𝑎𝑑.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Fu Jiawei, who had always been courteous previously, couldn't help but spout an expletive in his heart. Then he sneered with a gloating expression, "Well, now, you have only 22 left."

As he spoke, Ye Yingying had already potted a yellow and a green ball. Immediately after that, she potted a brown ball. She was on fire.

"Eighteen points left!" Fu Jiawei glanced at Xiao Luo from the corner of his eye.

"Ka-drrum~" A blue ball went into a hole.

Fu Jiawei had a playful smile on this face as he lifted his volume, "13!"

Xiao Luo kept silent as he continued to sip on his red wine unhurriedly.

"Haha... that poser is going to be barking soon."

Chu Yue was elated. She could finally let Xiao Luo experience some exquisite humiliation.

"I hope Xiao Luo won't be angry at you after he finds out you're behind this," said Bai Ling shaking her head without mincing words.

"He dares to be angry at me?"

Chu Yue lifted her chin proudly, "Well, I didn't beat him up physically or verbally. I only just let him learn how to bark like a dog. Why would he be angry?"

"Young mistress Chu, guys care a lot about their dignity, all right!" Bai Ling rolled her eyes in disbelief.

"I know, I know. Geez! Didn't he join my team? As team captain, I need to let him have of a taste of my authority, lest he steps above my head in the future," Chu Yue exclaimed angrily.

Pouting, Bai Ling refused to say another word.

...

Ye Yingying was knitting her eyebrows as she thought he didn't estimate her strike well enough, landing the white ball in an awkward position.

She was confident about potting the pink ball. But at the same time, after the white ball knocked the pink ball, it had more than a 90% probability of falling into another bottom hole. If the white ball were potted, Xiao Luo would gain six points without doing anything.

This wasn't the result she wanted!

What she wanted was an overwhelming victory–Not to mention that six points would bring him exceptionally close to ten, and she didn't want him to gain even one point.

Hence, Ye Yingying chose to play defensively. She gave the cue a light thrust. The white ball gently knocked the edge of the pink ball, touched the short side of the table at a tricky angle, rebounded, and stopped near the black ball. The three balls were almost aligned. It could be said that the black ball had the pink ball blocked, and the white ball could never directly touch the pink ball.

"Nice ball!"

The guests praised her. This move was a good strike of the outermost defense.

Subsequently, everyone turned to look at Xiao Luo. What would he do now?

Would this guy create a miracle, or would he finish with a big fat zero?

Many were anticipating the outcome. After all, Xiao Luo looked calm and serene without a tinge of panic. The pink and black ball totaled 13 points. If he could pot both balls, he would've still won the game.

But no one was rooting for Xiao Luo. What kind of joke would that be? Why would a guy who slipped nine out of ten times pot the balls? There would be zero suspense regarding the outcome.

"Your turn!"

Ye Yingying turned around and yelled at Xiao Luo.

Xiao Luo wasn't affected. He put down his wine glass and said to Fu Jiawei next to him with a smile, "See? I still have a chance."

"Ye, yeah! You still have a chance, bud! The black and pink ball totals at 13 points, which is over ten. Hehe."

Fu Jiawei was cracking up. What an oddball. Why would he still think he had a chance at this point? No wonder he failed to notice that he had provoked my princess Chu Yue.

Xiao Luo circled the table, and his eyebrows became almost knitted together.

"The white ball can never touch the pink ball with one rebound. It will need at least two rebounds. To accomplish this feat, not to mention me, I'm afraid that even the internationally renowned grandmasters would have a less than 50% success rate. That's an outstanding play, Ms. Ye."

"Looks like you're not that big of an idiot after all. Since you are well aware that you will never get to pot the pink ball, you should give up," Ye Yingying, who was holding the winning ticket, said while smiling proudly.

"Give up?"

Xiao Luo shook his head, "Why should I?"

Ye Yingying said, "Do you think you're better than the grandmasters that you can pot the pink ball with the white ball being at such a position?"

"Never try, never know," Xiao Luo said while spreading his hands.

Fang Shulan was getting impatient and yelled, "Why are you talking so much nonsense? Are you going to hit the ball or not?"

"Exactly! You are so naggy! You're nothing like a man."

"Do it quickly if you so wish to try! And bark if you admit defeat."

"Aside from barking, you still have to rub Yingying's heels clean."

A bunch of people echoed.

Xiao Luo smiled indifferently. He bent down, made a groove with his left hand, and aimed his cue. He took a deep breath, brewing his strike unhurriedly.

"Jiawei, can you feel it?"

His words confused Fu Jiawei as he replied while containing his laughter, "Feel what?"

"Me, potting the ball, of course," Xiao Luo said seriously.

Are you potting the ball?

Fu Jiawei was taken aback. He couldn't contain his laughter any longer. He almost cried as he thought, "Your club isn't even pointing in the right direction and has almost a 180 degrees deviation with the pink ball. You dare claim that you can pot the ball?"

You are a weirdo, my brother!

However, he said, agreeing, "I didn't feel it at first. But after what you said, I immediately felt it. You can get the ball potted."

"Hahaha..."

The guests burst out laughing, amused by Xiao Luo's ignorant and funny words.

"Get in, ball!"

At this time, Xiao Luo shouted. His eyes abruptly turned sharp as he forcefully struck the cue on the white ball.

Clack

The static white ball morphed into a ray of white light, rushing out at an extremely high speed. It randomly spurted across the entire table as if it had lost control, consecutively colliding four times with the edges of the table. Finally, following a "cluck," it knocked on the pink ball.

The pink ball attained a surge of energy and went rolling directly to the bottom hole. Amid the crowd's incredible expressions, the ball went into the hole following a "Ka-drrum."

Clean and neat! Done in a stretch!

The clattering in the venue abruptly halted.

Chapter 35

All the guests were stunned. Chu Yue and Bai Ling, who were far away, also straightened up their bodies.

Yikes! The ball went in!

The pink ball was potted into a hole!

A brute-force thrust that sent the white ball bumping around like a headless fly hit the pink ball. And not only that, it even knocked the pink ball into a hole.

Holy moly, how is that possible?

No one could believe their eyes. It was one in a million. Unbelievable. Unacceptable. They never expected something like this to happen.

Xiao Luo stood upright, walked toward Fu Jiawei, and patted his shoulders, "Jiawei, thanks for your blessing. The ball has been potted!"

Fu Jiawei just stood there, unsure of what to do. He broke out in an awkward smile.

Ye Yingying, Fang Shulan, and the rest of the gang looked as if their mouths were stuffed with fish. Their expressions were as awful as awful could be.

"Luck, it must be luck. I'll eat sh*t if this isn't a lucky ball!" A guy who had a great relationship with Ye Yingying was unconvinced.

The others also subconsciously nodded in agreement. The white ball rebounded four times before it hit the pink ball. If this weren't a lucky ball, no one would've believed the tale anyway. It couldn't possibly be that Xiao Luo had mastery over the white ball's trajectories, right? If that was the case, wouldn't Xiao Luo be better than those internationally renowned grandmasters in snooker? Was that even possible?"

Xiao Luo was impressed by that guy's hypothesis. "If you say it's a lucky ball, then a lucky ball it shall be. I can't possibly say no and let you eat sh*t, right?"

"You..."

That guy was gritting his teeth and rubbing his palms. If Fu Jiawei hadn't given him a dirty look, he would have bolted up to teach that arrogant Xiao Luo a lesson!

At this moment, Ye Yingying said with a knowing smile, "Don't get too full of yourself. Pot the black ball if you can, or you'll still lose!"

"Yeah, get on with it! I don't believe you'll have such great luck this time." It was that guy from just now who was itching to see Xiao Luo fail.

"It was all luck just now. If he pots the black ball this time, I will kneel to him."

"Just kneeling? I will straight up call him daddy!"

"Yeah. A miracle like that will never happen twice."

The few people who were close acquaintances of Ye Yingying began taunting him.

Xiao Luo kept quiet, bent down, and locked his cue on the white ball. The cue, the white ball, and the black ball were in a straight line. His eyes were sharp, and his body was radiating a unique aura. A gust of wind blew over, sending the fringe on his forehead into a gentle flutter.

The air condensed as he channeled his focus.

His foxy grin, his confidence, his evil yet charming morale, and his solemnness were giving off a mysterious air of kingliness.

For a moment, Chu Yue was taken in by this force in the world. She murmured subconsciously, "That poser looks so... so handsome!"

At this moment, Xiao Luo had already taken his shot.

Clack

It was still a hard strike. The white ball whistled toward the black ball like a ray of white light rupturing the fabric of space that it even left an afterimage in the crowd's eyes.

As soon as it collided with the black ball, the white ball immediately substituted the black ball in its position and spun at breakneck speed. The black ball, on the other hand, morphed into a black panther that thundered toward a hole. Without any accident, it perfectly went into the hole following a Ka-drrum."

The crowd was gazing at the white ball that was spinning wildly in the same spot as if they were idiots, with the word "impossible" imprinted on their faces. The guy who said Xiao Luo was blessed by luck earlier, in particular, felt his face burning as if he'd been slapped hard by someone.

"I got 13 points. According to our agreement just now, I won."

Xiao Luo put down the cue, walked to Ye Yingying, and extended his hand. He meant, where's my watch and bank card?

With so many people around, Ye Yingying couldn't renege on her promise. But 50 thousand dollars was her one-month pocket money, and that Swiss watch was her much-treasured possession. How could she hand them over just like that?

"I want another match!"

Ye Yingying gritted her teeth while she took off her watch and placed it into Xiao Luo's hand alongside her bank card.

"Another match?" Xiao Luo frowned.

"Yes, a rematch."

Ye Yingying's eyes were about to spurt fire. She finally understood that this guy had been pretending all along. From the moment she challenged him to a snooker match, she had become an idiot, "If you win, I will give you another hundred thousand dollars. If you lose, return me my bank card, watch, and lick my shoe clean."

She was furious. This was the first time she got cucked so severely. She was proud of her brilliance in snooker. For her, this defeat was a deep, humiliating disgrace.

Why would Xiao Luo ever say no to free money?

He replied in a faint tone, "Well, we could, but I don't like empty promises!"

What he meant was, she had to show her sincerity. She couldn't just say it with her mouth.

"There's fifty grand in here!"

Fang Shulan took out a bank card from her pocket and placed it on the snooker table, supporting Ye Yingying till the very end.

Fu Jiawei was no longer pretending to be good brothers with Xiao Luo. He took out a bank card and said, "I have fifty thousand dollars in here as well."

"There's exactly 100 thousand over here. Okay, fine. I'll have another match with you."

Although Xiao Luo wasn't someone whose eyes would glimmer in the face of money, he never turned his thumbs down to it. Oh yeah, ten points, and I'll win? Like just now?"

After hearing this, Ye Yingying, Fang Shulan, and Fu Jiawei almost vomited blood.

Fu Jiawei was holding back his vulgar words as he forced a smile on his face. He said, "Xiao Luo. You know how to play snooker. If we go with the previous ten points, it won't be fair to Yingying."

"Do you mean we're going by the normal rules, Jiawei?" asked Xiao Luo.

"Duh! Why must she give you a handicap after we know that you knew how to play snooker?"

"What a shameless person! Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning?"

"Taking your underserved gain for granted, why don't you go to hell."

The people who were close with Yingying and the girls were overcome by anger, wishing they could go forward and whack him together.

"Xiao Luo, stop acting. We won't fall for it," Fang Shulan said.

"Relax, I'm just saying. I already had one easy match. It wouldn't be great if I get another handicap. Let's have a normal game. Whoever gets a higher score wins," Xiao Luo looked ever so tranquil, keeping a smile on his face from beginning till the end.

Ye Yingying took a step forward, took a cue, and thumped it on the ground as she said furiously, "Cut the crap! Break-off!"

Xiao Luo shut his mouth but kept his smile and put on solemn expression. He once again picked up the cue, went to the break-off zone, and started the game with a light thrust.

It was a faceoff between pros, and the atmosphere was tense.

Everyone was looking at the table without blinking their eyes, not knowing who would be the victor.

With the gentle strike that Xiao Luo had taken, the white ball collided with the edge of the clumped up red balls and rebounded to the tiny semi-circular break-off area.

Most people thought it was a tremendous defensive strike. But from Ye Yingying's point of view, Xiao Luo had revealed a flaw in his first shot because one red ball had already detached from the cluster, and it just so happens that it was hittable with the white ball. Even the angulation was just right so that she could get it potted. While doing that, she could seize the opportunity to scatter the red balls, which would be beneficial for her to get more balls potted subsequently and acquire more points.

Chapter 36

Without a word, Ye Yingying walked to the table with exceptionally focused eyes.

In this game, she wanted to showcase all of what she was capable of unreservedly, win back her bank card and watch, and all the more, let Xiao Luo lick her heels clean in front of everyone, so as to vent her hate.

On the table, the white ball and the red ball that was separated from the cluster was about half a table away. The red ball also had quite some distance with the bottom hole. Such a strike was the hardest to take. Its difficulty factor was immense.

If she could get the ball potted, she would have the chance to pressure her opponent with that move alone, but if she couldn't, she could very well be counter-pressured.

This was undoubtedly a very risky strike!

Everyone focused their attention and held their breath while they looked at the emerald-colored snooker table, wondering if that ball could be potted into a hole.

Ye Yingying looked very calm. She bent down and struck the white ball without hesitation.

"Tuck~"

Being impacted by the cue, the white ball gushed away. After colliding with the red ball, it thumped into the cluster of red balls, while the previous red ball rolled straight the bottom hole. Following a "Ka-drrum", it potted glamorously.

At the same time, another red ball from the clump that was scattered was also potted into another hole.

Two pots in a strike, two points in an instant!

"Great strike!"

"You're the best Yingying! A prodigy in snooker!"

"In the face of absolute skill, that contemptible rebel can never get his sh*t together."

When Ye Yingying's friends were cheering for her, they didn't forget blast Xiao Luo with mockery.

The others were also nodding to each other. This was truly a beautiful strike by Ye Yingying. It was done calmly, decisively, and clean, pleasant to look at, and the crowd had to applaud for her.

Xiao Luo, on the other hand, was still at the side while he continued to leisurely sip on the red wine that he had yet finished drinking, enjoying the wonderful pleasures of good wine rolling through, and nourishing his throat.

After potting two balls in a strike and having acquired two points, Ye Yingying continued her turn. Her choice was the pink ball that was worth six points. The position of the white cue ball was very conducive, and with greater reason, it would beneficial for her subsequent moves. Hence, knocking the pink ball was the best choice.

"Tuck~"

The crisp melody of the cue strike sounded. The white ball went rolling directly towards the pink ball at a very fast speed. It was a heavy strike. Ye Yingying's intention was obvious as to position the white ball at a favorable position after potting the pink ball, to continue her turn with the red balls.

"Clack~"

After being knocked by the white ball, the pink ball sprinted towards the bottom hole with accuracies at the extreme. The murky opening of the hole was like an opened giant mouth waiting to slurp in the pink ball. However, just when the crowd thought that the ball will be potted for sure, an accident occurred. At the moment when the swift-moving pink ball entered the hole, it sped around the hole and was spurted back out.

"What? How could that be?"

One of Ye Yingying's friends yelled aloud.

The scene was in an uproar. No one expected that to happen. That was a confirmed pot. Why did it spin around the hole entrance and spring back out?

Ye Yingying also had her eyes slightly widened and her face in a startle. This was completely beyond her expectations.

"Damn it, why did that happen?"

Fu Jiawei forcefully flung his arms as he reviled in displease.

"What happened?" from far away, Chu Yue blinked her enthralling eyes and asked out of puzzlement.

With a doubting look, Bai Ling said, "It looks like the unexpected has occurred. Ye Yingying didn't pot the pink ball."

"That's fine. I don't believe that poser will ever win Yingying in a normal match," Chu Yue was full of confidence in Ye Yingying.

...

At this moment, Xiao Luo put down the wine glass, stood up, and said leisurely, "Such scenarios could easily happen when you use too much strength. It's like a basketball flying towards the hoop at high speed. As long as the accuracy deviates just slightly, the speed can produce a big enough centrifugal force to make it rotate along the hoop, and in the end, bounce right out from it. The reasoning behind is the same."

"What a great speech, you sound like you know snooker very well!" Ye Yingying scoffed in disdain.

"This isn't about snooker. It is simple physics," Xiao Luo said calmly.

Ye Yingying snorted lightly, "Don't get too full of yourself. The game has only just begun. Don't ever think that you can win."

"Sometimes, a tiny mistake is often fatal," Xiao Luo revealed an enigmatic smile.

"Really?"

Ye Yingying sneered, "I might have made a mistake, but the white ball is attached to the edge, and all the more, at the break-off region. You think this will be an easy ball for you?"

"For me, anywhere is the same," Xiao Luo said disapprovingly.

"Hu-huh... I'll look forward to your performance then!" Ye Yingying dropped a cold sentence, turned around, and backed off.

Xiao Luo didn't strike the ball immediately but placed his cue aside and reached out his hands to pick up something on the emerald-colored table.

Fang Shulan was impatient as she yelled, "Xiao Luo, what are you doing? Can you take your turn?"

Xiao Luo raised his head and smiled gently, "There is a small piece of dirt on the table. I want to dispose of it."

"So what if you clear the dirt? Do you think you can really win Yingying?" Fang Shulan got so pissed off that she laughed, feeling that Xiao Luo was being extremely ridiculous.

Xiao Luo said ever so tranquilly, "Let me get rid of the dirt. Then, I will show you all how to clear the table."

Clearing the table?

The crowd was startled at first. Then, they turned up their noses and laughed, feeling that Xiao Luo speech was too biggety and too pretentious. 𝓵𝒊𝒃𝙧𝓮𝙖𝓭.𝙘𝒐𝙢

"Are you pretending? If you can clear the table, I'll cut off my d*ck right over here!"

"What a boaster."

"I've never seen such a shameless and arrogant person."

Fang Shulan and Ye Yingying's friends sneered. That guy who promised to eat shit earlier on even said that he would cut off his schlong.

Fu Jiawei shook his head as he turned around to look at Chu Yue. He sighed on the inside, "I have absolutely no idea why princess Chu Yue would let such a guy into her team. Is skill really that important that just anyone can be recruited?"

Ignoring the mockeries from all around, after puffing off the dirt in his hand, Xiao Luo picked up the cue, bent down his body, and struck the white ball seemingly without aiming.

Clean, smooth, and without delay!

"Clack~"

Before the crowd's attention, the white ball knocked a red ball into a hole and stopped firmly at a corner.

Xiao Luo didn't bother to look at the crowd. He walked over with the cue, bent his body, and continued to strike the white ball within less than ten seconds from his previous shot.

"Clack~"

With the crisp sound of balls colliding, the black ball rolled towards a hole and was potted following a "Ka-drrum".

Eh? What's going on?

The crowd was astounded as their movements froze for him.

Xiao Luo continued without pausing. With the cue in his hands, he changed positions and continued to strike the ball.

One strike, one pot!

"Ka-drrum~"

"Ka-drrum~"

Red ball pots, black ball pots, red ball pots, black ball pots, and the cycle repeated.

As known to the crowd, the black ball held the highest point, which was seven. With it continuously being potted, Xiao Luo's score continuously soared with two values of one and eight.

Amidst the crowd's gazes in awe, with movements as smooth as flowing water, Xiao Luo expressionlessly went one strike after another, potting the balls serenely like a snooker grandmaster. It was like he was performing magic...

Chapter 37

The Ka-drrum of red and black balls being potted into holes was like a giant drum beating on everyone's soul.

As the referee, the Fu Family's butler re-spotted the colored balls and said, "He has already potted ten balls in a row!"

Moreover, aside from the ten-consecutive pottings, all the balls potted after every red ball were black. Xiao Luo's score was a staggering 40 points.

Ka-drrum. Ka-drrum.

Xiao Luo focused his attention on delivering his strikes at lightning speed. He didn't need to aim at all, yet he potted the balls nearly every single time. Extraordinary!

Ye Yingying's eyes were as wide as a copper bell: She could no longer maintain her composure.

Fang Shulan and Fu Jiawei were equally dumbfounded. Who knew that Xiao Luo's snooker skills were at this level? His movements were elegant. His shots were decisive. His sense of rhythm was impeccable. Was this even the same guy who slipped up at the beginning? No way.

Looking on from afar, Chu Yue and Bai Ling didn't expect Xiao Luo to be this good.

20 consecutive strikes.

30 consecutive strikes.

The number of billiards on the table decreased rapidly. Xiao Luo thrust his cue forcefully on the last black ball.

Ka-drrum

It fell into the hole, marking the completion of his 32nd strike.

He put down his cue.

The table was cleared!

He won without breaking a sweat.

Total silence. Everyone stood staring in wonder at the table with only a white ball left. Were their eyes deceiving them? Had they just witnessed an illusion?

Rubbing his eyes Fu Jiawei, said to Fang Shulan, his voice shaking, "A... all the balls are potted?"

Fang Shulan nodded like a robot with a stiff face. "Yes, all of them!"

Having confirmed the fact, Fu Jiawei looked at Xiao Luo. Xiao Luo bested Fang Shulan in street dancing and crushed Ye Yingying in snooker. How could this guy, from an ordinary family of farmers, be this tough to deal with? So competent? His performance defied credulity.

"This is impossible. How is this possible? This can't be possible."

Ye Yingying's face turned ghostly pale. Until this moment, she did accept that she'd lost the match.

She had only acquired two points. And Xiao Luo? A whopping 141 points, ending the game by clearing the table. She was proud of how she played. Even when she went against masters, she had never lost so miserably. How could this little nobody triumph over her?

Her mind went blank, as all thoughts slipped away.

And the guy who threatened to cut off his manhood if Xiao Luo cleared the table was flattened in disgrace. His face was as red as a baboon's butt, and he felt like burying his head in the nearest hole.

Xiao Luo unceremoniously held the two bank cards in his hands and waved to Ye Yingying, "Thanks, Ms. Ye!"

Upon finishing, he turned around and prepared to leave the villa.

Fu Jiawei's heart was bleeding, because one of those cards was his. Seeing that Xiao Luo was about to leave, he immediately asked, "Xiao Luo, my brother, where are you going? The party hasn't ended yet!"

"Gonna do some transfers at the nearby ATM. I only feel secure after the money enters my account," Xiao Luo said.

#&%...

Fu Jiawei wanted to curse so badly after hearing him. Losing money felt f*cking awful. It felt even worse when the guy who won his money gave him an innocuous smile. His blood was boiling. But still, he kept his composure.

Fang Shulan, however, wasn't so nice. Unable to bear Xiao Luo's cynicism, she sneered, "Are you afraid of us reneging and freezing our accounts? Relax, we don't have to do that. I regard this as chump change to shun off some beggar!" 𝓁𝘪𝒷𝘳ℯ𝘢𝑑.𝒸𝘰𝑚

She was so angry she lost her mind for a moment and shed all pretenses of cordiality.

When the crowd heard that, everyone frowned. Fang Shulan was embarrassing them, the children of privilege. She not only lost the competition but with that remark, she lost her character, too. On the surface, it might have seemed as if she was humiliating him, but in fact, she was lowering her standards and splashing dirty water on herself.

Xiao Luo smiled faintly, "Ms. Fang, you were born into a family of wealth and privilege. You've never had to want for anything since the day you were born. I bet that what you spent on your branded clothes and luxury accessories was enough to open a shop. How fortunate you are. You may enjoy your privileges and creature comforts to your heart's content, but that doesn't mean you're superior enough to look down on people born into an ordinary family. Life has its ups and downs. I mean, maybe, just maybe, when we meet next time, perhaps you will be the one looking up at me."

As absurd as it might seem, Xiao Luo's words penetrated deep into the hearts of the guests. Their expressions ran the gamut: Some were full of contempt as they regarded his words as a joke, while others knitted their eyebrows and fell into contemplation.

"Me? Looking up at you?"

Fang Shulan laughed and scoffed, "You? Really? Whether in terms of resources and connections, everyone here has it better than you. Do you think that I'll fare worse than you after I graduate?"

"You can't be sure about that. It all depends on what we do, right?" Xiao Luo said humbly.

Upon finishing, he ignored Fang Shulan and headed outside the villa.

Fang Shulan gritted her teeth and stomped her feet in rage.

"Excuse me, sir!"

At this moment, several security guards approached him and blocked Xiao Luo's way.

Frowning, Xiao Luo asked lightly, "How can I help you?"

"This is the thing. Just not long ago, the young master lost a few valuable items," said a security guard.

"Oh?"

Xiao Luo looked at Fu Jiawei, "You lost some things, Jiawei?"

"Yeah, they are quite valuable. I must say," Fu Jiawei nodded.

The security guard continued, "It may be difficult for the young master to say this so we will speak for him. Except for you, everyone here is from prestigious backgrounds. Hence, your suspicion is most significant. Of course, this might very well be a misunderstanding. Would you kindly stand still and allow us to search your person to prove your innocence? Would you consent to that my good fellow?

The security guard's disdainful eyes were starring vertically at Xiao Luo.

Bai Ling gulped as she turned her head and asked, "Young mistress Chu, is this your third plan?"

Chu Yue nodded, "Yeah!"

"This is beyond the pale. Now, you're not making Xiao Luo look ugly. You're humiliating him in front of a massive crowd," said Bai Ling.

"Relax, I know when to stop. If he gets angry, I'll ask him out alone at some point and make an apology."

Chu Yue curled her lips, thinking that maybe she had gone overboard. But at this stage, she couldn't halt the plan. If her ruse were exposed, she would be the embarrassed one.

"The damage is already done. What's the point of apologizing?"

Bai Ling glanced at her indignantly. "I'm done for. I accidentally boarded your pirate ship. Xiao Luo will treat me as a bad person who humiliated him."

"Hey, why do you care so much what he thinks of you?"

Chu Yue rolled her eyes. Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind. She took a deep breath, pointed at Bai Ling in terror, and said accusingly, "Bai Ling, don't tell me! Have you fallen for that poser?"

"What are you talking about? I've only known him for less than two days. How could that be possible."

"Not possible, you say? You're blushing. You even picked on me just now, so you're the one who likes him."

"When I say no, it means no. Forget it. I'm not going to talk to you."

Bai Ling turned around angrily.

Chapter 38

"Do you have evidence that I stole something?"

Xiao Luo looked at the security guard square in the eye and denied taking anything from the villa.

The other security guards took a step forward in solidarity, bracing themselves for a confrontation. They gave Xiao Luo a cold stare of disdain.

Gritting his teeth, the head security guard said, "Didn't I just tell you? Except for you, everyone else here is from a prestigious family. You are a poor guy, and that makes you the most suspicious. We don't want any trouble. We just want to do a search. If we find nothing, you're free to go."

"Do the poor deserve to be despised or condemned?" 𝒍𝓲𝒃𝙧𝓮𝙖𝒅.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Xiao Luo said solemnly, "Aren't you a poor guy too? Otherwise, why would you be working here as a security guard?"

"You..."

The other security guards stood there, with clenched fists.

Xiao Luo snarled, "Go look after your gates! Leave me alone! I've done nothing wrong."

"And what if we don't let you pass? You will not be leaving this place until we search you."

The leader of the guards began raising his voice, attracting the attention of the guests, who stared at Xiao Luo menacingly like ferocious hounds circling their prey.

Xiao Luo let out a snort and gave him a knee bump.

Bam.

The guard went flying in the air and smashed into the food table with a loud bang: all the food came crashing to the ground.

The guests gasped in horror. Was he hurling someone five to six meters away with a knee bump? What kind of strength was that?

Xiao Luo continued without pausing. He performed neat and swift turning kicks, rear kicks, and punches and sent the guards surrounding him flying all in all directions, knocking down the guests, the barbeque stand, and anything else in his way. He turned the dance party into a garbage dump. Panic set in. Everyone was screaming.

They had never seen anyone like him before.

Xiao Luo cracked his neck and exhaled. Like a general who massacred an entire army, he shouted, "Ah, that feels good!"

He scanned his surroundings with a smile on his face, his eyes ultimately landing on Fu Jiawei.

Gulp.

Fu Jiawei trembled as he swallowed a mouthful of saliva. He never expected Xiao Luo's fighting skills to be so out-of-the-world — he was a monster. Fu Jiawei had hired all his security guards through legitimate companies. They had undergone strict training and were veterans in close combat. Who'd have thought that the five of them would be lying on the ground groaning in pain after being whacked a couple of times by the likes of Xiao Luo? He literally couldn't believe his eyes.

When he was spacing out, Xiao Luo marched up to him and stared him down with a don't-mess-with-me face.

Fu Jiawei broke out in a cold sweat. He instinctively stepped backward, but accidentally tripped and landed on his butt.

Xiao Luo stared at him from above, "You said I stole something precious from you, right? Fine. Now then, I will turn out every pocket. If you can't find those valuable things that you mentioned, I will break all your fingers one by one. How's that?"

This guy wasn't joking! His threats were severe, and his hostile intent was undisguised. When an angel loses patience, it puts on the face of the devil.

Fu Jiawei shivered in horror as he quickly explained with a smile, "I-It's a misunderstanding. Don't be angry, my brother. I'm just joking with you, i-it's nothing more than a joke. I have lost nothing!"

He did not doubt that Xiao Luo would break his fingers. This wild beast was emitting a savaging aura from head to toe. Pathetically, Fu Jaiwei he had previously regarded him as a timid sheep that could be bullied and taunted for his amusement and pleasure.

"A joke? Where can you find jokes like this?" Xiao Luo stepped on Fu Jiawei's chest.

The force made Fu Jiawei feel as if his lungs and chest were bursting. The pain was so excruciating he began coughing heavily.

Everyone felt his chilling aversion.

"Xiao Luo! Let go of Jiawei! Or else!" Fang Shulan yelled.

Seeing the absurdity in her words, Xiao Luo turned his head with a mocking smile and said, "Oh? Or else what?"

Fang Shulan couldn't speak for a moment, nor did she have the courage to stare straight into Xiao Luo's piercing eyes. He was right. He even wiped out all of Fu Jiawei's security guards. What could she possibly do to him?

"We'll call the police and have you arrested for assault and battery. You'll be sent to prison," said Ye Yingying boldly.

"The jail is waiting for you."

"You're not only poor–you're barbaric. You turned our nice dance party into a big mess and destroyed our property. People like you are called hooligans."

"Let go of Jiawei!"

Ye Yingying's close acquaintances criticized Xiao Luo. After recovering from the shock of the altercation, what did they have to be afraid of, given their numbers? At least that's what they thought initially. Now, all bets were off.

"You should've mentioned calling the police earlier. We're a society bound by laws. Whacking someone is illegal. I don't wanna break the law," Xiao Luo said while frowning.

Thinking that Xiao Luo was afraid, Ye Yingying gained some courage and ran to help Fu Jiawei up, "Good that you know. Now, take your claws off Jiawei!"

Fang Shulan knitted her eyebrows. Both she and Ye Yingying had an unclear, ambiguous relationship with Fu Jiawei, and they both loved the man deeply. Hence, when Fang Shulan saw Ye Yingying running forward, she followed her and sneered at Xiao Luo, "You bastard. Are you going to lift your foot or not? Do you believe I will use my connections to let you rot in jail until you make a hole on the floor?"

"Hu-huh..."

While smiling, Xiao Luo took his foot off Fu Jiawei.

In the next second, with a cold expression, he smacked his feet on Ye Yingying's face. Following the sound, Ye Yingying fell to the ground with a clear shoe mark printed on her left cheek.

Before Fang Shulan could react, Xiao Luo flung the back of his hand, slapping it hard on Fang Shulan's face.

Slap.

Fang Shulan screamed in pain and fell to the ground. There was a touch of blood at the corner of her mouth.

The two girls turned their heads around and glared at Xiao Luo with their eyes wide open.

"You... How dare you hit me!"

Ye Yingying shrieked. No one had ever treated her this way before, as if she was a lump of dirt, a nobody.

"Hit you? Did I?"

Xiao Luo spread his hands, innocently, "There are no surveillance cameras here. Do you think the police will believe I hit you based solely on your claims?"

"You jerk! You just wait! You'll regret this!" Fang Shulan pointed at Xiao Luo as she made a harsh remark.

"My apologies, the word regret doesn't exist in my vocabulary!" Xiao Luo said with a faint smile.

"Stop right there. Xiao Luo! What are you doing?"

At this moment, Chu Yue and Bai Ling ran over desperately. Chu Yue was the one doing the shouting.

She only wanted to make Xiao Luo look bad this one time. She never dreamed things would turn out like this. Never in her wildest imagination did she think he would possess such formidable skills and be unafraid of anything or anyone. Aside from beating up all Fu Jiawei's guard, he even beat up Fu Jiawei and his gang.

Unexpected. Everything was so unexpected!

She never anticipated this situation.

"Oh, you finally decided to show your face, Ms. Chu?"

With a playful smile on his face, he asked, "Do you think of me as a toy? Do you want to get more people and play a few more rounds with me? I will stick it out to the bitter end and do whatever you have prepared for me!"

Chapter 39

So, the cat was out of the bag: Xiao Luo knew all along that Chu Yue was the one who'd cooked up this nefarious scheme. Standing face to face with his stormy gaze and dagger eyes, she felt a pang of guilt, as if she had committed a serious crime.

The other guests were also in on the joke. Fu Jiawei, Fang Shulan, and Ye Yingying were targeting a guy from an ordinary family simply because Chu Yue had instructed them to do so.

Those three most certainly wouldn't have dared challenge Chu Yue. After all, her father was Chu Yunxiong, one of Jiangcheng City's most influential figures. Though their families were just as wealthy, they didn't travel in the same circles. The three students were well aware that a loose tongue could cause them a lot of trouble. Chu Yunxiong was not someone to be trifled with or tested.

"Xiao Luo, don't be angry, said Bai Ling. Young Mistress Chu isn't a bad person. She's just..."

He interrupted her. "If this isn't bad, then define bad for me. Murder and arson?"

Xiao Luo waved his hands dismissively before turning to Chu Yue. "Let me think about why you're doing this to me," he said. "Ah, I get it! First, I took all your glory in the match yesterday, right? Second, I didn't talk to you politely and deferentially as if I were your grandson like everyone else, right?"

"I..."

Chu Yue kept silent because Xiao Luo was dead-on right about everything. That was the reason she wanted to make him look bad.

"Ms. Chu, young mistress Chu. Don't you think your behavior is childish? Why do you think everyone has to dote on you, protect you, flatter you, obey you, and put you at the center of their heart? Is it because your family is rich, and you have a pretty face?"

Grinning sarcastically, Xiao Luo continued, "Who do you think you are? Do you think the earth will stop spinning without you? Sorry to break it to you, but you have a grossly exaggerated high opinion of yourself. I, for one, despise you. I will never grovel before you. In my eyes, you're just like the Stapelia plant: pretty looking, foul-smelling!"

"You..."

Chu Yue unconsciously shed a few tears. Xiao Luo's words hurt. He used no expletives, but his sentences were like poison needles jabbing in her flesh. No one had ever spoken to her so disrespectfully before.

The others were startled, too. Xiao Lou described the campus belle of Huaye University as a Stapelia: pretty but foul-smelling. Wow. This guy was running his mouth a little too much. Wasn't he afraid of being struck by lightning?

After thinking for a while, Chu Yue came up with a rebuttal, "Do you still want to join my team?"

To her surprise, Xiao Luo said with a contemptuous smile, "Before this, yes. Now, no. Although there's a chance for me to win a huge sum of money, which I could use, I won't compromise my morals or integrity. So, thanks, but no thanks! I won't yield to you over money."

He exuded an air of indifference.

Then he turned briskly on his heel and walked away.

"Xiao Luo, where are you going?" Bai Ling called out.

"Back to school!"

"But there are no taxis in this area. Leave with us later!" she shouted.

Xiao Luo callously waved his hand without looking back, acting like a total nut job.

Everyone on the dance floor was astounded.

"That stupid poser. How dare Xiao Luo compare me with the pretty but stinky Stapelia! I... I..."

Chu Yue wiped her tears, feeling misunderstood. The fact that Xiao Luo didn't give a damn about her dealt a heavy blow to her pride. 𝓁𝘪𝘣𝘳ℯ𝒶𝘥.𝘤𝑜𝓂

Bai Ling sighed faintly, unable to console her. She could only repeat what she'd been saying all along, "Xiao Luo is your nemesis. Accept your fate!"

After the commotion died down, Fu Jiawei felt that the time had arrived for him to sell himself. Enduring the slight pain at his chest, he hobbled over to Chu Yue and said, "Princess Chu Yue, don't argue with him. Rest assured, I'll get someone to teach him a hard lesson and make him grovel before you to apologize."

"He slapped me! Can you believe it?" I'll never let this pass!" Ye Yingying said furiously.

Equally exasperated, Fang Shulan gritted her teeth, "I'll make sure that basta*rd pays us back in spades!"

"Today's incident ends here," Chue Yu said. "None of you should bother Xiao Lu, or I'll tear up our friendship."

Then she wrinkled her nose and said firmly, "I'll reimburse all of you for the money you lost. After all, it was because of me that you went out of your way to make things difficult for him, only it didn't work. It backfired."

Her remarks made the three of them squirm. One was a veteran street dancer; the other was a past master in snooker. But Xiao Luo outdid them both, and they were the ones who were disgraced. If word got out, people would laugh their heads off.

"That bast*rd was very good at pretending to be inexperienced. Otherwise, we wouldn't have lost so badly. He tricked us." Fang Shulan was simply pissed off at Xiao Luo.

Bai Ling decided to add her two cents, "Come on. Didn't any of you realize that Xiao Luo was more inscrutable than any of us? He plays like a challenger in League. He's better than Shulan in street dancing. And he even outperformed Yingying in snooker. Xiao Luo is a genius who excels in everything!"

Psss

When she said that, Chu Yue, Fu Jiawei, Fang Shulan, and Ye Yingying gasped. Bai Ling's words made them realize that Xiao Luo was a prodigy in gaming, street dancing, snooker, and brawling.

Everyone was constrained by time and energy. Talent varied among individuals. It was already extraordinary for someone to excel in one or two fields. But in Xiao Luo's case, he was a prodigy in at least four. How was that possible? Of what were his brain and body made?

Could Xiao Luo be that kind of genius who only appeared once in a century, as often seen in movies?

For a moment, the three of them put their anger aside as they contemplated n Xiao Luo's phenomenal talents.

After the disturbance Xiao Luo had created died down, the dance party soon came to an end.

Fang Shulan and Ye Yingying naturally didn't want to miss the opportunity to get it on with Fu Jiawei. Hence, they would be spending the night in the villa.

The other guests dispersed. Chu Yue and Bai Ling were also preparing to return to campus.

It was already eleven o'clock at night. The streetlights couldn't dispel the darkness. The night was as murky as ink, and every streetlamp looked like the eyes of a sleepy person that would close at any time.

On the long empty street, the wind rustled through the fallen leaves with a snapping sound.

"Bai Ling, tell me honestly. Am I as horrible as that loser poser said I was?" Chu Yue couldn't help but doubt herself.

Bai Ling said, "Young mistress Chu. You earn tens of thousands a month just by streaming yourself playing games. Whether on food, clothes, daily necessities, you spend the money you make on yourself. If this is considered lousy, shouldn't I be ashamed of myself?"

"That's what I thought. That poser talked about me like I'm good at nothing. Why didn't I think of using my monthly income to shut Xiao Luo's big mouth?" Chu Yue said indignantly.

"I told you not to go overboard. Xiao Luo's different from other guys."

"What's so different about him? They all have two eyes, two ears, one nose, and one mouth. Or does he have three heads and six arms?"

"Sigh, I don't know how to describe it. But regardless, I just have the feeling this guy is very different. You'd better play on him less in the future," Bai Ling advised.

"Who wants to play with him at all? He's so boring," she snapped contemptuously. "The nerve!"

But when she was saying that, what appeared in her mind were the elegant dance moves, the concentrated eyes, and the devilish yet charming smirk that Xiao Luo had when he was robot dancing and playing snooker.

Chapter 40

Just when Chu Yue and Bai Ling were about to open the car door, a man with a dry, raspy voice approached them from behind. He came out of nowhere, and it creeped them out.

"Please wait, ladies!"

His voice sent shivers up their spine. They felt uneasy being alone on an empty street with a stranger so late at night.

Chu Yue and Bai Ling turned their heads around to get a look at this weirdo. Was anyone else with him, or was he alone? Dressed in black from head to toe, he was wearing a loose black coat and a wide-brimmed hat pulled down over his eyes. It just so happened that the lights from the streetlamp were shining down at a slanted angle on top of his head, making it impossible to see his face.

Earlier, the girls had checked the street and the area around the car to make sure it was safe. There wasn't a person in sight. Everything looked okay. So when this stranger came from behind them, walking softly without making a sound, they smelled trouble.

"Who are you? What do you want?"

Chu Yue stared at the person vigilantly as she discretely slipped her hand into her purse and grabbed the pepper spray concealed inside a lipstick case. If this person was up to no good, she was ready to spray him in the face or eyes.

"Are you Ms. Chu Yue?" the man in black inquired.

Chu Yue subconsciously nodded but shook her head immediately after. Panic set in.

"He-heh. It looks like I didn't get the wrong person!"

Chu Yue caught a glimpse of the man's hideous devil's grin in the shadows.

Feeling the situation wasn't right, she went to grab the pepper spray. But it was too late. The man waved his enormous hand and threw a colorless and odorless powder in her and Bai Ling's faces. It was devil's breath. After taking a few breaths, the girls started to feel like zombies.

First, they felt dizzy. Then their vision became blurry and clouded.

The two of them tottered a few steps and collapsed like a couple of wet rag dolls, totally zonked.

"W... what have you done to us?" Bai Ling stammered feebly.

"Relax, this isn't poison. It'll make you fall asleep quickly," the man in black stepped forward and chuckled as if he was admiring two works of art.

Chu Yue struggled to hold herself up. "W..., who are you?"

"It doesn't matter. What's important is that you're Chu Yunxiong's daughter. If he pays the ransom, I will avert this disaster for him. Just think of yourself as unlucky," said the man in black.

"L... let go of my friend, t-this doesn't have anything to... do with her..."

Despite having the temperament of a young mistress, Chu Yue did inherit some of her father's traits. She was cool-headed and didn't get rattled as other girls would during a kidnapping. She was even looking out for her best friend.

"My apologies. Aside from money, I happen to like pretty girls, especially students like you two who haven't been, ahem, excavated much."

The man in black took a deep breath and said, "The fragrance of your bodies is so...so intoxicating."

Chu Yue's face was pale. Bai Ling was in despair. For girls, undoubtedly, their bodies were precious. If they were humiliated by this guy who resembled neither human nor ghost, they might as well kill themselves.

"Do not resist. Be a good girl and follow me, hehe..."

With a sinister laugh, the man in black stretched out his enormous hands that looked like a devil's claw and grabbed Chu Yue and Bai Ling on the ground.

But at that very moment, he caught a whiff of someone nearby. Years of stalking exclusive prey for a commission coupled with living on the edge had granted him a keen sense of smell that alerted him to danger.

A threat. He felt his adrenalin pumping.

When he turned his head to see who was there, his chest felt tight.

Where is he? He was over there just now!

When the thought flashed through his mind, a burst of energy came from behind him.

His pupils shrank. With no time to think, he immediately leaped to his feet, attempting to avoid the shock.

But it was too late. A brutal palm forcefully struck his back. The man in black quivered and spewed a mouthful of blood, feeling as if he'd been hit by a speeding car. He went flying without control and fell into a posture like that of a dog eating sh*t.

Chu Yue and Bai Ling were terrified. Who sent the man in black flying in the air? They could only see a slender figure in their blurred vision. In the next second, a name popped out in both their minds: Xiao Luo. The character resembled him too much in height and body type.

But under the drug's effect, they were temporarily paralyzed and couldn't utter a word. At last, the girls passed out.

The man in black lifted himself slowly from the ground while he looked in horror at the young man wearing a white T-shirt who had super-human strength. If it hadn't been for the man in black's swift reflexes, that karate chop would have shattered his back.

Who was that guy?

According to the intelligence he received from the person who hired him, there was no one of his caliber guarding Chu Yue. He'd already lured away two of her regular bodyguards. Where did this guy come from? Was he Chu Yue's bodyguard too?

"Who are you?" the man in black shouted. 𝘭𝑖𝑏𝘳ℯ𝑎𝑑.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"I've been hired to do a job just like you. The difference is that you were hired to kidnap Chu Yue. I was hired to protect her," Xiao Luo snorted.

Tonight's encounter made Xiao Luo detest Chu Yue inexplicably. But since he'd already signed a contract with her father, he wouldn't renege on the deal. He'd been taught to honor his word; this was a guiding principle in his life. Of course, he had also accepted two million dollars in remuneration.

"Talking is useless. Come!"

As soon as the words were spoken, with ghastly eyes, Xiao Luo lunged toward the man like a cheetah. His right palm turned into a claw. Taking an artful trajectory like a slithering snake, he went directly to man in black's throat against the hissing winds.

What speed is this?

The man in black turned pale.

With no time to think, he ran off, not wanting to provoke, much less deal with, this monster.

"Wanna run?"

Xiao Luo kept chasing the man. Since this kidnapper had already endangered Chu Yue's life, Xiao Luo didn't want him to get away, and this was an excellent opportunity to strike. If he seized him once and for all, he wouldn't have to worry about Chu Yue and keep an eye on her at all times.

But just as Xiao Luo caught up with the man in black, he threw a white powder into his face like a gust of dust.

Xiao Luo dodged it instinctively. When he regained his stance, the man in black had already run more than 20 meters away. This guy was agile. He leaped to a big tree, flipped his body over the walls of a residential area, and vanished into the night.

"Is his zodiac rabbit? He runs fast!"

Xiao Luo decided not to go after him. God knows if there were other hunters out there! Things would get nasty if he kept chasing this guy while others rushed in to kidnap Chu Yue and Bai Ling, who were lying on the ground unconscious. This whole thing was probably part of a well-thought-out multifaceted plan.

He turned around and went back to check on Chu Yue and Bai Ling. Looking at the two unconscious girls on the ground, he frowned.

Then he heard urgent footsteps in the darkness.

Xiao Luo focused his eyes while he thought, there are more of them.

Able to discern people when they were coming from behind him, without even thinking, Xiao Luo swiped at them in an offhand manner. His five fingers were like knives, making a whizzing sound as they tore through the air.

"Mr. Xiao,! We're Mr. Chu's bodyguards appointed to guard the young mistress!" one of the men said.

Chapter 41

Wrong target?!

Xiao Luo halted his attack. His hand that was like an eagle's talon abruptly stopped a few centimeters from the face of the guy who was talking. Phew! That was a close call.

The two of them were males in their thirties. Both had a bowl cut and were brawny. Despite not being very tall, their rippled muscles were beautifully defined.

Now the two of them were standing there in shock, staring in awe at the Xiao Luo's fists. They felt that they had taken a trip to and from the gates of hell and were happy they identified themselves before things turned nasty–and they got hurt.

Thinking about this, the two subconsciously quivered as they thought, where did our boss find such a beast?

Yes, a beast!

That was their impression of Xiao Luo, though his appearance was at odds with his strength. With his good looks and slim body, he looked like a bookworm or a nerd, certainly not a brutal, outrageously intense fighter.

"Xiang Gaoyang? Xiang Gaojian?"

Xiao Luo retracted his hand and studied the two guys standing in front of him.

Before Xiao Luo came to Huaye, Chu Yunxiong showed him pictures of these two bodyguards to prevent any accidents from friendly fire, as almost just happened.

The more wiry guy quickly saluted and said respectfully, "Yes, that's us!

The other person also held his fists together and bowed, "Mr. Xiao, thanks for your swift intervention. Were it not for you, the young mistress might have been..."

"No need for courtesy. Like you, I'm here to protect Ms. Chu."

Xiao Luo wasn't used to people older than himself bowing to him. "Since you're here, I'll turn Ms. Chu and her friend over to you."

"All right."

"Oh, one thing, though. Just say that you saved them. Don't expose me," Xiao Luo exhorted.

"All right, Mr. Xiao. We know what to say," Xiang Gaoyang nodded.

"Thank you."

Xiao Luo turned around and left, thinking about the 150,000 on the three credit cards he still hadn't transferred to his bank account.

The next day... inside the headquarters of the Chongshan House.

Dressed in casual attire and a golf cap, Chu Yunxiong was hitting the white ball in front of a big screen that displayed a simulated golf course. Every time he swung the club, he could see the trajectory of the white ball that flew out. It felt just like a real golf course as it was exceptionally realistic.

Leng You was standing at the side respectfully in a black suit.

He was giving his boss a report at the moment, "The one who assaulted the young mistress last night was Hua Nation's well-known hunter: the Specter. His real name is unknown because he regularly establishes a new identity every so often. Until recently, he went by Ma Zhengfeng."

"Hiring such a person to deal with me. It looks like Old Demon Jiang is desperate."

Chu Yunxiong forcefully swung the club. The golf ball flew out at high speed, and after making a beautiful arc, it landed around three meters from the hole.

Leng You nodded, "Fortunately, Xiao Luo was there this time, or the young mistress would've been..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but what he was implying was very clear.

"That two million is well worth it, is it not!" Chu Yunxiong faintly smiled.

Leng You felt a little awkward because he had previously doubted Xiao Luo's ability and even said so in front of Chu Yunxiong. He thought that Xiao Luo was only slightly better in fighting than he was and would not necessarily have the ability to protect someone else.

"Gaoyang and Gaojian miscalculated this time. The enemy's little tricks easily lured them away from Chu Yue. Tell them I never want to see that again." Chu Yunxiong's weary eyes flashed a wave of chilly anger.

Leng Zuo and Leng You quickly answered with a nod, "Yes, sir!" 𝘭𝒾𝑏𝓇𝘦𝒶𝘥.𝘤𝘰𝑚

At that moment, the door was pushed open, and Chu Yue, dressed in a snow-white outfit, came dashing in.

"Dad!"

She threw herself into Chu Yunxiong's arms. Only in her father's embrace could her heart be calmed.

"It's all right. It's all right. Everything's over now!"

Chu Yunxiong put down the club and gently patted Chu Yue's back lovingly.

After Chu Yue calmed down a bit, she let go of Chu Yunxiong and questioned him loudly with sobbing eyes, "You old fox, why must you provoke so many people? I have to live in fear every day as your daughter. Can't you turn it down a notch for my sake?"

Leng Zuo's and Leng You's faces stiffened. Old fox? They had never seen a daughter call her father an old fox in their lives.

"The field of business is like a battlefield. It's either they die, or we die. Chu Yue, you can't possibly expect me to abandon the Chongshan House and sit at home doing nothing all day every day, right?" Chu Yunxiong sighed.

"So be it, lest you can't sleep at night worrying about it. Look at yourself. You have dark circle's under your eyes now," Chu Yue said with her tiny lips pouted.

Chu Yunxiong couldn't help laugh, "If I abandon the Chongshan House, what would I eat and wear?"

"Well, I can provide for you!"

Chu Yue pursed up her lips, roused up her cheeks, and said confidently, "I can earn 20 to 30 thousand a month just streaming myself playing video games. Excluding my expenses, I have more than enough to provide for you. Besides, an old geezer like you doesn't have to spend a lot. Won't it be great for you just to sit back and enjoy your old age? You can play chess with the other geezers when you're free or hook up with some of those aunties dancing in the square. Mom's been gone for many years now. Even if you bring home some aunties, I won't say a word. If you happen to like one, you can just marry her. I will be as respectful to her as I am to you."

Hooking up with aunties?!

Leng Zuo and Leng You were struck by lightning! The young mistress was so brazen! How could she say something like that? Was their boss just some ordinary person who played chess and hooked up with aunties? No. He was a tycoon who single-handedly built a business empire from the ground up. He was a force in the world!

No matter how calm Chu Yunxiong was earlier, he spoke up at this moment, "Chu Yue. I've spoiled you rotten. You feel you can say whatever pops into your mind. Hooking up with aunties? With your father's charm, the aunties will be the ones who will come to hook up with me."

"Go on, keep on bullshitti*ng." Chu Yue pouted as she held her head high.

"Okay, that's enough. You've diverted my attention from something important. I heard that you bullied your classmate last night." Chu Yunxiong coughed and tried to change the subject.

"What bully? He's the one who bullied me! He pointed his fingers at me in front of so many people and made me feel so embarrassed. You can't imagine what a jerk he is." Chu Yue became infuriated at the sound of Xiao Luo's name.

"I heard everything from Gaoyang and the rest. You're the one at fault. Remember, those who humiliate others will be perpetually humiliated in return. Don't ever do that again..."

"Fine, fine. Why must you lecture me when I don't come here back to visit that often? Speaking of which, I want to ask you a question. Didn't you promise not to give me bodyguards? Why did you go back on your promise?"

For once, Chu Yunxiong felt his daughter was unreasonable. He made a stern face and said, "I can agree to anything else, but not this. You're my precious daughter. Your safety is more important than anything else."

"You're not only an old fox, but you are also thick-skinned!" Chu Yue was exasperated.

"So be it."

Chu Yunxiong gave her a deadpan expression, "Oh yeah. You should stop playing those video games so often. Although you can make some quick cash, it's not a proper job. If you have time for games, you should come to the office and do some managerial accounting. When I get old, the Chongshan House will be yours, sooner or later."

"I don't want it. Give the company to whoever you like."

Chu Yue turned around and said, "I'm leaving for school. I still have two periods in the afternoon."

She ran out before Chu Yunxiong could respond.

She stopped at the door, turned around, and said teasingly to Chu Yunxiong, "Hey, you old fox!"

Chu Yunxiong lifted his head, "What's the matter?"

"Take care of yourself. You should go for a jog every day and train your body. Don't just stay in your room all day. I want you to be like a tortoise that lives for thousands of years."

Feeling his heart swell, Chu Yunxiong smiled ruefully and replied, "Aye, aye!"

Later on, he thought, if I were to live thousands of years like a tortoise, wouldn't I become a cuckold? How could that girl to him like that?

Chapter 42

After transferring the money from Ye Yingying and the others' cards into his account, Xiao Luo wondered what to do with the Omega watch. Although it retailed for around 50,000 dollars, luxury watches did not hold their value, and the Omega might not fetch a decent price if he tried to sell it. Nowadays, there were no pawnshops. If he couldn't exchange it for money, what good was it?

"Wow, an Omega watch. Its official price is tagged at 59,999. Brother Luo, where did you get it?"

Zhu Xiaofei, who had a sharp eye for brands and quality, immediately recognized that the watch in Xiao Luo's hand wasn't some cheapo knockoff. It was a real Swiss Omega series watch. He rolled over like a meatball, almost knocking Xiao Luo to the ground, and gazed at the watch with glowing eyes.

"Brother Luo must've bought it himself," Ding Kai interrupted.

Zhu Xiaofei instantly held Xiao Luo's hand with an expression of adoration, "Sir, please be my sugar daddy!"

Xiao Luo was quiet for a moment. "Don't listen to Ding Kai's bullsh*t. I won it in a bet yesterday. I didn't buy it."

Won it in a bet?

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai looked at each other, shock registering on their faces.

Xiao Luo told them about the previous night's incident. But of course, he only mentioned the snooker match. He didn't go into detail about all the other things that happened.

"Holy cow. Brother Luo, you're a living legend. Even at a dance party, you managed to win a 50,000 dollar watch. If you attend a bigger event, won't you be winning yourself a pretty lady?" asked Zhu Xiaofei in surprise.

Xiao Luo ignored him and turned to ask Ding Kai, "Kaizi, do you know where I can sell this watch?"

"Well, it's easy!"

Ding Kai put down his book and sat on the bed, "Now, there are lots of second-hand trading platforms on the internet. You just have to register an account, make a post, and wait for the buyers to contact you."

Why, of course! Xiao Luo raised his brow, wondering why he didn't think of that. Now that that internet was so developed, advertising online was, without a doubt, the most economical and efficient way to find a buyer. He immediately turned on his computer, selected a second-hand trading platform, and posted a description of the watch. He tagged it at 49,000 dollars.

"English class starts in 15 minutes. Let's get going, Brother Luo." Ding Kai looked at the time and jumped off his bed.

Xiao Luo wasn't interested in attending class. "I'm not going today. Laozhu, please help me with the attendance."

When he was in university, he did this more often than not.

When Zhu Xiaofei heard this, he gasped and held up three fingers.

"Brother Luo, my good old Brother Luo. We're the only guys in the class. How could I possibly help you with attendance? It'll be so obvious if one of us isn't there. The girls can skip, but as the only guys, we can't."

Xiao Luo didn't think of that. He chuckled and patted Zhu Xiaofei's shoulders, "Don't take it seriously. Why would I want to skip class?"

He was, however, smiling bitterly on the inside. Of all the majors Chu Yue could have studied, she had to choose professional English, which had only three conspicuous dudes. Now he had to attend every single class.

...

When they got to the classroom, the class monitor, Huang Ruoran, was already there. She glanced at the three of them and continued wiping down the podium and then the chalkboard. Although college lecturers mostly used multimedia for their lessons, they would sometimes use old-fashioned chalk to write and draw on the board at the side to convey their message better.

As soon as Xiao Luo sat down, An Huanhuan, who arrived next, shamelessly ran over and sat down next to him.

"Hero Luo, can I sit here?"

After puckering her lips, An Huanhuan broke into a gleaming selfie smile, giving off a lovely and adorable aura.

"I'd rather you sat slightly farther away, so we'll each have more space," Xiao Luo said with a smile.

"Don't be like that, Hero Luo. You're my type of guy. I'm not messing with you."

An Huanhuan got closer and boldly gave Xiao Luo a sexy wink. Who could resist her velvety eyes and smoldering sultriness?

Although he had dated Zhao Mengqi for four years, Xiao Luo kept his promise not to have relations with her since they weren't married. Hence, his body was still unsocialized, meaning he was a virgin. But one whiff of An Huanhuan's light fragrance was all it took to get the juices flowing. Xiao Luo gulped as he felt his pants getting tighter. He had to adjust how he was sitting and was afraid the others would notice his arousal. Her power to elicit a response from him was irritating in the extreme.

What was An Huanhuan thinking?

Xiao Luo quickly diverted his attention. It was said that even heroes had a weakness for the charms of a beautiful woman. He didn't believe it before, but now he couldn't agree more. When an alluring temptress with enchanting charms gets close to you, what guy wouldn't have a physiological reaction?

"Hero Luo, are you all right? Why are you flushed? Are you ill?" asked An Huanhuan.

A sly smile crossed her face as she reached out to touch his forehead with the back of her hand to see if he had a fever.

Xiao Luo stood up and waved his hands, "Don't touch me, An Huanhuan. I'm not boyfriend material for you."

He was unsure of what to do. All he knew is, he desperately needed to move to a different seat.

Why desperately?

Because he was embarrassed by his excitement, which wasn't going away. He didn't want to be walking around and have the girls in the class see his bulge.

When Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai saw Xiao Luo switch seats in desperation, they broke into fits of laughter.

"Brother Luo, nobody asked you to be so handsome. See? You can never get rid of your love luck," gloated Zhu Xiaofei.

"What's wrong with being handsome? Laozhu, I think you're jealous. Your heart is unbalanced because you're ugly and nobody likes you," Ding Kai said sarcastically.

Zhu Xiaofei shot back instantly, "Excuse me? Why are you talking like you're handsome and girls like you? We two are birds of a feather. Let's not mock each other, okay?"

"I will never be like you, no matter what. You're fat as a pig."

"You're a son of a whore! You wanna wrestle with me? Have I ever told you you're as scrawny as a monkey?"

"Monkeys are intelligent animals. I'm proud to be one!"

"And so what if I'm a pig? A pig's body is full of treasures. Its waist, ears, tail. Which one of them isn't delicious."

...

Xiao Luo was watching them squabble. Aargh! Have they nothing better to do? How can people fight over something as stupid as this? 𝙡𝒊𝒃𝓻𝒆𝒂𝓭.𝙘𝓸𝓶

At that moment, An Huanhuan approached him again. She sat down and gasped bewitchingly with a coquettish glance, "Hero Luo, I'm sitting in front of you. Any objections?"

Xiao Luo was oblivious to what was going on in An Huanhuan's head. Of all people, why did she have to fall for him?

A few minutes later, in walked Chu Yue and Bai Ling.

Although they were told that Xiang Gaoyang was the one who had rescued them from the kidnapper, they weren't buying the story. Something didn't feel right. The figure they saw before they passed out resembled Xiao Luo too much.

"Bai Ling, tell me, is it the poser we saw last night?" Chu Yue kept staring at Xiao Luo with her beautiful face sheathed in doubt.

Bai Ling shook her head, "I don't know. Maybe we were mistaken. The lightning wasn't that great, plus we were drugged at the time. We very likely mistook your bodyguard for Xiao Luo."

"That's what I think. That poser was so angry at me he probably would have been happy if I'd been kidnapped. I can't imagine him going out of his way to help or save me," Chu Yue said confidently.

Chapter 43

At the end of the class, Xiao Luo felt like he had gone through a catastrophe. During the break between classes, he quickly lay prone on the table and closed his eyes for a brief while. It was too tormenting. A class was 45 minutes, and he ended up catching flies for 45 minutes.

Most certainly, sleeping on the table also meant warding off An Huanhuan's harassment.

When he was comfortably sleeping, Ding Kai beside him suddenly shoved him and said with a shaky voice, "Brother Luo, S... Song Jianan..."

"Who is Song Jianan?"

Xiao Luo straightened himself and asked subconsciously like someone who wasn't fully awake yet.

Zhu Xiaofei almost collapsed, "Brother Luo, my good old Brother Luo, how could you forget Song Jianan? Remember Tang Yuze from third year's Social Studies who came looking for trouble? That's the guy that backed him up!" 𝘭𝑖𝑏𝘳ℯ𝑎𝑑.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"Oh, the president of the mixed martial arts club!" Xiao Luo suddenly remembered and said.

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai nodded in synchronism like woodpeckers. Although they said that they will fight it out with him, that was already days ago, and their dauntlessness was already long gone. When they see Song Jianan again this time, their expressions changed drastically, especially Ding Kai. He was looking outside the classroom with no courage to even let out a gasp.

"H... he's coming in. He must be here to find trouble with us!" Ding Kai suddenly opened his eyes wide as his scrawny body begun trembling faintly.

Zhu Xiaofei had his jaw clenched as he peered at the entrance of the classroom with a stiffened body.

Tracing down their line of sight, Xiao Luo saw a guy who was 1.9 meters tall and wearing a black sleeveless garment paired with a blue sport casual pants. The muscles on his body were distributed like blocks, stacked up in individual pieces on the surface of this body. He was so brawny that even his singlet was stretched tight. It seemed that If he were to be just a little more muscular, even his singlet would be torn apart.

He had a square-shaped face, bad skin, and very thick pores. Looking at him from a distance, it felt like he was pitted with craters.

Sure enough, he was as fit as an ox!

Xiao Luo could finally understand why Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai used the word "raging bull" to describe Song Jianan. With such robustness, he might be able to lift and hurl a 200-kilogram pig all by himself.

And this guy was An Huanhuan's boyfriend. One was petite, and the other was all tall and mighty. How in god's name did these two fell for each other?

Xiao Luo couldn't help but feel a little peculiar.

Aside from Song Jianan, Tang Yuze and Chen Jie with faces full of pimples also arrived. They were like Song Jianan's lacqueys that were following him at both sides.

When the three people came in, they attracted the attention of everyone in the Professional English class. But An Huanhuan, who was Song Jianan's girlfriend, was having a hard time concealing the loathsomeness contained in her eyes. Learning from Xiao Luo, she pretended to be asleep on the table, seemingly lazy even to have a glance at Song Jianan.

"You three, what is your major? We are going to start our class soon. If you're here to do revision, would you please help yourself to another classroom?" having looked at their menacing entry, the English class lecturer politely asked the three of them to leave.

Song Jianan halted his steps, turned his head around and smiled calmly, "Sir, we are very interested in English, and hence we are here to listen to your class. But rest assured, we will not disturb the class!"

The English class lecturer was out of words. As an educator, he couldn't possibly chase away students who came to his class out of their passion for English.

Following a dry cough, he said with a severe countenance, "Since you're here for the class, find yourselves an empty seat!"

"Alright."

Song Jianan nodded. After he glanced over the classroom, he walked towards An Huanhuan in the end.

"Pretty lady, can you please give me this seat?" Song Jianan said to the girl sitting beside An Huanhuan.

That girl certainly was aware that this big and bulky guy in front of her eyes was An Huanhuan's boyfriend. She immediately packed her books and was about to vacate her seat.

An Huanhuan stood up and grabbed her, "Don't give him your seat, who is he to ask you to do this? Lingling, sit here. Don't be scared of him!"

"But... I..."

Wang Ling was extremely anxious. It was impossible to say that she wasn't afraid of Song Jianan. He was colossal, and all the more, fierce-looking. Any girl would've been afraid of him.

"What are you doing Huanhuan? Cut it out already! I already came to you myself. Can we make peace?" Song Jianan said with his eyebrows knitted.

"Make peace? I already broke up with you! Don't ever come to me again!" An Huanhuan said straightforwardly.

Song Jianan said, "Huanhuan, stop joking with me alright? I already said that I and Liang Huili are only ordinary friends."

An Huanhuan said exasperatedly, "Will ordinary friends hold their hands with ten fingers crossed? Song Jianan, I've had enough of you! That's it between us!"

The lecturer on the podium couldn't help but sigh in his heart, "Sigh... students nowadays... how outrageous they have become. Their parents send them here to learn with their hard-earned money, but all they know is to fall in love. I can't even conduct a class in peace."

That girl named Wang Ling quickly slipped away. There was no reason for her to be caught between An Huanhuan and Song Jianan.

"Never! You are the only one I want in my life!" Song Jianan waved his hands dignifiedly.

At this moment, Huang Ruoran stood up and yelled solemnly facing them, "We are going to have our class soon, if you have anything, please discuss it among yourselves in private after the class ends. This is a classroom, a place to learn, not for romance!"

"Shut up, who are you to interrupt while Boss is speaking?" Tang Yuze shouted at Huang Ruoran while pointing at her.

As soon as this sentence came out, several girls stood up immediately to criticize Tang Yuze.

"She is our class monitor! And who do you think you are?"

"Yeah! This is the classroom for Professional English! Who are you to talk?"

"If you guys aren't here for class, get out! You're not welcomed here."

About one-third of the girls stood up. Although it was a bunch of ladies, they were not at all less imposing when they stood up.

Song Jianan waved his hands to stop Tang Yuze from speaking and said to Huang Ruoran with a false smile, "Ah, so you're the class monitor. Sorry sorry, my friend is a little impulsive. If you feel offended, please forgive us."

Huang Ruoran was reluctant to argue with the likes of him. But if they went overboard or dare to bully the girls in the classroom, she would never sit back and just watch.

"What's wrong with An Huanhuan? Why would she agree to be Song Jianan's girlfriend? What's so good about that kind of guy? His muscles across his whole body look so disgusting," Chu Yue who was in her seat couldn't make sense of An Huanhuan's choice.

"Young mistress Chu, you can't say that. Everyone has their own preferences. Besides, Song Jianan isn't all that bad. At least he can give girls a sense of security!" Bai Ling chuckled.

Chu Yue plucked out the lollipop in her mouth and shook her head, "Girls should give themselves their own sense of security. How pathetic it would be if a girl depends entirely on her boyfriend."

"It's not wrong to say that, but aren't we girls the weaker gender? We will need the boy's protection. You will know when you get into a relationship yourself."

"Knock it off. I will never get into a relationship at university. Dating is a waste of time, and I will even have to give away my precious first time."

Precious first time?!

Bai Ling blushed instantly and said shyly, "W... why did you suddenly go there?"

"What? Aren't you going to kiss if you date someone in university? Doesn't that mean that we will be giving out our precious first kiss?" Chu Yue said with a frown.

Bai Ling was relieved, "So you're talking about first kisses. I thought..."

"What do you think I'm talking about?"

"I thought you were saying..."

Bai Ling stuck her mouth to Chu Yue's ears and said in a volume that only the two of them could hear.

After listening to her, two patches of blush immediately appeared on Chu Yue's gorgeous face. Even her ears had turned red. She pushed Bai Ling and said, "You little filth. How could you come up with such a thing? How embarrassing of you."

Chapter 44

Looking like demonic statues, the three of them sat down next to An Huanhuan. Xiao Luo remained unruffled by their threatening vibes, but poor Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai were too rattled to even play with their phones.

"Boss, it's these three dogs behind us!"

Tang Yuze glimpsed at Xiao Luo while whispering to Song Jianan. Although the wounds from his fight with Xiao Lu had healed, his resentment had festered. Backed up by Song Jianan, he was hell-bent on revenge and did not fear Xiao Luo at all.

We're doomed!

Zhu Xiaofei's and Ding Kai's faces turned green. They were feeling lucky a few minutes ago because they thought Song Jianan was here for An Huanhuan. But that wasn't the case. He was here to settle a score.

Song Jianan was someone who could break bricks with his bare hands, for heaven's sake. Were their bodies were stronger than bricks?

What should we do? Flee or not flee?

If they fled, those goons would come to their dorm room. If they stayed put, they'd get beaten up after the bell rang. Either way, they were sitting ducks.

Song Jianan glanced disdainfully at Xiao Luo and the other two guys and said faintly, "Ignore them for now. Wait until the class ends."

Pssst.

Zhu Xiaofei's and Ding Kai's bodies were trembling uncontrollably, and they felt sick to their stomach. So, Song Jianan was waiting for the class to end.

"Wait until the class ends?"

Hearing this, An Huanhuan turned to Song Jianan and asked, "What are you guys up to? What did Zhu Xiaofei and the others do to provoke you?"

"Pfft. How could those three good-for-nothings possibly do to provoke me? It's just that these two buddies of mine got beaten up by them, and I need to help them vent their anger. You don't have to get involved, Huanhuan. I'll go easy on them since they're your classmates." Then Song Jianan placed his thick arms on her shoulders.

She pushed his hands away, "This is the classroom. Try touching me again, and I'll yell!"

"I can't touch you in the classroom? How about when we're alone?" Song Jianan grinned.

"You..."

An Huanhuan was pissed. She never thought so before, but looking at him objectively as his ex-girlfriend, she had to admit that he was like a muscle-bound thug or gangster. If she hadn't been so vain and self-obsessed during her first year and thought that going out with a "bad boy" was cool, she would never have agreed to be Song Jianan's girlfriend.

"Don't be angry. You're not attractive when you're that way. Come on, how about a smile?" Song Jianan extended his hands to pinch An Huanhuan's cheeks. 𝘭𝒾𝑏𝑟𝑒𝒶𝒹.𝘤𝘰𝓂

An Huanhuan was angered speechless by his boldness. Her eyes were raging. "Don't touch me!" she said.

"Shh, keep quiet. Class is still in session."

Song Jianan made a keep-quiet gesture and then moved his hands around An Huanhuan, disregarding her warning.

Unable to tolerate his behavior any longer, An Huanhuan stood up to move to another seat.

However, Song Jianan grabbed her wrist and forcefully pulled her back to her chair. "Huanhuan, what do you want me to do? Rip my heart out and give it to you on a silver platter?" he asked.

An Huanhuan couldn't free herself from this raging bull. After struggling a few times to no avail, she grimaced and said softly, "Let go of my hand. Did you hear me? Let go of me."

"Not unless you forgive me and continue being my girlfriend."

Song Jianan wasn't giving up. He grabbed An Huanhuan's white and tender thigh with his other hand and stroked it wantonly.

An Huanhuan felt that her lungs were about to explode in anger. It's not that Song Jianan hadn't touched her while they were dating. That wasn't the real issue. What upset her more was that he was acting up in class. She was embarrassed and wanted to slap him on the spot.

But Song Jianan had good reflexes: When she raised her hand, he grabbed it as if she was about to fan his face.

"Don't be like this, Huanhuan. I love you. I'll do anything for you."

"Go and die then!"

Feeling wronged, An Huanhuan stared at him exasperatedly as her eyes turned red. She didn't understand how she ever got involved with such a complicated guy. He was a thug, a hooligan, a ruffian.

He frowned and said, "That isn't nice of you. Huanhuan, you know I can't live without you. All my friends know of your existence. If you're not my girlfriend anymore, they'll laugh at me behind my back. I'm the president of mixed martial arts. I can't afford to be ridiculed or to look foolish."

"That's none of my business! Let me go!"

An Huanhuan unleashed all her strength in an attempt to break free from Song Jianan's grasp.

"I'm not letting you go! Even if I die, I won't let you go..."

"Ahe-hem... you can lead a horse to the water, but you can't make him drink. Are you deliberately acting like a d*ck by touching a girl in front of so many people? Did you know that any unwanted physical contact, including but not limited to kissing, holding hands, or touching someone's butt, is classified as sexual harassment? You'd better let go of An Huanhuan, or I'll call the police now and let them handle this."

The faint voice belonged to Xiao Luo, who was sitting behind An Huanhuan.

Initially, he was reluctant to interfere. But An Huanhuan was his classmate. When he looked at her struggling, and on the verge of tears, he knew had to take a stand.

"Hero Luo!"

An Huanhuan looked at Xiao Luo with surprise. She never expected him to stick up for her.

After all, Song Jianan's name was notorious. Everyone was afraid of him. If it weren't for this very fact, she would have used Xiao Luo as a shield before this.

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai gulped as they thought to themselves, it's over with us. There's no more room for any form of kindness.

"Call the police?" Was he serious?

Song Jianan's expression soured as he then turned around to look at Xiao Luo with hazy eyes, "Hey kid, are you living in la-la land? Do you think the police have nothing better to do? Do you think they give a f*ck about such a minor issue?

"You're wrong. First, you might have a face that's desperately aging, but I'm older than you. Hence, you have no right to call me kid. You should be calling me big brother instead. Second, harassing any female is no trivial issue. If you don't believe me, I'll call the police now, and you'll see if they care about this." Xiao Luo took out his phone and tapped on two ones without delay.

F*ck, this dogshit is going to call the police!

Tang Yuze and Chen Jie's faces changed abruptly.

The same happened to Song Jianan as he loosened his grip on An Huanhuan.

Xiao Luo didn't continue to tap zero. He lifted his head and smiled playfully, "See? You think the police care about this "minor issue," too, right?"

"You're a piece of dead meat!"

Song Jianan's face turned deathly pale as he stared down at Xiao Luo with his triangular eyes.

Xiao Luo ignored him and said to An Huanhuan, "When someone bullies you, you don't have to put up with it. The police have our back on that score."

The police have our back? Did I hear him right?

Although what he said made sense, it would never have occurred to her to get involved with the police her lifetime, much less over something like this. When she heard Xiao Luo saying that with a straight face, she knew he meant it. Nodding slowly, she said, "I got it, Hero Luo!"

After that, she looked at Xiao Luo with affectionate eyes, feeling that at this moment, he was very manly and cool.

Chapter 45

Seeing An Huanhuan looking at another guy longingly, Song Jianan couldn't help but widened his eyes and asked, "Huanhuan, what is your relationship with this guy?"

"He's my future boyfriend!" An Huanhuan answered.

Since Xiao Luo wasn't afraid of Song Jianan, she naturally had nothing to worry about. Moreover, she was actually telling the truth. If one were to say that she was fooling around when he asked Xiao Luo to be her boyfriend earlier on, now, she was dead serious, not because of other reasons, but because Xiao Luo dared to provoke Song Jianan for her sake.

Xiao Luo clouded up, knowing that he had gotten into big trouble after An Huanhuan said that.

As he expected, blood veins disseminated across Song Jianan's eyeballs. He was just like a raging bull, clenching his first and death staring at Xiao Luo.

At this moment, the air seemingly froze!

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai at the side gasped in chills. In their minds, they have already imagined the bloody picture of themselves being smashed into mincemeat by Song Jianan.

"A-hem a-hem... please behave yourselves in class. Don't chatter among yourselves. Although you are already an adult, you are still a student in essence. Focus on learning and discipline yourselves in class, or else, leave the classroom. What I detest the most is students disturbing my class!" the English lecturer abruptly dry coughed a few times and said sternly facing Song Jianan's direction.

This remark was obviously directed at Song Jianan and his gang!

Song Jianan who was about go ham on Xiao Luo gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, and held back his impulse. No matter how arrogant he was, he was still scrupulous towards the lecturers at school. The school's disciplinary actions would be written directly into his file which couldn't be erased even with an entire lifetime. These were all vital for his future development.

With a gloomy face, he gave Xiao Luo a big thumbs up, "You even have the guts to snatch my girl. Kudos to you!"

"I need to mention just one thing. I have snatched no one's girlfriend. Besides, I hate people who snatch other people's girlfriends the most!"

Xiao Luo said chilling, "I have to tell you another fact. I have both the nuts and the guts because I'm a man. Those with no guts are eunuchs."

"Hu-huh... nobody has ever talked to me like that in Huaye. Just wait for it. The time where you go boo-hoo will definitely come," Song Jianan was simmering with rage at the moment.

"You dogshit, just wait until Boss wrecks you!" Tang Yuze turned his head around and said smugly.

Even a saint can get mad, not to mention Xiao Luo who was made of blood and flesh.

Being called dogshit by this guy with a mouth full of shit really got him triggered this time.

His pupils contracted as he stared at Tang Yuze, "I dare you to call me dogshit again."

Facing Xiao Luo's gaze, Tang Yuze abruptly recalled the terror this guy gave him a few days ago at the dorm's rooftop and subconsciously shivered. But as he thought of it again, his boss was just beside him, why should he be afraid? 𝒍𝒊𝒃𝒓𝙚𝙖𝙙.𝓬𝙤𝙢

He looked at Xiao Luo viciously, "You dogshit. And? What can you do? Beat me up if you dare! Whack me in front of your teacher! Do you fucking dare to do so?"

Xiao Luo smiled harmlessly. On the next second, his expression changed drastically as he stood up like a ferocious beast.

"Brrrr~"

The table in front of him was broken by the force of him standing up.

Before Tang Yuze even had the time to react, the collar of his T-shirt was caught by Xiao Luo's enormous hand. Subsequently, a barbaric force came propagating through Xiao Luo's hand, making it difficult for him to resist. Firstly, his entire body was lifted, and then, he flew uncontrollably towards the aisle in the middle of the classroom.

Hearing only a bang, he fell to the ground with four of his limbs facing the sky with his back coincidently landing on the 90-degree angle of the stone staircase. Tang Yuze screeched in pain like that of a pig being slaughtered.

Like a feral tiger, Xiao Luo left his seat and leaped towards him. He bent over and used one hand to drag Tang Yuze on the ground out of the class with a force that he couldn't resist like he was lugging a dead dog.

Everything happened too suddenly. Not to mention that all the girls in the Professional English class were shocked, even Song Jianan himself was startled. Who would have expected Xiao Luo who was still smiling with a harmless face at the moment before to turn hostile immediately at the very next second and rough-up directly in the classroom?

"Xiao Luo, what are you doing?"

Wang Ruoran was the earliest to react as she stood up and asked loudly.

The English lecturer also recovered from surprise after blinking his eyes a few times, "Xiao Luo, you... you..."

He was utterly taken aback. He had been teaching for more than a decade and had never encountered such a bold student who actually dared to hit someone else before him. An absolute disregard of discipline and absurdly outrageous behavior.

"Sir, this has nothing to do with me. He was the one that requested me to beat him. Such a request may seem absurd and wacky, but he really did come out with such a request. If you don't believe me, you can ask Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai," Xiao Luo said seriously.

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai were completely stupefied. Their brains were entirely blank.

Nevertheless, when Xiao Luo asked them to testify, they quickly stood up and said with a nod, "Sir, Brother Luo... Uhm, no, uhm, what Xiao Luo said is the truth." He pointed at Tang Yuze, "He kept on calling Xiao Luo a dogshit just now and even threatened Xiao Luo to hit him if he has the guts. I heard him loud and clear."

"Me too. I heard him said that as well. He really did make such a request," Ding Kai was quivering as he echoed.

Tang Yuze was crying but with no tears as he quickly defended, "I didn't! They are lying!"

"You never made such a request?"

Xiao Luo grabbed him, lifted him up, gave him a slap, and stared at him indifferently, "I will give you another chance. Have you asked me to hit you just now?"

Tang Yuze was terrified as his face was all hot and in pain. He glanced at Song Jianan to calm himself down, converted all the humiliation into rage, and replied resolutely, "No!"

"Really?" Xiao Luo sneered.

"Bonk~"

With a swing at one foot, Tang Yuze who was defenseless slumped on the ground on his knees. The pain caused him to shriek in agony once again.

"Speak. Have you asked me to hit you?" Xiao Luo questioned again with a stern face.

Ruthless!

Had a smile on his face, but merciless in conduct!

Tang Yuze was horrified. His face was simply terrorizing, just like when a sheep sees a wolf. He turned his eyes to Song Jianan in seek of help as he replied sobbingly, "Yes..."

Xiao Luo lifted his head in satisfaction. He looked at the lecturer and said with a smile, "Sir, you heard him. I already told you that he asked me to hit him."

The English lecturer was stunned.

The girls in the Professional English class were stupefied as they gazed at Xiao Luo like he was an alien. Why does it look like someone confessing to false charges under torture? Besides, even if Tang Yuze requested for it, does that allow Xiao Luo to whack him like he was entitled to do so?

"Xiao Luo, stop fooling around!"

Huang Ruoran yelled at him, "Hurry up and let him go! Don't let things go out of hand."

At this moment, Chu Yue stood up like she was a messenger of god and advised, "Hey poser, can you tune down yourself a little? Our class has never been quiet after you came."

"Yeah, Xiao Luo. Fighting in school is a serious violation of disciplinary acts. You will get informed and lectured if it isn't serious, and if it is, you will get warned and punished. If it goes further beyond that, you may be forced to drop out of school. Please don't do foolish things, Xiao Luo," Bai Ling said with her black eyebrows knitted.

Chapter 46

"Hero Luo, stop. You made your point! You're a superhero!"

An Huanhuan's plea persuaded him to take his hands off Tang Yuze. After all, they were in class now. She was worried about Xiao Luo getting kicked out of school or arrested. Maybe it was already too late for that.

Xiao Luo grabbed Tang Yuze's collar, pulled him closer, and snarled, "I don't feel like hitting you with so many people here saying I shouldn't. So, you apologize to me, and I'll stop right now. How's that?"

You son of a f*cking whore! Of course, Tang Yuze didn't say that, but he felt like it.

Who ever heard of someone apologizing after being beaten up? This was way over the top.

"Well, are you going to apologize? If not, I'll continue!"

Sneering, Xiao Luo pushed Tang Yuze away and channeled a brutal punt toward his head.

"I'm sorry!"

Tang Yuze, who was horrified, exclaimed, "I'm wrong! I'm at fault! I'm sorry!"

Whuush

A forceful wind gusted as Xiao Luo's right foot barely missed Tang Yuze's neck. The air whipped up by his feet blasted Tang Yuze's shiny hair into an oily mess. That guy was so scared he almost peed in his pants.

The other students were too frightened to move. They just stood there in bewilderment, feeling this cold-hearted brute's murderous aura. Was this the same mild-mannered Xiao Luo who often slept through his classes? He was like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde!

"You! How dare you touch my people? Today shall be your end!" shouted Song Jianan.

He had already stomped to the middle aisle of the classroom, charging at Xiao Luo like a wild animal.

As frightful as a raging bull; clamoring like thunder!

With an unparalleled semblance, the shadow of his shifting palm smashed against Xiao Luo.

The blow sent a tsunami of adrenalin rushing through his arms. Xiao Luo felt a tingling pain on both sides of his body as he lost his balance and stumbled backward several steps. Song Jianan's strength was beyond his estimation.

Song Jianan, on the contrary, took a few steps backward with a look of surprise on his face. He never expected Xiao Luo to be so strong. Still, the explosive power in his body was no match for Song Jianan, who had been practicing martial arts since he was a young boy. In addition to his excellent Kungfu, he had refined his body to the absolute extreme. With around four percent body fat, he had extraordinary muscle mass. He was a human fighting machine.

"Do you practice martial arts?"

Song Jianan withdrew his disdainful eyes. People who could take on him by force were worthy of his reverence.

"Even if I do, what does that have to do with you?" Xiao Luo asked callously.

"Take it as if I didn't ask then! Come!"

With a bellowing howl, Song Jianan charged toward Xiao Luo like a crazed beast spewing blood.

"What an enormous force."

Xiao Luo snorted in contempt as he went against him. With his right hand clenched into a fist and a commanding strength that could pierce the void, he was like a growling like a cheetah, its giant claws ready to grab and choke its prey.

Boom

Their fists collided in the air, followed by a sound that penetrated the abyss.

The collision between strength and power had anyone scared stiff. With their own eyes, the students were witnessing a fight that previously could only be seen on television. At close range, the erupting field generated by forces clashing into each other was tremoring the souls of every single person in the room.

Three minutes and counting: That's how long it took for the dispute to degenerate into an all-out brawl that was still going strong.

Enough! Stop! The English Lecturer snapped back to his senses and tried to break up the fight. He picked up a book and slammed it down on the podium with all his might. BAM. It sounded as if the entire classroom was blasted away by a thunderclap, everyone subconsciously quivered, including the brawlers.

"What in God's name are you two doing? Shooting a martial arts film? Do you guys want to become practitioners? I'll have you both expelled from the university and send you back to your home sweet homes!" the English Lecturer, his face flushed, was yelling furiously. But the students ignored him. Things were getting ugly.

Afraid of being expelled from school, Song Jianan was the first to put up his hands in surrender. He said with a grin, "Peace. You've misunderstood, sir. Our hands are itchy, and we just couldn't resist sparring with each other. Everyone who practices martial arts has such a shortcoming. I hope you can understand, sir."

"Wipe that smile off your face and get out. You're obviously not here to learn. Leave! Now! Before I call the school security,"

"No, no. Since you don't like us, sir, we will leave."

With a fake smile like a snake, Song Jianan gave the English Lecturer a little bow. Then, he waved his hands and said to Tang Yuze and Chen Jie in a deep voice, "Let's bounce!"

Upon finishing, he turned around and left.

Before leaving, he didn't forget to give Xiao Luo a death stare and an "I love you" gesture to An Huanhuan, who was now sitting in the first row.

"Leave! Now!"

The English Lecturer pointed to the door. He turned his head and looked at Xiao Luo, "What about you, Xiao Luo? Do you want to leave or stay for the rest of the class?"

"I choose to stay, sir," Xiao Luo smiled with his eyes narrowed.

He reverted to his gentle Dr. Jekyll demeanor, which was so different from when he was brawling with Song Jianan just now, with the former being gloomy, arrogant, and smug and the latter being sincere and easygoing, and cooperative.

Everyone in the classroom was starting to believe that Xiao Luo was two different people. Who was he? The mild Xiao Luo of just now or the brutal Xiao Luo of a few minutes ago?

"Then why are you still standing there? Sit down!" the English Lecturer tugged his face.

Without saying anything, Xiao Luo found a new seat and obediently sat down.

"Ruoran, remember to let him report the damaged desk after class. This is considered vandalism," said the English Lecturer.

Standing up, Huang Ruoran nodded and said, "Yes, sir."

Before sitting back down, she turned her head around and shot Xiao Luo a scornful look for his atrocious behavior.

"All right then. Let's continue our class, shall we? said the English Lecturer dryly, picking up where he had left off before the brawl.

After such a ruckus, the girls couldn't calm down. Was Xiao Luo good enough to survive a few more matches with Song Jianan, president of the mixed martial arts club, a force to be reckoned with?

What was Hero Luo up to before he came back to university?

"Yeah, their disparity in body size is immense, but he was only at a little bit of disadvantage when he went against Song Jianan. What was his diet like while growing up?"

"I think he's someone with a backstory."

Everyone started discussing softly among themselves in private.

"He was a soldier and trained in the army for two years. What's so strange about him having a little bit of some fighting skills," Chu Yue's words resolved the doubts of everyone.

Indeed, Hero Luo came back to university after being discharged from two years of military service. He must've honed his skills in the army.

An Huanhuan passed a note to Xiao Luo: Hero Luo, you were so friggin' cool just now! Let's go to the mountain behind the school after class. I want to sketch your portrait!

Xiao Luo wanted to laugh when he saw it. Then, he replied using a pen: Forget about me, the skies and the clouds will do!

He was still bummed out that he had to pay for the damaged desk after class. 𝑙𝒾𝘣𝘳𝑒𝒶𝒹.𝑐𝘰𝓂

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai became Xiao Luo's diehard fans, wishing that they could just adhere to Xiao Luo like two suckerfish. They never thought that Xiao Luo was so strong to the extent that he could go against Song Jianan. It was unimaginable.

Song Jianan weighed at a whopping 250 lbs. of solid muscle, just like the NBA beast, Dwight Howard. He was terrifying even from afar. What's more, Xiao Luo only weighed around 130 lbs. Compared to Song Jianan, the difference was just like that of a thin arm and a thick thigh. There was absolutely no way to put them into comparison.

At the same time, the three guys who left the classroom began to chatter.

"Boss, are we going to let him go just like that?" Chen Jie inquired.

"Of course, we can't! Me and Xiao Luo cannot exist together!"

Song Jianan said fiercely while he looked at his slight quivering right hand. When their punches collided just now, his hand was knocked out of joint and hurt badly. If it weren't for his extreme endurance, he would have humiliated himself in the classroom by crying out in pain.

Chapter 47

As one hunter that posed a threat to Chu Yue had already made the scene, Xiao Luo was in a state of high tension these days. Whether in class or choir practice, he was exceptionally sensitive to every stranger who had shown up.

With far-reaching influence and resources, Chu Yunxiong had got his hands on the hunter's information.

Hence, not only that Xiao Luo knew the hunter's name and nickname, he even had his appearance etched in his mind.

With his eyebrows knitted, he looked at the nearby forest and drifted off in contemplation: If I were him, when and where would I decide to act?

When he was spacing out, an oval face appeared before him. A pair of glazed eyes were staring at him angrily. It was the class monitor, Huang Ruoran.

"Anything?" Xiao Luo asked faintly.

Huang Ruoran rebuked, "Everyone else is focusing on choir practice except you. You are always standing here absentminded. What in the world are you thinking?"

"Everyone's spare time is precious. Besides, we've already practiced for two hours today. My throat is going to burst after all the singing. This should be enough isn't it?" Xiao Luo said firmly.

When he was in university, he was equally not keen on his school conducting choir competitions. It had no significance whatsoever. It would be better if students could use the time for choir practice to do what they like to do.

These remarks resonated with the girls in the Professional English major as they spoke out in succession.

"Yeah Ruoran, let's call it for today. Not to mention that my throat has become sore, even my legs have become wobbly after all the standing. I can't even feel them."

"Two hours is long enough. We have another two weeks' time anyway. Let's continue practicing tomorrow!"

"I want to rest so badly. If we continue practicing, our vocal cords will all be crippled."

Standing while practicing choir was indeed very exhausting. Everyone in the Professional English class felt like they were about to kick the bucket.

"No, our placement in the choir competition will directly affect our course's collective reputation. We can't even sing 'Yellow River' properly now, how can we possibly go for the competition? We will definitely make ourselves look ugly on stage. Two weeks may seem long, but there's not much time left for us to practice. We only have 28 hours at the very most. We must have a sense of crisis," Huang Ruoran said sternly.

"But even with all the 'sense of crisis', we still have to eat, right? It's already 11:55. In five minutes, it will be the peak time for lunch. It will be a long queue for everything," Xiao Luo said with a chuckle.

All this poser would ever know is to eat!

Chu Yue muttered in her heart. But she did feel that her stomach was a little empty.

Huang Ruoran took out her phone, looked at the time, then loudly said, "Five more times and we call it a day!"

What? Five more times?

Oh lord, please help us!

When the girls who were already tired and numb at their legs heard her, they immediately mourned in sorrow.

Xiao Luo didn't give a damn at all. He didn't come to Huaye to get restricted, let alone participate in this damned choir. He was just a bodyguard in disguise, and it wasn't necessary for him to be so competent in being a student.

"Well, my apologies. You may proceed with the practice. I'm hungry, gonna go grab some food!" Xiao Luo dropped a word and left.

"Brother Luo, wait for us!"

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai quickly tagged along. They had enough of the girl's oppression. They felt that now was the time for the boys to mount a comeback, bulking up some manliness and become the masters.

An Huanhuan pouted her lips as she muttered to herself, "Hero Luo is really going against Ruoran!"

The three departed, blatantly challenging Huang Ruoran's authority as the class monitor. Huang Ruoran ran after them and stretched her arms to block their path. With her teeth clenched and eyes that were about to spurt fire, like a raging leopardess, she said word by word, "I said, we will dismiss after another five times. Do you three hear me?"

"Ruoran, we're really hungry. See, even my chest is touching my back," Zhu Xiaofei said while patting his chest. 𝑙𝑖𝘣𝓇𝑒𝒶𝘥.𝑐ℴ𝑚

What he said was ineluctably hilarious. Affiliating his round physique with the phrase 'chest touching his back', he was really lying through his teeth.

Ding Kai echoed, "I'm famished. Ruoran, please be merciful and let us go for lunch. If I faint due to low blood sugar, you will have to take full responsibility. When I go to the hospital, the registration fee, consultation fee, medical expense, nutrition expense... you need to reimburse me everything!"

"Shut up!"

Huang Ruoran was exasperated. With her fist clenched, he glared at Xiao Luo ragefully and commanded, "Get back, you may go anywhere you want after we finish the last five practices."

"We've been practicing for two hours. Even a two-period class should've ended by now."

Xiao Luo continued, "This isn't how we should practice choir. When everyone doesn't wish to continue practicing, not to mention five times, even fifty or a hundred times will yield no effect. You are only wasting time."

"Don't make excuses for your laziness!" Huang Ruoran said indifferently.

Xiao Luo shook his head, "I wasn't finding an excuse. You are the class monitor. You gathered everyone during our free time to practice choir, and nobody said a thing. We put aside what we were doing and hurried to this pavilion to practice singing. You on the other hand, should you consider for all of us as well?

He paused for a while and continued, "Now, we have been practicing for two hours non-stop. The fact that we are always standing aside, the singing is already a pain by itself. Since we can't even sing 'Yellow River' properly even after practicing for so long, you should stop and think about whether this training method is wrong instead if insisting everyone to sing for another five times."

Although Xiao Luo was once again on the opposite side of Huang Ruoran, the girls in the Professional English major supported Xiao Luo's statement. Even the girls who have always sided Huang Ruoran felt that Xiao Luo was being very logical this time. After all, it had almost been five days since they began training. Since they were still unable to sing 'Yellow River' properly, something must be wrong with the training method.

"After so many days the poser came here, I think he's right this time," Chu Yue said while pouting

Bai Ling nodded as she felt the same. Then, she shook her head again as she felt that everything that Xiao Luo said previously was also very reasonable.

Huang Ruoran felt that she had managed the class well in an orderly manner. But after Xiao Luo came, everything changed. Her authority as the class monitor was under an unprecedented attack. Gritting her teeth, she asked Xiao Luo, "Xiao Luo, why are you always against me?"

"You are thinking too much. I'm not against anyone. Believe it or not, I've forgone everything in the past, otherwise, I wouldn't have hurried to this place at first time after receiving your message. But you may ask yourselves, is our practice time a little too long? Even if this choir competition is really that important, we should still take a break when we should. Am I right?" Xiao Luo said calmly.

He had long forgone the unpleasant events during the last oral class. He wouldn't hold a grudge with a girl for so long. This time, he went against Huang Ruoran only because he felt that she was being very unreasonable.

Chapter 48

Huang Ruoran stared at Xiao Luo with eyes full of hate...Why is this guy always opposing me? Does he think I'm unworthy to be the class monitor? Or does he think he's more qualified to take on that position?

The girls who were on good terms with her ran over and tried to get Xiao Luo to reconsider.

"Great Hero Xiao Luo. Just sing five more times. Please. It's not a big deal, is it"

"Yeah, we'll be out of here in twenty minutes at most!"

"Monitor Ruoran is doing this for the good of our major. Our performance will reflect on our collective honor. If we do poorly, we'll look bad in front of the students from other majors. They might even poke fun at us."

Xiao Luo's intense debate with Huang Ruoran in oral English had won him the approval of nearly everyone in the class. Moreover, he was merely expressing the unspoken thoughts of some of the students. The good thing is that the girls were now more willing to listen to his ideas and suggestions without feeling threatened. Yeah...they had definitely lightened up.

"Our country encourages leading cadres to integrate with the masses and to listen to their voices. This also applies to a collective like a classroom or a major in a university. Huang Ruoran is the equivalent of a leading cadre, and we're the masses. The voice of the masses is saying that we want to take a break. So can I say that her insistence on practicing means that she's now divorced from the masses and no longer represents our interests?" said Xiao Luo with a deadpan expression.

F*ck me! He brought the level of the argument up to the national realm. Did Brother Luo have to be so freaking cool?

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai looked at Xiao Luo admiringly. They loved the way he presented his ideas and arguments.

"Pretentious d*ck. Stop talking nonsense. Ruoran just wants us to practice singing a little more, but you've turned it into an argument about a leading cadre becoming divorced from the masses. Stop exaggerating," Chu Yue berated him quietly. Although she wasn't close to Huang Ruoran, she acknowledged her position as the class monitor.

"Exaggerate? Leading cadres should integrate with the masses and hear their voices. This is advocated by the state. Are you saying this is an exaggeration?" Xiao Luo feigned shock and surprise.

Chu Yue was so annoyed she took the lollipop out of her mouth and glowered, "Pretentious d*ck. Geez. I meant that you were distorting Huang Ruoran's words to further your own agenda. When did I say that what the state advocated was exaggerated?"

"Are my words wrong? Leading cadres and the masses are the big society while we are a microcosm here. What's the difference between the two? Huang Ruoran isn't taking our opinions into consideration. She's just imposing her will on us. Am I not allowed to object? This is a dictatorship, this is ... "

"Stop, stop, stop! I'll give you money!"

Chu Yue gestured at him to stop. She couldn't stand how he talked. She then took out thirty dollars from her pocket. "Thirty dollars to buy twenty minutes from you. Listen to Ruoran and sing five more times, okay?"

"Deal!"

Xiao Luo snatched the money out of Chu Yue's hand and stuffed it into his pocket.

"Do you only care about money?"

Chu Yue asked indignantly as she pointed at him with her lollipop.

"It's not the only thing I care about. But I won't turn my back on money."

Xiao Luo glanced at the lollipop that was within reach. It exuded a sweet, tempting smell. He said faintly, "I wouldn't object if you gave me this lollipop to tide me over until lunch."

"Dream on! This is a limited import from Germany. Why would I give it up so easily when even I can't bear to eat it?" Chu Yue quickly put the lollipop back in her mouth, for fear of it being stolen by Xiao Luo.

Huaye cafeteria was bustling with students.

After the English Language majors finished the fifth rendition of "Yellow River," they all rushed to the cafeteria. They had worked up quite an appetite.

Xiao Luo, Zhu Xiaofei, and Ding Kai sat together. An Huanhuan came over to join them after getting her meal.

"Hero Luo, this glass of strawberry juice is for you!" An Huanhuan sat down and put a glass of delicious strawberry juice in front of him.

"Thank you, but I'm not thirsty," Xiao Luo politely refused.

An Huanhuan laughed and said, "You will be after you finish eating. This strawberry juice is delicious."

"I don't like strawberry juice," Xiao Luo said a little more seriously.

"Hehe. Brother Luo doesn't like it, but I'll have it."

Both his eyes and hands were swift: Zhu Xiaofei grabbed the strawberry juice and took a big gulp. He loved to do this kind of cheap, silly thing.

"Damn pig. I bought this for Hero Luo. Why the hell did you drink it!" An Huanhuan said with glowering eyes.

"Oh, don't be so stingy. Since Brother Luo's not drinking it, it's only natural to drink it for him as his bro. If an older bro can't do something, it falls to the younger bro to do it on his behalf. There's nothing wrong with this, hehe." Zhu Xiaofei was undaunted. "As the saying goes, a dead pig doesn't fear scalding water."

"F*ck your sister. Why the hell would I want you to drink this on his behalf? Besides, has Hero Luo acknowledged you as his younger bro? Stop trying to attach yourself to his name so shamelessly." An Huanhuan gritted her teeth and huffed angrily.

Ding Kai laughed out loud. "The beautiful Huanhuan is right. Lao Zhu is just shameless; his skin is thicker than the city walls."

"Get lost. Since even food can't block that mouth of yours, I'll pull out all your pubic hair, trust me." Zhu Xiaofei glared at Ding Kai without forgetting to take a big sip of that strawberry juice.

An Huanhuan refused to lower herself to this guy's standards. She smiled at Xiao Luo and said in a soft and sweet voice, "Hero Luo, what would you like to drink? I'll buy it for you again."

"Plain boiled water!"

Xiao Luo replied unhappily. He didn't believe An Huanhuan would continue pestering him.

Sure enough, An Huanhuan frowned, "But I need to go back to the dorm to boil water in an electric kettle. You can't get boiled water in the cafeteria" Her delicate brows relaxed and her eyes brightened, "But I can find a way to get you a glass of plain boiled water. Hero Luo, you just wait here."

After she finished talking, she abandoned her meal, got up, and ran out of the cafeteria.

"Oh my God, the beautiful Huanhuan has set her heart on chasing Brother Luo. Wow," Zhu Xiaofei was astounded.

"It's none of our business. Let's just eat," Ding Kai lowered his head and continued stuffing his mouth.

Xiao Luo never imagined An Huanhuan would be so stubborn and delusional. Moreover, he made that offhand remark to help her back out of an awkward situation. He also wanted to discourage her from buying a drink for him. Why couldn't she take the hint?

An Huanhuan returned after a short time carrying a glass of plain boiled water from the security room. She was running so quickly that she became breathless and sweaty. She put the glass in front of Xiao Luo and gave a satisfied smile, "Hero Luo, here's the plain boiled water you just ordered."

He felt extraordinarily embarrassed and guilty, "An Huanhuan, what are you doing?"

"What am I doing? I fetched a glass of plain boiled water for you."

"I asked why you fetched it for me?"

"Because I like you."

An Huanhuan sat down on the opposite side of him and smiled like the sweet, naive young woman she was.

Xiao Luo was bewildered. "You don't even know me, so how can you say something like that," he asked.

"Oh, but I do know you. You're handsome, nice, eloquent, and especially good at fighting, hehe." An Huanhuan held up a finger for each quality she enumerated.

"You're talking about my strengths. You don't know my flaws."

"Flaws? Like?"

"For example, I'm a male chauvinist. I'm bad at accepting discipline, and I also feel inferior sometimes," Xiao Luo said.

An Huanhuan shook her head, "It doesn't matter. Those are not flaws in my eyes."

"I'm not very even-tempered."

"It doesn't matter. It's normal for a man with real abilities to have a bit of a temper. It would be abnormal if you were totally incapable of getting angry."

"I'm much older than you!"

"I like older guys. They're mature and stable," An Huan said grinning.

F*ck!

No matter how calm and unflustered Xiao Luo's nature was, right now, he couldn't help but curse. Even though it was a breach of etiquette, it was an emotional release.

Chapter 49

If he were to ask himself honestly, An Huanhuan's appearance was really good. She had bright eyes, white teeth, and a fair complexion, but she was quite petite. Her short stature could not be considered a flaw, however. Many guys would instinctively want to protect a girl like her.

The real issue is that Xiao Luo thought they were unsuitable for each other. There were two main reasons for this.

First, he wasn't a student. The sole purpose of coming to Huaye was to protect Chu Yue secretly.

Second, he'd been working hard in society for three years. He was looking for a girlfriend so they could get married, but undergrads were not within the scope of his consideration.

"Xiao Luo!" someone called out.

The voice, which sounded like a resonant bell, disturbed his reverie. Looking up, he saw five or six beefy guys, their faces revealing their cruel and ruthless intentions.

One guy in a plaid shirt took a step forward, his brushed-up hair swaying with his movement. "Who's Xiao Luo?"

Hmm. These students are strangers. So why are they singling me out? Must have something to do with Song Jianan.

"What's your problem?" he asked dryly.

When they saw that Xiao Luo wasn't at all nervous but was even exhibiting an aloof and superior demeanor, their faces hardened. The guy in a plaid shirt shouted, "Are you motherf*cking Xiao Luo? Just shut up if you're not; otherwise, I'll smash your pig brain."

They were spoiling for a fight. That much was obvious.

"Uh oh. Xiao Luo seems to be in trouble!" whispered Bai Ling.

She was sitting on the other side of the cafeteria when she noticed the strange goings-on at Xiao Luo's table.

Chu Yue pushed her coiffured hair behind her ears and said disapprovingly, "That pretentious d*ck gets into trouble wherever he goes. I'm used to it." She sipped some orange juice through a straw. Then she took a look and said, " It's the people from the mixed martial arts club. It seems like Song Jianan, and the pretentious d*ck have gotten into a dispute."

Hearing the raised voices, Huang Ruoran also turned around to see what was happening with Xiao Luo. It was hard to tell from her expression if she was happy or sad about it.

An Huanhuan stood up and stared angrily at the boy in the plaid shirt, "Zhao Xinghe, what are you up to? Are you preparing to start something in the cafeteria?"

"None of your business. We're not here because of a fickle woman like you," Zhao Xinghe warned as he pointed his finger at her.

Then he slammed the table with his fist and bellowed at Xiao Luo, Zhu Xiaofei, and Ding Kai, "Who the hell is Xiao Luo? Stand up!"

Zhu Zhufei jumped up from his seat.

Five or six pairs of eyes turned toward him, "Are you, Xiao Luo?"

"I'm not," Zhu Xiaofei spread his hands.

Ding Kai also stood up at this time. He was emboldened with Xiao Luo nearby. 𝓁𝘪𝑏𝓇𝑒𝑎𝑑.𝑐𝘰𝑚

These five or six people stared at him, "Are you?"

"I'm not," Ding Kai shook his head.

"Then why the f*ck did you stand up?"

Zhao Xinghe yanked Ding Kai's collar, nearly lifting him off the floor.

"I'm a civilized student. I'm taking my cutlery and plates back to the collection point to reduce the burden on the cafeteria workers," Ding Kai muttered.

"Mother*cker!"

Zhao Xinghe was beyond pissed off, and he shoved Ding Kai just for the hell of it.

He was like fallen leaves blown around by the wind. As he stumbled back a few steps, Zhu Xiaofei caught him; otherwise, he would have fallen on the floor.

"What do you think you're doing? You have no right to push people," Zhu Xiaofei rebuked angrily.

"Just because my arm is thick, what about it? You want to compare?" Zhao Xinghe said brashly as he flexed his cannonball biceps.

Zhu Xiaofei was pudgy–no match for someone like Zhao Xinghe. When he saw his bulging bicep, he immediately shut his mouth.

Another guy pointed at Xiao Luo, who was eating his lunch. "Brother Zhao, he's Xiao Luo!"

This boy was from the same group as Tang Yuze. Xiao Luo had beaten him up on the rooftop of the boys' dormitory. The boy would remember Xiao Luo's appearance till the day he died.

"You're Xiao Luo?"

Zhao Xinghe slapped Xiao Luo's shoulder twice and said with a dark and somber face, "Why didn't you respond when I called you just now? You treating my words like farts?"

"Now that you mention it, it does smell like someone's farting, it smells bad!" Xiao Luo fanned the air in front of his nose.

An Huanhuan giggled, "Haha. Hero Luo, you're so funny."

Zhao Xinghe's expression went from amused to horrific. He lifted his foot and stomped it on Xiao Luo's stool. "You just made fun of me. Are you tired of living?"

"You can just talk, don't move your feet!" Xiao Luo's expression turned mean. The scene was set for a showdown.

"Oh, Brother An said you're crazy. I didn't believe it at first. Who'd have thought it's true, I..."

Total silence. All of a sudden, like a tiger, Xiao Luo stood up with his five fingers spread ou and grabbed Zhao Xinghe's collar. Before he had time to react, Zhao Xinghe felt his feet leaving the ground, his neck bound tightly by the collar. He felt his throat constrict and began choking.

Besides Zhao Xinghe's buddies, all the students in the cafeteria stared in silence. He must be freakishly strong to lift a person with one hand!

Xiao Luo fixed Zhao Xinghe with an icy stare of disdain, "Now, can you tell me why you sought me out?"

Zhao Xinghe nodded, scared sh*tless. He quickly took out a letter from his pocket. Three words written were on it with a brush, Notice of Challenge.

This is the Notice of Challenge that Brother An is giving you. He'll be waiting for you at the mixed martial arts club on Saturday night.

"Challenge?"

Disdain flashed across Xiao Luo's eyes, and then he let go of Zhao Xinghe. "Go back and deliver this to Song Jianan. Ask him if his brain has short-circuited. What era are we in now? Yet he's still doing this!"

"You don't accept it?" Zhao Xinghe fixed his collar.

"I have no time for this nonsense!" Xiao Luo said calmly.

Sneering, Zhao Xinghe glanced at An Huanhuan, "You've got the guts to snatch Brother An's girlfriend, but you don't have the guts to respond to his challenge. Xiao Luo, turns out you're just a spineless wimp."

"Sorry, goading doesn't work on me. Besides, I want to finish my lunch. Stay as far from me as you can, don't ruin my appetite," Xiao Luo said in a tone that was neither servile nor overbearing.

The corners of Zhao Xinghe's lips tightened. When had he ever felt so enraged as a veteran member of the mixed martial arts club?

"Xiao, you should know what's good for you. We have a total of one hundred and twenty people in the mixed martial arts club. If everyone spits on you, it'll be enough to drown you. Have you thought about the consequences of rejecting Brother An's challenge?"

Xiao Luo calmly spat out a word, "Scram!"

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai knew Xiao Luo had a short fuse. It didn't take much to set him off. In a matter of seconds, that polite and friendly smile could turn ugly and mean, especially if he felt threatened. The two guys quietly backed away to give Xiao Luo enough space in case he needed it. They also threw a look at An Huanhuan, signaling her to get out of the way, too.

"Good. You sure are crazy and bold!"

Zhao Xinghe went berzerk. Although he was stunned when Xiao Luo lifted him with one hand, he was giddy with rage. He reached out and grabbed the plates and cutlery. Then he snarled and got ready to smash them on Xiao Luo's head and shout, "I'll f*cking kill you!"

But just as he raised his hands, Xiao Luo stood up unexpectedly and dealt a swift kick that landed squarely on Zhao Xinghe's abdomen.

He leaped like a crouching tiger, using his momentum to overwhelm Zhao Zinge and frighten off the other goons.

It was as if Zhao Xinghe's muscular body was hit by a train, it flew back and slammed onto his buddies standing behind him.

His companions tried to reach out to catch him. But before they even raised their arms, Zhao Xinghe flew into them like a cannonball and knocked them on their butts. Crash! The plates shattered on the floor, sending the pieces and remains of food scattering in all directions.

What an embarrassment! Before they knew what hit them, the five or six guys were spread out on the floor covered in grease and grime. They were banged up and wailing in agony, but nothing hurt more than their pride. They couldn't stop panting as they looked at Xiao Luo in terror. Who was this guy?!

Chapter 50

Xiao Luo stood motionless and exuded an unparalleled power and influence all over.

He was quiet as the running water on a mountain, but moved like fierce a tiger emerging from a cage!

All the students in the cafeteria were stunned. Their eyes were wide open and unblinking as they watched him and Zhao Xinghe and his party who were lying on the ground. Some were in the act of holding a spoon with soup in it while some were in the act of using chopsticks to put food in their mouths. Some were even holding up a big bowl as they gulped down soup from it... It was as if all of them were frozen in time.

0.03 seconds later, the whole cafeteria descended into a state of shock and clamor!

"Oh my God, he sent someone flying four or five meters away with one kick. Why is he so violent!"

"He has trained, he has definitely trained."

"I never expected that there would be such fierce and violent man in our school. Which major is he from?"

Tongues were wagging among the students. The clicks of camera shutters going off rang out continuously. Everyone was busy with their social media – some posted on Moments while some posted on their Weibo – that they even temporarily forgot about eating.

"Hero Luo is really fierce!"

The girls from the English Language major looked at each other. If they hadn't seen it for themselves, they would never have believed that Xiao Luo could send a boy that weighed eighty to eighty-five kilograms flying with a kick. At the same time, they felt that Xiao Luo's kick was very graceful, confident, suave and neat. To sum everything in one word, it was cool.

Huang Ruoran was stunned for a moment, then she lowered her head and continued to eat as if nothing had happened.

"I'm feeling really anxious about Song Jianan's IQ. He clearly knows that pretentious d*ck is very good at fighting, but he still sends small fry like this to let Xiao Luo practise on them," Chu Yue pouted.

Bai Ling did not reply, merely stared at Xiao Luo like a fool.

Until Chu Yue shook her hands in front of Bai Ling's eyes and asked, "What are you doing?"

Bai Ling recovered her composure and turned around, smiling like a young girl yearning for love. Her eyes were narrowed into crescent shapes and she said excitedly, "Young Mistress Chu, did you see that, Xiao Luo is so handsome now!"

"What?"

Chu Yue's mouth widened in stupefaction. She could understand why An Huanhuan thought that that pretentious d*ck was handsome, but why did her best friend become so smitten with him too, as if someone had cast a spell on her?

...

Zhao Xinghe felt ashamed and unable to show his face. With so many mobile phones around them taking photos and videos, it would only take half a day for the news of them getting beaten up to be spread throughout Huaye. At that time, he would become the campus laughingstock and the topic of gossip after a meal.

As soon as he thought about it, he hated it so much that he felt an itch in his gums, but didn't dare to take any action. Xiao Luo's kick just now had allowed him to get acquainted with fear. At that very moment, he had thought that he was going to die immediately.

"Don't lie on the ground and pretend to be dead to blackmail me. The floor is dirty so you just stand up now!" Xiao Luo shrugged and said lightly.

Hearing this, Zhao Xinghe was so humiliated that he felt even angrier. He held his throbbing abdomen and climbed up from the ground. The others slowly followed.

"Xiao Luo, I'll remember this. Sooner or later, I'll pay you back ten fold," Zhao Xinghe gritted his teeth and said.

"I'll be waiting."

Xiao Luo couldn't help but want to laugh. However, he also felt bewildered. What had happened to university students nowadays? They weren't doing what they should, like studying and falling in love, instead they all liked to brawl?

Zhao Xinghe was so angry that smoke was coming out of his ears, but there was nothing he could do. When he heard the clicking of the cameras' shutters, it was like he had found the flood behind a release valve. He yelled fiercely at the students around him, "What are you shooting? Stop motherf*cking shooting, or else I'll kill you! "

When they saw his murderous expression, all the students were thoroughly intimidated and they subconsciously put down their mobile phones.

Zhao Xinghe waved his hand and called out to his companions, "Let's go". The group then hurriedly left the cafeteria.

They came with unbridled arrogance, but left with their tails between their legs!

An Huanhuan became even more worshipful and infutuated with Xiao Luo, "Hero Luo Shen, you are my Mr. Perfect. I want to make your handsome photo into a poster and paste it on my bedroom wall."

"For what? To guard against evil spirits?" Xiao Luo said unhappily.

An Huanhuan pursed her small mouth and blushed, "No, I'm pasting it on the wall so I can see you every moment of every day."

"Don't, if you to do this, I'll sue you for infringing on the rights to my portrait, I'm serious," Xiao Luo threatened.

He came to the school to protect one person; who knew that he would cause so much trouble? Compared to Song Jianan, An Huanhuan was an even bigger problem. As the saying went, "One shouldn't hit someone when they have explained their actions or apologized with a smile." This was girl who kept saying that she liked him, he couldn't possibly give her a kick.

"Oh, Hero Luo, you... how can you do this!" An Huanhuan said coyly as she threw a tantrum like a spoiled child.

"Hehe... Since Brother Luo Ge said that you can't use his photo, you can take mine and Kaizi's. With a little photoshop, we'll definitely look handsome, cool and arrogant like those young idols," Zhu Xiaofei interjected.

"Who wants your photos. There's no beauty to a fat pig and a skinny monkey, you can't compare to Hero Luo at all," An Huanhuan said with her arms akimbo.

Zhu Xiaofei covered his chest and wanted to cry though he lacked the tears, "That was a severe blow!"

Ding Kai nudged him with an elbow, "You can just mention your picture alone, why drag me into this?"

"F*ck, aren't we bros, will you die if we get humiliated together by Huanhuan?" Zhu Xiaofei said with a grave expression.

Ding Kai looked at him seriously for a while, then cursed, "You stupid c*nt!"

"F*ck your sister!"

Zhu Xiaofei thought that Ding Kai would say something that was brimming with philosophy. He never expected these three words, and his face turned green immediately.

For these past few days, Chu Yue's thoughts were in a turmoil and she felt very twitchy. It was because no matter where she went, she would always run into Xiao Luo.

She went back to her dorm room and threw her bag onto the bed angrily, "I'm so mad!"

"Young Mistres Chu, what's wrong?" Bai Ling, who was playing on the computer, turned her head and asked curiously.

"What else? I ran into that pretentious d*ck again," Chu Yue gritted her teeth and said.

"Well, you guys are fated," Bai Ling laughed involuntarily.

"You ass, I'll strip you if you keep this up, trust me," Chu Yue pursed her red lips. A cunning and devilish light shone in her eyes.

"Don't, Young Mistress Chu, it's broad daylight now, it would so embarrassing to take off my clothes in the dorm."

"But you still dare to make fun of me."

Bai Ling smiled sweetly, "I'm stating facts. See, you've already complained to me six times and this is the seventh time. You seem to run into Xiao Luo even if you're just going down to receive a package delivery. Isn't this fate? " 𝙡𝓲𝙗𝙧𝓮𝒂𝒅.𝙘𝓸𝒎

"Who wants to have any fate with that pretentious d*ck?"

Chu Yue pouted and said with unconcern. Then, she thought of another possibility and a trace of alarm appeared on her pretty face, "Bai Ling, do you think that he wants revenge for what happened at the dance party?"

"You think too much, Xiao Luo is not that kind of person," Bai Ling admired her best friend's wild imagination.

"Why wouldn't he be that kind of person? I think he is, he even looks at me with a dark and sinister look." Chu Yue became increasingly afraid, she couldn't shivering as a chill wracked her body.

Bai Ling shook her head helplessly, "Stop scaring yourself, you're in the same school, isn't it normal to run into him?"

"Huaye is neither big nor small, but I was able to run into that pretentious d*ck seven times. How could this be a coincidence? He must be stalking me." Chu Yue still felt that there was something wrong.

"Since you don't believe it, we'll test it out in the afternoon. Let's go to the hills at the back and see if you'll run into Xiao Luo again. The back hills is a quieter area. If you run into him again, it means that he's following you intentionally. If not, you're just thinking too much, "Bai Ling said.

"Hmm, that's a good idea!"

Chu Yue nodded solemnly. If she did not clarify this, her heart would always feel uneasy.

Chapter 51

The sky was a clear blue unmarred by clouds; the mountains in the distance were an umber black and a warm, gentle breeze was in the air...

"This is so comfortable, I've only just realized that the scenery of the hills behind our school is so amazing."

Chu Yue and Bai Ling felt extremely contented as they strolled on the hills that were like a golf course behind Huaye. The view was vast and the grass was green; in the middle was a lake surrounded by a dense grove of trees. When viewed from a distance, the surface of the lake was flat and smooth like a mirror; it was utterly spotless. Such a beautiful and picturesque scene greatly delighted them.

"Yeah, this is so pretty and the air is fresh."

Bai Ling took a deep breath and looked around. She suddenly fixed her sight on a particular spot and exclaimed loudly, "Eh, Xiao Luo!"

"Where is he?"

Chu Yue beautiful face turned pale and she immediately looked in the direction Bai Ling was staring at. She did see a guy, but he was not Xiao Luo. She suddenly glared at Bai Yan and heaved with rage, "Damn you, Bai Ling, are you asking for a beating?"

"You're the one who's being too nervous, you had it coming, hehe..."

Bai Ling giggled with a gloating expression. She stared at fullness of Chu Yue's chest before suddenly reaching out and grabbing a handful, then she immediately jumped away with a happy laugh.

"Bai Ling you better watch out, how dare you make fun of me, stop running!"

Chu Yue's face turned red all of a sudden, and she chased Bai Ling through the vast back hills as they started to frolic. Soon, they ran into the woods. Fortunately, there were few people here, otherwise who knew how many boys would have become hypnotized by the scene of these two beautiful ladies frolicking about.

"Ahem ..."

Just when the two women were chasing and play smacking each other as they amused themselves, a man holding a bouquet of red roses in his hand suddenly jumped out of the dense woods.

He wore a blue hat and a casual sports suit. Although he was dressed in very youthful manner, he appeared to be very old. He had three distinct wrinkles on his forehead and his facial features were not particularly regular. The distance between his eyes was a little wider than that of the average person.

"You are?" Chu Yue asked.

The man's expression was a little flustered, "My name is Ma Zhengfeng and I'm... here to court you."

His eyes took in his surroundings uneasily, he had been lurking for three whole days, it was only now that this most oppotune moment had presented itself. Chu Yue's two bodyguards who were always sticking to her were standing at the narrow entrance of the hills, which was quite a distance away from here. He was confident that he could capture Chu Yue before the bodyguards reacted. The only thing that worried him was the guy with terrifying skills from that night.

Chu Yue looked Ma Zhengfeng up and down as she sized him up, then she said straightforwardly, "Sorry, you are not my type. You should court somebody else."

As the publicly selected campus beauty based on Huaye's forum, she had so many sutors that if all of them were to form a line, it would extend from the main entrance of Huaye to its back door. No matter who was courting her, she would immediately refuse them. It was not that there weren't any handsome and outstanding boys, but it was because she felt that being in a relationship while she was a university student was simply a waste of time and emotions. There wouldn't be a happy ending.

Bai Ling chucked rom the sidelines, "Yeah, Young Mistress Chu will not date while she's in university, besides, it's not trendy to give roses now, this is so old-fashioned."

"Heh heh heh... Is that so? Then I'll give you something else."

Ma Zhengfeng was about to make his move and knock the two girls out with a drug again, but a chilling cry rang out through the woods.

"Ma Zhengfeng, you owe me money, it's time to pay me back!"

A silhouette dropped down from the murky tree tops like he had been waiting and gathering his energy for this moment. He put on a burst of speed and rushed towards Ma Zhengfeng. Xiao Luo's left foot slammed onto the ground and using it as a pivot, he spun his body; using the support of the terrifying force of his onward rush, his right leg swept out, making a loud bang.

"Bam ~"

Ma Zhengfeng was caught off guard by the furious strike of Xiao Luo's right leg, it struck him forcefully in his lower abdomen. The huge impact force made his body tremble violently and his face turned pale. His saliva, which was mixed with blood, sprayed out towards the sky. His tall body immediately flew backwards.

"Xiao Luo!?"

Bai Ling's eyes were opened wide and she regarded Xiao Luo and his sudden appearance with incredulity.

Chu Yue shivered, "Pretentious d*ck, how are you here? Are... are you really stalking me?"

"Nobody's stalking you, I'm here to collect my debt."

Xiao Luo turned his head back and said angrily. Then he immediately rushed towards Ma Zhengfeng, his hands turned into claws, the whistling of a strong wind brought with it layers of chill.

Ma Zhengfeng was overwhlemed with shock and horror. He could not afford to think about anything else at this moment. Escape was of utmost importance. He twisted around and fled into the dense forest, making an all-out effort to run away. Xiao Luo followed closely behind, and his speed became increasingly faster with each step.

"Miss, what happened?"

Xiang Gaoyang and Xiang Gaojian heard signs of activity and rushed over as quickly as possible.

"Guys, quickly go and catch that pretentious d*ck. He has been stalking me. I suspect that he wants to hurt me."

Chu Yue could not help getting even more nervous. The unease that she felt these past few days, coupled with meeting Xiao Luo right at this moment, she was sure that Xiao Luo was stalking her.

"Pretentious d*ck?"

Xiang Gaoyang and Xiang Gaojian looked at each other in dismay, they had no idea who Chu Yue was referring to.

"It's Xiao Luo from our class, the guy who just went chasing someone in the woods," Chu Yue pointed at the forest in the distance. 𝓁𝑖𝑏𝑟𝘦𝒶𝘥.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Xiang Gaoyang and Xiang Gaojian had a sudden realization. There was no way they could lie that Xiao Luo intended to hurt Miss, but since Xiao Luo had made a move, it must mean that the "evil" Ma Zhengfeng had appeared again.

"Protect Miss, I'll go take a look in the woods!" Xiang Gaoyang made a decision instantly and yelled at Gaojian.

Then he turned and ran into the woods.

In the woods...

Ma Zhengfeng exerted his footwork to the extreme, he used both hands and feet as much as he could, twisting his body like he was doing a crazy dance. His speed was so rapid that he was like a ghost. However, no matter how he scuttled about in the dense forest, Xiao Luo never stopped nearing him from behind.

"Stop!"

Xiao Luo's body sprung up abruptly and he pounced like a falcon hunting its prey. His feet were sharp as drill bits as he approached and he aimed straight at Ma Zhengfeng's back.

The roaring wind behind him made Ma Zhengfeng's expression change drastically, his feet twisted wildly, and he spun his body hard. However, Xiao Luo was too fast and fierce. Although he tried his best to avoid it, Xiao Luo's toes still fell on his shoulders.

"Snap~"

Along with the crisp sound of several breaking bones, Ma Zhengfeng's body that was running forward suddenly went out of control. His body was nearly spinning in a circle as he was blasted out, he hit the ground more than ten times like a ball before his figure slowly stopped moving.

"Ah ~"

A loud scream came from beside Ma Zhengfeng. A petite and lovely girl was holding a paintbrush in her hand. She stood in front of an easel and was looking at the blood drenched Ma Zhengfeng with terror.

Ma Zhengfeng sprang up with a malevolent expression, he held the girl's throat and controlled her while he screamed at Xiao Luo, "Don't come over, otherwise I'll kill her!"

The girl was totally stunned, she had not yet reacted to what had happened in a split second. She was just painting here; just what had happened? Who was this guy with blood on his face? Why was there such a person in school?

She looked forward and stared, her body trembled violently, "Hero... Hero Luo...?"

She saw Xiao Luo.

Xiao Luo also saw her clearly at this moment, he frowned immediately as he felt a headache coming on. It was because this girl was not anybody else, it was An Huanhuan.

His surprise did not affect his movements and his footsteps never stopped. The sharp claws whizzed as it slashed through the air.

"Sorry, threats are unacceptable."

"Motherf*cker!"

Ma Zhengfeng, who had been pressured to the point of anxiety, bellowed with a deep voice. He grabbed An Huanhuan's arm and shoved her at Xiao Luo.

Chapter 52

When had An Huanhuan ever encountered such a situation? As Ma Zhengfeng flung her, the only thing she could do while her head spun was to shriek.

Xiao Luo frowned heavily, he stretched out his hand and caught An Huanhuan by the waist as she flew towards him. He turned in place, and firmly set An Huanhuan down, who was shrieking non-stop.

"Hero Luo..."

An Huanhuan looked at the man so close beside her with a dazed expression and her heart thundered chaotically. She didn't know if it was because she had a fright or if it was because the man she liked was holding her in his arms.

"It's not safe here. Hurry, get out of here!"

Xiao Luo threw the words at her coldly and let go of An Huanhuan. His body curled slightly and like a cheetah, he launched himself in the direction that Ma Zhengfeng had fled.

An Huanhuan trembled as she stood rooted to the spot. After a long time, her blown up pupils slowly contracted and she swallowed with much difficulty, "Qing... Qinggong?"

...

"It's my tenth move. Very good, let's see how long you can hold out."

In the depths of the dense forest, Xiao Luo's hard fist slammed straight into Ma Zhengfeng's own fist, which was rushing towards him. There was no suspense. Ma Zhengfeng was not his match at all, he vomited blood again as he went flying backwards.

"Again!"

A killing intent surged violently in Xiao Luo's eyes. Two combinations of attacks pounded on Ma Zhengfeng's chest and abdomen consecutively with precision and ruthlessness. 𝙡𝓲𝙗𝙧𝓮𝒂𝒅.𝙘𝓸𝒎

Ma Zhengfeng, who had no strength to fight back, felt as if he had been hit by a train. He clung fiercely to a tree and held on for a few seconds before slowly sliding down like a puddle of mud, he sank to his knees on the ground with a thump. Blood gushed from his mouth as his chest rose up and down and he looked at Xiao Luo with horror-filled eyes.

He had carried out hundreds of missions, but he had never encountered such a situation or such a terrifying opponent.

He originally thought that the remuneration of seven hundred grand could easily be his, but never had he thought that hidden beside Chu Yue was such a scary monster, which left him no room for resistance.

Xiao Luo walked slowly to him, and looked down at him from a towering position, "I'll ask you a question. Besides you, are there any other hunters planning to harm Chu Yue?"

Ma Zhengfeng stared blankly, then he snorted lightly, "No comment!"

He thought Xiao Luo was very amusing and hilarious. He even asked such a question. Was he mocking those who worked as hunters?

"I wouldn't give this sort of answer if I were you," Xiao Luo chuckled.

His expression turned cold in the next second and he raised his right foot. Then he brazenly stepped on the palm that Ma Zhengfeng was using to support himself from the ground.

"Snap ~ snap~"

A series of crisp, breaking noises rang out as his bones broke, and with it was a blood-curdling screech that echoed throughout the dense forest.

From his ten fingers and even his heart, an intense current of pain swept across his entire body. Ma Zhengfeng struggled violently, but Xiao Luo clutched his neck tightly. The tremendous power made his face purple and he almost fainted.

"If you continue to struggle, I'll step on the other five fingers and break them altogether!" Xiao Luo's icy and stern voice sounded in Ma Zhengfeng's ears, getting Ma Zhengfeng, who had almost collapsed, to slowly recover his wits. He suppressed the terror and pain with the sheer force of will and stopped struggling.

"Yes, you did the right thing!"

Xiao Luo smiled with satisfaction and released his neck.

"Who... just who are you? You're definitely not amongst Chu Yunxiong's bodyguards!"

Ma Zhengfeng's voice trembled a little. The man's skill was completely beyond his realm of comprehension. He was as strong as a god, but he was also a cruel, evil god. He didn't even blink when he broke his fingers. One could tell what a ruthless and vicious heart he possessed.

"It seems that you haven't figured out the situation yet. I'm the one asking you questions now, not the other way round."

Xiao Luo removed his foot from the back of Ma Zhengfeng's hand. Ma Zhengfeng's five fingers were completely broken and they laid on the ground irregularly. The broken finger bones punctured his skin and flesh, Ma Zhengfeng's left hand looked badly mangled.

"I'll ask again, are there any other hunters besides you?"

"This... I ..."

Ma Zhengzheng was in a very difficult position. Although no one else would know, he had his own dignity and pride as a hunter. If he was to answer the other party's question with all honesty even after getting captured, he was afraid that this would cast a permanent shadow in his life.

Xiao Luo felt very impatient and a trace of dissatisfaction flashed across his face. His left foot stepped on Ma Zhengfeng's right hand without any ceremony.

"Ah!"

A mournful and blood-curdling screech echoed through the forest. Ma Zhengfeng flopped like a fish out of water. The indescribable pain made his eyes bulge and his entire body twitch.

"If you don't want to be completely handicapped, you better answer my question before I lose patience," Xiao Luo said softly.

"I'll say... I'll say..." Ma Zhengfeng yelled in fright.

Xiao Luo's smile was like the devil's nasty grin, completely shattering his psychological fortress. The severe pain from having his ten fingers broken made him burst into tears.

Xiao Luo leaned leisurely against a tree, he stretched out a hand and plucked a green leaf, fiddling with it in his hands.

Ma Zhengfeng turned deathly pale face and his body trembled uncontrollably. He did not dare to disrespect Xiao Luo even in the slightest. The fellow in front of him was a devil wearing a smile, he was extremely fierce and vicious.

"I... I don't know if there are any other hunters. The employer maintains isolated contact with the employees. Each of the employees is in a one-to-one contact with their respective supervisor. Maybe... Maybe when the news of my failure reach the employer, he would send someone else."

"You seem to be talking nonsense, it's of no practical use at all!" Xiao Luo frowned, the movements of his hands stalled.

Ma Zhengfeng was so frightened that he shivered. He was afraid that Xiao Luo would do something to him again, his brain quickly recollected to see if there was any useful information so that this person would have some mercy for him. Under the effect of fear, he really did think of one thing.

"I... I remember, when I left the employer's office, I seemed to have heard him contacting the Blackwater Company."

"Blackwater Company?"

Xiao Luo's frowned became even more severe, "What do they do?"

"They are an organization specializing in training and coordinating mercenaries to carry out missions. 'A pool of black water can swallow Heaven and Earth', this is the slogan of their company." Ma Zhengfeng said truthfully.

"'A pool of black water can swallow Heaven and Earth'? What a sh*tty slogan," Xiao Luo said scornfully.

Ma Zhengfeng's face pressed out a bitter smile. Blackwater was the world's largest mercenary company. All the people from that company were freaks. Only this monster dared to underestimate Blackwater.

Xiang Gaoyang arrived at this moment and shouted to Xiao Luo, "Mr. Xiao!"

Xiao Luo returned from his thoughts, his back left the trunk of the tree and he said, "You came at just the right time, I'll leave him for you to deal with."

To Ma Zhengfeng, this sentence definitely sounded like the best and most pleasant words in the world. If he were to continue staying with Xiao Luo, he would not know what kind of abuse he would be subjected to. He was really afraid of Xiao Luo, the fear that he felt originated from deep within his soul.

"Ok."

Xiang Gaoyang nodded in acknowledgement. When he turned his head to look at Ma Zhengfeng's condition, he couldn't help but be stunned.

Ma Zhengfeng's face was covered with blood, his ten fingers were broken, there was even a clear scratch mark on his neck. A couple of his ribs seemed to be broken too, and his chest was slightly sunken... Even though he was a professionally trained bodyguard, such a miserable-looking Ma Zhengfeng caused him to feel an inevitable chill. A layer of goosebumps suddenly formed all over his body.

Looked at Xiao Luo's back as he left, he muttered a criticism in his heart, "So vicious!"

Xiao Luo was also extremely puzzled. When did he become so fierce and violent? One must know, in the past, he could feel his blood freezing in his veins when he saw someone bleeding copiously. But now, he felt no discomfort even after beating someone into a pulp and stepping on the other party's ten fingers until they broke. On the contrary, he actually felt especially excited.

What had happened to him?

Chapter 53

Xiao Luo had a question and he asked in his mind, "System, does the ability 'Constitution of: King of Mercenaries' – affect my nature and temperament?"

"DING! 'Constitution of: King of Mercenaries' is to enable the host to quickly possess the mercenary king's ability, including physical strength, combat experience, reflexes and the understanding of firearms. Naturally, your nature and temperament is included too. Once redeemed, the host is the strongest mercenary. You'll have a cold-blooded side," The cold and hard female voice of the system responded.

"I see!"

Xiao Luo exhaled softly and shook his neck. He thought that he was experiencing a split personality just now.

At this time, An Huanhuan who was filled with curiosity, sneaked over and found Xiao Luo. She immediately grabbed her easel and ran up to him, "Hero Luo, were you dealing with the bad guys just now?"

"Hmm..."

Xiao Luo nodded, after which he thought that An Huanhuan was really acting too calmly, she even dared to run up to him. Shouldn't a typical girl have been scared witless by now? He asked, "He was clutching your neck just now, weren't you afraid? "

"I was very scared, but when I saw you, I wasn't scared at all. When you held me as I was about to land on the ground, I felt that we were like the male and female protagonists in 'Kung Fu Hustle', the mood was so on point," An Huan giggled.

Xiao Luo was exasperated. He had to take his hat off at her. It was such a dangerous moment, but An Huanhuan could still think of movie scenes. But when he replayed it carefully, the moment he caught An Huanhuan as she was about to land was indeed a bit like the segment of Xing Ye and the mute girl.

"Hero Luo, I see Princess Yue and Bai Ling, did the bad guy come for Princess Yue?" An Huanhuan suddenly said.

Just when Xiao Luo was about to deny it, An Huanhuan said, "You're also here for Princess Yue, you're specially here to protect her."

"An Huanhuan, you have a really rich imagination," Xiao Luo frowned.

"Hero Luo, just admit it. I just heard your conversation with that bad guy just now. You even stepped on and broke his fingers. You're Princess Yue's bodyguard," An Huanhuan pointed at the direction of Xiao Luo.

He had planned to pull the wool over her eyes by bluffing his way out, but it seemed impossible now.

Xiao Luo sighed, said grimly, "Keep it a secret for me, okay?"

"Ok, but you have to promise me two things."

An Huanhuan leaned close and said charmingly as she looked at him expectantly with her big watery eyes.

Xiao Luo knew this would be the result. He said in a low voice, "What two things?"

"The first thing is that you have to teach me kung fu. I want to be able to fight like you."

"Teach you kung fu?"

Xiao Luo was astonished, then he realized that he could make use of the time when he would be teaching An Huan Huanhuan kung fu to make her suffer, and he immediately agreed with great joy, "This request is reasonable, I can agree."

"The second thing, date me," An Huanhuan batted her eyelashes seductively at Xiao Luo.

Dating?

Xiao Luo shivered all over and then flatly refused, "No!"

No way he was dating An Huanhuan, who was a university student. Even if he wanted to date, he would date a woman who had started working in society.

"Why not?"

An Huanhuan pursed her small lips and she stamped her feet anxiously on the ground.

"You've chosen the wrong person for a relationship. I'm really unsuitable for you. Also, you know that I'm just Chu Yue's bodyguard. I'm not a student at all. You and I belonged to different worlds."

"But I just like you."

An Huanhuan took hold of Xiao Luo's arm, "Hero Luo, I've never been so serious before. When I first saw you, I felt there was a special vibe about you that just attracted me, and then your fierce debate with Ruoran made me fall in unwavering love with you. In my eyes, you are my Mr. Perfect. "

Xiao Luo gently pushed her away and said sternly, "Trust me, after you graduate from university, you'll find your present actions to be very childish."

"I don't care, if you don't agree, I'll go around telling everyone that you are Princess Yue's bodyguard," An Huanhuan started to act unreasonably.

Xiao Luo was not a master who gave in so easily, especially when it came to compromises with a girl. His expression immediately changed and he said coldly, "I really hate it when people threaten me."

After speaking, he turned away and left with a heavy expression on his face.

An Huanhuan panicked as soon as Xiao Luo got angry, she caught up to him stopped him in his tracks, "Okay, okay, I won't threaten you, Hero Luo, don't be angry."

Xiao Luo exhaled a long breath and shook his head helplessly, "An Huanhuan, how could you set your heart on a man that you don't know much about? Aren't you afraid of being taken advantage of?"

"Taken advantage of? What advantages can I lose?" An Huanhuan blinked, not knowing the reasons.

Xiao Luo was speechless, he straightforwardly said, "What else? The most precious thing for you girls, isn't it your body?"

Upon hearing this, a flush appeared on An Huanhuan's face, "Oh, Hero Luo, you're... you're so... that..."

"What about me?"

Xiao Luo was totally depressed, he didn't say any unspeakable words, why was he being accused of "that"?

At this moment, An Huanhuan bowed her head and said bashfully, "Hero Luo, if you want, we can wait... until our relationship is stable. Then, I'll... I'll be willing..." After that, she quickly turned around with her back to Xiao Luo. She felt so shy that her face had become flushed.

She'd be willing?

Xiao Luo eyes were opened wide, he was totally dumbfounded. He thought in his mind, "Just what are you willing to do? Did I ask if you were willing? This was how An Huanhuan understood his sincere guidance?"

He didn't want to talk anymore, and quickly left.

An Huanhuan shouted at him. The louder she shouted, the faster he walked. He felt that it was necessary to keep his distance from An Huanhuan.

The weekend arrived in the blink of an eye. Zhang Dashan called and said that he wanted to have a meal with Xiao Luo on Saturday night.

When he learned that Xiao Luo was at Huaye University, the receiver on his mobile was nearly broken by his loud voice.

"What? You're at Huaye University? I say, old friend, you're not focused on finding a job, instead you've gone to Huaye University for what in the world?" Zhang Dashan's tone had a note of exasperation that Xiao Luo was not properly focused on making good in his life

"I'll talk about it in detail on Saturday, I can't say things clearly with just one or two sentences over the phone," Xiao Luo said.

"Okay, then I'll go to Huaye around 7pm on Saturday night."

After finishing this sentence, the manner of his speech abruptly changed and became vulgar, "By the way, are there any pretty girls? Bring one or two them out, we can find a chance to get them drunk, then take them to the hotel to and have a crazy night, hehe..."

"Are you trying to get a life sentence?" Xiao Luo rolled his eyes.

"What f*cking nonsense, I have 200% confidence to make that girl fall in love with me after I sleep with her."

"With just you?"

"Just me. I'm eighteen centimeters in battle mode. Have I shown it off to you before?"

"Get lost!"

Xiao Luo only retorted with two words and hung up the phone. He returned to the dormitory from the rooftop.

"Brother Luo, Song Jianan has posted his challenge on the school forum, he said that he'll set up the arena at the mixed martial arts club and wait for you on Saturday night," Ding Kai put the mobile phone near to Xiao Luo.

Xiao Luo didn't take a single look and laid down on the bed, "He can do whatever crazy thing he wants. I've got no time to play with him."

"In addition to Song Jianan's challenge, Brother Luo, the handsome photos of you kicking Zhao Xinghe and his goons in the cafeteria a few days ago is spreading like wildfire on the forum. You're famous in Huaye. The taekwondo association, the karate association, the martial arts club... All the clubs and associations related to martial arts say that the kick you delivered to Zhao Xinghe was fake, they're waiting for you to be crushed by Song Jianan on Saturday night! "Zhu Xiaofei also added as he roughly browsed through the school forum.

Xiao Luo couldn't help but find it a little comical, what was going on with university students now? They didn't seem to be particularly diligent about their studies but were extremely meticulous about this kind of trivial matter. They were putting the cart before the horse!

Chapter 54

At half past three in the afternoon, it was time for two slots of physical education classes.

Most girls choose volleyball, table tennis, badminton and the likes. Chu Yue and Bai Ling were two anomalies that chose soccer, which directly led to Xiao Luo's student character choosing soccer too.

"Pretentious d*ck, why are you here?"

When she met Xiao Luo in a small soccer field where lessons were specially conducted on, Chu Yue's beautiful eyes were opened wide in surprise.

She wore a casual sports suit that comprised of a red jacket matched with a black shirt, the head of a little anime girl was silk-screen printed on the chest area. Her face was bare of any cosmetics but it was still bright like the moon, her figure was also soft and beautiful. Her entire person appeared clear, attractive and refined.

As usual, she had a delicious lollipop in her mouth.

Standing beside her was Bai Ling, who seemed to have a soft spot for white. She wore white trainers, a white sports suits, plus her skin was also exceptionally fair and her facial features exquisite. She had the air of a girl next door, pretty daughter from a humble family. She truly gave off a fresh, clean and beautiful aesthetic.

The two girls standing on the soccer field made a beautiful scenery, attracting the gazes of those around them. Numerous males passing by the football field halted in their tracks like cattle and fixed their attention here.

Xiao Luo rolled his eyes at Chu Yue, "What's so strange about my presence here, is it only you, Miss Chu, who's allowed to do soccer for her optional course?"

Just this sentence alone made Chu Yue choke on air.

"Xiao Luo, Young Mistress Chu actually wants to invite you to join our gaming team again. I hope you can forgive her for the incident at the dance party," Bai Ling smiled helplessly.

"Indeed, Bai Ling has a way with words."

Xiao Luo smiled at Bai Ling, "Joining your team is one thing, I can't get along with Fu Jiawei and the rest of them. And if I join, I'll definitely lower the overall strength of your team."

"This is your choice, it's not that I didn't invite you. In the future, you can't say that I'm the one who forced you away." Chu Yue said unpleasantly.

Xiao Luo shrugged his shoulders indifferently.

"Bam ~"

At this moment, a soccer ball rushed towards them at high speed in a gorgeous arc, the sound of the ball cutting through the air was extremely sharp and the strength of the force was bold and powerful. At a glance, one could tell that a soccer expert had kicked the ball. The soccer ball whistled through the air as it went straight for the profile of Xiao Luo's face. If he was hit, he would feel a temporary buzzing in his head. But if his body was weaker, he might spin a couple of times on the spot before collapsing and thoroughly losing his face.

"Ah!"

There were quite a few crazy girls on this small football field who had chosen to take this course just like Chu Yue and Bai Ling. When they saw this scene, they subconsciously cried out in fear.

Beside him, Chu Yue and Bai Ling also felt a tremor in their minds, shouted in alarm, "Careful!"

Xiao Luo leaned back, and the angle was just right for him to dodge the ball. The soccer ball spinning at high speed swept past his eyes, and kicked up a strong wind that caused the hair hanging across his forehead to flutter.

"Who kicked the ball?" 𝘭𝑖𝘣𝑟𝘦𝒶𝘥.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Chu Yue immediately spoke up, demanding justice. She shouted in the direction that the soccer ball had come flying from, "You almost hit someone, how did you even kick the ball?"

Even she felt extremely bewildered as she shouted these words. Why was she demanding justice for this pretentious d*ck? Was it because she had mistaken him as a stalker who wanted to do her harm a few days ago and now wanted to compensate him?

As soon as the words fell, more than ten agile sports students gathered around them, their faces shone with belligerence and provocation.

"It seems like they are from the mixed martial arts club again!"

Bai Ling whispered the words. These people wore uniform sportswear. On the chest area of their clothes were printed the words 'Mixed Martial Arts Club'.

The group was headed by a boy who was of a similar strength as Zhao Xinghe. His body was strong and he had a thick layer of hair on his legs. He had a clean face but his smile was very sinister.

"Sorry, I wasn't pay much attention just now."

Although he was apologizing, his tone and expression were full of challenge. There was not the slightest sense of sincerity in his apology.

Xiao Luo smiled coldly. There was no doubt that the ball was meant for him just now. These guys who insisted on picking a quarrel with him really were everywhere. It seemed that the size of Song Jianan's mixed martial arts club was passable.

"Oh, isn't this Xiao Luo the Fiend who had kicked one of our sports student in the cafeteria a few days ago?" The leader said with an exaggerated expression as he pretended to be surprised.

As soon as this remark came out, other students also cast their attention on him. Xiao Luo the Fiend, he was a celebrity in the school forum. Who in Huaye was more famous than him?

"His physical fitness looks average, does he really have so much power to your feet?"

"It must be those silly asses in our school that exaggerated the incident and boasted about him to the point that he has become a god."

"I don't believe that he can really kick a man and send him flying four or five meters away!"

Another eight or nine sports students folded their arms in front of their chests and they took their measure of Xiao Luo as they spoke belligerently.

"Would you like to test it on the spot? You can choose a person to be the fat pig, I'll be in-charge of the kicking, how about it?" Xiao Luo said lightly as he patted the clothes on his body.

"You piece of sh*t, what did you say?"

These sports students immediately became hostile, they rubbed their palms and wiped their fists. They couldn't wait to tear into Xiao Luo.

Actually, when they already burning with rage when they saw that Xiao Luo had also come to this field. It was because Xiao Luo had slapped the proverbial face of the sports students as a whole, which had never happened before.

In the past, the sports students in Huaye walked like they owned the school, their noses were turned up towards the sky, they made their authority felt and they were so proud of themselves. They were proud of being a sports student, but now, not only did Xiao Luo beat Tang Yuze up, he also sent Zhao Xinghe flying with a kick in the cafeteria. These were all sports students and they were also Community Sports majors. Now, no matter where they went in school, they kept feeling that someone was talking secretly behind their backs, making fun of the sports students.

"You were making trouble for someone else and were taught a lesson in return. You were asking for it, who can you blame."

Chu Yue argued as she found it really unfair. Although she hated Xiao Luo, they still belonged to the same major. To see him besieged by these sports students, she could not hold herself back any more

"Xiao Luo, let's go, ignore these people," Bai Ling directly called out for Xiao Luo to leave.

"Xiao, do you only know how to stand behind a girl? Letting two girls stick themselves out for you; if I were you, I would have been ..."

"Du Pengfei!"

At this moment, a loud and clear voice interrupted the leader's speech.

The physical education teacher who taught soccer came over, "What are you standing there for? Hurry and get everyone to gather!"

Because Du Pengfei was very good at soccer, he was appointed as an assisstant by the physical education teacher to help him teach the class.

"Yes, teacher."

Du Pengfei smiled coldly at Xiao Luo, then he waved a hand and called others over to the center of the soccer field.

"The members of the mixed martial arts club are all basically students of the Community Sports major. Pretentious d*ck, you'll have much to suffer," Chu Yue sighed and looked at Xiao Luo with pity.

"Different situations call for different actions. I'm not afraid of them anyway."

Xiao Luo said indifferently, then he frowned, "Hey, can you stop calling me 'pretentious d*ck'? Don't feel disgusted when such an awful name comes out of your mouth?"

Chu Yue took out the lollipop and pouted, "None of your business, pretentious d*ck, pretentious d*ck, pretentious d*ck. I'm saying it. What about it?"

"I'm gonna make an expression at you. You can experience it for yourself."

Xiao Luo rolled his eyes, then turned and walked away.

Chapter 55

The physical education class at university was like that. There wasn't much quality content. If not for the unexpected presence of some pretty girls in his class, the PE teacher would have let the students disperse and enjoy their free time after they had finished their warm-up exercises. But even so, after half an hour, the teacher gave the order to disperse, letting everyone play soccer on the field however they liked.

Xiao Luo wasn't interested in playing soccer with a bunch of children, so he minded his own business, walked to a corner of the field, sat down, and played with his phone.

"Xiao, who gave you permission to play with your phone!"

Before he had even warmed the spot with his butt, Du Pengfei and his group approached him. Du Pengfei pointed at Xiao Luo and yelled in a firm and righteous voice, "You should be serious in PE. Put your phone away."

"Don't go looking for trouble. Otherwise, you are the one who'll regret it!" Xiao Luo kept playing with his mobile without raising his head once.

"Motherf*cker, you can act like an assh*le. Why don't you go to hell!"

"Poor f*ck. He's so engrossed even though he's only playing on a domestic phone!"

"Stop pretending that you're dead by sitting here. Stand up. Let's have a soccer match. Didn't you think you were so great? Do you dare to have a match with us?"

The guys in the group were all holding a soccer ball as they made sarcastic comments. Had they not been in school or PE class, they would have descended on Xiao Luo in a swarm and beat him up. 𝓵𝓲𝓫𝒓𝓮𝙖𝓭.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Get lost!"

Xiao Luo raised his head and glared at them with threatening eyes that seemed to say, back off...for your own good. He was like a bloodthirsty beast.

Du Pengfei's group took a step back, as an involuntary shudder ran down their spine. They looked at each other in dismay and saw the horror in each other's eyes. But they turned their thoughts around; there were so many of them and only one of him. What was there to be afraid?

"Fine. You sure are crazy and arrogant!"

Du Pengfei beckoned, and the group of them turned and left.

After walking more than twenty meters away, Du Pengfei and four other guys who were holding soccer balls placed them on the ground. The five of them walked a short distance, then rushed toward the soccer balls at the same time.

"Arrogant motherf*cker!"

Du Pengfei roared with fury, "Shoot!"

The five guys pulled their right foot back, exerted some force, and delivered a violent kick...

Whoooosh

The balls instantly roared, drawing five fierce arcs in the air as they whizzed toward Xiao Luo. The strength behind the balls was mind-boggling. The sound of the soccer balls cutting through the air made everyone on the field feel a sense of suffocation.

Chu Yue and Bai Ling, who were passing a soccer ball back and forth, tightened their expressions and shut their eyes.

Everyone knew that the five guys, including Du Pengfei, weren't playing soccer; they were planning to hit someone!

The PE teacher also noticed the strange goings-on here. He was so scared he sucked in a breath of cold air and immediately screamed at Xiao Luo, who was still sitting on the ground playing with his mobile, "Hurry, dodge!"

As a teacher who taught soccer, he very well understood the power of a soccer ball flying at high speed. If any student bled, fainted, or was injured in his class, he was afraid he would lose his secure employment as a PE teacher.

Xiao Luo's instinctively raised his arms in a cross to protect his head.

Bam bam bam

Five footballs smashed into him from five different directions. The strength behind the soccer balls was too great, and they instantly bounced back after hitting his body.

"Yesss! All strike, hahaha ..."

Du Pengfei and his party shouted excitedly while clenching their fists and pulling their elbows back and forth.

Everyone else on the field watched Xiao Luo without blinking. He was hit by five soccer balls flying at high speed. How could he be totally fine?

The PE teacher swallowed with difficulty and stared fixedly at Xiao Luo in disbelief. When he saw him casually putting down his crossed arms, the ball of worry that was hanging by a thread in his mind finally fell away. He patted his chest to ease the fear. With trepidation lingering his heart after the near trauma, he ran up and yelled in a stern voice, "Du Pengfei, what do you guys think you're doing? Are you kicking a ball or a human?"

"Teacher, we're kicking soccer balls. It's because the balls have no eyes, so they flew toward that guy," Du Haipeng pointed at Xiao Luo and said with a relaxed expression.

"Yeah, teacher, we don't know what's going on either. The balls are out of our control once they're in the air."

"The soccer balls must like that person so much that they just need to be in close contact with him."

"Yes, yes. The soccer balls love that person too much, hahaha ..."

They roared with laugher to vent their anger.

"Nonsense! Others may not be able to control the direction of the ball, but do you think I don't know about you guys or what you're up to? It's because of your strong soccer abilities that the school has made an exception by lowering the admission scores for you. I don't care what kind of grudge you have with that student. Don't make trouble in my class, or I'll make sure you have a hard time."

The sports teacher severely reprimanded Du Pengfei and the others, then he shouted at Xiao Luo, "Student, are you all right? Anything wrong? Can you stand up and walk..."

He suddenly stopped talking because Xiao Luo stood up slowly and was walking toward him.

As he stood up, an intimidating wave of power swept outward from his center. It seemed as if a ferocious beast had broken free from its shackles now and revealed its ghastly fangs.

The sports teacher smelled trouble, big trouble, and felt as if this bloodthirsty and wild beast was targeting him.

"Xiao Luo is angry!" Bai Ling looked at Xiao Luo in a daze.

Chu Yue also felt that Xiao Luo was very different from usual when he got angry. His face was smoldering and severe. She recoiled in fear.

Du Pengfei and his people curbed their mirth and looked at Xiao Luo defiantly.

"Brother Fei, that kid seems to be angry." One of them pretended to be serious.

"It's good that he's angry. I was afraid he wouldn't be, or we would have wasted five perfectly good soccer balls, hehe..." Du Pengfei laughed.

"Hahaha ..."

The others broke out in nervous laughter, too. To see Xiao Luo looking so angry made them feel even more deeply how they had stood up for the Community Sports majors as a whole.

At this moment, Xiao Luo put his mobile phone in his pants pocket and glanced at Du Pengfei and his party. Then, he ran like a cheetah to a soccer ball on the ground. He raised his right foot and delivered a ferocious kick.

Whoosh

The soccer ball that had been lying motionless on the ground like a meek little lamb transformed as it turned into a roaring beast. It cut a vicious trajectory through the air and rushed toward Du Pengfei and his companions with unprecedented force and speed.

The ball was like lightning tearing through the void!

Alarmed, the guy's instinct was to get away, but the soccer ball with its aggressive momentum had already hit him in the stomach when he first thought of dodging it. Without any warning or defense, he toppled backward and went rolling with the ball. He rolled four or five meters away like a winter melon. With a "Blergh," the food he had eaten at noon and had been mostly digested turned into vomit as it came spewing out of his mouth.

The scene shocked everyone.

F*ck? What were they looking at? Shaolin Soccer? Legs of the Omega Supreme?

Every one of the onlookers sucked in their breath. They stood with flabbergasted expressions at the boy who was retching violently on the ground after being struck by a soccer ball.

Chu Yue and Bai Ling also had their eyes wide open; their eyelashes were trembling. Did this happen? It didn't seem real.

The PE teacher couldn't believe his eyes, either. Beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down slowly from his forehead. There were no crafty angles or techniques behind that kick, only insane speed and power. How the hell did a human kick the ball? Wasn't it shot by a machine?

Looking at their buddy lying on the ground and vomiting uncontrollably, Du Pengfei and his party froze in terror. They felt a wave of coldness flowing from the top of the heads to the tips of their toes until their entire bodies were icy cold.

Chapter 56

"DING! Congratulations, you've received the 'soccer talent!' "

Xiao Luo ignored the system notification in his mind as he looked askance at Du Pengfei with cold eyes and a dark countenance. The temperature on the field seemed to have dropped several degrees. Everyone shuddered involuntarily.

"You guys like to play soccer, don't you? Okay. I'll play with you!"

Licking his lips cruelly, Xiao Luo mentally prepared himself for the game as he walked toward another soccer ball and stood silent with his eyes focused on the ball. Then with high concentration, he drew his foot back and struck the ball powerfully, completing the action smoothly in one go. There was nothing hesitant about his movement.

The ball soared as it carried a strong wind that whistled and howled. It spun at high speed while tearing through the air, quickly closing the distance of twenty or thirty meters before forcefully striking the forehead of a sports student. The impact did not stop there. The student's sturdy body flew backward as it spun head over heels like an out-of-control car before finally crashing to the ground three or four meters away.

The student's head buzzed, and his brain seemed to have turned into a pot of mush that was being stirred. He tried very hard to stand up. It was as if he'd lost his cerebellum, for he could not maintain his balance at all and kept falling to the ground again and again like a drunkard.

Without waiting for the audience to react, Xiao Luo kicked another ball.

Bam bam bam

Immediately, four sports students toppled to the ground.

Hiss...

The spectators sucked in their breath as they looked on with horror-filled eyes. To crush someone with a soccer ball? What kind of skill and power was behind those kids? Perhaps this guy was the Omega Supreme.

Chu Yue and Bai Ling watched Xiao Luo in disbelief; they thought he was one of a kind.

With people watching with rapt attention, Xiao Luo got into a shooting position with an expressionless face. He lowered his upper body to the point where his face nearly touched the ball. His right foot was raised high up and back, and his body was solely supported by his left foot.

Oh my God! How can he keep his balance like this?

Everyone was staring at him in awe.

The PE teacher was starting to get nervous. What if someone got hurt? Such a shooting position was unheard of. He had never witnessed anything like it, but he could sense its dominance and power. The purpose of the posture was to concentrate the body's strength on the right foot. When the raised right foot came down, this power could be maximized to the extreme. Xiao Luo's usual kicking technique was fierce enough. If he kicked this ball and it hit a person, wouldn't it... cause serious injury or possibly death?

When he thought about this, the PE teacher burst into a cold sweat.

"Stop... Stop right now!"

He shouted and rushed toward Xiao Luo to stop him from shooting this ball.

But it was too late. Xiao Luo's right foot had already kicked the ball.

Roar!

The ball thundered. Its trajectory was no longer a parabola but a line that seemed straight to the naked eye as it clung close to the ground. It flew toward Du Penghei's three remaining buddies with a whistle.

The eyes of the three people nearly bulged out from their eye sockets. The soccer ball spinning at high speed became bigger and bigger in their vision. Suddenly, they thought they were hallucinating as that flying orb turned into a fireball.

They blinked, scared witless. No, they weren't hallucinating. This was real. The ball, burning like a comet with a tail of red flames, was rushing at them with a violent, stormy power that would sweep away everything in its path!

"Help... help!"

The three of them closed their eyes and screamed, sure they were going to die. Their hearts were shrouded in a red-hot glow.

Bang

The burning ball exploded a few inches from the three students, scattering red-hot flames on the ground. A pungent scorching odor filled the air as thick black smoke rose.

Total silence.

The soccer field was deathly silent. Everyone stared blankly at the bits of glowing flames. A shiver ran up and down their spine and their hair literally stood on end.

"The ball is actually... burning..." A student said in a trembling voice.

Another dumbstruck student continued, "It turns out that everything in the movies was real. When the soccer ball reaches a certain speed, it can ignite from its intense friction with the air and turn into a flaming soccer ball."

Du Pengfeil's three buddies looked as if they had just escaped from the Grim Reaper's clutches. They were deathly pale and could no longer stand. They slumped to the ground in a cold sweat, panting heavily. Their bodies shivered uncontrollably. One guy's crotch was soaking wet: he was so scared he lost control of his bladder.

Chu Yue and Bai Ling were thunderstruck. Was this happening? Xiao Luo had only taken a moment to turn this soccer field into a battlefield. This was too scary, way too scary!

The PE teacher finally exhaled. After the soccer ball ignited, it exploded at a critical moment without harming the three students, thank goodness. Otherwise, who knows what would have happened? He shuddered to think of the consequences.

Du Pengfei's face was ashen, and his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth from anxiety. He could not utter a single word. His nine companions had collapsed in the blink of an eye. Even worse, they were crushed in soccer, a sport they prided themselves on. This was surreal. He was so panicked he could hardly breathe. His heart was beating so fast he thought it would beat out of his chest; his legs had turned to jelly.

"It's your turn!"

Then he heard Xiao Luo's cold and emotionless words.

After regaining his composure, Du Pengfei turned around and ran off like a wolf out of the field. He just kept running, the farther he was from the beast, the better.

"You think you can outrun a ball?"

Xiao Luo's lips curled in a sneer as he sauntered toward a soccer ball.

No, No! Was he was going to shoot again? Stop him!

When the PE saw this, he took action.

"Stop your nonsense!"

He shouted and ran for a short distance before throwing himself on the ground and sliding the rest of the way. The soles of his feet approached the soccer ball in front of Xiao Luo. This was a beautiful sliding tackle: its purpose was to intercept Xiao Luo's ball.

Xiao Luo glanced at him indifferently and lightly kicked the ball up with his foot. He quickly escaped the tackle, and then punted the ball with the back of his foot. The ball slowly rose, drawing a rainbow-like arc in the air. It circumvented one person before rushing toward Du Pengfei. It was as if the ball was alive. It sped up frantically at the critical moment.

"This is... What did I see? Is this 'bend it like Beckham?'"

The PE teacher was so surprised he momentarily forgot that Xiao Luo was using a soccer ball to crush someone.

The others were also shocked, too.

Du Pengfei, who was running wildly, felt the ball whizzing toward him from behind and tried to avoid it.

But it was too late!

Bam

The ball slammed fiercely against his back, the immense force knocking him to the ground. Du Pengfei rolled for four or five meters with the ball with a petrified look on his face and landed on the grass like a dog, panting heavily. Blades of grass stuck to the sides of his mouth and swayed with every breath he expelled.

The audience went silent. The images of the flaming soccer ball and the arc through the air that was like a rainbow lingered for a long time in everyone's mind!

The PE teacher was relieved to see that Xiao Luo wasn't making any more fatal moves. Otherwise, Du Pengfei and his companions would have been seriously injured or killed.

Xiao Luo walked toward Du Pengfei and stopped in front of him. He looked down at him from his towering position, "Tell your people from the mixed martial arts club, especially Song Jianan, that my patience is limited. If he doesn't know how to restrain himself, I'll go after him and destroy one of his hands. All of you will suffer with him. I mean it, so don't test me!"

Arrogant. Domineering. Crazy!

The people present who heard these words felt a deep and real tremor in their souls.

Chapter 57

If anyone on campus had heard someone threaten to destroy one of Song Jianan's hands and make the other members of the mixed martial arts club suffer, he would have fallen down laughing or treated it as a joke.

But look who was talking. It was Xiao Luo the Fiend, someone who could send a person flying four or five meters away with a single kick, someone who could ignite a soccer ball after he shot and turned it into a fireball. A guy like this wasn't human. Yet some people believed he did indeed possess those extraordinary abilities.

Looking at Xiao Luo's back after he walked away, Du Pengfei broke down and cried like a baby. Now he understood why Tang Yuze's and Zhao Xinghe's expressions darkened at the mere mention of Xiao Luo's name–and why the look of terror appeared in their eyes. How was he human? He was a monster!

"Hey, what's your name? I told you to stop, didn't you hear me?"

The PE teacher knew he'd lost face. He ran toward Xiao Luo while pointing is finger at him and yelling angrily; his rage was beyond his control.

But when Xiao Luo stopped in his tracks, the teacher instinctively stepped back and put his guard up, afraid this beast would reduce him to tears, too.

Xiao Luo slowly turned his head and said indifferently, "Teacher, I believe you witnessed what just happened. They hit me with the ball first. I simply returned the favor."

The PE teacher was incensed. Pointing at Du Pengfei and his buddies, he shouted, "Don't talk nonsense. According to your logic, if a dog bites you, will you return the favor too?"

"I agree that they are dogs. But I'll not bite a dog because I'm a human. If a dog bites me, I'll only hit it with a stick until it becomes afraid of me!" Xiao Luo said matter of factly.

The nerve of this smart ass! Xiao Luo's viciousness and lack of empathy were offensive.

"You..."

The PE teacher was fuming at Xiao Luo's audaciousness. In all his years of teaching and coaching, this was the first time he had ever encountered such an arrogant son of a b*tch in any of his classes. As a physical education teacher, he was physically fit and exuded a powerful and dignified presence. Any student who saw him felt at least a little bit of fear and a lot of respect. But, as it turned out, this student in front of him felt neither.

At this moment, Chu Yue walked. One could not help noticing her soft and beautiful figure. She gently spoke up, "Mr. Wang, you really can't blame him. It's Du Pengfei and his friends who provoked Xiao Luo first. If you want to blame someone, blame Du Pengfei. If he hadn't egged Xiao on, this situation never would have happened."

Beside her stood the lovely Bai Ling, nodding in agreement.

Facing these two beauties, the PE teacher's disapproving frown relaxed. Moreover, when Chu Yue and Bai Ling came over, they brought with them a fragrant breeze. As a testosterone-laden middle-aged man, he was used to dealing with male students. Now that he was smelling a woman's fragrance, it was impossible to say that his heart and mind were not running amok. Of course, he had to keep those impulses in check and squelch any inappropriate thoughts that might cross his mind.

"Well, Chu Yue is right. I was confused for a moment and accidentally blamed the wrong person."

Teacher Wang agreed with Chu Yue. Then he put on his most serious face and yelled at Du Pengfei, "Du Pengfei, considering that you and your companions have disrupted class by attempting to hurt your schoolmates and by displaying unsportsmanlike behavior, I will apply to the school to issue you your next punishment. In addition, if you do not attain a passing score in PE this semester, you'll have to take make-up classes next semester.

F*ck, was this the charm of a campus beauty? It wasn't fair.

Clearly, the ones who were injured were Du Pengfei and his gang. But the person who caused their injuries, Xiao Luo, did not have to take any responsibility for his actions. The punishment fell onto Du Pengfei and his people. They might even have to make up their physical education classes next semester. What a colossal waste of time that would be.

Everyone looked at Du Pengfei and his companions sympathetically. At the same time, they also speculated about the relationship between Chu Yue and Xiao Luo, saying that the campus beauty Chu Yue was extraordinarily stubborn, and anyone who pursued her met with a direct refusal. But it seemed that she already had a boyfriend–he appeared to be none other than Xiao Luo the Fiend, who burst here from out from nowhere. Why else would Chu Yue stand up for him?

On the other hand, when Du Pengfei and his companions heard Teacher Wang's words, which were like a court sentence, their faces immediately turned gray. They really did have remorse for their actions.

Xiao Luo glanced at Chu Yue, astonished. He was a little surprised that she would speak up for him but kept his thoughts to himself. He turned around and walked to a corner, then took out his mobile phone and continued to play with it.

After Chu Yue and Bai Ling finished talking to Teacher Wang, they trotted toward Xiao Luo.

"Pretentious d*ck, I helped you. Can't you say a word of thanks?" Chu Yue said, her sweet mouth twisted in a pout.

"Thank you!"

Xiao Luo didn't look at her at all. He was playing a game on his mobile, oblivious to everything around him. "I've said it. If there's nothing more, you can go away."

Chu Yue was so angry she stomped her foot, "Can you talk to me nicely? Will you die if you talk in a friendlier tone?"

She didn't know where this guy's superiority came from. She took the initiative to chat with him. Still, he acted like a self-important ass, repelling her and putting thousands of miles between them. How could she not get angry!

"Xiao Luo, Young Mistress Chu wants to be friends with you."

As besties, Bai Ling and Chu Yue's confided in each other and shared each other's secrets. It was therefore only natural that Bai Ling knew how Chu Yue felt about Xiao Luo. No matter how Chu Yue did not allow any boy to get close, he was nevertheless an outstanding guy in all aspects, hence her interest in him. She did have the desire to become friends with him.

Be friends?

As for Xiao Luo, he simply wanted to get through protecting Chu Yue in one piece. After that, he did not want to have any contact with anyone from Huaye. Just like Xu Zhimo, he tried to arrive quietly and leave the people from this world in the same manner, taking nothing from them. So, he resisted her offer of friendship.

Chu Yue did not try to be secretive, "Pretentious d*ck, a lot of unhappy events happened between us, but didn't those days pass? Let's bury the hatchet and be friends."

She then extended her right hand.

Of course, that was not to say that she liked Xiao Luo. No, she simply admired him. Friendship was the only thing she had on her mind.

"We can bury the hatchet, but let's forget about being friends," Xiao Luo stood up and said.

"Why?" Chu Yue was annoyed and puzzled.

"Because you were born into a wealthy family, and I'm just a country bumpkin who was born into an ordinary family. We don't travel in the same circles or have the same frames of reference. I seriously doubt we could ever be friends," Xiao Luo found a perfunctory reason and dodged the issue.

"Xiao Luo, I'm from an ordinary background too, but Young Mistress Chu and I are very good friends," Bai Ling said.

Xiao Luo smiled, "You're a girl. It's different for me." He looked at Chu Yue. "Moreover if I'm too close to you, I'm afraid a lot of people will get the wrong impression. Once that misunderstanding occurs, I may be in more trouble."

"Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding?" Chu Yue blinked her large and beautiful eyes, not knowing the reason.

"The misunderstanding that I'm your boyfriend," Xiao Luo said calmly.

As soon as Chu Yue heard this, she blushed and shouted, feeling angry and bashful. "What nonsense are you talking about? Even if all the men in the world are dead, I'll never let you become my boyfriend."

"So that's all the more reason not to become friends. It would be disastrous to be misunderstood by others." Xiao Luo raised his eyebrows, looking blazé.

"Hmph! Fine. Do you think it's a loss to me if you don't become my friend? Bai Ling, let's go. This guy is crazy." Chu Yue stomped off in a huff, pulling Bai Ling along with her and turning away.

Xiao Luo exhaled a long breath. He sat down and continued to play with his mobile.𝓁𝒾𝘣𝑟𝑒𝘢𝘥.𝘤𝘰𝑚

Chapter 58

One after another, the days flew by.

On Saturday afternoon, Xiao Luo changed into a more mature getup after getting a call from Zhang Dashan. He needed a breather. University might be a paradise for many, but it wasn't so great for him. The worst part was having to go to class. It sucked. Time crawled at a snail's pace when one was miserable: Every minute seemed like a thousand.

"Brother Luo, are you going out?" asked Zhu Xiofei.

He considered the possibility and then, visibly alarmed, asked, "You're not going to the mixed martial arts club to respond to Song Jianan's challenge, are you?"

Hearing the words "Song Jianan" and "challenge," Ding Kai, who was lying in bed reading, sat up and looked at Xiao Luo with a pale, terror-stricken face. 𝑙𝘪𝒷𝘳𝑒𝘢𝑑.𝒸𝑜𝑚

"Lao Zhu, you think too much. I can't be bothered with that kind of senseless person," Xiao Luo smiled slightly.

"Then, where are you doing?"

"A good friend is coming to meet me, and we'll be having a meal tonight."

Xiao Luo inhaled lightly and said, "By the way, do you want to come along? You can eat and drink for free."

"Nah, you're going on a date. We're don't want to be a third wheel, hehe..." Zhu Xiaofei shook his head and grinned, showing his teeth.

"That's right. People who are third wheels are losers."

Ding Kai echoed, then lay back down and continued reading.

Xiao Luo, who was silent for a moment, said softly, "He's male."

"What? A guy?"

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai looked at each other and saw the shock registered in the other's eyes. No wonder Brother Luo was unmoved by An Huanhuan's relentless pestering. So the reason was...

Zhu Xiaofei coughed a few times and said, "Brother Luo, we understand. You can go with peace of mind. We'll not gossip about you. We'll keep our mouths shut tight and keep this secret of yours. Also, we'll not look at you with peculiar expressions because of this. After all, it's been a long time since the Reformation. Our minds have been liberated and are as wide as the Pacific Ocean. Leaving aside a man getting with a man, it's not a big deal for us even when it comes to a man with a snake, a man with a ghost, and a man with a rock."

Holy sh*t! They understood? Just what did they understand?

Xiao Luo felt a little ill. He knew that a man who got together with another man was gay, but man and snake? And what the hell was a man with a ghost and a man with a rock? Why had he never heard of these? Had he become behind the times again?

"Lao Zhu, are you talking internet slang? What do you mean by a man and a snake?" Xiao Luo was puzzled.

"It's Xu Xian and Lady White Snake," Ding Kai put down his book.

"Then what about a man and a ghost?"

"Ning Caichen and Nie Xiaoqian."

Xiao Luo felt that his three fundamental views had been turned upside down. Then he asked curiously, "What do a man and a rock refer to?"

"It's the Monkey King's dad," Zhu Xiaofei suppressed his laugh and said.

"?"

A series of question marks appeared in Xiao Luo's mind.

"Brother Luo, the Monkey King's dad got a rock pregnant. Isn't he f*cking capable?"

Zhu Xiaofei guffawed. "One slept with a snake, one slept with a ghost, and one even dared to sleep with a rock. So many predecessors have created a new history in their obsessions. Brother Luo, compared to them, there's nothing strange about you, hahaha ... "

Xiao Luo was exasperated. In the next second, he sent Zhu Xiaofei, who had thrown his head back and was laughing so hard that tears were flowing, a kick that sent him flying.

When Xiao Luo rushed to the school gates, Zhang Dashan and his white Corolla were already waiting there.

"What the hell? How did a bastard like you become better looking since our last meeting a while back?" This was the first thing Zhang Dashan said.

Xiao Luo rolled his eyes. He opened the door and hopped in the front passenger seat. "Cut the crap. I'm hungry! Let's quickly find a place to eat."

"What about the hot, pretty girls? Didn't I tell you to bring some with you?"

Zhang Dashan yelled but didn't linger at the school gate. He slowly started the car and headed for the city.

"You seem so thirsty. I think I need to order a doll for you online," Xiao Luo joked.

"That's good, but I want one imported from Japan, and it has to be the real thing. I don't want the inflatable kind that only costs around twenty dollars. It's too damn shoddy and can never hold up against a few violent thrusts from me," Dashan laughed mischievously.

"Get lost, you bastard!" Xiao Luo wanted to kick him.

"Bwahaha..."

Zhang Dashan was so excited he deliberately pressed sports mode and stepped on the gas, causing the car's speed to skyrocket in that instant to match his current excitement. However, he did not dare to speed for too long: speed limit signs and traffic monitoring abounded in Jiangcheng. He couldn't even count all the traffic light intersections on his ten fingers and toes.

"By the way, Lao Xiao. You haven't told me what you're doing in Huaye," asked Zhang Dasjam curiously at a traffic light intersection while waiting for the light to turn green.

"I was entrusted to protect someone." Xiao Luo felt had nothing to hide from his bro.

"What? Protect someone? When did you become a bodyguard?" Zhang Dashan was more than a little surprised.

Xiao Luo then briefly told him the story of how he met Chu Yunxiong.

"Balls! So you're in Huaye to protect Chu Yunxiong's daughter. The same Chu Yunxiong who owns Chongshan House?" Zhang Dashan's eyes immediately widened. Whoa. This was some story.

Xiao Luo said, "Other than this Chu Yunxiong, there shouldn't be anybody else who goes by that name in Jiangcheng."

"F*ck me!"

Zhang Dashan looked at Xiao Luo as if he were an alien, "Bastard, you got to know Chu Yunxiong, a VIP tycoon in Jiangcheng. What a lucky bastard. And you're the one protecting is his daughter? F*ck, isn't it evident he wants you to be his son-in-law?"

"I haven't seen you in a while. Talking bullshit has become your forte," Xiao Luo said, rolling his eyes.

"Who's talking bullsh*t? Isn't it just like TV? Right, so what does Chu Yunxiong's daughter look like? Is she pretty?" Zhang Dashan asked.

"She's okay, so-so."

Xiao Luo propped his chin up, giving a fitting and direct evaluation.

"An okay from you means very good."

Zhang Dashan felt pretty confident about things and said like a shameless rascal, "Damn it, bro. I don't care. You must take me to see her. I happened to dress up tonight, so I look good...and cool. If I can captivate her, I'll immediately ascend to the pinnacle of my life."

Xiao Luo took a closer look at him. For real, this dude was dressed very pretentiously and looked passably good: A white shirt with black trousers in the western style. He gave off a strong gentlemanly vibe. His body was passably good, too. There was only one disadvantage–his face was too chubby. Otherwise, his sister, Xiao Ruyi, would have been attracted to him from the beginning.

"Lao Xiao, I have to tell you something." Zhang Dashan's expression suddenly turned serious.

"What is it?" Xiao Luo frowned.

"Zhao Mengqi was taking the roundabout approach by trying to get some info about your situation from me a few times. She was going to visit you at your home but found that you weren't there. Based on her tone, I think she wants to get back with you."

Get back together?

Xiao Luo shook his head and smiled, looking at the night scene outside the window. He didn't say a single word; he had already ended the chapter of his life titled Zhao Mengqi.

"A random search on the internet will turn up a lot of negative information about that slimeball Hua Haifeng of Huahai Corporation. He sleeps around with lots of women and changes girlfriends about as often as one turns a page when reading. Zhao Mengqi thought she had slept with someone dependable. Ha! In the end, she'll just get dumped after he's had his fill." Zhang Dashan said indignantly. He thought that Zhao Mengqi was just a stupid woman.

"Don't talk about her. Let's talk about happier things," Xiao Luo said.

"That's true. You two have broken up. I don't know why I brought it up. Come on, let's talk about Chu Yunxiong's daughter. How old is she? Does she have a nice body? How's her skin? And most important–does she have a boyfriend?" Zhang Dashan suddenly became energetic and animated.

Chapter 59

After parking the car, Xiao Luo and Zhang Dashan walked into a hot pot restaurant.

"Welcome. Please come in, gentlemen!"

A waitress enthusiastically led the two of them to a window seat on the second floor.

When Zhang Dashan saw that the waitress was a beautiful woman, he became playfully teasing. He raised the pitch of his voice and said excitedly, "Oh, it's you? So you're working here."

The waitress was startled by his bluff and seriously examined Zhang Dashan, thinking, "This person seems to know me."

She carefully asked, "Excuse me, you are?"

"You've forgotten me? I'm crushed. We met recently, and you even called me bro. Remember?"

Zhang Dashan put on a sad face. His expression suddenly went from excitement to joy to dismay.

The waitress was quite embarrassed now, thinking she must have been careless to forget an acquaintance. She went through her memory over and over again, but when she couldn't find any information about the person in front of her, she became even more panicked, "I'm sorry, I ... I've forgotten where I've seen you..."

Zhang Dashan covered his heart and said with a bitter and distressed expression, "How hurtful, I feel hurt. Forget it; just put down the menu. We'll take our time ordering."

"Sorry, but I honestly don't remember where I met you."

The waitress was totally in panic mode. The person in front of her didn't seem to be joking at all, which meant that she must have known him but had forgotten all about it. Oh well.

Zhang Dashan waved his hand dismissively and took a deep breath, "I'm very sad now, and don't want to talk. It's better for you to remember me on your own, it'll come to you, I'm sure.

"Oh..." 𝒍𝓲𝓫𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅.𝙘𝙤𝒎

The waitress shrugged her shoulders and walked away. She looked back three times for every step she took, struggling to remember just where she had met Zhang Dashan.

Xiao Luo gave Zhang Dashan a thumbs up, "Aren't you the number one actor!"

He made a waitress suspicious of life with just a few words and expressions. What else could this be but the work of the number one actor?

"Number one actor? What balls. This is a technique for picking up girls. Follow and learn more with me in the future," Zhang Dashan preached to Xiao Luo while selecting ingredients on the menu.

Xiao Luo lifted his cup and took a sip of warm tea. He joked, "Don't you usually say things like 'oh, you look so familiar, have we met before?' Why did you change the script?"

"Old friend, it seems that you don't know how to pick up girls at all. Women are very savvy these days. If you ask them where you've met, they can be sure that you're here to pick up girls. They'll ignore you completely. But if you use my method, I can 100% guarantee that the girl will inquire about your information in turn. This is what I have tried on WeChat; it works like a charm." Zhang Dashan threw the menu in front of Xiao Luo so he could pick a few more ingredients for the hot pot.

Xiao Luo couldn't be bothered to prattle with him in this setting. Besides, he wasn't at all interested in learning how to pick up girls.

"Do you know why women want to get married?" asked Zhang Dashan, suddenly lowering his voice.

Xiao Luo glanced at him, "When fate brings the right people together at the right time, they'll naturally get married."

"Wrong," Zhang Dashan slapped the table.

"Why's that wrong?" Xiao Luo asked.

Zhang Dashan said seriously. "It's because marriage has balls."

Has balls?

Hmm? Has... balls?

Xiao Luo quickly understood and cursed, "F*ck you!"

(Translator note: This pun is based on wordplay. "Balls" here is not an exact or literal translation of the Chinese term. It means "useless" here but is made up of the characters for "bird" and "use." So the literal meaning of Zhang Dashan's statement means "There's a d*ck that can be used in marriage.")

Soon, the hot pot ingredients they ordered filled the entire table. There were few vegetables. It was mostly meat and shellfish, including beef, mutton, pork, shrimp, crab, and more. Zhang Dashan was a meat lover, and so was Xiao Luo. If not for the need to have some vegetables to offset the greasiness, they wouldn't have ordered any at all.

When another waitress carried over the "Mandarin duck pot" and the hotpot base, Xiao Luo was so surprised. "You?"

Zhang Dashan almost sprayed out the beverage he had just drunk," I say, old friend, do you have to be like this? I just used this trick. Even if you want to plagiarize it, wait until you go to another place before trying it."

"But I do know her!" Xiao Luo said very seriously as he narrowed his eyes at him.

"Balls. You just said I was the number one film actor, but you're the motherf*cking real deal."

Zhang Dashan couldn't stand it and decided to rain on Xiao Luo's parade. He raised his head and said to the waitress, "Pretty lady, just ignore him. He's talking nonsense because he wants to pick you up."

But the waitress ignored him. She just stared at Xiao Luo in a daze with her round, wide eyes.

She had chic short hair and was smartly turned out in a red waitress uniform that perfectly accentuated her curvy figure. Her face was oval, and her eyes could not be considered small. With her exquisite facial features, she exuded a dignified and solemn vibe. It was Huang Ruoran, the class monitor of the English Language majors.

Xiao Luo was the last person she expected to see here. Her family was not well-to-do, so she found a part-time job. To avoid running into her classmates, she chose this hotpot restaurant because it was far from Huaye, almost in another district. But she never expected to run into a familiar face here–least of all her nemesis, Xiao Luo. How would she ever live this down?

At this moment, she felt the world spin. Three words popped into her mind: "I'm done for!"

"Oh my God, why did he come here?"

Huang Ruoan was about to break down. It would be ten times better to bump into anyone at her part-time job than this bast*rd, but it just happened to be Xiao Luo. Xiao Luo might humiliate her thoroughly. She hoped there was a hole in the ground that could swallow her up.

"Pretty lady, pretty lady?"

Zhang Dashan yelled a few times and pulled her back from thinking about her embarrassment.

"Sirs, these are the dishes you ordered, and this is your receipt. You can match the items and see if all the dishes have been served." Huang Ruoran forced herself to calm down. She added water and the base ingredients into the pot, not daring to look Xiao Luo in the eye.

Xiao Luo was amazed. This was the Ruoran who spoke so powerfully and carried herself so valiantly in class? The contrast was extraordinary.

Of course, he knew that this was part of the regulations at the hotpot restaurant. The waitresses must address the male customers as "sir" in a friendly tone and have a respectful attitude. Otherwise, the boss would not keep the employee.

Xiao Luo also knew that Huang Ruoran was very embarrassed and stressed. He didn't want to put her in such an awkward position, so he said, "We can do it ourselves, no worries. You can attend to other matters."

He was not someone who would humiliate others, as Huang Ruoran thought. Moreover, he didn't believe it was shameful for university students to work part-time. At least, they were self-reliant and understood the workings of society earlier than others. Far from looking down on Huang Ruoran, he respected her.

But Huang Ruoran didn't think so. In her imagination, Xiao Luo had a mocking smile on his face.

She didn't linger and hurried away after taking Xiao Luo's suggestion.

Chapter 60

Xiao Luo and Zhang Dashan were enjoying their meal and having a grand old time. Between bites of food, they talked, laughed, and traded vulgar jokes like two old veterans. The scene looked so harmonious. But in Huang Ruoran's view, Xiao Luo was making fun of her. That was exactly how some paranoid people felt whenever they heard people whispering or laughing behind their back–they assumed they were the subject of gossip.

"When Xiao Luo goes back, he'll blab to everyone that I work here as a waitress," Huang Ruoran muttered to herself under her breath.

She nervously knitted her brows together. She had a strong personality and didn't want anyone to see her side as a waitress, bending and groveling to the customers. But fate was not on her side, and she just had to run into Xiao Luo tonight. By Monday, her secret would be out, and she worried about losing all her hard-earned respect as the class monitor.

Unlike Huan Ruoran, however, Xiao Luo wasn't thinking about her at all. He was simply enjoying the delicious hot pot and a night out with his best friend. The university was as far from his thoughts as the moon.

He ate his meat and drank his soup. As to life, he found it to be a beautiful thing, at least at the moment.

"Damn it," said Zhang Dashan. "Why wasn't Sis Luo attracted to me at that time? Does having a large face negate all that I am? This is too unfair."

After they were half-full, Zhang Dashan started complaining. The Sister Luo he was talking about was Xiao Luo's sister, Xiao Ruyi, shortened to "Sis Luo." "In what way is that trash Tang Ren better than me? His skin is smooth as a baby's bottom, and his face is small and fair. Sis Luo wouldn't have a sense of security with him. What does she see in him? I really don't understand this."

"You can't blame this on anyone. I created a chance for you guys. But in the end, you dragged me into playing Landlord War with her for a whole night. My sister complained to me that you're a stupid pr*Ick." Xiao Luo put down his chopsticks and berated Zhang Dashan. He didn't want to talk about this again. He got so angry whenever this subject came up. Aargh!

Zhang Dashan's face turned green. "You bast*rd. Why do you have to have such a good memory? In any case, weren't you the one who came up with that rotten idea of playing Landlord War? You know I can't stop playing once I come into contact with poker cards."

Xiao Luo didn't want this to turn into a long-winded conversation, so he immediately poured a large plate of beef meatballs into the hot pot.

At this time, a group of people sat down at the table behind them. There were four men and two women with tattoos on their bodies. The men had bare arms and wore gold chains; they looked like unreasonable, violent bandits. The women were skimpily dressed, and their nails were painted black. In addition, they carried a strong smell of perfume. As soon as they finished ordering their dishes, they started talking up a storm as they remained in their seats. Their voices were very loud: They acted as if they had bought the entire hot pot restaurant for the night.

Of course, Zhang Dashan did not object to their loud voices. But what he couldn't stand was the stool occupied by the man behind him. It severely infringed on his space. Even turning around was a herculean task, let alone standing up. Just when the man was chatting happily, he would shake his stool back and forth, and the back of it kept cramming and bumping into Zhang Dashan.

At a certain point, he couldn't take it anymore. He patted the man's shoulder and said, "Hey, buddy, can you move your stool back a little? It's so uncomfortable how you're cramming against me, thanks!"

The man turned his head and gave him a disdainful glance, then he turned back and continued talking bombastically with the others. It was if he hadn't heard Zhang Dashan's words.

F*ck!

Zhang Dashan cursed in his mind, feeling depressed.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Luo asked.

"What's wrong? Old friend, can't you see that I'm about to be squished into a lump of sh*t?"

Zhang Dashan was extremely upset. At this moment, he happened to see Huang Ruoran, who was adding water for customers at another table. He immediately beckoned, "Pretty lady. Please come over here."

Huang Ruoran came over reluctantly without looking at Xiao Luo. She asked, "Do you want me to add water for you, too?"

"Pretty lady, look at the water in our pot. Does it look like we need more?"

Zhang Dashan pointed at the boiling hot pot, then at the space around him. "This hot pot restaurant should have more than this tiny bit of space for guests. I feel very uncomfortable sitting here now. I'm not even in the mood to eat now. Say, what should be done about this?"

Huang Ruoran saw that it was because the man behind him had moved his stool too far back, thus severely infringing on the space that belonged to Zhang Dashan. The space left for Zhang Dashan was just enough to accommodate him. It was already so cramped to sit there, let alone eat his meal.

She nodded slightly, then walked to the man and politely requested, "Sir, would you please move your stool forward a little?"

The man raised his head and said with an unpleasant expression, "Why should I move the stool forward? I like to sit like this, it's comfortable. What about it?"

Huang Ruoran said, "I'm sorry, sir, but you've infringed on the space of another guest, causing him..."

"Is there a line drawn here? Or is there a rule that says I can only have such a tiny space for my seat and that I'm not allowed to move the stool back?" The man had a blazing temper.

Huang Ruoran never expected this man to be so unreasonable. But she also had a lofty and unyielding character. Since the guest was so rude, she immediately straightened her face and took a harsher tone, "I'm sorry, sir, please move your stool forward! "

As soon as the words came out, the man's companions laughed. They looked like they were enjoying the entertainment and had no fear of things blowing up.

"Shanzi, since the pretty lady asked nicely, just scoot over."

"Haha... Yeah, give the beauty some face." 𝒍𝓲𝓫𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅.𝙘𝙤𝒎

"Isn't that b*tch going to break up with you. This pretty lady isn't too bad. You can be on bad terms with anyone, but you should never be on bad terms with a pretty girl."

A few people laughed and commented. One of them even pawed the woman next to him in front of so many eyes. He touched her everywhere, and not only did the woman not mind at all, she even seemed to enjoy it as she snuggled intimately against his body.

Initially, the man named Shanzi had a ruthless expression. Upon hearing what his companion said, he laughed, and his gaze became vulgar and obscene. He said to Huang Ruoran, "If you want me to move the stool, sure, but kiss my face. I can even give up my entire seat if you ask me to, let alone moving it forward a little. "

His companion laughed out loud and coaxed, "Pretty girl, kiss him, kiss him, hahaha..."

They were obviously playing with her!

Huang Ruoran gritted her teeth angrily. Although she had been working as a waitress here for almost a year, she had never encountered such a situation. For a moment, she was at a loss of what to do.

"Bro, I told her to ask you to move your stool. Confront me if you've got the skills. What kind of skills do you have when you're only capable of messing with a woman." Zhang Dashan turned his head to the side. He picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth with gusto.

Xiao Luo was also sitting in his seat, and he slowly ate with a slight smile of indifference.

The man named Shanzi slammed his wine cup down. He stood up, turned around, and looked at Zhang Dashan with an ugly and murderous expression. "I was going to ignore you, but you're motherf*cking getting cocky with me!"

He moved the stool in the direction of Zhang Dashan by more than ten centimeters. The back of the stool pressed against Zhang Dashan's arm directly. Then he stomped on the stool with great strength and said combatively while pointing at the ground, "I'm putting the stool here. Why don't you try asking me to move it again?"

Chapter 61

Xiao Luo's expression abruptly darkened. His luck must have really run out for him to be encountering such people at the hotpot restaurant.

Zhang Dashan prepared to launch an offensive. He lowered his stance and waved his hands about with an awkward smile, compromising with the man called Shanzi.

"Everything's alright now, pretty lady. Go ahead and do your thing," Zhang Dashan said to Huang Ruoran.

"But your..."

"It's fine. I have enough room. Besides, we are almost done here. I'll just put up with it," Zhang Dashan interrupted her with a smile.

Hearing him, Huang Ruoran nodded, turned around, and left. Her heart, however, was still a little uneasy.

As soon as she left, the matter came to an end. When the man by the name of Shanzi saw Zhang Dashan ducking out, not only did he become more arrogant, but he viciously spat a mouthful of phlegm onto the ground right in front of Zhang Dashan. Then, he sat down and said to his companions in a loud voice, "He's just a p*ssy. Let's ignore him and continue our talk."

"Shanzi, you're so manly!" said a lady with a toady smile.

The man forcefully grabbed her creamy thigh and smiled playfully. "Oh, yeah? Really?" he teased.

"Yeah, but it's because of your manliness that I like you," the lady said, moving nearer to him with a seductive smile.

"You horny little sl*t. I'll bang you to death when we get back!" giggled the man with exhilaration while pinching the lady's pointy chin.

"You're so naughty!"

The woman playfully shoved the man's hand away.

"Hahaha!"

The other three men and one woman, who were all sitting at the same table, went along with it, laughing.

Compared to them, Xiao Luo and Zhang Dashan's table was much quieter.

Xiao Luo knew Zhang Dashan quite well, and he knew that he wasn't that kind of person who'd just cr*p out on something. He would never let something like this go, especially after being bullied to this extent. As expected, as soon as Zhang Dashan had finished all the meat, he signaled to Xia Luo with his eyes that it was time to get ready.

Zhang Dashan drank down his cup of beer and stood up suddenly. He lifted the pot brimming with boiling broth, turned around, and splashed it on Shanzi.

"ARGHH!"

A horrifying scream rang out. Shanzi felt like his skin was being forcefully torn from his bones as incomprehensible pain spread throughout his entire body.

The faces of the other three men changed immediately. They'd never expected Zhang Dashan, who had cr*pped out just now, to go berserk out of the blue and act without saying a word. His ruthlessness overwhelmed them on the spot, while the two ladies shrieked in horror.

"You son of a bloody wh*re!"

With an atrocious face, Zhang Dashan kicked the man, who was screaming in pain, to the ground. Then, he lifted the stool and brought it down on him, repeatedly smashing while yelling, "I was in a good mood today, you b*stard! Then you went and screwed it up! Do you really believe that I would deny you the privilege of seeing the sun tomorrow?!"

After smashing the man with the stool, he resorted to punches and kicks. He pounced on him repeatedly, and the man could only bellow in agony while groveling on the ground like a pig being slaughtered.

Xiao Luo lifted his eyebrows and continue sipping his orange juice indifferently. This was the Zhang Dashan he was familiar with—a good citizen with his blazer on and a hooligan with his blazer off.

In college, he had been in his fair share of fights, all provoked by some trivial issue. During their first year, they had even got into an argument because Zhang Dashan liked to smoke in the dorm. Xiao Luo had nagged him somewhat because he couldn't stand the second-hand smoke, and the two had ended up in a brawl.

But after they'd fought, not only did they not become estranged, their bond became even stronger. Their relationship was a perfect example of the phrase, 'friendship grows from conflict!'

"Snap!"

The sharp sound of cracking bones brought Xiao Luo back to reality.

As he focused his eyes, he saw Da Zhangwei smashing the man's nose until the bridge was crooked. Following a round of horrifying, non-human screams, the man's body twitched. Then, his head turned sideways, and he passed out.

It wasn't until that moment that the three men who'd come with him regained their senses. As they were about to rush forward, Xiao Luo struck out at them, humming lightly as he forcefully kicked their table. His kick literally had the force of two-thousand pounds. The table reacted as if it had been hit by a raging bull. The dense square table slammed the three men hard against the wall.

The two ladies screamed even louder. Their shrill cries immediately attracted the attention of all the customers in the hotpot restaurant.

"Why the f*ck are you screaming? Shut the f*ck up!"

Zhang Dashan growled at the ladies with a fearsome look, pointing at them with his finger.

Terrified, they stopped right away and gaped at Zhang Dashan in horror.

From far away, Huang Ruoran clearly saw everything that was going on. Before, she had genuinely thought that Zhang Dashan had complied. She'd never expected this not to be the case at all. Humans really did gather around their own kind. Those who had close ties to Xiao Luo could never be her kind of people.

Zhang Dashan had not yet finished venting his rage. He still wanted to whack the man on the ground a few more times. Xiao Luo stopped him with a frown, saying, "Enough! This guy will surely end up in the ICU if you carry on!"

"D*mn, I am so p*ssed. I haven't been this infuriated in many years. That b*stard is destined to receive a brutal thrashing from me!" Zhang Dashan yelled. He was really enraged, and the blood vessels on his forehead bulged.

Through her peripheral vision, Xiao Luo saw one of the restaurant's employees make a telephone call while glancing furtively in their direction. He was definitely calling the police. Seeing what he was doing, Xiao Luo picked up Zhang Dashan's shirt from the stool and thrust it into his hands, saying, "It's time to go."

Of course, Zhang Dashan was no fool. He wouldn't stay there like an idiot and wait for the cops to arrest him.

He immediately threw on his shirt and swept majestically from the restaurant alongside Xiao Luo, just like Stephen Chow exited the casino in his movie. Before he left, Zhang Dashan even waved to the restaurant's startled customers and said to them, "Please do not admire me, for I'm nothing more than a legend. Don't stare at me. Please, enjoy your food while it's still hot!" 𝙡𝓲𝙗𝙧𝓮𝒂𝒅.𝙘𝓸𝒎

What the h*ll? Who was this guy?

How was he so calm after almost killing someone? He'd even managed to pull off a Stephen Chow-style exit! Exactly how big was his heart?!

It was only at that very moment that the customers regained their senses. Then, the whole place plunged into chaos.

Huang Ruoran was still standing in the same place. Utterly stunned, she was unable to recover from the shock.

After leaving the hotpot restaurant, Zhang Dashan drove all the way to the suburbs. As he scurried down the road, he rolled his car windows down, opened the skylight, and blasted the DJ's music at the maximum volume.

"Hey, slow down, man!"

Xiao Luo, who was sitting in the passenger's seat, didn't feel safe at all. He thought that the car could flip at any moment.

"What did you say? I can't hear you!" Zhang Dashan shouted over the music.

"I am asking you to slow down!"

Xiao Luo was all fired up. They were flying at 130 miles per hour, and his life was already flashing before his eyes.

"I...can't...hear...you! Hahaha!" Zhang Dashan laughed excitedly.

As the deafening music echoed in his ears, Zhang Dashan sang along to the radio: "Like a G6, like a G6. Nananana! Now I'm feelin' so fly like a G6..."

He screamed the whole time, and venting was his sole purpose.

Gradually, Xiao Luo came around to resonating with Zhang Dashan. He felt like there was too much sadness in his heart that needed to come out. He no longer cared whether they would end up getting in a car accident and began to move his body along with the rhythm of the music.

The deafening music vibrated in the air around them. Xiao Luo felt like he was in a dance hall. Amidst such an atmosphere, every cell in his body began to trip in the fantastic light.

This is the excitement that I want! I want this madness!

In the end, Xiao Luo joined the party. The two weren't competing over who could sing better. They were competing to see who could push their vocal cords higher. From the look of things, it seemed that neither of them would stop until someone lost their voice.

Chapter 62

The night was dense like ink, and it could not be dispelled.

Zhang Dashan stopped his car on a hilltop on the outskirts of the city. The two men leaned against the hood as they reveled in the view of Jiangcheng below.

Shrouded in the dark of night, the city was like a creature with its head on the ground and a glimmering body whose brilliance illuminated half of the sky. The flickering neon lights were ever so enthralling. Sometimes, they cascaded down from the crowns of skyscrapers. Other times, they pursued each other like playful elves or became kaleidoscopes that dazzled the eye.

"That was a nice beating! It's been a while since I felt this good."

Zhang Dashan let out a long sigh, then turned to look at Xiao Luo and asked, "Xiao Luo, how are you doing? You weren't injured just now, right?"

"Injured? How could I be injured?" asked Xiao Luo.

"Well, you make a fair point. Surviving that literally made you into Superman. You know, the guy who wore his red underpants over his clothes. Your opponents should be the ones getting injured." Zhang Dashan took out a cigarette, lit it, and pressed it between his lips. He delighted in the pure fun of blowing smoke rings.

...

"It's late now, so I should get going. Or else, the dorm's gate will be locked."

"Bro, do you really still think of yourself as a university student? Are you actually worried about being locked out?"

After glancing at his phone, Zhang Dashan's face became a little twisted. He said, "This very moment marks the beginning of the nightlife, and you're actually telling me that you're going back? What the h*ll, bro?"

"My principles haven't changed. Go by yourself if you want. Get in the car and take me back to the Huaye campus."

Xiao Luo sounded very determined. This was the only thing that he was insistent on not doing together with Zhang Dashan because of the education he'd received from his family since he was young. He also wanted to stay pure for his own reasons.

Zhang Dashan knitted his eyebrows and sighed, "Fine, fine. I'll leave you out of this. When I get myself a girlfriend in the future, I'll definitely quit this bad hobby as well."

"Stop b*llshitting. You have no self-control," Xiao Luo snorted dismissively.

"You know nothing about it! You have no right to talk since you've never tried it bef—"

"F*ck off, man. No more pervy talk!" Xiao Luo interrupted with a frown. He grabbed the pillow off his seat and hurled it at Zhang Dashan.

At 10 o'clock that night, aside from the gathering places of night owls, the number of people and vehicles out and about in Jiangcheng's avenues and streets was significantly reduced.

"D*mn this dumb a*s app! It took us to a dead-end!"

Zhang Dashan was sitting in the driver's seat and cursing at the navigation app on his phone. The app's monotonous voice was still repeating the sentence 'go straight,' which irked him to the extent that he tossed away his phone. "Look at this dumb a*s app asking me to go straight when there's a d*mn wall in front of us. Ah, I'm so frustrated."

Xiao Luo glanced at his phone, then shook his head and said, "It's not the software. It's your brain. You've gone the wrong way. The street shown on the map is actually at the next intersection, parallel to this alley. It's not far away."

Zhang Dashan grabbed his phone in disbelief. He looked at the map again after enlarging it and finally admitted to the fact that he had gone the wrong way. His face turned red, but his lips, however, remained in a state of denial. "What the f*ck? It's all because this dumb app failed to distinguish between the street and the alley. It's really inaccurate, is it not?"

"Stop b*llshitting, hurry up, and turn around!" said Xiao Luo solemnly.

"I know, bro."

Zhang Dashan sighed and slowly turned the car around.

Just then, they saw a few figures lurking around the alleyway's entrance. Taking a closer look, helped only by the light of a nearby streetlamp, they counted a total of six people. Five of them were men, and the sixth was a woman with a graceful figure.

"What in the world? Tormenting woman? In broad daylight? Under the bright sun and moon?" Zhang Dashan exclaimed while glancing at Xiao Luo.

Broad daylight? Bright sun and moon?

Excuse me? It was nighttime!

Xiao Luo really wanted to jump on him.

"Holy moly! How savage and brutal! These beasts are preparing to force themselves on her!"

Zhang Dashan fixed his eyes on the group. Then he looked at Xiao Luo and asked, "Save her? Yes? No?"

When Xiao Luo was about to reply when Zhang Dashan answered, "Of course, we should! Good cabbage shouldn't fall into the hands of those beasts!"

As soon as his voice fell away, he switched the car's headlights from low to high beam.

The dazzling headlights were like messengers from a world of light. They illuminated all the filth otherwise hidden by the darkness.

The five men violating the woman were startled. One pulled out a sharp dagger from his waist and shouted fiercely in Xiao Luo and Zhang Dashan's direction, "Who the f*ck is that? Are you seeking death? Turn off your headlights!" 𝓁𝒾𝘣𝑟𝑒𝘢𝘥.𝘤𝘰𝑚

Then two more men wordlessly took out their knives and ran straight toward Zhang Dashan's car.

Chapter 63

Seeing the two men running toward them with atrocious expressions and switchblades in their hands, Xiao Luo was speechless. He turned to Zhang Dashan and mumbled, "So, you'll go handle them?"

"Why me? You're the most capable fighter. Of course, it should be you! I'll cheer you on from the car," Zhang Dashan answered promptly.

"You said that you were going to save her. I didn't say anything," Xiao Luo shot back disdainfully.

Seeing the two men coming closer and closer, Zhang Dashan became very anxious. "Hey, bro," he said, "don't p*ss out at this critical moment. If they smash my car, then I'll kill myself in front of you."

"Go ahead then. Kill yourself. Hurry up!" Xiao Luo said with indifference.

"You are a real as*hole. Are we still brothers or not? Saying something like that can easily get you struck by lightning, you know."

Zhang Dashan grew heated but then cooled off again, smiled, and said in a friendly tone, "Xiao Luo, everyone is eager to be the hero who gets to rescue a beauty. Now, the chance to do just that has presented itself to us. Give it a go, alright? Maybe, just maybe, she'll offer us her lifelong devotion. Judging from her figure, she's definitely a belle. If either of us is thinking about hooking up with her, I can tell you that she'll definitely be more than enough. You know what I'm saying?"

"Why are you working at a bank since you're such an expert at making up fantasies?" Xiao Luo quipped, rolling his eyes.

Zhang Dashan was confused. "Where else should I go to work?"

"You should become a screenwriter," Xiao Luo snorted.

Then, he cracked his neck, opened the door, and walked out of the car.

One of the men charged at him immediately. However, a moment later, his vision flickered, and a foot wearing a white sneaker landed firmly on his chest. The next second, a force of boundless energy surged by. The man's body, which had been moving forward, suddenly froze as if he'd been suddenly struck by lightning. His chest was in anguish, and it felt as if his heart had stopped pumping. Blood gushed out from the back of his throat.

"Pfffft!"

As his blood continued to pour out, his entire body flew backward like a broken kite. Then, he crashed onto the ground four or five yards away.

The other man was startled for a moment. Then, he yelled and viciously thrust the switchblade in his hands toward Xiao Luo.

Xiao Luo let out a chilling snort, then curled his body slightly and leaped into the air, bouncing like a spring. He pulled a suave 360-degree flip in mid-air, rotated his right foot to dodge the incoming switchblade, and swung his left foot at his opponent's temple.

"Thud!"

There was the muffled sound of impact, then the man flew sideways. He flew over the roof of Zhang Dashan's Corolla and crashed into the alley wall. He was stuck to the wall like mud for half a second before gradually slipping down to the ground.

"What the h*ll? What is that guy made of?!"

Zhang Dashan stared at Xia Luo blankly from inside the car. His friend had brought down two men wielding knives in a blink of an eye. His moves were straight-up terrifying. "Holy pepperoni, has Xiao Luo become a new person entirely after that car accident or what? He's literally as ferocious as a tiger."

However, it could be said that the remaining three men were experiencing the most shock of them all. They'd thought that they'd bumped into an imbecilic bumpkin. They'd never imagined that this kid meant serious business.

As Xiao Luo walked toward them, the three men's nerves instantly tensed. With the car's high beams blinding them, they could not see Xiao Luo face at all. They could only make out a silhouette—both the face and body were completely black—moving slowly toward them. 𝓵𝙞𝓫𝒓𝙚𝓪𝓭.𝒄𝓸𝓶

They felt even more depressed and nervous precisely because they could not see clearly who was in front of them. It felt like a devil was slowly approaching them. Looking at their two companions on the ground groaning in pain, beads of sweat the size of beans tumbled uncontrollably down their foreheads.

The man who had just been about to unzip his pants regained his senses after blinking repeatedly. He pointed his dagger at Xiao Luo and warned him severely, "Hold it right there! Don't come any closer!"

Xiao Luo remained silent but continued to advance step by step. His footsteps sounded particularly ear-piercing in the very quiet alley.

"Tap...tap...tap..."

For the three men, these footsteps were like the ringing of a large bell. It tapped them right on their souls.

"I said, stop! Do you hear me?! I'm telling you to stop!" the man repeatedly growled. He braced himself and elevated the volume of his voice.

Xiao Luo sneered coldly, "Come at me all at once. I'm in a hurry."

"You..."

His words infuriated the gang's leader. Through gritted teeth, he commanded the two men holding down the girl, "Go. Kill him."

The men let go of the girl and charged at Xiao Luo, yelling. One of them maneuvered extremely fast, covering a lot of distance in no time. A sharp blade was moving forward at lightning speed, coming for Xiao Luo's neck. Xiao Luo lifted his right hand and promptly extended his left. Suddenly, the man's vision became blurry. In essence, he was slapped in the face before he had even seen Xiao Luo's palm clearly.

"Slap!"

The crisp tone of skin being slapped was heard. The man's cheeks swelled up, and his entire body was sent flying. With his bloody teeth, he had a miserable look.

After getting rid of one of the henchmen, Xiao Luo didn't even pause. His giant hands turned into claws, and he grabbed the neck of the remaining man with the ferocity of an eagle. With a forceful swing of his arm, the man shrieked as he was tossed high up into the air. Under the influence of gravity, he smashed back down to the dirt, hard. There was a crack as his right leg broke when it collided with the ground. Howls of suffering, like pigs being slaughtered, echoed up and down the alley.

Strong and unmatched! Domineering and extreme!

The girl who had almost been violated opened her eyes wide. She hadn't expected Xiao Luo to be so powerful.

The leader of the men was utterly flustered. He turned around and ran.

Xiao Luo looked down and glanced at a brick on the floor. Then, using a two-step approach, he lashed out at the brick.

"Phuush!"

The brick, which had initially been lying silently on the ground, suddenly flew out from underneath his feet. It spun at an immense speed, creating a fearsome trajectory like that of a meteor. In the end, it rammed the fleeing man in the back of the calf.

"Ah!"

The man fell to the ground, clutching his calf and wailing tragically.

Without any suspense or pressure, Xiao Luo packed up the five hooligans, who had been about to commit rape.

Zhang Dashan witnessed the entire process. He was feeling an intense, untruthful feeling. His brother, Xiao Luo, had jumped into a one-versus-five fight. Moreover, he'd gone up against five ruffians armed with knives. In less than a minute, he'd cleaned them up and left them moaning in different postures, scattered on the ground. Who would believe in this tale if he were to tell it?

Xiao Luo tore the clothes off the leader and walked over to the girl. She was still standing in the same place in complete shock. When their eyes met, they were both stunned.

"You again?" Xiao Luo frowned deeply.

The girl's eyes were wide open. She muttered in disbelief, "Xiao Luo?"

Her beautiful hair fluttered. She had slender eyebrows, bright eyes, a pointy nose, blushing cheeks, and alluring lips. Surely, this woman was Huang Ruoran. She was simply dressed in her own clothes instead of her waitress uniform. Who else could she be?

Sure enough, it was Huang Ruoran. She hadn't expected to run into five hooligans on her way back to school from work. The possibility of bumping into Xiao Luo twice in one day had also not crossed her mind—what to speak of saving her from the depths of despair! At that moment, her mind was confused, and her feelings were incomprehensibly jumbled.

Xiao Luo quickly regained his composure and tossed the man's clothes over Huang Ruoran's practically naked body, saying, "Wear this shirt for now."

Huang Ruoran quickly wrapped herself up in the shirt, raised her head, and looked at Xiao Luo with gratitude. "Than—thank you..."

Chapter 64

Because Xiao Luo was against her, Huang Ruoran had always despised him. She wished that he was not even in the class at all. However, when this loathsome boy had appeared at her most desperate moment and rescued her like some sort of savior, Huang Ruoran's hatred for him crumbled in an instant.

She had a fair complexion, refined facial features, and slender, arched eyebrows. Then there were those cynical, dark eyes...

Huang Ruoran was sitting in the backseat on the passenger's side and staring blankly at the man in the front seat. Her heart was unable to settle.

"What's your name, pretty lady?" Zhang Dashan asked with a smile while looking at Huang Ruoran in the car's rearview mirror.

"Huang Ruoran."

"Oh. Ruoran. My name is Zhang Dashan. I'm Xiao Luo's trusty old partner. My nickname is Cannon, but you can call me by my real name, Dashan. Although Cannon also works!" Zhang Dashan giggled, attempting to lighten up the atmosphere.

Huang Ruoran could not understand his sense of humor, so she didn't give him any response. She just sat on her seat without saying a word. The fear she had just experienced still lingered in her mind. The ambiance inside the car instantly plunged into an awkward silence.

Zhang Dashan wasn't giving up. He didn't believe that he couldn't liven things up. After a couple of dry coughs, he said, "Ruoran, let me tell you a joke. A monkey is sitting in a tree. When a big truck passes beneath the tree, it stops. Guess why?"

Seriously? Such an old school joke?

Xiao Luo couldn't help but shake his head. He refused to believe that this was the first time Huang Ruoran heard this joke. He glanced at the back seat out of the corner of his eyes. As expected, Huang Ruoran remained indifferent. She was in a daze as if in some faraway land.

Zhang Dashan continued, "Because the truck driver thought that the monkey's a*s was a red light! Don't you think he's stupid? He's really stupid, right? Hahaha..."

As he finished telling the joke, he cracked himself up and even teared up.

After only four or five seconds, he discovered that Huang Ruoran wasn't reacting to his punchline at all. Beside him, Xiao Luo studied him expressionlessly.

"I—isn't it funny?" Zhang Dashan asked.

"Not at all," Xiao Luo said, not mincing his words.

Zhang Dashan spread his hands and retracted his neck. "Well, awkward!"

"Just focus on driving. Don't go the wrong way again," Xiao Luo exhorted.

Zhang Dashan became agitated and raised the pitch of his voice as he said, "F*cker, if I go the wrong way again, I swear I won't touch another girl ever again in my life!"

Half an hour later, they were finally back at Huaye.

Although Huang Ruoran was still badly shaken, she refused Zhang Dashan's offer to drop her directly at her dorm. When she got out of the car, she bowed deeply to Xiao Luo and Zhang Dashan and said, "Thank you."

Then, she turned around and returned to school.

Xiao Luo understood her very well. She had a strong personality. Unlike the other girls, she wouldn't so readily accept help and affection from boys.

"That girl isn't bad, you know. Look at how small the crack is between her legs. I think she's still a virgin! Xiao Luo, hurry up and take her down," chuckled Zhang Dashan while looking at Huang Ruoran's back.

"Do you have anything else inside your brain besides that one thing?" Xiao Luo said directly.

"C'mon bro. Our ancestors used to say that the desire for food and sex is part of human nature. Can you not be so uptight? In our society today, wolves are abundant, and meat is scarce. So, if you don't bang a pretty girl, someone else will, sooner or later. Why not take the good stuff for yourself? You shouldn't restrain yourself too much. YOLO!" Zhang Dashan preached earnestly.

"Dubious nonsense."

Xiao Luo rubbed his nose, then shifted the topic of conversation. "Oh yeah? Are you really gonna go wh*ring later?"

Go wh*ring?

Zhang Dashan's expression changed immediately. "The heck? How can you say that and still look so dignified? Don't you feel ashamed?"

"Are you telling me that you're not after wh*res by going to that night club?" Xiao Luo shot him a glance.

"Bro, stop using the word 'wh*re,' please. It's not elegant at all."

Zhang Dashan made his face serious and said solemnly, "Okay, here it is then. Didn't you eat a pineapple stick outside the club last time? From now on, we will refer to this classy and elegant activity as 'pineappling.'"

Xiao Luo was speechless. He was a little bit thankful that his sister hadn't fallen for this guy.

Back at the dorm, before Xiao Luo even opened his door, he heard groaning coming from inside.

When he walked in, the room was in a mess. Cups, books, boxes were all over the floor. The chairs were turned over. Xiao Luo's area, in particular, was chaos. It looked like it had been overrun by bandits. 𝑙𝒾𝘣𝘳𝑒𝒶𝒹.𝑐𝘰𝓂

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai were lying on their beds with bruises all over their bodies. Their clothes were torn. Zhu Xiaofei was in especially bad shape. The corners of his lips were inflamed, and his eyes were so swollen that they looked like two squinting lines.

"B-brother Luo..." Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai called to Xiao Luo.

"What happened here?" Xiao Luo asked.

"It was the people from the mixed martial arts club. They came looking for you but couldn't find you here, so they beat us up instead," Ding Kai explained through gritted teeth. No matter how timid he may be, he couldn't hold back his anger after taking such a beating.

Zhu Xiaofei spat out a mouthful of blood and said with rage, "Those bastards. Wait until I get better. I will make them pay for what they did today. Even if it means getting expelled!"

"There's no need to wait until then. I will make them pay sooner rather than later."

Xiao Luo's face turned grim. He had tolerated one incident after another. Still, Song Jian and his gang continued to provoke him repeatedly. He had reached the last straw. "Where's the mix martial arts club?"

Zhu Xiaofei's heart stiffened. "Brother Luo, what are you going to do? Don't act recklessly!"

"You and Kaizi should rest in the room. Just tell me where the mixed martial arts club is," Xiao Luo said calmly. However, a terrifying chill could be felt coming from deep within his eyes.

Zhu Xiaofei paused for a moment then said, "They're located at the indoor basketball court next to the swimming pool. That place is the training ground for the mixed martial arts, taekwondo, karate, and wushu clubs. The school specially approved that site for them."

"Got it."

Xiao Luo stood up, opened the door, and left.

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai exchanged glances, and each could see the intense worry in the other's eyes.

"Kaizi, do you think something bad will happen?"

"I don't know. If brother Luo doesn't return in half an hour later, let's call the counselor," Ding Kai said.

Zhu Xiaofei nodded in agreement. Just now, something about Xiao Luo's expression had chilled them to the bone. Xiao Luo wasn't someone who would compromise. Still, there were more than a hundred people in the mixed martial arts club, and Xiao Luo was on his own. No matter how great of a fighter he may be, he couldn't possibly take on more than a hundred opponents. If Song Jian and the others failed to hold themselves back for a moment and injured Xiao Luo, then Zhu Xiaofei would feel uneasy for the rest of his life.

...

Although it was almost 11 o'clock at night, and the mixed martial arts club was still as bright as day. People were training inside the venue.

Aside from the members of the mixed martial arts club, there were also many from the other clubs. After all, that night, Song Jian had challenged the school's fiend, Xiao Luo, to a fight. Although Xiao Luo wasn't here yet, the others had all arrived with the utmost anticipation. They were eager to see if Xiao Luo was really as brutal as the legends made him out to be. Two members of the mixed martial arts club gossiped at the door during their water break:

"What a waste of excitement. That jerk doesn't even dare to show up."

"Yeah, right. He's so afraid that he doesn't dare return to his own dorm. We are only flattering him by saying that he's 'wukong.'"

"I wonder how this piece of trash ended up being a celeb on our school's forum. Xiao Luo the fiend? More like Xiao Luo the coward."

Chapter 65

As the two members of the mixed martial arts club were chatting, a colossal hand quietly came to rest on one of their shoulders. The guy's hair was dyed blonde, and he felt his shoulder sink as if a giant mountain were pressing down on him. His body listed heavily to one side. When he turned his head, his eyes fell on a gloomy profile as chilling as snow.

"Xiao Luo?"

The boys' faces changed in a flash. They couldn't believe that Xiao Luo had appeared in this place at this moment.

Xiao Luo declared faintly, "Which of these guys went to beat up my roommates at the seventh dormitory tonight? Please, point them out to me."

Hearing this, the blonde guy snapped out of his shock. But when he remembered that this place was the mixed martial arts club's territory meaning that his allies were all over the place, his courage surged. The blonde boy shouted, "Who the hell are you? Why should I listen to you? Get your hand off my shoulder!"

He shouted this to the roof so that he could attract everyone's attention. As expected, the lingering members of the mixed martial arts club, who had initially been sparring with each other and the members of the other clubs, looked over.

"Xiao Luo, the fiend?"

"Why is he here? Didn't they say that he's afraid to accept the challenge and didn't even dare to go back to his room tonight?"

"Song Jianan just left a moment ago. If he hears about this, he will definitely rush back over. Looks like these two men are going to spar today, after all."

The members of the other clubs were shocked. Still, the members of the mixed martial arts club slowly gathered around Xiao Luo with disdainful faces. 𝓁𝒾𝒷𝘳ℯ𝘢𝑑.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Xiao Luo's bright expression dimmed. He regarded the hostility being directed at him as nothing more than hot air. He spoke again to the blonde guy, "Answer my question."

"Are you f*cking sick? Don't you understand the human language? Do you need me to—argh!"

The guy's normal speaking voice was cut off abruptly and turned into a cry of pain. Xiao Luo's fingers were about to shatter his shoulders. The blonde boy was in so much pain that the muscles on his face seized up.

"Let me ask you one more time. Who went to beat up my roommates at the seventh dormitory tonight?" Xiao Luo repeated chillingly as the strength in his fingers intensified.

"I don't know. Let go of me..."

The blonde's cries became even more miserable. He struggled desperately, wanting to break away from Xiao Luo. However, Xiao Luo was grabbing him with a unique method, much like the ones polices use to arrest criminals. No matter how hard he struggled, it was useless.

"Let him go!" roared the blonde boy's companion, and he hurled over a clenched fist.

Xiao Luo snorted contemptuously then slammed his head toward the incoming fist. The fist and his forehead collided, making the sound of potato chips cracking. The guy backed off and screamed in agony. He felt as if the punch he had just thrown had landed on hard rock. Three of his fingers were broken. Gripped by unbearable pain, his right hand couldn't stop shaking.

This simple, yet brutal move was very effective!

The other members of the mixed martial arts club suddenly had the jitters.

Just then, a guy with a pierced ear came forward and yelled at Xiao Luo, "Hey, are you makin' trouble here? Do you not really believe that I can disassemble all of your body's spare parts?"

Undoubtedly, he was a veteran member of the mixed martial arts club. And the reason Xiao Luo figured as much was that Zhao Xinghe, Du Pengfei, and the rest of the gang followed him over.

Compared to the guy with the ear-piercing, Zhao Xinghe and the rest of his gang were at the opposite end of the attitude spectrum—they were not emboldened. They didn't dare act too arrogantly in front of Xiao Luo. When they met Xiao Luo's gaze, their eyes betrayed how they were very unsettled deep down. They were terrified of Xiao Luo.

Xiao Luo pushed the stricken blonde away, walked over the guy with the pierced ear, and stood in front of him for a moment. Then, he said in a deep, solemn voice, "You look like someone high up in the club. Maybe you know who went the seventh dorm to beat up my two roommates tonight."

Seeing the veteran member standing beside the guy with the earring was like seeing a bamboo pole next to a giant tree. The guy with the earring's physique wasn't at all inferior to Zhao Xinghe's.

The guy with the earring used his thumb to point at himself and said arrogantly, "Of course, I am their leader!" Then, he spat on the ground and declared disdainfully, "Looking at those two wastes of space pisses me off. Their faces were just asking for a beating. They got whacked because they're worthy of being whacked!"

"Uh-huh. So, it was you!"

Xiao Luo smiled then headbutted him the very next second.

"Bam!"

Following the impact's muffled sound, the guy with the earring went weak in the knees. Gradually, he backed off and stumbled to the ground.

"Yuze!" the guy with the earring's five lackeys shouted in worry. Then, they surrounded Xiao Luo, looking fierce and nefarious, like they were going to beat him up.

With a stern look, Xiao Luo punted one of them to the ground. Then, he extended his palm and landed a slap on each of the four men's faces, leaving their ears ringing and their heads spinning.

All of the men tumbled in an instant. Xiao Luo strode over them and walked right up to the guy with the pierced ear.

Completely deterred by his aura, Du Pengfei, Zhao Xinghe, and the rest of their gang moved aside to make way for Xiao Luo.

Xiao Luo grabbed the leader's collar and lifted him up off the ground, growling, "Who else participated aside from you?"

"Your mom!" roared back the guy with the earring, and he immediately greeted Xiao Luo with his fist.

Again, Xiao Luo knocked him down using his head. The amount of force that he used this time was considerable. The guy's forehead was ripped open, drenching his entire face in blood.

"Psss!"

Everyone gasped. Especially the girls from the other clubs, who screamed hysterically the moment they saw blood.

The members of the mixed martial arts club shivered, but not all of them were white in the liver. Seeing the state of the guy with the earring, one of them charged at Xiao Luo while yelling, "F*ck him!"

Many followed his lead, screaming as they charged at Xiao Luo. They looked like a pack of wolves hunting their prey.

Zhao Xinghe and Du Pengfei hesitated for a moment. No matter what, as veteran members, they were not allowed to be outdone by the younger members, right? So they gritted their teeth and charged forward.

"Very well, then! Come, all of you! Let's have some fun!"

There wasn't a trace of panic on Xiao Luo's face. In fact, an unspeakable excitement shone in his eyes. The corners of his mouth turned up, and he unleashed a sinister grin. Then, he grabbed the collar of the guy with the earring with both his hands, lifted him up, and tossed him at the club members charging at him.

"Bam ba-dum!"

The guy with the earring, who weighed about 170 pounds, flew off like a cannonball, instantly knocking some seven or eight of his fellow club members to the ground. As they tumbled into a heap, the boys were like bottles being run over by a bowling ball.

The heck? Is he human?

When the people from the other clubs witnessed this scene, they were so shocked that their eyeballs almost fell out. Hurling a real person like a toy was literally unimaginable.

The moment Xiao Luo had finished dealing with the guy with the pierced ear, a dogfight ignited on the spot.

The hidden power inside Xiao Luo's body also erupted at the very moment. But, as he thought about the fact that his opponents were students, he held back a little. Otherwise, with a full-power punch, he could have directly crippled or even killed someone.

Any of the club's members who were touched by Xiao Luo's fist—in their elbows, joints, or anywhere else—reeled from the strong impact. What astonished them most was the fact that they couldn't break into the two-yard radius around Xiao Luo, despite there being so many of them. It was like the area around him was protected. Even if someone were to break through and land a blow, those attacks would literally do no damage to Xiao Luo.

Was this guy's body made of metal or something?

The group was utterly terrified. It was hard for them to fathom that Xiao Luo, who looked like an ordinary guy on the outside, could possess such terrifying physical strength. He was literally made of cast iron.

Little did they know that, after Xiao Luo had acquired the constitution of the King of Mercenaries, his physical prowess could not be rivaled by an ordinary human. Only a force of five to six hundred pounds could harm him. The members of the mixed martial arts club were all students. They were still a very long way from delivering blows with a force of five or six hundred pounds. Therefore, Xiao Luo was apparently invincible.

Chapter 66

Xiao Luo twisted and charged. Like a beast in human form, he rammed straight into one of the mixed martial arts club's members and sent him flying. To the man, the amount of force was like being brutally smashed by a car at full speed. He landed heavily in front of Zhao Xinghe, Du Pengfei, and the others. His stomach turned as he retched uncontrollably.

Zhao Xinghe and Du Pengfei were too shocked to speak, and their palms grew cold and sweaty. It should not have been difficult for more than a hundred people to beat up Xiao Luo. But now that they'd seen the extent of his strength and ferocity, they'd lost all hope of defeating him.

Xiao Luo stood like a malevolent god, immovable and radiating bloodlust, amid nearly 30 fallen bodies.

"I treated you like human beings, but you've decided to act like dogs. I told you before. When a dog bites a human, I give it a thrashing. I beat it until it fears me, till the sight of me makes it tremble in fear!"

Xiao Luo's scowl was full of provocation and contempt. Even the air around him seemed to react to his bloodlust, rushing away from him.

As they experienced pure terror for the first time, a layer of cold sweat formed on the brows of mixed martial arts club members surrounding him.

The boy with the ear studs lying on the floor grit his teeth. He howled in anger, "What are you guys afraid of? Get him!"

Hearing this, his gang of diehard followers grabbed the wooden staves used by the Taekwondo Association and rushed at Xiao Luo, yelling and screaming.

Others followed their example. They picked up the tools used by other clubs and used them as weapons. A tide of bodies came at Xiao Luo. They were young and swept up in the moment. Blinded by rage, they could no longer hold back, and they had no qualms beating someone to death.

"Go to hell, Xiao Luo!"

The two men at the front of the pack wore fearsome expressions. They raised their staves high and brought them down mercilessly toward Xiao Luo's head.

Not waiting for their staves to make contact, Xiao Luo exhaled softly. In a flash, he moved into the space between the two men like a phantom. As he came close to them, he spread his arms wide, which were strong like steel beams. Then, he brought them crashing into the men's chests like some unstoppable force of nature.

"Ahhh!"

With a cry, the two men fell away like a kite with cut strings, their backward momentum took down a group of mixed martial arts club members behind them.

"Again!"

Xiao Luo smiled excitedly, like a tiger amidst a flock of sheep. Seeing this, a wave of fear washed over the mixed martial arts club.

As armed as they were with staves, wooden boards, and nunchaku, none of them posed any threat to Xiao Luo.

Xiao Luo's fist punch had gone straight through a wooden staff, striking the man who had been wielding it directly in the chest with unparalleled force. Xiao Luo had shattered a 2-inch thick wooden board with a single kick, sending his opponent and countless wooden splinters. Xiao Luo had effortlessly disarmed his opponent, who was wielding nunchaku, and returned the blows with a vengeance.

The young hotshots from the mixed martial arts club were used to strutting around the Huaye campus like kings, but every single one of them was shaking in their boots now. Xiao Luo had systematically demolished their sense of superiority.

Zhao Xinghe and Du Pengfei were already down for the count. Zhao Xinghe had been whipped in the back by Xiao Luo's nunchaku. Where he'd been struck, his flesh burned like he'd received a lashing. Du Pengfei had taken a kick to his thigh and lost all feeling there, aside from a convulsing pain. His leg shook uncontrollably.

It did not take long before eighty or ninety of the mixed martial arts club members were on the ground groaning in pain. The remaining ten or so huddled together, their faces clearly filled with fear. They pointed their wooden staves at Xiao Luo, but their weapons shook violently, just like the hands that gripped them.

Xiao Luo was way too fearsome and overbearing. What kind of power did he possess to thoroughly beat down more than a hundred men?

The people watching from the other clubs were dumbfounded. Their mouths seemed to dry up, and they found it hard to swallow. None of them could have expected this outcome.

"Again! Come on!"

Xiao Luo shot a challenging glare at the remaining members of the mixed martial arts club, who were still standing. Although Xiao Luo was not using his full strength, his attacks were still strong enough to draw blood. The blood of his fallen foes was now splattered on his clothes and his face, making him look even more vicious and intimidating. "Just because you have a hundred members in your so-called 'mixed martial arts club,' you've become so full of yourselves and think you're the kings of the school. You act like the scum of society, fighting, brawling, and beating up anyone who crosses you. Does that make you feel accomplished? I'll tell you now, you guys are trash. Beneath the title of 'university student,' you're all just a bunch of scumbags!"

Xiao Luo's forceful rebuke echoed across the large training ground.

The mixed martial arts club members who were still standing dropped their weapons and stiffly looked at Xiao Luo in horror. 𝙡𝙞𝓫𝒓𝙚𝒂𝓭.𝓬𝒐𝓶

"We don't want to fight anymore. We...we admit defeat."

As though they were actors in a television drama, they raised their hands in surrender, trembling in fear the whole time. Xiao Luo's monstrous strength had shaken them to their core.

Xiao Luo sneered, "You started this fight. What gives you the right to end it?"

With a cry that sounded more like a roar, Xiao Luo hurled the nunchaku that he was holding at the wall. The metal chain connecting the two sticks snapped with a loud crack, and the nunchaku fell to the floor in two pieces.

This display of raw power made everyone watching shudder!

The remaining mixed martial arts club members slumped to their knees. They were pale as ghosts. Xiao Luo was their worst nightmare, and they were terrified.

"Xiao Luo, that's enough. They have already conceded defeat, so you don't have to go this far!" a man in white training clothes stepped forward and said.

Xiao Luo glanced at him impassively and remarked, "Are you from the mixed martial arts club too?"

"I'm Wu Yunlong, chairman of the Taekwondo Association," replied the man in white, revealing his identity. "What you did today..."

Xiao Luo cut him short with a wave, saying, "If you're not from the mixed martial arts club, then you have no right to speak here. Stand aside, and don't tell me what to do!" He then strode over to the cowering mixed martial arts club members.

Wu Yunlong was incensed. As the esteemed chairman of the Taekwondo Association, even the professors at Huaye University showed him some respect. Xiao Luo's demonstration of blatant disrespect irked him to no end.

"Then I will fight you myself!" Wu Yunlong yelled, sprinting toward Xiao Luo. When he was around 3 to 4 yards away, he leaped into the air and aimed a flying kick at Xiao Luo's head.

The jump had incredible force and speed, parting the air around him like a roaring wind!

"Another one who wants to act like a dog!"

Xiao Luo's expression turned cold. He leaned back, dodging Wu Yunlong's flying kick. Then, rotating his upper body, he spun sharply to the left and swung his right palm savagely at Wu Yunlong's chest.

The impact sent Wu Yunlong flying, and he landed on the ground with a thump. Fresh blood leaked from the corner of his mouth.

Just one move! One move had brought down the Taekwondo Association's chairman!

Onlookers from the other clubs felt their hair stand on end. They had previously voiced their doubts about Xiao Luo in the forum. Now, the truth was being slapped in their faces.

"Chairman!"

A few of the Taekwondo Association's members rushed forward to help Wu Yunlong to his feet.

"Who else wants a piece of me? Step forward! I'll accept any challenge!"

Xiao Luo's fierce gaze swept along the bystanders, who lowered their heads, refusing to meet his eyes.

Wu Yunlong could only clutch his chest. His earlier bravado was now nowhere to be seen. All he felt was an unspeakable shame.

Chapter 67

"What? Is Xiao causing trouble at my mixed martial arts club?"

Song Jianan had already returned to his dorm, but upon receiving a phone call, his expression darkened. He left his backpack at the management office and ran off toward the mixed martial arts club.

By the time he reached the place, his fellow club members were all sprawled on the floor. Moaning in pain, not a single one of them was able to stand. Meanwhile, Xiao Luo was sitting cross-legged inside the club's exclusive sparring ring. He leisurely surveyed the scene with his right hand propping up his chin. Seeing Song Jianan arrive, Xiao Luo stood up.

"Song Jianan, you're a little too late," Xiao Luo remarked lightly.

"Xiao, you're asking for it now!" Song Jianan roared, and his voice swept across the training ground. Enraged, he ripped off his black vest, revealing the strong, well-defined musculature of his upper body. His block-like muscles hinted at his explosive power, which threatened to be unleashed at any time.

"Nghaa!"

Shooting off as if he were competing in the 100-yard dash, Song Jianan charged forward, shocking everyone watching. As he approached the ring, he kicked off the ground hard with both feet while leaning forward and flipping around. He sailed right over the ropes of the ring in a magnificently swift 360-degree spin. His outstretched right leg spun down at Xiao Luo like a steel whip, crashing down with violent intent and the force of a giant wave.

There was no holding back! No mercy to be shown!

Song Jianan brought to bear his 20 long years of training in that single explosive moment. His moves, vicious yet elegant, stunned the bystanders looking on in horror.

Xiao Luo slightly lowered his center of gravity and brought up both arms to block the incoming attack. A dull thud sounded as Xiao Luo was blown away by the force of Song Jianan's kick. Xiao Luo fell backward, sliding across the ring on his back some 2 or 3 yards. He almost slipped underneath the ropes and right out of the ring.

My God. Is this the Song Jianan's full strength?

The people from the other clubs held their breath. Xiao Luo, the Fiend, had always seemed to be unstoppable, and this was the first time they'd seen him sent flying by an attack. It was the first time he'd ever appeared to be at a disadvantage.

The mixed martial arts club's spirits were lifted by this one move; it was as though they'd been injected with a stimulant. The boy with the pierced ears cheered loudly for Song Jianan, "Nice one boss! Kill that son of a bitch. Kill him!"

Song Jianan bristled with anger, and it seemed like his entire being was shrouded in a burning rage. He pointed at Xiao Luo and spat viciously, "Xiao, if you walk away from this unharmed today, I, Song Jianan, will change my name and follow you!" 𝘭𝘪𝑏𝑟ℯ𝒶𝑑.𝘤𝑜𝘮

He spoke very arrogantly, revealing his strong self-confidence.

Xiao Luo got to his feet slowly and chuckled, "Are you sure about making such definite statements? You should really watch your words."

"I'll watch your d*mn grandmother!"

The offensive words exploded sharply from Song Jianan with a booming roar as he charged again like a wild bull.

The offensive Song Jianan launched was fierce. Fists of iron burst forth at gale-force speed. It was as though the fearsome power of his entire body condensed into his legs and fists and was then unleashed on Xiao Luo, dealing blow after merciless blow.

With the bodily strength of a black bear, Song Jianan demonstrated his fearsome explosive power. Swiveling left then right, he rained a storm of punches on Xiao Luo with his iron fists. His assault was not only manic and fierce, but it also contained an exceptional degree of offensive power. His moves were tricky and challenging to read. The sight was unparalleled.

All who were present stared unblinking at the two men dueling in the ring. Still, their focus was almost entirely concentrated on Song Jianan's flurry of punches and kicks.

"I thought that you were an opponent worthy of my full strength, but this is all you've got!"

After 40 or 50 consecutive fierce attacks, Song Jianan launched himself up 3 yards into the air and landed on a pillar in the corner of the ring. Then, without a moment's rest, he jumped off the pillar and brought his elbow crashing down onto Xiao Luo's head.

His jumping ability and offensive moves combined into one extreme force. If someone had received that elbow blow while lying on the floor, they would have undoubtedly been killed or crippled.

Xiao Luo crossed both arms over his head and adopted a wholly defensive stance.

"Boom!"

Song Jianan again descended with the force of a landslide or a meteorite smashing into the earth. Like a surging wave, his terrifying power crashed down. It displaced the air below him, which accelerated and howled out like a roaring gale.

Xiao Luo's body shot backward like a cannonball, and his body crumpled into a "C"-shape from the sheer speed at which he flew. He slipped through the ropes, landing roughly on the ground 2-3 yards away, like a speeding car crashing to a stop.

All the bystanders were stunned. They'd always heard that Song Jianan had real skills and was strong as black bear, but they had never seen him in a fight. Now that they had seen him in action first-hand, they knew how fearsome he could be.

He was practically a black bear in human form!

The mixed martial arts club members were overjoyed. They even forgot their injuries for a while. However, looking at Xiao Luo motionless on the ground, they felt a tinge of worry. They wondered to themselves: Has the boss beaten this guy to death?

"For the two crimes of hitting my friends and stealing my girl, you were doomed to suffer today, Xiao Luo," Song Jianan taunted coldly. A broad sneer formed on his face as he continued, "I heard you boasting a couple of days ago that you were going to cripple one of my hands. Now that I've beaten you halfway to death like a dog, how do you plan to maim me?"

"Heh heh heh heh heh! "

Xiao Luo's shoulders quivered almost imperceptibly as the cold, sharp laugh emanated from him. It was like the chilling laugh of a devil. It made everyone present feel a chill deep in their soul, as though the temperature at the training ground had dropped to freezing.

Song Jianan was no exception, and the expression on his face promptly froze.

At that moment, Xiao Luo's body moved. He crawled up slowly from the ground, like a bloodthirsty demon breaking out of hell, and his chilling presence filled every corner of the room.

"Let's go again!"

Cracking his neck left then right, Xiao Luo moved back toward the ring with massive strides.

With every step forward, his bearing increased explosively, and everyone watching felt a crushing pressure. They watched him advance unblinking and in a daze.

Xiao Luo pulled apart the ropes and put his feet through. Xiao Luo was back in the ring.

With his shining black hair, handsome eyebrows, sharp black eyes, and tall, exquisite figure—large without looking rugged—he stood there with the cold arrogance of a hawk and looked down at everyone beneath him.

"You-you're unhurt?"

Song Jianan paled. It was already a miraculous feat for someone to take one of his full-force blows without fainting. But from the way Xiao Luo had casually walked back into the ring, he did not seem to be hurt in the slightest.

The others watching were stunned. It was likely that nobody in the whole of Jiangcheng could withstand one of Song Jianan's elbow strikes. Yet, Xiao Luo had blocked it directly with his arms and was completely unharmed. How was that possible?

Was this guy some freak of nature?

Fear was struck deep in the hearts of everyone present.

Chapter 68

"Your strength is acceptable, but your punches are still too light. If you want to hurt me, you'll need to try a bit harder," Xiao Luo said while shaking his head.

He had the ability to utterly demolish Song Jianan. He'd only let himself take such a one-sided beating to see how much damage his current body could sustain and accurately gauge its abilities.

Song Jianan's mouth twitched, and his knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists tight. Xiao Luo's flippant attitude was a major insult to him.

"You shut the h*ll up!"

With a loud cry that shook the heavens, Song Jianan charged forward toward Xiao Luo with the explosive acceleration of a wild bull. It was as if the momentum of his entire body had been compressed to the maximum before exploding outward all at once.

With this manic dash, he closed the 2-3 yard gap between them in the blink of an eye and slammed his left foot into the floor with a force that shook the entire ring. He stopped in place. Extreme movement shifted to intense stillness for one brief moment, generating unimaginable power. Pivoting around on his grounded left foot, he channeled all the force and inertia of his initial charge into a sweeping kick and flung his right leg toward Xiao Luo's neck.

Everyone around watched with wide eyes. Even from a distance, they could clearly sense the violence of the force embedded in that one kick. If it made contact with Xiao Luo, he would probably be sent flying out of the ring again.

To their great surprise, Xiao Luo did something, which nobody could perceive. He made the slightest move but, at the same time, appeared to remain perfectly still. However, Song Jianan's reaction was apparent. As if colliding head-on with a train, his forward momentum sharply came to an abrupt stop, and his whole body catapulted backward before slamming forcefully into the ropes at the side of the ring. He struggled to regain his footing and stumbled a few times before finally stabilizing himself on the ropes.

What? What happened?

What in the world just happened?

Without exception, horror crept into everyone's hearts. Xiao Luo had definitely done something, so why hadn't they seen precisely what? Were their eyes deceiving them, or was he simply moving too fast?

Song Jianan broke into a cold sweat; he also had not clearly seen what move Xiao Luo had made. However, his chest had clearly been struck. It burned with pain, and his circulation seemed to be in disarray. He was winded and reeling, experiencing considerable discomfort.

Gasping for breath, he asked, "What did you just do?"

"Nothing special. I just kicked you," Xiao Luo replied with a smirk.

"That's impossible. The motion of a kick is so obvious that I wouldn't have missed it. You're lying. You're lying. Nghaa!"

Song Jianan had always been confident in his own martial prowess. Ever since coming to Jiangcheng from his hometown, he had felt like a tiger released from a cage. Nobody from the whole of Jiangcheng, let alone Huaye University, was a match for him. As anger and shame welled up within him, he lost all his reason. Like a rabid black bear, he glared with red eyes and attacked Xiao Luo with another roaring charge.

When he was about one yard away from Xiao Luo, he stamped down hard with his right foot. The floor of the ring squeaked as if it was about to be torn asunder. Then, pouring his whole strength into his tightly clenched right fist, he shot it forward like an asteroid piercing the void of space. Wrapped in the force of a raging wave, his fist plowed toward Xiao Luo.

Roar!

It sounded as though a wild beast was roaring inside the extensive training grounds.

The bystanders stared in unprecedented horror, while the girls shut their eyes, not daring to watch. In their minds, they imagined a scene of considerable bloodshed.

The mixed martial arts members were either dumbfounded or confounded.

Was this their boss's true strength?

Their hearts stirred with complicated feelings they could not identify. Was this happiness? Excitement? Fear? Shock?

Maybe they were feeling any one of those emotions or a mix of all of them.

Song Jianan's fist continued to roar like a wild beast as he swiped and pounced like an animal. The wind shrieked behind every one of his swings.

A hand appeared suddenly without warning. As fast as lightning, an open palm accurately stopped one of his punches. The violent surging force of the blow was instantly silenced. The hand made no move to attack, but with its seemingly infinite strength, it suppressed Song Jianan's savage fist.

Song Jianan looked with fright at Xiao Luo, whose palm now enveloped his fist. He tried to channel more strength into his punch, but Xiao Luo's hand was like a mechanical vise, refusing to let go. No matter how much he struggled, he could not move his fist one inch.

"Song Jianan, I will now honor the promise I made!"

Xiao Luo's glare was awfully majestic, and his mouth formed into a toothy grimace. He looked like the wrathful king of wolves, ferocious and feverish.

The next second, he turned his wrist, hard, twisting it 90 degrees.

"Crunch!"

With the crisp sound of splitting bone, Song Jianan's right wrist was folded back in a "V"-shape. A jagged white fragment of bone pierced through flesh and skin as fresh blood shot out of the wound. The bloody scene made the girls watching cry out.

Song Jianan looked at his fractured right hand, stupefied. His mind went blank, and the whole world was silent for a brief moment. He even forgot to feel the pain.

It's broken?

Is this my hand?

The moment passed, and intense pain and unspeakable panic swept through his body like a rolling wave.

"AAAH!"

A shrill scream resounded. Xiao Luo let go of Song Jianan, and he sank to the ground, clutching his right hand with his left. The only emotion that could be read in his eyes was a deep murky dread as his otherwise robust body trembled from shock.

Fear was written on the faces of all watching. Who could have imagined that Xiao Luo would cripple Song Jianan's hand? How was this even possible? How could anyone have ever conceived of such a thing?

The mixed martial arts club members' faces were ashen as they shivered in fear. Xiao Luo was a devil. Why did they have to go and provoke such a horrendous fiend?

The fierce aura Xiao Luo was emanating chilled everyone at the training grounds. A pin-drop silence prevailed, and nobody dared speak or make a sound. Nobody even breathed too loudly. Xiao Luo, all by himself, had stunned the members of all the various clubs to the point of inaction.

"You devil..."

The Taekwondo Association chairman, Wu Yunlong, broke out in a cold sweat. His complexion was already as white as a sheet.

At that moment, a loud drumbeat of footsteps approaching could be heard.

The English Language instructor, Qin Nanyu, and several security guards from the campus security department rushed onto the scene. They took everything in, especially the sight of Song Jianan crying out in pain in the ring. They all froze in place like statues.

"You've arrived, Teacher Qin."

Xiao Luo calmly and smoothly stepped out of the ring, as if the act itself was second nature for him.

Qin Nanyu came to her senses and said in a voice that was close to a shriek, "Take Song Jianan to the hospital now. Quickly!"

Shaken back to consciousness from their stupor, two of the security guards swiftly carried Song Jianan away. The rest of the guards checked the conditions of the mixed martial arts club members who were lying on the ground. 𝙡𝒊𝒃𝓻𝒆𝒂𝓭.𝙘𝓸𝓶

"Xiao Luo, did you do all this?" Qin Nanyu asked. Her face was livid as she stared at the young man in front of her.

"You've caught me red-handed, so you wouldn't believe me even if I denied it," Xiao Luo laughed.

The security guards who heard his reply inhaled sharply. One man had beaten up more than a hundred mixed martial arts club members. Where had this ruthless guy come from?

Furthermore, they were all well aware of Song Jianan's abilities. Although he was just a student, his power rivaled that of 5 guards put together. He was undoubtedly a beast in the form of a man. Now, that beast's hand was crushed. Even if it were repaired, the damage would likely leave severe and lasting complications.

Fearsome! Truly fearsome!

Horrified, they looked at Xiao Luo, who stood upright like a pine tree, and terror gripped their hearts.

Chapter 69

"Boss, I say, you really are the boss. Did you transfer Xiao Luo to my school to protect your daughter or to beat up my students? One hundred and twenty-three minor injuries and 1 major injury—with a fractured wrist. Now that all of Huaye has heard about this, the consequences will be huge. The heads of the Education Bureau have even called me to ask if I still wish to retain my position as headmaster. If I don't, they told me to get lost. How am I supposed to reply to that?"

In the headmaster's office, a man in his fifties was on the phone. He was extremely emotional and tapped on his desk while speaking. With each knock, the desk made loud rapping noises, and as he spoke, spittle flew everywhere.

"Hehehe! Don't get so worked up, Old Dong. Things aren't so bad that we can't salvage the situation," Chu Yunxiong laughed on the other end of the line. "Anyway, I did some investigating for you, and that student from your school, Song Jianan, is a real piece of work. Starting gangs, bullying his fellow students—generally really hateful stuff. I've heard that Huaye's students feel relieved that he was beaten up."

"Relieved! Bollocks!" Headmaster Dong scolded. "You can say whatever you like because you're not in my shoes. Come, come, come. Let's trade positions. You be the headmaster of Huaye, and I'll be the boss of Chongshan House. How's that?"

Chu Yunxiong did not know whether to laugh or to cry, so he replied, "I can't be the headmaster. I'm not as capable as you, Old Dong."

"Quit your b*llshit!"

Headmaster Dong hung up angrily and sank down in his soft armchair. He pinched the bridge of his nose to alleviate the pain from his migraine.

"Headmaster, how do we resolve this situation?" asked the male secretary carefully. "The injured students' parents have asked us to punish the culprits severely."

"What else can we do? We appease those who can be appeased and pay what needs to be paid. I'll get Chu Yunxiong to reimburse me for future lost funds," Headmaster Dong replied.

The male secretary said uneasily, "If the parents are not satisfied and report this to the media, I fear that we will be in a difficult position."

"Difficult position my a*s," seethed Headmaster Dong. He was already furious, but his temper now reached a boiling point. "Without proof on video, do you think they can tarnish our Huaye's reputation with their unfounded statements? What a joke. I can simply say that their sons suffered injuries because they were training too hard. We'll see who the public believes."

The male secretary could not help but wipe away his sweat. He was really beginning to suspect that the headmaster used to belong to the underworld. He was so high-handed that he'd even called the parents' concerns "unfounded statements." You were the one making unfounded statements, thought the secretary. Trying to cover up a beating by saying the injuries came from training!

Headmaster Dong suddenly looked up and asked, "Oh right. What happened to that student, Song Jianan?"

"His hand has already been reattached. Thanks to timely medical treatment, he should recover within 2 to 3 months," the male secretary answered. "His mended hand should serve him well for everyday use, but not so much for martial arts."

"That's good," Headmaster Dong sighed in relief. "What about his parents?"

"Song Jianan stubbornly refuses to inform his parents, and the contact numbers in the school's records are all out of service."

"Heh. That kid still thinks he can act like a man. I'll find some time to go visit him!"

Headmaster Dong's expression showed a shred of appreciation. The members of the mixed martial arts club were all adults, and he felt that adults had to take responsibility for their actions. Deep down, he despised kids who went to their parents for the smallest things. For instance, kicking up a big fuss over minor injuries like a sprained hand. 𝓁𝑖𝘣𝑟𝘦𝘢𝒹.𝑐ℴ𝘮

"Headmaster, about that Xiao Luo..."

"Call him in. I do want to see what kind of magical abilities this beast has," Headmaster Dong fumed.

"Understood," the male secretary acknowledged then left the office.

Not long after, Xiao Luo arrived. He was accompanied by his instructor, Qin Nanyu.

Qin Nanyu was apprehensive. She lowered her head, afraid to meet Headmaster Dong's eyes. Guiltily, she admitted, "Headmaster, this is all my fault for not properly managing the students. I take full blame for this incident. I—"

Headmaster Dong cut her off with a wave. "That's enough," he said. "We can't blame you for this. If anyone is to blame, it's the one next to you, Xiao Luo."

As he spoke, he took a sip of hot tea.

"That's right. This has nothing to do with Teacher Qin. I take full responsibility for my actions," Xiao Luo agreed, standing up straighter.

"And how exactly do you intend to do that?" demanded Headmaster Dong angrily. His temper flared, and he slapped his desk and yelled, "The heads of the Education Bureau, various major media outlets, and the parents of the students who were injured are all looking into this situation. If I let you go out there, they'll devour you in an instant. And yet, you say that you want to take responsibility. If it weren't for Chu..." Here, the headmaster stopped himself. He realized that Qin Nanyu was listening, so he swallowed the rest. Clearing his throat, he continued, "Then, I would not even bother with you. I'd just hand you over to the police."

Xiao Luo understood intuitively that Chu Yunxiong's connection here was not Qin Nanyu, but the man before him, Huaye's headmaster, Dong Zhenwu. It made sense. Getting him into Huaye was something that only the headmaster do easily. A mere instructor could not have pulled it off.

"I have reflected on my actions. Back in the army, I was kind of rowdy. I'll pay more attention in the future. I'll accept any punishment you decide to give me, Headmaster. A warning, disciplinary probation, whatever it is, I accept it."

Now that he had calmed down, Xiao Luo was quite good with his words. Making up some nonsense based on the background of his student persona, he provided Dong Zhenwu with a few easy options.

A warning? Disciplinary probation? Do you really think that's the punishment you deserve after making such a mess?

Dong Zhenwu was infuriated. This kind of brawl was entirely within the bounds of police intervention. Still, this kid wanted to keep everything within the scope of the school, which could mete out many kinds of punishment. However, Xiao Luo was not even a real student! Wasn't a punishment from the school the same thing as letting him get away scot-free?

At this point, Qin Nanyu chimed in, "Yeah, Headmaster, Xiao Luo just got a little rough. Why not—"

"'A little rough? One man dueling with more than a hundred? That's more heated than what you see in the movies, and you're calling it 'a little rough'?" Dong Zhenwu harrumphed. Then, turning toward Xiao Luo, he said, "You're a real arrogant kid. Thanks to you, you've brought this bag of old bones into the spotlight in front of the Education Bureau's leaders. Thank you so much."

"No need to thank me, Headmaster, it was my pleasure," Xiao Luo replied with a smile.

Dong Zhenwu jumped to his feet, glaring at Xiao Luo. "You rotten brat. Do you really think I'm praising you?"

"Weren't you?" Xiao Luo replied indifferently. He figured out that since Chu Yunxiong's instructions to Dong Zhenwu were to keep everything under wraps, he had nothing to worry about.

You! #￥*&! Dong Zhenwu almost swore out loud but managed to swallow his profanity. He waved the visitors out impatiently while snapping, "Get out, get out, get out. Submit a full reflective report in 3 days. If it's less than 5000 words, then I'll expel you myself!"

If he had to deal with Xiao Luo any longer, he feared that his rage might trigger a heart attack.

Xiao Luo turned to leave, while Qin Nanyu fled the office in embarrassment as if they'd received some great pardon.

"You're letting him off so easily, Headmaster?" inquired the male secretary, puzzled.

"Every student in Huaye is like my own child. I treat them all equally and hope that they will grow and shine brightly as the pillars of our nation. Now that these events have unfolded, punishing Xiao Luo doesn't help anything. We'd do better to concentrate on cleaning up the aftermath."

Dong Zhenwu lied through his teeth, making these just and dignified statements. He thought to himself, "If Xiao Luo weren't a part of Chu Yunxiong's group, I'd have him skinned alive."

Chapter 70

As he left the school's Administration Building, Xiao Luo heaved a long sigh of relief. He had thought he could be in deep trouble, but he'd been worried over nothing. With Dong Zhenwu here as a backup, so long as he did not do anything drastic like murder someone, Dong Zhenwu would cover for him.

Without a doubt, this also showed how much Chu Yunxiong valued him. At least, while he was protecting Chu Yue during this period, Chu Yunxiong remained willing to remove any obstacles in his path. In his heart, this reassured him that he had to do his best to protect Chu Yue.

Ever since they'd left the Administration Building, Qin Nanyu nagged him incessantly. She was trying to instill her principles in him and validate her justifications. Xiao Luo just let her teachings wash over him without any of it taking. As a polite façade, he maintained a modest smile.

Deep down, Xiao Luo had reason to smile. He had earned a whopping 10,000 points for the genius system and was sitting on a total of 30,001 points. Of course, he had no intention of immediately spending his points to redeem new abilities. While there was no harm in acquiring more abilities, redeeming skills he would not be using any time soon would simply be a waste of points. He also wanted to avoid an awkward situation where he needed a specific skill but did not have the points required to redeem it.

"Xiao Luo, you have to keep in mind that you're no longer a soldier. You're a university student now, and sometimes you need to hold back your temper," Qin Nanyu exhorted sincerely. "Study hard, then take the civil service exam, join the workforce, or pursue further studies. You still have a long road ahead of you, so don't ruin your future during this transition period."

"I understand, Teacher Qin!" Xiao Luo replied and smiled modestly. 𝓵𝓲𝓫𝒓𝓮𝙖𝓭.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Seeing Xiao Luo's pleasant attitude, Qin Nanyu did not know what else to say. More importantly, her mouth was dry from all the talking, and she almost felt dehydrated. "You should head back. I hope I won't be hearing about you getting involved in any more fights after this."

Xiao Luo nodded, then stuck his hands in his pockets and left.

"God, how did I end up having to deal with people like this?"

Qin Nanyu, who was still standing in the same spot, patted herself on the forehead and shook her head, sighing. Her eyebrows were so furrowed that they almost twisted together. She had not gotten much rest over the past two days, thanks to the mess that Xiao Luo had made. She could feel her complexion starting to sallow and pimples popping up.

Back at the dorm, Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai crowded together closely.

"Brother Luo, did the headmaster do anything to you? Is the punishment expulsion or disciplinary probation?" asked Zhu Xiaofei anxiously.

"It's all our fault, Old Zhu. Let's go beg the headmaster for mercy," suggested Ding Kai.

Xiao Luo felt awkward, so he said while patting Ding Kai on the shoulder, "Relax, everything is okay. You don't have to beg anyone for mercy."

Everything is okay?

Zhu Xiaofei was sure that Xiao Luo was lying and retorted bitterly, "My good Brother Luo, don't lie to us. You crippled Song Jianan's hand. There's no way the school will let you off without punishment."

Ding Kai nodded vigorously, like a chick pecking at rice, and his face was full of worry.

"When have I ever lied to you guys?" Xiao Luo shook his head and sighed in exasperation. "Okay, I'm quite tired. I'm going to go get some rest."

Having said this, he walked to his bed and promptly fell asleep.

As they watched Xiao Luo nap with a calm and composed expression, Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai looked at each other. They almost believed what Xiao Luo had said.

"Does Brother Luo have some powerful connections or something?" Zhu Xiaofei voiced his suspicions.

Ding Kai rubbed his chin. He was deep in thought like Detective Conan.

...

News of Xiao Luo single-handedly defeating the mixed martial arts club and crippling Song Jianan's hand rolled through the Huaye University campus like a storm. It was all the students had been talking about for the past few days. Many even felt relieved that it had happened. After all, Song Jianan had been too full of himself, and the mixed martial arts club was more like a gang, dishing out violence to whomever they wanted.

At the same time, interest in Xiao Luo was piqued. The boys wanted to see him in action with their own eyes. Someone had leaked that, not only was Xiao Luo an exceptional fighter, he had a fantastic talent for soccer. He was able to turn ordinary soccer balls into fireballs like in the movie 'Shaolin Soccer.'

The girls, on the other hand, were curious about Xiao Luo for different reasons. Many had abandoned their old celebrity crushes and made Xiao Luo into their new male idol. There were already more than a thousand posts on the thread in the school forum about him, making it the most active of all the threads.

"What's the story behind this pretentious d*ck? How did beat up more than a hundred mixed martial arts club members and walk away unharmed?"

Chu Yue sat in her dorm room, staring at her laptop screen without blinking and sucking on a lollipop. She had attractive features with a light, dewy complexion. She looked beautiful, no matter her expression.

"I'm somewhat curious, too," Bai Ling said thoughtfully, then she began her analysis. "The school's records show that he comes from an average family, so there should be nothing noteworthy there. If anything's amiss, I suppose it's his time in the army. Still, he served in a military region in Jingcheng, where there should be nothing out of the ordinary, either."

"This guy is a mystery!" Chu Yue pouted, resting her chin on both hands.

When she'd first heard that Xiao Luo had beaten up all the entire mixed martial arts club, she had not believed it. No matter how strong someone was, there was no way anyone could beat more than a hundred people alone. As Grandpa Mao used to say, 'There is strength in numbers.' If Xiao Luo could thrash that many people, maybe he was the reincarnation of the legendary warrior, Lu Bu?

Bai Ling nodded in agreement. "Hm."

...

In this era of explosive information, any talking point quickly becomes old news, and Xiao Luo's fight with the mixed martial arts club was no exception. Soon enough, Huaye's student body found new hot topics to discuss, like a celebrity's extramarital affair, or an earthquake that had occurred somewhere. In any event, everyone's attention gradually drifted elsewhere.

It was time for choir practice again.

Huang Ruoran was on the verge of tears because her class of English Language majors still could not sing 'Yellow River' in harmony, and the competition was only a week away. What really crushed her spirits was that the neighboring class, which consisted of Measurement and Control Technology majors, was also singing 'Yellow River.' While their singing was average, their harmonizing and enthusiasm far exceeded that of her class.

Comparing the two was like comparing heaven and hell when, unfortunately, her class was the latter!

It would have been fine if there had been no one for them to be compared to. But now, the English Language majors felt humiliated. They wanted to sing well, but no matter how hard they tried, they were not in sync. They simply could not sing 'Yellow River' with the oomph it required.

Just then, the class monitor from the Measurement and Control Technology majors came over. He was a boy in glasses who looked neat and refined.

"Ruoran, I suggest you choose another song. Singing 'Yellow River' requires men's roaring voices. It's not very suitable for girls. It sounds too feminine. If you choose to perform this song at the competition, then there is no way you can expect a good result."

Huang Ruoran's expression instantly sank as she replied, "Zhao Shijie, I don't interfere with your practice, so don't interfere with mine. Why did you come over here to disparage me?"

Chapter 71

The class monitor from the Measurement and Control Faculty, Zhao Shijie, replied in a serious tone, "Ruoran, I'm only telling you this since I know you. You girls are really not suited to singing 'Yellow River.' No matter how hard you practice, you just can't bring out the song's true essence."

"What do you mean? It sounds like you're purposely finding fault with us."

"The competition hasn't even started, so it's too early for you to be this cocky."

"Exactly, you never know what will happen. We might end up ranking higher than you! When that happens, we'll see who gets the last laugh!"

Girls were generally conservative, and these girls, who were majoring in English, all heavily criticized Zhao Shijie when they heard his comments.

Zhao Shijie felt awkward. Although he had experience making jokes in English, he thought that he had been sincere with his comments. After all, the Measurement and Control Faculty was filled with guys, so he often felt like he was in a monastery. If he could get along well with the girls from the English Department, he'd be able to help many of the guys in this major hook up, including himself!

He wouldn't dare dream of winning the heart of the campus belle, Chu Yue. However, he was confident that he could score with the class monitor, Huang Ruoran.

"Hey, beauties, I'm serious. I really want to help you girls out. How about this. Since you all insist on singing 'Yellow River,' I can get Qiu Liang, a member of the Literature and Art Committee who's in our class to coach you? He is a singing prodigy and was the main vocalist in a band that he formed back in high school. If I get him to coach you, then I'm sure you'll master 'Yellow River' in no time."

Suspicion was written all over the girls' faces. The Measurement and Control Department was their Department's rival, and they found it odd that the boys were offering to help them.

"Your name is Zhao Shijie, right? Just what is it exactly that you're trying to sell us?" Chu Yue couldn't help but ask.

She was wearing a white t-shirt and tight blue jeans that showed off her long, slender legs. Her bright and refined face, curly eyelashes, delicate nose, and tiny lips were simply unreal.

Not knowing whether to laugh or cry when she said his name, Zhao Shijie answered, "Princess Yue, I'm not selling you anything. I simply want to help you."

Every student at Huaye knew who Chu Yue was and addressed her as 'Princess Yue.'

"Why would you be so kind-hearted?" Chu Yue demanded, glaring at him.

"To be honest, it is pretty normal for a guy to help a girl. Besides, I am friends with Ruoran, so helping all of you is as good as helping her," Zhao Shijie said with his arms spread wide.

Huang Ruoran thought about this for a second then replied, "Alright, ask Qiu Liang to come. If he can solve our singing problems, then I, Huang Ruoran, will owe you a favor."

"Consider it done. Hehe..."

Zhao Shijie was exhilarated. He had finally seized an opportunity. The mere thought of the delicate girls from the English Department triggered his inner beast, causing passion to heat up his blood. He signaled to his peers and shouted, "Qiu Liang, get over here!"

A rather handsome guy walked over. His overall appearance gave off a sense of coziness. The only downside to his looks was that he appeared rather snobbish. Looking at him, one felt like he would act all high and mighty.

As soon as Qiu Liang came over, he spoke as if he were a senior teacher. "I heard you girls singing 'Yellow River' from over there. You're awful. Your tone is either too high or too low, and you're entirely out of sync. Pardon me for being straightforward, but you're all just a bunch of untalented muggles."

Hearing these words angered the girls from the English Department, but they held it in. After all, their singing was not really up to standard, and they needed all the help they could get.

"I'll assist each one of you in improving your singing right now. We'll start with you."

Qui Liang stood next to An Huanhuan, who was in at the far-right corner, and commanded, "Sing 'Yellow River' from start to finish."

"Sing?" An Huanhuan blinked hesitantly.

"Yes, sing," Qiu Liang replied.

An Huanhuan didn't want to be a burden, so she bit the bullet and began singing: "The wind is roaring, the horses are shouting. Yellow..."

"Stop! Your pitch is too high. Lower it," Qiu Liang instructed, interrupting.

An Huanhuan adjusted her tone and sang on: "The wind is roaring..."

"Still too high! Try again!" Qiu Liang interrupted again.

An Huanhuan was furious, but for the sake of the department's reputation, she held it in, cleared her throat, and sang again.

After six tries, she finally met Qiu Liang's expectations.

"We all took music lessons from Elementary to High School, so what went wrong with you? Did your Physical Fitness teacher teach you to sing or something?" Qiu Liang remarked snidely.

"You..."

An Huanhuan's face was red with anger. She gritted her teeth and glared at Qiu Liang.

"Huanhuan!"

Huang Ruoran called out, telling her not to start a fight with Qiu Liang. Though An Huanhuan was angry, she decided to restrain herself.

"That's too low. What do you think you are? A subwoofer?"

"What are you singing? Is that how you are supposed to sing this line?"

"You are one of the worst female singers I've ever come across! Are you singing or just memorizing lyrics?"

Qiu Liang criticized every girl in the English faculty until all their faces went red with anger. Everyone began having their doubts and wondered if their singing was really that bad.

Zhao Shijie looked at the cocky Qiu Liang. His eyebrows began to furrow. In his heart, he was secretly scolding his peer: Qiu Liang, do you still want to find a girlfriend from the English Department? Just flaunt your skills a little, and that's it! Right now, you're going totally overboard and insulting all the ladies. Are you a fool? 𝘭𝑖𝑏𝘳ℯ𝑎𝑑.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Zhao Shijie coughed a couple of times in an attempt to signal as much to Qiu Liang.

However, Qiu Liang was wholly oblivious and high on his musical superiority and might. He was sure that he looked really cool and that he had attained the status of a male god in the eyes of these girls. Then, all of a sudden, he realized there were three empty seats. Pointing at the three vacant chairs, he exclaimed, "What's going on here?"

"Those seats belong to the three guys in our class," Huang Ruoran explained. For the sake of increasing her department's singing standards, this was the third time she checked her anger at Qiu Liang.

"Why aren't they here?" Qiu Liang asked in a roaring voice.

"Don't you know that the male dorms are quite a long way from here? Surely, it takes them more time to get here," Huanhuan shot back, crossing her arms on her hips.

Qiu Liang crooned, "Is that a valid reason? No wonder your singing standards are so low. If you can't even get everyone here on time, then how can you expect to sing well?"

Seeing the girls glaring at him, Qiu Liang finally realized he had gone overboard. It was time for him to backtrack and curry favor. Hence, in a reverent tone, he said, "Actually, you girls sang fine. These three black sheep are the ones who lack any sort of responsibility and honor. I say that they are the real trash and rat sh*t here. Does anyone disagree?"

He was afraid to offend the girls but could care less about the guys.

After hearing this, all the girls were shocked. They were all thinking: Is Qiu Liang from Mars? Doesn't he realize that he's referring to the Hero Luo Trio and calling them trash and rat sh*t? Is he asking for a free one-way ticket to hell?

"Class Monitor, we're here!"

Just then, Zhu Xiaofei's voice rang out in the distance.

Chapter 72

Xiao Luo was at the front, while Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai followed behind. The three of them walked in slowly.

Xiao Luo the Fiend?

The faces of Zhao Shijie and the boys from the Measurement and Control Department paled in an instant. In Huaye, Xiao Luo had an even bigger reputation than Chu Yue. It was possible not to recognize Chu Yue, but there was no way anybody wouldn't identify Xiao Luo. He was a monster who had single-handedly beaten every member of the mixed martial arts club to a pulp.

Qiu Liang glanced at Xiao Luo. Then, he turned to the girls in the English Department and asked, "Are these the three rat sh*ts from your class who are late?"

Hiss...

As soon as Zhao Shijie and the Measurement and Control Department students heard that, they inhaled some cold air, and their faces turned green. To think that they had called Xiao Luo the Fiend a rat sh*! Were they tired of living?

As if they were looking at a fool, the girls examined Qiu Liang. A slight, sly smile appeared on Chu Yue's bright red lips. She asked, "Hey, do you know the guy at the front?"

"No, I don't!" Qiu Liang replied, shaking his head.

"That's Xiao Luo," Chu Yue answered, putting on a playful smile.

"Xiao Luo?"

Qiu Liang frowned. Furrowing his brows, he thought about it for a second then said, "Is he really good at singing or his studies? Why should I know who he is?"

"Are you from the school of 'not-browsing-forums'?" Even Bai Ling had to say something at this point.

"I put all my time and effort into writing music. My dream is to become a singer, like Xu Song. When would I have time to browse the school forums?"

Qiu Liang snorted in disdain. He wanted to flaunt his superiority so that the girls would know that he was doing something noble, and he hoped that this would change their perspective of him. He turned his back on the three guys walking in and shouted, "Why are the three of you taking your sweet time? Come over here, quickly! You have brought down the singing standards of the entire choir!"

The easiest way to look cool in front of the girls was to reprimand others. Qiu Liang felt good about himself. In his mind, the girls were all looking at him with admiration.

"Qiu Liang, simmer down!"

Zhao Shijie quickly attempted to stop this fool, whispering into his ear, "The guy walking right at the front is Xiao Luo..."

"I don't care if he's Zhang Luo or Ma Luo! Right now, we are in the middle of rehearsal, and everyone has to listen to me," Qiu Liang said, stopping him mid-sentence. He had a lot of confidence and wanted to continue walking down this path of making these girls fall head-over-heels with him.

Just then, Xiao Luo, Zhu Xiaofei, and Ding Kai finally arrived. 𝒍𝓲𝒃𝙧𝓮𝙖𝒅.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Zhu Xiaofei dug into his nostrils and asked Huang Ruoran: "Class monitor, who is this guy? Why is he giving us orders?"

"This is Qiu Liang. I invited him to coach us and improve the overall standards of our choir," Huang Ruoran explained.

"Ah, so he's here to help us. I'm sorry. My name is Zhu Xiaofei, and I'll be counting on you," Zhu Xiaofei said. He walked up and gave Qiu Liang a warm handshake.

Qiu Liang refused to shake his hand, maintaining his cold attitude. Otherwise, the image he had built up would have all been for nothing. Instead, he reprimanded, "Stop being presumptuous! Being in the choir is no joke. Since you're late, I'll make you sing the song five times as punishment!"

"Ah? Come on. Let's not do that. There are so many people here. You're putting us on the spot," Zhu Xiaofei replied as he looked around his surroundings.

Ding Kai added, "Let us off this time. We rushed here as quickly as we could. It's not like we were late on purpose."

"No way. You have to be punished for being late. The three of you stand right at the front and face the girls. Sing five things. Nothing less!" Qiu Liang commanded in a severe tone while raising his head.

Xiao Luo giggled a little and said candidly, "Apologies, but I won't be singing!"

Disregarding the fact that he wasn't keen on joining the competition in the first place, Qiu Liang's order was way too much. Making the three of them sing 'Yellow River' in front of the girls from the English Department was equivalent to was treating them like clowns or national treasures that had to be placed right up front under a glaring spotlight.

He was clearly trying to humiliate them, and Xiao Luo was having none of it.

"You have to be punished for being late. If everyone were like you, we may as well just not practice and tell the school you're dropping out," Qiu Liang responded.

Xiao Luo couldn't be bothered with him and simply walked back to his seat.

Looking at Xiao Luo, who was completely ignoring him, Qiu Liang felt like the bravado he had built up took a severe hit. He was furious and shouted, "Rat sh*t! You are nothing but rat sh*t! If this class is a pot of soup, you're ruining it. This pot filled with wonderful students from the English Department!"

Hiss...

Zhao Shijie and the students from the Measurement and Control Department breathed in more cold air while breaking into a cold sweat for Qiu Liang.

An Huanhuan couldn't stand seeing Xiao Luo insulted. She stood up angrily and said to Qiu Liang, "Are you done with your scolding? It doesn't even bother us. So why is some guy from another department getting his panties in such a twist? The emperor is not in a hurry, so why is the eunuch? Are you a eunuch?"

Once An Huanhuan took the lead in pushing back, all of the other girls, who had been burning with anger since earlier, began to revolt.

"That's right! We invited you here to increase our choir's overall standards, not to scold us!"

"We might be bad at singing, but we're all making an effort, so can't you show us some respect when you coach us?"

"Scolding and reprimanding us as you please. What do you take us for?"

Huang Ruoran did not stop anyone this time around. She felt that Qiu Liang was abusing his authority. If she didn't become at least a little bit angry after seeing the boys in her class being unfairly scolded, that would mean that the class lacked unity, which would say a lot about the students in the English Department.

Qiu Liang hadn't expected all this opposition, so he took out his trump card and shouted, "Do you all still want to sing 'Yellow River'?"

Everyone fell silent when he said that.

They all had the same goal of wanting to sing well, and Qiu Liang, who stood in front of them, was a real-deal musician. If he taught them, there was no doubt their singing abilities would reach new heights.

After shaking up the English Department, Qiu Liang laughed complacently as he said: "Seems like you all still want to sing 'Yellow River,' after all. If you want to sing it well, then you have to listen to me. Otherwise, I can leave now, and you all will..."

"Leave then! We don't need you!" a faint voice was heard saying.

Everyone turned their heads, dumbfounded by what Xiao Luo had just said. Although they disliked Qiu Liang, if he were to leave, the entire choir would be in trouble.

Qiu Liang looked a bit stunned. Glaring, he said: "Your class monitor isn't saying anything. Who do you think you are to speak on behalf of the entire English Department?"

Zhao Shijie was nervous and felt like he was going to have a heart attack. He walked over, trying to knock some sense into Qiu Liang, and scolded him, "Qiu Liang, you fool! That is Xiao Luo. Xiao Luo, the monster who single-handedly beat up everyone in the mixed martial arts club a few days ago. Are you really unaware, or are you just pretending not to know? Can't you speak nicely?"

He was crazy. If he had known earlier that he was going to make a complete fool of himself, he would never have agreed to help the girls improve their singing.

The situation looked terrible now. Not only had he failed to foster good relations between the two departments, but he had also offended Xiao Luo the Fiend. If they upset Xiao Luo to the point that he dealt with the entire Measurement and Control Department the same way that he had with the mixed martial arts club, they would be in big trouble.

Chapter 73

This...was this him?

A chill ran down Qiu Liang's spine. If he had only heard Xiao Luo's name, then there would have been no spark of recognition in his mind. But hearing the words 'mixed martial arts club,' he was able to recall a significant incident that had happened a few days before at Huaye. It was said that a particular person from the school had challenged more than a hundred mixed martial arts club members to a fight. Not only had he won, but he managed to cripple the hand of the club's president, Song Jianan.

All of a sudden, this guy was now right before his eyes. The very same one who had shocked all of Huaye during that fight. More importantly, all this time, Qiu Liang had been scolding Xiao Luo, calling him 'rat sh*t' and 'trash.'

"Gulp!"

Qiu Liang swallowed his saliva, hard. Every one of his pores oozed sweat in fear. Gosh, what luck! All he wanted was to act cool in front of the girls, yet he had somehow provoked this dude.

Jus then, Huang Ruoran stepped out and said to Qiu Liang and Zhao Shijie, "Although I really want to upgrade the standards of our class choir, I just cannot stand your attitude any longer." Glaring at Qiu Liang, she continued, "There is no doubt about it. Singing is your forte. But that doesn't give you the right to chastise us as you wish. We are a class, and if you scold one of us, then you're disrespecting us all. We will not allow that, so you can take that attitude and leave. No matter how badly we may sing, we no longer want your guidance."

What? What was happening? Was Ruoran actually siding with Xiao Luo?

All of the girls were in shock. Everyone knew that they were rivals, and whenever they met, conflicts were bound to arise. It was unimaginable that, this time, Huang Ruoran would actually side with Xiao Luo.

Xiao Luo raised his eyebrows and glanced at Huang Ruoran with an unexpected look.

"Go. Just go. I can't watch this anymore. I can't believe that you scolded Brother Luo."

As Xiao Luo's faithful brainless goon, Zhu Xiaofei had flipped out when Qiu Liang had ordered him around and called Xiao Luo 'rat sh*t.'

"You guys..."

Qiu Liang's reputation hit rock bottom. He was furious. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Wait till you come in dead last in the competition. You will regret it then!"

After dropping that ruthless threat, he left.

"Wait!"

Xiao Luo stepped forward with a cold look on his face.

Zhao Shijie shivered. He was worried that Xiao Luo would make trouble. Smiling, he said, "Brother Luo, I would like to apologize on his behalf. He didn't mean to insult you, so please don't take it to heart." 𝒍𝓲𝒃𝙧𝓮𝙖𝒅.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"You're mistaken. I'm not trying to stir up any trouble. As the saying goes, 'as incense is to Buddha, so dignity is to a person.' So, he predicts that we will get the last place in the competition? But what if we finish higher than his class? What will he do then?"

Earlier, when An Huanhuan and the other girls had stepped forward and spoken up on his behalf, Xiao Luo had felt a surge of warmth. This was the collective sense of honor, which he believed had been missing for a long time. He kept thinking he wasn't a proper student. Usually, he excluded himself from student activities. But this time, for the sake of his class' pride, he decided to speak out.

The English major girls were shocked. The students from the Measurement and Control Department's choir sang 'Yellow River,' and their singing was incredible. It wasn't just good, it was actually amazing. It was organized, loud, and gave off the feeling of leading an army's charge forward with fearless momentum. Yet, the English Department couldn't even sing in tune. What hope did they have to compete?

"He was just joking. Don't take it seriously."

Zhao Shijie laughed awkwardly, knowing that he had messed with a ruthless guy. This time, they had really done it, and Xiao Luo was ready to deal with them.

"I didn't ask you. I asked him," Xiao Luo shot back, looking at Qiu Liang.

It wasn't that Qiu Liang was holding back. If it had been anyone else, he would have already retaliated. But now, Xiao Luo was the fiercer party, so he didn't dare talk back.

"Say something. If our class places better than yours, then what are you going to do?"

Xiao Luo's tone was aggressive. He was not a saint. Anyway, he was already not in the mood to practice singing, and Qiu Liang had only made him even unhappier. Now that Qiu Liang had pissed him off, it was time for him to piss off Qiu Liang right back.

Qiu Liang gave it his all. Gritting his teeth, he said, "If you guys place better than us, then I will run one lap around the school naked!"

He wasn't terrified of Xiao Luo's threat because he simply did not believe that the students from the English Department were capable of doing better than his class.

"Well, now that you've said it, it's been recorded for evidence."

Xiao Luo proceeded to take out his phone and play a recording of what Qiu Liang had just said.

Hero Luo was serious about this?!

The girls from the English Department exchanged glances. They knew where they stood. How could they go up against the students from the Measurement and Control Department and win?

"I hope you will keep your word," Xiao Luo said, laughing as he walked back to join the rest of the students from the English Department.

"If you guys lose, there should be a punishment too! That's the only way this can be fair," Qiu Liang piped up courageously.

Zhao Shijie really wished he could kick this guy to death. He grabbed him by the collar and shouted, "You idiot! Just what do you think you're doing?"

Bargaining with Xiao Luo guaranteed a few days' stay in the hospital—just like Song Jianan.

"Since we are betting, then there should be consequences for both parties. Otherwise, it's not a real bet!"

Qiu Liang glared at Xiao Luo, who was not as unreasonable as he had thought. Instead, he had nothing to be afraid of. Now he felt that, if news of this incident were to get out to the rest of the school, he would instantly become popular.

"Well, that's true too."

Xiao Luo turned around and suggested, "If we lose, then how about I run one lap around school naked. How about that?"

Eh?

The girls were in shock. Just the image of Xiao Luo running around the school naked was enough to make them go red.

"It's a deal." Qiu Liang got excited. As long as he could make Xiao Luo run around naked, he would definitely become a famous personality on campus.

"Deal!"

Xiao Luo chuckled and said, "I just want to let you know beforehand. If we win, and you break the deal, then I will make sure you are hospitalized for a few days."

Hearing this sent chills down Zhao Shijie's spine. He wasn't sure why Xiao Luo's smile looked so much like the devil's.

Qiu Liang's heart thumped, but he knew that his class's singing was considerably better than the English Department's. He assured Xiao Luo once again, "I will definitely not go back on my word. Of course, I hope you won't either."

"That's for sure!"

Xiao Luo smiled calmly.

After Zhao Sijie and Qiu Liang left, the girls swarmed together.

"Hey, pretentious d*ck! You know what our singing standards are, don't you? You really are a pretentious d*ck!" Chu Yue said.

"Hero Luo, I don't want you running around naked. Your entire being belongs to me, including your body. I don't like it when other girls look at you!" An Huanhuan said affectionately.

Meanwhile, most of the girls were thinking that Xiao Luo was very irrational. Wasn't he just a little bit tyrannical?

"Xiao Luo, you do have a plan, right?" Huang Ruoran asked out of the blue.

Everyone went quiet and looked at Xiao Luo eagerly.

"So, the plan is, I'm going to train all of you." At this point, Xiao Luo had already exchanged five hundred points for one point of musical talent.

"Train?"

Zhu Xiaofei smiled frivolously and said, "Right, right, right. Brother Luo's going to train us all. Hahaha!"

Emphasizing the word 'train,' he seemed to be subtly hinting at something.

The girls glared at him.

"Zhu Xiaofei, are you asking for a beating?"

Chu Yue kicked, and the other girls quickly followed suit. They were all out of control.

"Brother Luo, Kaizi. Please, help me!" Zhu Xiaofei cradled his face and shouted for help.

Xiao Luo pretended that he couldn't see and glanced in another direction.

"That's what you deserve for being rude." Ding Kai also ignored him completely.

Chapter 74

After around ten minutes, Zhu Xiaofei had been thoroughly beaten by the girls in the English Language major. His hair was disheveled, and his clothes were a mess, and he looked like a copy of 'Brother Sharp,' the famous Chinese beggar. Seeming as if he were about to cry, he returned to stand in his original position.

Xiao Luo redeemed the musical talent ability, and his senses underwent a dramatic change.

"Ding! Musical talent allows the host to quickly acquire a high standard of musical ability, including but not limited to proficiency playing musical instruments, songwriting, the ability to conduct a band or choir, and so on," sounded the system notification in his mind.

Xiao Luo began to regret accepting Chu Yunxiong's assignment. If he'd known that the Genius System without Equal was so ridiculously powerful, he would not have to come to Huaye to attend boring classes. With his musical talent alone, he could have made a fortune writing songs.

However, since he had made an agreement, he would properly carry out his job!

"Xiao Luo, do you really have a way of improving our singing?" Huang Ruoran asked quietly. Ever since Xiao Luo had rescued her from some hooligans, she no longer disliked him. In fact, she felt an inexplicable affection for him. No matter what he did or said, she found it pleasing.

"I'll try my best. Let's get everyone to take it again from the top," Xiao Luo said, stepping forward.

Huang Ruoran nodded, then addressed the class, "Everyone, in your positions. Let's sing 'Yellow River' one more time."

With Xiao Luo at the helm conducting, everyone was most cooperative. Even though nobody knew on what basis Xiao Luo had the expertise to train them, he seemed to inspire people naturally, giving them great hope. The girls became much more optimistic and confident about the upcoming singing competition.

Xiao Luo shut his eyes, focusing his attention on what he heard. When everyone finished singing, he opened his eyes again and began to correct them. "Old Zhu, you have a loud, sonorous voice, which is your strong point. Keep working at it. However, you sang one part incorrectly. The verse 'the wind is howling' should be sung neatly and sharply, but you were dragging the note at the end."

Everybody was stunned. They had all sung together. So, how had Xiao Luo picked out Zhu Xiaofei's voice from the entire group and his mistakes on top of that?

Xiao Luo's attention shifted as he continued, "Kaizi, there should be a rest between each line during the part where you sing 'defend' four times. You're neglecting to rest, which means that you are rushing, which affects the overall unity of the group."

For the second time, everyone was shocked. He was also pointing out Ding Kai's errors?

Even before the class regained their composure, Xiao Luo turned his focus to Chu Yue. He sternly said, "Chu Yue, for the word 'roaring' in the verse 'the Yellow River is roaring,' the first and second instances of the word 'roaring' should be sung differently. The pitch should grow higher and higher, as the song needs to have some ups and downs."

Having explained Chu Yue's singing mistakes, Xiao Luo looked at Bai Ling. Without pausing, he said, "Bai Ling, you sang the verse 'in the mountains' incorrectly. Your tone should get more robust here, but now it sounds flat."

"An Huanhuan, the song speeds up at the verse 'raising up the rifles.' Since you aren't keeping up with the tempo, it affects the group's overall unity."

"Wang Lingling, you messed up the line 'the hills west of the river are vast.'"

...

By the time Xiao Luo had finished pointing out the mistakes made by every student in the class, they were all looking at him like he was an alien. To point out one or two errors from listening to them sing all at once would be relatively normal, but this situation was not that. Xia Luo had actually managed accurately and precisely to identify every singer's flaws. How was he doing it?

"The lyrics of 'Yellow River' use the actual Yellow River as a metaphor to praise the fighting spirit of our revolutionary forefathers. The way we sing it together should also capture the feeling of rolling waves through a robust back-and-forth between the treble and bass singers. Now, the singers with high and low voices are all mixed up, so we need to reorganize the group's formation."

Xiao Luo was like a master, carefully offering his guidance. He arranged the treble girls into two rows with Chu Yue as their lead. Similarly, he formed two rows for the bass with Ding Kai as the lead.

"Good. Now let's sing it again. This time, as you sing, remember to correct the issues I pointed out earlier." Xiao Luo returned to the front of the formation, and his eyes bright and focused.

The group subconsciously nodded in acknowledgment, and with a wave of his hand, they started singing again.

The effects were pronounced. When they sang this time, it was the most in sync the group had ever been. One listening could indeed get the feeling of rolling waves. The shift was slight, but it was there.

Huang Ruoran was dumbfounded. She could not believe that Xiao Luo had these kinds of skills. If only she'd let Xiao Luo take the reins earlier, then they would not have wasted their time on so many futile rehearsals.

Chu Yue's mouth fell open slightly, and she looked at Xiao Luo in disbelief. She had come to see another side of Xiao Luo. She had never recognized anyone as being superior to her. Still, Xiao Luo was the first man whom she saw as her better. From the bottom of her heart, she was filled with admiration for him.

"Brother Luo! Oh my good Brother Luo, you are truly a genius! From your instructions alone, our choir's standards have been raised to the next level. It seems like that Qiu Liang will really have to go and run around naked. Hahaha!" Zhu Xiaofei guffawed,

"Stop licking Brother Luo's boots!" Ding Kai shot back righteously. "Is Brother Luo a genius? Of course not. There's no way he is a genius." 𝒍𝓲𝒃𝙧𝓮𝙖𝒅.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Just when everyone was wondering why Ding Kai was trying to put down Xiao Luo, he reversed the tide unexpectedly. He spoke with awe, "Brother Luo is a god among men, and he can do anything. Only the title of 'god' is appropriate for Brother Luo."

Title of 'god,' your mom!

All the girls class cursed him silently.

Zhu Xiaofei immediately retorted angrily, "Get out of here! You call me a boot-licker, then turn around and start kissing his a*s. It looks like I should start calling you 'Kiss-a*s Ding' instead of Kaizi."

"Pfft!"

The girls were amused by this exchange and could not hold back their laughter.

Huang Ruoran clapped her hands together to quiet everyone down. "Okay, okay, stop messing around and listen to what Xiao Luo has to say."

The class monitor's authority quickly silenced the room.

Xiao Luo gathered his thoughts then said, "Singing in harmony as a group is only the first step. The next step is singing in a round. We will sing the four 'defend together' parts in a round with the 'wind is howling.' It's straightforward, and the back row just needs to start singing one bar after the front row starts. Let's try it now."

My God, how many tricks did Xiao Luo have up his sleeve?

The girls looked at Xiao Luo with respect.

After they tried singing in a round, Xiao Luo was satisfied. "Every choir needs a conductor, but to perform 'Yellow River,' we also need a narrator."

"Hero Luo, what's a narrator?" An Huanhuan asked curiously.

"Before we all start singing, the narrator has a monologue to help the audience to understand the meaning of 'Yellow River,'" Xiao Luo explained. "How about this. I've decided to make Huang Ruoran the conductor. She has a natural air of authority that can command everybody's attention, so the role is perfect for her. As for the narrator, I think Chu Yue should do it. A narrator needs to be passionate and expressive to excite the listeners, and her voice has these qualities."

Chapter 75

Under Xiao Luo's guidance, the English Language majors fully dedicated themselves to singing practice, and they were more enthusiastic than ever before. At the same time, astounded by his talents, they practically began to worship Xiao Luo.

Since the competition was only a week away, Xiao Luo made the class go through intensive training. Aside from attending classes and taking their meals, the rest of their time was devoted to rehearsal. Everyone felt a sense of fulfillment during these few days, which brought them pure joy while also deepening their friendships and strengthening the bonds of their class.

One afternoon, Xiao Luo received a call from a stranger. It was a man who'd seen his listing for a Swiss Omega watch on the internet and wanted to buy it for his girlfriend. The man even arranged a meeting point along the national highway in the suburbs.

Xiao Luo was uneasy about the meeting point that the man had selected. It was far from the city, about an hour away by taxi. Moreover, the area was a deeply forested, and it had a frightening name – Wild Boar Ridge.

Meeting in such a place to conduct business made it feel like they were doing something illegal!

However, the man has his reasons. He explained that he was a resident in one of the county towns under the jurisdiction of Jiangcheng but did not live in the city district. Hence, the proposed location was a compromise so that both parties could meet halfway and show their sincerity in making the deal.

"This guy is shrewd," Zhu Xiaofei praised the man after hearing the details. "By choosing to meet along the national highway at Wild Boar Ridge, he can save half of his travel expenses."

Ding Kai furrowed his brow, then voiced his thoughts out loud, "Brother Luo's watch is going for 59,999. If he can afford that much, why can't he afford to travel further? I'm afraid he might have bad intentions and is luring Brother Luo there to rob him."

"That makes sense. Kaizi has a point, and we can't rule out that possibility," Zhu Xiaofei said as his expression tensed up. "Brother Luo, as a precaution, you should ask him to meet at our school."

Xiao Luo shook his head as he took out the watch from a drawer. "I finally managed to find someone interested in buying this watch. Since he's invited me to meet there, I'll play along. Even if he really does have bad intentions, we'll see if he can snatch the watch from my hands."

"That's true. Brother Luo is so good at fighting. Anyone who tries anything funny will get beaten up," Zhu Xiaofei agreed.

Ding Kai looked at him disdainfully. "Do you have your own opinions, or are you just going to keep flip-flopping?"

"Piss off! I'm Brother Luo's die-hard fan!" Zhu Xiaofei proudly patted his chest.

Xiao Luo shook his head helplessly.

Later that afternoon, Xiao Luo flagged a taxi and rushed off to the meeting point. 𝘭𝑖𝘣𝑟𝘦𝒶𝘥.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Half an hour later, the taxi arrived. The driver was a young man in his thirties. As he took in their surroundings (Wild Boar Ridge was practically a virgin forest), the driver shuddered and asked, "Bro, we are in the middle of nowhere. Why did you want to come here by yourself?"

The man had heard that there were some people targeting taxi drivers. They killed and robbed them, then dumped their bodies in the wilderness. He was beginning to wonder if he were a mark right now and did not engage his handbrake after stopping. He was ready to drive away at a moment's notice if anything felt off.

"I'm here to meet someone. Wait here for me, please. I'll need you to take me back later." Xiao Luo opened the car door and got out.

Was he waiting for his accomplices?

Chills gripped the driver as he was filled with tremendous anxiety.

Soon after, three luxurious black sedans came speeding up the highway toward them before skidding to a stop not far from Xiao Luo in the middle of the road. The doors opened, and a group of men with a fearsome air dressed in black suits got out of the cars. There was no trace of anything pleasant in their expressions.

F*ck!

Their arrival greatly startled the taxi driver, who immediately put his pedal to the metal, speeding his green taxi out of sight. For him, this whole situation was beyond the pale. If he did not escape now, he might not get another chance.

Xiao Luo did not look back at the taxi driver who had just abandoned him. He remained looking straight forward.

The group consisted of nine people, one of whom was a silver-haired youth dressed like a hipster. At a glance, he could tell that it was the young master who was in charge. The group fanned out in front before him and surround him.

Xiao Luo questioned, "Are you the one who called me?"

The silver-haired youth replied cheerily, "Yep, the call came from me."

"Show me the money, and I'll hand over the goods," Xiao Luo replied lightly.

Hearing this, a playful expression appeared on the group's faces.

"It seems like you're a real fool, coming out to a place like this so casually. You know, my little sister really wants you dead," the silver-haired youth cackled wickedly.

"Your younger sister?" Xiao Luo asked, narrowing his eyes.

As if right on cue, a girl emerged from the car at the front.

She had a devilishly attractive figure, with a head of wavy blond curls that seemed to sparkle in the light. Her long, slender thighs were wrapped in a light-yellow mini skirt, showing off her perfect proportions.

"Xiao, long time no see!"

The girl glared viciously at Xiao Luo. It was Fang Shulan, whom he had met before at a party.

Seeing her, everything fell into place in Xiao Luo's mind. Fang Shulan must have stumbled upon his watch's listing on the internet and decided to use it to lure him to this remote location and teach him a lesson with her subordinates.

Xiao Luo called out to her in a joking tone, "It has been a while hasn't it? Is Miss Fang planning to give me some spending money again today?"

A flash of anger crossed Fang Shulan's face. Just recalling the shame Xiao Luo that put her through that day made her grit her teeth in hatred. She snarled, "You son of a b*tch. Still putting on airs, are you? Today I'm going to pay you back for all the humiliation I suffered, with interest!"

Xiao Luo let out a soft sigh of contempt. Some people were just like that. They never learned.

The silver-haired youth let out a weird giggle and said to Xiao Luo, "I heard you were good in a fight, and that you managed to beat up several of the bodyguards at Fu Jiawei's house. I wonder if you'll fare as well against these men my family hired. Fair warning, they're all ex-military and powerful fighters. Hehe."

"If I were you, I would not have done that," Xiao Luo retorted mildly, the corner of his mouth tilting up in a cruel smirk. "It's just you and me here. Even if I end up killing you, the police will never trace it back to me."

At that moment, Xiao Luo's eyes glazed over completely. His gaze was bleak and emotionless, devoid of any color or feeling. His body exuded an aura of bloodlust. It was so intense that it was palpable, as though the air were instantly chilled to the freezing point.

He was like a pool of pitch-black ink, and the clouds of darkness around him were like a gigantic black hole, engulfing and swallowing everyone around him whole.

Such a strong killing intent!

The color drained from the faces of the eight men in suits. Suddenly, they felt like they were about to suffocate.

Xiao Luo was prepared to kill. 'The Constitution of: King of Mercenaries' ability had not only improved his physical abilities, but it had also changed his temperament.

Chapter 76

The silver-haired youth and Fang Shulan both felt that something was amiss. But they did not believe that Xiao Luo had the skills to win, let alone kill them.

"You son of a bitch, don't make empty threats. The rubbish bodyguards at Jiawei's villa can't even be compared to the eight men here," Fang Shulan boasted loudly and with considerable bravado, pumping herself up. "They could kill you easily if they wanted to. For them, it's simple as crushing a bug."

"Is that so?"

Xiao Luo smiled insidiously. The very next second, he vanished from where he had been standing and reappeared right in front of Fang Shulan like a flash of black lightning. Stretching out his hand, his grip tightened around Fang Shulan's fair neck like a pair of metal pliers.

The intense feeling of being suffocated rushed to her brain. Fang Shulan was lifted up, and her feet barely even touched the ground. Severe pain swept across her whole body. Seeing the indifferent expression on Xiao Luo's face up close, she experienced genuine terror.

The silver-haired youth was bewildered, and so were the eight black-suited bodyguards who were with him. Xiao Luo had moved so quickly, snatching Fang Shulan in the blink of an eye. The bodyguards had not even had time to react.

"Let go of my little sister!" yelled the silver-haired youth anxiously.

Xiao Luo did not react. He only lifted his head and stared coldly at Fang Shulan. "If I just exert a little more pressure, I can snap your throat and end your miserable existence. Your life is not even under your control, and you say you want to end mine?"

Fang Shulan was seized in Xiao Luo's grasp like a lamb whose neck was caught between the fangs of a starving wolf. She struggled in vain, and her face turned a dark beet red. She was unable to speak, but her eyes communicated the fear welling up inside her.

Her silver-haired older brother was flustered. He shouted at the eight black-suited bodyguards, "Why are you just standing around? Kill that son of a b*tch. Kill him now!"

The eight bodyguards regained their composure. As one, they lunged quickly at Xiao Luo.

At this moment, just when it seemed like a huge brawl would break out, a red BMW 3 Series came barreling over, forcing its way between the two parties. The car screeched to a halt, leaving dark skid marks on the road as it came to a full stop.

The car door swung open, and Chu Yue stepped out dressed in an embroidered white shirt and cool emerald tulle skirt.

Her dark black hair was pulled back in a playful-looking braid, while a few stray strands of hair swayed gently in front of her white jade-like forehead. She looked beautiful and refined.

"Stop! Everybody stop!" Chu Yue shouted.

"Yo! Mistress Chu has graced us with her appearance," sneered Xiao Luo with an ironic smile.

Chu Yue stormed toward him, yelling, "Xiao Luo, let go of Shulan now!"

"Why should I? Just because you look attractive, Mistress Chu?" Xiao Luo asked callously. 𝘭𝘪𝑏𝑟ℯ𝒶𝑑.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Fang Shulan was Chu Yue's friend, so some of his displeasure at the day's events was naturally directed toward her. This explained his offensive attitude toward her.

"You really want her blood on your hands? Xiao Luo, let her go. I'm begging you," Chu Yue said solemnly. At this moment, she was a far cry from her usual image of a carefree young heiress.

Another car approached quickly and stopped nearby. Two strong men climbed out. It was Xiang Gaoyang and Xiang Gaojian.

"It sure is getting lively here today!"

Xiao Luo's eyes narrowed. "Since Mistress Chu has humbled herself to beg me, I'll let you save some face."

While saying this, he tossed Fang Shulan onto the ground like a piece of litter.

Freed from his grip, Fang Shulan coughed violently. She gasped greedily for air as bruises began to surface on her neck.

Chu Yue ran over to help her up with eyes full of resentment. "If Yingying hadn't told me what was going on, I would have still been in the dark. Why did you ignore my warnings and try to go after Xiao Luo?"

"I..." Fang Shulan was momentarily speechless as she struggled to swallow her grievances.

"I don't want to hear it. Our friendship ends here. Today."

Chu Yue had said before that she would not acknowledge anyone who picked fights with Xiao Luo as her friend, and she intended to keep her word. She looked up at the silver-haired youth with a sharp accusatory glare. For a moment, he lost his cool, and he was unsure how to react.

"Fang Chongqiang, you brought your bodyguards to assault someone just because Shulan asked you to? Do you think you can do whatever you want just because you have a couple of henchmen? Should I get mine to spar with yours?" Chu Yue rebuked him.

"Yueyue, this—"

"Don't call me Yueyue," Chu Yue interrupted. "I can promise you now that, regardless of how much money your father may be offering, I will not get engaged to you."

Fang Chongqiang shut his mouth in embarrassment.

Xiao Luo was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected to see this wild, strong side of Chu Yue. Then again, she was the daughter of the exceptional Chu Yunxiong. If Chu Yunxiong could be compared to a dragon, did that make his daughter a phoenix? Even if that were an exaggeration, she was not the kind of heiress who got flustered and cried for help at the slightest sign of trouble. That much had been made clear to him from the incident where she and Bai Ling and had been targeted by the hunter, Ma Zhengfeng.

Hm?

Suddenly, a strong premonition of danger descended upon him.

"Whiz!"

Almost simultaneously, two shots were fired. The bullets howled as they tore through the air and mercilessly pierced the bodies of Xiang Gaoyang and Xiang Gaojian with a spray of scarlet blood. Thankfully, the two men were alert and reacted quickly, dodging with a turn so that the bullets just missed their vital organs.

"Poof!"

As the bullets moved through their flesh, the immense impact not only shattered the two men's shoulder blades but also sent them up in the air. They landed heavily on the car behind them. With a loud crack, the windshield glass shattered beneath their weight, and the shrill car alarm screamed out.

Sniper rounds?

Xiao Luo was deeply shaken. What kind of person brought a sniper rifle into Hua Nation? His mind flashed back to what Ma Zhengfeng had said about the Blackwater company. Mercenaries. Mercenaries were targeting Chu Yue, and they had severely injured her two elite bodyguards with a single move.

"Aaah!"

Fang Shulan finally reacted. She shrieked in fear, and the color drained from her face as she looked on in horror at the fresh blood pouring out of Xiang Gaoyang and Xiang Gaojian.

The eight black-suited bodyguards were professionals. They sprung into action to form a human barrier with the silver-haired youth and Fang Shulan in the middle, ensuring their safety.

On the other hand, Chu Yue was panicking. This was the first time that she'd ever been in the line of fire, and the sound of the bullets tearing through the air made her blood freeze.

"Miss, you have to run! Get down and move!" Xiang Gaoyang hissed at Chu Yue, urging her to leave. Her safety was his top priority right now. The attacker had a sniper rifle, which meant they were not acting alone. They were definitely from an elite secret organization, and he feared they might already be surrounded.

Hearing these orders, the eight black-suited bodyguards also caught on. They quickly escorted the stupefied Fang Chongqiang and Fang Shulan away and back into the cars.

"Yueyue, come over quickly!"

Fang Chongqiang still cared deeply for Chu Yue and remembered not to leave her behind.

As for Fang Shulan, she was frightened to death. Her body trembled terribly, and her entire mind went blank. It was though she had lost all control of herself.

Chapter 77

Chu Yue suppressed the fear gripping her heart and ran in Fang Chongqiang's direction. However, she had not taken more than a few steps when a sniper bullet streaked through the air and struck the road in front of her. There was an ear-splitting bang as a large crater was blown open in the hard road with a spray of concrete chips and dust. Chu Yue staggered back in shock, losing her footing and falling into the street.

"Yueyue!"

Fang Chongqiang was about to rush out of the car to save Chu Yue but was held back by one of his black-suited bodyguards.

"The enemy's target is Miss Chu. It is very dangerous for you to run out there, Young Master Fang!" the bodyguard warned him sternly. His job was solely to ensure the safety of Fang Chongqiang and Fang Shulan. The security of others was not his concern.

"But..." Fang Chongqiang felt trapped between a rock and a hard place.

Before he could continue, a pale-faced Fang Shulan shrieked hysterically, "Drive! Go! Get us away from here quickly!"

Her only thoughts were of leaving the scene of carnage, and she could not care less about what happened to Chu Yue.

The order was acknowledged, and the black-suited bodyguard signaled with his hand. The drivers took them away in the three black sedans, zooming out of sight in an instant. The hidden mercenaries had not been firing at them, so their target was obviously Chu Yue.

"Fang Chongqiang, Fang Shulan, you guys..."

Chu Yue could not believe that Fang Chongqiang's group would actually leave her behind and escape. After all, their fathers were very close friends. With her two bodyguards out of action, leaving her here was basically a death sentence.

As she turned to look, she realized Xiao Luo had also disappeared.

Despair filled her thoughts at this moment, and she felt forsaken by the entire world.

"Xiao Luo, don't you have some incredible skills? Why did you run away too?!"

She did not understand why she felt this way, but being abandoned by Xiao Luo hurt her far more than when the Fang siblings deserted her. She cursed him grudgingly, and her beautiful face was slick with falling tears.

"You're just going to sit there and wait to get shot?"

She heard someone calling out to her. As he spoke stiffly, he was clearly a foreigner whose mother tongue was not Chinese.

Three large Western men stepped out from the dense forest. Each was carrying a rifle and wearing combat gear that she did not recognize.

Xiang Gaoyang and Xiang Gaojian drew their sidearms from their waists and prepared to counter-attack. Just then, one of the three attackers, a black man, rested the muzzle of his gun on Chu Yue's head. In an icy deadpan voice, he shouted, "If you want your miss to live, then drop your weapons now!"

The three gunmen gave off the air of trained killers. Xiang Gaoyang and Xiang Gaojian recognized this at once, and they immediately stopped and obediently placed their handguns on the ground.

"That's a good boy!"

One of the other burly men walked over to them with a grin then smashed their heads with the butt of his rifle. There was a splatter of blood, and the two men sank into the red puddle pooling below them. Their consciousness faded, and their vision blurred.

"Tsk tsk! This chick is much prettier in person!" The black man lifted Chu Yue's chin in one hand, ignoring her pained expression and clenched teeth. In a low voice, he chuckled, "Especially this cute little mouth. It's a real masterpiece."

Saying this, he grabbed a fistful of her hair and started rubbing her pretty face into his crotch.

"You bastard!" Xiang Gaoyang and Xiang Gaojian howled with rage like the dying roars of two injured lions. However, before they could get up from the pools of blood in which they were lying, two kicks landed heavily on their stomachs. The tremendous impact made them curl up in pain like prawns. Their faces scrunched up in agony, and they began groaning uncontrollably.

If they had not been shot, they could have avoided this shameful situation and put up some resistance. Yet, now that they had fallen into enemy hands, what else could they do but feel remorse for their circumstances?

The black man took out a walkie-talkie and radioed to his allies. "Scorpion Head, Scorpion Head, come in. This is Black Tail. We have captured the target. I repeat. We have captured the target!"

"Copy that! Good work. Regroup at the rendezvous point two klicks southwest. Eagle is here for extraction. Get over here ASAP," a raspy voice radioed back.

"Roger that!" the black man replied, then shut off the walkie-talkie. With a playful expression on his face, he joked, "We're just here to catch a little girl. Isn't our boss going a bit overboard?"

"We should still stay on our guard. Don't be careless. Ma Zhengfeng made that mistake and failed his mission. We don't want to follow in his footsteps," warned the third mercenary, who had a slenderer build.

"He's right. Chu Yunxiong is a business tycoon who's aware that his daughter is at risk," added the other mercenary. "There's no way he only sent two bodyguards to protect her. There should be more men in hiding somewhere."

The black man sneered disdainfully, "If there were more, then they would have shown themselves already. You guys don't think that the young kid who fled earlier was her guard, do you?"

The slender man looked him in the eyes with his eyebrows raised. He was clearly thinking the black man was messing around.

The black man was, of course, referring to Xiao Luo. Their team's snipers could have easily killed everyone at the scene. However, their assignment this time was a kidnapping and not a hit, so they'd elected not to murder everyone. In any event, Xiao Luo looked small and weak. He seemed to pose no threat to them, so they had not even considered the possibility that he could be one of Chu Yue's bodyguards.

"Let's move out. We're regrouping with Eagle!"

The black man picked up a despondent Chu Yue and headed back into the depths of the forest. As mercenaries, their exfiltration route would not be along the national highway—they were much more at home in the bush.

"Miss! Miss!"

Xiang Gaoyang and Xiang Gaojian struggled to give chase, but the mercenary nearest to them raised his weapon and gave them two more blows to the head with the butt of his rifle, knocking them unconscious.

"Let go of me! Let go!"

Chu Yue was screaming in a panic, and her almond-shaped eyes shone with tears. For the first time, she wished she had listened to her father and not stubbornly chased away so many of her bodyguards.

"Miss, if you keep struggling, then I don't mind giving you a taste of what I can do. Just as the Great Wall of your Hua Nation is long, my member is also very long and very interested in a fine gal like you. Hehe!"

The man laughed obscenely, which scared Chu Yue into silence. 𝑙𝘪𝑏𝓇ℯ𝑎𝒹.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Noting that Chu Yue was cooperating, the black man signaled to the snipers hiding in the forest and indicated that they were pulling out.

However, one of the snipers stayed frozen in place. His face was full of horror as he stared wide-eyed in disbelief at the bloodstained blade protruding from his mouth. Thick, viscous blood poured out in a torrent. It was his own knife, so how had it gotten stuck in the back of his neck?

His eyes were fully open, taking everything in. But his brain quickly lost any ability to process information. Death was not so charitable as to wait for him, and his final dying thoughts were occupied by unanswered questions. He could not understand how he had been killed. He was holding the high ground, so he should have been the first to know if anyone approached from below. How had his assailant snuck up to him without anyone noticing?

It was incomprehensible and unbelievable!

Chapter 78

"A CheyTac M200 sniper rifle, with an effective range of 2,500 yards. Yes, this should do just fine!"

Xiao Luo picked up the weapon from the body of the sniper he had just murdered and smiled slightly. The warmth from the gun made his blood boil, and his whole body felt like it was on fire.

Looking through the scope to scan other potential nearby vantage points, he quickly zeroed in on the second sniper. A bullet was fired, and the sheer force of the impact mercilessly blew open the other sniper's head.

Then, he turned and pointed the rifle's muzzle at the three mercenaries kidnapping Chu Yue and squeezed the trigger.

"Whiz!"

A bullet took off. Breaking the sound barrier, it screamed toward one of the men.

"Poof!"

The bullet's unstoppable force penetrated the torso of the man at the rear, tearing a bloody hole through his chest with terrifying destructive power. The bullet struck his heart and lungs, which spilled out behind him on the ground in a pulpy mess.

The man's eyes widened as he looked down blankly at his own chest. Then, he wordlessly toppled backward onto the ground—another corpse joining the ranks of the restless dead.

"Aaah!"

Seeing such a grisly scene unfold right before her eyes, Chu Yue screamed loudly with her almond-shaped eyes wide open.

The black man yelled, "Get to cover!"

The slender man reacted immediately and moved to take cover behind a large boulder, but he was too late. Anyone in Xiao Luo's line of sight was an easy target. Another bullet burst out from the sniper rifle and bit into the man's thigh like the sharp fang of a savage tiger.

"Crack!"

His whole thigh came off as if torn apart by a great force. Blood gushed out from the wound with a gurgling sound, and a wretched cry erupted from the slender man's mouth.

"Thin Monkey!"

The black man's face darkened, and he moved closer to the slender man, putting Chu Yue between himself and the sniper as a human shield.

"Don't come over here. It's a trap!" shouted the slender man. "The enemy deliberately left me wounded but alive to draw you out into his line of fire. If you come over here, you'd be playing right into his hands."

The black man stopped where he was. He picked up his intercom to radio his sniper, "Vulture, Vulture. Do you copy? Do you copy?"

"Save your breath. Vulture and the others are dead," the slender man shot back hoarsely. He was sweating profusely from the intense pain.

"F***!"

The black man swore angrily with a ferocious expression, smashing the intercom to pieces on the ground. This turn of events was an unwelcome surprise. This was supposed to be an easy mission, but an expert was lurking in the shadows.

He put his mouth close to Chu Yue's ear and shouted roughly in a roaring voice, "Who is the guy that was hiding? Speak up!"

"I don't know. I don't know..."

The frightened Chu Yue shook her head vigorously. She really had no idea and was too afraid to think. Her mind had gone blank when she'd smelled the freshly spilled blood. Fear, despair, and anxiety all gripped her heart.

"Sh*t, if you don't talk, then I'll rape you right now!"

The black man's emotions were in turmoil. The death of his companions had made him extremely dangerous, and he was like a rabid starving wolf.

Chu Yue pressed her lips together, weeping uncontrollably in a panic.

"Black Tail, take the target and get out of here. Regroup with Eagle," the slender man rasped. He had already lost a lot of blood and seemed exhausted. His face was as pale as a sheet.

"B*llshit. I'm not leaving without you!" the black man retorted angrily.

The slender man smiled sadly. "We've been living dangerously, life on the edge, and we're always gambling with our lives. I've now lost a leg. Even if I get out of this alive, I'll just be a useless cripple."

"I don't give a damn..."

The slender man interrupted harshly, "Black Tail, you know the rules. Don't do something that will make me lose my respect for you."

The black man squeezed his eyes shut. He struggled to push aside his sorrow and hesitation, before clenching his teeth and fleeing with Chu Yue in tow.

Not long after, Xiao Luo came down from his sniper's nest.

"It was you?"

The slender man looked in horror at Xiao Luo. He could not believe that the harmless-looking young man whom they'd spared was capable of causing so much damage.

"He actually left you behind. Looks like your companion isn't stupid," Xiao Luo remarked lightly.

The slender man looked up rebelliously. "We members of the Red Scorpion Mercenary Corps are no pushovers. You are going to pay for this."

"Oh, really?" Xiao Luo smiled mockingly. "I wonder if you have heard of our old saying."

"What saying?" the slender man asked.

"Mercenaries are not allowed in Hua Nation. Intruders. Must. Die!"

Xiao Luo spoke softly, but his words dripped with seemingly infinite killing intent. He spun around and clenched his left hand into a claw. With a rush of wind, he brought his fist flashing across the slender man's neck like a bolt of lightning.

"Poof!"

With a single, savage sweep, flesh and bone were torn asunder. A bloody gash appeared in the man's neck from which his warm lifeblood sprayed out.

Without a backward glance at the slender man, Xiao Luo chased after the black man.

Unable to move, the slender man slumped onto the ground with a glassy stare. His blood continued to pour out, staining the ground around him red. He twitched violently, and there was no more hope of survival for him. He could only desperately, painfully wait for the Grim Reaper.

...

Wild Boar Ridge was a dense forest. Canopies of countless tall trees blocked out the sun, while the ground was thickly covered in green moss and shrubs. It was very easy to get lost in this forest. Furthermore, many wild animals were roaming around.

The black man who'd kidnapped Chu Yue made it about 500 yards before Xiao Luo caught up to them.

Xiao Luo exerted his full strength. Accelerating his already rapid pace, he swiftly appeared before the black man. He exhaled coldly and sent a vicious sweeping kick flying toward the man's knee. The man's knee shattered with a loud crack, and his long, straight leg was instantly bent backward. It looked as effortless to Xiao Luo as snapping a bamboo pole.

Intense agony surged through the black man's body as he staggered and dropped onto his good knee. Before he could even cry out in pain, Xiao Luo's iron leg was soaring through the air straight toward the man's chest. The roaring wind from his kick's pressure made the man break out in a cold sweat.

Desperately, the black man crossed his arms over his chest to block the blow, so Xiao Luo's kick landed squarely on his arms.

"Boom!"

As though he'd been rammed by a train, the black man's bulk was sent flying backward in a straight line. He only came to a stop when he smashed into the trunk of a large tree. The insides of his chest were turning over violently as thick blood gushed from his mouth. The explosive, terrifying power of his opponent made him temporarily forget the pain. Instead, he tried to discern the identity of this man who had kicked him. 𝘭𝒾𝑏𝑟𝑒𝒶𝒹.𝘤𝘰𝓂

When he saw that it was Xiao Luo, his face wore the same expression of disbelief as the slender man's. Who would have thought that a young kid they'd overlooked would come back to bite them as such a fearsome enemy?

As Xiao Luo readied the killing blow, his heightened senses picked up on a large group of mercenaries a few hundred yards away. They were quickly approaching. He stopped himself short, turning to pick up the terrified Chu Yue. Slamming both feet into the ground, he shot off like a bullet and disappeared like a ghost.

Chapter 79

It did not take long for the strong one-eyed man from the Red Scorpion Mercenary Corps with the code name Eagle to arrive at the scene with ten other members in full combat gear. Seeing the heavily injured black man, the one-eyed man sprinted over to deliver emergency first-aid. 𝓁𝘪𝘣𝘳ℯ𝒶𝘥.𝘤𝑜𝓂

"Black Tail, what happened here? Where's the target?" the strong one-eyed man asked urgently.

Gritting his teeth, the black man known as Black Tail answered, "The enemy was hiding an ace up their sleeve. Everyone else in our squad was killed in action."

"Sh*t! How did this happen?" Eagle punched himself hard in the thigh in frustration before continuing, "Which way did they go?"

Black Tail pointed in the direction where Xiao Luo had gone. "East!"

Eagle waved to the rest of his men. "Two of you stay behind with Black Tail. The rest of you are with me!"

"Yes sir," the group replied in unison.

"Black Tail, you get some good rest. I'll make him regret ever being born," the strong one-eyed man said, patting the black man's shoulder.

"Be careful. He's armed with a sniper rifle, and his aim is impeccable!" Black Tail warned solemnly.

"Got it."

With a hand signal, the strong one-eyed man gave chase, leading his group of men eastward. At the same time, he took out his walkie, radioing a report to the Red Scorpion Mercenary Corps' leader: "Boss, Black Tail was taken down in an ambush. The target is on the move fleeing east."

As if gathering his thoughts, the radio stayed silent for a moment. Then, a raspy voice sounded from the speaker, "Hunt them down. No holds barred!"

It was a short phrase, but thick with determination and murderous intent.

"Sir, yes sir," Eagle acknowledged the order with the hardened gaze of a trained killer. Then, the group of mercenaries fanned out in the dense forest like a pack of hungry wolves, following Xiao Luo and Chu Yue's trail.

...

Chu Yue was a girl who'd born with a silver spoon in her mouth, and this was the first time in her life that she'd ever gone through such a traumatic experience. She did not even realize that she had been rescued by Xiao Luo until she noticed that she could no longer smell the black man's body odor anymore. Looking up, she froze.

"Xiao—Pretentious d*ck?"

Her almond-shaped eyes widened, and her mouth opened, forming a small 'O.' She was shocked by this sudden turn of events and could have never imagined that Xiao Luo would rescue her. Didn't he leave her behind and flee?

"Mistress Chu, if you don't want to be sullied by a bunch of burly Westerners, you'd better be quiet. If you don't cooperate, I'll throw you to the wolves!" Xiao Luo advised coldly. If not for his promise to Chu Yunxiong, he would have gladly stayed out of this situation. He did not particularly care for Chu Yue as a girl and had no feelings of affection for her whatsoever.

"Pretentious d*ck, you—I'll, I'll bite you to death!"

Chu Yue was infuriated. She opened her little mouth and bit down hard on Xiao Luo's shoulder. Two neat rows of silver-white teeth sunk deep into Xiao Luo's flesh.

Xiao Luo gritted his teeth, shaking off her bite forcefully with a frigid expression on his face. "You don't really believe that I would abandon you?"

"Don't you do it!"

Chu Yue's frail figure shuddered, and panic flashed in her eyes. Disregarding any cultural taboos between men and women, she clung tightly to Xiao Luo like an octopus. "I'll do whatever you say, pretentious d*ck. Please don't leave me behind!"

The memories of the black man and the grisly scenes had deeply traumatized her, and the shock made her feel like the world was ending. Her emotional state was currently close to that of a full meltdown. Xiao Luo's appearance had been like a lifeline from heaven when she'd come close to drowning, so now she held onto him for dear life. She felt like this was the best surprise she had ever received in her life, and being in Xiao Luo's arms brought her an inexplicable sense of security.

While sprinting through the forest at an incredible pace, Xiao Luo looked down and remarked, "You should really be grateful that you have such a good father!" If Chu Yunxiong had not recognized his worth, he would not have accepted this assignment.

Hearing this, Chu Yue was stunned speechless. Xiao Luo had been sent by her father, Chu Yunxiong, to watch over her?

So, it was no coincidence that the figure that she and Bai Ling had seen that night so closely resembled Xiao Luo? Was that why Xiao Luo acted so strangely in school? Was he always following her? Everything that had transpired thus far could be explained if Xiao Luo's purpose here was to ensure her safety.

Just then, it all clicked.

A strange emotion welled up from deep within her—an indescribable mix of feelings.

A low shout brought her back to reality: "Hang on tight!"

Xiao Luo jumped up mid-sprint, leaping like a wild tiger, and bounded over a small stream that spanned three-yards.

Chu Yue experienced the jumping motion distinctly. It felt like playing on a swing, but far more thrilling and stimulating because she could see a 7-to-8-yard drop downstream. The meandering creek in these lofty mountains flowed into a waterfall deep in the forest.

"Aaah!"

She could not hold back her scream and tightened her grip on Xiao Luo, afraid she might fall.

"Can't you women do anything other than scream?" Xiao Luo's expression was unsympathetic as he criticized her.

Chu Yue was irked to the point of tears. She replied while looking up at him grudgingly, "I don't want to, but I can't help myself. It's just too scary."

"If you're scared, then just close your eyes!" Xiao Luo barked haughtily.

Biting her lip, Chu Yue burrowed her face into Xiao Luo's chest.

"Target acquired, roughly 500 yards straight ahead. Lock and load. Prepare to engage!" Eagle relayed his orders to the squad. He tightened his grip on his firearm and sped up his pursuit.

Xiao Luo was well aware of the men pursuing them. The mercenaries of the Blackwater company were tenacious. If he were by himself, shaking them off would be a piece of cake, but it was much more difficult with Chu Yue. Even if he ran at full speed, he could not get away from the lightly equipped members of the Red Scorpion Mercenary Corps.

He needed to think of a plan!

Xiao Luo looked at his surroundings with a furrowed brow as he brainstormed a way out of this. It would be great if he could deposit Chu Yue in a safe location. Alone, he was fully confident of his ability to kill the mercenaries chasing after him.

As he ran, he spotted another small river. The banks were muddy due to shrub growth, and anyone walking along it would be quickly covered in dark mud.

That's it!

Xiao Luo had a flash of inspiration. He looked down at the beauty in his arms. He would let her suffer a little and get his revenge for that time when she'd humiliated him at the party.

...

"Do I really have to hide here? It's so cold!"

Autumn had just passed, and the weather was cool. It was neither cold nor hot, but the water from the river that flowed down from deep in the mountains was icy. Following Xiao Luo's instructions, Chu Yue was lying half-buried in the mud. She was shivering from the cold, as she pleaded piteously to Xiao Luo.

"Unless you want to get chewed up and spat out, you need to stay hidden right here." Then, handing her a hollow reed tube, Xiao Luo reassured her sincerely, "Just give me forty, no, twenty minutes to deal with these mercenaries. Then you can come back out."

Chapter 80

Chu Yue wrestled with her misgivings for a moment, before finally deciding to obey Xiao Luo and hide in the filthy mud.

"Don't forget about me. I'm afraid that I won't be able to climb out of here by myself!"

She lowered herself in backward, slowly, and her voice was little as a mosquito, but the words clearly embedded themselves in Xiao Luo's heart. Perhaps it was normal for a man to feel some sympathy for a beauty like her.

"I won't!"

Xiao Luo heaped mud on her, concealing her entirely from sight, before wading into the river. The river was neither broad nor deep, and the water only came up to his thigh.

"Papapa!"

Chu Yue heard the sound of footsteps. It sounded as if they were walking right next to her, and she held her breath in fear.

The strong one-eyed man codenamed Eagle noticed the muddy footprints near the boulders. There were two sets of prints, one small and one large, and his eyes narrowed slightly. He boomed in a frosty tone, "They passed through here, after all, the sneaky fellow. If he follows the river, soon we won't be able to track him. Quickly now, spread out downstream, and whistle if you see any trace of mud in the water. He's carrying the girl, so he can't be moving faster than us."

The row of men hurried along the river.

Experience was a good thing, but sometimes it backfired. At the moment, they were dancing in the palm of Xiao Luo's hand, as he had planned to make them split up.

No longer held back by Chu Yue, Xiao Luo doubled his speed. Moving like a phantom through the forest, he began his hunt.

...

"This is unbelievable. Where the hell did that guy go? We've been following him for so long and haven't found any trace of him yet!"

"Hmm. To evade us while carrying a girl, this guy must really be something."

Two members of the Red Scorpion Mercenary Corps searched their surroundings, feeling despondent. Neither of them noticed a vine silently lowering from the tree branch above and closing in on the head of a burly mercenary with a red face.

The vine tightened around his neck, and the burly man instinctively grabbed at it, but a large force pulled him upward. His neck was caught tightly by the noose, and he was unable to breathe, let alone make any sound. He struggled in a silent panic, trying to reach out and tap his partner. But the man was two paces ahead of him, and his fingers were just a few inches too short.

His face swelled up with blood, becoming beet red, and he watched helplessly as his oblivious partner walked away.

"Whoosh!"

The burly man was yanked up into the tree canopy. Through the dappled light filtering in through the leaves, he saw a handsome emotionless face. His eyes widened in shock as he tried to suck in air, but it seemed to solidify around him, and none of it entered his windpipe.

With a face full of agony, the burly red-faced man gaped at Xiao Luo. His hand reached for his intercom, but Xiao Luo lightly pressed down on it, so he could no longer move. His struggling became weaker as the noose around his neck tightened as he struggled. He felt death by asphyxiation approaching.

His partner, who was ahead of him, finally noticed that something was off and turned around. What? Where did he go?

"Red Ghost? Red Ghost?"

He yelled out his partner's code name twice. His voice carried through the forest, but there was no reply. As though his voice was swallowed by a monster lurking in the shadows, he could not hear a sound, not even an echo. He began to feel completely flustered and surveyed his surroundings warily while reporting to Eagle on his walkie.

"Eagle, come in. Red Ghost is missing. I repeat, Red Ghost is missing!"

"What do you mean missing? He's right behind you! The GPS shows your positions overlapping!" Eagle's voice came back through the intercom.

As an elite armed mercenary squad, they naturally had access to top of the line GPS technology. The position of each of his men showed as a red dot on his watch.

What? Overlapping?

The man, whose code name was White Ape, broke out in a cold sweat. His gaze drifted slowly upward only to see a man hanging from the tree above him – it was his burly red-faced partner. Red Ghost's face was drained of blood with a stunned expression. His tongue stuck out of his mouth.

"Aaah!"

White Ape felt chilled to the bone, and he let out a scream as he took a few steps back.

"White Ape, report, what is going on over there?" Eagle roared, his voice carrying from the intercom.

"Red Ghost is dead, hanged from a tree. Requesting backup. Requesting backup..."

White Ape's teeth chattered as he spoke, but before he could finish, a razor-sharp dagger pierced his chest. The blade was slick with blood as it was pulled back out from behind him in a swift and violent motion. The knife had stabbed straight through his torso, accurately puncturing his heart.

"Poof!"

Hot fresh blood spurted from his wound. White Ape's expression went stiff, and his eyes opened wide in horror as he collapsed into a pool of his own blood.

"White Ape, do you copy? Respond! Do you copy?" Eagle's urgent shouting echoed from the intercom's earpiece.

Xiao Luo displayed no visible emotion. He lifted his right leg and stamped down fiercely, shattering the radio into pieces. Tiny electronic pieces scattered all over the ground.

Lifting his gaze, he stared out into the depths of the forest, mumbling to himself, "Eleven more to go!" Then, with the agility of a monkey, he sprang up into the trees, shaking a few branches as he passed by. A few leaves floated down slowly.

"Sh*t!" Eagle swore out loud then ordered his squad, "All men head quickly toward White Ape and Red Ghost's position. Now, immediately, go!"

A string of replies sounded from his walkie: "Yessir!"

Meanwhile, a large contingent of police was heading to their location, having received the call from Fang Chongqiang. The piercing scream of police sirens rang out as the convoy rushed toward Wild Boar Ridge.

"Team Leader Gu, the perpetrators are armed with sniper rifles. It looks like they're not your average criminals. We—"

"I don't care who they are. If they're stirring up trouble in Jiangcheng, then they have no respect for our police force. Send word that I want each major branch to send their best men ASAP to Wild Boar Ridge. We will surround the area and form a net that no man, not even a bug, can escape," Gu Qianlin thundered fiercely from inside one of the police cars.

Dressed in her police uniform, she had a refreshingly beautiful appearance and cut a lean, handsome figure. Her short hair was neatly tucked behind her ears in a bun, and her elegant, pure eyes flashed with righteous fury.

...

With part of his squad, Eagle made for White Ape and Red Ghost's last known position as unidentifiable sounds were transmitted through his intercom. It sounded like the raspy cry of ducks having their throats cut as, one by one, the red dots on his GPS stopped moving.

"D*mnit. What the hell is happening?"

He knew the situation had taken a bad turn, but the strong one-eyed man still wanted to see it for himself.

When they reached the men's last known position, they saw White Ape lying motionless in a pool of blood and Red Ghost hanging from a tree. They went pale from fear, unable to tear their eyes away. When they'd all gathered together, there were only eight of them left.

All of the mercenaries were on edge now, and the forest itself seemed to close in around them threateningly. They felt as though they were surrounded in all directions by enemies lurking in the depths.𝓁𝑖𝑏𝑟𝘦𝒶𝘥.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Chapter 81

Panic streaked across Eagle's face. The matter at hand was simply too evil. These people had silently sacrificed five people without even seeing their faces. He suspected that his opponent was not even human to begin with but a bloodthirsty ghost.

A large conglomerate, the crocodile of Hua Nation's business community, had taken over the hunt for Chu Yunxiong's daughter. This time, the bold decision had been made by the Red Scorpion mercenaries. After all, Chu Yunxiong was not just someone influential in Hua Nation. On an international level, he wielded considerable influence. If this operation were completed successfully, the Red Scorpion mercenaries' position within the company would be significantly improved.

But nobody could have imagined that Chu Yunxiong had such a crazy guy beside him. More than just playing with them out in the jungle, it was like this guy was the very scythe of the Grim Reaper, relentlessly harvesting lives.

"I must find him and use the cruelest punishment in the world to torture him to death slowly!" Eagle growled with a fierce look. The muscles at the corner of his mouth were twitching, and he was completely deranged.

Just at that moment, a sniper bullet blasted through space flew right at him. It tore through the air with the roaring sound of the wind.

"Pewwww!"

The single bullet pierced the necks of the two brawlers. A bloody mist exploded, and the two men fell into a pool of their own blood without an opportunity to even scream or make a sound. Blood gushed from their necks.

Killing two with a single shot was a genuinely excellent and terrifying way of shooting!

"Target acquired. He is at..."

After a short pause, one of the squad members finally discovered Xiao Luo's hiding place. As he was readying his shot, he quickly reported back to Eagle and the others.

However, he'd greatly underestimated Xiao Luo's reactive ability. Just as soon as he'd relayed the message, another sniper bullet came flying accurately toward his head, which exploded like a watermelon. Red and white innards spilled all over the ground.

"Sh*t!"

Eagle cursed and stomped around with fury. Raising the weapon in his hands, he fired a blind shot toward Xiao Luo's hiding place.

"Bang!"

The bullets that had been fired reverberated violently in the air. It brought with it a high temperature that could burn everything, and the naked eye couldn't see its trajectory.

This bullet flew and only marginally missed Xiao Luo's ear, though its whistling sound made his eardrums hum. He had narrowly missed being taken out by the Grim Reaper. No matter how strong one's heart may be, the shock from such a thing could make anyone break out in a cold sweat. He calmed down quickly and was gone by the time Eagle and the others arrived. He just vanished like a ghost.

"Come out! Come out, d*mnit!"

One-eyed Eagle roared in anger then changed up his weapons to a submachine gun. He directed a frantic spray of bullets at the surrounding bushes, which swept across everything. Fire snakes, broken branches, and leaves were sent flying, and there was sawdust everywhere. The commotion alarmed a flock of birds.

Until the rounds in the assault weapon were all emptied, Eagle was still depressing the trigger. The submachine made a 'click, click' sound, signifying an empty chamber, and thick white smoke floated out from the muzzle.

At that moment, the remaining four people were terrified because they felt a pressure unlike any they'd ever known before.

Xiao Luo bit down on his dagger, and like a ravenous wolf, he rushed out from the tall grass toward a man. The man realized he was being attacked and turned around, but it was too late. The powerful dagger had accumulated considerable energy, and it slid across his throat.

"Pew!"

It all happened as fast as lightning, and his flesh was easily sliced open. Fresh blood erupted out.

Xiao Luo turned around on the spot, twisting backward and suddenly attacking the area in front of him to the left. His movements were like flowing water and clouds. Everything happened simultaneously as if a turning angle was but a straight line.

Clenching his hands into fists, Xiao Luo conjured up a frightening wind. It seemed to tear the air and hit the big man in front of him.

"Bang!"

"Click!"

The hard, iron fist was like a steel hammer, and it left an imprint in the big man's chest. It was a force as scary as a tsunami. The man's sternum ruptured, puncturing his heart. Scarlet blood spewed forth, and his body flew backward until it collided heavily with the trunk of a tree. The tree was the size of two bodies, and it violently shook as countless green leaves fluttered down. It was as if a beast had clawed out the man's heart, and his life had suddenly evaporated.

Fierce, tyrannical, and unrelenting shots. A fatal blow!

"D*mnit. He is here!"

A bald mercenary reacted, then aimed his submachine gun at Xiao Luo and fired sweeping shots.

Xiao Luo surged forward with full force, running as fast as a cheetah. He didn't let a single bullet touch him. He kept his body low and hurried forward with a strange feeling of peace.

Xiao Luo let out another cold snort, and his strong legs made a whistling sound before slamming into the bald man's knee. With a 'click,' his straight, long legs instantly bent backward, and he let out a scream. Before he could react, the dagger in Xiao Luo's hands slit his throat in a flash.

"Pew!" 𝑙𝒾𝒷𝘳𝑒𝑎𝒹.𝑐𝑜𝓂

The arteries ruptured, and a fountain of blood fiercely spurted. The bald man's eyes widened and filled with fear. He dropped his firearm as he reached with both hands to cover his bleeding throat. But no matter what he did, he could not stop the bleeding and collapsed to the ground as if his bones had lost all their support. His limbs twitched before death finally claimed him.

In an instant, three men had been killed. And death's scythe did not stop there...

The blood-stained dagger carried all the vengeance of its master as it crossed a distance of three to four yards before plunging with a 'pu-chu' sound into a square-faced man's chest.

Although one-eyed Eagle was the head of this squad, only one of his men was able to accurately lock onto Xiao Luo. But he did not dare to shoot because Xiao Luo and the square-faced man's positions were almost overlapping. Or, put another way, the square-faced man had become Xiao Luo's puppet. His body was being controlled as it shook side to side.

"Shan Yao! Shan Yao!" Eagle yelled twice at the square-faced man and raised his weapon to eye-level. He moved to set up the kill even though Xiao Luo was still using the square-faced man as cover.

The only problem was that no matter how many times he moved, the square-faced man and Xiao Luo always were in a straight line.

Because of the massive size of the square-faced man, Xiao Luo was blocked entirely. If someone were watching this scene without context, they would think that it consisted solely of the one-eyed brawler and the square-faced man, who was in a weird position and behaving like a puppet on a string. The whole situation gave off a strange and eerie feeling.

Bean-sized beads of sweat rolled down Eagle's forehead as he screamed at Xiao Luo, "Let him go! Let him go!"

It would be a lie to say he was not panicking. Was his enemy really human? How could one man have killed so many of his companions in so little time?

Just then, with the square-faced man's back to Eagle, his feet were lifted in the air. As if possessed by an evil spirit, the square-faced man quickly approached him...

Chapter 82

"Stop. Stop now!"

One-eyed Eagle's eyes widened, and his mind seized up. Based on the swinging of his teammate's limbs and the hoarse voice coming from his throat, he was sure that the square-faced man had not died yet. But it was precisely because his comrade was not dead that he did not shoot. Although they were cold-blooded mercenaries, there was no need for him to kill one of his own companions like this.

But as the square-faced man came closer, Eagle felt even more threatened. He could feel every hair on his body standing up, and he was sure that he was as good as waiting for death. After fighting his dark thoughts, he gritted his teeth and shouted, "Go to hell, you b*tch mutt!"

He pulled the trigger of his sniper rifle.

At almost the same time, Xiao Luo pulled his dagger out of the square-faced man's chest and rushed at Eagle. The sniper bullet just barely whizzed by the square-faced man, while the side of Xiao Luo's face narrowly dodged it. Like a fierce tiger, he pounced on Eagle with his dagger. The blade was like a tiger's exposed fangs, exuding a menacing aura.

Eagle only saw the knife flash in front of him and felt the powerful impact of his sniper rifle. He staggered backward a few steps before regaining his balance. He couldn't help but stare. The barrel of his gun had been cut clean off. The split was smooth and neat as if it had been formed by a laser.

"The gun is broken?"

Xiao Luo put away his knife and stood up. His face revealed a playful smile. It wasn't that he didn't want to kill this one-eyed brawler, but so far, he had only allowed his dagger to reach the sniper rifle.

Eagle looked at this young Hua national in front of him, who was only about four to five inches shorter than him, and the Westerner could not believe his eyes. The one who had been leading them by the nose, the ghost that had harvested a dozen lives, was just a thin, meek kid. Eagle felt like he could lift him up with one hand.

However, as a member of the team hired to hunt him down, a team that had been fighting for their lives for almost a decade, Eagle quickly calmed down and flung his sniper rifle to the side. He took out the dagger that hung around his waist and adopted a fighting sense. He viciously challenged the boy, "I will make you pay, you Hua pig!"

"So many of you have died by my hand, and so now it's all down to you?" Xiao Luo sneered disdainfully, wiping the blood off his dagger.

"There is a price to be paid for your arrogance!"

"Ugah!"

Eagle roared loudly as he twirled his feet and slammed into Xiao Luo. There was no fancy technique involved, just one swift motion, wrapped with murderous intent. The dagger stabbed toward Xiao Luo's neck, aiming to end his life with a single stroke.

"You're overestimating yourself!" 𝓵𝓲𝓫𝙧𝓮𝙖𝙙.𝒄𝓸𝙢

Xiao Luo sneered. His eyes narrowed, and just as Eagle's dagger was about to drive into him, his left food staggered backward, and his body twisted forcibly. When the opponent's blade closed in on his chest, at the same time, his own knife danced fancily before its tip plunged into the one-eyed man's throat.

"Pew!"

Blood began to flow, and the body of the one-eyed man stopped. His eyes were full of disbelief.

One move. In just one move, he was defeated!

How could that be?

He was Eagle, leader of the Red Scorpion Mercenaries. He was the only one who could kill someone else in a split second. Why was it that now...

Fright clouded Eagle's eyes. His expression was puzzled, and he couldn't understand the reason.

Xiao Luo threw his shoulder back to the left, then thrust forward with his right hand. His posture was as elegant as a swordsman's, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly. This gave him a cold-blooded aura.

"Allow me to reunite with your brother!" With a faint smile, he withdrew the dagger, and the blood that followed was like a damned-up reservoir that had finally found a breach in the one-eyed brawler's neck.

Eagle shouted hoarsely and fell back to the ground. His blood flowed out quickly, and his physical strength seeped from his body—as did his soul.

Xiao Luo tossed aside the bloody dagger and turned away.

Back at the shore, Chu Yue had dug herself out of the mud like a fish. Her eyes were closed, and her face was as pale as a sheet of paper. Her red lips had turned black from the cold, and her teeth chattered constantly. Like greenhouse flowers that had been hit by a storm, people's hearts ached for her.

Xiao Luo carried her to the river and washed away the dirt from her body with clean water. Chu Yue, who had recovered slightly, opened her big eyes, and there was a pitiful, pitiful light.

"I...I thought you had left me..."

While she talked, tears rolled down her face. Today's experience alone was enough for her to remember him for a lifetime.

Xiao Luo did not have much to say to comfort her. He only had one simple command: "Undress!"

What?!

Chu Yue thought that she had heard wrong. The wind blew, and her body trembled even more as she clutched her hands tightly in front of her chest. She dared not move.

Xiao Luo was too lazy to explain and took off her clothes.

"What are you doing? Don't touch me! Don't touch me!" Chu Yue screamed loudly, hitting Xiao Luo's back fiercely like a cat whose tail has just been stepped on

Xiao Luo ignored her and rudely peeled off her white shirt but did not remove her black lingerie. Her upper body was almost entirely naked, and her jade-like skin gave off a seductive air. There was no trace of impurity in her eyes. Xiao Luo immediately took off his clothes and put them on her.

At that moment, Chu Yue felt an unprecedented warmth. All the coldness disappeared. Her body was warm.

She now knew she had misunderstood this guy. A large pair of watery eyes stared blankly at Xiao Luo, who was now shirtless. She did not know what this feeling was, but it seemed as though a little deer was running around frantically in her heart.

"If I were you, I would move around a little to keep my body warm instead of staring at a half-naked man in a daze."

Xiao Luo lowered his head and said faintly, "People may not get sick immediately after soaking in cold water for a long time. But if they don't warm up immediately after coming out of the water, then they will get sick within a few minutes."

"Oh!"

Chu Yue appeared to be blushing. She slowly stood up and moved carefully. "Pretentious Di—Xiao Luo, thank you!"

"You should call me Pretentious D*ck again. It feels weird for you to call me by my name," Xiao Luo said, frowning.

Chu Yue laughed and said, "I also feel like it's better to keep calling you Pretentious D*ck. I'm already so used to it."

Xiao Luo maintained his distant posture and looked at her with a blank expression on his face. "Don't be all smiley," he said, "danger is still lurking."

"Ah? Then should I hide in the mud again?" Chu Yue asked, startled.

"No, just follow me."

Xiao Luo coughed dryly. He just wanted to scare Chu Yue a little. Even if there were other mercenaries, they had probably evacuated by now. After all, even if Hua Nation's police were notoriously slow to respond, it was about time for them to arrive.

The two marched several hundred yards toward the national highway. Soon, a large number of special police came into view in the dense forest ahead. They were all fanned out, searching the area.

"It's the police! The police!"

Chu Yue was very excited. There was no time like now to be excited about seeing the police!

"You are safe now. If they ask you what happened, just say that a stranger saved you. Don't expose me," Xiao Luo said, urging her as his feet slammed to the ground and charged into the jungle. Soon, he disappeared from Chu Yue's sight.

Chapter 83

When Chu Yunxiong found out that his daughter, Chu Yue, had been involved in an accident, he immediately rushed over to Wild Boar Ridge. The cops had just found her when he arrived on the scene.

Fifty nameless men in suits stood around the perimeter with stern expressions on their faces and their hands behind their backs. Chu Yunxiong was standing right at the front of the group. He wasn't a tall man, and he was actually a little bit fat. Despite looking and feeling haggard, he put on a youthful smile when he saw that Chu Yue was unscathed.

"You old geezer! I thought that I wasn't going to see you again. Huhu..."

Chu Yue rushed over to embrace her father and started bawling in his arms. Her slim, fragile body was like that of a deer in shock as she shivered uncontrollably. The events that had taken place that afternoon had severely frightened her and left their imprint in her psyche. She had witnessed death and experienced what it was like to be caught fighting a brutal battle of life and death. She felt like she had returned from a tour of the very depths of hell.

"Everything is fine. It's all over now. Everything is fine!"

Chu Yunxiong patted her back lovingly and comforted her. His old, muddy eyes expressed much of the guilt that he was feeling. He was the one who had brought this terrible situation upon his own daughter. If it had been up to him, he would have much preferred that he'd been the one assaulted instead. If something unthinkable happened to Chu Yue, Chu Yunxiong would never be able to forgive himself.

"Team Leader Gu, we found the bodies of 17 foreigners. Judging by their clothes and equipment, they were most likely mercenaries."

Meanwhile, Officer Xiao Wang reported the situation to Gu Qianlin: "Our SWAT team is combing the area around Wild Boar Ridge. As soon as there are any updates, they will report back to us at once."

"Who killed the 17 mercenaries? Chu Yue's bodyguard?" Gu Qianlin asked.

Officer Xiao Wang shook his head and said, "No, Miss Chu Yue's two bodyguards took some bullets and were knocked out cold."

"Who else could it have been, then? Don't tell me that, besides Chu Yue and her bodyguards, there was someone else we missed at the scene?" Gu Qianlin asked. Her face was filled with uncertainty.

"I'm not sure, either. Fang Chongqiang called the cops and said that there were a bunch of mercenaries trying to hurt Miss Chu Yue. He never mentioned anyone else at the scene. The SWAT team also has yet to find traces of another person," Officer Xiao Wang was quick to respond to his superior.

Gu Qianlin knitted her eyebrows and diverted her attention toward Chu Yue. In order to find out what had killed the 17 mercenaries, it would be much easier to ask Chu Yue what had happened since she was unscathed. Gu Qianlin put her plan into motion immediately and walked past the fifty nameless men in black suits, heading for the area up front, where Chu Yue was standing with her father. In a sincere tone, Gu Qianlin addressed the frightened girl, "Miss Chu Yue, can you please tell me who saved you?"

Chu Yue was about to answer automatically, 'Xiao Luo,' but then abruptly remembered how, before leaving, Xiao Luo had emphatically instructed her not to reveal his identity. Although she didn't know the reason for this, she pulled the brakes just in time. Instead, she shook her head, replying convincingly, "I don't know. I—I don't know anything."

"Officer Gu, my daughter is still in shock. If you want to question her, then do so another day!"

Chu Yunxiong lovingly scooped up Chu Yue and carried her away on his back. His tone made it clear that there would be repercussions if anyone disobeyed him. Ignoring Gu Qianlin, he said to Chu Yue, "Xiao Yue, let's go home."

Accompanied by two bodyguards, Leng Zuo and Leng You, they climbed into the Land Rover. Like trained soldiers, the fifty nameless men entered their cars in an orderly manner and left the scene.

"Tsk tsk," said Officer Xiao Wang. "This pattern is clearly unmatched. It really is Boss Chu, huh?"

Officer Xiao Wang and the other cops watched this procession with much awe. They would probably never witness something like this again. There were fifty bodyguards in total, all of whom were retired special forces soldiers. Additionally, these men had received special permission from the government that allowed them to carry firearms. Forget Jiangcheng, just in Hua Nation alone, there were no more than ten businessmen who received such special treatment.

"If you're envious, then you can hand me your resignation letter. I'll approve it at once, and you can go work for Chu Yunxiong. I'll even offer you my congratulations in advance," Gu Qianlin said with her arms behind her back.

Officer Xiao Wang hid his envious face and replied with an awkward smile, "Team Leader Gu, I was just joking." Then, with a stern look, his chin up, chest puffed out, and a perfectly straight posture, he proudly exclaimed, "I, Wang Hanxuang, vow to fight all sorts of crime! Once a police officer, always a police officer!"

Gu Qianlin promptly kicked Officer Xiao Wang in the rear end and shot back firmly, "Anyone can shout out a slogan. It doesn't mean anything on its own. Stop doing such pretentious stuff in front of me, understood?"

"Understood," Wang Hanxuan replied vehemently, trying to ignore the pain in his butt.

Just then, the voice of the SWAT team leader could be heard through the walkie talkie: "We have located six armed men, and they're escaping to the southwest!"

Gu Qianlin furrowed her brow, snatched the walkie talkie, and spoke into it firmly, "Don't lose sight of them but be careful. Professional mercenaries lay mines while escaping, so don't fall for it."

"Understood, Team Leader Gu!"

"All small teams listen to my orders. Head southeast and surround the area. Don't let them escape!"

After relaying her instructions, Gu Qianlin put on her bulletproof vest and led out her team of reinforcements. She was so tough that watching her left Wang Hanxuan and the other officers speechless. They thought to themselves: She's like a night-blooming cereus. Pretty and strong at the same time.

...

Xiao Luo was also surrounded by the police but managed to knock out a SWAT officer and changed into his uniform.

Once he put on the bulletproof helmet, it would be hard for the other officers to realize that he was not one of their ranks. While all of the cops headed toward the southwest, Xiao Luo snuck out onto a tiny road and left Wild Boar Ridge.

"I hope Chu Yue doesn't betray me. Otherwise, I'll be in trouble!" Xiao Luo muttered to himself. 𝓵𝙞𝒃𝓻𝓮𝙖𝓭.𝙘𝓸𝓶

He worried that if the cops found out that he had killed 17 mercenaries, then they would put him on a list of wanted fugitives. First and foremost, he was not a retired soldier. Secondly, he was not a member of any government organization. Even so, he had these abilities. This meant that the police wouldn't let him off and might even resort to extorting a confession out of him.

Catching the police's attention was one thing. But if the government were to blacklist him, then they would watch his every move from then on.

However, if he ever told anyone about the Genius System, then they would think he was a raving lunatic.

...

In a small mountain village, he was stealing—no, borrowing—a set of new clothes and changing into them before taking a car back to Huaye. This was the first time he'd killed someone, and though he had not noticed it at first, he now felt a little out of sorts.

"System, what's wrong with me? Did 'Constitution: King of Mercenaries' change my nature or didn't it? Why do I feel this uncomfortable after killing someone?" Xiao Luo asked while in bed.

"Ding! 'Constitution: King of Mercenaries' changes the nature of the host. However, you are still you, so it doesn't change the fact that this is the first time you have ever killed another human being. Do not worry. It is natural for you to feel like this," the system's clear female voice rang out in his head.

"I'm still me?"

Xiao Luo was stunned but let out a sigh of relief. For some time, he'd been worrying that receiving all kinds of abilities could change into a different person. But all these worries now appeared unfounded. He had merely received these abilities without affecting his body, consciousness, or ego. He was still himself.

Chapter 84

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai noticed that Xiao Luo headed straight to bed as soon as he came back. Still, neither of them had any idea what had happened. They wondered if something had happened during the watch transaction, but now was not the best time to ask. They thoughtfully turned down the volume of the game and music so as to not disturb Xiao Luo.

Xiao Luo slept until 8 o'clock that evening. He was even fast asleep when Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai tried to wake him up for dinner. So, the two of them packed some food for him, but by the time he woke up, it had gone cold.

"Brother Luo, my good brother Luo, what's wrong?" Zhu Xiaofei asked in a hurry.

"I was too tired." Xiao Luo stretched his back, then added, "I feel much better after a good sleep, though."

"Brother Luo, didn't you just go meet the watch buyer? What made you so tired?" Zhu Xiaofei asked, puzzled.

Ding Kai was equally suspicious as he looked at Xiao Luo. To be honest, they had both been shocked when Xiao Luo first returned because they could sense an evil aura emanating from his body. That was also why they hadn't grilled him when he'd first come back.

Xiao Luo waved his hands and said, "Let's not talk about this anymore. They stood me up, and I had to wait there all afternoon."

So that's what happened!

Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai finally understood why Xiao Luo had looked so pissed off when he'd come back. He had been stood up and made to wait an entire afternoon. He was surely fuming with anger. It was fortunate that he hadn't taken it out on them.

"Speaking of which, do you know the taste of the fried noodles from noodle store outside our school?" Xiao Luo asked. He was hungry and needed something to fill up his stomach.

"The noodles from the first store when you turn right after leaving the school gate are really rich," Zhu Xiaofei replied immediately.

Ding Kai glared at him and said, "Brother Luo, don't listen to him. He likes the store owner's daughter. That's why he thinks they taste so good."

"Store owners' daughter?" Xiao Luo asked, raising his eyebrows.

"She's a fifteen or sixteen-year-old Lolita and helps out frequently at the store. She has a sweet, demure appearance and pale skin. Lao Zhu even gave her a nickname, Fried Noodles Girl," Ding Kai said.

"Shut up, Kaizi! Do you really think that I went to buy fried noodles only because Fried Noodles Girl is pretty? Am I really that sort of guy?" Zhu Xiaofei asked anxiously.

"Well, aren't you?"

"Am I?"

"You are."

"What the heck. Are you asking for a spanking? You always speak badly about me in front of Brother Luo. You're ruining my heroic image!"

"Big fool!"

"F*ck, I can't stand it anymore."

...

They ended up fighting, and they both tried to distract each other by grabbing each other's balls. The attacker always made some weird noises like he was filled with ecstasy.

Xiao Luo was covered with goosebumps. Letting out a sigh, he left the room.

Thanks to Zhu Xiaofei's influence, he headed for the fried noodle store. It was just as he'd said, and a pretty girl was helping out at the store. Although she was lovely, she was very young, and he was no longer interested in teenage girls.

He walked over, ordered a serving of fried rice cake with meat, and found himself a seat.

In Jiangcheng, there were countless stores like this. Though they may not look flashy, they could still make several thousand each month. Besides, many great delicacies came from stores like this.

"Hey, Hero Luo!"

Just then, he heard a sweet voice call his name.

Xiao Luo detected a light fragrance in the air. Soon after, An Huanhuan was seated directly across from him.

Boasting fair and clear skin, exquisite facial features, and black, silky hair, she had an upbeat grin on her face and came off as cute and tiny. White stud earrings adorned her earlobes.

"Hero Luo, I can't believe you're eating here!" An Huanhuan exclaimed with a smile.

Xiao Luo didn't find it humorous in the slightest. He thought to himself: Why wouldn't I eat here?

But instead, he said: "An Huanhuan, do you need something?"

"Actually, yes. Have you forgotten, Hero Luo? You once promised me something," An Huanhuan replied, nodding her head.

"I did? What did I promise you?" Xiao Luo said, his eyebrows furrowing.

An Huanhuan pouted her lips in disappointment and responded, "Didn't you promise to teach me Kungfu back when we were behind the school mountain?"

Oh, so that's what she was referring to!

Xiao Luo had a vague recollection of this. He had casually mentioned it back then without being serious, so he had eventually forgotten all about it.

With an awkward smile, he said, "I'm sorry, I've been so busy lately that I completely forgot about it."

"It's alright. As long as Hero Luo is willing to teach me, then I'm fine."

An Huanhuan put on her most adorable smile. Just like an elf without any worries, she forgot all her troubles in an instant. "It's like they say, 'there's no time like the present.' Right, Hero Luo? Why don't you teach me now?"

Xiao Luo furrowed his brow again and answered, "I have yet to eat my dinner. Why don't I teach you after I eat?"

"You can pack the food to go and teach me while you eat! Hehe..."

An Huanhuan approached the lady boss and packed Xiao Luo's fried rice cake into a white takeout box before paying for the food.

Xiao Luo couldn't reject her and stood up from his seat. An Huanhuan held his hand as if there were no distinction between men and women, and she led him to the school's rubber field.

"Cough, cough. An Huanhuan..."

"What's up?"

"Can you let go of my hand?" Xiao Luo asked. He wasn't used to having a girl dragging him around. 𝒍𝙞𝙗𝓻𝙚𝒂𝓭.𝒄𝙤𝙢

An Huanhuan giggled playfully and said, "Hero Luo, you're so coy! Holding hands won't get me pregnant. Don't let it bother you."

Xiao Luo could say nothing in return.

When they arrived at the rubber field, An Huanhuan exclaimed with much excitement, asking, "Hero Luo, what should I do?"

"Run two laps for a start."

Xiao Luo found himself a stone stool, sat down, and began to open his fast-food box.

"Ah? Run two laps? Around the field?" An Huanhuan's face turned pale.

"Yes. You can't master Kungfu in a day. You first have to build up your stamina before you can start learning. If you've ever watched those special forces shows on TV, you would know that to master a skill, you first have to go through hellish training," Xiao Luo replied as he bit into his piping hot fried rice cake.

An Huanhuan rolled her black pearl-like eyes and asked, "Hero Luo, do you have any skills that would allow us to dual cultivate? Shall we dual cultivate?"

After saying that, her face flushed as red as a completely ripened apple.

Dual cultivation?

"Cough! Cough, cough..."

Xiao Luo choked on his food and began to cough. It was not like he was a nerd or shut-in who only read the Holy Bible. Even if he didn't know about it first-had, Zhang Dashan had imparted so much knowledge concerning boy and girl relationships, and he knew what 'dual cultivation' meant. It was not merely sex, but the unification of Yin and Yang to achieve a perfect sense of harmony.

"Hero Luo, are you okay?"

An Huanhuan saw him coughing really badly and started to pat his back.

Xiao Luo raised his hands and tried to stop her. "An Huanhuan, just what are you trying to achieve? Have you watched too many martial art dramas?"

"Didn't I already say that I wanted Hero Luo to be my boyfriend?" An Huanhuan responded innocently.

"Then I'll say this now, once and for all: we're not suited for each another," Xiao Luo replied in a serious tone as he put his food down.

"Why? Is it because I talked to Song Jianan, so you—"

"Stop imagining things. To you university students, dating is normal and almost part of the curriculum. I'm not looking down on you," Xiao Luo interrupted. "You guys and me, we just come from two different worlds. It is unavoidable that we had to cross paths, but I'm just passing through your world and will leave really soon. That's why I don't want you to see me as a potential partner. You still have a long road ahead of you."

"What, Hero Luo, you...you are going to leave?" An Huanhuan asked. The smile had left her face, and her body was in shock.

Chapter 85

Since An Huanhuan was already aware of his real identity, there was no need for Xiao Luo to hide from her any longer. He nodded and replied, "Of course I will leave. Anyway, I'm not really here at Huaye to study."

"Everyone treats you like you're a part of our class. If you leave, then we will all be very sad," An Huanhuan replied, teary-eyed. She had really invested in her feelings for this guy, so when she heard that he was going to leave, her heart began to feel really uncomfortable.

Xiao Luo shook his head and said, "We all have our own roads to travel. It's not that we can't meet up anymore. If fate wills it, our path will cross again at..."

"No!" An Huanhuan exclaimed. All of a sudden, she jumped up, pounced on him, and hugged him very tightly.

She did this so suddenly that no one could have predicted it.

Faced with the girl's unexpected embrace, Xiao Luo was confused. He could not help but notice the subtle fragrance in the air as An Huanhuan began sobbing in his arms.

"Hero Luo, I don't want you to leave. I really like you!"

An Huanhuan sobbed as she spoke. She could no longer control her feelings or hold them in. There was no explaining it; she just liked Xiao Luo. It didn't matter if her actions came off as childish or immature. Anyway, wasn't this how people grew?

Xiao Luo tried to force a smile. He didn't hug her. Instead, he tapped her on the back and gently consoled her.

Young, beautiful, petite, and cute. For most guys, if such a girl took the initiative to hug them, it would hard to imagine that they would not be interested in her too. However, Xiao Luo had not come to Huaye to fall in love with university girls, but to complete the mission at hand. To think of anything else would be a violation of his own principles.

Three days passed, and no police had come looking for Xiao Luo. He felt enormously relieved. It seemed that Chu Yue had kept her word and not betrayed him.

Chu Yunxiong called specifically to thank him and, at the same time, pay the one million, which remained outstanding of his fee, straight into his bank account.

During his conversation with Chu Yunxiong, Xiao Luo realized that the Red Scorpion mercenaries had been annihilated. He found out that Gu Qianlin had brought a few thousand SWAT officers and police to engage with them over two days and two nights. This had resulted in the deaths of five of the SWAT team members, with twenty-six of them suffering severe injuries. Only then had they been able to kill off the remaining six members of the Red Scorpion Mercenaries at Wild Boar Ridge. In the end, the leader of the Red Scorpion Mercenaries had leaped off a vast cliff. His chances of survival were extremely low.

Additionally, Chu Yunxiong's business rival had declared bankruptcy and been sent to jail. This meant Xiao Luo would be able to drop out of Huayue earlier than expected, and the mission to protect Chu Yue could be considered complete.

Or, could it already be considered complete?

Xiao Luo didn't feel that this was real but heaved a sigh of relief anyway because he would no longer have to attend classes.

"Xiao Luo, thank you so much. It is thanks to your help that my little girl came back to me safely," Chu Yunxiong said, expressing his gratefulness once again. Calling on Xiao Luo's help had unquestionably helped draw them closer together.

"Don't mention it, Mr. Chu. It's my job," Xiao Luo answered him politely.

Chu Yunxiong admired Xiao Luo even more after this. This young man had not taken advantage of the opportunity to get closer to him, and his attitude was humble—a real rarity among young people.

"Xiao Luo, my chauffeur will pick you up tomorrow. We will talk again then."

"I am so sorry, Mr. Chu, but I have some things to attend to tomorrow. I do not have time to meet with you," Xiao Luo declined Chu Yunxiong's invitation for a chat.

He could already feel that Chu Yunxiong was hoping to involve him in some ongoing plans. However, Xiao Luo no longer wanted to be governed by anyone else. Now that he had the start-up capital of one million, he intended to launch his own ventures, even if he had yet to draw up any concrete plans.

"Xiao Luo, you remind me of myself when I was a young man. I know what you are thinking, so just come along and see what I have to say. I will not disappoint you," Chu Yunxiong pressed with a smile.

Chu Yunxiong was implying something, and Xiao Luo could not blatantly decline him, so he replied, "Fine. I'll think about it!"

"You must come. Trust me. I will provide you with the challenge you want as well as more space for you to express yourself," Chu Yunxiong said.

Xiao Luo responded with a non-response and hung up the phone.

Challenge! Space!

It was obvious that Chu Yunxiong was hinting at something specific, but Xiao Luo could not figure out what it was. It was as if there were a thinly veiled sheet of paper separating him from a room. In the candlelight, only the room's blurry image could be seen. That is to say, Xiao Luo already knew what it was that Chu Yunxiong wanted, but he had yet to understand it completely. The not knowing gave him a real itch, and he knew that he simply had to check it out.

"Does he really know what I'm thinking?" Xiao Luo wondered, mumbling to himself. He wanted nothing more than freedom without governance and a career that would challenge him.

"Forget it. I will go and check it out tomorrow!"

After making up his mind, he walked down the stairs. The English Department students were waiting for him to guide the choir. The competition was tomorrow.

They were still all gathered on the lawn behind the school, in the pavilion with the strong scent of books.

"Xiao Luo is here. Everyone, get into your positions!"

Once Huang Ruoran saw Xiao Luo, she shooed the girls chatting on the lawn and prompted them to stand in position at once.

The girls got into position quickly and welcomed Xiao Luo with smiles.

When Xiao Luo had first said that they were going to defeat the Measurement and Control Department, the girls had seriously doubted him. However, over the past few days, under Xiao Luo's guidance, their singing standards had improved dramatically. Just yesterday, when Qiu Liang from the Measurement and Control Department had heard them singing 'Yellow River' only once, he'd gone into shock. They had completely changed their singing technique.

After hearing the girls sing, Qiu Liang had asked the team leader from the Measurement and Control Department, Zhao Shijie, to request a cancelation of the bets that they had placed. Just hearing about this gave the girls a huge confidence boost accompanied by a wave of relief.

It could now be said Xiao Luo commanded almost as much respect in their class as Huang Ruoran.

"Brother Luo, my dearest Brother Luo, what took you so long? Everyone has been waiting for you for half a day already," Zhu Xiaofei complained.

Immediately, the girls in the class began to roast him. 𝘭𝒾𝑏𝑟𝑒𝒶𝒹.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Hero Luo can arrive whenever he pleases! It's none of your business, you stupid pig!"

"Exactly, this stupid pig is just here to give Hero Luo attitude."

"This stupid pig is so rude. So, so rude."

...

Zhu Xiaofei looked so bad in front of the girls that he may as well have just eaten feces. All he had done was voice a small complaint, so how had he angered this entire group of girls?

Ding Kai glanced at him and said, "Don't look at me! Who the f*ck knows what's happening in your brain. Out of everybody here, you choose to whine about Brother Luo. You can't blame anyone for your own stupidity and foolishness."

"Kaizi, don't you feel like that's a bit unfair? After all, the three of us are considered the class' national treasures. So, why is there such a vast difference in the way we are all treated?" Zhu Xiaofei lamented.

Ding Kai chuckled proudly and said, "Hehe! It's all thanks to Brother Luo that I'm also on Huaye's forum's hot searches list. Recently, I managed to win the heart of this junior I've been crushing on. Since last time, the difference between us has grown really huge."

What?!

Zhu Xiaofei opened his eyes in disbelief, and he was unable to believe what he had just heard. He and Ding Kai, as the skinny and fat ones, had been given the joint title of "Ugly Duo" in the English Faculty. So long as everybody was single together, everything was fine. But what was happening now? Ding Kai had a girlfriend, and yet Zhu Xiaofei didn't. The amount of pain Zhu Xiaofei felt was unbearable.

It was really a lot of misery!

Chapter 86

"Sorry, I'm late. I had to pick up a call."

Xiao Luo walked over and apologized to the crowd that had gathered. He was very apologetic because the entire class had been waiting for him for more than ten minutes.

"It's okay, Hero Luo. We don't have anything to do, anyway. Once in a while, it's good to breathe the fresh air here at the back of the mountain. Besides, idle chit-chat isn't a bad way to spend some time, either."

"Exactly. Just ignore what the stupid pig said. He will make trouble with you even if there isn't any, just like those celebrities on the internet with ulterior motives."

"No matter how late Hero Luo shows up, we're all always willing to wait for him. Hehe..."

The girls from the English Department had spoken. It was clear they did not care whether or not Xiao Luo wasted their time.

Compared to the rest of the girls, An Huanhuan, who had just learned about Xiao Luo's imminent departure, had fallen quiet. She was not as lively as usual.

As for Chu Yue, who had only recently returned to class, her attitude toward Xiao Luo had also shifted drastically. Ever since she'd last seen Xiao Luo a few days ago and received that shock, when she saw him now, her uneasy heart felt settled. Xiao Luo provided her with an infinite sense of security.

"The black outfit on Pretentious D*ck makes him look so handsome!" whispered Chu Yue under her breath as she took out the lollipop from her mouth. 𝓵𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙚𝒂𝙙.𝓬𝒐𝒎

She was dressed in a white pleated dress. Her short, jet-black hair rested neatly on her shoulders. Her delicate face was eggshell white, and her eyes bloomed like flowers. With her sharp nose and slightly red-tinted lips, her charm could cause a person's heart to shudder.

"Ah?"

When Bai Ling, who was next to Chu Yue, heard this, her pretty face suddenly revealed a stunned expression. It was hard for her to accept that she'd just heard Chu Yue sing Xiao Luo's praises. She asked, "Young Mistress Chu, did you just say that Xiao Luo is handsome?"

"When did I ever say that Xiao Luo is handsome? You must be hallucinating."

Chu Yue did not dare look directly in Bai Ling's eyes because she had a guilty conscience. To cover up her uneasiness, she deliberately put the lollipop back into her mouth.

Hallucinations? Could it be?

Bai Ling began to doubt her own ears. After all, to hear something like 'Xiao Luo is very handsome' come out of Chu Yue's mouth would be entirely out of the ordinary.

"Quiet down, everyone. Let's listen to Xiao Luo!" Huang Ruoran commanded suddenly, quieting the girls down.

Xiao Luo coughed and took one step forward, saying, "Actually, I don't have much to teach you. If everyone just performs as per usual tomorrow, it will be enough."

"Hero Luo, Qiu Liang from the Measurement and Control Department will surely have to run around naked! We definitely sing better than their class now," said one girl confidently.

"Confidence is a good thing. Keep it up!" Xiao Luo said, chuckling lightly.

After that, the choir practiced as usual. They sang the song 'Yellow River' five or six times. Once they'd done an excellent job every time, Xiao Luo dismissed them. What they'd accomplished was sufficient, and there was no longer a need for practice. All they had to do was wait for tomorrow's competition to start.

"Pretentious D*ck!" Chu Yue called out, stopping Xiao Luo just as he was about to leave.

"Do you need anything?" Xiao Luo said, stopping and turning to look at her.

"This is for you!"

Chu Yue stuffed a box of imported lollipops into Xiao Luo's arms. Then, like a frightened bunny, she panicked and shyly pulled Bai Ling away, blushing. She turned back to glance in Xiao Luo's direction while leaving, and she noticed tension and anxiety that she could not express.

"Whoa! What's up with that situation?"

Zhu Xiaofei was stunned and came over, glancing at the lollipops in Xiao Luo's hands. "Sweet Caroline Vampire Loving Lollipop from America! Each box costs 999. The fact that Princess Yue gave you something like that means that she likes you. Brother Luo, my dear Brother Luo, you have somehow quietly managed to capture the heart of Huaye's campus belle. If news of this spreads, do you know how many boys at Huaye will be heartbroken?"

Ding Kai was also shocked and unable to put his reaction into words. "There is such a big gap in our popularity now that I don't think I can even see Brother Luo's back from where I stand!"

He'd initially thought that pairing up with the junior he had admired for a long time was awesome. However, now Xiao Luo was even more impressive. He had decided straightaway on the most unattainable activity at Huaye, and that was the pursuit of Chu Yue, who had rejected no less than fifty boys. Ding Kai had been completely eclipsed.

Xiao Luo was unable to respond. He was also left speechless by Chu Yue's actions. If she had wanted to thank him, she could have simply given him some money. Instead, she had given him a box of lollipops. Was a big guy like him expected to eat lollipops like a little kid when he had nothing better to do?

At the same time, Bai Ling was shocked and dumbfounded. She couldn't believe that Chu Yue had given that box of lollipops to Xiao Luo.

"Young Mistress Chu, what's wrong with you?" she asked, suspecting that Chu Yue had come down with some sort of sickness.

"Nothing. What could possibly have happened to me?" Chu Yue replied.

"You gave Xiao Luo the lollipops that even you can't bear to eat!"

"What's the matter? It's just a box of lollipops, and they aren't worth that much. I can just buy them again. It's hard for Pretentious D*ck to conduct and direct our class choir, and I just wanted to give him a little reward," Chu Yue replied. Her mouth curled up slightly, and it was hard for her to act like she didn't care.

A form of reward?

Oh my god! What was wrong? What was happening?

Bai Ling couldn't figure out what was behind this change in Chu Yue. It was too sudden and completely unexpected.

On Saturday evening at 7 o'clock, the choir competition officially kicked off.

The competition venue was Huaye's grand auditorium. Brilliant spotlights shone on the exquisite stage, making it seem like it was daytime. Beyond the stage, the seats were filled with students. In the first row sat a judging panel comprised of teachers, and the entire auditorium was packed. At least a thousand people had gathered.

One professional after another walked onto the stage and stood in line for their turn in the choral performance. Loud, orderly singing echoing in the magnificent grand hall.

Meanwhile, the English Department choir was in a hurry. Everyone was there except for the most important person—Xiao Luo.

"Zhu Xiaofei, where is Xiao Luo? Where did he go?" Huang Ruoran asked anxiously.

Zhu Xiaofei shook his head and answered, "I don't know. I just saw him here. Did he go to the bathroom? Should I go look for him in the bathroom?"

"There's no time left. We are up next," Huang Ruoran said.

Zhu Xiaofei said, "What should we do?"

Huang Ruoran's eyebrows were almost entirely knitted together. After thinking for a while, she gritted her teeth and made up her mind. "We have to forget about him!"

"But what will we do without Pretentious D*ck?" Chu Yue said.

"We have to make it work even if it doesn't," Huang Ruoran replied stalwartly. It was too late for them to mess around or panic. Otherwise, they would definitely sing abnormally on stage. Huang Ruoran told everyone, "It doesn't matter if Xiao Luo is here or not. Just sing well, like we've been practicing all this time."

The girls nodded. This competition was not just about class honor, but also about the bet between Xiao Luo and Qiu Liang. They had to sing well.

"English Department! Where is the English Department?" Just then, a teacher approached from backstage and shouted loudly for the English majors.

"We are here," Huang Ruoran said, raising her hand high.

The teacher beckoned, saying, "It's your turn. Come in and prepare."

"Alright."

Huang Ruoran took a deep breath and calmed herself down. She said, "Everyone, let's work hard and sing well together. Let's go!"

Chapter 87

In the auditorium, the stage lights were bright. Compared to the stage itself, the light shining on the audience was much dimmer.

Xiao Luo sat in an inconspicuous spot in the auditorium. He would leave Huaye tonight, but before he did, he wanted to appreciate the English Department choir's performance. After all, he had been the one directing them.

"A group of girls actually chose to sing 'Yellow River.' In my opinion, they will undoubtedly sing badly. There is no way a group of girls can capture the essence of that song!"

"I think so too. I am afraid that the English Department will be taking last place!"

Two boys seated next to him whispered. They were engaged in a discussion on the English Department's upcoming performance.

Xiao Luo couldn't hold back and declared, "The essence of the song is not merely screaming it out from the throat. Many revolutionary songs were first sung by women. They can still convey the essence and flavor of the music. There is no such thing as a song that is unsuitable for singing. There are only people who do not know the proper singing technique."

The two boys looked at him and playfully smirked.

"Brother, it seems like you know music very well. Are you from the Music Department?"

"No."

"In that case, are you an amateur and a member of the Music Hobbyists Association?"

"That's not it, either. I'm just a passerby."

Hearing this, the smirks on their faces widened.

"You are not a student from the Music Department, nor are you a member of any literature or arts societies. What qualifications do you have to be commenting?"

"You're just an outsider pretending to be a maestro."

Xiao Luo was not annoyed by this. Instead, he kept a faint smile on his face and replied with one sentence, "Because I am the director o the English Department choir."

The two boys were shocked by this. But just then, the student announcer appeared on stage from behind the curtains. Smiling and holding a microphone, he announced, "Next up, please enjoy the song 'Yellow River' from the choir of the English Department's 16th cohort. They'll be conducted by Huang Ruoran with a recitation by Chu Yue!"

The big red curtain slowly drew open and revealed the familiar faces of English majors. Everyone brimmed with energy and smiles. They stood in the formation based on the adjustments that Xiao Luo had made.

Wearing a formal suit and high heels, Huang Ruoran came out from backstage and bowed deeply to the audience. She then turned to face her classmates. At that moment, the accompaniment for 'Yellow River' flowed gently like a mountain stream.

Chu Yue was in the middle of the formation. When the accompaniment began, she recited loudly: "Yellow River, a long, endless historical river. Yellow River, the mother river of the Descendants of the Fiery and Yellow Emperor. Hua Nation's 1.3 billion sons and daughters are nestled in your heart, and your blood is connected to a land of 6.6 million.

"From the snowy mountains and grasslands to the Dadu River, we look back at history with a solemn song. Beginning with the Japanese invaders and a rain of bullets, we use our voices to fight bravely. We are united as the descendants of the dragon, defending our hometown, the Yellow River, and our great Motherland!"

This simple recitation brought out a burning passion in the audience and aroused emotions thanks to its tenacity and strong imagery. It was as if the audience could see the revolutionary soldiers fighting. They were witnessing the very rise of Hua Nation.

Xiao Luo let out a satisfied smile. Chu Yue was indeed a suitable narrator.

Huang Ruoran started conducting with both hands, and the distinct, tidy voices began to sound.

"The wind is howling, the horses are shouting, the Yellow River roars..."

At first, it sounded like a wild horse was galloping across a vast grassland, followed by many horses, and finally a large group. Soon, many as tens of thousands of horses were running alongside the flowing Yellow River. With their voices complemented by the musical accompaniment, the intense collision of treble and bass made the audience feel like they were watching the rolling waves.

The two boys who had initially doubted the English Department were stunned, along with the whole audience. They had never heard such a powerful chorus. Wave after wave of sound shocked everyone's eardrums.

By the middle of the song, the melody suddenly pulled up like a peal of thunder. It was a gorgeous musical banquet that fed everyone's minds. The original accompaniment was like a bay of fine water that had long since become a vast river. It was unstoppable and rapidly rushing forward.

The performance was unbelievable and downright incredible!

When the song was over, Huang Ruoran turned to the audience to bow and thank them. It was so quiet that the sound of a needle falling on the ground could have been heard in the large auditorium. More than a thousand people simply stared, dumbfounded, at the stage. The surging notes still lingered in their ears, and the after tones continued to reverberate and inspire their souls.

The girls from the English Department looked at each other. They were nervous for a minute, as they had no idea what was going on with the audience. Had they sung that badly?

"Clap...clap, clap, clap..."

At that moment, the teacher judges sitting in the center of the first row stood up and became the first to applause, breaking the odd silence. Following them, the other judges and students stood up and applauded. The crowd was passionate, and friendly applause swept over the audience like a storm.

Everyone expressed their strong recognition of the English Department choir with intense applause and cheers.

Up until then, the teachers had not judged any class' choral performance with high praise. It was not until the English Department choir took to the stage and performed their vigorous recitation that everyone was conquered by waves of passionate singing.

"It is simply incredible that a group of girls can sing 'Yellow River' so well!"

"Yeah, full of essence and emotion. Their singing style made me feel like I was listening to a wave!"

The two boys who had doubted the girls were amazed. They looked over casually at Xiao Luo's seat only to find that it was now empty. They had no idea when he had left.

Of course, with joy also came sorrow. Qiu Liang, a professional musician from the Measurement and Control Department, was ashamed. He was quite sure that they had lost. From the opening recitation to the conducting of the English Department's choir, the girls' overall singing ability was much better than his Department's. According to the bet they'd struck, he was going to have to strip naked and streak around campus.

Just then, Xiao Luo was dragging his suitcase and walking slowly on to the school's main road.

He left as quietly as he'd arrived, waving his sleeves and not leaving anything behind. He had no regrets. At least he was leaving with something, for he firmly believed that the English Department choir would wine first place.

But in his heart, he felt a little reluctant about this parting and had mixed feelings.

He would be leaving behind the sloppy and miserly Zhu Xiaofei as well as Ding Kai, who was not good at talking and skinny as a monkey. There were also the overpowering Huang Ruoran, petite and lovely An Huanhuan, and unruly Chu Yue. From there, the list went on...

The days he'd spent at Hua Ye had been bittersweet. He couldn't leave without any shred of feeling. 𝑙𝘪𝒷𝓇𝑒𝑎𝑑.𝘤𝑜𝑚

However, all this emotion would be diluted in time. He still had things to do, and Zhu Xiaofei and the gang also had their rose-colored student lives to lead.

At the school gate, a black Bentley rolled up and idled.

"Mr. Xiao?" asked the driver, respectfully.

Xiao Luo nodded and replied, "Hello."

The driver opened the door and said. "The Boss has been waiting for you at the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion Hotel for a long time. Please, get in the car."

"Thank you for your trouble."

Xiao Luo looked back at Huaye once more before climbing into the car.

Chapter 88

Outside the car window lay the familiar scene of Jiangcheng at night. Xiao Luo relaxed in the backseat and silently admired the nightscape. His eyes were sullen and filled with sadness. Nevertheless, at the same time, he was looking past the sorrow and boldly getting ready to face new challenges.

His journey at Huaye had ended, and a new one was about to begin!

Once he'd checked his longing for Zhu Xiaofei and his other friends, Xiao Luo realized that he was now looking forward to the future. Like a martial arts master returning home from training, he was excited about showing off his skills and building a dynamic career.

Meanwhile, back at Huaye, the girls from the English Department were all flustered. They were giddy like ants on a hotpot.

"I can't get through! Xiao Luo's phone is switched off!" Zhu Xiaofei frowned as he took his headphones out of his ears.

What was going on?

Everyone was puzzled. Why had Xiao Luo decided to go missing for no good reason? Even more strange, he'd vanished during the choir's performance.

"Have you tried contacting him on WeChat or QQ?" Chu Yue asked in a hurry.

With his hands spread wide, Zhu Xiaofei replied, "I tried reaching out, but there was no reply."

"Don't tell me that something's happened to him?" Wang Lingling speculated.

"Don't jinx him!"

"Hero Luo is so formidable. Nothing bad will happen to him!"

"That's exactly right. Can't you think more positively, Wang Lingling?"

Many of the girls began criticizing Wang Lingling. But after a short bout of critical venting, the inevitable question of where Hero Luo had gone was right back on the table.

Huang Ruoran said to Zhu Xiaofei, "Why don't you head to our dorm and see if Xiao Luo is there?"

Zhu Xiaofei nodded. Just as he was about to head to their dorm, An Huanhuan, who had stayed silent this entire time, suddenly spoke up with swollen red eyes. "Don't bother," she said. "I'm sure Hero Luo has left already."

Left?

To everyone else, these words felt like a massive bomb had just exploded. They all turned around and looked at An Huanhuan.

An Huanhuan lifted her head, bit her lip, and explained, "Hero Luo is different from us. He's not a student, and the only reason he came to our school was to protect Princess Yue."

What...

Everyone widened their eyes in disbelief. They were astonished by what An Huanhuan had just said. Not a student? If he was only here to protect Chu Yue, did that make Xiao Luo a bodyguard?

Thinking about how Xiao Luo had singlehandedly managed the incident at the club, it seemed as if An Huanhuan had not fabricated this story. It was all true.

One girl, who greatly admired Xiao Luo, walked to the front and eagerly questioned Chu Yue, "Princess Yue, is it true what Huanhuan said?"

However, Chu Yue's mind drew a blank.

Left? Did he really leave just like that?

It felt like her soul had been extracted from her body. She felt empty inside and couldn't explain this mood that had overcome her. She had yet to express her gratitude toward Xiao Luo, so why had he left? And so suddenly, at that?

"That's impossible, An Huanhuan. Can't you stop fooling around?" Zhu Xiaofei said. He couldn't accept the reality that Xiao Luo had already left.

"I wish I were joking, but it's the truth. Hero Luo told me himself." Tears began streaming down An Huanhuan's cheeks as she could no longer hold back her feelings.

"Man, I refuse to believe it!"

Zhu Xiaofei turned around and ran to the bedroom. He refused to believe that Xiao Luo would leave without so much as a word or that Xiao Luo was just Chu Yue's bodyguard.

"Lao Zhu!" Ding Kai exclaimed, following him.

Huang Ruoran raised her head and looked toward the pitch-black sky. She stretched out her hands, and rainwater dripped on her palms, tickling her like goose feathers. "It's raining."

The silent drizzle was like a bunch of elves descending lightly and slowly from the sky.

At that moment, the English majors' hearts were extremely heavy.

A teacher walked out of the auditorium with considerable excitement on her face and announced to the English Department: "The assessment results are out, and the English Department came in first place in the choir competition!"

First place?

Before, this would have been a triumph worth celebrating. After all, everyone had put in a lot of hard work to achieve this victory. However, the glory had since lost its value because of Xiao Luo's departure. Everything would have been perfect if only Xiao Luo had been there to celebrate this achievement with them.

"Jerk!" Chu Yue said, swearing as she ran past the crowd to leave the school compound.

"Young Mistress Chu, what are you doing?" Bai Ling asked anxiously.

"I'm going to get that jerk back!"

Chu Yue ran with all her strength. She wanted to get Xiao Luo back, no matter what it took. This glory had to be shared with Xiao Luo, even if it was only for a minute or just a second. How could he leave without saying anything? Why was he so arrogant?

That teacher was bewildered and thought to herself: What's wrong with the students in the English Department? They won first place, so why do none of them look happy?

At that moment, everyone's phones lit up with a notification.

Looking at their screens, they all saw a message from Xiao Luo. He had included everyone in the choir.

"I think I should congratulate all of you. Your performance on stage was incredible. I believe that you will all achieve a good result. I'm sure Huanhuan has probably already told you this, but I'm not like you. I'm not a student. I'm just a bodyguard. I've now accomplished my mission, so it is time for me to leave. Life is like a journey, and although we all have our own individual pursuits, distance won't wash away our friendship. Everyone, farewell!"

"Hero Luo..."

Girls are sensitive creatures. After reading Xiao Luo's scheduled message, many of them began to weep.

Huang Ruoran was no exception. Although her eyes were red, she managed to hold back her tears.

"What's wrong with all of you? You guys took first place!" exclaimed the confused teacher, furrowing her brow. She had a thousand questions in her head. For the life of her, she couldn't work out why these students were crying.

"We won first place, so we are happy. So happy that we're crying. Huhuhu..." An Huanhuan said, giving the first excuse she could think off before she too started bawling.

Following her lead, the other girls couldn't help but sob either.

The teacher was astonished and thought: Oh, what the heck. Don't tell me it's now a trend for kids to start crying when they're happy?

Meanwhile, at the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion Hotel, in an antique-looking private room, Xiao Luo and Chu Yunxiong sat in front of a big table. The table was covered with various delicacies and wine.

Chu Yunxiong's personal bodyguards, Leng Zuo and Leng You, were also inside the private room. They put on cold expressions, and their bodies emanated swift, fierce auras. Neither of them was happy with Xiao Luo's behavior because he had sat in the senior seat as soon as he had arrived. Furthermore, he had completely ignored the fact that Boss Chu was present and had started rudely feasting on the food.

However, to Chu Yunxiong, Xiao Luo's actions came off as unpretentious. They were admittedly preferable to the impeccable manners of many hypocrites.

"I'm full!"

Xiao Luo put down his bowl and chopsticks, took out a napkin, and wiped his mouth. His face was filled with satisfaction.

"Xiao Luo, do you know what seat you are sitting in right now, according to manner and custom?" Chu Yunxiong asked, looking at him with a smile.

"I don't know."

Xiao Luo shook his head, after which he laughed hollowly and said, "Don't tell me that this is the senior seat?"

Although Xiao Luo did not know precisely what each seat represented, coming from the countryside, he had some rough general knowledge. He knew that it was permitted to sit in any place except for the senior seat. That exquisite seat was reserved for respectable people or seniors, so it would be rude to occupy it without an express invitation.

Chu Yunxiong nodded without saying another word.

Chapter 89

This was really awkward! Out of all the places where he could have sat, he just had to take the senior seat.

No matter how unshakable Xiao Luo's confidence was, now, he couldn't stop fidgeting.

Just when he was about to change his position, Chu Yunxiong waved his hands and stopped him. He said, "It's just the two of us now, so it doesn't matter who takes which seat."

Xiao Luo let out a few dry coughs to calm himself down, then said, "What is the reason for our meeting this time, Mr. Chu?"

He just wanted to be straightforward and not overly polite with Chu Yunxiong.

Chu Yunxiong seemed to have anticipated this question. He smiled and answered, "Well, I recently bought a company. It just so happens that I lack a suitable person in a certain position, would you be interested?"

Xiao Luo's eyes brightened up and asked, "What company is this?"

This could be a great opportunity. At the very least, he wouldn't have to start over from scratch or climb his way up from the bottom. Most importantly, although he intended to show off and build a stable career, he had not yet made any concrete plans.

"Luo's Workshop!"

"Luo's Workshop? The company that makes bread and pastries in Jiangcheng?"

Xiao Luo was shocked. Having hung around Jiangcheng for so many years, it was only natural that he should know of Luo's Workshop. The company had more than 70 franchised bakeries that sold bread and pastries all over Jiangcheng. His ex-girlfriend, Zhao Mengqi, loved the cakes. As a result, he'd often frequented Luo's Workshop.

Chu Yunxiong nodded and said, "That's right. That's the shop. There's even 'Luo' in the name. It seems fated for you."

"But I vaguely remember that the family name of Luo's Workshop's boss was 'Fang.'"

"Yup, Fang Changmiao!"

Chu Yunxiong picked up his cup of tea, took a sip, and calmly said, "Around six months ago, Luo's Workshop experienced an incident regarding food safety. You know about this, right?"

"I vaguely recall something about an old person who ate a piece of bread and died inside one of the bakeries. The media even did an exposé about it," Xiao Luo replied.

Chu Yunxiong reluctantly answered, "As a food company, food safety and word-of-mouth are critical. The old person dying in front of the bakery caused word-of-mouth to turn negative almost immediately. They lost a large number of customers. In just half a year, Fang Changmiao, a CEO who had been worth 200 million, became an indebted pauper who owed 10 million." Chu Yunxiong sighed, before continuing, "The business world is just like a battlefield. Many can become rich and popular, but the next minute, they can face defeats so crushing that they don't even know where their next meal will come from. It's cruel and insulting."

"Since you've taken over Luo's Workshop, why don't you just let Fang Changmiao continue to manage the company? Isn't he a better fit than someone like me who doesn't have much experience?"

Chu Yunxiong shook his head, stretched out his fingers, and pointed. "There are two reasons why Fang Changmiao was not chosen. Firstly, from what I understand about him, he is not a reliable person. He's likely to burn bridges and cause a lot of speculation. Naturally, I wouldn't have spent so much money to acquire the company only to give it straight back into his hands."

Stretching out his second finger, he continued, "The second reason, which is also the most important, is that customers subconsciously blame the boss for Luo Workshop's food safety issues. Only by changing the boss can the customers change their attitude and try to trust Luo's Workshop again."

Xiao Luo nodded. Chu Yunxiong had unknowingly voiced a point with which he agreed. When the incident at Luo's Workshop had occurred, even Xiao Luo had blamed the boss, so it was natural that other people would too. If they changed the CEO, although Luo's Workshop would essentially remain the same, to the customers, the company would appear to have changed and evolved. Of course, if the food progressed as well, then customers would certainly give Luo's Workshop another chance.

"Xiao Luo, I've already told you that I trust you. So, the responsibility of Luo's Workshop will fall on you. You will take over!" Chu Yunxiong said, grinning.

Xiao Luo shook his head and refused, "Mr. Chu, although this sounds like a pretty good offer, I wish to start my own career."

A job and a career were two very different concepts. The former was bound by the boss, whereas in the latter scenario, a person was their own boss.

Chu Yunxiong laughed and said, "Outsiders often comment that my eyes are very good at spotting gems, just like Monkey Sun's fiery eyes. Well, they're not wrong. I do agree that I'm a pretty accurate judge of character. Your carefree and confident attitude is not something often seen in regular people. You're young, and you have your own ideas and persistence. I really think quite highly of you."

Xiao Luo remained silent. Big bosses had their ways around things. After talking so much, they were able to make people feel like they were in the clouds while still keeping their intentions hidden.

"As I said earlier, and I'm sure I've told you before, I will give you the challenge and freedom you want. You won't be reporting to me. If you accept this offer for Luo's Workshop, you will become the company's official owner," Chu Yunxiong said.

Luo's Workshop's official owner?

Xiao Luo's heart fluttered slightly, and he glanced quickly at Chu Yunxiong, waiting for the businessman's next move.

"I'm only in charge of salary matters. You'll just need to give me 20% of the total profit every year, and that's enough," Chu Yunxiong said, looking at Xiao Luo and smiling.

"Mr. Chu, then that would make you no different from a shareholder. You singlehandedly took over Luo's Workshop, and you..." Xiao Luo reminded Chu Yunxiong, although he clearly already knew this.

Chu Yunxiong waved and interrupted him, "I'm a businessman, but I'm also a father. You did a good job of protecting my daughter. As repayment, as long as it is within my means, I will try my best to support you. Luo's Workshop is my way of demonstrating my sincerity."

Xiao Luo finally understood what Zhang Dashan had meant. Once you were well-acquainted with Chu Yunxiong, your struggles for the next ten years would be severely lessened.

He then said, "I need some time to think about this!"

Of course, he would need to consider the proposition carefully. Chu Yunxiong had just pushed an enormous slice of cake his way, but he would need to consider whether he had the appetite to eat it. It would be very embarrassing if he could not swallow it.

"Alright. You have three days to consider my offer." 𝒍𝓲𝒃𝙧𝓮𝙖𝒅.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Chu Yunxiong was very generous and patient with Xiao Luo. "Once you agree, I will remit 10 million to Luo's Workshop as funds for subsequent operations. As for whether Luo's Workshop will be able to expand beyond Jiangcheng, that will depend on your ability."

Xiao Luo nodded to show that he was clear on the terms proposed.

After talking to Chu Yunxiong, Xiao Luo stood up and took his leave. As a huge player in the shopping mall sector, the fact that Chu Yunxiong looked so highly at him and had confidence in his abilities made Xiao Luo really grateful. He also sincerely admired Chu Yunxiong for being a self-made legend.

Sitting at the bottom of the steps, Xiao Luo watched the rain and frowned. He disliked rainy days, especially on days like this, which were a little bittersweet. He flagged down a taxi and headed for the house that he had rented for around five hundred and fifty per month.

Just as he was about to step into the taxi, Chu Yue emerged from her red BMW 3 Series.

Chu Yue saw Xiao Luo climbing to the taxi, so she rolled down her car window and shouted to him loudly, "Pretentious D*ck!"

Why is she here? Xiao Luo whispered to himself.

He pretended that he had not heard anything and shouted at the taxi driver, "Drive!"

Chapter 90

"Brother, that girl seems to be calling to you!" said the taxi driver as he turned back and pointed in Chu Yue's direction.

Xiao Luo shook his head and denied it. "You're mistaken," he said. "I have no idea who she is."

"Oh..."

The taxi driver nodded suspiciously and slowly started the car.

Xiao Luo put his elbow on the car door, clenched his fist, and used it to support his cheek. He stared indifferently out the window. The sound of the rain made it easier for him to calm down and think about things like the past, present, and future. This type of atmosphere generally slowed down the very pace of life itself.

"Stop! Stop the car now!" Chu Yue hissed a few times, but the taxi had no intention of stopping.

With the taillight on, it slowly drove away. Chu Yue stomped her foot angrily, slammed on the accelerator, and chased after the taxi.

Although the two cars' performance capabilities did not compare in the slightest, the taxi driver was skilled. Coupled with the fact there were fewer vehicles on the rainy road at night, the taxi moved as very fast. Chu Yue had to chase them for a while before she was finally able to catch up. She blared the horn to signal the driver to stop.

"This is..."

The taxi driver was very puzzled as he looked at the BMW 3 Series in the rearview mirror.

Just when he was about to park to the side, Xiao Luo took out a hundred dollars from his pocket and said to the taxi driver: "Lose the car behind us. If you do, then this money will be yours."

What the f*ck? What sort of situation was this? Why did it feel like they were filming a movie?

The driver couldn't help but mutter to himself underneath his breath. He was a fan of dramas and had watched various types of television series. The current situation seemed to him to be very similar to the plot of romance show that he had seen before.

He quickly recovered and, with a sour face, said, "I'm afraid that's not possible. This is an urban area, and the speed limit is forty. I'm already going seventy, which is the limit. Any faster, and I'll be fined if they catch me."

"Five hundred!"

Xiao Luo was too lazy to talk to the driver and took out an additional four hundred-dollar bills.

"Okay, brother!"

The driver immediately shifted into high gear and floored the accelerator. The engine roared to life, and the taxi's speedometer jumped from 70 to 100. The fine for speeding was three hundred, at most, and there was no need for any point deduction when paying via the mobile software. This way, the driver would still be able to earn a profit of two hundred. And if luck was on his side and he didn't end up photographed, then he would receive the full five-hundred profit. Driving with these benefits in mind, he had no reason to care about pointless traffic rules.

As she watched the distance between her and the taxi grow further and further, Chu Yue gritted her teeth and switched her vehicle to sports mode. The red BMW received a sudden injection of energy. Like a phantom, it caught up to the taxi.

It took her no more than two or three seconds to overtake the taxi. Then, gliding beautifully at a distance of 50 to 60 yards ahead of the cab, she suddenly parked her car vertically on the road.

"Ah!"

The driver was terrified and pulled the emergency brake. The roads were slippery on rainy days, and even with the anti-locking brake system, the car skidded. The drag of the tires left two black marks on the ground.

Fortunately, the two vehicles did not collide. The taxi stopped at a distance of five to six yards away from the red BMW. The driver was scared and broke out in a cold sweat.

Then, Chu Yue pushed open the door of her BMW and ran to the front of the taxi, shouting, "Come out, Pretentious D*ck!"

Pretentious D*ck?

Who was that? The guy in the backseat?

The driver was startled. In the rearview mirror, he observed Xiao Luo sitting in the backseat.

At that moment, Xiao Luo was depressed. The taxi driver pulled on his seatbelt. However, the emergency brake had not only affected the driver. Since Xiao Luo had not reacted in time either, he had whacked his forehead on the back of the front seat. Although there was no redness or swelling, his brow still felt hot and painful.

"Pretentious D*ck, get out here!"

Chu Yue was still shouting in the rain. She was not holding an umbrella, and the rain fell on her, thoroughly soaking her white school uniform. Her black lingerie was showing, and her clothes clung tightly to her white skin, showing off the outline of her perfect body.

Her black hair streaked across her face, which was soaked with raindrops. Anyone who saw her like this would feel heartache. 𝓁𝘪𝒷𝘳ℯ𝘢𝑑.𝒸𝘰𝑚

The door opened, and Xiao Luo expressionlessly got out of the car with an umbrella.

With the umbrella in one hand and his other hand in his pocket, he walked over to Chu Yue as elegantly as any proper gentleman. However, in his all-black outfit, a black shirt paired with black slacks, he gave off an evil aura.

"Pretentious D*ck..."

Seeing Xiao Luo, Chu Yue's face lit up with a smile. Ignoring the fact that she was drenched, she walked up to Xiao Luo and took him by the hands.

"Let's go," she entreated him. "Come back with me. Everyone is waiting for you."

She felt like she had just recovered a precious object. Her panicked heart had settled down slightly after seeing Xiao Luo.

However, Xiao Luo stood motionless, rooted to the spot. No matter how she pulled, he just didn't move his golden feet.

"Go back? Go back where? Huaye?" Xiao Luo asked. A mocking smile crossed his face.

"Didn't my dad send you to protect me?" Chu Yue looked at him, wide-eyed and startled. Her heart felt like it had been pierced with a knife.

"You are safe and no longer need my protection," Xiao Luo replied softly.

Chu Yue was utterly stunned. It was as if her soul had been snatched from her body in an instant. Her mind drew a blank. She didn't know what to say to get Xiao Luo to stay. She didn't even know why she had dropped everything to come here so desperately. Was it because this man had saved her from those demons?

No, that wasn't it. This was the first time that she'd fallen for a boy. But this boy was looking at her with an icy expression and talking to her coldly.

"I think you should go back. Go back to school," Xiao Luo said, persuading her. In order to completely erase the ripples in her heart, he kept his face cold as ice. "I have my own things to do. And you, as a student, have your own things to do too. Don't waste your time on an outsider like me!"

After he finished speaking, he turned around and left without showing her any sign of affection. Even if he felt a bit reluctant, he had to cut her off and start a new life.

However, Chu Yue reached out and grabbed his arm.

Sobbing and choking, she said, "Let's go back...together. I beg you, Pretentious D*ck. I was at fault in the past, and I should never have treated you the way I did. I know I'm in the wrong now. I apologize to you, so please don't leave. Don't leave us! Zhu Xiaofei, Ding Kai, and Huang Ruoran—they are all waiting for you..."

Chu Yue did not know what was wrong with her. She was usually so proud, so where was this unspeakable sadness and desperation coming from? This was not like her at all. She was crying in front of a boy! Was her delicate makeup already ruined? It was, and without it, her pale and powerless face was revealed.

Xiao Luo turned his head and looked at her wet clothes and messy hair, but there was no way to comfort her.

Chapter 91

Xiao Luo thought that he despised Chu Yue. But when it finally came time for him to leave, compared to the mixed emotions he felt around his departure in general, he realized that the little bit of hatred he harbored against her was actually insignificant.

Chu Yue was drenched by rain. When a gust of wind blew, her body shivered uncontrollably. She was like a flower amid a violent storm—pathetic, helpless, and pitiful. She, who should've been like the moon surrounded by a myriad of stars, was now a miserable worm begging for Xiao Luo to come back. She couldn't forget the warmth and sense of security that the events at Wild Boar Ridge had caused her to experience. She wanted to grasp him tightly with all her might.

Xiao Luo, however, wasn't feeling great on the inside. It wasn't because of Chu Yue. Even if it been Huang Ruoran, An Huanhuan, or any of the others who had shown up, he would've felt the same.

However, he couldn't look back. He and the girls were not from the same world. He was merely a passerby who'd just happened to stroll into their world. How could a passerby be so nostalgic for scenery encountered along the journey?

With a chilling expression, Xiao Luo toughened up his heart and chastised her, "Young Mistress Chu, you're really childish. Do you know that? I hate you. You're an arrogant, stupid girl. You're like a kid who never grows up. No girl your age eats lollipops every day, aside from you. Do you think that you will have good teeth forever? Or do you think that munching on a lollipop makes you cute? Let me tell you, you're just weird. And do you know what the funniest thing of all is? You gave me those lollipops as a present. Are you sure that you are Huaye's prettiest girl and not its biggest joke?"

Each and every word was like a dagger stabbing deep into Chu Yue's heart. 𝙡𝙞𝒃𝓻𝒆𝓪𝒅.𝓬𝒐𝒎

She widened her big eyes and gaped in amazement at Xiao Luo. Tears woven with rain rolled down her cheeks. Why was this happening? Had she been in a one-sided relationship all along? Was she really so tiny and insignificant to him?

"Go back and be the young mistress you were meant to be. Don't come to me ever again. The person whom I want to see least in all the world is you!"

Afraid that he would soften, he shook her hands off and walked back to the cab without looking back.

"P-poser...Xiao...Xiao Luo..."

Chu Yue pursued him with a few tottering steps. At last, she stopped, gazing helplessly at Xiao Luo's back as it moved further and further.

Xiao Luo went back to the cab and told the driver to leave. He grabbed his phone and called Chu Yunxiong, informing him of Chu Yue's location.

As he turned around, through the cab's rear windshield, the driver could see Chu Yue standing in the rain, shivering and bellowing.

Sigh...

Why did she have to come and find me?

Xiao Luo sighed deeply. He was had accomplished his duty to protect her, so now she should simply continue being the big missy she was. They should simply go about living their mutually exclusive lives. Wouldn't it be great if they could just part ways and treat each other as total strangers?

"Young man, that lady looks pretty great, I must say. Comin' after you in her car on a rainy day...I can see that she really likes you," the cab driver remarked while peering at Xiao Luo in the rearview mirror.

Xiao Luo smiled, discontinuing the thread of conversation.

Did Chu Yue like him?

He didn't know.

Did he like Chu Yue?

No, at least not yet. He only didn't hate her like he had that time after the dance party.

The pattering rain seemed unceasing.

The moment he returned to his rented apartment, Xiao Luo began cleaning up. Having been gone for almost a month, the surfaces and furniture were covered in a thick layer of dust.

After bathing, Xiao Luo sat on the bed, took out his phone, and called Zhang Dashan.

"Hello, who's calling?"

Zhang Dashan often received calls from anonymous customers. Hence, when he received a call from an unknown number, he greeted the other party courteously.

"It is me, Xiao Luo!" said Xiao Luo.

"Xiao Luo? What the hell? Why did you change numbers?" His voice immediately became rough and loud.

Xiao Luo replied, "I'm not using my old number anymore. I also opened a new WeChat account. Hurry up and add me on my new account."

The purpose of changing contact information was to sever every connection he had made back at Huaye.

"What's going on with you, bro? Something got ya?"

"Stop the gibberish. Just add me, alright?" Xiao Luo's head was a mess because of Chu Yue.

"Da heck? You eat grenades for dinner or something?"

Zhang Dashan asked him, "Where are you now? I'll come find you. I'm in the city."

"I completed Chu Yunxiong's assignment in advance. I'm at home now."

"Alright. See you soon. Oh yeah, prepare some clothes for me. I'm gonna spend the night at your place."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Dashan hung up before Xiao Luo could reply.

Xiao Luo was speechless. Subsequently, he sent his new contact information to every contact saved on his phone via mass messaging. But his fingers were too fast, and he accidentally sent the message to the person whom he least wanted to receive the text, Zhao Mengqi.

This idiotic move left him speechless. He immediately deleted her contact information, lest something else awkward happened again in the future.

What he hadn't expected was an instant reply from Zhao Mengqi, who texted back, "How are you doing these days?"

Xiao Luo facepalmed, recalling the familiar old pain in his neck. He really was making trouble for himself.

As for her text message, he didn't feel obliged to reply.

...

An hour later, Zhang Dashan arrived along with a case of beer and a ridiculous amount of junk food.

Xiao Luo's apartment was on the top floor and consisted of a living room and a bedroom. It accounted for only half of the rooftop area. The other half was a massive open-air balcony with a floor covered in red tiles. He didn't really need to clean it, as the rain basically tidied the area for him. On sunny days, he could even walk around barefoot.

Since today it was raining, they had no choice but to place the table under the roof, which was made of aluminum sheets. After they turned on the lights, the atmosphere felt like that of a super cool spot.

"Are you planning to drink until you puke tonight?" Xiao Luo looked at the case of beer on the floor.

"Puke my a*s! I never vomit. These beers will quickly become the piss that I'll piss out."

Zhang Dashan was munching on a chicken drumstick that smudged oil all over his mouth. His attire today was very casual: tank tops, shorts, and slippers. He looked so impressive that it couldn't be described in words. He passed his phone to Xiao Luo, encouraging him to take a look at what was on the screen, then asked, "What do you think of this girl?"

The girl's picture was obviously edited. Xiao Luo glanced at the photo and shook his head. Her mouth was too big, and her facial features were mediocre. She gave off a bitter, stinging aura. However, he couldn't just judge her blindly. If she was going to be Zhang Dashan's new girlfriend, it would hurt his dignity if he said that she was not pretty.

"What do you think about her?"

"I'm the one asking you, so why are you asking me back?" Zhang Dashan gabbed loudly with his mouth full of meat.

"Who is she to you?" Xiao Luo decided that he'd better be more cautious.

Zhang Dashan answered, "My superior."

Superior?

After some thought, Xiao Luo decided not to tell his friend the truth. Judging from his face, Zhang Dashan seemed to be interested in his superior.

Xiao Luo nodded and said instead, "Well, I think she's not bad. She has a nose, a face, two eyes, and well, you know, she has the temperament of a regular woman at work."

Contrary to his expectations, Zhang Dashan immediately heated up after hearing Xiao Luo's remarks. He slammed the table and shouted, "Temperament your foot! You're saying that this wh*re has a 'temperament'?! Are you blind, Xiao Luo? Can't you see her big a*s mouth? I think she can take two d*cks at the same time, and you're telling me that she has a temperament? Holy f*uck head."

"What's the matter with you? Why did you start complaining about your superior right after you got here?" Xiao Luo was confused.

Chapter 92

Zhang Dashan finished five to six bottles of beer and was slightly drunk. At this point, whenever he went to speak, he only knew how to yell.

"That stupid b*tch is making problems for me every day. If I don't give her dirt, then who am I supposed to give dirt to? You know, my basic salary is just slightly above three thousand, and I rely on performance bonuses for most of my money. Now that she's deducting my performance pay, I will be f*cking eating air. Last month, she said that I didn't complete the task index, so I just let her dock my pay.

"She also said the bank lost a customer because of me, so she deducted more all over again. I surrendered to that, too. But, this month, not only have I completed all the allotted tasks, but I even brought the bank an additional five to six million in deposits. But, at the end of the month, that stupid b*tch forgot to report it for me, and now my performance will be docked until the end of the year. I will f*ck up her entire family."

Zhang Dashan unleashed all the bitterness that was in his heart on Xiao Luo. Just because he pretended to be thoughtless and looked unrestrained and carefree day after day, it did not mean that he was not also facing difficulties at work and very depressed.

"If I had known this was the situation, I would have told you the truth just now. Your superior is really and truly incomparably hideous," Xiao Luo said as he took a sip of beer.

"D*mnit, are you trying to dupe me again? If I said that she was my girlfriend, would you lie and say that she looked pretty even though deep down you thought she was ugly? Can't you just not play along? Next time, when I give you a photo of a girl, can you tell me the truth and not just say empty words?" Zhang Dashan said. He was speechless.

Xiao Luo didn't know what to say and drank quietly.

"By the way, today in front of my colleagues, I 'greeted' the family of the stupid b*tch and eighteen generations of her ancestors, as they say. It felt so good," Zhang Dashan said.

"Pui!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Luo immediately spat out his beer. He opened his eyes in shock, and said, "What are you thinking? Do you no longer intend to work at the bank?"

"Why would I continue? I've already stored all my luggage in the car downstairs," Zhang Dashan replied. He opened a pack of seeds and relishing in eating them as he went on, "As of now, I'm an unemployed wanderer. If you hadn't called me today, I would still have come to you. Obviously, during this period, when I'm looking for a job, I plan to stay with you."

Xiao Luo shook his head helplessly. Seeing that his close brother had lost his job at the bank made him feel uneasy. He knew how hard Zhang Dashan had fought for the role. He had arduously prepared for half a year before finally passing the bank's recruitment tests and had worked hard continuously for a year before being converted to full-time staff. Zhang Dashan had no connections, and everything he achieved was based on his own efforts. On the other hand, newcomers who arrived after him converted in just two months thanks to their connections.

One could say that everything Zhang Dashan had achieved was a result of his taking one step at a time. But in the end, it had all been for nothing. It was impossible to say that Zhang Dashan was not feeling dejected. Otherwise, he would not have brought so much booze.

Zhang Dashan was drunk as a red-faced General Guan Yu and complaining non-stop. "This f*cking generation! That stupid b*tch's dad is the local governor. If not for that, with her intelligence, do you think that she would be able to sit where she does now? Dream on!"

At the end of his rant, he spat on the ground. In his heart, he really wanted to cast this woman aside.

Xiao Luo sighed and said, "I have something to tell you. I need your opinion."

Then, he told Zhang Dashan all about Chu Yunxiong's plan to hand over control of Luo's Workshop to him. 𝓁𝑖𝒷𝑟𝘦𝒶𝑑.𝒸𝘰𝘮

Zhang Dashan immediately slammed the table and stood up. His face brimmed with excitement as he said, "Whoa, damn! Good news! This is great news! Just like a pie that's dropped from the sky. Old Xiao, I knew it! I knew you would build a relationship with Chu Yunxiong. Now there are a few decades of struggling that you won't need to endure. Look at this! Look at this! In less than a month, you've jumped from being a small-time engineer at the Huahai Group to an executive position. You're a successful man."

"Do you think I should accept the offer?" Xiao Luo asked, looking up.

Zhang Dashan waved his hands wildly and firmly said, "If you don't, then you must have a broken brain!"

Xiao Luo's face darkened. He really wanted to refuse because he didn't want to owe anything to Chu Yunxiong.

"I know you don't like to be controlled by others, but didn't Boss Chu say that he would only act as a retired shareholder? All you have to do is give him 20% of your profits at the end of the year. This means that Luo's Workshop's profits will go directly to you and that you will be the real boss. The CEO. Brother, do you still need to think about it? Or should I just accept that the wires in your brain are crossed?"

"Don't you think there's something suspicious about a pie that simply drops from the sky? Chu Yunxiong is a businessman, and what a businessman pursues is the maximization of profit. Do you think that he will really only take 20% of the profits while handing over the rest of Luo's Workshop to an outsider?" Xiao Luo asked, maintaining a rational mindset.

"Brother, a businessman's career can generally be divided into three stages. The first is the original accumulation. This is an unscrupulous way of earning money where violating their morals is fine as long as they are not breaking any laws. The second stage is guiding the unsuccessful merchants and maintaining a sense of integrity while not violating basic business rules.

"Finally, in the last stage, they repay debts to society, engage in charity and donations, etcetera. This is to make up for the damage they caused at the start of the careers and to assuage their consciences. These three stages must be experienced by any successful businessman and correspond to the three states of being unsuccessful, finding career success, and overall life success," Zhang Dashan explained. Then, he went on patiently persuading Xiao Luo, "Chu Yunxiong is active in all major media outlets. There is one reason for this: he is paying back his debt to society because he has already achieved success. We are all in the big Hua Nation, but there are probably fewer than ten individuals who are more successful than him. Right now, he no longer has to pursue the maximization of profits. He just wants to see the young people he believes in achieving success. This brings him a sense of achievement."

"You mean he wants to see me succeed and will get a sense of achievement through me?" Xiao Luo echoed doubtfully.

Zhang Dashan snapped his fingers and said, "That's exactly what I mean." He sat down again and with a pleading look, added, "I don't care why he's doing it, but I will follow you in the future. If you are the CEO, then let me be the deputy. Let me enjoy the thrill of giving instructions too."

"Don't expect too much from me. I haven't decided whether to agree to Chu Yunxiong's proposal," Xiao Luo replied, pouring a pot of cold water.

"F*ck! What are you still considering? Does this even need to be considered? What is going on in your brain?"

"I want to do something by myself and become the type of man who doesn't have to rely on anyone else."

"Brother, the law of survival in this society dictates that you take advantage of me, and I will exploit you in return. It is an honor to want to be taken advantage of. It means that you have value enough to be used. Even if you take ten thousand steps back and say you want to do something by yourself, have you actually thought about what it is you'd do instead?" Zhang Dashan pressed. He wanted to knock hard on Xiao Luo's head to wake his wooden brain up.

Xiao Luo shook his head. He had not really thought about it and had no plans.

"Then, isn't that your answer? Take care of Luo's Workshop first and think the rest through slowly. If you still have plans afterward, it won't be too late to go and make them happen. I will follow you for now, and if you ever leave Luo's Workshop, I will still help you take care of it. This way, both of us will find fulfillment. It's the best of both worlds, so why not?" Zhang Dashan said.

He was so excited that he had even sobered up.

Chapter 93

That night, Xiao Luo couldn't fall asleep. He lay awake in bed listening to Zhang Dashan's thunderous snoring. The opportunity Chu Yunxiong was offering him made him feel uncertain. He didn't know whether he should seize it or not. No matter how hard he thought about it, he was unable to come to a decision.

Forget it, don't think about it for now. Anyway, there are still three days left to think about it!

He sighed, opened the Genius System, and began to browse.

The value of his points was not quite 46,000, which allowed him to exchange for most of the abilities in the mall. He adhered to his previous principle of not making exchanges at random. The more points accumulated, the better.

The next day, after buying groceries to prepare a table's worth of tasty dishes for Zhang Dashan, his younger sister, Xiao Ruyi, called.

The first sentence out of her mouth was: "Brother, you changed your number?"

"Xiao Ruyi, your reaction is way too slow. I sent you a message last night and you only replied this afternoon," Xiao Luo said, slightly exasperated.

"I've been working the night shift lately. By the way, come over to my place for dinner. Tang Ren and I both miss you," Xiao Ruyi said coquettishly.

Xiao Luo was doubtful and said, "Are you sure that you miss me and are not trying to set me up with someone?"

"Hehe! It seems that I can't hide anything from my brother," Xiao Ruyi replied, grinning.

"You can introduce her to someone else. I don't need it."

"Brother, I swear to the heavens this she a great girl. She's 22 this year and 5'3″ tall. Her looks, well, needless to say, if I've approved her, then it means she's a beautiful woman. She's a good match for you!"

"I..."

"Big brother, you're not allowed to say no. Besides, introducing you to someone is not my main goal. I haven't seen you in a long time, and I miss you," Xiao Ruyi purred, cajoling as she pushed and pulled. "If you don't come, then I will call Mom and Dad and tell them that after I got married, my big brother drifted apart from me and doesn't acknowledge me as his sister anymore."

Xiao Luo smiled helplessly and submitted to her, "Alright, alright! I'll come over, okay?"

"Hehe. That's my good big brother!" Xiao Ruyi chuckled, pleased with her success.

"What time should we meet?"

"Eight o'clock tonight. I'll meet you outside the hospital's front gate. Big brother, you should sort your hair out. It would be best if you wore a black shirt. You look really handsome in a black shirt."

Xiao Luo was speechless.

After hanging up the phone, he walked into the hall, where Zhang Dashan was lying on the sofa playing Honor of Kings, and kicked him in the butt.

Zhang Dashan turned and loudly shouted, "What are you doing? Do you think my butt is sexy or what? Why are you so annoying? I can't even play a game in peace!"

The last sentence reminded Xiao Luo of when Song Dandan played Baiyun.

"Ruyi called and told me to go over to her place, would you like to come?" Xiao Luo asked him while sitting on a stool and putting on his socks.

Zhang Dashan sat up and replied, "Wait, why are you going over to Sister Luo's?"

"I haven't seen her for a long time, so I'm going over to see her," Xiao Luo answered calmly.

"Impossible. Based on my understanding of your sister, she must be introducing a girl to you," Zhang Dashan said, raising his voice.

Xiao Luo looked at him indifferently and remarked, "Not bad. Even you could guess that."

"Well, what type of girl have I not seen before? I know how girls think." Zhang Dashan patted his chest confidently. "But I thought you were disgusted by blind dates, so why did you agree?"

"As I've already said, it's mainly to see Ruyi. I haven't seen her in a long time," Xiao Luo replied feeling anxious.

"Ah, that makes sense."

"Are you coming or not? Can you please just give me a straightforward answer?"

"Sure, why not? I'll get a free meal out of it, in any case."

Zhang Dashan jumped up, took off the shirt which Xiao Luo had given him, and put on one that was more formal. "Since Sister Luo is introducing someone to you, you should pay more attention. What if it's a pretty girl that you are attracted to, then you can...hehehe...you know..."

His smile was frivolous, his expression lewd, and his voice lecherous. His eyebrows were jumping up and down as he giggled. He was really the best of the best.

To hell with your understanding!

Xiao Luo really wanted to kick him in the butt again.

...

Jiangcheng was divided into four districts: the Southeast District, the Northwest District, the Guangming District, and the Taihe District.

Huaye was in the northwest. Xiao Luo lived in the southeast area, less than one kilometer from the border of the Guangming area, where Xiao Ruyi worked at a government hospital.

The drive from Xiao Luo's residence to Xiao Ruyi's workplace would take about an hour and a half without traffic, so he set off with Zhang Dashan at six o'clock that evening.

"Old Xiao, you take the wheel. I didn't sleep well last night, so let me close my eyes for a bit on the way there," Zhang Dashan said, throwing his car keys over to Xiao Luo. With a yawn, he walked toward the front passenger seat.

"You're not afraid that I'll end up crashing your car?" Xiao Luo said jokingly.

"If you damage it, then you will buy me a new one. Anyway, you're rich now and have assets worth more than 1 million. You are going to be a CEO soon. I'm afraid that, out of our university classmates, you will be the one who turned out the best. Hmph, if Zhao Mengqi knew about this, she would definitely cry over the fact she missed out on a huge mountain like you."

"Hold up, I still haven't figured out if I should take over Luo's Workshop or not. Let me consider it over the next few days," Xiao Luo said. 𝑙𝒾𝒷𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Zhang Dashan really couldn't figure out what was going through his old friend's mind. What was there to think about? This opportunity was obviously a pie in the sky landing on top of his head. If he didn't take over the business, was he waiting till someone else did?

With a sigh, Zang Dashan conceded, "Fine, I won't talk about it anymore. Anyway, I have already decided that no matter what you are doing, I will follow you. Oho! With the two of us working together, imagine that! We will make it in Jiangcheng, no, nationwide!" Suddenly he thought of something else and added, "If we can achieve recognition from the country's leaders, that would make us the pride of our ancestors. That would be enough for me to boast about for the rest of my life."

"Look at you!" Xiao Luo said as he started the car slowly. He really despised him.

[Guangming District People's Hospital]

One man and two women were waiting at the door of the hospital.

The man's skin was fair and clean. He had a scholarly vibe about him with a baby face that made him look like a 17- or 18-year-old teenager. But his actual age was 24, and he was Xiao Luo's brother-in-law, Tang Ren.

The girl standing next to Tang Ren was Xiao Ruyi. She had short, clean hair and wore an oversized long-sleeved t-shirt with slim black trousers underneath. She had distinctive features and exuded the aura of a pretty girl who'd come from a humble family.

Xiao Ruyi was talking to a girl wearing a white long-sleeved hood. "Yuyu, let me tell you this, my brother is much more handsome in real life than in photos. His personality is particularly great. When you see him, you will definitely fall in love."

The girl lowered her head and smiled shyly, then in a humble way, she said, "Your brother has a degree, so I'm scared that he'll look down on me."

"Education is nothing so long as you feel something for each other. Am I right, Tang Ren?" Xiao Ruyi asked, glancing at Tang Ren.

Tang Ren immediately smiled and chimed in his agreement, "Yes, yes, that's right!"

The way he pronounced the word 'right' was somehow off.

Xiao Ruyi kicked him and said, "Right your head! You must have watched too many sitcoms. Not only do you not learn anything, but you learn to speak like an old lady!"

"Wifey, it's okay if you beat me at home, but when we're in the outside world, can you leave some pride for me, please?" Tang Ren said, whispering in her ear.

Chapter 94

"Face? You're talking to me about face? The fact that you were able to make me your wife should be enough face for you. Rumors of your reputation (you're a legendary figure), have long spread around the hospital. Namely, how you came to our hospital and, in less than a year, successfully chased me into the palm of your hand," Xiao Ruyi teased as she pinched Tang Ren's ears like a willful girlfriend.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch. Wifey, hurry up and let's go! If you continue to pinch my ears, then they will fall off," Tang Ren said, pretending to be in unbearable pain.

Xiao Ruyi's lips curled as she spoke, "This is pain? I'm not even putting in any strength."

Tang Ren smiled awkwardly and said, "Wifey, if you don't think it's painful now, then you will definitely pinch me even harder."

"Aren't you glad to be pinched by me?"

"Glad, yes, I'm glad. However, if wifey wants to pinch me, then she should just go ahead. Hehehe..." Tang Ren unwillingly laughed.

The girl standing next to them was wearing a white long-sleeved hoodie. Smiling, she breathed enviously, "You guys have such a great relationship!"

"If you can get together with my brother, then your relationship will definitely be better than ours. My brother is totally a family-oriented guy. He's graceful in the hall and great in the kitchen. Most importantly, he is very dedicated. As long as he falls in love with a girl, he never strays and treats her right forever. He's totally devoted," Xiao Luo said, loosening her grip on Tang Ren's ears. She related good things about her brother. Although, of course, everything was slightly exaggerated.

The girl chuckled softly and didn't say another word. In her heart, she had built up a certain expectation of Xiao Luo.

Just then, a white Corolla stopped in front of them, and the door opened. Xiao Luo got out from the driver's side.

He was dressed in a black track jacket with a slightly opened neckline that revealed a white crewneck undershirt. Two long red stripes on the sleeves gave the jacket a cool look.

His distinctive facial features were sculpted, resulting in an abnormally handsome face with a strong jawline framed by his thick, jet-black hair. Under his eyebrows were a pair of deep-set eyes, a tall nose, and perfectly-sized lips with a dazzling smile.

"Brother!"

Xiao Ruyi ran to him like a gust of wind and threw herself into Xiao Luo's arms. She was like a kitten lying coquettishly in the arms of her master.

Tang Ren stepped forward and shouted to Xiao Luo with a smile, "Brother."

"Don't hug people randomly! Aren't you afraid that Tang Ren will get jealous?" Xiao Luo said flatly.

"I don't care. I don't care about that. I haven't seen you in such a long time, and I just want to hug you," Xiao Ruyi replied, hugging Xiao Luo even tighter. In an instant, she had become a docile little lamb, totally unlike the strong, unruly young woman who had just bullied Tang Ren.

Xiao Luo shook his head helplessly.

The car door opened, and Zhang Dashan climbed out of the passenger seat, greeting Xiao Ruyi, "Hi, pretty girl! Long time no see!"

"Big-faced Zhang, why did you come too?" Xiao Ruyi said as she released Xiao Luo. This was a surprise.

Big-faced...Zhang?

Xiao Luo was stunned. He didn't know that his sister called Zhang Dashan by that nickname. A smirk crossed his face. He realized that his sister had used these three words brilliantly—they were perfect for describing Zhang Dashan's looks.

Zhang Dashan's face turned green at once, as though he had been petrified in place. "Sister Luo," he said, "can't you be nice? No matter what, I'm still your brother's bro, so there must be better ways to address me than that, right? For example, 'Brother Zhang,"Brother Shan,' etcetera. If none of those work, then you can just call me by my actual name." 𝙡𝓲𝙗𝒓𝙚𝓪𝙙.𝒄𝒐𝙢

"Sorry, sorry. As soon as I saw you, I just blurted out what I was thinking. But your face really is too big!" Xiao Ruyi said apologetically.

Zhang Dashan felt like his heart had been stabbed twice. It was painful. He wondered in his heart: Is this an apology? If so, then what type of apology is this?

Xiao Ruyi continued to say, "I think you should consider getting a face-lift. Look at all that meat on your face—fat as pork belly. It's hideous."

"Pu!"

Every sentence and word was like a knife thrust firmly into Zhang Dashan's heart. Now, he finally understood what was meant by the expression 'tons of injuries.'

"Sister Luo, are you sure that you're here to introduce your brother to someone and not deliberately targeting me?" Zhang Dashan asked. He was about to vomit blood. All this talk about plastic surgery and his face being as fat as pork belly. F*ck! She had no need to go at him like that.

This time, Xiao Ruyi changed the subject and brought the girl in the hoodie to the front. Smiling, she introduced her: "Brother, this is Sun Yu, a belle from our department." She then proceeded to introduce Xiao Luo to Sun Yu: "Sun Yu, this is my brother, Xiao Luo. Next to him is his good friend, Zhang Dashan."

"Hello!" Sun Yu said. She was a little shy, so her voice was very soft.

Zhang Dashan looked the girl up and down. Her long dark hair draped over her shoulders, and her skin was as white as a freshly peeled egg. Her big eyes twinkled as she talked, and her small red lips were unmistakable. She had a graceful figure with a small waist. Her entire appearance gave off the impression of a quick-witted beauty.

Pretty girl!

He lightly nudged Xiao Luo with his shoulders and gave him a look, hinting that this girl was not bad, and he should grab on to this opportunity.

Xiao Luo rolled his eyes at him, then nodded politely he responded to Sun Yu, "Hello!"

Just like that, the two of them politely greeted one another. Then, they had nothing else to say.

Xiao Ruyi broke the awkward atmosphere with a smile and said, "So, now that you're all acquainted, let's go! It's time for some food. I'm starving."

"What are you waiting for? Get in the car, quickly."

Zhang Dashan echoed Xiao Ruyi's words then sat himself down in the passenger seat. He'd thought about this before he came. Tonight, his car belonged to Xiao Luo. Since his friend was on a blind date, having a car would make him seem well-mannered, inspire confidence, and leave a better impression on the girl.

"I'm driving again?"

Xiao Luo didn't have any interest in this blind date at all. He had come here to see Xiao Ruyi and Tang Ren, so he didn't have many thoughts about Sun Yu.

"D*mnit, this car is yours, so if you don't drive, then who will?" Zhang Dashan asked, reprimanding Xiao Lou loudly while continually dropping hints.

Xiao Luo was speechless, but his mind was clear.

Xiao Ruyi and Tang Ren knew full well that the car was Zhang Dashan's, but they didn't intend to expose him. In their materialistic society, a man with a vehicle significantly improved his success rates on blind dates.

Five people got into the car. Xiao Ruyi had already thought about what he wanted to eat and acted as a live GPS, showing Xiao Luo the way.

Sun Yu glanced at the car's interior curiously then asked, "Did it cost a lot to buy this car?"

Although Zhang Dashan had said the car belonged to him, Xiao Luo didn't have much to add. So when Sun Yu asked that question, he was focused on driving and subconsciously thought that her question was directed at Zhang Dashan.

Zhang Dashan hated Xiao Luo for being unable to meet his expectations and pushed him to reply, insisting, "Brother, she's asking you a question."

"What did she ask?"

"She asked you how much this car cost," Zhang Dashan said, anxious for Xiao Luo to get with the program.

Chapter 95

To be honest, Xiao Luo didn't want to lie. If he had a car, then he had one, and if he didn't, then he didn't. However, since Zhang Dashan was insistent that this was his vehicle, Xiao Luo found it hard to reveal the truth in case it made things awkward.

"I was just asking randomly, so if it's not convenient for you to give me an answer, then that's fine," Sun Yu realized that her question had been a little forward. But this was her first time on a blind date, and she did not know what to ask. She was curious, so she had asked the question without giving it much thought. Now, she found it a little embarrassing.

"Around one-hundred and twenty thousand!" Xiao Luo replied. Since he had gone with Zhang Dashan to collect the car, naturally, he knew how much it cost.

"Wow, that's expensive. I wonder if nurses like us will ever be able to afford a car like this," Sun Yu answered, lowering her head a little.

"I heard that nurses receive considerable welfare and benefits, and your pay can easily go up to about five thousand a month. If you save up, it shouldn't be too long before you can purchase a car like this," Xiao Luo said. As he chatted with her, he formed a good impression of her overall and didn't dislike her.

Sun Yu said with a bitter smile, "Sister Ruyi can earn that much. But as a newcomer, I only earn enough now to feed myself."

"It's alright. Just take things slowly," Xiao Luo said, comforting her.

"Hmm," Sun Yu said, nodding her head.

Watching the two protagonists chatting away, Zhang Dashan, Xiao Ruyi, and Tang Ren deliberately kept quiet. This was precisely the result that they had been hoping for.

Ten minutes later, they arrived at their destination, a BBQ buffet restaurant.

Each person only had to pay 65 dollars, and then they could eat as much as they wanted without any time limit. The restaurant served all sorts of meats, seafood, pastry, drinks, and fruits. The décor was grand and impressive. Many people were willing to pay 65 dollars just for this BBQ experience, so the restaurant was already packed when Xiao Luo and the rest arrived.

However, they were fortunate as there happened to be an empty table. A group of customers who had just finished their meal was about to leave.

"Tang Ren, go reserve that table for us. If that other group gets it, then you will sleep on the sofa tonight!" Xiao Ruyi hurriedly ordered Tang Ren to take care of it as she realized that another group of people was eyeing the table as well.

Sleep on the sofa?

No way that was happening!

Like a motor traveling at full speed, Tang Ren rushed to the table. Moving as fast as a gust of wind, he risked his life and reached the table before the other group. As he placed his butt on the seat, he lifted his head and giggled, "Excuse me, but this table is occupied!"

"Wow! Look at Tang Ren's speed. What a light-footed runner," Zhang Dashan remarked, praising him with admiration.

"That's a given. He is the champion of our hospital's 100-meter sprint tournament," Xiao Ruyi said with pride.

Xiao Luo laughed without saying anything. All he could remember was his mother's evaluation of Tang Ren: He doesn't look like a 24-year-old man, but a high school student.

Objectively speaking, Tang Ren did have a small and youthful appearance. He looked more like a growing teenager. Based on his face alone, it was hard to tell that he was already 24 years old.

...

Since it was a buffet, diners were supposed to pick the food they wanted for themselves.

Zhang Dashan made a b-line for the seafood. He scooped up the hairy crabs, squid, oysters, and much more, filling their entire table with food.

"Big-faced Zhang, are you sure you can finish all this food?" Xiao Ruyi asked. She had her doubts.

"Obviously, I can't finish this all by myself, but that's why we have your brother here," Zhang Dashan said while patting Xiao Luo on the back.

Xiao Luo glanced at him and remarked, "You took way too much food. Even with my help, I'm afraid there is no way we can finish all of it."

"That's alright. You still have me. I really enjoy seafood," Sun Yu said, chuckling.

"How much can you eat?" Zhang Dashan asked jokingly.

Sun Yu thought about it for a bit, then pointed at the whole pile of seafood on the table and said, "Out of all this food here, I can finish at least half." 𝓁𝑖𝑏𝑟𝘦𝒶𝘥.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Her reply shocked Xiao Luo. Most girls in this day and age wouldn't boast about having such a huge appetite, but Sun Yu was different. She was direct and straightforward. She was increasingly making a favorable impression on him.

"Brother, let's take a picture!"

Xiao Ruyi took out her phone and walked toward Xiao Luo. She pouted, puffed up her cheeks like a pufferfish, and took a selfie with Xiao Luo. Then, she sent the image to her friends, captioning it 'My handsome brother and me.'

"Sister Luo, you're biased here. Why are you always taking photos with Xiao Luo and not with me?" Zhang Dashan asked with grief.

While also responding simultaneously to her friend's chat, Xiao Ruyi replied to Zhang Dashan: "I won't be able to fit your face on my phone's screen."

Zhang Dashan's face went black in an instant. He felt as if there was nothing left to live for. Was she trying to say that his face was too big?

...

Just as she'd said, Sun Yu had an excellent appetite for seafood. In just a short while, all the bits and pieces of seafood, including shells and bones, had piled up into a small mountain.

Just then, an unknown voice shouted out, "The prawns are here!" Every customer in the BBQ restaurant, who had been focused on grilling their meat, now rushed to the buffet counter.

Xiao Luo observed carefully and saw one of the staff bring out a trolley full of river prawns.

"Tang Ren, hurry and go grab them!" Xiao Ruyi commanded.

At his wife's orders, Tang Ren put down all his food, took an empty plate, and transformed into a light-footed runner once again.

However, someone else was even faster, and that was Sun Yu. As soon as she heard the prawns being announced, she immediately leaped up, dashed over, and started vying for the prawns with the rest of the diners. She completely disregarded her image and did not put on airs.

Xiao Luo was surprised. Although they had barely interacted, Sun Yu seemed like a pretty good person to him.

"Big brother, what do you think of Yu Yu?" Xiao Ruyi asked, taking this opportunity to grill Xiao Luo.

Xiao Luo replied approvingly, "Unpretentious and genuine."

"I agree with that. If this were any other girl, no matter how much she liked seafood, there is no way that she would eat this much in front of two guys she did not know," Zhang Dashan replied while chewing on his seafood.

"That's right. I'm introducing Yu Yu to my brother precisely because she's genuine."

Xiao Ruyi said with a sweet smile, "Yu Yu just entered the workforce. So, the way she deals with things shows how young and youthful she still is. In many ways, she's still a small girl in the process of growing up. Big brother, you're mature and stable. You two would be perfect for one another. You can guide her, and this way, she'll take one less detour. Don't be like me. I paid a painful price and took the long road to find out what a perfect guy is actually like."

At the end of her little speech, the sparkle in her eyes seemed to fade away.

Xiao Luo knew exactly what his sister was referring to.

A few years earlier, Xiao Ruyi had been young and rebellious. She'd felt like she was old enough and didn't need to listen to her family's teachings. She especially did not need someone telling her what she could or could not do. Therefore, she often hung out with a bunch of guys until late at night. Her taste in guys was different from that of the other girls. She thought that tattoos, punks, smoking, and guys who casually fooled around all the time were cooler and much more handsome.

At long last, after having an abortion, she'd finally gotten her wake-up call. Then, she had been fortunate enough to meet Tang Ren. He was ready to accept her for who she was and continuously adored her, loved her. Like a fool, he'd always treated her like a princess.

Chapter 96

"Let bygones be bygones. You and Tang Ren are fine now," Xiao Luo said as he sipped his tea. He could see that Tang Ren treated his sister well. Not every guy could put up with his sister's princess attitude.

"To tell you the truth, Tang Ren is definitely much better than big-faced me. After all, he's a doctor. Even if he's not treated well at the moment, once his qualifications improve, he can easily earn tens of thousands every month. Even his chances for promotion are considerably better," Zhang Dashan said, reluctantly admitting the truth that was right before him. It was undeniable that Tang Ren was a better fit as Xiao Ruyi's partner.

The dim light in Xiao Ruyi's eyes dissipated. Smacking her lips, she said, "Big-faced Zhang, I'm surprised by what you just said."

"What's there to be surprised about? Everything I said is the truth. I wasn't exaggerating." Big-faced Zhang took the tongs, clipped a squid, and grilled it on the iron plate. "Oh, by the way, are there any single girls left at your hospital? At least introduce one of them to me. After all, I am your brother's brother. You have a part to play in my future lifelong happiness as well."

"Don't worry, if I see anyone that suits you, then I will definitely introduce you," Xiao Ruyi said, smiling with a squint.

At that moment, Tang Ren and Sun Yu returned from grabbing the prawns.

Sun Yu had snatched two whole big plates of prawns, while Tang Ren had gone up with an empty plate and returned with an empty plate.

"Wifey, those people are way too fierce. I didn't manage to snatch anything."

Tang Ren looked like a defeated rooster with his head down. After a while, he held his head up, stood up tall, and with determination, said, "The next time they bring out the prawns, I will be sure to snatch up at least five to six plates' worth."

"That should be enough!"

Sun Yu was in a good mood as she looked happily at the two plates of prawns she had harvested.

Xiao Ruyi did not blame Tan Ren. Instead, she signaled for him to sit down, laughed, and said, "Yu Yu is so amazing. Even those big men couldn't faze you."

"In the past, I was unable to snatch any either, but I'm experienced now," Sun Yu said, smiling heartily. You could see that she was thrilled, and her satisfaction was derived from having snatched the prawns.

"Come, everybody, let's all enjoy Yu Yu's victory prawns," Zhang Dashan said, laughing loudly. He helped himself and placed all the prawns on the grilling iron and began to cook them.

"You guys eat heartily. If there isn't enough, I will go and snatch more later," Sun Yu said happily, biting her lip. She was smiling through her eyes, and they turned into crescents.

"If we let the girls do everything, then what's the point of having us men around? If there aren't enough prawns again later, then make Xiao Luo go," Zhang Dashan said.

Sun Yu looked toward Xiao Luo only to realize that he was looking back at her. She looked away quickly and blushed.

It seemed like something was going on!

Xiao Ruyi was very happy. She was confident in her brother, Xiao Luo. As long as Xiao Luo decided to pursue a girl, he would definitely be able to win her heart. She was already wondering if it was time to call home and inform her Mom and Dad that she had introduced a beautiful girl to her brother.

As for Xiao Luo, his impression of Sun Yu was still so-so. At the very least, he was able to understand her better now.

After leaving the BBQ restaurant, Zhang Dashan, Xiao Ruyi, and Tang Ren went straight home after making up excuses. This gave Xiao Luo and Sun Yu a chance to be alone together.

Clutching her handbag, Sun Yu broke the silence and said, "It was a delightful meal. Thank you for your hospitality."

"You're welcome!"

Just then, Xiao Luo realized that this was the perfect moment to correct the misunderstanding that had occurred previously.

"Oh, right," he said. "That wasn't actually my car. It was my friend Zhang Dashan's car."

He was not used to lying, and it made him feel guilty.

Sun Yu smiled flirtatiously and said, "Actually, I knew from the start that it was not your car."

"You knew from the start?"

"Yeah, I saw a crystal ball in the car carved with the name 'Zhang Dashan.' I doubt you would have done that if it was your car."

Xiao Luo laughed and replied, "You're pretty detail-oriented."

"I guess. Maybe it's an occupational hazard from being a nurse. I was very careless in the past and often forgot my keys. I was always getting locked out of my house. Such embarrassing incidents have occurred more than once," Sun Yu said, chuckling. Her laughter was as beautiful as a silver bell.

"Is that so?"

Xiao Luo was surprised. He couldn't imagine what it would look like for a girl to be locked out of her house.

"Yeah, I don't know how to explain this. Basically, it was just extremely embarrassing. I would squat by the stairs for the whole night then go to work the next day with panda eyes. Thankfully, I didn't make any mistakes," Sun Yu said. She talked about her embarrassing past light-heartedly.

"Do you enjoy your job as a nurse?"

"Well, how should I put this? It doesn't matter whether or not I like it. I don't actually know what I like to do, so I thought, heck, why not just be a good nurse? What about you? I heard from Sister Ruyi that you are an engineer at the Huahai Manufacturing Corporation?"

"That was true, yes. But I've since resigned, and I'm currently unemployed."

"Did you quit to pursue something you actually want to do?"

"I guess that's about the sum of it. Except that I don't actually know what I want to do, either."

...

They talked while heading toward the place where Sun Yu was staying.

Jiangcheng was a coastal city. It was the only city legally allowed by the state to open casinos. The gambling industry profited well, and each district had various large casinos. Of course, these casinos were backed by influential organizations or individuals.

Guangming District was no different. Just as Xiao Luo and Sun Yu were happily chatting away, a fight broke out in front of the casino, not too far away.

A soulless middle-aged man with a chin full of stubble was curled up on the ground and being beaten by six to seven men. 𝘭𝑖𝒷𝓇𝘦𝘢𝒹.𝑐𝘰𝘮

Sun Yu's expression changed. Disregarding everything, she ran toward the fight. In an attempt to stop it, she shouted, "Stop! Stop now! Why are you beating up my uncle?"

"That's your uncle?"

A man dressed in a suit waved his hand to stop, staring coldly at Sun Yu.

Sun Yu lifted the battered middle-aged man, nodded, and replied, "Yes."

"Well, that's just dandy. Your uncle owes the casino two million in gambling debts. Since you're his niece, then you can repay this amount on his behalf," replied the man in the suit.

Sun Yu turned her head and looked at her uncle with a trembling gaze. She could not believe that her uncle would rack up such a huge debt.

Sun Jian'nan sighed regretfully and confirmed that the man in the suit was speaking the truth.

He pleaded, "Manager Geng, can you be generous and give me a few days more? Just a few days and I promise that I will definitely return the money to you."

"I've already given you a seven-day grace period. If you still don't pay, then I have no choice but to throw you into the sea as food for the fishes," Manager Geng sneered. "But perhaps I can offer you a way out. If your niece is in good spirits, then she can pay the debt for you."

"No! Do whatever you want to me, but don't hurt her at any cost," Sun Jian'nan replied, shaking his head vigorously. He endured the pain in his body and shielded Sun Yu.

"Oh wow, that's pretty brave of you. Well, let's continue to beat him up and see how long he lasts," Manager Geng said, waving his finger. His expression became fierce.

Several men saw the signal and continued to beat up the middle-aged man.

"Stop it! Stop hurting him. Stop it right now!" Sun Yu shouted. She was panicked and whirling with tears.

At that moment, Xiao Luo walked over and calmly said, "None of you have the right to beat this man up. Whether or not he owes you money—even if you consider this 'debt collection'—you should not be resorting to such extremes to solve a simple problem. It can be considered illegal."

Manager Geng was stunned for a moment. Then he sneered and said, "Where did this rash youth come from? Before you meddle in anything, boy, at least know where you're getting in the middle of."

"I really want to know where this is. Oh, by the way, just a reminder, I recorded a video of you beating him up. If you don't stop, then I will have to call the police," Xiao Luo said, taking out his phone and smiling.

Call the police?

How refreshing!

Just the thought of it made Manager Geng laugh. This was the first time in more than a decade that someone had dared to challenge the casino.

"Boy, I was praising you when I called you a rash youth earlier. Now you're simply courting death. I'll give you three seconds to delete the video. Otherwise, don't blame us for what will happen next!"

It had been a very long time since there had been such a thing as a kind casino boss. Manager Geng couldn't figure out where this fellow had found the courage to record a video. He'd even dared to boast of teaching others a lesson.

Chapter 97

The group of men who were assaulting Sun Jian'nan now surrounded Xiao Luo with unkind expressions on their faces. Manager Geng only had to give the word, and they would provide Xiao Luo with a taste of their punches. 𝒍𝙞𝙗𝒓𝒆𝙖𝓭.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Sun Yu wiped the tears from her eyes, glancing at Xiao Luo in a daze. She felt as though a bottle of five flavors had spilled in her heart. Her emotions were a mix of sourness, bitterness, spiciness, and saltiness. Only a trace of sweetness was missing.

She had just met Xiao Luo today, and to have something like this happen before they'd gotten to know each other better made her feel extremely embarrassed. She was at a loss for what to do. The gambling debt of two million that her uncle owed was far too massive a sum, and she did not have the kind of money needed to pay it off. However, she also could not sit by and watch as her uncle was beaten to death, much less drag Xiao Luo into this whole mess!

Sun Jian'nan's face was bruised and swollen. A trace of blood stained the corner of his mouth. Seeing a young stranger standing up for him, he said, "Young man, I appreciate your help, but this is my problem. Please stay out of it."

As a regular at the casino, he knew what these men were capable of. They were like devils who devoured people whole, and he did not want Xiao Luo to come to any harm for his sake.

Manager Geng sneered, "You hear that? The man doesn't want your help. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. So how about you delete that video now and get out of here as far as you can!"

These people were hardened thugs, and threatening to call the police did not faze them.

Realizing that he was getting nowhere, Xiao Luo changed tacks and asked, "How much does he owe you?"

"Two million!" Manager Geng replied, holding up two fingers. His eyes narrowed in a mischievous smirk. "Why? You want to pay up for him?"

"I don't even know this man, so why would I pay his debts? Even if I wanted to, I don't have that much money," Xiao Luo reasoned, before offering his counterpoint: "I do, however, know this man's niece. Now that I have gotten involved, I can't just walk away from this."

Manager Geng and his seven underlings looked at Xiao Luo like he was an idiot, thinking to themselves, Look at this big-shot talk. Who does he think he is? 'I can't just walk away'? This is just a poor kid talking out of his a*s.

"Debts must be repaid. We have every right to claim what is owed to us. What do you think you can do about it?" Manager Geng laughed coldly.

"Give me half an hour. I'll get you two million in chips and settle his debt," Xiao Luo replied.

He could have used violence to rescue Sun Yu's uncle. However, the people running the casinos were part of the local underground and would not give up so easily. He might be able to stop them once, but he would not be around all the time. The simplest way to resolve this issue was to clear the debt between the two parties, once and for all.

Manager Geng was a sharp man, and he regained his composure quickly. "You mean you want to come to our casino to play a few hands and win two million in chips?"

"What, am I not qualified to enter?" Xiao Luo retorted.

"Hehe. Of course, you are! As long as you're not a minor, it's no problem. However, do you have money to play?" Manager Geng's smile widened.

At high-end casinos like theirs, every dealer was a specially trained professional gambler. To even consider winning two million from gambling was a nonsensical idea. It was a ridiculous pipe dream.

The other seven men smiled in amusement. This was the funniest joke they had heard since they'd started working at the casino.

Xiao Luo pulled out a card from his pocket and said, "There's a hundred thousand on this card. Is that enough to play at your casino?"

A hundred thousand?

Manager Geng was slightly taken aback before grinning in glee. "Our minimum bet is ten thousand, so a hundred thousand is more than enough. Please, follow me."

He made a welcoming gesture. If someone with money appeared on their doorstep, they had no reason to turn him away.

"Brother Xiao Luo, don't go!"

Sun Yu pulled at the end of Xiao Luo's jacket, and her delicate face wore a worried and troubled expression. "These men are professional casino operators, so you can't beat them at gambling. That hundred thousand is something you've saved up for yourself. The odds are stacked against you. At a casino, the house always wins, so you're going to lose it all. I'll ask my family for help in settling my uncle's debts. We only just met today and barely know each other, Brother Xiao Luo, so you really don't have to do this."

She could not, in good conscience, let a man she had just met put himself on the line for her.

Xiao Luo smiled. He had stepped up to help mostly because of his masculine pride, but now he was fully committed to helping Sun Yu. This girl was sincere, which had helped her find favor in his eyes.

"It's alright. I don't commit to things I'm not sure about."

As he was saying this, the genius system sounded in his head: "Ding! Congratulations! You've received the gambling ability and used up five hundred points."

"Haha. Oh, so young and heroic! This young man has certainly got guts. This way, please!"

Manager Geng was all smiles. Now that Xiao Luo was a customer, his attitude had taken a complete 180-degree turn. He quietly ordered his men, "Keep watch on Sun Jian'nan. Don't let him get away."

To turn one hundred thousand into two million was an increase of twentyfold. Was such a thing even possible? Of course, it was absolutely impossible. Otherwise, he might as well just shut down his casino business. In his mind, he had already labeled Xiao Luo a fool. Only a fool would dream of making two million from a hundred thousand at a casino.

For this reason, it was all the more important to keep an eye on Sun Jian'nan!

"Let go of me. I'm going with him," Sun Jian'nan yelled as he struggled.

Manager Geng waved at his men, signaling them to release Sun Jian'nan.

If all three of them came along, that was just what he wanted—killing two birds with one stone. On the one hand, he could keep an eye on Sun Jian'nan. And on the other, he could watch first-hand as this young man lost a hundred thousand bucks. When he lost all his hard-earned money in the span of a few minutes, the expression on his face would be priceless.

...

The casino's interior was decorated to look like a palace, and it was no exaggeration to say that it was magnificent. The floor was so utterly spotless that you could see your own reflection in it.

Xiao Luo was actually holding onto slightly over a million. However, he knew not to put all his eggs in one basket, so the rest of the money was not on the card that he took out. Entering his PIN number, he withdrew the sum of a hundred thousand and exchanged it for chips.

"Brother Xiao Luo, I'll be too ashamed to face you if you do this."

Sun Yu was full of anxiety. She was very moved, but her sense of unease was overpowering. How could she drag Xiao Luo into the mess her uncle's debt had created? She was nobody to Xiao Luo, so what right did she have?

"Young man, it's not too late to turn back. A hundred thousand dollars is a huge sum for normal people like us. Please don't be hasty. These are my just desserts, and I alone should bear this burden," Sun Jian'nan said dejectedly.

Xiao Luo simply smiled wordlessly.

Then, he made a beeline for a table where the dice game Big and Small was being played.

As he went over, he saw the dice showing 1, 3, and 5. The dealer covered the dice in a box, and they rattled around inside as the box was shaken. Closing his eyes, Xiao Luo's ears homed in on the frequency of the shaking sound to get a precise sense of how the dice were tumbling inside.

Having redeemed a gambling ability, with his eyes closed and ears focused, it seemed to him that the box was transparent. He could clearly see every motion of the dice as well as the numbers they were going to land on.

Chapter 98

After a while, the dealer put down the box and shouted, "Place your bets! Big or Small?"

The gamblers around the table started placing down their chips. Without stopping to think, Xiao Luo wagered all of his chips worth a hundred thousand on 'Big.'

Hiss!

Sun Jian'nan sucked in a breath of cold air. As the strength went out of his legs, he almost collapsed to the floor. This was a hundred thousand bucks, and this kid just put it all down. If the dice turned up Small, he'd lose it all, just like that.

My God, where did this young man get his confidence from?

He looked fearfully at Xiao Luo, who was calm and collected, and he broke out into a cold sweat.

Sun Yu was so nervous that she did not dare to watch and turned away. She held onto Xiao Luo's clothes with a deadly grip, feeling as though she and not Xiao Luo was the one betting at the table. When she saw Xiao Luo going all-in with chips worth a hundred thousand, all the blood instantly drained from her face. 𝙡𝒊𝓫𝓻𝓮𝙖𝙙.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Three-four-five, Big!"

The dealer's loud voice boomed as he uncovered the dice. The three dice revealed showed the numbers three, four, and five.

Just like that, Xiao Luo had won two hundred thousand, doubling his chips.

"Un-unbelievable!"

Sun Jian'nan's eyes opened wide, gawking in disbelief.

Sun Yu also turned to look at Xiao Luo in surprise. "Brother Xiao Luo, you won?"

"Mm." Xiao Luo simply nodded without any further explanation.

Manager Geng had been keeping tabs on Xiao Luo from the second floor. At this turn of events, his brow furrowed deeply, and he muttered to himself, "This kid has some luck. Who wins on the first round with an all-in bet and so easily squeezes two hundred thousand from a hundred thousand?"

The man beside him remarked, "It's got to be a fluke. If he tries it again in the next round, I'm sure he's going to lose everything."

Manager Geng nodded ambiguously. Lady Luck would not side with anyone forever.

The second round began. Xiao Luo closed his eyes yet again, focusing his hearing on the movement of the die. As he had won a significant amount in the first round, the dealer had taken notice of him. Seeing him with his eyes closed, acting like an expert, he could not help but softly scoff, "What are you playing at? Are you pretending to be a gambling god?"

Xiao Luo acted he had not heard the dealer. With a small smile, he bet all of his chips once again. This time, he bet all two hundred thousand on 'Big.'

Behind him, Sun Jian'nan and Sun Yu's hearts skipped a beat each as they were unable to maintain their composure. This all-or-nothing style of gambling was not for the faint of heart, and they could not help but feel nervous. If Xiao Luo was right, he would double his winnings, but if he made a mistake, he would end up worse than he's started, and all would be lost.

The dealer uncovered the box and reluctantly announced, "Four-five-six, Big!"

The casino staff handed Xiao Luo four hundred thousand dollars' worth of chips.

"You actually guessed right again!"

Sun Jian'nan swallowed hard. In less than five minutes, the hundred thousand Xiao Luo had come into the casino with had become four hundred thousand.

Sun Yu was dumbfounded. She stared wide-eyed with her charming eyes at Xiao Luo, suddenly feeling like this man was a real enigma.

Some of the color drained from Manager Geng's face as he continued watching from the second floor. He marveled at how fortunate Xiao Luo was to have guessed correctly twice in a row.

When Xiao Luo placed four hundred thousand dollars' worth of chips back on 'Big' and won again, Manager Geng lost his cool. The gamblers and dealer at the table felt even more shook up.

Three rounds! He won three rounds in a row! He was too damn lucky!

"Sh*t! What the hell is that dice handler doing?" Manager Geng grumbled testily.

Meanwhile, on the betting floor, seeing that Xiao Luo was on a roll, the other gamblers held back their wagers. They were waiting to see what Xiao Luo would bet on this time.

The dealer refused to believe that Xiao Luo's good fortune would continue, so he poured his all into shaking the dice and rattling them fiercely in the box.

"Place your bets, Big or Small?" Setting the box down, he almost seemed to be yelling directly at Xiao Luo.

Once again, without a shred of hesitation, Xiao Luo placed his chips worth a total of eight hundred thousand on 'Big.'

Many of the other gamblers followed his lead, but some of them felt that the result had been 'Big' three times in a row already, so chances were that it would be 'Small' this time. After some second-guessing, they placed their bets on 'Small.'

Xiao Luo calmly addressed the dealer, "Open it!"

Seeing how confident he was despite the high stakes, the dealer's palm was slick with a layer of cold sweat.

If the dice showed 'Big' again, he feared that he would not be able to work in these parts again. He could even lose his livelihood. Nevertheless, gritting his teeth, he uncovered the box. Seeing the results, he felt like his soul had been plucked out of his body, and his legs buckled without warning. If he had not been using both hands to support himself on the table, he would have crumpled to the floor in a heap.

The dice showed 'three-five-six,' and it was 'Big' again!

From the very beginning, Sun Yu's emotional state had gone through stages of worry, fear, shock, and now incredulity. This man whom she had known for barely three hours was most impressive. In her mind's eye, Xiao Luo's image had grown incomparably enormous and magnificent. She was in a daze as she stared at Xiao Luo's profile.

Her uncle Sun Jian'nan also felt like he was dreaming. Ten minutes ago, Xiao Luo had come in with a hundred thousand, and now he had 1.6 million. In this short time, he had performed a miracle at this casino.

"What the hell? It turned out 'Big' for four consecutive rounds!" the gamblers, who had bet on 'Small,' protested in annoyance.

On the other hand, the gamblers who had decided to follow Xiao Luo were overjoyed. A few of them even told him, "Bro, your luck is amazing, we'll just copy your bets. Hehe!"

At this point, the dealer excused himself, saying he did not feel well, and a new dealer took over for him. As he took his seat, he looked at Xiao Luo and asked with a dry smile, "Sir, are you feeling lucky tonight?"

"Pretty average!" Xiao Luo replied impassively.

"You've already won four rounds in a row. You call that average, huh?"

As the new dealer spoke, he switched out the dice with a sleight of hand.

Nobody else saw it, but the move did not escape Xiao Luo's eyes. He did not react or show any sign of having seen what the dealer had done. Now, he finally understood why the house always won. Thinking that one could make a profit at a casino while gambling was delusional.

The new dealer began to shake the dice, and Xiao Luo shut his eyes to focus his hearing. His ears picked up the faint sound of a die rolling after the dealer had stopped shaking. This meant that the die was loaded, and the dealer would be able to change the results as he saw fit.

"Bro, are you betting on 'Big' or 'Small'? Hurry up and decide!"

The other gamblers saw that Xiao Luo had not placed his bets and were beginning to get flustered.

"Brother Xiao Luo, if you don't feel confident, let's just wait and see for this round," Sun Yu said tenderly.

"Mm." Xiao Luo nodded. There was no obligation to bet, and no matter what he bet on, the dealer could change the results to force him into a loss.

Seeing Xiao Luo abstaining from betting, the new dealer felt that he was probably an experienced gambler. The kid must have heard something strange that tipped him off. The dealer tried to agitate Xiao Luo, taunting him, "Sir, you were really manly earlier, going all-in without a second thought. What's happened now? Are you scared?"

"I think you know what I'm afraid of, don't you?" Xiao Luo chuckled and shot the dealer a pointed look.

It was a loaded statement, and hearing this, the dice handler's expression darkened. He was thinking to himself, Has this kid discovered the trap I set?

Xiao Luo refused to elaborate further and left it at that.

Chapter 99

The new dice handler stayed on as the dealer, but Xiao Luo had not placed a single bet since his arrival. The other gamblers were getting anxious, and those who had started to lose money began laying into Xiao Luo.

"Bro, are you going to play or what? You've already sat out five rounds."

"Maybe he feels like his luck has changed for the worse and doesn't want to continue betting recklessly."

"Ugh. And here I thought I'd found my lucky star for today. So much for tagging along and making a killing—this is all he's got. What a waste."

Xiao Luo turned a deaf ear to the other gamblers' griping and whispered something into Sun Jian'nan's ear.

"Are you sure about this?" Sun Jian'nan's expression was troubled.

"I'm sure. Just do exactly as I say," Xiao Luo replied.

The new dice handler laughed contemptuously. He had full control of how the dice would land. No matter how Xiao Luo placed his bets, he was not winning a single cent from this table.

"Rattle rattle!"

The dice clattered vigorously in the box as he shook them, and after several seconds he firmly slammed the box back on the table.

"Big!"

Xiao Luo yelled out in a sonorous and forceful voice.

The other gamblers, who had been observing Xiao Luo, were delighted. They gleefully wagered their chips on 'Big' without any hesitation.

On the other hand, Xiao Luo made no move to bet after his outburst. Surprisingly, it was Sun Jian'nan who moved, grabbing one million in chips and rushing to the neighboring dice table. He squeezed in and placed all his chips on 'Big.'

"Four-five-six, Big!"

The dealer at the neighboring table announced, his voice carrying. It was 'Big.'

The new dice handler's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Xiao Luo like he was some kind of freak. He never would have imagined that Xiao Luo was capable of listening to the dice game at the neighboring table and accurately guessing the outcome.

"You guys have fun!"

Flashing a cheeky smile at the dealer, Xiao Luo left.

Xiao Luo put down two million in chips on Manager Geng's table. He stared viciously through heavily lidded eyes at Xiao Luo, unable to express the mix of emotions he was feeling. In a way, he was at a loss for words. It was as though the universe had conspired to kick him in the balls. He could not believe that Xiao Luo had actually made two million from his initial hundred thousand—and with a bonus six hundred thousand to boot! How could he accept something so outrageous?

"The debt he owes you should be cleared now, right?" Xiao Luo asked, raising his eyebrows.

Manager Geng's mouth twitched, and he slapped his hand on his desk violently. "Kid, were you cheating?"

To come in so casually and take two million off them, did he think their casino was some kind of charity?

Xiao Luo smiled almost imperceptibly. "The dealer works for you. I'm just guessing the results. If you want to accuse me of cheating, please, enlighten me, how could I have cheated?"

At this, Manager Geng's face flushed red. He did not really believe that Xiao Luo had used any underhanded tricks. The casino monitored all their customers with surveillance cameras. The staff would have immediately noticed if Xiao Luo had made any overt moves to cheat. Yet, if he was playing by the rules, how did he win five rounds in a row without losing? Was his luck that good? The notion was absolutely preposterous!

"How did you do it?" Manager Geng asked with a death stare. He looked like he wanted to take a bite out of Xiao Luo.

"I'm just born lucky. See you!"

After tossing out this casual answer, Xiao Luo picked up the remaining six hundred thousand in chips and departed.

Manager Geng sank into his sofa, gritting his teeth. His hands were tied. He could not dispatch his goons to deal with Xiao Luo here and now. There were guests downstairs, and a brawl would ruin his casino's reputation and force them out of business.

...

"Young man, thank you! Thank you so much!"

Leaving the casino, Sun Jian'nan tearfully knelt on the ground, kowtowing to Xiao Luo in appreciation of his help.

Xiao Luo helped him back to his feet. "You don't look like a gambling man, so how did you end up two million in debt?"

"Ugh," Sun Jian'nan sighed bitterly. "I was a manager at one of the Luo's Workshop bakeries. When business was good, I had a monthly income of around twenty thousand. But after Luo's Workshop's food safety scandal, the flow of revenue from customers visiting our store has dropped to an all-time low. There are some days where we get no customers at all. My salary has also gone from twenty thousand to a mere five or six thousand a month."

Luo's Workshop?!

Xiao Luo was somewhat surprised to discover that Sun Jian'nan was a manager at a Luo's Workshop stall. Digging deeper, he asked, "Your pay cut does not directly explain how you ended up with gambling debts, does it?"

Sun Jian'nan felt like the words were stuck in his throat, and he struggled to share his misery.

"Young man, you wouldn't know this, but I recently bought a house in Jiangcheng. In addition to my car loan, I have to pay fifteen thousand a month. My wife's salary is currently being used to fund our two sons' university education. When things were normal, we managed to get by just fine, and we made enough to cover our expenses. However, now that my salary has dropped to five or six thousand, we are really feeling the pinch."

"Uncle, if you're facing financial difficulties, then why didn't you tell us? My parents could have helped you out," Sun Yu said.

Sun Jian'nan smiled bitterly and replied, "My niece, every family has their own problems to deal with. I could borrow from them once, but if I have to rely on your father every month, I could not bear to bring it up."

"So, you decided to gamble?"

Sun Yu was somewhat triggered. Even she knew that gambling ruined lives, so why had her uncle not understood this simple fact? Gaming did not improve one's fate. It only dragged one deeper into a bottomless abyss.

"I managed to win a hundred thousand at the start, but then..." Sun Jian'nan's voice grew weaker and weaker as he spoke until he finally shut his eyes in remorse.

Xiao Luo explained, "The dice are rigged. There are microchips and electrodes embedded inside. This allows dealers to fix the games and show the results they choose. Basically, you're guaranteed to lose if you gamble at the casino."

Sun Jian'nan nodded solemnly. "I've learned my lesson now. I will never step back into that kind of place for as long as I live."

"I hope you keep that promise," Xiao Luo advised.

Saying his goodbyes, Sun Jian'nan climbed into a taxi and left.

Xiao Luo and Sun Yu were left alone at last, walking side by side. Xiao Luo was thinking about what he'd just heard about Luo's Workshop. If a manager was only earning five or six thousand, how little were the other staff getting?

Just then, Sun Yu ran to a small road-side shop. She bought a pen and paper then scribbled down something quickly.

Xiao Luo was puzzled by her actions. But before he could ask, she passed the slip of paper with her writing to Xiao Luo.

He looked down at the piece of paper, which was clearly titled with the header 'IOU.' Written below that was: 'Today, Sun Yu owes Xiao Luo the sum of two million dollars.'

Her handwriting was neat and beautiful, just like her.

"Brother Xiao Luo, I will return the two million to you," Sun Yu said through pursed red lips.

Return it?

Xiao Luo shook his head and laughed, "Don't worry about it. I didn't lose any money. In fact, I ended up five hundred grand richer."

1"No, I must pay you back. Otherwise, I won't be able to live with myself," Sun Yu insisted stubbornly. She did not enjoy taking advantage of others, even less so when it was a man she had just met.

"You really don't have to do this. Even if I wanted to be repaid, that should be your uncle's obligation, not yours."

"My uncle is family, and his debt is my debt," Sun Yu said, her pretty eyes aflame with determination. "Brother Xiao, I can't pay you all at once, but I can spare two thousand every month. I'll be able to pay you more when my salary increases. My uncle's business is also sure to improve. One day, we'll clear this debt."

Chapter 100

Xiao Luo did not expect Sun Yu to be so bull-headed. Unable to convince her otherwise, he decided to accept the IOU slip for the moment and placed it in his wallet.

He surreptitiously sized up the girl beside him. She had some gentle curves, and she gave off a youthful, lively vibe. The handbag hooked on her shoulder was not branded, but it suited her style. Overall, he felt pretty good about this girl.

Sun Yu was also secretly observing him. For a man, he had an attractive profile, handsome and charismatic. His eyes were worthy of special mention, as they were deep and dark as the night sky. One could easily get lost in them. At the same time, she was genuinely intrigued by Xiao Luo. To think he could turn a hundred thousand dollars into more than two million! She was unable to grasp the full depths of his ability and felt like he was shrouded in mystery.

"Brother Xiao Luo, at the casino, how did you know what numbers the dice would land on?" she asked curiously.

Xiao Luo brushed off the question, remarking, "I just got lucky."

"So, if I stick with Brother Xiao Luo long enough, will your luck rub off on me too?" Sun Yu laughed as her eyes sparkled.

"I guess so," Xiao Luo replied.

The pair looked at each other, breaking into laughter.

Half an hour later, they had arrived at a residential area dedicated to providing rental housing to workers.

Most of the apartments had been built by individual private developers, and the overall layout of the buildings was not great and gave off the impression of being messy. The structures were packed tightly together, and various types of telephone and internet cables crisscrossed the area. It was not a pleasant environment to live in.

"This is my place." 𝑙𝒾𝒷𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Sun Yu turned to face Xiao Luo, feeling warmth in her heart.

"Mm, you should go up. It's getting late. I should be heading back, too," Xiao Luo said.

Stretching out her hand, Sun Yu said, "Brother Xiao Luo, give me your phone."

Xiao Luo had a favorable opinion of her, so he took out his phone and placed it in her hand.

Sun Yu lowered her head, using Xiao Luo's phone to call her own number. Then she hung up, passed the phone back to Xiao Luo, and saved Xiao Luo's contact in her own phone. Smiling sweetly, she said, "Okay, now we have a way to contact each other."

"Then, I'll see you again," Xiao Luo said with a light smile.

Sun Yu nodded then nagged him, "Be careful on the road. Drive slowly."

Xiao Luo replied with a soft, almost imperceptible sound, then turned to depart.

Sun Yu waited where they'd parted and only entered her apartment building when Xiao Luo was out of sight. She was brimming with happiness and joy like she had just returned from a date with her boyfriend. While making her way back to her apartment, she paused to think. Then, she took out her phone and saved Xiao Luo's number under the name 'Big Creditor.'

...

Having left Sun Yu's neighborhood, Xiao Luo called Zhang Dashan and asked him to drive over and pick him up.

Just then, a group of seven to eight men approached, looking like trouble. They were holding sticks and clubs while wearing vicious expressions, and they moved to surround Xiao Luo. Xiao Luo recognized them as the men from before, the ones who worked for the casino and had beaten up Sun Yu's uncle.

"Do you need anything?" Xiao Luo asked quietly.

"Kid, you're quite something to win more than ten times your initial bet in less than half an hour," growled a man sporting an undercut hairstyle with a scar on his forehead. "Our manager is not happy, and he asked us boys to make you bleed a little. The lesson to be learned here is to mind your own damn business, or there is a price to be paid."

Xiao Luo's eyes narrowed as he replied with a small sigh, "I'm in a good mood right now, and I don't want to fight. If you guys leave now, I won't cause you any trouble."

Hearing these threats, the men were shocked into stillness for a split second before bursting out laughing.

"Brother Bao, it looks like this guy has some screws loose. He's a nutcase, saying that he won't cause us trouble," said another man to the first one with the undercut.

"Hahaha!" the rest of the guys bellowed in laughter.

The man with the undercut also laughed along with them before his face suddenly darkened. He threw the cigarette he was smoking down to the ground and ordered fiercely, "Get him!"

The other men steeled their expressions as they raised up metal pipes and wooden sticks, preparing to advance on Xiao Luo.

"Godammit! I can't stand watching you city folk. You guys have no balls, ganging up on someone like this."

A rugged voice boomed suddenly, stopping the men in their tracks.

Xiao Luo looked toward the source of the voice and saw five savage-looking men sauntering over leisurely. They were all over 5'9″, and only the man at the front was slightly shorter, around 5'7″. The man's build did not look particularly strong. He was kind of like the character Lu Xiaobu from the TV show 'iPartment.' Even so, he seemed to be the leader of the other four. He was wearing a large gold chain that was just visible under his open shirt collar.

The man with the undercut saw the imposing mannerisms of the five newcomers, and decided to act cautiously, asking, "Brother, what group are you with? This is Dragon Gang business, so don't come looking for trouble!"

Dragon Gang?

Xiao Luo knit his eyebrows, feeling like he had heard this name before. Thinking for a while, the memories came to him. If he was not mistaken, the crime syndicate that had been trafficking child beggars before had also identified themselves as members of the Dragon Gang.

"Pa!"

The man wearing the heavy gold chain raised his hand and delivered a tight slap to the face of the man with the undercut.

It was a solid slap, not watered down in the slightest, and the sound it made was crisp. The blow stunned the man with the undercut, as it had come so suddenly, without forewarning, and he'd been completely unprepared. Nobody could have expected the man with the heavy gold chain to suddenly resort to violence.

Xiao Luo raised his eyebrows with a slight grin and thought to himself: This should be interesting!

Then, the man with the heavy gold chain yelled out loudly, "I don't care what gang you are from. Dragon Gang, Horse Gang, I've never even heard of it. And what do you mean 'don't look for trouble'? We may be from the countryside, but that doesn't mean you can scare us away with your bullsh*t."

The man with the undercut shook his head, regaining his senses. His face burned hotly with pain, and he was practically shooting fire from his eyes. "You dare hit me, a*shole?"

"Heh! So what if I hit you? I hit you because I acknowledge you. I hit you because you deserved to be hit. I hit you because you spied on the Widow Wang from the neighboring village while she was taking...a...bath..." the man with the gold chain began to explain straightforwardly, but his voice trailed off as he went on. He realized that something was wrong. He had gone off topic and started talking about his own village affairs. He scratched his head, then spat angrily, "Godamnit! Why did I start talking about the Widow Wang?"

"Brother Feng, you were the one peeking at the Widow Wang while she was bathing."

"That's right, Brother Feng, so why are you exposing your own shameful behavior?"

"It's a good thing that these people don't know us, or that would have been so embarrassing."

Four of his companions laughed as they made fun of him.

The man with the heavy gold chain went red in the face. Clearing his throat, he announced loudly, "Bullsh*t. There's nothing to be embarrassed about. So what if I spied on Widow Wang in the bath? When I was young, I bathed together in the nude with Honghong and even touched her privates. And you know me! When have I ever lied to you guys?"

"Brother Feng, you're too awesome. I admire you!"

"No wonder Honghong was looking at you differently when we left the village to start our new lives. You two have had a special relationship ever since you were young!"

"I can only describe my Brother Feng with one word: awesome. Hahaha!"

The four men looked at the man with the heavy gold chain with unending adoration. They gave him two thumbs up as they praised him.