C9 I Was Wrong

Upon hearing Jiang Chen's words, Yu Hudie remained unfazed despite her ruse being uncovered.

"So, what's holding you back? Go ahead and disable his other hand as well," she urged.

No sooner had Yu Hudie spoken than the man with the scarred face gave them a chilling look and said, "Don't think he's reliable just because he's got a few tricks up his sleeve. This time, I've brought Brother Tiger's most trusted men."

Yu Hudie's face subtly shifted at the scarred man's declaration.

Brother Tiger was notorious for a reason: his mastery of ancient martial arts and his close-knit group of subordinates, all personally trained by him, were formidable opponents, unphased even by fighting champions.

In a hushed tone, Yu Hudie whispered to Jiang Chen, "I'll distract them. You look for a chance to make a break for it."

Jiang Chen responded with a faint smile to her suggestion.

Fleeing wasn't in his nature. These people had discovered his old home and feared him. The only way to ensure they wouldn't trouble him again was to strike fear into their hearts.

Jiang Chen advanced towards them with measured steps. The scarred man, having had his arm broken by Jiang Chen before, was well aware of Jiang Chen's capabilities.

He stepped back awkwardly.

Brother Tiger's men, inexperienced in the subtleties of combat, charged at Jiang Chen without hesitation.

Having once been an Immortal Venerable, with countless battles under his belt, Jiang Chen found dealing with them to be a walk in the park.

"Let's make this quick," he said coolly. "Don't waste my time."

The men, notorious in the region, were incensed by Jiang Chen's defiance and surged towards him.

Jiang Chen could easily see they had only a rudimentary grasp of ancient martial arts.

As they lunged at him, Jiang Chen's form blurred slightly, followed by a flurry of sharp slaps.

Before they knew it, Jiang Chen had fiercely slapped each one across the face, channeling a stream of Spiritual Qi into their bodies with each strike.

Paralysis swept over them, and they collapsed to the ground.

"Now it's your turn," Jiang Chen turned to the scarred man. "Are you opting for a broken arm or leg this time?"

Seeing his comrades downed, the scarred man involuntarily backed away.

He never imagined the young man before him could be so fearsome, effortlessly wiping out all of Tiger Brother's henchmen.

He had done his homework on Jiang Chen, pegging him as nothing more than an honest, spineless pushover—hence the extortion scheme.

But now, it was clear this kid was a wolf in sheep's clothing!

"Big, big, big brother, I was wrong. Please, spare me. I'll never dare again!" The man with the scar was now on his knees, unable to deny Jiang Chen's prowess as the evidence lay before him.

As Jiang Chen was about to leave, Scarface shakily pulled out wad after wad of cash from his inner pocket.

"Big brother, this is the money your sister-in-law sent. I've kept it all intact, just begging for your mercy this once."

Sister-in-law?

Jiang Chen paused. "You mean Luo Yiran?"

Scarface nodded vigorously.

Jiang Chen sighed. He had no intention of getting entangled with Luo Yiran again, yet she had secretly sought out Scarface and settled the debt.

That explained why Scarface had targeted Yu Hudie earlier.

It looked like he was in for a complicated dance with a woman.

"Take your men and scram. If you cross the line again, I won't stop at just crushing your hand."

With those words, Jiang Chen scooped up the cash, bundled it in his jacket, and strode out of the alley.

Yu Hudie pulled a face at Scarface and then stuck close to Jiang Chen.

"Why are you tailing me?" Jiang Chen asked without looking back.

He had intended to return the money to Luo Yiran, but with Yu Hudie dogging his steps, a swift return to Luo Yiran's place was out of the question.

Yu Hudie seemed to have latched onto Jiang Chen with purpose.

"I'm with you because you can protect me. They're all scared of you, so you could handle Brother Tiger if he showed up, right?"

Jiang Chen let out a wry chuckle and shook his head. Little did he know that standing up for what was right would land him in such a bind.

Yu Hudie was well-acquainted with the ways of the Jiang Hu, able to discern the good from the bad with just a glance.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so persistent with Jiang Chen, refusing to leave his side.

But then, he abruptly remembered the bracelet adorning Yu Hudie's wrist.

"By the way, are you interested in selling that bracelet?"

Yu Hudie tensed up at the question, but soon her face broke into a smile. "Oh? You're interested in my bracelet?"

Jiang Chen simply nodded.

With a coy move, Yu Hudie placed her hands behind her back and sauntered ahead of Jiang Chen.

Watching her sway, the bracelet on her wrist danced in tandem with the sway of her hips, prompting Jiang Chen to ask with a hint of impatience, "So, are you going to sell it or not?"

Yu Hudie spun around, her eyes locking onto his, "If you can meet my price, it's yours."

Their conversation had carried them to Jiang Chen's old house, where Yu Hudie brazenly stepped inside without waiting for an invitation.

"This is a nice place you've got. Tell you what, give me the house and the bracelet is yours."

Her claim was bold, and she was well aware that her old silver bracelet wasn't worth nearly that much.

Jiang Chen remained silent, focusing instead on sweeping up the shattered glass on the floor.

Misinterpreting his silence for reluctance, Yu Hudie pressed on, "Or, you could just give me your three hundred thousand in cash."

That's when Jiang Chen looked up.

"For your bracelet, I'm willing to offer ten thousand yuan."

He pulled out the cash from his pocket and slapped it down on the table decisively.

"If that's not acceptable, I'd like you to leave my house now."

Just then, Yu Hudie's phone began to ring.

She stepped aside to take the call, but Jiang Chen could still make out the words: "Sister, we're out of food. When are you bringing something tasty home?"

"I'll be back soon, and I'll bring you some delicious food," she reassured.

A shadow passed over Yu Hudie's face as she ended the call. Without a word, she slipped off the bracelet, reached for the ten thousand yuan on the table, and took it.