"Boss, this is far enough from the [Police Station], right?" Following behind Zhang Yang were several young men, one of whom spoke softly. Zhang Yang's intuition was correct; these individuals were indeed trailing them, and they were the target.

"Tell Old Fourth to bring his crew up. Break one of his legs and then we leave.

We can't stay here long!" The leader took a drag from his cigarette, flicked the butt away, and spoke menacingly in the darkness, exhaling a smoke ring. "Yes, sir!" The one who had just spoken immediately ran back.

About twenty yards behind them, more people were following, but Zhang Yang had only noticed the few immediately behind them, completely missing this larger group further back. They had been afraid of alarming Zhang Yang, which was why they hadn't brought their full force initially.

"Daring to hit Brother Hu? I think breaking his leg is too light; we should cripple him instead!" Another person whispered.

The leader nodded slightly and murmured, "Just do as Brother Hu ordered—break a leg first. We're too close to the [Police Station].

Brother Hu has good connections there. If this kid can get out after hitting him, he must have some pull.

Be careful with everything!" "I understand, Boss!" The speaker immediately nodded. These men were all hired thugs recruited by Young Master Hu.

This Young Master Hu had actually served time in prison before. After making money, he realized his 'business' easily invited trouble, so he kept a group of thugs around.

These thugs had indeed helped him significantly, often intimidating people who reported him or tried to sue him, scaring them away. After being beaten by Zhang Yang this time, the furious Young Master Hu called upon these underlings to seek revenge: first, they were to break one of his legs, and once he was back from the hospital, they would break Zhang Yang's other leg to finally vent their anger.

Young Master Hu now thoroughly detested Zhang Yang. The dozen or so men quickly converged; in total, there were seventeen or eighteen thugs gathered together.

The leader waved his hand, and all the thugs charged forward. Some began pulling out iron rods, chains hidden on their persons, and even two large machetes.

As soon as such a large group arrived, Zhang Yang became aware. Seeing them all rushing toward him, if he still didn't understand what was happening, he would be truly foolish.

Mi Xue, beside him, also seemed to sense something. She spun around sharply, then clamped a hand over her mouth, staring ahead in terror.

The sight of a dozen or so people running toward them brandishing various weapons was not only frightening but also spectacular. Very few people were walking on this road, and everyone else had already scattered in fear.

This group was charging directly at Zhang Yang and Mi Xue. Zhang Yang’s brows furrowed tightly.

He hadn't anticipated so many people following; this was a miscalculation on his part. He wasn't afraid of the numbers, primarily because Mi Xue was beside him.

Zhang Yang was worried about her getting hurt accidentally. Zhang Yang scanned his surroundings and immediately spotted a mop leaning against the doorway of a small shop by the roadside.

The wooden handle of the mop looked quite thick. Without hesitation, Zhang Yang stepped forward, stomped down on the mop handle, breaking the mop near the base, and snatched the half-meter-long piece of wood into his hand.

Holding Mi Xue with one hand and gripping the wooden stick in the other, he actually walked straight toward the oncoming crowd. The thugs across the way saw that their target hadn't fled and was approaching them armed with a broken stick, and they immediately let out ferocious yells.

Zhang Yang’s action was a provocation to them. The leader, seeing Zhang Yang advance, felt both surprised and excited.

Since they were so close to the [Police Station], they couldn't afford a prolonged fight. Zhang Yang actively approaching suited his intentions better, making a quick victory easier.

"Baby, are you scared?" Mi Xue involuntarily moved with Zhang Yang’s steps. Zhang Yang suddenly turned his head and asked her with a smile.

Zhang Yang’s use of the word "Baby" caused Mi Xue’s heart to flutter slightly, but this was certainly not the moment for her to savor sweetness. However, she shook her head.

She had been truly terrified just moments ago, but for some reason, now that Zhang Yang asked, her worry vanished. His smile gave her boundless security.

"Hahaha!" Zhang Yang suddenly let out a laugh and brought the stick down in a sweeping arc. He had no time for further words; the seventeen or eighteen thugs had already reached him.

The one rushing head-on toward Zhang Yang was a rather burly young man, only slightly less imposing than Hu Xin. He was the top enforcer among this group of thugs and always charged into the fray first.

This time was no exception; he was the first to clash with Zhang Yang. He wielded a half-meter-long steel pipe.

As Zhang Yang raised his wooden stick, the young man also raised his pipe. The wood and the steel collided directly.

Bang! A dull thud echoed.

The young man holding the steel pipe was sent flying backward; his pipe clattered to the ground, and the tiger’s mouth grips on both of his hands began bleeding profusely. Because Mi Xue was in danger, Zhang Yang feared she might be harmed, so his strike this time was even more ruthless than the last, showing absolutely no mercy.

This man not only cracked his hand grips and dropped the pipe but also knocked down two others as he flew backward. Thump!

Thump! Thump!

Zhang Yang swept the area with the wooden stick in one hand. His speed was astonishing; those who were running alongside him had virtually no time to react before being swept away by the stick.

The leader at the back was also stunned. He hadn't expected the opponent to take down four or five of his men right at the initial engagement.

The remaining dozen or so thugs immediately swarmed in. In fights involving thugs, sheer numbers and audacity often prevail.

These were hardened thugs who knew how to coordinate and never held back their blows. Seven or eight men attacked Zhang Yang simultaneously.

Even Mi Xue, standing beside Zhang Yang, fell within the range of their attacks. These men showed no discrimination regarding gender when assaulting Zhang Yang and his companion.

They did not realize that such actions only enraged Zhang Yang further. Mi Xue was now Zhang Yang's absolute bottom line.

He had already beaten someone for trying to deceive her; these people who dared to directly harm her incurred his full wrath. He pulled Mi Xue behind him, switching the wooden stick from his right hand to his left.

Simultaneously, he flicked his foot, catching the half-meter steel pipe he had knocked away earlier into his hand. Holding one weapon in each hand, a circle of phantoms suddenly materialized around Zhang Yang.

Everyone who approached him was struck in a vital spot and sent flying. Seven or eight people were soon groaning on the ground.

Of the dozen men remaining, only the leader and a few near him were left standing. This leader was raising an iron chain, intending to join the scrum, but he froze the moment he ran closer.

He looked utterly disbelieving. Ten of his men—how long had it been?

Less than a minute? They were all lying on the ground, taken down by this young man.

What kind of monster was he? At this moment, the leader was no longer thinking about avenging Brother Hu; he was only worried about how to survive this ordeal.

With over a dozen men down, including their top enforcer, the outcome for the few remaining was predictable. "It's them!" Mi Xue suddenly cried out again, pointing her finger at the leader.

Zhang Yang stared intensely at him as well. This man gave Zhang Yang a familiar feeling, but he couldn't recall where they had met before.

"Zhang Yang, the ones who beat you last time were them!" Mi Xue said again. Hearing this, images immediately flashed in Zhang Yang's mind: the road outside the KTV, where seven or eight thugs had harassed Mi Xue and then ganged up on him alone.

If he hadn't fought back desperately, putting on the appearance of a crazed, self-sacrificing fighter, he might have fared much worse that day, and Mi Xue might have been victimized. "Familiar enemies on a narrow road," Zhang Yang sneered.

Old grudges and new ones would be settled together now. "Boss, it’s him!" Opposite Zhang Yang, someone else recognized him and gasped in alarm.

Zhang Yang's desperate appearance last time had left a deep impression on them. Being unable to handle seven or eight men against one was one of their rare embarrassing moments, so they remembered Zhang Yang quite clearly.

"You recognize us, that’s perfect!" Zhang Yang threw down the two sticks in his hands and took a step forward, pulling Mi Xue with him. He took only one step, still unarmed, while five men remained opposite him.

However, the legs of these five men trembled, and they gripped their weapons tightly. Especially the leader, who was now watching Zhang Yang with genuine tension.

He recognized Zhang Yang too. It was just that he never imagined that the kid they had beaten last time—the one who only retreated by fighting like his life depended on it—could become so terrifyingly powerful today.

They had brought significantly more men today than last time, yet they had been defeated so thoroughly. The leader suddenly recalled an old saying: After three days apart, one should look at someone with new eyes; but this transformation was far too drastic.

Zhang Yang’s change was immense. "Y-you, what do you want to do!" The leader forced himself to sound determined, but his voice clearly lacked confidence, even containing a tremor.

"What do I want to do? That's a question I should be asking you.

Tell me, why are you coming after me?" Zhang Yang spoke slowly, then glared fiercely at the end. "It was Brother Hu, Brother Hu sent us!

You hit Brother Hu today, and he ordered us to break one of your legs. When he’s out of the hospital, we were supposed to break the other one!" Under Zhang Yang's glare, the leader immediately confessed everything.

Zhang Yang now seemed like an incarnation of death; the leader only wished to escape him quickly. "Young Master Hu, very good!" A cold light flashed in Zhang Yang's eyes.

He had already intended to deal with Young Master Hu, and now it was simply convenient to clean him up thoroughly later. Even Mi Xue beside him showed a trace of hatred in her eyes.

Earlier, she had thought Zhang Yang might have overreacted to a minor issue and been too harsh, but now she felt Zhang Yang hadn't been harsh enough—he should have at least broken one of Hu’s legs. That's how women are in love; their beloved is perfect in every way, and they cannot tolerate any slight against them.

The same held true for men, of course. Bang!

Bang! Bang!

Bang! Zhang Yang suddenly walked over and delivered several kicks.

The remaining few men immediately collapsed to the ground, howling in pain. These men had already held a grudge against him from last time, and now they dared to try and break his legs; Zhang Yang naturally showed no restraint.

All seventeen or eighteen thugs were now lying on the ground. Soon, the sound of police sirens could be heard again.

The thugs had wanted a quick resolution, but Zhang Yang had no such inclination. While they were talking, the [Police Station] had already received the alarm and dispatched officers.

This was, after all, a busy area; failure to respond promptly could lead to serious consequences they couldn't bear responsibility for. It was the same police officer who had led the team before.

Seeing the pile of downed thugs and Zhang Yang holding Mi Xue’s hand, his eyes widened again. Second update, asking for five monthly votes.

My ranking has dropped to ninth again. Could Little Yu please have five more monthly votes for support?

Little Yu will work hard to write the third update (To be continued)

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