One Punch Sends Him Flying

The only possibility Xiao Jing could think of was that this kid was a ninja. Otherwise, how could he possess such tremendous strength? Only by using Chakra could someone unleash power beyond that of an ordinary person. In Xiao Jing's eyes, Ye Lan was clearly pretending to be weak to lure in his prey!

"Boss!!" Seeing Xiao Jing get sent flying by a single palm strike, the other lackeys hurried over to check his injuries, then looked at Ye Lan with wary expressions.

Ye Lan looked straight at Xiao Jing and said, "If you're just looking for an excuse to cover up your own incompetence, then let me tell you: I'm not from Konoha, and I'm even less of a ninja. If you don't believe me, go ask Ibiki at the Interrogation Department. I'm sure he'll give you an answer you'll find quite satisfactory."

"Urgh!" Xiao Jing's eyes were bloodshot as he glared venomously at Ye Lan. He had already been seriously injured, and Ye Lan's words left him so choked with rage that his injuries worsened further. In the end, he spat out a mouthful of blood and lost consciousness.

"What happened?"

Hearing such a commotion outside, Ichiraku hurried out of the kitchen. When he saw the unconscious Xiao Jing lying by the wall, he froze on the spot, too stunned to say a word.

Meanwhile, Iruka stood nearby, watching Ye Lan thoughtfully. He had seen the entire beating Xiao Jing received, yet he had not said a word. Quite a few people in Konoha knew him, and his position prevented him from intervening, but that did not mean he could not stand by and watch.

Seeing their boss unconscious, Xiao Jing's lackeys immediately became flustered. Their boss had been beaten into a pigheaded mess—what could they little underlings possibly do?

They stayed beside Xiao Jing, watching Ye Lan with guarded expressions, afraid that he might suddenly attack them.

Seeing how easily Xiao Jing had gone down, Ye Lan could not help spitting on the ground.

"Seriously, and he dared call himself a boss with that kind of strength."

After a while, Ye Lan looked at Xiao Jing's lackeys. When his gaze swept over them, they could not help shuddering. That fiend was so powerful—he wasn't going to come after them too, was he? Their scrawny bodies couldn't take it!

Ye Lan found it rather amusing. Was I really that scary?

He then waved a hand and said, "You can go."

The few of them looked at one another, all feeling as though they had misheard. This powerful guy was really letting them go just like that?

Ye Lan stood where he was, frowned, and said, "Didn't you understand what I said? Do I need to repeat myself?"

One of them was the first to snap out of it and stammered, "Oh, y-yes! Okay!"

The others also came to their senses, then hurriedly lifted the barely conscious Xiao Jing and quickly headed outside.

"Wait!"

Ye Lan's magnetic voice rang out again.

They all froze at once, their legs trembling uncontrollably.

Ye Lan chuckled. "Pay before you leave!"

Feeling as though they had been granted a pardon, they scraped together enough money and personally handed it to Ichiraku.

Only then did they look at Ye Lan anxiously.

Ye Lan said, "Remember what I said today. Tell that baldy that from now on, he can come here to eat noodles, but he has to pay double. What others pay for two bowls will only get him one. And he is not allowed to cause trouble. If I find out something like today happens again, I won't just let you leave like I did today."