Chapter Forty-Two: Vanquishing Evil and Displaying Might

Chapter Forty-Two: Eradicating Evil and Showing Might

Xu Yun walked past Wei Ming Wei and his group of burly men, a four-ring popsicle dangling from his lips, a transparent plastic bag swinging from his hand, and slippers padding beneath his feet as he sauntered to the entrance of the medicinal cuisine restaurant.

Qiangzi, overjoyed, hurried forward to greet him. Xu Yun was their spiritual pillar; even if he just stood there without lifting a finger, it gave Qiangzi and the others confidence, dispelling the fear that had plagued them moments before.

“It’s hot. One for each of you. Leave the extras for me,” Xu Yun handed the bag of popsicles to Qiangzi, then reached out and hauled Pang Gang, who was kneeling on the ground, to his feet. Pang Gang, a man weighing over one hundred and fifty pounds, was lifted effortlessly in Xu Yun’s grasp.

As Pang Gang rose, Xu Yun gave him a shove, sending him staggering back a few steps. With a frown, Xu Yun said, “If you want to work with me, don’t slack off. Do what needs to be done. Don’t waste time.”

“Xu Yun... you...” Pang Gang was momentarily speechless, unable to utter another word.

Wei Ming Wei had no idea what was happening, but Xu Yun’s utter disdain for him was glaringly obvious. The young man hadn’t even glanced at him directly once!

Although Wei Ming Wei knew he wasn’t especially capable, he was still a figure everyone respected in the Blade and Axe Society. After all, their boss, Fan Nanjie, was his cousin! Few dared to treat him with such contempt, to dismiss him as nothing!

“Bastard!” Wei Ming Wei’s anger flared, and he shouted, “Do you even know who I am?!”

It was only then that Xu Yun seemed to notice someone standing at the door. He turned his head, utterly indifferent, and replied coolly, “I don’t care who you are. Since you’re here, you’ll work for me today. Consider it compensation for the trouble you caused yesterday.”

Wei Ming Wei was completely incensed. This construction foreman, dressed in slippers, a vest, and shorts, dared to challenge him: “Today, I’ll show you the King of Hell rules over the little ghosts!”

Xu Yun couldn’t be bothered with his nonsense. He tossed aside his half-eaten popsicle, turned back, and suddenly grabbed Wei Ming Wei’s collar, exerting a powerful force. Before Wei Ming Wei could react, his entire body was yanked off the ground, the world spinning before his eyes, and then he crashed headfirst into the dirt. Blood instantly gushed down his face.

“I was looking for you, and you delivered yourself,” Xu Yun sneered, his wrist tightening as he hoisted the dazed Wei Ming Wei up again. His voice was sharp: “Protection money, is it? Today I’ll pay it all at once!”

With that, Xu Yun delivered a resounding slap, the force of it sending Wei Ming Wei spinning through the air, landing heavily atop his black Toyota Highlander. The hood caved in with a loud crash, and a streak of blood splattered across the spotless windshield.

Wei Ming Wei lay motionless atop the car hood, gasping for breath, barely alive.

Xu Yun’s actions were fluid and practiced, as if a shut-in had swiftly located a hidden folder of Japanese action movies on his computer.

Pang Gang’s pupils constricted, his jaw dropping in shock. He had never seen anyone so adept at fighting—vicious, yet measured, knowing exactly how to incapacitate without causing lasting harm. Pang Gang had served eight years in the army, but even there, he’d never encountered such a ferocious opponent.

With Wei Ming Wei felled so brutally, his nearly thirty burly henchmen shuddered in unison.

But these men were used to fighting for their livelihoods. Even with their leader downed, they wouldn’t give up. Instead, their alertness sharpened, and they brandished their weapons menacingly.

Xu Yun remained unfazed, smiling as he faced nearly thirty thugs, his knuckles cracking with anticipation.

Nearly thirty rough-looking gangsters stepped forward, their fierce aura spreading, even affecting nearby shops—whose owners quickly shut their doors, wanting no part in the conflict.

The group who had cheered when Xu Yun took down Wei Ming Wei now fell silent, their expressions tense as they watched the standoff. Perhaps the sharpness of the axes unsettled them; Qiangzi’s Adam’s apple bobbed nervously as he worried for Xu Yun.

“Kill him!” Though Wei Ming Wei was down, there was no shortage of leaders among the thugs. One of them shouted, raising his axe and swinging it at Xu Yun’s left shoulder. The calm, cold smile on Xu Yun’s face made him even angrier.

Pang Gang’s body trembled. This was not the composure a normal person would have in such a dangerous situation. Only someone who had faced death could remain so unruffled before an oncoming axe.

Just as the axe was about to strike Xu Yun’s shoulder, he lashed out with his foot, its tip darting like a snake to hook the thug’s armpit, sending the axe flying high into the air.

Xu Yun snatched the airborne axe handle, his wrist flicking to balance the blade horizontally. Perhaps his earlier blow to Wei Ming Wei wasn’t satisfying enough; he swung the axe head at the kneeling thug clutching his armpit in pain.

The man didn’t even cry out—he was knocked flat, his head a bloody mess, as tragic as Wei Ming Wei’s.

Beside the fallen thug, a two-hundred-pound fat man suddenly roared and lunged at Xu Yun. Xu Yun didn’t bother dodging; he whipped his leg up, catching the fat man in the stomach. With piercing pain, the man flew backward, crashing into a van. The windshield shattered, and the fat man was wedged between the glass, struggling weakly before giving up.

Xu Yun then seized another attacker by the hair, slamming his face into the wall with practiced efficiency, no wasted motion.

Wei Ming Wei’s gang finally realized: this small-time foreman was no ordinary tough guy. He was a perverse fighter who had long grown bored of street brawls; his skills would win first place at any international commando competition!

This foreman, clad in flowered shorts and slippers, was now a war god in their eyes. But that didn’t stop them from swinging their axes and knives—if they didn’t fight, their boss would punish them even worse.

Xu Yun wasn’t the kind of fool who would gloat after knocking down one or two men. He understood these were not cowards unaccustomed to violence, so he acted decisively, each move aimed to subdue.

In an instant, nearly thirty men were tangled in combat with Xu Yun. He wasn’t some mythical hero who could sweep them all aside with a single move, but his agile, ghost-like footwork allowed him to weave effortlessly among the attackers.

Soon, the entrance to the medicinal cuisine restaurant was littered with kneeling men, groaning in misery.

“Bro, there’s one left,” Qiangzi said, finishing the popsicles and handing the last one to Xu Yun.

Xu Yun accepted the final four-ring popsicle, grinning as he tore it open and took a bite. Then his smile faded, replaced by annoyance: “Wasted so much of my time. The popsicle’s almost melted.”

Pang Gang was now too stunned even to smile. Who exactly was Xu Yun?

“If you can stand, stop pretending. Get up and get to work,” Xu Yun said, biting into his favorite treat as he dragged Wei Ming Wei off the car like a dead dog. “If you don’t get up, I’ll add another kick.”

With that, Xu Yun tossed Wei Ming Wei to the ground and kicked him hard. Wei Ming Wei flew sideways, like a sandbag, crashing into the restaurant’s outer wall, coughing up blood with bulging eyes. “You... you...”

“What about me?” Xu Yun walked over slowly. “I know exactly how hard I kicked you.”

At these words, all the thugs sprawled on the ground gritted their teeth and struggled to their feet. No one wanted another kick from him! The lesson Xu Yun had taught them was just enough—they had lost all will to fight, but they could still take care of themselves.

“You won’t get paid, but work hard anyway. Ask Pang Gang what to do. Anyone who tries slacking off, just try it,” Xu Yun glanced at Pang Gang and beckoned to Qiangzi. “Supervise them well!”

Qiangzi’s grin nearly split his face. “Yes, sir!”

Xu Yun strode over to Wei Ming Wei, crouching with a smile. “What, feeling comfortable? Not planning to get up and work?”

Wei Ming Wei’s eyes flashed with panic. He hurried to say, “Do you know who... who my cousin is?”

“I only know I didn’t bother breaking your bones, so you could still work,” Xu Yun’s steel-like fingers gripped Wei Ming Wei’s face. “I’ll ask you one last time: do you want to lie here, or work?”

Wei Ming Wei’s voice trembled, but he remained stubborn. “My cousin is Fan Nanjie. If you don’t want to die, let me go. I warn you, you’d better not act recklessly!”

Xu Yun sighed, “You really are a cooked duck, stubborn to the core.”

After Pang Gang assigned tasks to the battered thugs, he lit a cigarette and approached, worry clouding his face. “Xu Yun, Fan Nanjie isn’t easy to deal with... What you did today was reckless.”

“Hmph, as long as you know...” Wei Ming Wei glared at Pang Gang with hatred.

Xu Yun kicked Wei Ming Wei in the mouth, sending blood and several teeth flying. He was particularly annoyed by the sound of this guy’s refusal to admit defeat.

Pang Gang frowned and continued, “Brother, I advise you to lay low for a while. I’ll handle this myself.”

“Hahaha...” Xu Yun laughed heartily and shook his head. “No need.”

Pang Gang grew anxious, clenching his fists. “Fan Nanjie isn’t just any thug—he has powerful backing! His influence overtook the entrenched Four Wolves Gang because the east, west, and north bosses all supported him as the leader of the south!”

Xu Yun’s face showed a faint smile. “Interesting. So if I take him down, the entire southern district of Wenhui becomes peaceful?”

Pang Gang nearly lost his composure. “Do you even know what you’re saying?! Are you joking… Are you planning to take on the entire underworld of Hedong City?”

Xu Yun shrugged, unconcerned. “So what?”

This man... Pang Gang was utterly convinced by Xu Yun’s composure. Xu Yun was the most unflappable person he had ever met.