Chapter 386

Past events surged into my mind like a tide, and vanished memories replayed in my brain like a movie.

That scene, I will never forget, because I was urinating in the restroom and accidentally splashed a campus "big brother," and five hulks more than twice my size pinned me down in the restroom and beat me up.

Their fists rained down on my body like raindrops, their feet mercilessly kicked my armpit and belly, they held my head down, trying to shove me into the restroom pit.

A frail figure descended from nowhere, wielding an iron rod, ruthlessly sweeping everyone aside.

When the other side's lackeys came seeking revenge, that same frail figure, cigarette in mouth, iron rod in hand, fearlessly stood before me; his malnourished body looked as steadfast and towering as a mountain.

He dared to point at dozens of people and curse them alone, he dared to brandish his blade and stand alone against the gate, guarding his brothers.

Pointing at the surging thugs, he roared: "You dare move my brothers? You don't want to live, do you?"

After all, we were students then; although we formed gangs and factions, deep down everyone was actually quite afraid.

Perhaps, only he was different.

He was Wei Xiong. A brother I bought with a pack of cigarettes. Because when I was running around borrowing money to buy cigarettes, I gave him a pack, he patted my shoulder and said: "From now on... you are my brother."

How ridiculous this was—I thought he was just talking, who could have imagined he truly regarded me as a brother? Back then, he alone beat up a school gang. Now, for me, he held glass shards against a gang leader's neck.

He remained as thin and short as before, just as ruthless; whenever someone harmed his brothers, he turned into a ferocious tiger and wolf, stepping on any heavenly king or old master without hesitation.

"Wei Xiong..." Gazing at the frail figure ahead holding glass shards to the thug's neck, my eyes involuntarily moistened, deep in my heartstrings a spot trembled slightly from overwhelming emotion.

When we realized it was Wei Xiong, everyone froze. No one expected that after so many years, our brotherly reunion would occur amid such chaos.

"Release my brother, or... you die." Wei Xiong exerted a little force with his hands, driving the glass shards at the thug's neck deeper; bright red blood trickled down his neck.

The bald thug's eyes flashed with fear for an instant, but he quickly concealed it.

In his gaze toward Wei Xiong, a sneer surfaced, the corner of his mouth curved, and he snorted self‑derisively.

"Little kid, do you think you alone can withstand how many people here? You wrecked my Northeast Tiger's turf, you can leave this place, but can you leave Aomen?" At that moment the bald thug showed no sleaze; an aura unique to a crime boss surged over him.

When he spoke the name Northeast Tiger in fluent Cantonese, my heart felt as if crushed by a thousand‑ton stone, yet in an instant I returned to normal.

Southern Heavenly King, Northeast Tiger—the two heads of Aomen's underground dynasty; I have met Chen Zheng, and tonight I also saw Northeast Tiger.

Yet who would have thought that the leader of the Tiger Gang would have none of a crime boss's bearing, instead behaving like a street thug who harasses girls everywhere.

At this moment I felt no fear whatsoever, even though Northeast Tiger's power was terrifying; nor did I hide my contempt for him on my face.

Though both are underworld tyrants, the two gang leaders, Chen Zheng's character is far more upright than his; even if Chen Zheng might sometimes do things ordinary people despise behind the scenes, he would never do the despicable act of forcing good women into prostitution.

This is the gap between people; even if you cover the sky with one hand and your power is frightening, I might fear you, I can tolerate you, but in my heart I will never respect you—I will look down on you.

"One word... will you let him go or not?" Wei Xiong's style remained terse; he never wastes words.

"Hmph... do you know who I am? Do you know what Northeast Tiger represents in Aomen? As long as I say a word, you'll have to crawl out of Aomen." Northeast Tiger's aura was strong, his threats harsh and menacing toward Wei Xiong.

As soon as he spoke, I despised him all the more in my heart.

This trick of a exhausted donkey's limited skills, used over and over, though it appears fierce on the surface, the hardness of his aura cannot conceal the fact that his inner strength is gradually waning.

When Wei Xiong drove the glass shard a fraction deeper into his neck, he grew afraid, and his aura immediately weakened a bit.

"Fine, I'll let you go..." His tone could not hide the fleeting panic.

"Go..." Wei Xiong, while gripping him, gave us a glance.

I knew this was no time for reminiscing, so I hurriedly moved toward the door with Pangzi and Yao Yirong.

The triads surrounding us looked at us with eyes flashing a hatred as if we had killed their fathers.

Yet they could do nothing to me, for their boss was in my brother's hands; although unwilling, they dared not move a muscle.

Step by step, under their unwilling, hateful gazes, we four walked out of the bar's doorway.

Those few minutes felt as long as a lifetime. When we finally stepped one foot out of the bar door, a cool breeze blew, I involuntarily exhaled, and at the same moment I realized my back was already soaked—I had been drenched in sweat without noticing.

Just then, a fierce shout came from behind, followed by a tremendous clamor of snatching and cursing.

We turned our heads and saw a scene that made our hearts tighten.

Sometime unknown, the glass shard in Wei Xiong's hand had been taken away, his hand reddened over a large area; the hostage Northeast Tiger, held in his hand, had been rescued by the few black‑clad bodyguards beside him.

"Hurry up and go..." Seeing this, I knew Wei Xiong was likely done for, but he is my brother—I cannot abandon him.

So I shouted at Yao Yirong, shoved him and Silijing aside, and Pangzi and I turned and rushed back inside.

Although Wei Xiong was besieged by several triads, he was not at a disadvantage; he hurled bar liquor, stools, and such, while darting around the bar to evade their attacks.

Pangzi and I wielded iron rods, striking everywhere, finally carving a bloody path to Wei Xiong's side. Only then did I realize, damn it, we had been tricked.

The triads let us in so easily just to trap us inside, making us like caged birds surrounded by them—no matter how we flee, we remain within their encirclement.

Wei Xiong, Pangzi, and I were driven into a corner of the bar, while Northeast Tiger stood not far away, silent, merely watching us; as his gaze swept over Wei Xiong, he unabashedly revealed a hint of cruelty.

He seemed to enjoy this cat‑and‑mouse game, loving to first frighten the mouse, break its courage, then cruelly toy with it.

"Damn it, didn't I tell you two to run? Why are you coming back?" Wei Xiong glared at me and Pangzi as we turned back and shouted.

I turned back, looked at his sorry state, merely smiled and said five words: "We are brothers."

Pangzi said nothing, just nodded firmly and placed his hand on his shoulder.

Even without words, one can feel this resolve to live and die together.

Pangzi and I exchanged a glance, each looking at our own palms, we nodded in unison, and then I immediately shook my head at Pangzi.

This puzzling scene holds a meaning outsiders cannot grasp; in fact Pangzi and I both know that against so many attackers, martial arts would be useless. Even if Pangzi could fight, two fists cannot beat four hands—he might take down one, but he could not finish them all.

The only recourse is to revert to our old trade, magic. But in this situation ordinary incantations are useless; the enemy won't give us time, won't wait while we set up an altar to curse him.

Thus the only thing we can use is martial magic. Yet this martial magic, though fierce, likewise has side effects; any Daoist who employs martial magic to punish evildoers must first divine before the patriarch's altar, and only if the patriarch permits may they use it. Otherwise, recklessly using martial magic to harm people brings only calamity upon one's kin and heavenly retribution.

So when Pangzi nodded, I immediately shook my head. He and I are different—he still has relatives, even a father; whereas I, my only mother is dead, and my only Sister Jiajia is still just a ghost, whom I have yet to find.

Let me bear it all! Since I am afflicted with the five flaws and three deficiencies, shunned by the heavenly Dao, why not let the heavenly punishment come even more fiercely?

I silently bit open the middle fingers of both hands, then on each palm drew a flower‑like pattern of the Yin Thunder Dot.

Without waiting for Northeast Tiger to speak, I took a lunging step, clutching the thunder character and charged at him.

Watching me rush at him, his eyes first flickered with astonishment, then a smirk of undisguised contempt appeared, as if he were looking at an ant.

Without him speaking, the several bodyguards around him immediately stepped forward to block in front of him.

One of the bodyguards in a suit, looking at me swooping in, showed a faint sneer at the corner of his eyes.

Northeast Tiger gave no orders, and all the triad members surrounding us dared not move. The only one who moved was this black-clad bodyguard.

He likewise clenched his fists and came toward me, his eyes always holding a sneer at me, as if he were very confident in his martial arts and also looked down on me.

However, this world doesn't only have martial arts and fighting techniques; there is also… a martial method called Daoist Sect.

He clenched his fists, I opened my palm, and thus we faced each other and met.

However, just as the palm and fist were about to collide, a sudden angry shout came from the doorway.

"Enough, everyone stop,"

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