Xia Tian's sudden arrival cheered Bing Xin, Ye Qingxue, and the others, but Ye Qingxue immediately felt a flicker of anxiety. What difference would Xia Tian's presence make in this situation?
Their predicament was far from resolved. Forty or fifty unruly men surrounded them—more than enough to create trouble. Even with Xia Tian there, they were outnumbered at least five to one.
Brother Leopard, seated across from them, paid little attention to the newcomer. In the Emperor KTV he was the local boss; no one there dared challenge him.
"Stinky kid, how did you get in?" Brother Leopard glanced at Xia Tian with confusion. This area had been surrounded by his men just moments ago — how had this boy suddenly appeared before him?
"Xia Tian, why did you come in?" Ye Qingxue asked, worry evident in her voice.
"Someone's trying to bully you, so of course I came in," Xia Tian replied.
"But you came alone. You'll be implicated too." Ye Qingxue's primary concern was for Xia Tian's safety.
"Don't worry. I'll handle it." Xia Tian offered a reassuring smile.
Ye Qingxue didn't know why, but seeing Xia Tian's expression relaxed her. He was different now — no longer the obedient cousin she once knew. Perhaps her mother had been right: Xia Tian's future was destined to be extraordinary.
Bing Xin regarded Xia Tian with curiosity. Every time she saw him, he seemed to surprise her more than before. From their first meeting to now, Xia Tian had given her countless unexpected impressions.
"What color do you think I'm wearing today?" Bing Xin asked suddenly.
Her question sounded odd to the others; only she, Ye Qingxue, and Xia Tian understood the context.
"You suit the cute style better," Xia Tian said with a faint smile, then turned his head away.
Bing Xin lowered her gaze. He was right again. She wasn't wearing anything kawaii today; she had changed her usual style and dressed in black.
Though Xia Tian's words were simple, they stirred something in her — she half-joked that he must have a camera hidden somewhere.
"If someone shouts for help in here, no one outside will hear, right?" Xia Tian asked Brother Leopard lightly.
Hmph. Brother Leopard snorted. Xia Tian had ignored his earlier question, and that rankled him. "Just so you know, you little brats — even if you scream your heads off today, nobody will stop us. If you don't cooperate and let her drink with me, I'll show you what happens."
"So the police can't get in either?" Xia Tian probed.
"Of course not. Don't expect the police to come. With me here, I stand for Brother Leopard's justice." Liu's implication was clear: as long as he was present, no officer would be allowed through. If any tried, he would force them back. He wanted to "uphold justice" for Brother Leopard and had no interest in the female students beyond satisfying his own desires.
Ye Qingxue was exceptionally beautiful — the most beautiful Liu had ever seen — and he had finally encountered her tonight. He wasn't going to let her leave. With Brother Leopard's presence, his own fantasies could be fulfilled. As for covering up the aftermath, Liu had ways; he had done this before and excelled at silence.
Xia Tian had dismantled all the cameras earlier. When he heard them claim the police could not enter, he allowed himself a thin smile. "Good. That way, even if I kill you all, the police won't know it was me."
"You're courting death," Brother Leopard snapped. "I've seen arrogant men, but you're the first to remain stubborn in the face of death."
"Brother Leopard, calm down. First, break his legs and teach him a lesson. After that, I'll get a lawyer to find an excuse to have him arrested. Once he's locked up, someone will take proper care of him." Liu grinned maliciously. This was old practice for him.
"Cousin, you go back inside first." Xia Tian opened the box's door.
"But you—" Ye Qingxue protested.
"Don't worry. I'll be fine. I'll stall them." Xia Tian didn't want Ye Qingxue or the others harmed. "Remember: no matter what sounds you hear later, don't come out."
"Brother Xia, let us help you," the four members of the literature and art club said, stepping close.
"No need. You four should go back and rest. It will be quick."
Reluctant but obedient, they returned to the box. Xia Tian remained in the corridor, surrounded. At Brother Leopard's command, the men surged toward him.
"A good chance to test my Manyun Fairy Steps and Lingxi Yizhi," Xia Tian murmured. He moved lightly. In his eyes these men were slow. Lingxi Yizhi targeted acupoints; a precise strike could drop an opponent immediately.
To catch a ringleader, you must first catch the leader.
Once Xia Tian entered the crowd he flowed like a fish in water; his fairy steps moved as if the space were empty. He struck quickly at the two nearest men with both hands. Xia Tian had studied the locations of acupuncture points since childhood; paired with his X-Ray eyes, he could locate them easily. The points taught on television were not nonsense — each had a use. A sudden, forceful poke could cause temporary paralysis.
In moments, ten men collapsed around Xia Tian.
Even Brother Leopard was stunned. He had heard of people who knew martial arts, but he'd never expected such power: "Come on! Whoever can beat him will be the leader."
Where there is a big reward, there are always brave fools.
The mob tried a human-wave tactic, but it was useless. With Manyun Fairy Steps, no matter how they tried to lock him, they could not surround him. The alley's narrowness prevented those at the back from reaching forward. Although enemies flanked him, few could land a proper blow.
"Hah, I found you." Xia Tian threaded through the crowd and in an instant stood before Brother Leopard.
Brother Leopard, ruthless by nature, drew a dagger and lunged.
Just as the blade descended, two fingers clamped it. Click.
Xia Tian snapped the dagger with only two fingers.
Everyone froze. Xia Tian gave them no time to react. He struck Brother Leopard's arm with his right fist and heard the sickening snap: the right arm broke.
"Ah!" Brother Leopard screamed. Liu had already slipped away.
"The power of the Manyun Fairy Steps is incredible." Xia Tian felt satisfied. It had taken him only three seconds to move past the crowd and stand before Brother Leopard.
There were more than twenty meters between them; a normal person would never cross that distance so quickly. But Xia Tian did it in three seconds.
"I remember you said no one outside could hear the noise, right?" Xia Tian said as he yanked Brother Leopard's arm hard; the limb snapped again.
"Ahhh!" a sound like an animal being slaughtered escaped Brother Leopard. "Let me go and I'll kill you," he howled through the pain.
Xia Tian said nothing but smiled faintly. Then he pulled again: another break, then he reattached it, then broke it again. He repeated this procedure — break, reconnect, break, reconnect — ten times. Brother Leopard fainted from pain at one point, only to be woken by Xia Tian's precise manipulation of the acupoints.
Brother Leopard's men stood trembling. The closest ones' knees shook; one had wet himself. These were gangsters, but none had seen such a scene.
Even the once-formidable Brother Leopard was humbled.
"Brother — uncle — please, let me go," Brother Leopard begged, knelt, tears and snot on his face.
"If I let you go when you beg, wouldn't that make me lose face?" Xia Tian replied, alternating tearing the arm and reconnecting it.
After another round or two Brother Leopard no longer had the strength to plead. The torture had terrified his men; none dared move.
"Okay, I've had enough fun. Let them go," Xia Tian said, and finally released Brother Leopard's arm.
"Let him go! Let him go!" Brother Leopard's forehead was drenched in sweat; he could barely speak. Seeing Xia Tian step away, none of his men dared pursue.
"I'll give you one minute," Xia Tian warned.
A minute later Xia Tian opened the box door and smiled faintly. "Solved."