Chapter 008: Not Only Will You Pay, But I'll Break Both Your Legs
First Hospital.
Xiao Yang met with Lin Meifang and Chen Wanglong’s parents.
Chen Wanglong lay unconscious on the hospital bed, his body wrapped in bandages at multiple places, his right leg especially tightly bound.
Chen’s mother had tears at the corners of her eyes, and Chen’s father’s face was filled with grief and rage.
Xiao Yang spoke with Lin Meifang for a while, learning the details.
Chen Wanglong’s right leg, his entire knee, had suffered a comminuted fracture, almost snapped in two. On Earth, such a leg would be beyond saving. But on Starland, where spiritual energy and demon beasts existed, the medicinal properties of both animals and plants far surpassed those on Earth. If surgery was performed within three days, it could still be healed. The price, however, was steep—a single surgery and subsequent recovery would cost over three million.
The Chen family was considered wealthy, running a small factory and earning about four hundred thousand annually, but much had been spent on Chen Wanglong’s martial arts training, plus household expenses, leaving little in savings. If they sold the factory and the land, they could raise the money.
Now... the Prosperity Group was waiting for the Chen family to sell the land to save their son, ready to snatch up the property.
The reason Chen Wanglong had been beaten so severely was that Feng Jingming, the third young master of Prosperity Group, wanted the land. Though Feng Jingming never appeared himself, he was the true mastermind behind the attack.
Chen’s father, whose son had been crippled because of Feng Jingming, would not accept selling the land to him—never willingly.
Yet, at the moment, Chen’s father could find no other buyer. With Prosperity Group interfering, ordinary buyers dared not purchase, and powerful buyers were hard to come by, leaving him anxious and furious.
As for the assailants who beat Chen Wanglong, each was highly skilled—not martial artists, but nearly so. After attacking, they fled, masked and anonymous; the Chen family had no idea who they were.
Thus, even after reporting to the police, they couldn’t even name the culprits and could only wait for the investigation, which had yielded nothing so far.
Regarding Feng Jingming, Chen’s father had explained the whole situation to the police, but without evidence, who would dare move against the third young master of a major corporation?
“Uncle Chen, don’t sell the land—not unless you do so willingly!”
Xiao Yang said to Chen’s father, “As for the money needed for Wanglong’s surgery, rest assured. I will make Prosperity Group pay every penny in compensation—not just once, but double, triple!”
Chen’s father, mother, and Lin Meifang all stared at Xiao Yang in shock.
They all knew that, just a month ago, Xiao Yang had failed the exams like Chen Wanglong, and his family was ordinary.
But his words now sounded as if he were boasting beyond measure.
Make Prosperity Group pay triple compensation?
How could that be possible?
Xiao Yang knew they didn’t believe him, so he took out his martial artist identification card and handed it to Chen’s father.
Xiao Yang thought: It’s not that I want to show off, but if I don’t, no one will believe me. Ah, what else can I do!
Chen’s father took the card, looked at it, and exclaimed in disbelief, “A martial artist? You’ve become a martial artist?”
Chen’s mother and Lin Meifang came over, staring at Xiao Yang as if they had seen a ghost.
Just a month ago, Xiao Yang had failed the exam along with Chen Wanglong and Lin Meifang, and now... he had suddenly become a martial artist?
It didn’t make sense!
It was completely unscientific!
But the martial artist card issued by Tiance Martial Hall—no one dared forge such a thing, so it couldn’t possibly be fake.
How had Xiao Yang transformed from a failed candidate to a martial artist?
Chen’s parents and Lin Meifang were baffled and delighted.
With Xiao Yang as a martial artist, the matter became much easier.
Xiao Yang took back the card and explained, “Yesterday I bought a Firecloud Fruit, which unexpectedly turned out to be a mutated rare fruit. After eating it and sleeping, I became a martial artist. I just went to Tiance Martial Hall for the assessment today.”
The three stared blankly at Xiao Yang. To have bought a mutated Firecloud Fruit? Such luck was almost miraculous!
In the entire Dragon Nation, rare mutated fruits had appeared only a handful of times in a hundred years. Sometimes decades would pass without one—and Xiao Yang had purchased one?
“Take good care of Chen Wanglong. I’ll deal with Prosperity Group. Everyone involved in this, I won’t let a single one escape.”
Xiao Yang looked solemnly at the unconscious Chen Wanglong.
...
Leaving the hospital, Xiao Yang made a phone call to Zhuang Xueyi.
Zhuang Xueyi answered respectfully, “Young Master Xiao, what are your instructions?”
Xiao Yang asked, “Do you know where Shen Jingming is right now?”
Zhuang Xueyi replied, “The third young master? I don’t know!”
Xiao Yang said, “Use your connections and find out immediately. Don’t make me come find you.”
Zhuang Xueyi responded, “Yes, Young Master Xiao, please wait a moment.”
The call ended. After about five minutes, Zhuang Xueyi called back.
“Young Master Xiao, I heard the third young master is hosting a banquet in Spring Garden’s VIP Hall No. 1, entertaining guests.”
Xiao Yang asked, “Is he entertaining those fighters he invited this morning?”
“Yes, he is—any issue?”
Xiao Yang hung up.
On the other end, Zhuang Xueyi held his phone with a fearful expression: What does Xiao Yang want with the third young master? Is he planning trouble?
...
Spring Garden.
VIP Hall No. 1.
The spacious hall held only a single banquet table.
At the table, five men were drinking and laughing, each accompanied by a beautiful young woman.
Feng Jingming, the third young master of Prosperity Group, was the youngest—just over twenty—sitting at the head of the table.
The other four were burly men in their thirties and forties, muscular and imposing, yet their words were full of flattery toward Feng Jingming.
Their hands were hardly proper, exploring the women beside them, caressing smooth thighs and delicate waists. Having drunk heavily, they reveled in their indulgence.
If not for Feng Jingming’s presence, they would have already sought to satisfy their lust with the beauties at their side.
Creak!
The door opened, and Xiao Yang entered.
A restaurant attendant hurried after him, blocking his path, “Sir, you cannot enter until I inform Chairman Feng.”
Prosperity Group owned many businesses in Yuezhou, and Spring Garden was a five-star restaurant under the group, managed by Feng Jingming as chairman.
At such a young age, to be chairman of a five-star restaurant—Feng Jingming was wealthier than many martial artists of lower rank.
Inside the VIP hall, Feng Jingming and the others all looked toward the door.
“No need to inform him,” Xiao Yang said lightly, and with a gentle push, the attendant involuntarily stepped aside.
Xiao Yang strode forward, his gaze sweeping over the banquet table and locking onto Feng Jingming, “You are Feng Jingming, third young master of Prosperity Group?”
Feng Jingming stared at Xiao Yang, searching his memory but finding no recognition. “Who are you?”
He then shouted at the attendant, “I’m entertaining guests—who let you bring people in?”
The attendant explained, “He said he was invited by Chairman Feng, and before I could inform you, he walked right in.”
While the attendant spoke, Xiao Yang examined the other four men, immediately seeing that—though not martial artists—they were robust and strong, all trained fighters.
Xiao Yang said coldly, “This morning, you broke Chen Wanglong’s leg?”
Smack!
The man closest to Xiao Yang slapped the table, making all the dishes jump.
This man, in his thirties, with a buzz cut and muscular arms, had initially assumed Xiao Yang was Feng Jingming’s friend. Now, realizing he had come for Chen Wanglong, the man stood up, his eyes fierce and murderous.
“Kid, you’re here to stand up for Chen Wanglong? Who do you think you are?”
Buzz-cut man, slightly drunk, looked at Xiao Yang with contempt.
The other three glared at Xiao Yang as well, like wolves eyeing their prey.
Xiao Yang remained calm and cold, “Yes, I’m here for Chen Wanglong. You broke his leg—I’ll pay you back double, break both your legs.”
“Damn! You?”
The buzz-cut man roared and strode toward Xiao Yang.
He was tall, half a head taller than Xiao Yang, with arms like the thighs of an ordinary man, radiating strength.
“I’ll cripple you!”
In a few steps, he reached Xiao Yang, fist clenched, swinging hard at Xiao Yang’s chest.
The punch was powerful, nearly rivaling a martial artist’s strength; any normal person would be seriously injured.
He meant to cripple Xiao Yang with this blow—ruthless and merciless.
Xiao Yang, facing the punch, remained as calm as a still pond. He raised his right hand, opened his fingers, and caught the man’s fist.
The fierce punch, caught in Xiao Yang’s grasp, was absorbed as if sinking into a swamp; its power dissolved instantly.
Everyone was astonished—how could the punch be so easily caught? Some suspected the buzz-cut man was holding back.
The man himself was shocked; he knew he had struck with full force.
Yet the opponent, with a gentle squeeze, neutralized his strength and trapped his fist, leaving him unable to withdraw.
What formidable power!
The buzz-cut man was terrified.
Xiao Yang rotated his wrist, twisting the man’s fist outward.
“Pain... pain, pain, pain!”
The man’s body followed his fist, twisting, his eyes wide with fear as he screamed in agony.
At the table, Feng Jingming and the others’ expressions changed—they had never imagined Xiao Yang, so young, possessed such strength.
The buzz-cut man was powerful, nearly on par with a martial artist, yet before Xiao Yang, he was helpless. What kind of technique was this?
Yuezhou had never seen an eighteen-year-old martial artist; they refused to believe Xiao Yang was genuine, suspecting he used some sinister trick.
The man’s fist, held by Xiao Yang, was as if his lifeline had been seized; his body twisted, soon collapsing to the floor.
Xiao Yang stomped down, his foot landing on the man’s right knee.
Crunch—
The knee shattered, and the man let out a piercing scream.
Xiao Yang, accustomed to life-and-death battles in the Hyperdimensional World, showed no change in expression at the man’s agony.
He lifted his foot and stomped again.
Crunch—
The man’s left knee was crushed as well.
Xiao Yang’s words were absolute; break both legs, and both legs were broken.
He released the man’s fist, who slumped to the floor, drenched in sweat from pain.
His legs were useless, and he looked at Shen Jingming in terror, “Young Master Shen, save me.”
At the table, Feng Jingming and the other three men stood up, shocked beyond measure. They had never imagined Xiao Yang, so young, would act so ruthlessly, breaking both legs without even frowning.
The coldness in Xiao Yang’s eyes made Feng Jingming’s heart tremble with fear.
Feng Jingming quickly ordered, “Stop him!”
He pressed the button on his wrist device, seeking help.
The three burly men stepped forward, facing Xiao Yang with serious expressions.
The women, seeing the buzz-cut man’s fate, were pale with fright and retreated to the side.
“Kid, what sinister trick did you use?”
The hawk-nosed man, over forty, glared at Xiao Yang and shouted coldly.
The other two flanked him, forming a defensive stance, wary of Xiao Yang.
The buzz-cut man was as strong as any of them, yet was utterly powerless against Xiao Yang. The three now faced him as if confronting a fierce enemy.
Xiao Yang’s gaze swept over them coolly, “You are all martial artists; it seems you are all involved in today’s incident.”
The hawk-nosed man demanded, “Who are you?”
No denial! That meant they were all involved.
Xiao Yang’s eyes turned cold, “The one who will break your legs.”
With that, Xiao Yang stepped forward.
In the eyes of the three men, Xiao Yang transformed into a blur.
Such speed was beyond their reaction—punches and kicks aimed at the blur all missed.
The blur circled them rapidly.
Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
Their screams erupted almost simultaneously.
Xiao Yang soon returned to his original spot.
The three men in front collapsed, their legs broken at the knees, faces contorted in terror.
“A martial artist? You’re a real martial artist?”
The hawk-nosed man stared at Xiao Yang, his voice trembling with shock and fear, “How could Yuezhou have such a young martial artist?”
The fight had drawn many attendants and managers from Spring Garden, but witnessing Xiao Yang’s methods, none dared approach.
Feng Jingming retreated three steps before steadying himself; a true martial artist coming after him had terrified him.
He could hardly believe it—he had investigated Chen Wanglong’s family and found no connections to martial artists. How could a martial artist friend suddenly appear?
And such a young martial artist—where had this prodigy come from in Yuezhou?
When Xiao Yang’s gaze fell on him, Feng Jingming felt immense pressure.
Even with vast wealth, before a martial artist he was of lower status; if a martial artist wished to kill him, it would not be a crime. Of course he was afraid.
“What... what do you want?”
Feng Jingming tried to remain calm, “Let me tell you, the Feng family has martial artists too; don’t push me too far.”
Xiao Yang laughed coldly, “You don’t know what I want? First, to avenge Chen Wanglong—who broke his leg, I break theirs. Second, you owe compensation for his medical bills.”
Feng Jingming said, “I’ll pay, I’ll pay!”
Xiao Yang said, “Chen Wanglong’s medical bills total over three million. You’ll pay triple—ten million!”
Feng Jingming’s face twisted in pain, “Triple compensation? Impossible! Isn’t it enough if I pay for his treatment?”
Xiao Yang replied, “Of course not—there’s the matter of emotional damages. And...”
His tone turned icy, “Your legs must be broken as well.”
Hearing this, Feng Jingming felt a chill in his legs.
The four men he had entertained were already crippled, lying on the floor in misery. As a proud third young master of Prosperity Group, how could he endure such suffering?
“No... no... no...”
Feng Jingming retreated in fear, “I’ll pay, but you can’t break my legs, you can’t!”
“Who dares break the third young master’s legs? First ask if my Stonebreaking Palms agree!”
At that moment, a figure rushed into VIP Hall No. 1 with a cold shout.
As the voice echoed, the figure stood between Feng Jingming and Xiao Yang—a middle-aged man in traditional attire, around forty.
From his speed, Xiao Yang immediately saw that Liu Manxiong, the Stonebreaking Palm, was a true martial artist.
And one who practiced martial arts—his nickname showed expertise in palm techniques.
Seeing Liu Manxiong, Feng Jingming rejoiced as if seeing a savior, “Uncle Liu, you’re finally here! He wants to break my legs—save me!”
Prosperity Group, worth billions, was rich but lacked martial artists for protection, so they funded many promising fighters. Liu Manxiong was one such beneficiary.
Having received Prosperity Group’s support, Liu Manxiong worked for them after becoming a martial artist, his duty to protect the group—essentially as head of security.
Of course... no one dared treat him as a mere security guard; even the head of Prosperity Group, Feng Jingming’s father Feng Jianggong, treated Liu Manxiong with respect.
After Xiao Yang had broken the buzz-cut man’s legs, Feng Jingming sensed danger and called for help. Liu Manxiong happened to be in Spring Garden today and arrived in time.
Liu Manxiong nodded slightly, his gaze examining Xiao Yang and then the four crippled men, a hint of surprise on his face.
“You’re a martial artist too?” Liu Manxiong looked at Xiao Yang, his voice full of surprise. As a martial artist, he knew well how rare such young martial artists were.
Xiao Yang nodded, “Yes.”
Liu Manxiong’s expression became solemn, and he cupped his fists, “I am Liu Manxiong, Stonebreaking Palm, first-rank martial artist. May I ask your name?”
Receiving the courtesy of a martial artist, Xiao Yang returned it, “Xiao Yang, first-rank martial artist.”
Liu Manxiong said, “A martial artist as young as Brother Xiao is rare indeed. What has Feng Jingming done to offend you? Please, give me some face—let him compensate as needed, but spare his legs.”
Xiao Yang shook his head, “He ordered my friend’s leg broken; he is the main culprit. His legs must be broken.”
Liu Manxiong’s expression cooled, “Brother Xiao, are you refusing to give me face? Very well, let’s settle this as martial artists do. We’ll have a match: if I win, compensation is as I decide; if you win, it’s as you decide, and the matter ends here with no further consequences—agreed?”
Xiao Yang was very young, obviously a newly-promoted first-rank martial artist.
Liu Manxiong had been a first-rank martial artist for over ten years, mastering the Stonebreaking Palm technique. Among first-rank martial artists, he was at least upper-tier, if not elite.
In terms of strength, Liu Manxiong did not consider Xiao Yang a threat.
But Liu Manxiong knew well that a prodigy of Xiao Yang’s age had far greater potential than himself. Liu Manxiong’s lifelong achievement was reaching second-rank; a martial artist of eighteen or nineteen could easily reach fifth or sixth rank in the future—perhaps even higher.
Thus... Xiao Yang was not someone to offend.
Even if Liu Manxiong stopped Xiao Yang today, if Xiao Yang was antagonized, Prosperity Group would suffer later.
To avoid offending Xiao Yang, Liu Manxiong lowered his stance.
No matter the outcome, Prosperity Group would pay compensation; his duel with Xiao Yang was solely to protect Feng Jingming’s legs.
As long as both agreed that the matter ended here, regardless of the result, Prosperity Group would not be considered to have offended Xiao Yang.
In the real world, Xiao Yang had yet to face a true martial artist in combat.
Though newly promoted, he had mastered Phantom Palm and Phantom Steps, both at the intermediate level, and was eager to exchange techniques with another martial artist.
Liu Manxiong’s proposal suited him perfectly. “Agreed. I’ll fight you—whoever wins, decides. The grievance is settled, with no further repercussions.”