Chapter 66: I Want a Machete

Upon hearing these words, Lin Youqin sneered inwardly. She didn’t trust Liu Zihao in the slightest, but she did believe Ling Tian was more than capable of protecting himself. At this moment, she was simply making her position clear—she would never harm Ling Tian now. Of course, if the day ever came when she was disappointed in him, she might take his life herself.

As for Lin Youya, she certainly didn’t wish her any happiness. For now, she might as well cooperate with Liu Zihao, but her reasons for going against Lin Youya were far more than just matters of the heart.

It is said that a woman's heart can be the most venomous, and Lin Youqin was a prime example—a poisonous poppy in full bloom, yet not the flower Ling Tian desired.

And so, these two schemers spent a night together, each with their own designs. Ling Tian could never have imagined that Lin Youqin was so fixated on him, nor that Liu Zihao was plotting his death.

An ancient saying goes: "Only the mediocre are never envied." For someone like Ling Tian, there were always those who found him disagreeable, no matter where he went. Even if, in this life, he didn’t wish to stir up trouble, trouble would find him all the same.

Naturally, where there are those who dislike him, there are also those who admire him—such as Tiger.

Not long after Ling Tian left, Tiger was unexpectedly released. His case was resolved, and he was no longer a murder suspect. What truly happened, however, was known to only a select few.

Tiger was one of Song Ziyue’s men—Song Ziyue, that legendary woman whose hands held countless lives, though no one truly knew the full extent, nor dared to ask.

Some whispered that Song Ziyue’s success was owed entirely to her father, a provincial party secretary. But those who knew the truth understood that Song Ziyue and her father rarely communicated; with the loss of the eldest daughter from the Song family, the underworld gained a new “Sister Moon.”

Ling Tian, upon hearing her name, had already added her to his list of prospective wives, boasting everywhere that he was Song Ziyue’s man, though he had never even met her. Song Ziyue had heard these rumors but merely laughed them off. In fact, she had seen Ling Tian before, though he did not recognize her.

Now, Tiger sat in the living room of Song Ziyue’s villa.

He looked as robust and imposing as ever, a veritable man’s man. Opposite him sat Song Ziyue, whose appearance gave little away of her gender. She was the young figure Ling Tian’s group had glimpsed in the billiard hall that first night—a shadowy presence in a dim corner.

Today, she wore a white shirt and jeans, her short, tousled hair falling just above her shoulders, a slanted fringe across her brow, gold-rimmed glasses perched on her nose, and a cigarette between her fingers. Glancing at her, one might easily mistake her for an elegant young man.

But a closer look revealed her flawless, fair skin and luscious, inviting lips—beauty that grew more captivating the more one gazed upon it. Her subordinates rarely dared to look at her directly.

Perhaps the only incongruous element was the cigarette in her hand. Most men disliked women who smoked, but Song Ziyue was the boss—no one in her crew would dare criticize her, and she herself often forgot she was a woman.

“Sister Moon, if it weren’t for your boyfriend’s help yesterday, Scarface and his lot would have bullied me to death—I doubt you’d see me today,” Tiger complained earnestly.

He knew Song Ziyue wasn’t married, so he referred to Ling Tian as her boyfriend.

“My boyfriend? Since when do I have a boyfriend?” Song Ziyue was baffled. Was Tiger feverish? Did someone like her need a boyfriend?

“It’s Ling Tian! He even calls you Yue’er,” Tiger replied truthfully.

“Yue’er? Cough, cough!” Song Ziyue choked on her cigarette. No one had ever called her that before—it was unbearably saccharine. She, the undisputed boss of H Province, how could she be called Yue’er?

“Yeah, he calls you that so affectionately. And that Ling Tian really is something special. Sister Moon, you really don’t know him?” Tiger was skeptical; from the way Ling Tian spoke, he sounded like nothing less than Sister Moon’s boyfriend.

“Ling Tian, huh? He truly doesn’t know me. I’ve seen him—he hasn’t seen me. I have heard he’s trying to pursue me, but once he meets me, he’ll think twice. Do you really think a man could fall for a woman like me?” Song Ziyue exhaled a smoke ring, clearly unimpressed by the notion of love.

“In fact… Sister Moon, you’re very beautiful. Lots of people like you. If only you didn’t smoke, you’d be even more attractive,” Tiger admitted, harboring a quiet affection for her, though he knew he was unworthy and could only watch over her from afar.

“There’s no need to comfort me. But if, one day, I truly meet a man who understands me, I’ll quit smoking for good. I don’t even know if I can still like men. For now, at least, I prefer women,” Song Ziyue mused, her thoughts elsewhere.

Seeing her like this, Tiger’s heart ached. He recalled Ling Tian’s carefree grin and wondered if perhaps Ling Tian could bring real happiness to Song Ziyue. “That Ling Tian’s really not bad, Sister Moon. Maybe you should bring him into our gang—Ziyue Society could use someone like him.”

Song Ziyue’s gang was indeed called Ziyue. She owned a Tang Dao named Purple Moon, its blade gleaming with an eerie violet hue, stained with countless lives. On the streets, no one dared underestimate her for being a woman; her blade alone was enough to chill the bravest hearts.

“If he chooses this path, bring him in. If not, let it be. Since he’s a formidable character, I’d rather have him as a friend than an enemy,” Song Ziyue replied, her leader’s wisdom apparent in her even-handed judgment.

“Great!” Tiger was reassured. At least Sister Moon didn’t dislike Ling Tian—he would make sure to befriend this brother.

…

Ling Tian had passed a wonderful night with Li Youran, fully restoring his depleted energy, and Li Youran’s place in his heart soared even higher.

Breakfast was sumptuous—first, the feast of Li Youran’s body in bed, then a lovingly prepared meal in the dining room. After eating, Ling Tian headed straight back to Lin Youya’s villa. Today, he planned to lead Shi Xiaocai and the others to settle scores with Viper and Monk.

Back at the villa, everyone had finished breakfast and was waiting for his return. Ling Tian checked their injuries—completely healed. Seeing him looking fit and well, their worries eased.

“Ling Tian, let’s go smash up that internet café! We need to reclaim our dignity right where we lost it!” Dai Jin insisted.

“Yes, we’ll start with that internet café. I want to teach that woman a lesson myself!” Song Xiaomei was still brooding over the woman who had bested Shi Xiaocai. Such women deserved a beating—she wanted to do it herself.

Today, Song Xiaomei wore a black-and-red plaid miniskirt, a loose white T-shirt, and black knee-high boots—a picture-perfect schoolgirl, though one wondered how her skirt would fare in a brawl.

“They don’t have any real experts over there, do they?” Lin Youya voiced her concern, especially for Song Xiaomei, who knew no martial arts.

“In all of Jianghai City, no one’s been born who can best me. Don’t worry. But, Youya, you have to come with us—I’m worried those targeting you might strike while we’re away,” Ling Tian said to Lin Youya.

He hadn’t expected Shi Xiaocai’s group to be ambushed before and now couldn’t risk Lin Youya coming to harm. A man might take a beating, but for a woman to fall into the hands of villains—the consequences were unthinkable.

“Me?” Lin Youya was surprised. She was a refined lady—how could she go smash up a place?

“Yes, you have to come. Otherwise, I won’t be at ease with you at school. Just stay on the sidelines—you won’t have to lift a finger,” Ling Tian insisted, unwilling to let Lin Youya be exposed to danger.

“Cousin, come with us! It’s so exciting—you’ll see how I deal with that woman,” Song Xiaomei urged, eager for her cousin to join the adventure.

“Well, all right,” Lin Youya conceded, unable to refuse and unwilling to let Song Xiaomei go alone.

After some discussion, they decided to go in the afternoon when the café would be crowded; the morning would be too quiet. They spent the morning wandering the streets, searching for handy tools. Though they could handle anyone barehanded, last time they had been attacked with weapons—this time, they’d come prepared.

Moreover, they intended to smash the place up—fists alone would be too painful for that. They found a grimy little market—a stark contrast to the city’s glossy exterior, yet every city had its shadows. Those in the know understood: whatever tool you needed, you could find there. Some even dealt in firearms under the table, though never openly.

A small shop advertised itself as a sporting goods store, but the back room was filled with all manner of fighting implements. Of the group, only Shi Xiaocai needed no weapon; the others all picked something that suited them. His golden staff was enough to sweep aside any opponent.

Dai Jin and Yuanbao each chose a heavy iron rod—last time, Monk had used one to shatter their knees, and now they intended to repay the favor twice over.

Song Xiaomei was thrilled, picking up a pair of nunchaku after much deliberation.

“Swing the nunchaku, hum hum ha hey!” she sang, spinning them as she mimicked Jay Chou’s song.

Thud! “Ah—!”

After only a single line, she smacked herself on the head. Song Xiaomei howled in pain.

“Are you all right, Xiaomei?” Lin Youya hurried over, as did the others. A large bump was already rising on Song Xiaomei’s forehead. Everyone was equal parts amused and concerned—she hadn’t even hit anyone yet and had already injured herself.

“I’m ruined—wah!” Song Xiaomei burst into tears from the pain. The group rushed to comfort her. Ling Tian produced his silver needles and, after a few quick jabs, the swelling and pain vanished. Chastened, Song Xiaomei put down the nunchaku and opted for a small dagger instead.

“Ling Tian, what weapon do you want?” Dai Jin asked, noticing he hadn’t chosen anything.

“I’ll take a machete—it’ll command respect. Today, we’re going to wipe out their whole den!” A wicked smile played at Ling Tian’s lips. Today, he would show everyone that his brothers were not to be trifled with.