Chapter 30: Try Saying "Ah" Again, I Dare You

"Don't be rash."

Su Yifan rose to block Lin Ming.

"Yifan, how can you tolerate this after what they've done?" Lin Ming looked at his good friend, astonished. Was this still the same Su Yifan he used to know? In the past, Su Yifan would have acted long ago when confronted by people like these. Had he changed so much during those five years he disappeared?

"Everything must be reasoned out," Su Yifan smiled at the group of thugs nearby. "Isn't that right?"

"Reason, my ass! You dare lecture me?" The thug leader, known as Brother Fa, shouted angrily, swinging his baseball bat straight for Su Yifan’s head.

"Yifan, look out!" Lin Ming cried out in alarm, lunging forward to help intercept the blow.

Yet he quickly realized he couldn't move. Su Yifan’s hand pressed against him, keeping him from advancing even a fraction.

"Yifan, what are you doing?" Lin Ming panicked, seeing the bat about to strike Su Yifan.

He had no idea what would happen next.

With a sudden bang, Brother Fa, who had aimed at Su Yifan, exploded into a cloud of blood.

Behind them, the four thugs stood frozen, shocked at their leader's sudden death.

Lin Ming, too, was stunned.

Was this the work of his good friend? Was this what Su Yifan meant by reasoning? No, something was off—how had Yifan suddenly become so powerful? Could he now be a martial artist?

"Yifan, you..." Lin Ming swallowed hard, staring at Su Yifan.

"What? It's just killing a man," Su Yifan replied with a faint smile.

At that moment, the kitchen door opened with a loud crash. Aunt Li emerged carrying several dishes. Seeing the pool of blood on the ground, she was so frightened that her tray slipped from her hands.

The four thugs snapped out of their daze at the sound.

"M-murder... there's been a murder..."

"Run, hurry, run!" The four thugs turned to flee.

"Lin Ming, go comfort Aunt Li. Tell her not to worry," Su Yifan patted Lin Ming's shoulder.

"Alright..." Lin Ming, still in a haze, turned to approach Aunt Li.

Once Lin Ming was gone, Su Yifan shifted his gaze to the four thugs.

With a single stride, he appeared outside the shop, blocking their escape.

Seeing Su Yifan suddenly before them, the four thugs dropped to their knees in terror.

They kowtowed, crying and begging, "Please... don't kill us..."

"Spare us, boss! We didn't know who you were—we beg you, please forgive us!"

Their foreheads soon bled from their desperate prostrations.

"If you want to live, shut up!" Su Yifan shot them a glance.

The four immediately fell silent.

Satisfied, Su Yifan asked, "Tell me, why did you come to make trouble? If you conceal anything, you'll end up like your friend."

"We came to collect protection fees," one thug answered promptly.

"Protection fees? Who sent you?"

The thug hesitated, then replied, "It—it was the boss who sent us."

Boss? Su Yifan was puzzled. Hadn't he already wiped out the Green Gang? Where had this boss come from? Was there another faction?

He pressed further, "Are there any other gangs in Yun City besides the Green Gang?"

"Yes," the thug replied quickly. "There are two gangs in Yun City: the Green Gang and our Hongxing. This alley used to belong to the Green Gang, but since they were wiped out a couple of days ago, it's now Hongxing territory."

"I see." Confirming another gang's existence, Su Yifan said coolly, "Where is your headquarters? Take me there now."

Hearing Su Yifan's request, the thugs were momentarily stunned, then exchanged furtive smiles.

So this fool is walking straight into hell! They had been wondering how to escape and take revenge—now he was handing himself over.

"If that's what you want, we'll..."

Just as the four were about to agree, Lin Ming emerged from the shop.

Hearing that Su Yifan planned to visit Hongxing, he hurried over. "Yifan, you can't go!"

"And why not? It's just a worthless gang," Su Yifan chuckled.

Lin Ming persisted, "Yifan, I know you've become a martial artist, but you really can't go to Hongxing! There are other martial artists in their ranks, and they're strong. If you go, the odds are stacked against you."

He knew a bit about Hongxing—they had martial artists, and formidable ones at that.

His friend had disappeared for five years. Lin Ming had searched for him all that time. Now, having finally found him, he couldn't let anything happen to Yifan. He would rather tie him down than let him go into danger.

Su Yifan understood Lin Ming’s concern and said calmly, "Don’t worry. I never do anything I’m not sure of."

"But—"

"Enough. I must go to Hongxing today."

Su Yifan spoke firmly. If such gangs were not eliminated, countless people would suffer in the future.

He wasn't a saint, but Aunt Li's shop was a place he frequented often. If nothing else, he wanted to ensure he could still enjoy her cooking in the days to come.

Seeing his friend's resolve, Lin Ming gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, if you insist, I'll go with you!"

The four thugs were delighted. Perfect—two birds with one stone.

Su Yifan was moved by Lin Ming's willingness to follow him. Truly, a loyal friend.

"Good. If you want to go, let's go together," Su Yifan nodded. With him there, nothing would happen.

With the decision made, the four thugs quickly got to their feet.

"We'll take you right away," they said, preparing to leave.

"Wait," Su Yifan called out.

The thugs' hearts skipped a beat. Was he changing his mind?

"Is there something else, boss?"

"Hand over all the money you have," Su Yifan said calmly.

"Uh?" One thug frowned.

"Try ‘uh’ again and see what happens," Su Yifan stared coldly.

The thug felt a chill down his spine, dared not hesitate, and quickly pulled several bills from his pocket.

"And you three?" Su Yifan turned to the others.

Not daring to protest, they emptied their pockets as well.

After a quick search, the four produced over five thousand yuan.

"Lin Ming, give this money to Aunt Li," Su Yifan instructed.

Lin Ming wordlessly complied.

Soon, Lin Ming returned from the shop, and the group set off for the Hongxing Gang.

...