Chapter 22 Striking a Stone with an Egg

“Smack!”

Just as Qi Qingming finished his provocation, Ye Tianci’s palm landed across his face.

Qi Qingming spun in place like a top, turning two full circles. Everyone around saw clearly as two teeth flew from his mouth. Blood streamed through his fingers. His eyes burned with murderous fury as he glared at Ye Tianci. “You dare slap my face?!”

“You asked me to.”

“Everyone here saw and heard it, didn’t you? He begged me so sincerely—I had to oblige him. Don’t blame me for this,” Ye Tianci said coolly, even offering an explanation to the onlookers.

Qi Qingming roared in rage, swinging a fist at Ye Tianci. “I’ll kill you!”

Ye Tianci caught his wrist in one swift motion and twisted.

A crisp crack echoed as Qi Qingming’s wrist snapped.

The sound of breaking bone was sharp and clear. The companions behind Qi Qingming all turned pale.

Qi Qingming dropped to his knees, howling in agony, tears mingling with his cries. “Boss Lei, kill him for me! Avenge me!”

A round-faced man, with features reminiscent of Dong-seok, stepped forward, his expression dark as he looked coldly at Ye Tianci. “Kid, didn’t you hear what was just said? He’s the young master of the Qi family!”

“So what?” Ye Tianci arched a brow.

“You know he’s the Qi family’s heir, yet you dared to slap him in public and now break his hand? Are you tired of living?”

Lei Hong’s face was utterly impassive. In his eyes, Ye Tianci was already a dead man.

Ye Tianci’s lips curled in a cold, mocking smile. “Is the Qi family so terrifying? Who knows, maybe in a few days, the Qi family will no longer exist.”

“How arrogant! In that case, I, Lei Hong, will cripple you first and then deliver you to the Qi family for a reward.”

With a stomp of his foot, Lei Hong lunged at Ye Tianci like a ferocious tiger descending the mountain.

But at that moment, a figure hurriedly pushed through the crowd.

“Lei Hong, you can’t touch him.”

The speaker was a man nearing fifty, with a long, narrow face and a hawkish nose, dressed in a gray Zhongshan suit.

Lei Hong scowled at the newcomer. “Fan Xiong? Shouldn’t you be holed up at the Zhenjiang Martial Arts Academy as the head instructor? Why meddle in this?”

“I have no interest in interfering in your affairs, Tiger Lei, but I’m here on someone’s behalf to protect this young man.”

Fan Xiong glanced at Ye Tianci with an air of superiority. “I can’t imagine what Old Master Tang was thinking, sending me, the head instructor, to protect a mere boy like you.”

His face was written with a hundred lines of reluctance and resentment.

Ye Tianci spoke calmly, “I don’t need your protection. Your skill isn’t worthy of it. You may go.”

Fan Xiong’s eyes flashed angrily, all grievance instantly turning to rage.

“You’ve harmed the Qi family heir and offended Lei the Tiger, one of the Four Tigers of Shucheng. If I don’t step in, you’ll die here today! It’s only out of respect for Old Master Tang that I’m helping you at all. Otherwise, just for what you said, I’d teach you a hard lesson myself!”

His gaze was full of disdain, showing utter contempt for Ye Tianci. He turned to Lei Hong. “Tiger Lei, you can’t touch this boy. Old Master Tang seems to have some connection with him.”

Lei Hong hesitated immediately. If Ye Tianci truly had ties with Old Master Tang, he had to reconsider.

“Master Qi, what do you think…”

“Boss Lei, you’re a retainer in our family, working for us. What’s there to hesitate about?”

Lei Hong forced a laugh. “Young Master Qi, your family may not fear Old Master Tang, but I do.”

Qi Qingming snorted, gritting his teeth. “Boss Lei, from today on, all the beef and mutton business in Shucheng run by our family will be yours! In addition, I’ll give you two million myself. Break this boy’s legs and bring him to my grandfather—I’ll see you rewarded again!”

Lei Hong’s eyes lit up, a grin spreading across his face. “Consider it done!”

He bared his teeth at Fan Xiong. “Head Instructor Fan, I’m crippling this boy—no one, not even Jesus, can save him. That’s a promise!”

Fan Xiong’s eyes narrowed, his presence intimidating. “You dare defy me?”

“Defy you? What makes you worthy?”

“I call you Head Instructor out of courtesy—don’t think you’re somebody. If you know what’s good for you, step aside, or I’ll see you bleed within five paces!”

Lei Hong’s eyes gleamed with contempt.

Fan Xiong, enraged, clenched his fists, joints cracking audibly. “Tiger Lei, I’m eager to see what you’re made of.”

Just as Fan Xiong was about to move, a hand landed on his shoulder.

It was Ye Tianci.

“What do you think you’re doing, boy?” Fan Xiong snapped.

“I have a name—Ye Tianci. Tell Old Master Tang there’s no need to send anyone to protect me. You’re no match for him. Stand down.”

Ye Tianci’s voice was cool and detached.

Fan Xiong brushed his hand away, snorting with pride. “You dare look down on me?”

“Watch closely and see how I, the head instructor, defeat Tiger Lei!”

As he spoke, his clothes stirred without wind, the fabric snapping sharply.

His presence was overwhelming.

“Wow! That guy looks powerful!”

“Of course! That’s Head Instructor Fan from Zhenjiang Martial Arts Academy—he won the Southern Province Martial Arts Championship. There aren’t many in Shucheng who can match him!”

“No wonder his presence is so intimidating—he’s a real master!”

The crowd buzzed with excitement.

In a flash, Fan Xiong’s aura reached its peak. His clothes billowed as if filled with wind, his whole body swelling like a great ball as he charged ferociously at Lei Hong.

Lei Hong sneered and unleashed a punch with all his strength.

There was a dull thud.

“Ugh!”

With a strange cry, Fan Xiong flew backwards, crashing heavily to the ground several meters away.

He sat there in disarray, clutching his chest, coughing up two mouthfuls of blood.

The crowd was in an uproar.

No one had expected the fight to end so quickly. Fan Xiong had made such a display, yet was defeated in a single blow—a disgraceful showing.

Ye Tianci shook his head. “I told you, you’re not his match. Why insist on showing off?”

Fan Xiong’s expression was awkward. “How could this happen?!”

Lei Hong’s face was full of pride. “Fan Xiong, if you don’t understand that there’s always someone stronger, you’re unfit to be head instructor of the Zhenjiang Martial Arts Academy!”

With that, he turned his murderous gaze on Ye Tianci. “So, will you kneel and break your own limbs, or shall I do it for you?”

At his words, more than a dozen burly men behind him stepped forward in unison, shouting as one.

“Kill!”

The pressure was terrifying.

The onlookers shrank back in fear.

Yet Ye Tianci, unfazed, moved forward, hands clasped behind his back, walking straight towards Lei Hong.

“You, boy—crippled as you are, do you still think you can challenge me, Tiger Lei?”

Lei Hong glanced at Ye Tianci with disdain.

“Challenge you?”

“Tiger Lei, you poor, pitiful man—soon to be childless and heirless. I have no interest in dealing with you.”

Ye Tianci stood with hands behind his back, lips curved in a faint smile.