Chapter 52, Section 051: The Law Relies on Evidence

Smack! Before he could finish his sentence, the burly man swung and slapped Feng Zhixiao across the face. The slap rang out sharply, leaving Feng Zhixiao stunned, clutching his cheek, rooted to the spot, dumbstruck. Instantly, several of Feng Zhixiao's underlings shot to their feet, each one glaring angrily.

“Well, well, what’s this? Just these few of you want to challenge me?” The burly man sneered coldly. “Feng Zhixiao, you want to bite me? Don’t tell me you don’t recognize me. I’m Scarface from Nantou Town!”

“It’s you?” Feng Zhixiao faltered. “Weren’t you on the run?”

“Hell, Zhang Daring’s already been caught—what would I be running for? I’m here to take his life,” Scarface sneered, pointing at Liu Momo. “That girl’s not bad. Hand her over, I’ll give you thirty thousand. How about it?”

“Damn you! Who do you think I am?” Feng Zhixiao exploded with rage and charged at Scarface. Scarface hadn’t expected Feng Zhixiao to attack so suddenly, and before he knew it, Feng Zhixiao’s fist smashed into his forehead.

Clatter—

More than a dozen of the burly man’s followers surged forward, knives in hand. Both sides squared off, facing each other tensely. Feng Zhixiao had only three underlings with him, and one of them even wore a red scarf. Still, his group held their ground, refusing to back down. Ye Chen looked grave—he had always lived by the creed, “If others don’t trouble me, I don’t trouble them.” Yet never did he imagine someone would one day trample on his head.

“Brother Chen!” Feng Zhixiao looked at Ye Chen, both embarrassed and hopeful.

“Damn it!” Scarface shook his head, vision blurry, yet when he glanced at Liu Momo, she seemed even more beautiful, as if seen through a haze. Scarface waved his hand, barking, “Brothers, let’s use these guys for knife practice!”

A bestial roar erupted as more than a dozen men surrounded them. Yet Ye Chen remained seated, calmly sipping his wine. Gritting his teeth, Feng Zhixiao led his three underlings into the melee. The fight broke out instantly, and with a single move, one of the enemy’s men was already thrown down by Feng Zhixiao.

“Brother Chen!” Liu Momo trembled all over. She’d been harassed by thugs before, but never witnessed such a brutal fight. The bloody scene left her shuddering in terror.

“Big Shrimp, you go. But be careful not to kill anyone,” Ye Chen said, draining his glass.

“Yes, boss!” Big Shrimp grinned coldly, his iron fists clenched with a crack. Rat, standing by, was itching to join, but Ye Chen stopped him: “Rat, stay put. If I don’t tell you to go, you don’t go!”

“But, boss, let me help! Strength in numbers!” Rat pleaded, looking to Ye Chen.

Ye Chen ignored him. With Big Shrimp joining the fray, the tide turned at once. He relied on sheer brute force, and with a single punch to Scarface’s abdomen, the man vomited up everything he’d just eaten. Big Shrimp was a powerhouse, easily worth ten men by himself. Scarface went down, and his lackeys froze; two rushed to help him up.

“Damn it, kill him! I want his life!” Scarface clutched his stomach, wracked with pain.

“Die!” The group abandoned Feng Zhixiao’s men and charged at Big Shrimp. Big Shrimp laughed coldly, shrugged off his jacket, muttering that ruining his clothes would be a waste. The gang, faces twisted and vicious, surrounded Big Shrimp, knives raised—then suddenly hesitated. The crowd parted, encircling him.

Big Shrimp didn’t waste time. With a lunge, he kicked Scarface’s most trusted underling, sending the man crashing backward. Using the rebound, Big Shrimp leapt into the air. Scarface’s men barely caught a glimpse of his shadow before a heavy boot came stamping down.

Facing a mob alone could only mean a fierce battle, yet the disparity in strength was stark. Big Shrimp, with his powerful legs, kicked more than a dozen men to the ground, sending them sprawling.

“Scarface, we can’t take him!” one underling yelled, backing away.

“Damn it, scatter!” Scarface cursed, shooting Big Shrimp a venomous glare before fleeing, dragging his battered crew with him.

Feng Zhixiao and his men stared at Big Shrimp, dumbfounded and awestruck. Feng Zhixiao rushed over, patting Big Shrimp’s shoulder. “Brother Shrimp, where’d you learn that?”

“Heh, want to learn? You’re better off learning from my boss,” Big Shrimp replied, brushing off his sleeves.

“Brother Chen? Is he really that tough? He doesn’t seem as strong as you,” Feng Zhixiao said, surprised.

“Nonsense! My boss used to be… well, he was incredible!” Big Shrimp almost slipped, but Rat shot him a warning glare. The truth was, before Ye Chen lost his memory, he’d been the king among soldiers in the Iron Eagle Special Forces. He and Rat had merely been his rookie subordinates, but then…

“Brother Chen… I never would’ve guessed!” Feng Zhixiao sidled over.

“Alright, you really know how to stir up trouble,” Ye Chen scolded, glaring at him. “Pay the bill, let’s go!”

“What bill? The owner already ran off!” Feng Zhixiao shot a look at the ruined restaurant. They’d been neglected and made to pay, while the favored guests had trashed the place. Feng Zhixiao simmered with anger.

Sirens wailed as police cars screeched to a halt. Zhang Yantong led several officers inside and immediately spotted Ye Chen’s group.

“Ye Chen, it’s you?” Zhang Yantong was startled.

“Heh, can’t we even have dinner?” Ye Chen retorted with a laugh.

“We just got a report—drunken brawling at this location. Looks like it was your group?” Zhang Yantong’s gaze settled on Feng Zhixiao and his companions, noting the bloodstains that made clear a fight had just occurred.

“Don’t go accusing us!” Ye Chen protested.

“It was them! Another group ran off!” the plump waitress shrieked, pointing at Ye Chen’s group and hollering, “It was them! Officer, arrest them all!”

“Shut up!” Rat moved like the wind, slapping the woman before Zhang Yantong could react. She was stunned by Rat’s speed—almost beyond human capability.

With a crack, the slap left the woman’s mouth bloodied. She clapped a hand to her lips and shrieked, “Ah! Murder! Murder!”

“Shut your mouth, or I’ll cut out your tongue!” Rat glared at her. Even Zhang Yantong, standing right there, could do nothing. Rat had survived repeated assassination attempts by Golden Triangle warlords, and even with his organization wiped out, he and Big Shrimp had remained unscathed.

“Ye Chen, you’ve gone too far!” Zhang Yantong scolded, her beautiful eyes glaring at him. “Make your man stop!”

“What about my man?” Ye Chen retorted with a smirk. Liu Momo clung to his arm, unmoving.

“Hmph, intentional assault! Don’t think I won’t arrest him,” Zhang Yantong seethed—not so much at the fight or the slap, but at Ye Chen, newly recovered from illness, drinking and brawling here. Had it been anyone else, she’d have handled it by the book, but with Ye Chen, it was complicated.

“Arrest me, then, if you can!” Ye Chen shot her a challenging look. “Go arrest the real culprits. Why are you after us? We’re the most law-abiding citizens in the country.”

“You—!” Zhang Yantong was furious, but in the end, she suppressed her anger and replied coldly, “Ye Chen, you’d better watch yourself.”

Without another word, Ye Chen swaggered off with his crew. The waitress stared after them, shrieking, “Officer, arrest them! Hurry, arrest them!”

“Do you have any evidence?” Zhang Yantong asked, glancing at her.

“Evidence? No,” the waitress replied, shaking her head.

“Then we can’t arrest anyone.” With a toss of her hair, Zhang Yantong led the officers away.

Ye Chen and his group left the restaurant behind. Night had fallen. Feng Zhixiao trailed after Ye Chen, dejected and remorseful. If it hadn’t been for him, Brother Chen wouldn’t have quarreled with Captain Zhang. But seeing Captain Zhang’s reaction, it seemed she might have feelings for Brother Chen. The thought brought a flush of joy to Feng Zhixiao.

“Brother Chen, let’s go home,” Feng Zhixiao said.

“Zhixiao, take Momo home for me. I have something to discuss with Captain Zhang,” Ye Chen replied, turning to him.

“I want to go with you!” Liu Momo protested.

“No, you have to go home,” Ye Chen said gently, looking down at her. “Be good. Go home early and keep your mother company. I have things to take care of tonight.”

“Alright. Take care, Brother Chen!” Liu Momo nodded.

Feng Zhixiao and his men escorted Liu Momo away, watching until she disappeared around the corner. Ye Chen remained at the intersection with Rat and Big Shrimp, who stood as straight as two bodyguards. Ye Chen heaved a sigh.

“Boss, where to?” Big Shrimp asked curiously.

“Hmph, we’re going to get something from that woman,” Ye Chen replied, turning back with his two companions. Just then, Zhang Yantong’s police car appeared again.

And so, the night deepened.