C23 Ten Fingers Connected to the Heart

A group of strapping men were discussing among themselves, their faces contorted into strange, mocking smiles, all eagerly waiting to see Ye Luo's arm be destroyed by Pang Cheng.

Ziyuan, who had just stepped aside, was clearly angry, but the scene before her also filled her with worry.

"Uncle Feng, if Ye Luo gets into trouble, can you help him out?" Ziyuan asked, biting her lip.

"Miss, we are at a school, and it wouldn't be appropriate for someone in my position to get involved. Moreover, the young man has been overly arrogant, overestimating his own abilities. It might be good for him to learn a lesson from this. If we help him out this time, what about the next, or the time after that? He can't expect someone to always come to his rescue. Arrogance comes with a price. And Miss, considering your status, it's not advisable for you to associate with him," a man dressed like a member of the teaching staff spoke up beside Ziyuan.

Ziyuan frowned. "No matter what, if his life is in danger, you have to save him."

The man nodded. "Okay."

It was in the moment of this brief exchange that Ye Luo's fist collided with Pang Cheng's.

"Crack, crack, crack!"

The sound of bones breaking was unmistakably clear, indicating that someone's finger bones had been crushed.

But whose?

Of course, it was Ye Luo's. To only break a few fingers when clashing fists with Pang Cheng was already lucky. Think about it—an eight-hundred-kilogram punch is like being hammered by a sledgehammer.

Everyone's gaze shifted to Ye Luo, expecting to see him in pain, falling apart, in utter despair.

However, to their surprise, there was no reaction on Ye Luo's face, no sign of pain—instead, there was a faint, mocking smile.

"How can this be? Can he really endure the pain of broken finger bones?" some in the crowd wondered aloud in disbelief. After all, such pain is usually excruciating, and it would be impossible not to show any expression of it.

Ziyuan and the middle-aged man beside her were both taken aback. The man, in particular, understood all too well the pain of a broken finger. If Ye Luo could bear such pain, it said a lot about his endurance and determination. A person like that, if he could survive, was surely destined for great things.

Ziyuan and the middle-aged man beside her were both taken aback. Especially the middle-aged man, who knew all too well the pain of broken finger bones. He had experienced it himself, and if one could endure such agony, it certainly proved that Ye Luo's temperament and resilience were nothing short of remarkable. A person like that, if they survived, was bound to achieve great things.

But soon, everyone felt that the atmosphere had shifted to something more sinister. Ye Luo remained as calm as a light breeze, in stark contrast to Pang Cheng, whose face was now a storm of shock and fear, his facial muscles twitching uncontrollably.

Pain.

Piercing, heart-wrenching pain.

It shot straight to his core, causing every hair on his body to stand on end.

Broken.

His right hand was mangled, with at least four of the five fingers shattered!

Shock, horror, and even terror filled Pang Cheng's eyes. He had lost a test of strength, and not just lost, but was utterly defeated.

"You... Who exactly are you?" Pang Cheng looked at Ye Luo, his previous disdain completely vanished. His own strength was at the intermediate Houtian level, yet he was effortlessly overpowered by Ye Luo. This meant Ye Luo was at least at the advanced Houtian stage, or possibly even higher—like the Xiantian level!

Xiantian?

The thought made Pang Cheng's heart feel like it was about to burst. What kind of formidable being had the young master of the Gu family provoked?

"Who am I? Didn't you do your homework?" Ye Luo retorted.

"It doesn't matter who you are. You're on your own, and in today's world, personal martial prowess isn't enough. The Gu family's empire is far greater than you can imagine. If you're willing to admit your error and bow down, there might still be a chance to make amends," Pang Cheng said, his hand suspended in midair, too afraid to move for fear of the agonizing pain.

What was he implying?

Those around were baffled by Pang Cheng's statement. Was he actually offering Ye Luo an opportunity for mercy?

It didn't make sense. With the Gu family's reputation, how could there be any chance of leniency after Ye Luo had gravely injured their heir?

"Scared?" Ye Luo's gaze turned icy as he looked at Pang Cheng.

Pang Cheng was indeed terrified. Who wouldn't fear a man capable of crushing four fingers with a single punch?

Yet, with over thirty formidable allies at his back and the support of the Gu family, he managed to stifle the dread rising within him.

"Come on, Cheng, what's the holdup? Take him out already!" Someone from behind urged impatiently.

"Exactly, why even bother talking to him? Just finish him off so we can get out of here and enjoy ourselves. What's the point of wasting time at this school?"

Some guys, lacking keen observation, failed to notice the change in Pang Cheng's expression.

"Ye Luo, it's always smart to leave some room for mercy—it's beneficial for everyone," Pang Cheng said, his voice strained as he struggled to suppress his anger.

However, he caught the cruel smile that played on Ye Luo's lips. Ye Luo might show leniency to others, but not to members of the Gu family.

With a firm step, Ye Luo's fist, which had been locked with Pang Cheng's, suddenly shot forward.

"Boom!"

Pang Cheng felt as though he'd been hit by a speeding truck; everything went black as he was sent flying through the air. To the shock of onlookers, he knocked over five or six hefty men before tumbling to the ground in disarray.

What just happened?

Was Pang Cheng the one thrown through the air?

Lee Wenqing was dumbfounded.

Ziyuan was dumbfounded.

The middle-aged man beside her was dumbfounded.

And, naturally, the most confused were the muscular men who had come with Pang Cheng.

Their bewilderment was brief, though. Ye Luo grabbed a stool at the classroom door and dove into the crowd of about thirty men.

"Bang, bang, bang..."

The sound of collisions filled the corridor, and the once-formidable brutes fell to the ground, moaning with each hit.

In just a short time, the hallway was strewn with bodies. More than thirty men lay sprawled out, wailing in pain.

All were broken, utterly broken. Not one could stand on their legs.

Ziyuan's expression was one of sheer astonishment. She had always held Ye Luo in high regard, but what she was witnessing defied belief.

Pang Cheng's group were all at least at the early Houtian stage, with several at the mid-Houtian stage. Such a lineup would be a challenge even for Uncle Feng. Surely, even if he could win, it wouldn't be this effortless, right?

And the fact that each one had their legs broken spoke of a cruelty that didn't seem to fit a student, but rather that of a demon.

Nearby, Zhu Chengrong was in total shock. These were members of the Gu family from the Xiangshi Group. He himself likely had broken ribs from being kicked and sent flying just moments before.

Yet, upon realizing the attacker was connected to the Xiangshi Group's Gu family, he dared not express his anger. He swallowed his fury whole.

Zhu Chengrong was completely bewildered not far off. After all, these were people from the Xiangshi Group, the Gu family, and even he had been kicked and sent flying, likely with broken ribs. But knowing who they were, he swallowed his anger without a word of protest.

He had thought Ye Luo was going to be in trouble, but what happened? Ye Luo was still standing, while those thirty-some men were all laid out on the ground. At that moment, Zhu Chengrong was suddenly overcome with relief and fear.

In fact, when he found out that his son's leg had been broken by Ye Luo, he was furious. If it hadn't been for Liu Kun's phone call and Guu Tianxiong's personal visit, he would have definitely come with his men to take revenge on Ye Luo. If he had come, without a doubt, no matter how many men he brought, his end would have been the same as Pang Cheng's, or even worse.

Now, he was immensely grateful to Liu Kun, Guu Tianxiong, and to himself for making such a wise decision.

Ye Luo, holding a blood-stained stool, walked slowly and steadily toward Pang Cheng. Pang Cheng, with several broken ribs, was still in a daze, looking at Ye Luo as if he were looking at a demon, unable to speak clearly.

"I don't believe in leaving loose ends," Ye Luo stated. "Go back and tell Gu Xianchang, does he think the Xiangshi Group's foundation is big enough? Starting today, every time I see a member of his family in Linhai, I'll break a leg. If I see them twice, I'll break two, until there's not a single person from the Xiangshi Group left in Linhai City."

With that, Ye Luo threw the stool at Pang Cheng's head. A loud "Bang!" rang out, and everyone around instinctively closed their eyes.

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