Chapter 109: It Is Your Responsibility

"And what ability is that?" Li Xiaofei asked indifferently.

Zhao Bufan chuckled, "Don't be stubborn. You've already become infamous. Have you seen the people who can't wait to tear you apart online? They will only grow in number if this keeps going. When this situation is completely solidified, you'll be pointed at wherever you go."

"So what?" Li Xiaofei replied, "If you think such childish online bullying can pressure me, you should quickly make an appointment with a neurologist. If even the doctor can't help, then have your mother send you back for another appointment."

"You... " Zhao Bufan was infuriated.

He thought that he had escalated the situation enough that even if Li Xiaofei didn't submit, he would have to grudgingly beg for mercy. He hadn't expected this slum-born mutt to have such a tough spine.

"Haha, kid, you've got guts," Zhao Bufan sneered. "Haven't you noticed that no brands have approached you for endorsements, and no guilds have offered you a contract?"

"So what?" Li Xiaofei responded impatiently.

Zhao Bufan exhaled a puff of cigar smoke and said viciously, "Let me be clear, no one but my Golden Eagle Guild will dare to sign you. If you want to make money, you'll have to kneel and obey me."

Li Xiaofei coldly laughed, "You, with your bloated head and intestines, only know money, money, money. Money is just an external thing to me. Why would I need so much of it? I should thank you for blocking those petty merchants from me. Keep it up."

Zhao Bufan was stunned.

Don’t care about money? Oh, right. According to my information, this little brat is a martial arts fanatic. Maybe he really doesn’t care about money and only about cultivation.

"A good dog doesn't block the way." Li Xiaofei revved the motorcycle’s engine. "Move aside."

Zhao Bufan was furious for a moment, but then smiled insidiously.

"Heh, don't think I don't know what you care about. You have a little sister named Little Jie, who goes to Red Flag Middle School. If she were to have a little accident, I think you'd be very anxious, wouldn't you? Then, would you still not need money?"

Li Xiaofei's head snapped up, and his eyes sharpened as they pierced through Zhao Bufan.

"If my sister so much as gets a scratch, I will make you regret ever being born." Li Xiaofei said each word slowly and deliberately.

In his mind, Li Xiaofei was already thinking about how to deal with Zhao without breaking the law. He could disregard the low-level tactics of being slandered on the internet. But targeting his family was a declaration of a life-or-death struggle.

Zhao Bufan was momentarily paralyzed by Li Xiaofei's beast-like gaze. He didn't dare to say another word until Li Xiaofei rode away on his motorcycle.

A seasoned thug, who was used to operating on both sides of the law, was actually intimidated by a teenager who hadn't even stepped into society yet. How humiliating.

"Damn it... " Zhao Bufan cursed, smashing his cigar onto the ground. "Find me a few reliable guys. Stick to the old plan and put that brat's sister in the hospital... I want to see him kneel and beg me for a contract."

He was determined.

***

On his way back, Li Xiaofei pulled over to the side of the road and called Yang Cheng.

"Two things. First, investigate the Golden Eagle Guild and see if there's any way to take down their president, Zhao Bufan. Second, select a few skilled and sharp brothers to secretly protect Little Jie to and from school."

Anyone who dared to threaten his family had to be prepared for the consequences. In this regard, Li Xiaofei would never show mercy.

Suddenly, a call request popped up on his light core. It was from an unknown number. Li Xiaofei frowned and answered the call.

"We agreed to be friends, yet it's been a whole week and you haven't contacted me once. Hmph." A sweet and enthusiastic female voice came through the line.

Li Xiaofei was momentarily taken aback but quickly recognized the voice of Tan Qingying, the daughter of the city leader.

He smiled and said, "Oh, it's Qingying. I've been so busy this week with cultivation, joint training, extra classes, and a bunch of family stuff... "

"Hmph, men are all the same," Tan Qingying pouted, but her tone immediately turned warm again, "Half an hour, at the usual place. Don't be late."

She hung up.

The usual place?

Li Xiaofei thought for a moment, then turned his motorcycle around and headed toward Uncle Chen's Offal Shop.

***

Li Xiaofei spotted Tan Qingying's distinctive death-metal motorcycle at the entrance of the alley. He parked his modified bike next to it, locked it, and walked into the alley. Soon, he reached the entrance of Uncle Chen's Offal Shop.

"Hey, young man, come on in. Little Ying has already ordered and is waiting for you," Uncle Chen greeted Li Xiaofei warmly.

Li Xiaofei smiled in reply and walked deeper into the shop, where he indeed saw Tan Qingying sitting at their usual spot. She was already eating.

He sat down across from her and teased, "You went and reincarnated as a hungry ghost, huh? What, you couldn't wait for me?"

Tan Qingying rolled her eyes at him, "The last time we ate together, I didn't get enough. I couldn't keep up with you."

Li Xiaofei unhesitatingly picked up his chopsticks and joined in, "If you're still hungry, just order more."

"No, it's better to eat until you're satisfied in one go. Next time, it won't taste as good," Tan Qingying replied.

Li Xiaofei nodded, "Makes sense."

Then he started eating with lightning speed.

"Ah... " Tan Qingying screamed, "You took food from my bowl again!"

The atmosphere in the shop immediately became lively as they started bickering playfully. Many regular customers watched the two with kind smiles on their faces. It was like they were watching their own grandchildren.

The incident from last time had already spread throughout the area. Many people were curiously friendly towards Li Xiaofei. The troublemaker Tao and his gang, along with the notorious Xuanshan Dojo, had been taken down the day after they offended this young man.

It was a great thing for them, since the neighborhood’s security had improved significantly. The troublemaking drifters were nowhere to be seen. Walking at night had become safe again. Many people felt that Li Xiaofei had been the catalyst for such positive change. So they were not afraid when they saw Li Xiaofei and Tan Qingying in the shop. When they watched him, they felt that the young man was indeed as rumored—easygoing and lively, without any pretense.

The people living in this area were mostly elderly factory workers. They didn't pay much attention to online matters and thus had no idea that this young man in front of them was the infamous Red Flag bully being vilified online.

"By the way, congratulations on winning MVP again in the second round of the league," Tan Qingying said, finishing her bowl of stew, her lips glistening with oil.

Li Xiaofei replied, "I'm being trashed by internet trolls, so there's not much to celebrate."

Tan Qingying said, "I believe in you. You're not that kind of person."

A warmth surged in Li Xiaofei's heart.

"Your belief doesn't really matter, and I don't want to say thank you," Li Xiaofei said righteously. "It's what you should do as a friend."

"Annoying," Tan Qingying laughed, her eyes narrowing into crescents. She lightly bit the end of her chopstick and tentatively asked, "Do you have time this evening?"

𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Feigning surprise, Li Xiaofei said, "What... I see you as a friend, and you have ulterior motives?"

Tan Qingying couldn't stop laughing. "You're dreaming... There's a dinner party later. Can you accompany me?"

"Sure," Li Xiaofei agreed without hesitation.

Tan Qingying was surprised, "Aren't you going to ask what kind of dinner party it is?"