NOVEL NEXT Chapter 21
Page Twenty Thunder Tiger’s Nonsense Principles
The rubber stick, also known as the rubber baton, is a type of anti-riot baton developed to incapacitate criminals without causing fatal injuries. Ironically, this police equipment has many counterfeit versions available on the market, and once it falls into the hands of thugs, it naturally becomes a handy weapon for committing evil deeds.
No matter how they hit, it would only cause external injuries. Even if caught, they would mostly be classified as minor injuries. However, the pain from being struck is very real.
Thunder Tiger threw out only four rubber sticks. The Mohawk Fatso Tián Xī, afraid of missing this opportunity to beat someone up, hurriedly dropped the iron rod in his hand and snatched a rubber stick from the ground, holding it tightly. Panting heavily, he glared at us with bulging eyes, seemingly wanting to crush us into meat paste.
He swung the rubber stick around in a showy manner, then swung it hard onto the shoulder blade of Zhao Zhao.
“Hold on! I have a request!” Zhao Zhao, who had been hit, suddenly spoke up.
Because I was facing away from him, I couldn’t see his expression.
Thunder Tiger waved his hand, signaling Fatso Tián Xī to stop, “Oh? Begging now is useless, isn’t it?”
“I only have one request… don’t hit my friend. He can’t take much punishment. I’ll take it all.”
When Zhao Zhao said this, he didn’t even turn around, but I couldn’t hold back anymore. Struggling, I tried to stand up and break free from the Masked Spiky-Haired Thug’s grip.
While struggling, I shouted loudly, “Wait! Are you an idiot! Why are you showing off at a time like this!”
“Okay Chairman, even a rubber baton would be too much for your build! You’ve always called me a muscle-bound idiot, haven’t you? Yes, I’m thick-skinned, getting hit a couple of times doesn’t matter.”
I felt a pang in my nose.
I was truly a coward. For a moment, because of Zhao Zhao’s words, I felt a sense of relief as if I had survived a disaster. I felt safe because he was willing to take the beating for me! This ugly emotion made me angry and ashamed, making me struggle even more intensely. The Masked Spiky-Haired Thug momentarily couldn’t hold me down.
“Sure, no problem. I, Thunder Tiger, love people with integrity… and your friend does seem like he can’t take much.”
Ignoring my struggles and protests, Thunder Tiger agreed to Zhao Zhao’s request. He crossed his arms and stood by the wall, while the four thugs, including the fat one, closed in again, swinging their rubber sticks relentlessly.
Four thick black rubber sticks rained down on Zhao Zhao’s back, arms, and abdomen. Although I couldn’t see his expression, I could see his neck turning red, and I heard his muffled groans amidst the sounds of beating.
Through the white shirt, I could see bruises forming on his body, and broken skin oozing blood.
Suddenly, my world became quiet.
All that remained were Zhao Zhao’s muffled groans and the sound of the batons hitting his back. Some dark emotion surged in my chest, making me look at the iron rod that had been thrown aside by Tián Xī.
Because I had been silent for a while, the Masked Spiky-Haired Thug relaxed his guard on me. Suddenly, I burst into action, breaking free from his restraints and grabbing the iron rod from the ground.
“Go to hell!”
Taking advantage of everyone’s shock, I swung the iron rod with all my might towards Thunder Tiger’s forehead.
At this moment, I completely followed the malice in my heart, not caring about the consequences, I just wanted to kill him.
But my strike was blocked. The iron rod hit Thunder Tiger’s forearm, feeling like it had struck an iron plate, which numbed my palm.
“Your murderous intent is way too obvious.”
Thunder Tiger’s strength was frightening. With ease, he grabbed the iron rod with his other hand. I heard a loud ringing in my right ear, and when I came to, I was sitting on the ground by the fence, my face burning with pain and heat.
Shaking my head, I looked up and met Thunder Tiger’s gaze, only to find tears blurring my vision.
Just a punch from a small thug, and the tears wouldn’t stop… How weak am I? What kind of man am I?
“What! You… you’re actually a woman!”
Thunder Tiger looked at me in shock.
Not just Thunder Tiger, but all the thugs were staring at me in disbelief. Could it be?
…I touched my cheek and realized my glasses were gone.
The large-framed glasses’ lenses were either shattered or broken, scattered on the ground as glass shards. The frame was intact, lying on the ground. Just without those beer-glasses…
Thick lenses like the bottom of a bottle, even with this frame, couldn’t hide anything.
I didn’t react, and Thunder Tiger seemed quite disappointed as well. He stared at his left hand, looking somewhat… guilty?
“Ah, brothers, let’s go…” He hesitated for a moment, then started calling his gang members to retreat. But before they left, he had to throw in some tough words: “My principle is not to lay a hand on women. This time, I broke my own rule. Consider yourselves lucky, but remember to tell that crazy girl that she shouldn’t meddle next time.”
Was he really concerned about that so-called principle?
Thunder Tiger led his gang towards the other end of the alley. The mohawked fat man named Tian Xi seemed unwilling, but he dared not defy Thunder Tiger’s will and followed angrily.
A social outcast who constantly talks about principles, he thinks he’s cool, but actually, he’s disgusting. But one has to admit, this time, it was saved by my feminine face and Thunder Tiger’s nonsense principles.
“Chairman, are you okay? Your face is disfigured? Oh, are you crying?”
“Enough already, do you still have time to worry about me?”
“I’m fine, just some flesh wounds, they’ll heal in a few days. It’s like getting hit by Xiao Hai Tang 100 times.”
Clearly weak, unable to stand, trembling on the ground, yet still trying to joke around.
His body was covered in bruises, purple and blue. His originally white shirt was now filthy. Seeing him like this, my eyes started to water again. Having sensitive tear glands was truly troublesome.
I tried to help him up, but with my height of 170 cm, it was hard to support someone as tall as Zhao Zhao at 190 cm. I could only hold his waist, barely keeping him from falling. We staggered out of the alley, looking pitiful.
An elderly man with gray hair, accompanied by two police officers, ran over anxiously.
“Young man, are you alright? Did those thugs run off quickly?”
The old man seemed to be a shop owner from Mí Fēng Street. He might have seen me and Zhao Zhao being dragged into the alley and called the police urgently. On closer inspection, the old man held a large claw hammer, heavy and capable of smashing a skull.
Two police officers, one older and one younger. The young policeman looked to be in his early twenties, possibly fresh out of police academy, still retaining a naive student-like aura. The older policeman was quite charming, with a sexy beard, high nose bridge, and deep-set eyes. Such a handsome uncle would fit perfectly in a cop movie, the kind who suits smoking a cigar.
The young policeman took Zhao Zhao from me, while the older policeman focused his attention on me.
“Miss, can you describe the gang of hooligans you encountered?”
“Wait, I’m a man.” Amidst the older policeman’s surprised look, I continued with red eyes: “About ten to fifteen members, most of them had peculiar hairstyles, wearing leather jackets, carrying sticks and chains. The leader seems to be called Thunder Tiger.”
“Tsk, it’s them…” Hearing my description, the older policeman covered his forehead with his hand, rubbing his temples, looking very troubled.
He took out a small notebook from his coat pocket, opened a page filled with information about the gang, “That ‘Thunder Tiger’ is a nickname. His real name is Lei Ke Lie. They usually operate in the Balance Commercial District, rarely coming here to Mí Fēng Street. They’re very cautious and know their limits, making big mistakes rarely but small ones often. They appear and disappear like ghosts; even if caught, they’d only be detained for a few weeks.”
Zhao Zhao interjected, “He’s quite rich, playing the role of a thug like it’s a game. Does this spoiled brat have a screw loose?”
“He’s mom is a strong businesswoman, so they’re not short on money… Sigh, talking about this… I need to apologize to you both.”
“Apologize?”
“I am Lei La, though divorced, I am still the father of that scoundrel. Once I catch him, I will personally bring him to vent your frustrations.”
Hearing this, Zhao Zhao and I were speechless with surprise.
Only then did I notice that the older policeman indeed bore some resemblance to Thunder Tiger.