C5 Behind Him!

In Lee Wen's eyes, Ye Tingyu had become an untouchable, fairy-like being, sacred and inviolable. If anyone dared to defile her, it would only be him!

So, when he saw two thugs attempting to grab Ye Tingyu, his inner fear instantly transformed into rage. With a guttural growl, he sprinted toward the thugs, determined to protect Ye Tingyu at all costs.

The thugs, about to seize the stunning woman before them and intimidate the kid behind, were caught off guard by a blur that shot past them. They felt a crushing blow to their stomachs and doubled over, slowly collapsing against the wall, unable to rise.

The other thug was inches from grasping Ye Tingyu when he inexplicably found himself unable to move forward. The very person he had planned to corner was now standing before him, eerily still.

"You, you, you..."

"Damn you!" Lee Wen bellowed, delivering a fierce kick to the thug's body.

The thug was sent flying before he could utter a scream, landing three meters away, his condition unknown.

The whole incident unfolded in a flash. The remaining thugs' sneers hadn't even faded, and the terror on Ye Tingyu's face still lingered.

As he sent the first thug flying, Lee Wen realized his body had undergone some inexplicable transformation. He couldn't fathom why his speed had become so freakishly fast.

From the moment he knocked one thug off his feet to the effortless kick that sent another flying, Lee Wen was certain that both his speed and strength had experienced a significant and bizarre enhancement.

With this realization, his gaze toward the remaining thugs turned icy.

"You..." Hu San, the gang leader, licked his chapped lips, his voice shaking. "How did you do that?!"

"You just do it if you want to," Lee Wen replied, fully aware that his swift takedown of three men had left a profound impact. "Now, tell me, who are you guys, and who sent you?"

Lee Wen had merely inquired out of curiosity, confident that he hadn't seriously crossed anyone in Oklark. But the words that followed from Hu San made him begin to doubt Gao Zheng.

"You've taken someone's money to do their dirty work. Don't think your brute strength will save you," Hu San threatened. "If you're willing to chop off one of your hands, we'll let you go."

"What the hell did you just say?" Lee Wen's anger flared at the threat. He glared at the remaining thugs and retorted icily, "How about you? If I asked you to cut off one of your hands to save yourself, would you do it?"

"Brother San, maybe we should back off for today..." One of the underlings, witnessing his comrade's fate, began to second-guess the confrontation.

"Back off my foot!" Hu San pulled a black telescopic baton from his waist and scoffed. "Two fists can't beat four hands, but five of us together can't handle him? Anyone too scared can head back and face our gang's discipline!"

With that, Hu San charged ahead with fierce determination.

"Take him down!"

"Damn, he dared to kick my cousin!"

"Attack him together!"

The group of four or five thugs brandished various makeshift 'weapons' and charged with a ferocious air. Moments ago, Lee Wen might have been petrified, but since discovering the extraordinary changes in his body, he had grown significantly more composed.

"Ah! Lee Wen, watch out!" From the edge of the crowd, Ye Tingyu saw the situation deteriorating and let out a sharp scream, reminding Lee Wen while she frantically ran to the mouth of the alley seeking help.

Seeing Ye Tingyu dash away, Lee Wen's concerns vanished. Hu San reached him first, the metal baton crashing down on Lee Wen's arm with force. Yet, it felt like a mere tap from a toddler; the pain was negligible.

"Hahaha..." Lee Wen's confidence surged, and he burst into laughter. With lightning-fast reflexes, he grabbed Hu San's wrists, spun him around, and released him right into the other thugs. They were sent sprawling in a heap, wailing in agony as their weapons clattered to the ground with a cacophony of clangs and thuds.

The two assailants behind him abruptly halted their attack, exchanging glances that revealed mutual fear. Without a word, they turned on their heels and bolted for their lives.

"Think you can escape?" Lee Wen's reflexes were quicker, and in an instant, he caught up and blocked their path. A swift punch and kick sent them sprawling to the ground. Satisfied with his handiwork, he dusted off his hands and stood before Hu San, towering over him with a smug grin. "What's your name?"

"...Hu San."

"Very good," Lee Wen said, nodding with approval. "Now, who's the one who sent you to hassle me?"

"Lee Wen! Lee Wen, are you okay?" Ye Tingyu's voice cut through the tension as she hurried back into the alley. Taking in the scene, she paused for a beat before saying, "You're not hurt, are you? I've called the cops; they'll be here any minute!"

"Ye, thanks, I'm fine," Lee Wen replied with a smile, then turned back to Hu San. "Spill it. Who's behind this? If you don't talk, I'll break your hands!"

"Haha... Go ahead, break them!" Hu San, lying there battered, laughed coldly upon hearing the police were on their way. "The cops will be here soon. Break my hands, and you'll be the one behind bars."

"Threatening me, huh?" Lee Wen glanced around, picked up a baseball bat from the ground, and with his enhanced strength, snapped it with a loud crack. Everyone, including Ye Tingyu, watched in astonishment.

"Will you talk now?" Lee Wen threatened, his tone menacing. "Speak, or I'll break your bones!" He reached out to grab Hu San.

"Wait... I'll talk, I'll talk!" Hu San glanced toward the street, realizing he couldn't stall for the police any longer. Swallowing his fear, he said, "It was Gao Zheng from Tingyu House who paid us to come here..."

"What?!" Ye Tingyu's face fell at the revelation, her expression turning to one of dismay. She could hardly believe that Gao Zheng, a colleague she had valued so highly, could commit such a conscienceless act.

"Just as I thought!" Lee Wen said through clenched teeth.

Right then, two police cars pulled up to the curb. A squad of officers charged into the alley, taking everyone back to the station.

Ye Tingyu was well-respected in Antique City, and since Hu San's group were frequent visitors to the station, the situation was swiftly resolved.

By the time Lee Wen and Ye Tingyu left the station, it was 8 p.m. The light rain had intensified, and the air had a chill to it. Seeing Ye Tingyu shiver slightly in the cold, Lee Wen hesitated for a moment, then resolutely took off his jacket and placed it over her shoulders.