Chapter 51: Revenge?
Wu Yifan and Mu Xiaoyao were well aware of the two dozen men tailing them, but they didn't panic. Instead, they turned into a nearby alley where pedestrians were scarce.
"Ha! Who'd have thought they'd walk right into a dead end? After them! Let that bastard feel my wrath, Zhang Shixiong! I swear, I won't rest until I've settled this score!" The bald man's face lit up with glee. He waved his hand, leading his crew in a加快的 charge, now openly chasing them.
Wu stopped about a hundred meters into the alley, releasing Mu Xiaoyao's hand and gently patting her shoulder. He turned around, folding his arms across his chest, and smiled at the thugs who were now just over ten meters away.
"You've been trailing me for a while. What's the deal? You into men? Sorry to break it to you, but I'm not interested."
The bald man pushed through his men, glaring at Wu with venom. "Cut the crap, you bastard! You think a few fancy moves make you untouchable? Let's see how tough you are against real hardware!" He signaled, and his men raised their weapons—shiny axes, sharpened to a razor edge, each one polished to a menacing glow.
Mu Xiaoyao tensed. Even though she'd braced herself, the sight of so many axes sent a shiver down her spine. It reminded her of that night with the gangsters, but this time, she was standing beside Wu, and the fear felt more intense, more personal. She took a small step back, her gaze cold as she stared down the approaching thugs.
Wu's smile tightened. He'd hoped to avoid violence, but it seemed these men only understood force. A cool, mechanical voice echoed in his mind—the system he'd come to depend on.
*"4 enhancement points available. Enhance muscle density?"*
*"Yes."*
*"Enhancing muscle density x4. Durability: 1/1."*
*"Enhancement successful. Muscle density x4. Durability: 1/1. 3 points consumed. 1 point remaining."*
A surge of power coursed through Wu's body, his muscles hardening until they felt like tempered steel. He flexed slightly, a low, almost metallic hum vibrating beneath his skin. Last time, with 2 points, he'd been strong enough to toss grown men around like toys. With 3 points? He was nearly impervious to harm.
"Take him down!" the bald man roared, pointing at Wu.
Four thugs charged first, their axes swinging in arcs that could have split a thick log.
*Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!*
The sound of metal hitting metal reverberated through the alley. The axes bounced off Wu's forehead, sending sparks flying. The thugs stumbled back, clutching their hands—their虎口's throbbed as if they'd struck a solid brick wall.
Wu pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and casually rubbed his forehead. "Not bad. Felt that one. Better than those losers from before. Still… trash."
His voice was calm, almost bored, but it hit the thugs like an insult. This wasn't just strength—it was a deliberate show of defiance, a mockery of their violence.
Mu Xiaoyao stared in awe. She'd seen Wu fight before, but this was different. It was like watching a deity brush off mortal weapons. The axes, the anger, the numbers—none of it mattered.
*He's not ordinary*, she thought. *Not even close.*
The bald man and his crew froze, sweat dripping down their necks. Their axes suddenly felt heavy, their confidence wavering.
At the alley entrance, the group of teenagers watched, their mouths hanging open.
"Is this… a movie set?" one boy whispered, half-convinced it was all staged.
"Does this look like a movie to you?!" another hissed, pinching his arm to check if he was dreaming. "He just took four axe blows to the head! And he's fine!"
The blond boy—Chen—stood silently, his眉头 furrowed. Pride clashed with shock; he'd never witnessed anything so extraordinary.
The girls, meanwhile, had dropped all pretense, staring at Wu with starry-eyed admiration.
"He's incredible," one sighed.
"Imagine what he's like… in other ways," another giggled, nudging her friend.
"With that strength? We'd need to team up," a third joked, her cheeks flushing.
Wu was unaware of their lewd whispers. He exhaled a smoke ring, letting it drift toward the thugs.
"Your lives are precious. Wasting them on revenge is stupid. Surrender now, and I'll let you walk away. Keep this up… and I won't hold back."
The bald man's face twisted with rage. Humiliation burned brighter than fear. "Bastard! Even steel has weak spots! Go for his eyes! His throat! Any soft spot! I'll pay 10,000 yuan for a hit, 100,000 if he dies!"
Greed overrode their fear. The thugs let out a roar, a chaotic wave of axes and bodies surging toward Wu.
He didn't flinch.
Axes swung at his legs, ribs, and neck—each one bouncing off harmlessly, leaving no mark. Wu moved with fluid ease, dodging when necessary, but mostly standing his ground, letting their fury crash against his enhanced body.
One thug lunged for his eyes; Wu caught his wrist, twisting until the man screamed and dropped his axe. Another aimed for his groin; Wu kicked out, sending him flying into a pile of garbage bags.
One by one, the thugs fell back, panting and bleeding, their axes now feeling useless in their trembling hands.
The bald man watched in horror, realizing he was outmatched. He'd brought two dozen men and lethal weapons—and it still wasn't enough.
Wu flicked his cigarette butt to the ground, grinding it out with his shoe. "Done?"
Silence hung in the air.
The teenagers scrambled to follow, their earlier arrogance replaced by敬畏. The girls kept stealing glances at Wu, while the boys exchanged uneasy looks, finally grasping that they'd messed with someone far beyond their league.
The sun dipped lower, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. For once, the street was quiet—no gangsters, no drama, no lies.
Wu smiled, squeezing Mu Xiaoyao's hand.
*Another day, another fight*, he thought. *But I'm still here.*
And for now, that was enough.