Zhao Dahu froze.
Zhao Erhu?
His brother’s name?
My brother misses me?
What did that mean?
Zhao Dahu’s mind was a mess. He had no idea that his own younger brother, Zhao Erhu, had long since been thrown into the mass grave by Xu Lang, his body likely already dragged away by wild wolves.
He only felt that Xu Lang was putting on airs and spouting nonsense.
He looked again at Murong Yanran standing in front of Xu Lang.
Her sharp moves and icy temperament did make him uneasy.
But…
That was all.
No matter how skilled a woman was, could she really beat him, a seasoned street tyrant?
As for Xu Lang behind her…
A complete and utter waste.
Zhao Dahu’s anger and wounded pride quickly crushed that trace of fear.
“Not bad, little slut. Your skills are impressive,” Zhao Dahu sneered. His gaze shifted away from Murong Yanran and locked firmly onto Xu Lang again. “But I don’t hit women.”
“You little bastard, think hiding behind a woman will keep you safe? Die!”
In his eyes, Murong Yanran was the only threat. As long as he crippled Xu Lang first, the woman would be at his mercy.
Zhao Dahu roared and circled around Murong Yanran. His large hand clenched into a fist again, slicing through the air as it shot straight for Xu Lang’s head.
Murong Yanran frowned and was about to move again. It was instinct for a trained fighter.
Xu Lang gently pressed down on her shoulder. “Yanran, my wife, you’ve worked hard. Why use a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken? Someone like him doesn’t need you to act.”
His voice was calm but filled with unquestionable confidence.
Murong Yanran paused and turned to look at him in surprise.
Was he insane?
Xu Lang had already stepped forward to meet Zhao Dahu’s punch.
He did not dodge.
He did not evade.
He did not even raise his arm to block.
He simply threw a punch of his own, colliding head-on with Zhao Dahu’s fist.
“Courting death!”
Zhao Dahu’s face twisted into a cruel grin.
Strength? In all of Qingshui Town, no one could match him. He could already imagine Xu Lang’s arm shattered, bone fragments piercing through flesh.
The crowd gasped.
“Has Xu Lang lost his mind?”
“He actually dares to trade punches with Zhao Dahu?”
“That arm’s finished!”
Li Xiuzhi shut her eyes tightly, unable to bear watching.
A deep, drum-like explosion echoed as the two fists collided.
The expected sight of Xu Lang’s bones breaking never appeared.
Instead…
Crack.
A dull sound of finger bones dislocating rang out.
“Ah—!”
A suppressed cry of pain burst from Zhao Dahu’s throat.
Everyone stared in disbelief.
Zhao Dahu’s burly body staggered backward five or six steps as if struck by a heavy hammer. His face flushed dark red. His proud iron fist now hung unnaturally, fingers twisted at strange angles, the back of his hand swollen and bruised.
As for Xu Lang, he merely stepped back half a step before steadying himself. He shook his slightly numb fist, his expression unchanged.
Silence fell over the scene.
Every onlooker stood frozen, mouths agape, eyes wide as if they had seen a ghost.
How was this possible?
That weak, sickly Xu Lang had injured Qingshui Town’s tyrant Zhao Dahu with a single punch?
The remaining lackey dropped his wooden stick with a clatter, legs trembling so badly he could barely stand.
Even Murong Yanran’s beautiful eyes were filled with shock.
She understood better than anyone how terrifying that punch had been.
This man…
How many secrets were hidden in his body?
Compared to when he dealt with Zhao Erhu, his strength had grown even more.
It defied reason.
Xu Lang felt the surging power inside him and smiled inwardly.
He walked step by step toward Zhao Dahu, whose face alternated between green and white as he clutched his injured hand. Xu Lang’s smile turned as cold as winter frost.
“I gave you three seconds earlier.”
“You didn’t cherish them.”
“Now it’s too late to leave.”
He stood before Zhao Dahu, looking down at him without a trace of emotion.
Zhao Dahu was both furious and terrified. The searing pain in his hand made cold sweat pour down his face, but the humiliation of being defeated by someone he considered trash burned even more.
“You… you dare!” he shouted, trying to sound fierce.
Xu Lang smiled. “Let’s see whether I dare.”
He lifted his leg and aimed a kick straight at Zhao Dahu’s knee. If it landed, Zhao Dahu’s leg might not break, but he would limp for months.
“Stop! What are you doing? Fighting in the street? Want to be locked up?”
A powerful shout rang out from outside the crowd.
The onlookers parted as a middle-aged man in constable attire, a saber at his waist, strode forward with two subordinates.
It was Li Si, head constable of Qingshui Town.
Li Si immediately noticed the confrontation and Zhao Dahu clutching his hand in pain. His brows tightened.
“What’s going on? Street brawling? Is there no law?”
Li Si’s sharp gaze fell on Xu Lang. “Did you do this?”
Before Xu Lang could speak, Li Xiuzhi rushed forward with all her courage. She fell to her knees before Li Si and cried, “Officer, it’s not Brother Xu Lang’s fault! Zhao Dahu tried to take me and beat Brother Xu Lang. Brother Xu Lang only fought back in self-defense!”
Li Si glanced at the trembling lackey and the two groaning men on the ground. He quickly understood most of what had happened.
He knew well what kind of person Zhao Dahu was. The man had bullied people in town countless times.
But today, he had kicked an iron plate. And that iron plate was Xu Lang, the town’s famous weakling?
Though puzzled, Li Si did not show it. He snorted and barked, “Zhao Dahu! Again you! You never do anything proper and only stir up trouble! Today this is your fault! If there’s a next time, I’ll lock you in jail! Now get lost!”
Zhao Dahu’s face twisted with rage and humiliation. He shot Xu Lang a venomous glare, touching the dagger at his waist. If Li Si had not arrived, he would have stabbed Xu Lang full of holes.
“Xu Lang… just wait!”
Leaving a threat behind, Zhao Dahu fled in disgrace, clutching his injured hand. The hatred in his eyes made it clear this was not over.
The commotion finally settled.
The crowd dispersed.
Li Si gave Xu Lang one last assessing look before leaving with his men.
Soon, only Xu Lang’s household and Li Xiuzhi and her father remained.
Li Cheng looked at his daughter and then at Xu Lang, fear etched across his face.
They had escaped today, but Zhao Dahu would never let it go.
Suddenly, Li Cheng gritted his teeth and hurried forward. He fell to his knees before Xu Lang.
“Xu Lang… no, Master Xu!”
He knocked his head against the ground repeatedly. “Thank you for saving my daughter. We will never forget your great kindness. But… we’ve offended Zhao Dahu. We won’t have peaceful days ahead. I… I have a request.”
He looked up pleadingly. “Take Xiuzhi… sell her to you. I don’t want money! As long as you give her food and let her live, I’ll repay you like an ox or horse!”
Xu Lang’s heart leapt with joy.
What?
Such a good deal?
A gentle and kind little beauty for free?
Li Xiuzhi was so kind. Her favorability would be easy to increase. And marrying a wife meant another reward package.
This was pure profit.
He had agreed a thousand times in his heart, but he could not show it. Three pairs of eyes were watching him.
He sighed and glanced at Hua Yourong, Murong Yanran, and Xia Zhiruo. “Uncle Li, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but you know my situation. One more mouth means more burden.”
Li Xiuzhi, still kneeling, trembled at his words.
She slowly lifted her tear-streaked face, despair filling her eyes.
Yes.
Brother Xu Lang had already saved her once. Why should he take responsibility for her too? He already had three fairy-like wives, and life was hard enough. How could she drag him down?
It was all her fault.
If not for her, Brother Xu Lang would not have offended Zhao Dahu.
Biting her pale lips, tears streamed down her face.
Suddenly she jumped to her feet and bowed deeply to Xu Lang. “Brother Xu Lang, thank you. Don’t worry, I won’t burden you.”
She turned and stumbled in the direction Zhao Dahu had fled.
“I’ll go find Zhao Dahu! I’ll make him stop troubling you!”
Her voice carried desperate resolve. “I’ll tell Zhao Dahu that as long as he leaves Brother Xu Lang alone, I… I’ll do whatever he says. I only ask that Brother Xu Lang stays safe.”