Chapter 53: Bald Kai

"You hit me?"

Lu Zhizhong’s round face, already chubby to begin with, now swelled spectacularly on one side from Zhang Pu’s slap.

"And what if I did?"

Before Lu Zhizhong could react, Zhang Pu’s foot shot out in a move so subtle it was almost invisible—yet it left Lu Zhizhong utterly unable to dodge or block.

With a tremendous noise, Lu Zhizhong’s burly body was sent flying, crashing straight into the wall!

For a moment, even Lin Yongyi, his friend from outside the school, was struck dumb.

Such speed! That single thought echoed in Lin Yongyi’s mind.

Their faction was collectively stunned, while hope suddenly sparkled in the eyes of everyone on Gao Lixia’s side.

But Lin Yongyi, fearing he’d be caught off guard like Lu Zhizhong, immediately lunged at Zhang Pu.

In truth, Zhang Pu wouldn’t have struck Lin Yongyi as hard as he had Lu Zhizhong. It was only because Lu Zhizhong’s words had been so infuriating, so devoid of any manners, that Zhang Pu had lashed out in sudden anger.

Yet Lin Yongyi, oblivious to the situation, chose exactly the wrong moment to act out. So be it, Zhang Pu thought—better to settle this and finish things early. Seeing Lin Yongyi attack, Zhang Pu made up his mind.

Lin Yongyi had always been a formidable fighter among the local toughs. He and Lu Zhizhong had been friends since elementary school, though a family tragedy had led Lin Yongyi to drop out early and fall in with a rough crowd. Still, he and Lu Zhizhong had remained close.

But however tough Lin Yongyi was among street thugs, his skills meant nothing before Zhang Pu!

With Zhang Pu’s swift, ghost-like hand, Lin Yongyi was floored, falling into the same fate as Lu Zhizhong.

Cheers erupted from Gao Lixia’s side!

Meanwhile, Lu Zhizhong’s people scrambled to help their fallen comrades, both still struggling on the ground, while the rest looked on in confusion, unsure what to do next. Suddenly, a cheer sounded from outside, and three men strode in.

The one in the lead was bald, his face thick and fleshy like Lu Zhizhong’s, but with a far meaner air about him—a man whose very presence made it clear he was a boss of the streets.

In that instant, not only did Lu Zhizhong and Lin Yongyi’s followers look at the bald man as if he were their savior, but even Lu Zhizhong and Lin Yongyi themselves, almost hopeless after being cowed by Zhang Pu, saw a glimmer of hope return to their eyes. And Gao Lixia, her face still alight with excitement at Zhang Pu’s display of strength, suddenly found herself clouded with anxiety.

Sharp-eyed Zhang Pu took note of every subtle shift in the room’s mood as the bald man and his crew entered.

Who is this bald man? Zhang Pu wondered, when suddenly he felt a gaze sharp as an arrow fix upon him.

"Did you do this to them?" The bald man jabbed a finger at the wounded Lu Zhizhong and Lin Yongyi, demanding an answer from Zhang Pu.

Zhang Pu, with a hint of disdain, replied, "And if I did?"

The bald man was momentarily taken aback. He hadn’t expected such arrogance—his reputation in Qingwu City’s underworld was formidable, and no student had ever dared talk to him like this. Was this open defiance?

Then again, maybe this student had simply never heard the name of "Brother Kai." The thought was fleeting.

He asked Zhang Pu, "Do you know who I am?"

Before Zhang Pu could retort, Gao Lixia hurried to his side. All the resolve she’d regained thanks to Zhang Pu’s intervention now seemed to drain away, replaced by deep, almost hopeless fear.

"Boss, let’s just let it go," she whispered. "This is someone we can’t afford to cross. No one on these streets would dare mess with him."

Clearly, Gao Lixia recognized this "Brother Kai."

Even though she spoke softly, the bald man still caught her words.

He smirked, "At least this little girl knows what’s good for her."

Summoning her courage, Gao Lixia said, "Brother Kai, it’s our fault today. However you want to handle it, I… I’ll accept."

Zhang Pu had meant to say something, but seeing Gao Lixia’s submissive attitude, he decided instead to see just how this so-called Brother Kai, who sent everyone scampering like mice before a cat, would handle things. Damn it, who was this arrogant Brother Kai, anyway?

Brother Kai glanced at Zhang Pu, saw his silence, and assumed Gao Lixia was in charge on their side. He announced his judgment:

"All the girls, stand to one side and wait for my orders. The boys—kneel, and slap yourselves twice before we continue!"

At his command, Zhang Pu watched Gao Lixia and the other girls quickly line up, hands at their sides, awaiting instructions, while the boys, astonishingly, began to kneel down one by one.

Brother Kai’s sharp eyes suddenly fixed on Zhang Pu, who alone remained unmoved, as if nothing concerned him.

"Why aren’t you kneeling?" Brother Kai demanded.

Zhang Pu suddenly burst into laughter, staring at Brother Kai as if he were a fool.

"You really don’t know who you’re dealing with, do you?" Brother Kai’s temper flared. "In the southern district of Qingwu City, there aren’t many who don’t respect me, Lin Kai! No one doesn’t know the name—"

Crack!

Lin Kai’s words were cut short as a slap landed squarely across his face.

A shriek escaped Gao Lixia, and in that instant, everyone from both factions stared at Zhang Pu in utter disbelief, as if he’d suddenly turned into some alien from another world.

They all knew Lin Kai was nothing like Lu Zhizhong or Lin Yongyi. Maybe Zhang Pu could handle them, but Lin Kai was on a different level—in fighting ability, yes, but even more so as the boss of the southern district, with powerful backers on both sides of the law.

Even if you weren’t afraid of Lin Kai, you’d be afraid of those behind him!

At that moment, everyone present saw Zhang Pu as a reckless upstart, too green to know fear. Maybe he’d never tasted real danger, but surely he’d at least heard of it? Some began to pity Zhang Pu in their hearts. No matter how tough he was, how could he stand against the forces behind Lin Kai? For all they knew, Lin Kai could be carrying a gun—how could Zhang Pu dodge a bullet?

"Boss—" Gao Lixia edged silently over to Zhang Pu, hoping to persuade him, as if to pull him back from the brink.

But Zhang Pu waved her off, stopping her before she could speak further.

Gao Lixia had no choice but to retreat, for she saw Lin Kai signaling to his two strongest men to move in.