Chapter Sixty-One: So They Were Both Little Firecrackers

How much time does it take to cover three miles? If it were in his previous life, Xiao Nan would say the world record was three and a half minutes. But right now, he felt he might be even faster. With his mental strength developed, his body was no longer the same... Every ounce of power, every movement of muscle was under his complete control.

Vital energy surged, concentrated in his legs. His speed was so astonishing that even he was surprised. Passersby only felt a gust of wind rush past them... then saw a figure in blue-and-white school uniform fade into the distance, the face barely visible. They couldn't help but stop and marvel.

Two minutes and forty-eight seconds. That was the time Xiao Nan silently calculated in his mind.

He passed through a long narrow alley, where red silk cordon stretched out as a barrier... From afar, he saw a vast area of unfinished buildings, steel bars and iron frames exposed to the air. After being battered by wind and rain, they were covered in thick rust.

Beneath the shell of those abandoned structures, on a neglected cement road, a few figures could be seen. Xiao Bei and her classmate were there, their white-and-black school uniforms particularly conspicuous.

Apart from the two girls, there were three others. They seemed to be in the midst of a heated argument.

Xiao Nan’s thoughts turned, and he slipped behind the building, approaching quietly. With the mental strength he now possessed, a single glance sufficed to calculate the best route... he would not crush a single loose stone, nor make the slightest sound to alert others.

Fortunately, he wasn’t late.

Xiao Nan’s gaze lingered, dark and deep, unaware that his eyes had already turned bloodshot and a violent aura emanated from him, chillingly reminiscent of the savage who slaughtered in the bookstore.

He did not know what was happening ahead; if he rushed in head-on, the others might panic and turn on the two girls. That would be risky. It was better to approach from the side, quietly and stealthily.

“Tie, you’re not keeping your word.”

A boy with a backpack, barely in his teens, shouted angrily. His face was pale, his body looked frail, and his eyes were somewhat narrow. Now, in his fury, his expression was twisted.

“Smack…”

Opposite him, a youth in his twenties wearing a floral shirt, hair slicked back, slapped the boy’s face and laughed loudly, “Talking to me about honesty? Everyone knows I, Wu Tie, value honesty above all. Enough, you’ve played the hero saving beauties, now get lost and don’t disturb your brother Wu’s leisure. It’s rare to meet such spirited young ladies.”

“I’m going to tell my dad, your family’s goods are cut off.”

“Tell your dad, ha! Zhao Lei, should I also expose the times you hired me to play the thug so you could be the hero? I’ll let the police have a chat with you. Tell me, did those two girls drop out of school? What did you do to them?”

The boy with the backpack was momentarily speechless, his face turned even paler... He truly feared such matters coming to light—his family would kill him.

Beside Wu Tie stood a thin, ugly young man, around thirty, dressed in a black T-shirt. His triangular eyes occasionally glinted coldly.

He stepped forward and said, “Tie, didn’t the boss say we’re supposed to keep to business and not make trouble right now?”

“My brother meddles too much. It’s just playing with some girls, and whenever I bring someone back, he always wants a piece too. Don’t worry, he’ll like such outstanding girls.”

“Come with me, little sisters, have a bit of fun. I won’t hurt you, don’t be afraid.”

Wu Tie forced a smile, his breath slightly hurried, stretching out his words as if he thought himself suave, though the light in his eyes betrayed his true intentions.

“Zhao Lei, I didn’t expect you to be this kind of person.”

Fang Luoluo was furious at the shameless conversation, her eyes reddened and chest heaving, pointing at the boy with the backpack and cursing him.

It turned out he was behind all this.

“You gave them love letters! They threw them in the trash, that’s their fault. Especially Xiao Bei—she even cursed me, cursed me…”

Hearing this, Zhao Lei exploded.

He had hired people to play the thug so he could be the hero, but now those he hired had turned on him, not only refusing to cooperate but harboring sinister intentions.

He didn’t dare vent his anger at the two men, so he turned it on the girls, snarling, “Tie, when you catch them, I want a part in the fun.”

“Alright, alright. Next time you have such good goods, call me again. Satisfaction guaranteed.”

Wu Tie smoothed his hair, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes, but he laughed wildly.

“Run!”

Xiao Bei whispered, and she and Fang Luoluo turned to flee.

But after only a few steps, they stopped short.

They saw the man in black with the triangular eyes had somehow darted over to block their way. When he ran, his body was low and his waist twisted like a snake.

“Black Snake, you’re as sharp as ever. Good, I’ll put in a word for you with the boss,”

Wu Tie nodded, strode quickly, and reached out to grab Xiao Bei, utterly unconcerned about defense. He was sure that girls like her hadn’t trained their vital energy, were ordinary, weak, and slow—he didn’t fear resistance.

Xiao Bei pressed her lips tightly, crouched, and drew a black wooden sword from beside her backpack, a sword as long as her arm.

She squatted, and slashed diagonally—the move she’d practiced these days, “Slanting Rain.”

To be fair, the little girl’s swordsmanship was excellent: smooth, natural, subtle, and intricate.

“Crack…”

A sharp sound.

Wu Tie grunted, nearly doubled over in pain as the sword struck his ankle. Seeing the wooden sword flick up toward his chest, his eyes hardened and he grabbed the sword, wrenching it violently.

Xiao Bei’s palm burned with pain as the sword was torn from her grip and sent flying—she cursed inwardly.

Beside her, Fang Luoluo rushed forward, somehow pulling a small knife from her clothes and stabbing at Wu Tie’s waist.

With a tearing sound, the clothes ripped.

Wu Tie stepped back, sweating coldly when he saw it was a dagger. He slapped Fang Luoluo across the face, knocking her aside, but laughed, “So you’re two little peppercorns—makes things even more interesting. I hope you’ll have the strength to struggle later.”

He stopped playing, lunged forward, and reached for Xiao Bei’s throat.

Xiao Bei retreated in panic, weaponless, her face full of terror.

Watching silently with blood-red eyes, Xiao Nan nodded. The little girl’s swordsmanship was truly impressive—he would prepare a steel sword for her in the future. With surprise on her side, trash with a vital energy of 3.0 like this posed little threat.

Her two attacks just now failed only because she used a wooden sword—Wu Tie dared to grab it and overpower her.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have gained the upper hand so easily.

Thinking idly, Xiao Nan flicked his wrist, and the coin he’d been holding was sent flying with a sharp “whizz”.

A silver flash streaked through the air and embedded itself in Wu Tie’s forehead, snapping his head back and making him stagger.

From the corner of his eye, he saw a figure charging from the roadside, carrying a whirlwind, dust swirling in his wake.

Before he could see who attacked, a series of sharp cracks rang out—his chest jolted, and his body was sent flying involuntarily.