Chapter 228: The Mercenary King's Humiliation! Dragged Away Like a Dog!
As expected, the subsequent developments confirmed Shen Anyu's judgment.
Li Jia, who had initially been smiling politely, intending to let the "rich girl" win a few points for face, had her smile frozen into a mask of disbelief. Her face went from serious to pale, then to a lost, hollow expression of someone whose reality had been shattered.
She wiped the sweat from her forehead, forcing a professional smile, and said to Wen Feifei, her voice trembling slightly with awe:
"Miss Wen... your ball skills... they are even better than mine when I was at my absolute peak in the Olympics."
"If you were to compete professionally, you could win a World Championship easily. You could dominate an entire era of badminton! Why... why are you hiding your talent in an art school?"
However, Wen Feifei, who had overwhelmingly defeated Li Jia, a retired World Champion, had not a trace of a smile on her face. There was no joy of victory.
Her gaze, filled with complex emotions—awe, fear, and a deep sense of inferiority—turned towards the man sitting leisurely on the bench.
Liu Mi and Lin Shutong also stared at Shen Anyu in unison, their mouths agape, as if looking at an alien in human skin.
"This is...?"
Seeing this strange scene, Li Jia was immediately bewildered.
Why wasn't Wen Feifei happy despite receiving the highest praise from a legend? Why was her expression so bitter? And why were the two beautiful girls next to her looking at the handsome man with such terror?
Wen Feifei's moist eyes were a mix of emotions. She parted her red lips and asked softly:
"Ms. Li... do you truly believe my ball skills can rival a World Champion? Do you think I am strong?"
Li Jia nodded without hesitation, stating gravely:
"Of course. It's true. I have played against the best in the world. You are better than them. As long as you don't suffer any injuries, with your strength, you can definitely win several consecutive championships. If you're interested, I can recommend you to the National Team coach right now."
Wen Feifei shook her head. A bitter, self-deprecating expression appeared on her delicate and beautiful face.
She pointed at Shen Anyu.
"But... I couldn't even return one of his shots just now."
"Not one point. Not even close."
"What?!"
Upon hearing this, Li Jia was dumbfounded. Her racket slipped from her hand and clattered onto the floor.
She looked at Shen Anyu—the handsome, elegant young master who looked like he belonged on a yacht, not a court.
'He... he crushed a player who is stronger than a World Champion?'
'Just who is he? A monster?'
...
Shen Anyu, however, paid no attention to the shock of the mortals around him. Instead, he stared thoughtfully at a transparent blue System prompt floating in his vision.
[Ding! Detected the Daughter of Destiny, Wen Feifei, has been initially subdued by the Host's overwhelming power!]
[Ding! Her arrogance has been broken! Plundering +50,000 Destiny Value!]
...
Shen Anyu rubbed his chin.
"Can a Daughter of Destiny and a Child of Destiny be 'Subdued'? Taken under my command like a subordinate?"
"If Wen Feifei is completely subdued and submits to me... what would happen? Do I get her System?"
Shen Anyu began to ponder.
Creatures like Daughters of Destiny and Children of Destiny usually possessed an unyielding "Dao Heart." They believed themselves to be supreme, the center of the universe. They never submitted to others. Even if they admired someone, they would strive to surpass them. That was the essence of a Protagonist.
However, through this System prompt, Shen Anyu speculated that it might indeed be possible to break them.
After all, Shen Anyu was not an ordinary villain. He was the Destined Villain. His existence was a higher-dimensional authority that suppressed their "Main Character Halo."
"Interesting. I'll keep her around and see if I can train her into a loyal pet."
Soon, he reined in his thoughts. A graceful smile appeared on Shen Anyu's face as he looked at the three girls with complex expressions. He stood up, clapping his hands lightly.
"Why are you all looking at me like that? Did I grow a second head?"
He checked his Patek Philippe watch.
"It's past five in the afternoon now. Exercise time is over. It's time to change clothes and prepare for Mi Mi's birthday banquet."
He walked over to Liu Mi, pinching her cheek affectionately.
"Today is my favorite little princess's birthday. We can't be late."
"Mhm! We'll listen to Brother Shen!"
Liu Mi recovered instantly. She hooked her arm through Shen Anyu's, her long, charming fox eyes narrowing with a smile. She had lost her usual clever, foxy demeanor, smiling like a silly, happy roe deer. She was completely smitten by his display of dominance.
Wen Feifei also reined in her complex emotions. She knew when to retreat.
Her watery peach blossom eyes gave Shen Anyu a peculiar, longing look—like a believer looking at a god—and she spoke softly:
"I... I need to prepare to go home. There's someone at home I need to take care of. He... he won't take his medicine if he doesn't see me."
Shen Anyu chuckled and nodded.
"Go then. Family is important."
He didn't try to keep her. He knew exactly who was waiting for her.
If he wasn't mistaken, the person Wen Feifei mentioned was lurking nearby the badminton court right now.
When Shen Anyu was crushing Wen Feifei earlier, that person's murderous aura had surged uncontrollably from the shadows, seemingly wanting to rush in and kill Shen Anyu for "bullying" his precious princess.
At this moment, Shen Anyu's phone vibrated.
His intelligence network had sent a detailed file. He took a moment to glance at it while the girls chatted.
[TARGET INTELLIGENCE REPORT]
[Name] Luoka (Code Name: Thunder Hound).
[Identity] Leader of the internationally renowned mercenary group "Thunder Hound."
[Traits] Calm, serious, ruthless, unruly. Exudes an imposing aura without anger.
[Cultivation] Martial Arts Grandmaster (Middle Stage).
[Ability] Awakening: Lightning Manipulation (Specializes in Greatswords).
[Relationship] Wen Feifei's "Childhood Sweetheart" / "Big Brother."
[Background] He followed his parents abroad after the age of ten. After tragic events, he became a mercenary king who lived by the blade.
[Weakness/Obsession] Wen Feifei. She is his white moonlight, his reason for living.
[Current Status] Mental Instability. Luoka suffers from severe PTSD and bloodlust. He requires medication to suppress his urge to kill. However, his psychological dependence on Wen Feifei is severe; only seeing her can calm him down enough to take his medicine.
...
"What childhood sweetheart... he's just a killer loyal dog with separation anxiety."
Shen Anyu's mouth twitched as he looked at the photo of the white-haired, stern young man in the file. A ruthless mercenary king acting like a clingy husky in front of Wen Feifei? It was a classic, albeit cringeworthy, trope.
After clarifying the situation, Shen Anyu felt relieved.
This Luoka was not an important person in the grand scheme. He wasn't related to the Shen Family or An Family politics. He was just a male supporting character—a "Spare Tire" destined to protect the female lead until the male lead arrived. He wasn't even a Child of Destiny.
"Not a threat. Just a bug."
Subsequently, Shen Anyu took Liu Mi and Lin Shutong to the VIP changing rooms, while Wen Feifei bid farewell and left to find her dog.
Shen Anyu quickly changed his clothes back into his bespoke suit. He waited outside in the lounge, sitting on a leather sofa. Women always took more time with makeup and hair, unlike men who were quicker.
Buzz.
At this moment, a voice transmission reached his ear. It was condensed into a thin line of sound, audible only to him.
"Young Master. That person has come. He is approaching you. Should we take him down?"
It was Aunt Xiao, the captain of his hidden guard.
Voice transmission was a standard trick for a Martial Arts Grandmaster. But Aunt Xiao, who had just broken through to the Great Grandmaster realm thanks to Shen Anyu's pills, used it with terrifying precision. The sound didn't leak a single decibel.
At the level of a Great Grandmaster, control over one's internal force reached an astonishing degree.
"No rush," Shen Anyu replied casually, not even moving his lips. "Let's play with him. I want to see what a 'Mercenary King' looks like up close."
Shen Anyu gently shook his head, then watched with interest as the lounge door opened.
A tall man wearing a dark hood walked over.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The man's footsteps were heavy, precise, as if measured by a ruler. The rhythm of his steps seemed to sync with a heartbeat—an intimidation technique used by experts to pressure their opponents. If it were an ordinary person, their heart would probably tremble along with the sound, inducing fear.
But to Shen Anyu, it sounded like a child stomping his feet.
With a final thud, the steps stopped in front of Shen Anyu.
Luoka lowered his hood, revealing his stark white hair and cold, dead eyes. He looked down at the leisurely sitting Shen Anyu.
"I warn you."
His voice was hoarse, sounding like it came from the depths of Hell, chilling to the bone.
"Do not approach Wen Feifei again."
Shen Anyu didn't flinch. He crossed his legs, pulled out a cigar cutter, and snipped the end of a Cohiba Behike.
Click.
He lit the large cigar with a gold lighter, took a slow drag, and leisurely looked up at Luoka through the smoke.
He chuckled.
"And if I do approach her? Then what?"
Luoka narrowed his eyes. A sharp glint of coldness, like a blade unsheathed, flashed in them. Sparks of blue electricity crackled faintly around his fingers.
"If you hadn't helped Feifei before at the gate... you'd be a dead man right now. I don't care who you are."
Shen Anyu tilted his head. He blew a puff of thick, grey smoke directly onto Luoka's face.
Cough.
Luoka didn't cough, but his face twisted in rage at the disrespect.
"You seem confused, stray dog," Shen Anyu said with a smile.
"It's not me approaching her. Can't you see? Wen Feifei is actively approaching me. She chased me. She begged for my contact. For such a beautiful woman... how can I refuse?"
Shen Anyu leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"She's deliberately tempting me. Do you know that? She wants to climb into my bed."
Boom!
Luoka's expression instantly became extremely ugly. His eyes turned bloodshot, the veins on his forehead bulging.
He couldn't accept it. His goddess? Tempting a man?
"You lie!"
He said, enunciating each word through gritted teeth:
"Last warning! Stay away from Wen Feifei! Otherwise... Death!"
He raised his hand, electricity gathering in his palm. He was losing control. The medication hadn't kicked in yet.
At this moment, Liu Mi's sweet, coquettish voice came from the changing room door behind Shen Anyu.
"Husband Come in and help me button my clothes! I can't reach the back"
"Alright, baby."
Shen Anyu stood up directly. He turned his back on Luoka, completely ignoring the "Mercenary King" and his threat, and walked towards the changing room.
It was the ultimate disregard.
"You... Seeking death!"
Luoka's rationality snapped. His eyes instantly turned crimson. He could no longer suppress the bloodthirsty urge in his heart.
"Die!"
He lunged at Shen Anyu's back, his hand forming a claw wreathed in lightning.
However.
Before he could take a second step.
A shadow materialized from the air behind him.
Bam!
A hand, looking frail but heavy as a mountain, chopped down on Luoka's neck.
It was too fast. Too strong.
Luoka's eyes rolled back instantly. The lightning dissipated.
Thud.
He collapsed directly to the ground like a sack of potatoes, unconscious before he hit the floor.
Aunt Xiao, dressed in a simple maid outfit, shook her head disapprovingly.
"Young Master is busy. No disturbances allowed."
She grabbed Luoka by the collar of his hoodie and dragged him away directly towards the service exit, like she was taking out the trash.
Inside the changing room, Shen Anyu smiled as he buttoned Liu Mi's dress.
'Weak.'
[Akarin Note:
Your Support Keeps This Story Alive!
If you're enjoying this novel, your support means the world to me. Simple actions like leaving a review, power stone, comment, or sharing the story let me know you're out there. It's the greatest motivation for me to keep updating until the very end and ensures this project continues.
For those who wish to support me more directly, you can join my Patreon at [patreon.com/AkarinTL]. As a thank-you, you'll receive access to 50 advanced chapters.
I hope I am still worthy of your support. My life truly depends on this... haha, I know I'm so shameless.]