C4 I Am Not Easy to Provoke

"Sure thing," Wang Fei replied with ease.

"Oh, in that case, you're definitely up for treating me to dinner, right?" Xiao Ge said, grinning at Wang Fei.

"Fine, fine," Wang Fei responded through clenched teeth.

"See, I told you that you'd end up treating me to a meal, but you wouldn't believe me. Now do you?" Xiao Ge shook his head, gesturing with a wave of his hand, "Come on, let's go eat!"

Xiao Ge was decisive, saying it was time to go and immediately setting off, with the reluctant and non-violent group of six in tow. They followed Xiao Ge, albeit unwillingly, convinced that if they resisted, this man who professed a dislike for violence would not hesitate to resort to it.

And so, in full view of a crowd of more than a hundred onlookers, Xiao Ge casually led the bruised and battered group of six down the street.

Seconds later, a voice from the crowd exclaimed in awe, "Damn, Xiao Ge is really something else. It's no wonder he had the guts to call off his engagement with Qin Feiya!"

The crowd nodded in agreement; this guy was truly remarkable!

Ningcheng Main Street was the central artery of Ningcheng City and the most bustling thoroughfare in town. The street was actually comprised of two roads that intersected at Ningcheng Square, forming a cross and dividing into four segments: Ningcheng East Road, Ningcheng West Road, Ningcheng South Road, and Ningcheng North Road.

With a population just over one million, Ningcheng City was considered a mid-sized city. Yet, it boasted all the hallmarks of modern urban life, complete with an airport, a train station, and an extensive public transit system. The city's dining scene was particularly vibrant, reflecting the adage that food is paramount to the people.

Ningcheng University was situated just off Ningcheng South Road. A mere ten-minute walk from the university gates, one could find two renowned eateries in Ningcheng City: Little Fat Sheep Hotpot and Big Fat Sheep Mutton Hotpot.

While Little Fat Sheep Hotpot had national fame, Big Fat Sheep Mutton Hotpot was a local favorite in Ningcheng City. At that moment, Xiao Ge was seated at a large table in Big Fat Sheep Mutton Hotpot. The table, big enough for at least ten, was laden with plates, each one heaped with slices of mutton.

"This must be close to a whole sheep," Xiao Ge muttered to himself, eyes gleaming. He waved dismissively at Wang Fei, "Pighead, you can go now. Your presence is ruining my appetite."

"Damn it!" Wang Fei cursed silently, biting his tongue. Without uttering a word, he spun on his heel and made a beeline for the hospital.

The server, witnessing the spectacle, was dumbfounded. She had thought that seven people gorging themselves was excessive, but all this for one person? She shook her head in disbelief. At least they had settled the bill, sparing her the worry of a dine-and-dash. Despite the oddity, she kept her thoughts to herself.

Meanwhile, Xiao Ge got down to business, dumping plate after plate of mutton into the hot pot while humming a tune, "In this world, only the master is good... Ugh, no master eats well, with a master, you'll never be full..."

As Xiao Ge stirred the hot pot with his chopsticks, he began to devour the food voraciously. Yet, an image of a sleazy-looking old man popped into his head. "Master, oh master, you've really done me in. Faking your death is one thing, but leaving me with just a hundred yuan? These days, that barely buys five jin of pork, which I can polish off in one sitting. How am I supposed to survive?"

Anguish and resentment welled up in Xiao Ge. Was he destined to be a kept man, living off his wife? He longed to confront the old man, but he was nowhere to be found. All Xiao Ge could do was channel his sorrow and rage into his appetite, relentlessly shoveling mutton into his mouth.

The empty plates piled up on the table. About an hour later, Xiao Ge fished out the last piece of mutton from the hot pot, savored it in his mouth, then swallowed. He wiped his mouth with a napkin, rose from his seat, and strolled out of the mutton hot pot restaurant at a leisurely pace.

A gentle breeze brushed against his face, carrying the remnants of the day's warmth. Xiao Ge exhaled deeply, gazing skyward with a sigh, "God, Jesus, Buddha, Yuhuang, bestow upon me a ton of gold!"

"Crash!" A black shadow plummeted from the sky, heading straight for Xiao Ge.

"Are those unreliable deities actually listening today?" Xiao Ge muttered, then quickly sidestepped a meter to the right. Even if that thing were made of gold, he couldn't just let it hit him.

"Thud!" The shadow hit the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust and debris.

Upon closer inspection, Xiao Ge realized it was just a flower pot. Forget gold; it didn't even have the usual yellow dirt—it was filled with black soil.

"Figures, Lord Tathagata and the like are never reliable," Xiao Ge grumbled, then looked up and called out, "Hey, who's tossing flower pots around?"

"I did. Got a problem with that?" A bald head suddenly popped out from the fifth-floor balcony, bellowing gruffly, "Yell again, and I'll come down there and give you a real reason to scream!"

"Great, you've admitted it. Now come down here and pay up for the emotional distress you caused. You nearly hit me!" Xiao Ge retorted, clearly annoyed. What kind of person throws things off a building and thinks it's okay? If someone else had been standing where he was, they could've been killed.

Xiao Ge had only intended to vent his frustration, figuring he'd drop the matter if no one upstairs responded. But when the bald man turned the tables and threatened him, Xiao Ge's mind was set. There was no way he was going to let this slide—not when he was in dire need of cash.

"Compensate your mother!" the bald man raged. "I throw what I want!"

"Then throw yourself down here, or come down and pay up!" Xiao Ge shot back, his anger flaring.

"I'm coming down, and you better not run!" the bald man roared before vanishing from the balcony, apparently intent on confronting Xiao Ge.

"Young man, better leave this alone. That's Wang Manzi, and he's bad news," a white-haired elder advised, stepping forward. The exchange had drawn a small crowd, and the old man was among the onlookers. "Thanks for the heads-up," Xiao Ge replied with a smile to the white-haired man. "But just so you know, I'm not exactly a pushover myself."

The white-haired elder exhaled a weary sigh. His advice had been offered casually, but ultimately, the matter was none of his concern. Seeing that the young man was unresponsive to his counsel, he naturally refrained from saying more.

The building served both commercial and residential purposes, with a row of storefronts lining the street below and apartments housing residents above. The exit for this block of flats was situated roughly fifty meters ahead. After waiting for about a minute, Xiao Ge spotted a short, stocky bald man with a face marked by horizontal scars storming out in a fury, charging in his direction.

As the bald man emerged, bystanders—including the white-haired elder—scattered as if dodging a pestilence. Only Xiao Ge remained steadfast in his spot, inadvertently becoming the most conspicuous target.

"Are you the one demanding compensation from me?" The bald man halted before Xiao Ge, his presence brimming with confrontation as he barked his question.