Chapter 9: You Can Run, But You Can't Hide
*Clang! Ding!*
The sounds of metal on metal erupted in the alley. Goons clutching steel pipes winced, their虎口sthrobbing as if struck by a hammer; those wielding machetes stared dumbly at the jagged gaps in their blades. When the echoes faded, silence descended—a thick, suffocating silence.
These thugs, men who prided themselves on intimidation, now trembled from skull to toe. Even their bravado, usually as thick as their tattoos, had evaporated.
Wu Yifan let the cigarette dangle from his lips, tilting his head to stare at the stars. The night sky, dotted with pinpricks of light, felt like a far-off dream compared to the chaos at his feet.
Then, a movement.
From the huddle of goons stepped a teenage girl—slim, with hair cascading down her back like a waterfall, her face a mix of defiance and youth. Moonlight gilded her features: a small, upturned nose, lips pressed into a thin line, eyes sharp as shards of glass. In her hand, she gripped a steel pipe, her knuckles white.
"Cut the god act, you bastard!" she spat, swinging the pipe at his shoulder.
*Sparks flew.*
The clang echoed, clear and sharp, in the quiet alley. The girl froze, her pipe now bent at a grotesque angle. For the first time, fear flickered in her eyes—but she stood her ground, chin raised, her body trembling not from fear, but from the effort of holding her ground.
Wu knew a single glance could shatter her resolve. But why? She'd just proved his invincibility to the others, saving him the trouble of more "demonstrations." He flicked ash from his cigarette, his voice low and deliberate, channeling every bad action movie villain he'd ever seen: "Repent. You're all filth—scum clinging to the cracks of this city. Cross me again, and I'll *clean* this alley."
One by one, they dropped their weapons. First a machete, then a pipe, clattering on the gravel. Soon, twenty men knelt, foreheads to the ground, too terrified to look up.
Wu sighed inwardly. *This is too much.* He'd wanted to scare them, not turn them into worshippers. Publicity was the last thing he needed—not with the Enhancer's tasks looming, not with "Running Emperor" still trending online. If word got out about a "metal man" in Beitian's alleys, he'd never know peace.
"Tonight stays between us," he said, turning to leave. "Speak a word, and you'll regret it."
He walked slowly, savoring the quiet—until he heard footsteps behind him.
*Really?* Wu thought. Had the suit guy grown a spine? He spun around.
It was the girl.
She froze, her pipe still clutched in her shaking hand. When Wu turned back to walk, she followed, her steps quickening to match his.
Wu frowned. He'd meant to slip back to his apartment, not gain a shadow. He picked up speed, weaving through a maze of side alleys, but she kept pace—small, stubborn, her presence a silent challenge.
Finally, he stopped, turning to face her. "What do you want?" His voice was sharper than he'd intended. He softened it, adding, "Look—I'm just a guy. Normal. Got it?"
The girl nodded, but her eyes said she didn't believe a word. *TV taught her better*, Wu thought. Heroes always claimed to be "normal."
"I want to learn," she said, her voice steady. "Teach me how to fight like you."
Wu scoffed. "Fighting's not a game. You're a kid—"
"I'm sixteen!" She puffed out her chest, as if proving her age, her tone suddenly cold,决绝. "I'll pay. Whatever it takes. You can… have me. But… but I want you to earn my heart first."
Wu raised an eyebrow. *Interesting.*
She hesitated, then nodded. "Anything. Whatever you ask."
"Anything?" he echoed, a lazy smirk playing on his lips. "I don't want your heart. Just you."
Her breath hitched. Disgust flashed across her face—a teenage girl's instinctive recoil—but she swallowed it, her jaw set. "Fine."
"Good. Close your eyes."
The girl froze, glancing around the empty alley. "H-here?"
"Here."
"I'm not refusing," she said, her voice wavering, "but… can we go to a hotel? Please?"
"Nope."
She bit her lip, fists clenched. *Great*, she thought. The "hero" was a pervert.
"Ready?" Wu asked, stepping closer, letting his voice drop to a mock-seductive purr. He hoped she'd bolt—this was getting too complicated.
"I…" She stepped back, chest heaving.
"Scared?" he taunted.
For a second, she looked like she might run. Then, slowly, she tilted her head back and closed her eyes. Her lashes fluttered, casting delicate shadows on her cheeks, her lips parted slightly. In the moonlight, she looked younger than sixteen—vulnerable, despite her bravado.
Wu paused. *She's really doing this.* He'd meant to scare her off, but here she was, trusting him (or trusting her desperation) enough to stand blind in a dark alley.
He almost felt guilty. Almost.
Instead, he took three quick steps back, turned on his heel, and sprinted.
The girl's eyes flew open. "Hey!" she yelled, spinning around.
Wu was already halfway down the alley, his身影 shrinking into the darkness.
She stared after him, then laughed—a short, bitter sound. *Coward.*
But her smile returned, sharp and determined, as she pulled out a crumpled business card from her pocket. Infinity KTV. She'd seen him there, loitering by the door, smoking.
"You can run," she murmured, tucking the card away. "But I know where you work."
She turned, walking back toward the main street, her step lighter now. The goons were long gone—probably hiding in sewers, she thought. Good. Let them cower.
As for Wu Yifan? She'd find him. Tomorrow, at Infinity. And when she did, she'd make him teach her.
No matter what.
Elsewhere, Wu leaned against a wall, catching his breath. *Close call.* He'd need to be more careful—teenage girls with something to prove were dangerous. Determined.
He checked his watch: 1 enhancement point left. Muscle strength still active, but fading.
*One point*, he thought. *Enough for a quick agility boost if I need it.*
He headed home, his mind racing. The girl, Ye's warning, the Enhancer's next task—his life was turning into a circus. A loud, messy, *unpredictable* circus.
But as he unlocked his apartment door, he grinned.
Unpredictable was better than boring.
And tomorrow? Tomorrow, he'd face his new shadow.
After all, she knew where to find him.
And he had a feeling—she'd be there. Bright and early.
The night air hummed, and Wu Yifan, for once, didn't mind the chaos.
Bring it on.