Chapter 67: Smashing the Internet Café—Blood Debts Must Be Paid in Blood

The mountain-opening knife, a type of short blade, measures one and a half feet in length with a straight back and edge, resembling a woodcutter's machete, intended for use in field combat. Another variant is wielded by hunters in the southwestern mountains, where dense forests and lack of paths require a tool to hack through the undergrowth and forge a trail—hence the name mountain-opening knife. This blade is far more lethal than ordinary knives and demands great strength from its user. Ling Tian needed such a knife to bolster his side’s momentum.

Holding the blade, Ling Tian indeed appeared imposing; Lin Elegant even thought he seemed more masculine than ever. “Not bad, it’s truly formidable. If I weren’t set on returning the favor, I’d want one of those mountain-opening knives myself. Guess I’ll just make do with the iron rod this time,” Dai Jin remarked with envy.

“Don’t settle for less. Let’s buy four—each man gets one. We’ll use the mountain-opening knives first, then switch to iron rods,” Ling Tian suggested, convinced this would make an even stronger impression.

“Good idea,” Yuan Bao agreed, clearly enthused by the quality of the blades.

And so, they bought four knives. Ling Tian shouldered three, holding one in his hand, exuding a bandit’s aura that made Song Xiaomei’s eyes shine with excitement. Lin Elegant shook her head helplessly, not choosing a weapon herself, but Song Xiaomei insisted on pressing a small dagger into her hand for self-defense.

Clad in a Chanel suit, carrying an LV bag, her flowing brown curls and exquisite makeup made Lin Elegant utterly mismatched with this gang of “ruffians.” Yet she had no choice but to follow, for two within their ranks occupied her deepest concern.

Everyone selected their tools, stowed them in the car, and enjoyed a hearty meal at a restaurant before charging toward the internet café with a fierce vigor.

Lin Elegant drove her Porsche sports car, while Dai Jin took his gleaming Hummer—a recent purchase meant to lend him prestige when collecting protection fees. In truth, sometimes the fees he collected barely covered the gas; truly extravagant.

As they appeared at the internet café entrance, their arrival drew immediate attention from inside. Ling Tian, Shi Xiaocai, Dai Jin, and Yuan Bao, each wielding a mountain-opening knife, evoked the vibe of old-school gangsters—only missing the tattoos and bare chests. Step by step, they advanced, wild light flickering in their eyes.

Perhaps every man harbors a demon, a latent wildness; at this moment, their murderous presence chilled all onlookers.

Song Xiaomei strutted proudly, her little boots tapping rhythmically, fiddling with her dagger, exuding the aura of a mob princess. Lin Elegant walked with her usual grace, high heels echoing her unique charm.

Such a group could not be ignored.

No one was more shocked than the café owner, who stared as if seeing ghosts—Shi Xiaocai, Dai Jin, and Yuan Bao had been beaten and crippled just two days ago. How were they now striding about as if nothing had happened? Ling Tian led the way, flanked by two unfamiliar girls.

Questions swirled in the owner’s mind, but before he could sort them out, Ling Tian and company entered the café.

Bang! Ling Tian slammed the mountain-opening knife onto the counter, fixing the owner with a gaze. “You’re the owner here, right? Call out everyone who attacked my brothers two days ago. Today, we settle the score, fair and square.”

“And bring out that shameless woman as well. Today, I’ll avenge my boyfriend,” Song Xiaomei added, brandishing her dagger.

“It wasn’t me. Brother Viper and Brother Monk ordered me. I was just following instructions,” the owner replied, having heard of Ling Tian’s reputation and realizing he was outmatched.

Dai Jin bristled at this, pointing at the owner’s nose. “Nonsense! If you hadn’t tipped them off, if you hadn’t had that woman drug us, how could we have lost? Today, you’ll pay in blood!”

“All unrelated people, get out! We’re about to smash this café!” Ling Tian declared, noticing the place was crowded, including many minors, and not wishing to harm innocents.

At his words, most patrons scrambled to leave, abandoning their mice and screens, though a few bold ones lingered to watch the spectacle.

The staff, meanwhile, grabbed whatever weapons they could find, preparing to fight. Counting the owner, they numbered only seven or eight, including the girl who had lured Dai Jin that day.

Seeing his side so outnumbered, the owner tried to call for help, but Shi Xiaocai smashed the phone on the counter with a swing of his rod, snatching the owner’s cellphone and hurling it to the floor, where it shattered.

Dai Jin and Yuan Bao slung their knives on their backs, switching to iron rods, but Ling Tian still held his mountain-opening knife, intent on drawing blood today.

“Brother Tian, spare us this time! From now on, I’ll recognize you as my boss, sincerely,” pleaded the owner, cowed by the bloodthirsty look in Ling Tian’s eyes.

But Ling Tian was furious, intent on making an example. If his brothers had been bullied, he would repay in kind. Raising the mountain-opening knife, lips pressed tight, he slashed the owner’s shoulder.

Blood spurted, soaking the owner’s checkered shirt. Though the arm remained intact, the wound was deep; the owner screamed, nearly fainting from pain.

“Fight! Hit them!” Realizing words were useless, he grabbed an iron rod with his uninjured arm and launched an attack at Ling Tian.

The others followed suit, going straight for the group, fists flying.

Ling Tian dodged the owner’s blow, catching in his peripheral vision a man attacking Lin Elegant. He abandoned the owner, racing to Lin Elegant’s side, slashing at the attacker’s chest—a wound deep enough to expose bone, blood gushing.

Ling Tian gathered Lin Elegant in his arms, shielding her with one arm while fighting off enemies with the other.

He used neither the Yin-Yang Art nor true energy, nor even acupuncture—just raw strength, fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with his brothers, determined to leave their foes battered in the place where his brothers had been wounded.

Lin Elegant felt no fear, trusting Ling Tian completely. Compared to their last ambush, today’s opponents were far weaker. She forgot his flirtatious nature, only feeling that he was a man worthy of trust, providing a sense of security, knowing he would never abandon her.

On the other side, Song Xiaomei was locked in combat with the girl who had lured Dai Jin. Unfortunately, Song Xiaomei was outmatched; though she had learned a few moves from Shi Xiaocai, her opponent was more experienced, and soon Song Xiaomei was pinned beneath her.

Seeing Song Xiaomei take a few punches, Shi Xiaocai’s blood boiled; he knocked out the man before him with his rod, hurried to Song Xiaomei, and kicked the girl off her, showing not a shred of mercy.

The girl shrieked, clutching her chest—Shi Xiaocai’s kick had landed squarely on her ample bosom, popping open the buttons of her blouse. He didn’t even spare her a glance.

“Xiaomei, are you alright?” Shi Xiaocai helped her up, eyes filled with concern, blaming himself for not watching over her.

“I’m fine. Stand aside—this foul woman is mine! How dare she hit me! No one’s ever dared to hit me!” Song Xiaomei, furious, stalked toward the girl with her dagger.

The girl tried to move, but Shi Xiaocai’s kick had been too powerful; she could not even stand, glaring at Song Xiaomei in frustration.

“You vile woman, isn’t seducing men your specialty? Today, I’ll slash your clothes!” Song Xiaomei initially wanted to cut the girl’s face but, true to her kind nature, could not bring herself to do it. Instead, she settled for slashing the girl’s clothes and giving her a proper beating.

She followed through, pinning the girl, slicing open her blouse and bra with her dagger, exposing her large pale breasts, the pink tips soft and tender, with a bruise where Shi Xiaocai’s kick had landed.

“So big! Hmph! Seducing Shi Xiaocai, are you? Seducing Shi Xiaocai!” Song Xiaomei, seeing the girl’s bust at least two sizes larger than her own, was overcome with jealousy and punched her twice in the chest. Such beauty, wasted—these were meant to be caressed, yet she pummeled them. Women fighting women, indeed ruthless.

Shi Xiaocai turned away to deal with other men, satisfied that Song Xiaomei was safe and uninterested in other women’s bodies. In his heart, one Xiaomei was enough; no matter how beautiful another woman might be, she meant nothing to him.

Song Xiaomei tore all the girl’s clothes, not even sparing her underwear, beating her until she was too weak to resist, her fair skin dotted with bruises, reminiscent of a woman discarded after some sadistic game.

Finally, Song Xiaomei produced a rope and bound the girl’s hands above her head, accentuating her chest. Glancing inadvertently, Dai Jin and Yuan Bao felt their bodies heat up—damn, they’d almost had her last time.

After a short while, all the café’s defenders lay defeated, many bleeding from wounds inflicted by Ling Tian’s blade—none fatal, but serious enough to require months of recovery. Multiple bruises marked their bodies, evidence of iron rods.

Shi Xiaocai, Dai Jin, and Yuan Bao thoroughly enjoyed themselves, venting all the humiliation from two days prior, each holding an iron rod and glaring at their fallen foes. The game was far from over…