Of course martial arts had Lightness Skills. Back when Li Ye was in school, he had seen some people flying about, skimming along walls. The sight had filled him with longing.
At the Thunderclap Martial Hall where he had trained before, the Seventy-two Thunder Legs seemed to have considerable attainments in Lightness Skill as well. Li Ye had once thought that after breaking through the Dragon Gate, he would definitely get to see it for himself.
But later...
Whoosh!
The wind howled again. Seeing the man step off the plants and take to the air once more, arriving at Li Ye's flank as he reached out to grab him, Li Ye kicked off the ground with his left foot while running, leapt into the air to the right, changed direction with the momentum, and darted into an alley ahead.
Yet after only a few steps, he stopped again.
The way ahead was sealed off!
Whoosh!
The wind sounded behind him. Li Ye turned around and saw the dragon-tattooed man fly over again, his feet rapidly stepping against the building beside him before he spun in midair and landed.
"Think you can outrun me?"
He sneered. "Didn't you know I know Lightness Skill?"
Perhaps because he was circulating his martial arts, his Blood Qi Surged, pulsing three times in a steady rhythm.
A Three Dragon Gate!
As they spoke, the people behind them caught up as well, gathering behind the man one by one with hostile expressions.
There were always some people whose martial path had come to nothing, yet who had trained at martial halls. Once they entered society, they refused to fade into obscurity and were unwilling to settle for an ordinary life.
After all, if they could not make it in the big world, they could always muddle along in a small one. So they formed gangs and called one another brothers. The people before Li Ye were probably exactly that sort.
But this did not seem to be a problem involving some lowly gang.
A thought stirred in Li Ye's mind, and he asked, "The Ren Family?"
"What Ren Family? Never heard of them. The person you ran into happened to be my little brother. You hit someone and still wanted to run? You need a lesson."
A cold smile rose on his face. With one hand, he drew a forearm-length short blade from behind his back and gripped it in reverse.
"I really don't like that attitude of yours, running away. Think those legs of yours are so impressive? I'll cut your Achilles tendons and see whether you can still run afterward. Remember this—the one teaching you a lesson is Eagle Brother of East City!"
That kid had just stirred his Blood Qi. He seemed to be a First Dragon Gate, but that did not matter. He was a Three Dragon Gate, and he had a weapon besides.
Dealing with a kid like this would be as easy as turning his hand.
A savage grin surfaced on his face. He raised his foot and was about to charge forward.
At that moment, Li Ye also reached into his backpack, pulled open the zipper with his backhand, and took something out.
"Smart!"
The man said approvingly, "But it's useless. It's too late to pay compensation now. No matter what, you're getting taught a lesson today! Stand still like a good boy, and you might suffer a little less!"
He moved his feet, but after only two steps forward, his entire body froze and every hair on his body stood on end.
A pitch-black gun barrel was pointed straight at him.
Li Ye held a Desert Eagle, flicked off the safety with his thumb, and said, "Smart how? You thought I was taking out what you wanted? I'll get taught a lesson? Swallow one of my bullets, then I'll take your lesson!"
The appearance of the gun made all the lackeys behind the man retreat in unison.
"Fake!"
The man gritted his teeth. "Trying to scare me with a fake gun? You're just a student. You can use a Desert Eagle?"
Bang!
The moment he finished speaking, the gunshot thundered. Fire burst from the muzzle, and a bullet powerful enough to shatter stone exploded into a huge spray of blood on his leg, leaving a massive hole in his thigh.
"Ah! Aah!!"
The man dropped to his knees, even tossing away the short blade in his hand. He clutched his thigh tightly and wailed without stopping.
Whoosh!
Every last one of the lackeys behind him scattered like startled birds and beasts, terrified that if they ran too slowly, they would get shot.
"Make another sound, and the next shot kills you."
Li Ye pointed the gun at his head, immediately making the other man clamp his mouth shut.
Pan Zhengyang had been right.
Sometimes, this thing really was more useful than martial arts.
"I ask. You answer."
Li Ye said, "Did the Ren Family send you?"
"I really don't know any Ren Family!" he cried miserably.
Bang!
The bullet pierced his other leg, making him let out another miserable scream. His body curled up, his forehead slammed into the ground, and he trembled all over from the pain.
But no matter how much he suffered, he still had to speak. Otherwise, soon he would not even have the chance to suffer.
"I really don't know them, really! My boss found me and told me to teach you a lesson. Not kill you, really, just teach you a lesson, then snatch a pair of chopsticks from your bag!"
"Tell me every detail. Leave out one word, and I'll shoot your dick off first!" Li Ye said coldly.
Under the threats of death and losing his manhood, he poured everything out like beans spilling from a bamboo tube. He not only explained what had happened, but practically recounted his entire life.
His name was Liu Ying. He was forty years old, a major local thug, and his martial arts had indeed reached the Three Dragon Gate.
He had once been a Preparatory Student and only broke through the Dragon Gate shortly before the College Entrance Examination. Knowing that his martial aptitude was poor and that attending university would not amount to much, he simply entered society to make his way.
By relying on his courage and ruthlessness, he gathered a group of martial hall students who had failed in martial arts. Later, he won the favor of a wealthy local man, managed a nightclub, and contracted some construction and earthwork projects. Naturally, he earned more than ordinary Dragon Gate Realm martial artists.
After getting rich, he bought plenty of supplements, and through continued training, he eventually reached the Three Dragon Gate.
At his age, his Blood Qi was no longer at its peak and was gradually declining, so he had been thinking of slowly retiring. But his boss had come to him and told him to deal with a student, teach him a lesson, and take a pair of chopsticks while he was at it.
A boss was still a boss. Although Liu Ying was a Three Dragon Gate, in modern society he was no different from an ordinary person in that respect—he still had to obey.
His boss had figured out the target's route and knew Li Ye would definitely pass this road. Liu Ying had arranged for a lackey who had trained in hard-body techniques to block Li Ye, intending to surround him, stab him twice, grab the chopsticks, and leave.
It was only teaching a student a lesson, not taking his life. Even if they were actually investigated, they could find someone to take the fall and settle it with money.
If the job went well, the reward he received would exceed what he put in.
Li Ye raised his brows. "That's it?"
Seeing Li Ye raise the gun barrel again, Liu Ying hurriedly shouted, "Really, you have to believe me! Brother, don't be impulsive! You're still young—you can't walk down the road of crime!"
"You have the fucking right to lecture me?!" Li Ye laughed in anger, moving the gun toward his arm as he prepared to give him another shot.
Bang! Bang!
But at that moment, two gunshots rang out from the side. Muzzle flashes burst in the air before Li Ye, and two uniformed police officers came skimming over the roofs and walls on either side of the alley, landing swiftly beside him.
Several more heads appeared at the previously empty mouth of the alley.
It seemed Liu Ying's lackeys had called the police!
"Don't move!"
The two officers aimed their guns at Li Ye from both sides. "Put down the gun!"
Liu Ying looked as though he had seen a savior, his voice cracking with excitement. "Officer! Save me, Officer! He's trying to kill me!"
The nearer officer formed his left hand into a claw and reached for Li Ye's wrist as if using a grappling technique.
He was just as fast. Li Ye had no way to react at all, but the instant the officer seized his wrist, he quickly said, "I have credentials!"
The hand gripping his wrist visibly hesitated for a moment.
Li Ye took out an identification card with his other hand. "Li Ye of the Pest Control Bureau!"
The black cover of the credential, along with the lines of the national emblem made from real gold, gleamed faintly. When it was opened, Xiezhi was displayed at the top and Li Ye's photograph below. To the officer's eyes, it was obvious at a glance whether it was real or fake.
Let alone impersonating someone, ordinary people did not even know about this bureau or this credential. And anyone who did know would not dare impersonate it.
Slap!
The officer holding Li Ye's wrist immediately withdrew his hand and lowered his gun as well.
"Sorry, may I take a look?"
After saluting, the officer said, "It's not that I don't believe you, but just in case..."
Li Ye handed him the credential without hesitation.
In truth, there was no need to inspect it. The moment the officer touched it, he knew the material was genuine. After examining it carefully, he returned the credential to Li Ye and saluted him again.
"We only came because we received a call. Sorry, it was a misunderstanding. May I ask what is happening here?"
Li Ye nodded. "Understandable. I was attacked. I now suspect they are connected to a demon incident. You know Director Pan previously ordered a thorough investigation."
The moment they heard this, the two officers became solemn.
They not only knew about Director Pan's order to thoroughly investigate the martial arts training industry—they were among those carrying it out!
"Understood!"
The officer glanced at the thugs gathering outside and took out his radio. "Don't let a single person outside get away!"
Only then did he look at Li Ye. "How should this be handled?"
"Take them all away and hold them. I need to report this matter." Li Ye said sternly.
"N-No, Officer! He has a gun! He's trying to kill someone!"
Seeing the situation had gone far beyond his expectations, Liu Ying cried out in despair, "You should arrest him!"
"I don't just have a gun."
Li Ye sneered. "I have credentials too!"
The two officers stepped forward, each dragging one of Liu Ying's arms as they pulled the utterly despairing man out of the alley.
"Fuck! You really thought I was easy to bully, huh?!"
Once they had completely left, Li Ye cursed. "Calling people? You think you're the only one who can call people?"
He did not just have a gun and credentials.
He had a phone too!
Before you continue