Chapter 0029: The Empty Street, A Chill of Murderous Intent

With a single glance, Zhang Xiaofan could tell this man pursued the path of external martial arts.

“Do you need something?” Zhang Xiaofan responded coolly, meeting the other man’s unfriendly face with indifference.

“I am Xuanyuan Ruthless.”

The newcomer was indeed Xuanyuan Ruthless, his face brimming with arrogance. Compared to the refined Nangong Haotian, Xuanyuan Ruthless was an excess of masculinity.

“I’ll say it again—stay away from Yuehen. I don’t want to have to deal with you.”

“And I’ll say it again—Yuehen is mine. If you’re unhappy, you’re welcome to do something about it,” Zhang Xiaofan replied calmly, staring at this tycoon who could throw around fifteen billion without flinching, making no concessions whatsoever.

“Good, you’ve got some backbone. We’ll see how things play out. I hope you won’t regret it,” Xuanyuan Ruthless warned.

“Rest assured, I never regret. But let me remind you—don’t provoke me. The consequences will be severe.”

“Arrogant!” Xuanyuan Ruthless snorted coldly and walked away.

“Wow, Fan, you really know how to stir up trouble. You’re even going after the woman Xuanyuan Ruthless has his eye on?” Ye Qingcheng exclaimed in surprise.

“What’s there to be afraid of? You’re the eldest miss of the Ye family, and I dared to pursue you too, didn’t I?”

Zhang Xiaofan said, “Actually, the real reason is your Fan is too handsome. Women cling to me, and I can’t help it—it’s the curse of good looks.”

“Pfft, narcissist,” Ye Qingcheng rolled her eyes. “I think you’re the one seducing people. Pervert.”

“Not as much as you. Always hanging onto my arm, rubbing against me—have you ever considered how I feel?”

“So what? If I want to, I’ll be a pervert for you. Got a problem with that?”

“Could we negotiate? Next time, don’t wear bras with edges. They’re rough on the hands.”

“Rogue! Pervert!”

…

“Ruthless, that kid’s quite arrogant, isn’t he?”

Inside the grand hall, at a table, Nangong Haotian glanced at the brooding Xuanyuan Ruthless and spoke softly.

“He is, but I’ll put him under my feet,” Xuanyuan Ruthless replied darkly.

“Well, with your family background, crushing him should be easy,” Nangong Haotian said.

“You’re underestimating me. We’ve been in Jinghai for years—when have you seen me use my family’s power?” Xuanyuan Ruthless retorted. “At school, I’ll defeat him as a student.”

“Are you confident you can beat him?” Nangong Haotian asked.

“My physique is about to break through to the extraordinary. Handling him will be no trouble,” Xuanyuan Ruthless boasted.

Nangong Haotian was slightly stunned—this brute was nearly at the extraordinary level.

After the auction ended, many began mingling, toasting, seeking business partners. Only the Liu family’s group left in a sour mood; the ball wasn’t over, but Liu Xiao led his people away.

Soon after, elegant music filled the hall, and couples began dancing in the open space.

“Come dance with me.” Ye Qingcheng pulled Zhang Xiaofan’s arm.

“I can’t!” Zhang Xiaofan refused immediately. Social dance wasn’t his forte—he could throw a few punches, but dancing? Better not.

“I’ll teach you!” Ye Qingcheng laughed softly. Wasn’t he so capable? Yet he couldn’t even dance.

“I don’t want to learn!” Zhang Xiaofan refused again.

“I’ll let you hold me, how about that?” Ye Qingcheng offered.

“How do I hold you?” Zhang Xiaofan perked up.

“Just hold me—here, put your arm around my waist, I’ll guide you, just follow my steps.”

Ye Qingcheng took Zhang Xiaofan’s hand and placed it on her waist, her cheeks flushed.

Truth be told, the girl’s waist was slender and supple. After eating and drinking, getting some exercise wasn’t bad, especially with the bonus of a beauty’s soft body.

Following Ye Qingcheng into the dance floor, step by step, from awkwardness to proficiency, it took Zhang Xiaofan only ten minutes. Compared to martial arts, this was far easier.

Soon, Zhang Xiaofan took the lead, holding Ye Qingcheng’s waist and performing increasingly difficult moves, occasionally sneaking a touch at her chest and elsewhere, his hand wandering over her upper body.

Ye Qingcheng had to admire Zhang Xiaofan’s learning ability—he went from novice to expert, surpassing even her.

The better Zhang Xiaofan performed, the faster Ye Qingcheng’s heart thumped.

“Baby, sit on the bed…” Suddenly, Zhang Xiaofan’s phone vibrated, accompanied by its distinctive ringtone.

He let go of Ye Qingcheng and pulled out his phone.

“It’s the little girl calling?” He glanced at the screen and answered.

But the voice that came through was not Wang Yuqing’s.

“If you don’t want this mother and daughter dead, be at Empty Street within half an hour.” The voice was deep and threatening.

In that instant, a fierce killing intent flashed in Zhang Xiaofan’s eyes.

At that moment, he no longer seemed like a high school student, but rather a blood-soaked god of war on the battlefield.

“If you so much as touch a single hair on their heads, I’ll make you wish you were dead.”

He hung up coldly.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” Ye Qingcheng sensed the icy aura emanating from Zhang Xiaofan and asked.

“I need to step out,” he said in a low voice, then swiftly left.

Empty Street, Jinghai City’s western district, was a chaotic avenue, home to nearly all of the area’s underground forces.

Night had deepened.

Zhang Xiaofan hailed a taxi straight to Empty Street—just over ten kilometers, half an hour was enough.

The kidnappers of Aunt Yun and her daughter were surely people he’d clashed with before—most likely the Liu family, or that wastrel from the villa he’d crippled while rescuing Yin Rou Rou.

Zhang Xiaofan felt some regret—not fear, but guilt for implicating Aunt Yun and her daughter. His heart was uneasy.

Empty Street was a name from local lore; it wasn’t actually called that. Legend had it that an unstoppable man once stormed the street with a single blade, leaving it empty, thus earning the name.

“Master, we’ve arrived.”

After about twenty minutes, they reached the destination. Zhang Xiaofan paid, then stepped out with a grim expression.

He knew—blood would be spilled tonight!

Three years had passed since he last killed anyone. Tonight, he would kill again...

He steadied himself, then strode into the neon-lit Empty Street.

“Boss, that kid’s here.”

Not long after, in a bar, a lackey reported to Hu Yitian.

Hu Yitian was the one holding Aunt Yun and her daughter hostage!

“He’s got some guts.”

Hu Yitian’s eyes were sharp. “Tell the brothers—lock down the street. Finish him before the cops arrive.”

“What about the mother and daughter? That girl’s a real beauty…maybe we…” The lackey’s eyes flashed lecherously.

“Business first. They won’t fly away,” Hu Yitian replied, then grabbed the watermelon knife beside him and walked out.

Behind him, fifty henchmen followed.

These men carried an air of deadly ruthlessness—far from ordinary thugs.

Empty Street wasn’t long, barely over a kilometer, so Hu Yitian’s men quickly found Zhang Xiaofan and surrounded him.

“Kid, today’s your last day,” Hu Yitian said, brandishing his knife.

“Where are my people?” Zhang Xiaofan replied coldly.

“Heh…you’ll see them soon. I’ll give you a live, on-site show,” Hu Yitian sneered. “Damn you, you crippled my son, destroyed my lineage—tonight, I’ll take your life!”

“Get him!”

At Hu Yitian’s command, his men surged forward, wielding knives, hooks, and axes, all aimed at Zhang Xiaofan.

“If you’d let Aunt Yun and Yuqing go, maybe I’d spare you tonight. But since you chose this path, don’t blame me…”

Zhang Xiaofan’s eyes narrowed. Moments before, he’d considered holding back, but now—there was no need.

The first attacker was a blond-haired thug. As he approached, he swung his blade at Zhang Xiaofan’s head, striking with deadly intent—a move meant to kill.

Zhang Xiaofan moved with lightning speed, tilting his head to dodge, then seized the man’s wrist, twisting hard. The blond cried out in pain, his machete dropping, which Zhang Xiaofan caught deftly.

“Heaven’s retribution can be survived; self-inflicted sins cannot. Die…” he murmured, then reversed the blade and slashed across the man's throat.

A spray of blood, the motion fluid and practiced—a feeling long forgotten.

Terror filled the blond’s eyes—he never imagined his opponent would so easily disarm him, nor that he’d be killed so effortlessly!

Having severed the blond’s artery, Zhang Xiaofan rushed into the mob like a tiger among wolves.

His movements were swift as wind—the attackers’ blades couldn’t even touch his clothes. A flash, and another man’s hand, gripping a knife, was sliced clean off.

The man screamed in agony, but Zhang Xiaofan thrust the machete into his chest, then withdrew it, moving to his next target.

His actions flowed like water—before the third man could react, Zhang Xiaofan’s blade slashed his throat as well.

In the blink of an eye, three lives were ended, and everyone froze in shock.

They were skilled fighters, used to taking on several at once, but in Zhang Xiaofan’s hands, they were slaughtered like cabbage.

They'd killed before, but never with Zhang Xiaofan’s ruthless efficiency.

His body weaved through the crowd, blade rising and falling, killing three in an instant—was this youth a legendary martial arts master?

A chill ran through them all, icy and bone-deep.

None could understand how this delicate-looking, even slightly frail young man could be so terrifying…how he could kill with such ferocity.

Hu Yitian stared at his fallen men in horror. He knew the kid was tough, but never imagined he’d be so monstrous.

Watching an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old kill so easily, so adeptly—it was beyond belief.

This youth was far more dangerous than he’d thought.

Hu Yitian began to regret his actions.

He quickly pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

“Boss Long, send Little Blade to Empty Street immediately. I’ve hit a hard target. If it’s done, there’s twenty-five million in it.” In Hu Yitian’s mind, only the executioner Little Blade could match this youth—a killing god who chilled the soul.

“I’ll arrange it right away,” came a hoarse, aged voice from the other end.