Chapter 79: It’s Not All Killing In The Martial World Bu Feiying's heart skipped a beat. This was bad. In the underworld, face and respect were paramount. Especially for the leaders of gangs, their reputation was more important than their lives.
Xuanshan Dojo might be a dominant force in this neighborhood, but it couldn’t compare to the slums. If they offended these ruthless slum-dwellers today, Xuanshan Dojo wouldn’t be able to continue operating here.
"Misunderstanding, it’s all a misunderstanding." Reacting quickly, he forced a smile and stepped forward, saying, "My subordinates were being foolish and disturbed President Li’s enjoyment. I came with my brothers to apologize."
"Apologize?" Chu Yuntian sneered. "Your way of apologizing is certainly unique."
Slap.
Bu Feiying slapped the still-stunned blond teenager, Tao, knocking him to the ground. "You fool, apologize to President Li immediately. Do you want to die?" Searᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
Tao was stunned as blood started to seep from under the bandage on his head again. But as a street-smart thug, he knew who he could provoke and who he couldn’t.
"Sorry, President Li, I'm worthless." Tao knelt in front of Li Xiaofei. "I was blind and offended you and your lady. I deserve to die, I deserve to die..."
As he spoke, he slapped himself hard on the face repeatedly.
Lady?
Li Xiaofei glanced at Tan Qingying. He noticed that she was watching the scene with shining eyes, thoroughly enjoying the excitement of having a larger group overpower a smaller one.
This was all novel and thrilling for Tan Qingying. She had only seen such gang conflicts in movies before. She hadn't expected to encounter it in real life. It was both fun and stimulating.
"Now you know there are always people stronger than you, right?" Li Xiaofei waved his hand dismissively. "Go back to school and study well. If I see you causing trouble again, I'll kill your entire family."
"Never again, never again," replied Tao, trembling in fear.
When a gang leader said they'll kill your entire family, they meant it.
"Get lost," Li Xiaofei said, not wanting to waste any more words.
He had stayed to solve the problem, not to escalate it. Since Chu Yuntian and his men had caused such a stir, Tao and his gang wouldn’t dare show their faces here again.
As for the thugs from Xuanshan Dojo? They had no idea who they had crossed. Tan Qingying was the real threat here. Offending the city leader’s daughter meant Xuanshan Dojo wouldn’t escape unscathed.
Bu Feiying and his men felt like they had been granted a pardon, so they quickly retreated. However, Xing Yuantao remained standing stubbornly.
He stared at Li Xiaofei defiantly. "Others may fear you, but I do not."
Li Xiaofei chuckled and said, "What do you mean?"
Xing Yuantao replied, "I won’t hold back in the War God League. When I said I would kill you, I meant it."
"You bastard, looking for death."
"Let's kill this kid."
The martial artists from Cloudy Sky Gang were enraged.
Threatening our president right in front of us?
A few impulsive ones were ready to draw their weapons.
"Stand down," Li Xiaofei ordered. He looked at Xing Yuantao and asked, "Do you think you're brave?"
Xing Yuantao gritted his teeth and remained silent.
Li Xiaofei continued, "Do you think you're different from others, with your integrity and clear conscience?"
Xing Yuantao's face flushed red. "I am different. I pursue the dignity of martial arts and the honor of a warrior."
Li Xiaofei sneered, "You can leave."
Xing Yuantao shouted, "Do you look down on me?"
The smile on Li Xiaofei's face gradually faded.
"Why should I respect you? Because you let your classmates use your name to bully others? Because you led people to harass an old man running his business without knowing the facts? Because you claim to be upright yet stood by as Bu Feiying wanted to cut off my hand? Or is it... because you're good-looking?"
Li Xiaofei smiled faintly and added, "Even if it were about looks, you're not better looking than me."
Pfft.
Tan Qingying burst into laughter. She had never seen such a narcissistic gang leader.
Xing Yuantao's face turned as pale as paper, and he staggered back three or four steps, almost losing his balance. Li Xiaofei's words had pierced right through his defenses and exposed his true thoughts. All of Xing Yuantao's little schemes had been seen through.
Really, what young man wouldn't be attracted to someone as pure and beautiful as Tan Qingying? Xing Yuantao had never once looked at Tan Qingying or spoken to her as he maintained an air of righteousness and projected an image of staying on the high moral ground.
Why? Wasn't it all to win Tan Qingying's admiration? Xing Yuantao had been captivated by her from the moment he arrived. His plan wasn't entirely wrong. His grand entrance and main character aura might have indeed been attractive for an average girl. But unfortunately for him, he had encountered Li Xiaofei.
Li Xiaofei's performance tonight had outshone him in every way. Xing Yuantao's earlier attempt to save face by making threats was his last desperate struggle. In the end, Li Xiaofei's few words had completely exposed him, leaving him humiliated.
"Still not leaving?" Chu Yuntian shouted, "Do you really think we slum-dwellers won't kill you?"
Xing Yuantao stumbled away.
"President, should we go and flatten Xuanshan Dojo?" Chu Yuntian asked.
Smack.
Li Xiaofei slapped him on the back of the head.
"Flatten your head! Get back and go to sleep. No more random killing and fighting. We are civilized people now. Read more books, watch the news, play fewer games, and get more sleep," said Li Xiaofei, scolding him angrily.
Creating such a big commotion had exposed his identity as the president of Cloudy Sky Gang. Now, certain people on the internet would probably have a field day. Chu Yuntian assumed that the president was angry because he had interrupted his time with the girl. He quickly led his men away in a hurry.
The street soon returned to its usual calm. No police appeared during the entire incident. No one had called them. In this era of widespread cultivation, most people knew how to handle themselves in such situations. Scenes like this were common, and as long as no one was seriously injured or killed, the police would not get involved.
Li Xiaofei walked to the entrance of Old Chen's Offal Shop with an apologetic expression, "I'm sorry, Uncle Chen, for interrupting your business. I'll cover any losses you had tonight."
Uncle Chen quickly waved his hands and said, "No need, no need."
The old man smiled kindly and said, "Thank you, Little Li, for dealing with the troublemakers. I don’t believe those brats will dare come back and cause trouble again."
Li Xiaofei then turned to the diners and apologized, saying, "Sorry for the disturbance, everyone. Tonight's bill is on me. Eat as much as you want, it's all covered."
He then scanned the payment code and transferred 2,000 star coins to the shop's account. For a small shop like this, running on a modest budget, 2,000 star coins were almost a day's revenue. Uncle Chen tried to refuse.
Li Xiaofei said, "Uncle, your cooking is so good that I almost swallowed my tongue today. You must accept this money. Consider it an advance payment since I'll be coming here often... You wouldn't mind that, would you?"
"Of course, you're always welcome," Uncle Chen said, seeing no way to refuse any further.
The commotion had taken over half an hour. Li Xiaofei turned his head and saw Tan Qingying smiling at him.
"Big shot, you sure know how to put on a show," she teased.
Li Xiaofei smiled slightly, he said, "The martial world isn’t just about fighting; it's also about understanding human relationships. Pay attention."
Tan Qingying asked cutely, "What do you mean?"
Li Xiaofei explained with a smile, "If I didn't handle it this way, next time we come to this shop, the regulars would remember those thugs and associate me with them. They’d avoid me, and the lively atmosphere you like would be gone. What's the point then?"
"Really?" Tan Qingying's smile was like a white lily blooming in a quiet valley. It was tranquil and enchanting. She didn't know why, but hearing Li Xiaofei's explanation made her smile uncontrollably.