The crew-cut youth sneered, about to throw a punch that would send the dull-witted boy flying, blood splattering everywhere. At that moment, Zhou Ping's face revealed an extremely pleased smile.
However, his smile immediately froze on his face, because he saw Ling Yun suddenly kick the crew-cut youth in the abdomen. The kick was not fast, and even an ordinary person could see it clearly, but for some reason the crew-cut youth did not dodge.
The kick didn't seem to have much force, but the crew-cut youth flew out like a piece of paper. With a loud thud, his back slammed into the ancient city wall, and he bounced off and fell to the ground, his body twitching once before he lay still.
Everyone was stunned by this scene.
The sword-browed youth and Chen Jiaxuan involuntarily stopped fighting, staring in utter shock at Ling Yun and the unconscious crew-cut youth.
Chapter Thirty-One Threat
The sword-browed youth stared blankly at his companion lying on the ground, then at the still frail boy who could be knocked down with a single punch. A sudden wave of bewilderment washed over him. This crew-cut youth was a king among underground fighters, their skills evenly matched. In terms of sheer strength, the crew-cut youth was even superior.
The two men had been immersed in the underground free-fighting world for many years, fighting their way up through countless battles, truly life-or-death struggles, fighting to the death without complaint. Having become kings, what kind of opponent hadn't they seen? What kind of master hadn't they defeated? When Zhou Ping used his connections to invite them to fight, the sword-browed youth thought Zhou Ping was making a mountain out of a molehill—did he really need two fighting masters to deal with a student? Of course, since the other party had paid a generous fee, the sword-browed youth and his companion naturally wouldn't turn down the money.
However, first, a girl who suddenly appeared out of nowhere beat him so badly he couldn't breathe, and then, the skinny boy simply kicked his companion unconscious. If he hadn't witnessed it with his own eyes, the sword-browed youth would have found it utterly absurd. What's wrong with this world? After years of struggling in the underworld, had he finally come to the surface, only to find that even ordinary college students had become this powerful? One kick and he could knock out a martial arts expert—damn, this boy is terrifying!
Chen Jiaxuan quickly went from surprise to delight. Ignoring the young man with sword-like eyebrows, she ran to Ling Yun's side and slapped him hard on the shoulder: "Hey kid, I didn't expect you to be so capable. If I had known, I wouldn't have come out to stand up for you."
Ling Yun looked at this beautiful expert with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. He had called her "brother" before, but this beauty had never called him "classmate." However, Ling Yun was also very grateful for Chen Jiaxuan's righteous intervention, and said with a faint smile, "Thank you for your righteousness, Jiaxuan. I just happened to be there. If it weren't for you, I might have been in grave danger."
Chen Jiaxuan said happily, "You're really good with words, kid. I like you. Come and pursue me, I think you have a bright future!" As she spoke, she patted Ling Yun's shoulder hard.
Ling Yun rolled her eyes, thinking, "You were just acting normal for a moment, and now you're back to your old self." Changing the subject, she asked, "By the way, didn't you participate in military training?"
"Hehe." Chen Jiaxuan got excited and said smugly, "If the Four Beauties weren't a little different from ordinary students, would they still be called the Four Beauties? Since we're beauties, of course we don't need to participate in the tough, tiring, and useless military training. Besides, do you think someone as well-mannered and skilled as me needs to participate in military training?"
"Uh...of course not." Ling Yun suddenly realized that talking to Chen Jiaxuan was a very mentally taxing task.
"Actually, I snuck out. I don't want to be all sweaty and sweltering in the sun on the playground. Every time we have military training, I run off to go shopping. Don't tell anyone, okay? You swear." Chen Jiaxuan suddenly leaned closer and whispered in Ling Yun's ear, her breath sweet as orchids.
"...I promise I won't tell anyone. If I do, I'm a puppy," Ling Yun said sincerely.
"Haha, you're hilarious, Ling Yun. I'm finding you more and more interesting." Chen Jiaxuan laughed heartily, then suddenly her expression turned cold, and she shouted, "Zhou Ping, you think you can just leave like that?"
It turned out that Zhou Ping and the others were overjoyed to see the two chatting so casually, seemingly forgetting about them. Seeing how powerful Ling Yun was, able to knock out a martial arts expert with a single kick, they realized their own group of amateurs were no match for him. Now was the perfect time to leave. They quietly gave a signal, and with a few followers and the short boy, prepared to slip away unnoticed.
Upon hearing Chen Jiaxuan's shout, Zhou Ping and the others froze, not daring to move. Only the short boy, after a moment of stiffness, suddenly took off running desperately into the distance.
The young man with sword-like eyebrows stood there for a long time, then finally sighed heavily. He silently walked over, hoisted his companion's body onto his shoulder, and turned to Ling Yun, saying, "Brother Ling Yun, and this... young lady. Today, I, Wu Wanshen, know I am no match for you. According to the rules of underground fighting, I should be at your mercy, to be killed or widowed. However, I have important matters to attend to, and I must spare this wretched life. Please, young brother, show mercy and spare me for a few days. After I finish my business, I will come back to you to accept my death."
"Wow, you really are someone from the underworld! You speak with such style and conviction. But we're just students, not gangsters. We won't do anything to you," Chen Jiaxuan said, gently brushing her hair.
"You can leave now. This has nothing to do with you. You just said that you're only doing what you're paid to do," Ling Yun said calmly. "You didn't complete your employer's task, so naturally you won't get paid. This is your punishment. Besides, your companion has already been knocked unconscious by me. I won't do anything to you."
A sharp glint flashed in Wu Wanshen's eyes. "You don't believe me?" he said, suddenly pulling a gleaming dagger from his pocket and forcefully slashing at his left wrist. "If you don't believe me, I can cut off my own hand and put it here with you to see if I will keep my promise."
A strange force suddenly stopped his movements. Wu Wanshen looked at the dagger in his hand in surprise. The blade had even touched the flesh, but it could not go any further.
Ling Yun slowly walked over, took the dagger from Wu Wanshen's hand, and deftly twirled it in his hand: "Brother Wu, my classmate made it very clear just now that we are just students, not what you call江湖人 (jianghu people). I don't know what jianghu is either; it's probably just the unspoken rules of your underground fighting. So, you don't need to keep your promise to me, and I don't want your life, even if you did it willingly. Besides, I said I wouldn't pursue it, and I really mean it. Please believe me, okay?"
Wu Wanshen remained silent for a long time before saying, "Okay, I believe you. But I have my own principles; my life is yours."
“Brother, you value loyalty and promises a lot.” Ling Yun sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Then let me say a few more words. If you really feel you owe me something, then I want to ask you to be a kind person in the future. Even if you’re taking money to solve someone’s problems, you’re still doing something wrong. Today I’m stronger than you, so you can’t beat me, but what if you encountered a student who couldn’t even kill a chicken? If you crippled or killed him, wouldn’t his parents and relatives be sad and heartbroken? You’re not just harming one person, but a family and the people who care about them. Even if you’re not married, don’t you have parents? If you were beaten to death like this one day, wouldn’t your parents be sad? If you’re married, have a wife and children, and after raising them to adulthood, were injured like this, wouldn’t you be sad?”
“Perhaps you’ve seen so much life and death that you’re indifferent to these things, but we’re not bad people. We have no reason to die. Is it fair that we suffer this misfortune simply because we might have offended some rich and powerful person?” Ling Yun glanced at Zhou Ping and sighed. “So if you feel you owe me a life, then I ask you to stop doing such heinous things in the future. Kindness is always the most beautiful aspiration of mankind.”
Wu Wanshen stared at Ling Yun in shock, feeling as if his soul had been touched by the young man. After giving Ling Yun a deep look, Wu Wanshen nodded heavily: "Thank you, I know what to do. See you again sometime."
With that, Wu Wanshen hoisted the crew-cut youth onto his back and strode away.
"Wow, Lingyun, you saved a lost sheep with just a few words! You've bleached his evil soul into a pure angel!" Chen Jiaxuan exclaimed exaggeratedly. "Now I not only find you interesting, but I also admire you more and more."
Ling Yun: "…………"
Zhou Ping walked over slowly, his face somewhat pale but still relatively calm. He forced a smile at Ling Yun: "Ling Yun, I think there might be some misunderstanding between us? Actually, I have no ill intentions towards you. If you're willing, we can have a good talk."
Chen Jiaxuan laughed and said, "I didn't mean any harm. You just wanted to cripple Ling Yun, but you spared his life."
Ling Yun remained silent. He hadn't expected Zhou Ping to be so ruthless. After all, they were just students. Even if it was just an unpleasant argument over pursuing someone he liked, why resort to such a vicious act? Although he had embarrassed Zhou Ping in public last time, that was Zhou Ping's own fault. It seemed he had been too naive, underestimating people.
Thinking of this, Ling Yun couldn't help but feel a deep sense of disgust towards Zhou Ping. However, he was always passive by nature and had no precedent of taking the initiative to punish others. But if he let Zhou Ping go now, what would happen if Zhou Ping provoked him again next time?
Seeing his unfathomable silence, Zhou Ping felt even more uneasy. His earlier smugness and happiness had long since vanished. He used to be the one to impose such judgments on others, and the feeling of being high and mighty was certainly exhilarating. But now that it was his turn, Zhou Ping realized how terrifying and uncomfortable it was.
"Ling Yun." Zhou Ping thought nervously for a moment, then decided to play the emotional card again. "I know I went too far, but I was just eager to pursue Xia Zhen. I think you've liked a girl before, and you can understand that feeling of being insecure. I admit I was jealous of you, I was a petty person, I was out of my mind. If you're willing to let me go, I can compensate you materially. Of course, I'm not showing off. And if you have any problems, my family has many connections and can help you solve them."
Chen Jiaxuan crossed her arms and smiled dismissively: "So what if you're rich?"
Ling Yun slowly walked up to Zhou Ping, staring at him without speaking for a long time. Zhou Ping looked at him in fear, his heart pounding in his throat, and he involuntarily swallowed hard: "Ling Yun..."
"Are you very rich?" Ling Yun suddenly said.
Chapter Thirty-Two: Ordinary Girl VS Ordinary Boy
"Ah!" Zhou Ping didn't react for a moment and blurted out, but he immediately showed a look of ecstasy. "Yes, yes, I'm very rich. I can compensate you. I can give you as much as you want, as long as you are generous and don't pursue the matter further."
"Ling Yun!" Chen Jiaxuan pouted angrily and shouted, "You want his money? I'm not talking to you anymore."
Ling Yun looked at Chen Jiaxuan and smiled faintly, "What's wrong with money?"
"You!" Chen Jiaxuan turned around angrily. "I really shouldn't have helped you."
"Lingyun, I have my checkbook with me. I can write you a check anytime." Zhou Ping instantly regained his dashing and confident demeanor. If a problem can be solved with money, then it's not a problem. In his heart, he secretly sneered: This poor wretch probably hasn't seen much money before.
"No need, just give me a legally recognized IOU. I don't want cash or checks," Ling Yun said calmly.
"Alright." When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. Zhou Ping replied helplessly, then pulled out a notebook and a Nike gold pen from his pocket. He tore a blank sheet of paper from the notebook, placed it on the black cover, and wrote a few lines with the gold pen, saying, "All written, and signed. What's the amount?"