Chapter 15 I’m Sure to Chase Her Down!
"Let me tell you, you think you can use the Lin Family to climb the social ladder? Impossible! Even if the Young Miss agrees, it will only be because you’ve deceived her. I will definitely inform the Lin Family. Dream on!" Assistant Qin bellowed.
Initially, Yang Qi did feel he was somewhat unworthy of Lin Qingxuan. But Assistant Qin’s words, on the contrary, stirred the pride and competitive spirit deep within him.
"So what if I want to pursue your Young Miss? I’m telling you, I, Yang Qi, will one day make everyone look at me in a new light. I will be more successful than ever before! I will make it so no one dares to look down on me again! And I’m dead set on pursuing your Young Miss!" Yang Qi declared, looking at Assistant Qin coldly, roaring from the depths of his heart.
"You’re overestimating yourself!"
Assistant Qin glanced at Yang Qi with disdain. Seeing Lin Qingxuan emerge, she promptly left. She didn’t dare to be so brazen in front of Lin Qingxuan.
"Let’s go, let’s get something to eat!"
Lin Qingxuan had changed her clothes and now looked as beautiful and lovely as a butterfly flitting among flowers.
Yang Qi was almost stunned speechless. How could such a wonderful woman exist in this world? It was laughable that he’d wasted so many years of his youth on someone like Li Qiutong.
They arrived at the most upscale restaurant in Kang City, where the average cost per person was said to be at least fifty thousand. The high-end caviar alone was beyond the reach of ordinary people, to say nothing of the red wines that cost tens, or even hundreds, of thousands.
"I can’t afford to treat you to a place like this," Yang Qi said with a wry smile.
"It’s alright, my treat," Lin Qingxuan said with a smile, walking into the restaurant.
They had just sat down and hadn’t even had a chance to order when a group of more than a dozen men burst in. The man in the lead was built like a bear, looking strong enough to kill a wild boar with a single punch.
The other customers in the restaurant were all startled.
The burly man glanced around before his gaze locked onto Yang Qi. He strode right over, and the dozen or so men behind him quickly followed.
The terrified waiter hid behind the counter, trembling. He didn’t dare to call the police because he knew this man was not someone to be provoked. This was Kang City’s Xiong Ba—a madman you didn’t cross.
"Yang Qi?" Xiong Ba stared at Yang Qi and asked coldly.
Yang Qi stood up and shielded Lin Qingxuan behind him. The Lin Family was certainly powerful, but Lin Qingxuan herself was an ordinary girl. She didn’t have a bodyguard with her today, so he would have to act as one.
"Brother Xiong?" Seeing Xiong Ba, Yang Qi frowned. "This is between us. How about you let her leave?"
"I’m not leaving. We haven’t even eaten yet," Lin Qingxuan said with a smile, showing not a trace of fear at the sight of the ferocious Xiong Ba.
Her bodyguards were nearby; Yang Qi just didn’t know it.
Yang Qi gave a wry smile. "Miss Qingxuan, these men aren’t like Zhang Peng’s useless cronies. I might not be a match for them, so I may not be able to protect you!"
"Don’t worry, they can’t hurt me," Lin Qingxuan replied, shaking her head with a smile.
Yang Qi sighed. A young lady from a prominent family, she’s clearly never faced real danger. Doesn’t she know how terrifying these lunatics are? There’s no other way. Today, I’ll have to risk my life to protect her.
Seeing the suddenly serious expression on Yang Qi’s face, Lin Qingxuan smiled. This was the second time he had stood in front of her to protect her. Even though he had no chance of winning, he still refused to abandon her and flee. Her opinion of Yang Qi improved yet again.
"Kid, you’re not qualified to negotiate with us! Zhang Peng paid me a million to cripple you, so just accept your fate!" Xiong Ba sneered.
"Accept my fate? Impossible!" Yang Qi shook his head. "If I had accepted my fate, I would have died in that icy river long ago. Zhang Peng has tried to kill me again and again, and all I did was hit him. You’re helping him, which confirms the rumors are true. You really aren’t a good person! Your security company is nothing but a cesspool!"
"Hahahaha!"
Hearing Yang Qi’s words, Xiong Ba and his men erupted in laughter.
"A good person?" Xiong Ba said. "No wonder a fool like you was swindled out of your company and your woman. You’re too naive. In this world, there are only interests and strength! Are you a three-year-old child, to still be so innocent?"
"So by your logic, as long as you’re stronger than someone, you can bully them however you want?" Yang Qi asked flatly.
"You finally get it!" Xiong Ba patted Yang Qi’s cheek with a smirk. "No matter the era, the strong are always the strong. My fist is harder than yours. I have more power and influence than you, so might makes right!"
Yang Qi had once been an ordinary person, completely absorbed in his research. He used to believe the world was a beautiful place, peaceful and harmonious. But ever since the incident, he had come to understand what ’survival of the fittest’ truly meant, and what ’might’ really was.
Perhaps Xiong Ba wasn’t wrong. Still, he would never go out of his way to bully others. But if someone tried to bully him, he would no longer swallow his anger and foolishly hope for justice like he did before. He would fight back without mercy! So what if there were more than a dozen of them? It wasn’t a guaranteed loss!
Gritting his teeth, Yang Qi was suddenly filled with fighting spirit.
"Kid, since you’re so weak, I’ll give you a chance," Xiong Ba said, looking at Yang Qi mockingly. He loved bullying the weak more than anything, loved seeing the pain on their faces. "Kneel and break your own legs. Then we’ll call this matter finished!"
"A man can be killed, but not humiliated!" Yang Qi snarled through gritted teeth. "Unless I’m dead, you can forget about making me kneel!"
"Heh!" Xiong Ba laughed. "What an ignorant fool. You truly don’t know your place."
He suddenly looked at Lin Qingxuan. She seemed a bit familiar, but he couldn’t recall from where. With a sleazy grin, he said, "Fine, you’re not afraid to die. But if you don’t kneel today, I’ll humiliate that woman right in front of you! She’s your girlfriend, isn’t she?"
"If you dare touch her, I’ll kill you!" Yang Qi suddenly erupted with a terrifying killing aura. Unfortunately, as he had never killed anyone before, his killing aura was rather weak.
Xiong Ba was stunned for a moment, then laughed. "I’m going to touch her right now, so what are you going to do about it?"
As he spoke, he started walking toward Lin Qingxuan.
"Brother Xiong, after you take the meat, at least let us have the soup! This girl is gorgeous!" one of Xiong Ba’s men shouted excitedly.
Yang Qi shielded Lin Qingxuan, cold sweat trickling down his forehead. Facing Xiong Ba, he had no confidence. The man was too strong. Unless he could break through to the Second Layer of the Qi Refining Stage, he was absolutely no match for him. But he couldn’t leave, couldn’t let Xiong Ba harm Lin Qingxuan.
"Get out of my way!" Xiong Ba shoved at Yang Qi.
Yang Qi instinctively swung a fist to block.
BANG!
"Huh?" Xiong Ba grunted in surprise. "Not bad, kid. You’ve got some skill, no wonder you’re so arrogant. But to think you can play the hero and save the damsel with just that? You’re dreaming! Get out of my way!"
Xiong Ba threw a punch.
It was a powerful and heavy blow. The force behind this punch was on a completely different level than their initial clash, making it difficult for Yang Qi to breathe.