Chapter 72: All Scared Out of Their Wits

Tang Long stood there without moving, nothing particularly astonishing about him, yet he exuded a distinctly masculine aura.

This was the first time Shan Xiu had seen Tang Long in action, and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets! Motionless, he seemed like an ordinary stone, but once he moved, he transformed into a dragon.

With every maneuver, his hands struck down with the force of thunder and lightning. The two or three dozen men blocking Wen Rui’s way didn’t last ten seconds before they were all toppled, lying groaning on the ground.

Wen Rui’s eyes were wide with shock—was this even human?

His two personal bodyguards, both seasoned fighters with experience in the underground boxing circuits, were instantly drenched in cold sweat as they watched Tang Long begin to move. They could sense it at once—an expert, and more than just an ordinary one.

If they charged forward, the outcome would probably be no better than those blond thugs on the ground. If this opponent wanted, he could kill with a single blow.

Fighting was out of the question, so the two of them immediately drew the weapons they carried.

“Stop right there! Don’t move!”

The muzzles of their guns were trained on Tang Long’s head.

At the same time, Jade Binglu immediately shielded Wen Rui, a pair of half-moon blades appearing in her hands.

Tang Long frowned, as if displeased. In a heartbeat, an icy chill enveloped the entire area. Wen Rui’s armed bodyguards felt as if they’d been frozen solid; numbness set in, and they no longer had the strength to even pull the trigger.

Then, as if recalling something, Tang Long allowed the cold aura to dissipate.

Shan Xiu was truly terrified now. Who exactly was this Tang Long? His killing intent was so tangible it was suffocating. Such lethal presence, apart from the world’s top assassins, simply couldn’t be found elsewhere.

To put it bluntly, with just that aura alone, he could kill a man with a single glare, no need to raise a hand.

“Don’t point that thing at me. I’ll warn you only once: everyone who’s ever dared aim one at me is dead,” Tang Long said calmly, glancing at the two bodyguards.

His words seemed to carry a magnetic force; these two hardened young men unconsciously lowered their arms, as if their guns weighed a thousand pounds and could not be lifted again.

“Let us go!” Jade Binglu, face pale as death, pleaded with Tang Long.

She was frightened too. For a yearly salary of half a million, Jade Binglu had only planned to muddle along, not risk her life for anyone. Who would have thought that in this insignificant backwater county, she’d run into a world-class master?

The killing intent Tang Long had just displayed—she’d only ever felt that from one person before: her own company’s big boss.

This was terrifying.

Barely managing to keep from wetting herself, Jade Binglu considered bolting. But she knew she couldn’t run; if she did, the company would never let her go.

“Are you his bodyguard too?” Tang Long looked her over, eyeing the curved August blades in her hands in surprise.

“I’m a security consultant for Anna International Security,” Jade Binglu said without hesitation, hoping that revealing her employer would give Tang Long some pause.

Tang Long smiled slightly. “That crazy Anna Xiong? She’d be on her knees licking my boots if she saw me. Judging by your look, you must be third-generation at best.”

He paused, then chuckled wickedly. “Today, I’ll give Anna Xiong some face—I’ll only break one of his legs.”

Gulp.

Wen Rui swallowed hard, his face ghostly pale. He didn’t know who Anna Xiong was, but Jade Binglu was his last trump card. Normally, she was reliable—could take three men at once—but today, from the sound of it, even she couldn’t handle things.

“Could we maybe…” Jade Binglu hesitated, trying to bargain.

Tang Long shot her a look and cut her off. “Maybe, my ass. Want me to break your leg too?”

Jade Binglu immediately put away her weapons and said, “No need, but I hope you’ll keep your word—only break my client’s leg.”

Damn it!

Wen Rui nearly cursed out loud, staring at Jade Binglu in disbelief. She was just going to stand by and watch his leg get broken?

Perhaps sensing Wen Rui’s stare, Jade Binglu turned to him, resigned. “Young Master Rui, this might be the best option. Don’t worry, he’s a professional. He said he’d only break your leg—he won’t take your life.”

Best option, my ass! Wasn’t this just pushing him into the fire?

Jade Binglu seemed to read his thoughts and added, “Just bear with it, Young Master Rui. A broken leg can heal. Otherwise… none of us are getting out of here today.”

Wen Rui took a deep breath, turned to Tang Long, and managed a strained smile. “Look, brother Tang… it was just a joke earlier, honestly. If you hurt me, you know there’ll be consequences. This is the homeland, after all.”

He was trying to warn Tang Long not to do anything rash. In this country, murder and assault were both crimes.

Tang Long replied, “Relax. I’ll only break your leg today. If you don’t learn your lesson, next time I’ll shatter your balls and cripple you for life. Then you’ll spend the rest of your days gazing at the scenery and listening to the world go by, seeking enlightenment.”

Wen Rui felt a chill run through him, clenching his legs together to keep from wetting himself.

“Can’t we talk this over?” he pleaded, face drawn in misery. He really didn’t want to have his leg broken.

Tang Long smiled. “Of course. Don’t worry, I’ll go easy. It won’t cripple you for life—just keep you in bed for a year or so. As long as you don’t bother me again, we’re even. Sound good?”

Wen Rui’s face was ashen. “…Can’t you just not do it? I’ll pay you instead!”

“Next time, maybe. But this time, no can do. I promised someone that if you set foot in Yutou Village, I’d break your leg. A man’s word is his bond, right?”

Tang Long smiled, looking perfectly reasonable.

Wen Rui nearly spat blood. You’re planning for a next time?

“Ahhh!”

A scream echoed through the valley.

For the first time, Wen Rui truly understood the pain of having one’s leg broken. It was excruciating.

The others had only suffered minor injuries; Tang Long had held back, except for the blond-haired one who’d really annoyed him.

Shan Xiu frowned. “You’re just letting them go? Aren’t you afraid Young Master Rui will come after you for revenge?”

Last time, he’d only injured Rui’s men, and it had already caused trouble. This time, Tang Long had broken Rui’s own leg.

“Let him come,” Tang Long laughed.

A thought struck Shan Xiu, and he couldn’t help but ask, “If he really comes for revenge, will you actually smash his balls and leave him paralyzed for good?”

Tang Long shrugged, said nothing, and walked smilingly toward the Great Wall pickup truck.