Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Mighty Flying Kick
"In this way, Boss Zuo Ba and Thunder have some friendship, and I've met him a few times as well. As long as everyone gives up resisting and submits to me, letting those people inside, we can unite against the Free Men. Isn't that good? Afterwards, I'll plead with Thunder, and he'll surely be lenient," said the leader of the group that Xu Chen belonged to, not only refraining from resisting but even taking advantage of the chaos.
He Jing was furious upon hearing this, and she rebuked loudly, "Li Hao, do you know what you're saying right now?!"
Her earlier mention of Mu You’s injury had been intended to highlight Boss Mu’s loyalty and sense of duty. Who would have expected these people not only to twist her words but use them to attack him instead? Li Hao, ever since Zuo Ba left, had been causing trouble—first, inciting Xu Chen against Mu You, and now, stabbing at their leader’s back at such a critical moment!
"I’m just speaking the truth. Everyone has guessed it, but they simply don’t want to believe it. Why keep deceiving yourselves? Is it fun?" Li Hao shrugged, and as soon as he said this, He Jing could clearly sense that some people had begun to waver.
Such is the nature of human hearts; the outcome varies with the direction of guidance. The power of words is truly terrifying!
The tremors beneath their feet grew stronger. Li Hao, leading Zuo Ba’s remaining followers, added fuel to the fire, stirring up more trouble. Despair surged in He Jing’s heart. She knew they couldn’t hold out much longer, but she believed Mu You would come to their rescue. She trusted this man, who would ensure his subordinates’ safety even when gravely injured, would absolutely appear!
From her very first glimpse of Mu You, He Jing sensed that tenacious, ultimate will to survive. Following such a man could never be wrong!
A man who could entrust his back to her, who genuinely cared for her life, who wouldn’t abandon his subordinates even if they were breathing their last—he was worth He Jing risking everything for!
There was no way Li Hao, that bastard, could succeed! Heaven knows what shady business he’s involved in! She was ready to fight to the end!
"Night Group, come out!"
He Jing blocked Li Hao and his men’s path, her demeanor transformed from her usual restraint and meekness, emanating a fearless determination. Everyone knew He Jing rarely showed her strength, but this was the first time they saw her so bold. What stunned them even more was that, as soon as she spoke, the usually gentle and frail-looking female death-row inmates changed their attitude, stepping out of the crowd to stand beside He Jing in a line, heads raised, their cold eyes fixed on Li Hao and his followers.
The male inmates, long accustomed to domineering behavior, were instantly dumbfounded. The women before them had all been teased by them; even when they blushed, they didn’t dare talk back. Yet now, they had turned so fiercely, revealing their true selves. Had their previous timidity been nothing but an act?
Li Hao halted, staring at He Jing and her group. Suddenly, he realized he had forgotten something.
He himself had killed before, whatever the motive, but he was a man. If women were driven to kill, the eruption would be all the more twisted and terrifying.
A woman’s mind is never so simple.
He Jing, this woman, hid herself deeply, enduring everything up to now.
He remembered once, during a meal, he slapped her and kicked her, food and all, away from the table, then occupied it with his buddies. He clearly saw He Jing, covered in food, not only refrained from getting angry, but even bent low with a smile to apologize.
What had these women eaten today to make them so hysterical, so exposed in their ferocity?
"I always said we must endure, so that at the crucial moment we can turn the tide. Today, we don’t need to endure any longer!" He Jing declared, removing her hairpin. Her black hair flowed down, and from beneath her tongue, she took out a small blade, embedded it in the hairpin, and cut her long hair at the waist, tossing it into the air. As her hair flew, she stood, hairpin in hand, brows furrowed, facing Li Hao and his men with remarkable vigor and boldness!
The female inmates followed suit, silver blades flashing coldly in the dark as they pressed in on Li Hao and his men.
Not only Li Hao, but the other male inmates felt chills. Those tiny blades, if plunged into an artery, would be fatal.
Who would have thought these beauties hid such poisonous thorns?
"I’m sorry for being your leader and letting you suffer so much. We may die today, but I promise you this: among those who fall, I, He Jing, will be the first!" Her hair flying, He Jing’s momentum was unstoppable.
"Don’t say that, Sister Jing. We follow you because we trust you. Even if we die, we accept it."
"That’s right. Without the survival lessons you taught us, which of our sisters could have lasted this long?"
"Sister Jing, we’ll wait for your word!"
"Yes, Sister Jing, just say the word! Sisters, let’s fight!"
A wave of emotion surged deep within He Jing. Tears welled up as her sisters spoke, one after another.
"Knowing you all, I, He Jing, have no regrets in this life. Sisters, you must live on. For our shared dream, keep surviving!" With that, He Jing charged first at Li Hao.
In these years condemned as a death-row inmate, she had never stopped training her body. Now, she revealed unprecedented speed and force!
"If you want to surrender, step over our corpses first! The rest, keep resisting until Boss Mu You returns!"
Li Hao, hearing the name "Mu You," finally understood why these women were willing to die. Mu You’s stature had imperceptibly grown so deep in their hearts.
Well then, he would shatter their faith, starting with He Jing!
As He Jing stabbed at Li Hao with her hairpin, he snatched it from her with lightning speed. She immediately released it, letting it fall, but caught it with her other hand and slashed it fiercely at his neck.
Li Hao was surprised; he had never seen He Jing fight before and was shocked by her skill. He blocked with his hand, and a long gash appeared on his wrist, blood spraying out.
Li Hao, burning with pain and rage, twisted He Jing’s arm behind her and grabbed for her hair to press her down, but her hair was too short to hold. She used the momentum to advance instead of retreat, ramming her hard forehead into his chin. Li Hao fell back, teeth snapping shut, biting his tongue.
Elsewhere, the female inmates fought two or three against each male death-row inmate, acting with ruthless ferocity, sending chills through their opponents and stirring a sense of humiliation.
Damn it, proud men brought low by a bunch of women!
Li Hao tasted blood in his mouth, pain piercing to the bone, his rage finally erupting. He was determined to become the boss of the thirteenth floor—Zuo Ba was dead, that bastard Mu You was gone, and now even this bitch dared to challenge him!
He had barely gotten up when He Jing rushed at him again, intent on finishing him off while he was weak. Overwhelmed by humiliation, Li Hao roared and sprang up, launching a flying kick with all his strength!
He Jing, too, fought desperately, refusing to dodge, hacking at whatever came near. As Li Hao kicked her away, she drove her hairpin deep into the muscle tendon of his thigh.