Tap, tap, tap...
The sound of high heels stepping into puddles was unmistakably clear.
As the girl emerged from the human passageway, the men in black suits finally lifted their heads and turned to stand behind her.
Her cold, striking features flickered in and out of view beneath the shadow of her umbrella.
At that moment, whether it was the three giants of the academy or the delinquents from various schools present, they all couldn’t help but gulp, feeling an inexplicable pressure rising in their chests.
Though the number of men in black wasn’t the largest on the scene, something about them—even just standing there silently—seemed to drain the courage of anyone who might oppose them.
Especially Scarface Brother. The moment he saw the girl under the umbrella, his legs involuntarily weakened.
"B-Big… Big Miss..."
"All these people… they’re actually the Big Miss’s men..."
Though he’d known the Big Miss had come to Bright Pearl City, he hadn’t taken it seriously—after all, this was the home turf of the Righteous Union.
But seeing her again now, his fear had only deepened.
Two months ago, the Big Miss had only been surrounded by small-time thugs. Now, the people around her felt even more hardened than the Righteous Union itself.
Hell, even the Righteous Union didn’t have matching uniforms!
Most people assumed gangs all had coordinated outfits, but that was just something from movies.
Now, though, it felt like the movies had bled into reality.
And damn, the intimidation factor was off the charts.
Beside him, Er Kun managed to keep a relatively calm expression, though his eyes flickered a few times before he lowered his head, lost in thought.
The vocational school students were equally shaken, especially the freshmen led by Ma Feifan and others. They were stunned to realize that many of the men in black were actually their own classmates—same year, same batch.
Some had even eaten with them in the cafeteria.
Yet now, those same faces stared back at them with icy detachment, their gazes so unfamiliar it sent chills down their spines.
Holy shit, this was insane!
How had so many hardened figures been hiding among their peers without anyone knowing?
When Ma Da and Ji Yu stepped forward, two underlings immediately handed them black umbrellas and matching suit jackets. Only then did the truth fully sink in.
It wasn’t that these guys hadn’t wanted to roll with them—they’d just never been on the same level to begin with.
Look at this kind of presence. They weren’t even in the same league.
No wonder Ma Da had been so fearless. With this kind of terrifying backing, who wouldn’t be?
Liu Yutong swept her gaze over the crowd and began her introduction: "My name is Liu Yutong, a freshman at Finance University. I’m here today for one reason—your presence has become a serious threat to the safety of my school’s students. So, consider this your notice: from now on, none of you are allowed to set foot on Finance University grounds."
"Anyone who dares show up at our gates will face the consequences."
When Qiao Yong heard Liu Yutong was just a freshman from Finance University, he froze.
He’d assumed she was some big-shot figure. But no—just a student, and from a place like Finance University at that.
Were these men in black just for show? A bluff to scare people off?
Among the five major schools in the university district, Finance University and Medical University had always been seen as the weakest—what kind of power could possibly come from there?
At least, that’s how it seemed to people like him, who lived by the streets.
After all, Finance University was a provincial key school, mostly full of studious types. And Medical University? Forget about it—med students barely had time to breathe, let alone run the streets. That place was all about endless studying.
The thought made Qiao Yong’s fear fade.
He had all his boys behind him, plus the backing of the Righteous Union’s boss. If he let himself get scared off by some girl, wouldn’t that be pathetic?
What he didn’t notice, though, was that his so-called Righteous Union boss was currently inching away from the scene at a speed of 0.1 meters per second—slow and cautious.
"A Finance University student? So this is all just a bluff, huh? Girl, you’re overstepping."
"Take a look behind me. You really think my boys will listen to some chick? How’s that gonna look for us out there?"
"Take your little actors and get lost while you still can, or don’t blame me for what happens next."
Liu Yutong’s eyes turned frosty at his words, her face beneath the black umbrella like a sheet of ice.
Ma Da and the others immediately darkened. "Qiao Yong, you didn’t actually think the Big Miss was here to negotiate, did you? And damn, you’ve got some nerve talking to her like that. Kneel."
"What?" Qiao Yong thought he’d misheard.
Ji Yu suddenly stepped forward. "Brother Ma, where should he kneel?"
"In front of the Big Miss!"
Without another word, Ji Yu strode up to Qiao Yong. Before the latter could react, Ji Yu’s hand clamped down on his shoulder and forced him to the ground with terrifying strength.
The pressure was so immense Qiao Yong’s face turned purple, yet he couldn’t budge an inch.
The others stared, stunned.
Ma Da walked up to Qiao Yong and looked down at him. "I’ll let you go if you swear loyalty and promise to obey the Big Miss’s words."
"Loyalty my ass!" Qiao Yong roared. Kneeling in front of a crowd of hundreds—and for a woman, no less—was humiliation enough.
If he bowed to her now, he’d never be able to hold his head up again.
Ma Da sighed, brushing nonexistent dust from his sleeves as he stood. "Guess you’re dead set on being our enemy. Fine. I’ve dealt with plenty of tough guys before. Teach him some manners."
Ji Yu: "Brother Ma, slap his mouth?"
Ma Da: "Yeah."
Ji Yu: "How many times?"
Ma Da thought for a second. "Three for now."
Ji Yu followed up: "How hard?"
Ma Da was almost amused. "Hard enough to send him to meet his ancestors."
Their deadpan exchange left the onlookers utterly bewildered.
Ji Yu rubbed his big head, then suddenly pulled out a small notebook and flipped to the seventh page, muttering to himself: "According to the 'Human Injury Assessment Standards,' the force of a slap must be controlled within the range of facial soft tissue contusion, excluding the risk of mandibular displacement. No more than seven teeth may fall out, or it constitutes severe injury..."
"But Brother Ma says I’m smart—a true outlaw..."
The crowd stared at Ji Yu’s mumbling, completely lost. Was this guy an idiot?
They told him to slap someone, and he was reciting scripture?
"Get them! Fucking kill these bastards!" Qiao Yong knew he couldn’t just take this lying down and seized the moment to shout.
But the instant the words left his mouth, a massive palm came crashing down on his face from straight ahead.
SMACK!!
The crisp sound exploded through the rainy night.
Qiao Yong’s head snapped back, his neck letting out a sickening crack. His pupils dilated as stars burst across his vision, his eardrums ringing like a bronze bell had been struck inside his skull.
In his daze, he could’ve sworn he saw a tiny, blue-robed old lady waving at him from the clouds.
Ji Yu tilted his head, studying Qiao Yong’s dazed expression intently before turning to Ma Da and saying, "Brother Ma, looks like he’s seeing his ancestors."
Qiao Yong’s underlings couldn’t hold back any longer and were about to charge forward to save their boss.
Liu Yutong merely cast a fleeting glance at Scarface Brother, who, already on the verge of retreating, immediately scrambled back in a panic to block the others.
"Nobody move! Nobody move! This is a one-on-one fight—you gotta respect the rules of the jianghu!"
The crowd was baffled. Rules of the jianghu?
If they stood by and did nothing while their boss was getting wrecked, they’d be spineless cowards.
But when they saw Ji Yu, a human tank, hoisting Qiao Yong up like a chicken, their anger instantly turned to fear.
Holy shit, good thing they didn’t lay a hand on him.
It was clear now—this guy wasn’t right in the head. If he snapped and beat them to death, they’d be dead for nothing.
Xiao Bin, the top dog of the tech college, and Xie Dong, the boss of the vocational school, were both pale with terror.
They were convinced that if Ji Yu applied just a bit more force, Qiao Yong might really end up paying respects to his ancestors.
"From now on, the only voice in the university district is the young lady’s. So—who the hell agrees? Who objects?!"
"Who agrees?! Who objects?!"
"Who agrees?! Who objects?!"
"........."
Sixty or seventy men in black roared in unison, their imposing presence sending chills down everyone’s spines.
Seeing the tide had turned, Xiao Bin and the others had no choice but to comply, pledging to abide by Miss Liu’s rules.
Scarface Brother, who’d always seemed untouchable in the eyes of the students, now scurried over to Liu Yutong like a lackey, bawling his eyes out.
"Young lady, I’ve been waiting and waiting—finally, you’re here! The moment you arrived, it was like a guiding light lit up my life!"
"........."
Liu Yutong waved her hand dismissively. Yun Cheng took the hint and barked, "Scram!"
"Right away, I’m gone!"
Scarface Brother grinned from ear to ear and scuttled off with his men in tow.
Only after getting into the car did his pounding heart finally settle.
The scene from a few months ago in the kitchen was still fresh in his mind—especially the fate of the dozen or so brothers he’d brought along, whose whereabouts remained unknown. Add to that the young lady’s overwhelming authority now, and he wouldn’t dare cross her.
His boss’s orders were promptly forgotten.
