Scar's Embarrassment, Oscar Takes a Beating

Oscar covered his eyes and tugged at his hair in anguish.

Perhaps listening to Boss Dai wasn't such a bad idea. Sometimes he couldn't be too honest; using a few tricks wasn't a bad idea either.

Oscar made up his mind, his gaze growing firm as he stared at the couple and secretly clenched his fists.

"All right, Boss Dai, let's do it your way."

Dai Mubai smiled smugly. "That's more like it. That's the Oscar of ours who's conquered countless women! It's just Ning Rongrong. Won't you win her over in no time?"

Ma Hongjun patted Oscar on the shoulder and chuckled lecherously. "That figure of Ning Rongrong's, tsk, tsk. Little Ao, you're in for a treat!"

Suotuo City lay in the Balak Kingdom, where the economy was relatively prosperous. As a result, its streets were lined with a dazzling variety of shops selling everything one could want.

Jiang Qin walked hand in hand with Ning Rongrong along the neat bluestone street. He glanced at the sky and said gently, "Rongrong, it's getting late. Let's head back in a bit."

Ning Rongrong licked the ice cream in her hand and shook her head stubbornly. "No, the sun's still out. Let's have some more fun."

Besides...

Ning Rongrong suddenly leaned close and whispered in Jiang Qin's ear, "I want to spend a little more time with you, big brother~"

Jiang Qin's face stiffened. He moved his right arm away without drawing attention to it and said helplessly, "All right, then let's walk around a little longer."

Ning Rongrong's face lit up with joy. Grinning, she pulled Jiang Qin along, and the two resumed their stroll down the street, laughing and chatting.

Time always passed quickly. Before they knew it, the sun had sunk in the west, a veil of night had already settled over the sky, and only a faint fiery-red rim remained on the horizon.

With his arm around Rongrong, Jiang Qin pleaded and coaxed until he finally persuaded Ning Rongrong to head back.

There was no particular reason beyond the fact that, as a support Soul Master, Jiang Qin had been extremely cautious for the past two years and didn't want any accidents to happen.

However, things didn't go as he wished.

The two had just turned into a narrow alley when five or six people dressed in black nightwear and wearing masks that covered only their noses and mouths blocked their path.

Ning Rongrong was startled and involuntarily took two steps back.

She tugged at Jiang Qin's arm. "Jiang Qin, let's run. These people are up to no good."

But as soon as she turned around, she saw six or seven more people dressed the same way closing in behind them.

Jiang Qin took Ning Rongrong's little hand. "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

The one in the lead snorted coldly and cleared his throat.

"I opened this road, I planted this tree. If you want to pass this way..."

"Oh, give me a break, Scar. You think I can't recognize you just because you're wearing a mask? Put that blade down, now!"

Jiang Qin spoke impatiently.

"Clang!"

The instant Jiang Qin finished speaking, the gleaming steel saber in the bandit's hand fell to the ground. The bandit's hands shook uncontrollably.

At that moment, a lackey who didn't know what was going on came running up behind Jiang Qin with a wild yell.

"Where'd you come from, you punk? How dare you call our boss by his nickname!"

The masked man called Scar's expression changed. He hurried over in two or three strides, kicked the lackey to the ground, and slapped him twice across the face, cursing furiously,

"Huang Xiaoliu, where did you get the dog guts to attack my Brother Jiang?!"

"You must be tired of living!"

Scar gave him a fierce scolding, then immediately put on a fawning expression and turned to Jiang Qin.

"I was wondering who it was. So it's my Brother Jiang! Isn't this a case of floodwaters washing away the Dragon King's temple? Haha..."

Scar really couldn't afford to offend Jiang Qin. As the only pill-making support Soul Master in the city, Jiang Qin was the person Scar's gang went to whenever they needed to buy medicine for an injury or illness.

What was more, Jiang Qin had always been generous. Sometimes, when he saw that a patient was poor, he would wave a hand and waive the bill.

Every gang in Suotuo City, big or small, knew Jiang Qin's name and gave him face.

There was no other reason: no matter how overbearing you were, did you dare disrespect a doctor? Besides, young Brother Jiang's recovery pills were extremely effective and reasonably priced...

Offending him meant making an enemy of the entire Suotuo City underworld!

Although Scar was a fairly important boss, he didn't have the guts to challenge the entire Suotuo City underworld.

Jiang Qin waved impatiently. "Cut the fucking nonsense. Who put you up to this? They must be tired of living, coming after me."

Scar looked embarrassed, his eyes darting from side to side. For a moment, he didn't know what to say...

In their line of work, selling out an employer was a serious taboo, but he couldn't afford to offend Jiang Qin either...

What a headache.

Just then, the lackey who had been beaten got to his feet, his eyes wide with bewilderment, and said aggrievedly,

"Boss, didn't you say we'd pretend to block the two of them as soon as they showed up, and then that guy would rush out and play the hero saving the beauty? Why did you..."

Scar's expression changed. He slapped him again and cursed, "Why do you talk so damn much?! I never should've agreed to Uncle Huang's request to take you along! Are you missing a few screws? You'll blurt out anything!"

Huang Xiaoliu covered his face, feeling wronged but not daring to speak. He stood to one side, looking thoroughly abashed.

A faint, suggestive expression appeared on Jiang Qin's face, somewhere between a smile and a smirk. He said nothing, merely staring at Scar.

Scar grew uneasy under his gaze. He knew there was no talking his way out of this one. Gritting his teeth, he made up his mind and stomped his foot.

"Oh, Brother Jiang, all right, I'll tell you. Here's what happened..."

Before he had even finished speaking, the stomp sent a bottle tied to his waist tumbling down, where it shattered with an exceedingly crisp crash of breaking glass.

Just then, someone burst out of a concealed box to the side. Without looking at what was happening, he let out a wild shout.

"Hold it! Scar, you bastard, how dare you hurt my Rongrong! Don't you know she's my good friend?!"

"How dare you do this?! I think you're tired of living!"

After that righteous speech, he turned to Ning Rongrong and said in a voice of feigned tenderness, "Rongrong, are you all right? This is all my fault. I'm sorry I showed up too late."

"I knew that good-for-nothing Jiang Qin couldn't protect you! You still need me to..."

But when Oscar got a clear look at the situation, he was instantly dumbfounded. His voice grew weaker and weaker until it faded away entirely.

This isn't right! This isn't how I imagined it! Is this how it's supposed to go?

We clearly agreed that Scar would beat Jiang Qin up, then smash a cup as a signal for me to come out and play the hero saving the beauty.

How come Jiang Qin isn't just unscathed, but standing there chatting and laughing with Scar? They look like they know each other well.

Ning Rongrong, who should have been frightened, showed no sign of fear either. Instead, she stared at him expressionlessly.

Something's wrong. A hundred out of ten wrong!

Oscar's face instantly fell. He walked forward weakly. "Rongrong, let me explain. It's not what it looks like. I..."

Ning Rongrong was furious, her pretty face covered in frost. She stepped forward and promptly slapped Oscar. "Get away from me! Who said you could come so close? Get lost! I never want to see you again!"