Free Web NovelChapter 32: Chapter 32: Act of Chivalry?
"No, no, no..."
The Shopkeeper yelled anxiously, trying to block the two men, but they just knocked him to the ground. "Third Master, how about we do what we did before? I can write you an IOU. Is that alright? An IOU?"
"An IOU, my ass!"
The tattooed leader spat right in the Shopkeeper’s face. "I’m here to collect the silver you owe, so what the fuck do you mean, ’an IOU’?"
The Shopkeeper was on the verge of tears. "Then... then please, Third Master, just give me one more day. I’ll go borrow the money right now! I swear I will!"
"So, you’re still not planning to pay, is that it?"
The tattooed leader viciously grabbed the Shopkeeper by the collar.
"Let me go! Let me go! Father!"
Just then, two thugs emerged from the back courtyard, dragging a pretty girl of about sixteen or seventeen.
"Father! Save me!"
The girl’s face went pale with fright as she screamed, struggling desperately to get behind her father.
"Third Master, you can’t! You can’t do this!"
The Shopkeeper was scared out of his wits. He fell to his knees and clung to the tattooed leader’s leg, begging pitifully, "My daughter is still so young! Please, be merciful! The silver, I’ll get you the silver! I’ll sell everything I own if I have to! Please, just let her go!"
"Get lost, you old bastard!"
The tattooed leader impatiently kicked the Shopkeeper away.
The Shopkeeper cried out in pain and collapsed.
The thugs seized their chance, grabbing the screaming girl by both arms. They stuffed a rag in her mouth and threw her onto a carriage waiting by the door.
"Hahaha! Take her away! The Gang Leader has been bored lately. This little girl will be perfect to cheer him up!" the tattooed leader laughed triumphantly.
Pedestrians on the street stared, and a crowd gathered at the entrance, pointing and whispering.
"What are you looking at? Paying your debts is the law of the land.
This old man can’t pay up, so I’m taking his daughter to settle the score. Got a problem with that? Keep looking, and I’ll tie all of you up too!"
The tattooed leader drew his blade. The terrified pedestrians could only shoot him looks of suppressed anger as they hurried away from the scene.
Not far away, Chen Li watched all of this unfold, his expression impassive.
He had been tailing these thugs for a full day.
They had committed countless evil deeds throughout the county town. Not a single merchant on this street could escape their extortion.
The timid ones could only obediently hand over their silver to make the problem go away.
Those who couldn’t pay had their stalls smashed and were beaten.
The merchants on the street were all furious but dared not speak out.
The carriage hurried off, and Chen Li’s figure silently followed, tailing the San Dao Bang members who were escorting the girl.
They laughed and joked brazenly the whole way, their mouths full of filthy language.
After many twists and turns, the carriage finally arrived at a relatively remote residential area on the east side of the county town.
The houses were low and dilapidated.
The tattooed leader took out a key, opened a courtyard gate with peeling paint, and roughly dragged the girl from the carriage, shoving her inside.
"You guys stand guard. You can go in after I’ve had my fun."
The tattooed leader arranged with a lecherous grin after entering the small courtyard.
"Boss, why don’t we go in together?" another thug hooted.
"Fuck off! You think I’m the Gang Leader? Besides, what the Gang Leader likes are other men’s wives."
Muttering curses, the tattooed leader slammed the door shut behind him.
Chen Li’s figure drifted like smoke to the base of the courtyard wall. He extended his Spiritual Sense, instantly locking onto the positions within.
From inside the house came the girl’s desperate cries and the sound of tearing fabric.
The tattooed leader clearly couldn’t wait.
The thugs standing guard were leaning against the doorframe, yawning with boredom.
With a light tap of his toes, Chen Li vaulted over the wall like a cat, landing without a sound.
One of the thugs saw only a blur. A soft CRACK echoed as his skull shattered, splattering blood. He collapsed without so much as a grunt.
"Who’s there?"
The other thug was horrified. Before he could react, a dark blur tore through the air toward him.
BAM!
The heavy Iron Staff smashed into his body with unerring accuracy, and a burst of violent Inner Qi instantly pulverized his organs.
The thug froze, the life draining from his eyes. The immense force of the blow sent his body flying, and it slammed hard against the wall.
"Dammit, what the hell are you guys doing out there?"
The door opened, and the tattooed leader stumbled out, pulling up his pants while cursing.
When he saw the scene in the courtyard, his brutish face twisted in horror, and he fumbled to slam the door shut.
A cold glint flashed in Chen Li’s eyes. He moved like lightning, so fast he left an afterimage, and kicked the door open as he reached it.
BAM!
The door splintered and flew off its hinges.
Chen Li’s figure shot into the house. His Iron Staff whistled through the air, striking with perfect precision at the tattooed leader’s right wrist as he reached for his saber.
CRACK!
The sickening crunch of bone breaking echoed through the room.
"Aargh...!"
The tattooed leader let out a bloodcurdling, distorted scream. His saber handle CLANGED on the floor as his right wrist dangled at a grotesque angle.
The intense pain instantly robbed him of all ability to resist. Large beads of sweat rolled down his face.
With a THUD, he collapsed to his knees. Clutching his shattered right wrist with his left hand, his face ashen, he stared at Chen Li with eyes full of boundless terror.
"Sir, spare... spare me! Please, spare my life!"
The tattooed leader kowtowed repeatedly, his previous arrogance gone, replaced by a primal instinct to survive.
Chen Li pressed the cold tip of his Iron Staff against the man’s head, his voice like ice. "Answer my questions honestly."
"I’ll talk! I’ll tell you anything! Just please, spare this worthless dog’s life!"
The tattooed leader was scared out of his wits, babbling incoherently.
"Tu Sandao. Where does he usually live? What are his habits?"
Chen Li’s questions were direct and to the point, with no wasted words. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
Clinging to this as if it were a lifeline, the tattooed leader spilled everything he knew. "I don’t know where the Gang Leader usually lives. But I know that... that he’s a womanizer. He loves going to Wang’s Cloth Workshop on Zishi Street to see Madam Wang. He’s there every two or three days, guaranteed."
"A womanizer? What’s he going to see Madam Wang for?" Chen Li snorted. "Are you trying to trick me?"
The tattooed leader frantically explained, "You don’t understand, sir! On the surface, Madam Wang sells fabrics and threads, but secretly, she works as a Pimp. She loves setting up johns with women. The Gang Leader is into that sort of thing, which is why he loves going there." ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
"Zishi Street... Madam Wang..." Chen Li’s eyes narrowed. "Are there expert Guards protecting him in secret?"
"No, no."
The tattooed leader shook his head frantically. "The Gang Leader... he’s extremely confident in his own abilities. Besides, when he goes to Madam Wang’s, he never lets any outsiders get close..."
"Very good." Chen Li nodded. "Now you can die."
Having gotten all the information he wanted, Chen Li flicked his wrist, and the tip of his Iron Staff shot forward like a striking viper.
BAM!
A crimson flower bloomed on the tattooed leader’s skull.
His eyes shot wide open, and a gurgling sound escaped his throat. He couldn’t seem to understand why, after telling his captor everything, he was still being killed. With a look of utter disbelief, his body convulsed and collapsed, dead.
"Don’t be afraid. I’m here to save you."
Chen Li turned to the kidnapped girl.
She was cowering in the corner of the bed, her clothes in disarray. She watched Chen Li through blurry, tear-filled eyes, trembling like a leaf in the wind.
Chen Li walked to the bedside and looked at the girl, who was still trembling and in shock. "Get dressed. I’ll take you home."
The girl fumblingly pulled on her torn outer clothes. Tears still streamed down her face as she knelt and kowtowed to Chen Li. "Th-Thank you, my savior..."
