Chapter 64
Xu Ke strolled leisurely on the street under the moonlight, estimating in his mind how much longer he would wander before heading home while also not forgetting to edit words in his head for explanations to Lin Mengyao. He simulated several scenarios in his mind of the questions Lin Mengyao might ask during these explanations. So engrossed in his thoughts, he didn’t notice that the road he was walking on was getting more secluded.
“You damn woman, how dare you hit me? Just wait, I’ll give you a good beating later, damn it.” A slightly sharp male voice interrupted Xu Ke’s thoughts.
Xu Ke looked up in the direction of the voice. At the far end of the alley stood four young men dressed in bizarre outfits, surrounding a woman dressed provocatively with heavy makeup, looking quite inebriated.
“Get lost! Who the hell do you think you are? Stay away from me. Do you know who I am? I’ve got backing, I’m going to be a big star with millions of fans. If you dare do anything to me today, tomorrow I’ll have my fans take care of you,” the woman drunkenly leaned against the wall for balance, pointing at the men in front of her and slurring her words.
“Take care of us? Hahaha, no need for your fans. You’ll have that chance today.” The leading man laughed unnervingly as he reached out his tattooed arm towards the woman, just as his hand was about to grab her wrist, Xu Ke stepped forward and spoke.
“Let go of the woman.”
“Who are you? We saw her first. You understand ’first come, first served’? Wait until we’ve had our fun. You can do whatever you want with her afterward. Now get lost and don’t interfere with our fun.” Seeing Xu Ke was alone, the tattooed man dismissed him, waving him off impatiently.
“I told you to let her go.” Xu Ke said with growing impatience, one hand casually in his pocket.
“You tell us to let her go, and we let her go? Who do you think you are? What era do you think this is? Still trying to play hero here? Before we get angry, you’d better get lost, understood?” The tattooed leader stepped up to Xu Ke, trying to assert a domineering posture while jabbing a finger at Xu Ke’s chest provocatively.
“Ah! Let go of me!” The tattooed man said in pain.
Just as he jabbed at Xu Ke’s chest, Xu Ke grabbed his hand and forcibly bent it backward. The intense pain in his fingers caught him off guard, making him cry out involuntarily, drawing the attention of the other three who had previously dismissed Xu Ke.
“Let go of my big brother, or you won’t leave this alley alive today.” The tattooed man’s comrades threatened Xu Ke loudly.
“Did you hear me? Let go of my big brother, or you’ll regret it.” The three men pulled out electric batons aimed at Xu Ke. The electric crackle echoed crisply in the narrow alley. Behind them, the drunken woman began to vomit against the wall, the unspeakable stench carried by the breeze made Xu Ke wrinkle his nose in distaste.
“Damn it, let go of me now! You’re going to break my fingers. I warn you, if anything happens to my fingers, I won’t let you off, I swear.” The tattooed man snarled at Xu Ke, his face twisted in pain.
“I’m telling you for the last time, leave the woman and get lost!” Xu Ke didn’t flinch at their threats, not even changing his stance.
To Xu Ke, their show was only enough to scare kids; they weren’t qualified to frighten him.
Xu Ke’s leisurely tone exerted immense pressure on them. At this moment, they realized something unusual about Xu Ke, but due to their gang loyalty, they still blocked the woman’s path, unmoving, their eyes on the tattooed man in Xu Ke’s grip.
“I’ve been in this game for years, and no one has ever dared speak to me like that. All of you, get him!” The tattooed man, enduring the pain, yanked his fingers free from Xu Ke’s grasp and commanded his underlings to attack.
It wasn’t just about the woman anymore; it was about the man’s pride now.
The underlings received their boss’s orders, each wielding an electric baton, rushing at Xu Ke in a row. Their faces fierce, they seemed full of momentum, reminiscent of street tough guys from old Hong Kong films, but in reality, their attacks were full of openings in Xu Ke’s eyes.
Xu Ke watched the four rushing towards him, a mocking smile playing on his lips. He took two steps back in their view, and as their triumph hadn’t fully formed, he darted forward. As the first assailant nearly reached him, Xu Ke braced against the wall, leaping into the air, his knee slamming into the opponent’s jaw, knocking him out cold.
From Xu Ke’s first strike to his stoppage, it all took no more than thirty seconds. Two of them down, the ones who had underestimated Xu Ke initially, while Xu Ke stood unruffled, not a corner of his clothes disturbed.
“What now, still want to continue?” Xu Ke twirled the newly seized electric baton, raising an eyebrow casually at the third man who had just rushed up to him, languidly asking.
“Big brother…” The last remaining underling, baton raised, his legs trembling unconsciously, turned to his tattooed leader. He had witnessed Xu Ke’s strength first-hand; he stood no chance against him. Rather than foolishly fighting on, better to swallow his pride and concede, at least that way it wouldn’t be a miserable defeat.