C17 You Can't Leave!!

Five minutes had passed.

All five men lay on the ground, their cries filling the air.

Ye Rong stood with his hands clasped behind his back, the very picture of serenity.

"I've said it before; you can't beat me. You should've brought Boss Gao, but you wouldn't listen."

"You... Who exactly are you?" Sun Yaowei glared at him, seething with anger. This guy kept singling out Boss Gao, taunting him by name. He appeared so frail, yet his moves were unpredictable and numerous, causing excruciating pain. None of the five men on the ground had withstood more than three hits, meaning they were all incapacitated within three strikes! It was so unbelievable it would be called fake if it were on TV!

"Mommy, what are they doing?" A child passing by gazed at the knives and sticks with wide-eyed wonder.

"They're shooting a TV show," the mother replied after a glance.

"A martial arts show?" the child asked, hopeful.

"What era do you think this is? They don't make martial arts shows anymore," the mother said, shaking her head.

"But look, they all have weapons, and that young man in the middle is taking on five by himself, unarmed! He must be really skilled, maybe he knows the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms or the Dog Beating Staff Technique."

"That's nothing special. The TV shows you watch often have one person fighting five, ten, or even a hundred. What's so surprising about this?"

"Oh? Is it another war drama then?" The child looked away, disappointed.

War drama? You think this is a war drama? Have you ever seen these kinds of weapons in a war drama? This is a custom-made butterfly knife that cost me a fortune and connections to acquire! Sun Yaowei grumbled to himself. Yet, he couldn't help but remember that even AK47s had shown up in war dramas, so butterfly knives weren't that far-fetched.

"Me? I'm just a simple, ordinary student. Don't you have any idea why you're here?"

A student? A simple, ordinary student? Could an ordinary student single-handedly take down five armed "street toughs"? Do you think you're some kind of folk hero?

"What do you want from me?!" Sun Yaowei demanded, frustrated. He was at a loss since they couldn't overpower his opponent.

Ye Rong gave Sun Yaowei a look that one might reserve for an imbecile. Clearly, there was something off with this guy's head. They had come to him, asking what he wanted to do, yet all he had really done was use them for a bit of physical training. Had they not shown up, he would already be back at school, reading a few more books and spending time cultivating.

But since Sun Yaowei had brought it up, it seemed only right that Ye Rong should demand something. Thanks to their encounter, his clothes were torn, he had wasted some of the energy he'd just replenished, and he had a few new cuts to show for it. If he didn't take action, he'd be letting himself be taken advantage of.

"I want compensation!" Money was tight for Ye Rong at the moment. Yet, his eyes lingered on the butterfly knife. The craftsmanship was impressive, and the material was high quality. Though it paled in comparison to his own Iceshadow, it was still a fine piece, especially considering the last few days.

For a cultivator who roamed the streets daily, a good weapon held immense appeal.

"However, since I'm in a good mood today, I'll let the money slide. Just hand over the knife," Ye Rong said, claiming Sun Yaowei's butterfly knife.

Sun Yaowei nearly choked on his own spit. In a good mood? Forgoing money? The cost of that knife could cover his medical expenses dozens of times over! Besides, it was a branded, custom-made piece—not something you could simply buy with cash.

But he had sent a group to attack someone and had brought out such a weapon; it was all underhanded business to begin with. Having lost, there was little he could say. He could only glare at Ye Rong with bitter resentment, swallowing his pride along with the metaphorical broken teeth.

Teeth ached... stomachs ached... teeth were not so easily digested!

"You... you're going too far! Weren't you the one calling for our boss? Just you wait, I'm calling Boss Gao right now. He'll beat you so bad you'll be searching for your teeth!" Sun Yaowei fumed, pulling out his phone. The loss of his knife was a painful blow.

"Finally seeing sense, are you? If it were me, faced with the prospect of battling such a formidable and dashing opponent, I would've made the call long ago."

Formidable? Dashing? Sun Yaowei took in the gaunt figure before him. This guy was beyond shameless. Who could possibly see strength in him? And as for being dashing—please! Aside from a somewhat delicate face, there was nothing remotely handsome about him. Not even a ghost would be fooled!

"Ye Rong? Where is he? I'm on my way!"

Clearly, this guy had ties to Boss Gao. It was typical for a boss to be called when his underlings ran into trouble, but Boss Gao's prompt and somewhat eager response was a first.

Sun Yaowei relayed the address, a smirk forming on his lips. He could already picture Ye Rong getting beaten up. No matter how skilled the kid was, could he really take on so many at once? Did he think he was starring in a war movie?

"And this," Ye Rong said, picking up the black stick from the right hand of the man on the ground, "is quite interesting. I almost got zapped by it. It can actually produce electricity." This guy was the sleaziest and most devious, which is why Ye Rong had hit him the hardest. Now, he couldn't even stand up. Ye Rong was pushing his luck, his body trembling and movements less precise. A direct hit from that black stick would have been disastrous.

"Ah, if it hadn't been for that, I wouldn't have been cut, and my clothes wouldn't be shredded."

Ye Rong looked at his wounds with little concern. It was just unfortunate about his clothes. From what he remembered, Ye Rong didn't have many to spare.

"Ah, I'm too kind. You all have injured me and ruined my clothes, yet I've only taken your weapons—and just two at that. Such high moral integrity you all have; you should take a lesson from me."

Sun Yaowei gritted his teeth. Acting tough and cocky? He'd soon get his comeuppance!

"Did you just call Boss Gao?"

"What's the matter? Not using Boss Gao's name anymore? Thought you were all tough? Just wait for your beating!"

"Hmm, when Boss Gao arrives, let him know I'll settle our score eventually! But I'll also give him a chance. Tell him to come to this street tomorrow with enough money and gifts to make amends, and maybe I'll consider sparing his life." Ye Rong folded his arms behind him and walked away.

"Hey?" Sun Yaowei panicked. "You can't go!" How could this guy just walk away after all his bravado? Wasn't he the one who had been the most vocal from the start, insisting on being called 'boss'?

Ye Rong turned his head and asked, "Why can't I leave?"

Indeed, why couldn't he leave? Sun Yaowei was baffled, but this situation, it was simply unethical! It's like playing mahjong—winning and then running off. Who would agree to that? If he did this a few times, who would still want to play mahjong with him? And to top it off, this was the same guy who boasted about wanting to play all night long!

But how could a group of underground figures even begin to discuss morality?

"Can you stop me?"

Sun Yaowei clenched his jaw in frustration. Several people were sprawled on the ground, unable to even get up.

"Weren't you always calling out to our boss? Our boss will be here any minute..."

"He's your boss, not mine. Plus, I may have called him, but what gives him the right to make me wait? Does he think he's that important?" Ye Rong huffed and walked away.

Sun Yaowei was left utterly speechless.

Why did that argument make so much sense? It was infuriating. He was the one who summoned their boss, and now he's complaining about the boss's arrogance? How could this guy be so brazen? Sun Yaowei's eyes were wide open as he sat there, watching Ye Rong walk away, seething with anger.

So now, was he inadvertently acting like the boss himself?!

No way was he going to carry that burden!

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