NOVEL NEXT Chapter 27:
Chapter 27: No Regrets:
The Tang suit master had never encountered anyone as fast as Lin You. It was almost inhuman.
He quickly assumed a defensive stance, drawing on his expertise in Tang hand, a martial art similar to Bajiquan, which balanced defense and powerful offense.
But Lin You, charging like a wild animal, ignored the master’s defenses entirely. In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of him. With no special techniques or fancy moves, Lin You rammed into the master with his slim frame, sending him flying two or three meters backward. Before the master could steady himself, Lin You’s fist was already upon him.
The punch connected with the master’s face, delivered with only 30% of Lin You’s newfound strength. Lin You feared that using his full power could kill the man, and he knew the law wouldn’t care if it was self-defense; the judgment would be based on the injuries inflicted.
Even at 30% strength, the punch sent the Tang suit master hurtling five or six meters into an old tree. Though still conscious, the master’s head buzzed, and his vision doubled. He slumped against the tree, temporarily incapacitated.
With their leader defeated, Lin You felt a surge of confidence. He swiftly delivered three punches and two kicks to the gangsters still attacking Zhang Xi, knocking them down effortlessly. Then, he helped Zhang Xi to his feet and began to leave.
But just as they turned to go, a hoarse voice called out from behind, “Wait a minute!”
Zhang Xi, battered and confused, clung to Lin You tightly, terrified he might be left behind. Lin You turned back to see the Tang suit master struggling to stand under the tree.
“What? Do you still want to fight?” Lin You snapped, his voice sharp.
The Tang suit master weakly waved a hand. “No… I misjudged you, young man. I didn’t expect you to be such a master.” He coughed, spitting out blood, and continued, “But it’s useless. Even if we can’t handle you, you won’t always be able to protect your female classmate.”
Lin You’s eyes narrowed. “What are you planning?”
The Tang suit master took a deep breath and spoke. “Do you think we kidnapped her out of lust? No. We’re gangsters, not brainless animals. Her father owes us money. He’s already signed an agreement.
“Tomorrow, she’s to report to the [Harem]. You can save her tonight, but you can’t save her forever. Our boss, Ming Hu, is untouchable. In all of Hangzhou, no one dares to challenge him.
“If you’re smart, you’ll let her go with us now. If you’re close to her, she can even give you her first night. But if she doesn’t show up at the [Harem] tomorrow, her father’s legs will be broken. If she doesn’t appear the day after, his eyes will be gouged out.”
Lin You turned to Li Ruochen, his gaze questioning. She nodded reluctantly, her expression filled with pain.
Lin You clenched his fists. “How much does her father owe you?”
The Tang suit master wiped the blood from his mouth and sneered. “Three million.”
Li Ruochen’s eyes widened with anger. “It was 1.2 million yesterday! How did it become 3 million today?”
The Tang suit master smirked. “Little girl, you don’t understand how casinos work. The 1.2 million was the principal your father borrowed. Half a year has passed. Didn’t he tell you about the interest? Looks like he’s kept you in the dark.”
Lin You gritted his teeth. “I’ll pay the debt. Take me to see your boss, Ming Hu. I’ll repay it within a month. Until then, you can’t harm my classmate or add any more interest.”
The Tang suit master raised an eyebrow, impressed by Lin You’s determination. “You’re serious? Fine. My name is Tang Sen. If you ever get into trouble, just mention my name. I may not be able to beat you, but as a red stick in the [Harem], people will give me some respect.”
Lin You refused to shake Tang Sen’s outstretched hand. “I’m just a student. After this, let’s not cross paths again.”
Tang Sen withdrew his hand, smiling faintly. “That’s fair. For the record, I was a 985 college graduate, majoring in Chinese. I wanted to make my family proud, but life… didn’t go as planned.” He sighed. “Come to the [Harem] tomorrow, and I’ll help you meet the boss. But don’t rely on brute force. In this world, having a strong fist doesn’t make you the most powerful. You understand what I mean.”
Lin You nodded silently, fully aware of what Tang Sen was implying. The [Harem] disguised itself as an upscale club but was a front for a sophisticated, illegal operation. Despite crackdowns on organized crime, they continued to operate, protected by powerful backers and armed enforcers.
Tang Sen stretched his legs and smiled. “Thank you for showing mercy today. Remember, we’re just here for the money. Some conflicts are unavoidable.” He turned to Li Ruochen and added, “Girl, cherish this classmate of yours. Not many people would fight for you like he has.”
After leaving his contact number, Tang Sen and his men departed.
Li Ruochen, tears streaming down her face, nodded firmly at Tang Sen’s words. Lin You, supporting the confused Zhang Xi, approached her.
“Ruochen,” he said, “if you’re not going back to school, are you planning to spend the night here?”
Unable to hold back her emotions any longer, Li Ruochen hugged Lin You tightly, sobbing into his chest.
Lin You, holding Zhang Xi with one hand, gently patted her back with the other. “Don’t be afraid. It’s over. Leave the rest to me—I’ll take care of it.”
Li Ruochen looked up, her tear-streaked face trembling with emotion. “Lin You, I know you’re trying to delay them, but it won’t work. You don’t understand how powerful they are.” She leaned closer and whispered, “Lin You, I’ll give myself to you tonight. Even if I end up in the [Harem] tomorrow, I won’t regret it.”
Stunned, Lin You froze for a moment. He had acted out of a sense of justice, not to take advantage of her vulnerability.
Gently, he wiped her tears, his touch so tender that it made her heart tremble. “Ruochen,” he whispered, “you’re not the most unfortunate person in the world. At least you have classmates who care about you. Everyone has their struggles. I promise you, I won’t let you enter the [Harem].”
Li Ruochen gazed at him with glistening eyes. “Lin You, I know you’ve had it harder than me. You’ve never had new clothes or shoes since high school, and you survive on free meals and dried radishes. I think you must be an orphan. With your grades, you’ll get into Qingbei and have a bright future. But I… I’m destined to be a victim of my father’s mistakes.”