C10 Leave a Finger
Xing Mo shook his head dismissively. "You're all talk! Even a street fighting champ is nothing but an ant to me, Jason included."
Brother Hu's fury peaked. With a powerful, sweeping kick, he aimed for Xing Mo's head!
"This kid's done for!" The waitstaff at Jianguo Hotel shook their heads, sighing in resignation.
"Let this kid get cocky? Daring to spout such arrogance in front of Brother Hu is like brandishing a sword in front of Guan Yu himself! He's asking for disgrace!" Master Hong's lackeys gloated with satisfaction.
"Is that all you've got?" Xing Mo countered with a swift kick of his own.
"Crack!" Before anyone could process what happened, Brother Hu was sent flying, crashing to the ground, clutching his leg and writhing in agony. It was clear to all; Brother Hu's leg was broken.
"Brother Hu!"
"Ah Hu, are you okay?"
Master Hong and the others cried out, their eyes now laced with a hint of fear as they turned to Xing Mo.
Master Hong himself was inwardly alarmed. With just one move, Xing Mo had sent Ah Hu soaring through the air. Such power could only belong to a true martial artist, possibly even a master of Secret Strength. Despite years of martial arts training, Master Hong knew he hadn't even touched the threshold of Secret Strength.
Xing Mo now stood before Master Hong. With a swift "Pah!" he struck.
Half of Master Hong's face swelled instantly. The crowd watched, dumbfounded, as this young upstart slapped Master Hong, the South Heavenly King, across the face.
"You wanted me to jump off this building just now?" Xing Mo looked up at Master Hong with a cold sneer.
"I wouldn't dare! I was talking nonsense," Master Hong replied, a chill running through his body. As a martial artist, he knew all too well: A master of Secret Strength could single-handedly erase the South Heavenly King from the South District.
"In that case, chop off one of your fingers, and we'll call it even for today," Xing Mo commanded.
"I... Alright!" Master Hong hesitated only a moment before gritting his teeth and agreeing. Though seething inside, he recognized that provoking this young man could lead to consequences far worse than losing a finger.
Master Hong truly lived up to his title as the South Heavenly King. In a swift move, he snatched a gleaming knife from one of his men!
The knife dropped!
And a little thumb hit the floor!
Director Gao, clutching his face, was overcome with a surge of fear!
It appeared Xing Mo had been merciful with him earlier!
"My name is Xing Mo! If you're seeking revenge, come find me!" Xing Mo declared, taking Yichen by the hand and heading for the hotel exit.
"I... I wouldn't dare," Master Hong murmured, his head bowed, his face now ashen.
The most shaken was Mr. Blade!
He never imagined that he, the once untouchable big brother of Luton, would be brought to his knees by Xing Mo!
"There's one more thing," Xing Mo paused mid-stride.
"What is it, Young Master?" Master Hong asked, his address now changed.
"I never want to see that person again! And those others, give them a lesson they won't forget. But leave them breathing; we still have the Lunaire Designs contract to consider!"
With a pointed finger at Mr. Blade and Director Gao, Xing Mo vanished down the hotel corridor.
In an instant, Mr. Blade collapsed to his knees in defeat.
He had thought Xing Mo was merely a rash youth, only to discover he was a veritable god of death!
Director Gao and the rest were as white as ghosts!
Now, looking at Master Hong, they were filled with bitter regret!
If only they hadn't been swayed by Liu Cai, would they be facing this disaster?
If only they had left this place of trouble upon seeing Master Hong and his crew arrive.
But alas, there is no antidote for regret.
"Do it!" Master Hong commanded, his eyes shut, his voice icy.
Xing Mo and Lin Yichen got into the car.
Lin Yichen felt like she was in a dream!
The formidable South Heavenly King, Master Hong, had been bested by Xing Mo today!
Could this young man really be her so-called good-for-nothing fiancé?
For a moment, Lin Yichen was lost in a haze of disbelief.
Maybe this kid had secretly mastered some martial arts?
Or maybe Master Hong and his entourage had simply slipped up today?
After dropping Xing Mo off at home, Lin Yichen returned to the office.
Xing Mo practiced his cultivation for hours, yet felt no closer to mastering the secret strength.
"There are no spiritual herbs on Earth, so it looks like I need to find something with spiritual energy, like the thousand-year cold jade, and fast," Xing Mo sighed, gazing out at the sea beyond the door.
But securing something like the thousand-year cold jade would require assistance.
Otherwise, he'd be nothing more than a kept man in the eyes of others, relying solely on Lin Yichen for money.
Xing Mo sensed the flow of spiritual energy throughout Luton.
He opened his eyes, focusing on a mountain range to the city's north.
That mountain was known as Cloud Mountain.
Xing Mo was certain that beneath Cloud Mountain lay superior jade deposits.
He needed spiritual power, and Lin Yichen's Lunaire Designs was in need of raw materials. It was time to find someone to mine the mountain range.
But who to choose for the task?
A face flashed in Xing Mo's mind—Uncle Fu, whom he had encountered at the Treasure Jade Pavilion.
Last time, Uncle Fu had pleaded with him to aid the Ye family, but Xing Mo had flatly refused.
Now, it seemed the right moment to seek out Uncle Fu.
Xing Mo stepped out of the villa and hailed a cab to the Ye family's estate.
The Ye family was a household name in Luton.
Shortly, the taxi pulled up to a cluster of villas.
The Ye family's influence in Luton was indeed formidable.
The villa before him dwarfed the Lin family's by an immeasurable margin.
Next to the Ye family's grand estate, the Lin family's villa was practically a hovel.
Just as Xing Mo was about to enter,
a convoy of more than ten black luxury cars pulled up beside him.
From the lead Mercedes, four men emerged.
Each wore a matching Tang suit, each exuded an air of commanding presence.
They were the Four Heavenly Kings of Luton—Master Hong of the South, Lord of Mountain of the North, Lord of the Green of the East, and Lord Snake of the West.
Seeing these four together in front of the Yi River Villa made many passersby steer clear.
Master Hong caught sight of Xing Mo, his expression registering surprise.
He approached with a respectful gesture, "Master Xing, the tasks you assigned have all been taken care of."
Xing Mo paid little attention to the individuals before him, responding nonchalantly before heading toward Yi River Villa.
"Ha! Master Hong, is this the punk who cost you a finger? You're one of Luton's Four Heavenly Kings, and you're shaking in your boots over this kid?" West Heavenly King, Lord Snake, glanced at Xing Mo with a sneer.
"Lord Snake's got a point! He's just a kid. What's he got that lets him walk all over you, Master Hong? If we let this young punk disrespect you like this, what does that say about us, the Four Heavenly Kings of Luton?" East Heavenly King, Lord of the Green, chimed in.
Xing Mo's brow furrowed slightly; it was clear these two were up to no good today.
"What's this? You two planning to take his side?" Xing Mo's face turned icy in an instant.
The henchmen behind Lord of the Green and Lord Snake closed in swiftly, their eyes burning with malice as they glared at Xing Mo, as if they couldn't wait to dice him into mincemeat.