Yang Chen didn't even glance at the burly men, striding forward step by step as if they were invisible.
The first thug rushed at him, but before his attack could land, he felt a tremendous force slam into his chest.
**"Boom!"**
With a loud crash, the man was sent flying backward, crashing into several others behind him. The sheer power behind Yang Chen's kick was staggering.
Zhang Guang was stunned. When he had first met Yang Chen, he too had been kicked flying—but back then, it was just him. Now, he had brought over a dozen men, yet not a single one could even lay a finger on Yang Chen.
There was a line from Li Bai's poetry: *"Ten steps to kill a man, leaving no trace for a thousand miles."*
Though Yang Chen wasn't killing anyone, with almost every step, he sent someone flying. Anyone who dared attack him was met with a brutal, straightforward kick—so powerful that one strike could send a man hurtling into others, knocking down several at once.
In just a few steps, all the men Zhang Guang had brought were sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain.
Only Zhang Guang, Wang Luyao—both frozen in shock—and the stunned onlookers remained standing.
Qin Yi, her hand held firmly in Yang Chen's, suddenly felt a warm sense of security. With him by her side, even mountains of blades and seas of fire seemed conquerable.
Zhang Guang's heart pounded violently. He had thought the man named Ma Chao, who had appeared that day, was formidable. But now, he realized this man was even stronger.
**"You said earlier that you wanted my sister to spend the night with you?"** Yang Chen stopped in front of Zhang Guang, his tone icy.
Zhang Guang, terrified out of his wits, quickly shook his head. **"No, absolutely not! How could I do something so beastly? You must have misheard!"**
**"You also said that if I didn't leave my sister behind, you'd break my arms?"** Yang Chen's lips curled into a mocking smile.
Cold sweat drenched Zhang Guang's back. Wiping his forehead, he stammered, **"N-No way! Even if you gave me ten more guts, I wouldn't dare!"**
**"And your wife—she hit my mother-in-law and stole from her. How should we settle that?"** Yang Chen's smile remained, but to Zhang Guang, it was bone-chilling.
**"Slap!"**
Zhang Guang suddenly backhanded Wang Luyao across the face, snarling, **"You stupid woman! All you do is cause trouble for me! Get on your knees and apologize to this gentleman!"**
Without Zhang Guang's backing, Wang Luyao was nothing. Trembling, she dropped to her knees. **"Sir, I was wrong! I shouldn't have spewed filth from my mouth, shouldn't have hit your mother-in-law!"**
**"Slap! Slap! Slap!"**
As she spoke, she began slapping herself hard across the face. She was genuinely terrified—each strike was merciless, leaving her cheeks swollen and red within moments.
**"I'm not one to bully others,"** Yang Chen said coolly. **"If you tell me the truth about what happened, I'll let you go."**
Wang Luyao immediately spilled everything.
The crowd gasped in disbelief.
It turned out that Wang Luyao had coveted the jade bracelet Zhou Yucui was wearing. She deliberately bumped into Zhou Yucui, causing her own bracelet to break, then used it as an excuse to demand Zhou Yucui's bracelet as compensation. The two had ended up in a scuffle.
Zhang Guang's face darkened. Wang Luyao was his wife, the daughter-in-law of the Zhang family's patriarch. She could have anything she wanted—yet she had stooped so low as to scheme for someone else's bracelet.
Yang Chen was equally stunned. The Zhang family was a prominent first-tier family in Jiangzhou. How could this woman be so vile, spouting vulgarities and tarnishing the family's name with her actions?
**"If you wanted something, you could've just asked me. Was it necessary to resort to such underhanded tactics?"** Zhang Guang roared, lunging at Wang Luyao and beating her savagely.
Her already swollen face was soon streaked with blood from Zhang Guang's relentless slaps.
**"Husband, I was wrong! I'll never do it again! Please, stop hitting me!"** Wang Luyao begged, pinned to the ground.
**"Enough!"** Yang Chen barked, and Zhang Guang finally stopped.
He had struck this woman because she had insulted Qin Yi.
But Zhang Guang was her husband. No matter how badly she behaved, a man should never publicly brutalize his wife. If things were irreconcilable, he could divorce her. A man who beat his woman was nothing but a pathetic coward.
**"Sir, since this wretched woman was at fault, I, Zhang Guang, admit it. I'll take her to apologize to your mother-in-law right now,"** Zhang Guang said hurriedly.
Yang Chen snorted coldly and led Qin Yi back to the private room, Zhang Guang and Wang Luyao trailing behind.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yucui, after seeing Zhang Guang arrive with his gang, had fled back to the room alone.
**"Mom, why are you back alone? Where are Yang Chen and Yiyi?"** Qin Xi asked, puzzled.
Zhou Yucui fidgeted nervously. **"They went to pay the bill. Told us to wait for them at the parking lot."**
**"Huh? But we've barely eaten anything. Are they already full?"** Qin Xi frowned.
**"They said they were! Hurry up, let's not keep them waiting."** Zhou Yucui kept glancing at the door, terrified that Zhang Guang and his men would burst in.
Something felt off to Qin Xi, but she trusted her mother wouldn't outright lie to her.
**"Xiaoxiao, let's go!"** Qin Xi packed their things and took her daughter's hand, ready to leave.
Just as Zhou Yucui reached the door, she froze—Yang Chen and Qin Yi were back, followed by Zhang Guang and Wang Luyao. Her face paled in terror.
**"Y-You… stay away!"**
Zhou Yucui scrambled backward into the room, pointing at Yang Chen but addressing Zhang Guang: **"It was this good-for-nothing who hit your wife! It has nothing to do with me! Don't come near me!"**
**"Mom, what's wrong?"** Qin Xi walked over, holding Xiaoxiao's hand, confused by her mother's panic.
Qin Yi let out a bitter laugh. **"Brother-in-law, someone like Mom doesn't deserve your help."**
The way her mother was acting, combined with her sister's words, made Qin Xi realize something was seriously amiss.
Zhang Guang shoved Wang Luyao forward. **"Apologize to this lady now!"**
Wang Luyao hurriedly took off the jade bracelet and handed it back to Zhou Yucui with both hands. **"Madam, I was wrong! I was blinded by greed and tried to take your bracelet. I'm returning it now—please forgive me!"**
Zhou Yucui stood dumbfounded. She couldn't comprehend why the wife of a Zhang family member would apologize to her—and even return the bracelet.
Qin Xi's expression darkened. **"Mom,"** she demanded sharply, **"what exactly happened?"**