C8 Knifescarred

Jiang Chen's brow furrowed slightly; he hadn't anticipated the girl playing the victim first.

He had merely intended to prevent her from pilfering his cash, yet to his astonishment, the stylishly dressed girl turned the tables on him.

"Look at you, a grown man, trying to take advantage of a young girl. Have you no shame?"

"Yeah, we tell you off, and you still won't let go? You're way out of line."

As murmurs swirled around them, the girl smirked triumphantly at Jiang Chen, who maintained his grip on her hand.

"Are you sure you want to keep this up?"

Jiang Chen disliked complications, not for lack of solutions, but to avoid wasting time.

At his words, the onlookers paused, taken aback.

"Playing? You're the scoundrel here, trying to take liberties with me in front of all these people!"

With an eye roll, the girl lifted her hand high, Jiang Chen's hand rising with it.

Before the crowd could react, Jiang Chen's smile remained as he gently pressed a finger into the girl's palm, sending a thread of spiritual energy coursing through her, immobilizing her.

In that instant, she felt a shock, a sudden, overwhelming urge to urinate nearly overcoming her.

"Apologies, everyone. She's my girlfriend. She just lost a bet to me and couldn't stand to lose, hence this little scene," Jiang Chen explained.

Leaning close, he whispered to the girl, "If you don't want to make a spectacle of yourself here, you'd best calm down. Otherwise, I can't promise you won't have an accident for all to see."

Her cheeks flushed, the girl finally subdued, bowing her head.

"Look, everyone," Jiang Chen addressed the crowd. "She calls me a thug, yet her hand remains in mine."

"Lovebirds should take their games home, not cause a scene in public," someone grumbled, and the crowd began to disperse.

Bewildered, the girl asked, "What are you going to do to me?"

Holding her hand, Jiang Chen replied coolly, "You were the one trying to steal from me. How is it that I seem to be the villain now?"

Upon hearing Jiang Chen's words, the girl hesitated briefly before saying with a touch of grievance, "So, I didn't manage to give you anything after all!"

"Can you please not put me in a tough spot?"

To Jiang Chen's surprise, the girl began to act coyly with him!

With a wry smile, Jiang Chen shook his head and released the girl's hand. He had come to this place in search of ancient jade, never anticipating such an encounter.

Suddenly, the girl cowered behind Jiang Chen, her face etched with terror.

"Please, can you get me out of here?"

Her voice was urgent, tinged with a barely concealed whimper.

It was as if she had spotted someone terrifying, triggering a desperate urge to flee.

Jiang Chen was reluctant to get involved, but then he felt a bracelet on the girl's wrist—an old silver one. Upon touching it, he sensed a ripple of spiritual energy.

He nodded, then discreetly escorted the girl out of the Antique City.

"Thank you. If it weren't for you, I might have run into those guys with the knife scars."

The girl spoke while patting her heaving chest.

They had now reached the alley behind the Antique City, where various vendors were scattered about.

Jiang Chen responded coolly to the girl's gratitude, "Thank me? Don't bother. Those guys have been following us the whole time."

Her newly calmed heart leapt back into her throat at his words.

And then, the man with the knife scar showed up.

His arm was in a cast, adding to his menacing appearance.

"Kid, it's a small world after all," he sneered, recognizing Jiang Chen immediately, as his henchmen swarmed in from both ends of the alley.

The knife-scarred man was notorious in these parts, so the vendors quickly gathered their belongings and fled upon seeing his gang's menacing approach.

He glanced at Jiang Chen and then at the girl behind him, "I never expected to catch both of you at once. You've saved me some trouble."

"But you know, you've got quite the luck with the ladies. Just yesterday, you were with a stunning beauty, and now you've snagged the Antique City's very own Yu Hudie."

Clearly, Yu Hudie wasn't her real name; it was more of a moniker.

Jiang Chen turned to the girl behind him and asked, "I had no idea your booth was so renowned. Is Yu Hudie what they call you around here?"

The man with the scarred face couldn't help but let out a sneer at Jiang Chen's question.

"Nickname? Shows what you know. All the thieves here go by 'butterfly,' but they tack on 'Yu' for the women, hence Yu Hudie."

"But I'm not about to waste my breath explaining. Yu Hudie, just give back what you stole from me. You go your way, and I'll go mine."

His tone was blunt, yet it carried an unmistakable threat.

Yu Hudie casually fingered the bracelet on her wrist and retorted coolly, "Scar, I earned these goods fair and square. Why should I give them up?"

Scarface gestured with his unscarred hand to the onlookers, "Listen up, guys. Yu Hudie here doesn't want to cough up what she's stolen. How about we strip her down and see if she's hiding any other treasures?"

At that moment, Yu Hudie clung tightly to Jiang Chen's shoulders, her last bastion of hope.

She wasn't sure of this man's capabilities, but she was set on leveraging him for a dramatic escape.

"Do you really think you can lay a hand on me? Do you even know who he is?" she challenged, her eyes darting to Jiang Chen, silently pleading him to stay quiet.

Scarface smirked at Yu Hudie, "So, who is he, then?"

His tone was mocking, a clear sign he wasn't buying her bluff.

"He's one of Brother Tiger's guys. Lay a finger on me, and both he and Brother Tiger will have your heads."

Scarface's laughter boomed, leaving him gasping for air.

"Well then, brothers, you heard her. Let's take care of Brother Tiger's man—break his hands and feet."

Yu Hudie was taken aback. Brother Tiger was the boss around these parts, and yet, invoking his name had done nothing. It was then that Jiang Chen spoke up, his voice calm and collected, "You're not fooling anyone. His hand? I'm the one who put it out of commission."