Chapter 89: Old Classmate
Zhao Dong looked at Su Yuxi and was startled. "Su Yuxi? What are you doing here?"
Zhao Dong was bewildered, not having expected to encounter Su Yuxi here. She had been his classmate, but they'd lost all contact after graduation. Back then, Su Yuxi was not only the class beauty but the school beauty as well. She was extremely famous and considered a goddess by almost all the boys, so it was clearly a shock to see her.
Su Yuxi was just as astonished. She looked at Zhao Dong and said, "I'm a teacher here, so of course I am. What about you?"
Zhao Dong glanced at Zhao Qirou, then back at Su Yuxi. "The girl behind you is my sister. She was being bullied, so of course I came."
Upon hearing this, Su Yuxi was shocked. "Zhao Qirou is... your sister?"
Zhao Dong forced a smile. "Who else?"
On the ground, Zhao Qirou didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Miss Su, you... you knew my brother?"
Su Yuxi looked from Zhao Qirou to Zhao Dong, marveling at how small East Sea was. To think that Zhao Dong's sister is my student!
The onlookers, including the students in the teaching building, all looked on in amazement. They couldn't hear what Zhao Dong and the others were saying, but watching the group's reactions, they could vaguely guess what was happening.
"This is going to be a good show. Miss Su seems to know that guy."
"Who is he? He's not from our school, so why is he here?"
"I don't know, but this whole scene just got a lot more interesting!"
The crowd buzzed with discussion.
Just then, Pan Wu cried out, his voice filled with resentment, "Dad! It's this bastard who broke my limbs! You have to cripple him to avenge me!"
Pan Wu's eyes were bloodshot, glaring at Zhao Dong with absolute hatred.
Pan Longxiao stared coldly at Zhao Dong. "So you're the one who harmed my son, and you still dare to show your face here. Today, I'll break both your arms and legs. That's the price for touching my son!"
Zhao Dong looked indifferently at Pan Longxiao. "Your worthless son got drunk on horse piss last night and tried to get handsy. He deserved to have his limbs broken. As for you, his father, if you don't know what's good for you, I don't mind beating you down as well."
At his words, the atmosphere turned deathly silent. The students and teachers in the teaching building were all in shock.
"My God, did I hear that right? Did that guy just threaten Pan Longxiao?"
"Does he even know who Pan Longxiao is? Going head-to-head with him? Ten lives wouldn't be enough for him to waste!"
"He's probably trying to show off for Miss Su. He has no idea how screwed he is today. Pan Longxiao isn't someone he can afford to offend!"
As the murmurs spread, Su Yuxi's expression changed, her gaze filling with worry as she looked at Zhao Dong. So Zhao Dong was the one who crippled Pan Wu... He's doomed. There's no way Pan Longxiao will let him walk out of this school today.
Across from him, Pan Longxiao looked at Zhao Dong, his gaze as deadly as still water. He, Pan Longxiao, had been in East Sea for many years. While he wasn't exactly an overlord, he was still a renowned figure. Yet now, some punk had the audacity to challenge him so brazenly.
In that instant, murderous intent flashed in Pan Longxiao's eyes.
"Boy, you will pay the price for your words today. Your name is Zhao Dong, right? Excellent. By tomorrow, the name Zhao Dong will no longer exist in East Sea City. I, Pan Longxiao, always keep my word."
Su Yuxi's face turned deathly pale. She stepped forward, shielding Zhao Dong behind her.
Zhao Dong was astonished. "What are you doing?"
Su Yuxi whispered in a panicked voice, "Zhao Dong, leave now and call the police! Don't try to be a hero. Pan Longxiao is not someone you can afford to mess with!"
Zhao Dong raised an eyebrow. "And what about you if I leave?"
Su Yuxi bit her lip firmly and said with forced resolve, "I'm a teacher. Pan Longxiao probably won't do anything too extreme to me. But it's different with you here. He'll really cripple you. You have to go, now!"
Zhao Dong looked deeply at Su Yuxi, a warmth rising in his heart. He gently patted her shoulder, then stepped in front of her, turning to give her a reassuring smile. "Thanks for looking out for me, but don't worry. As long as I'm here, it'll be fine."
Su Yuxi was speechless. She wanted to urge him to run, but seeing the confident smile on his face, she couldn't help but hesitate. Why is he so confident? Does he have some kind of backing? But from what I remember, his family was very poor back then. They had no money, no connections, no influence... so where is all this confidence coming from?
Zhao Dong took two steps forward and cracked his neck. He pointed a finger at Pan Longxiao. "Either you and your men get on your knees right now, apologize, and admit you were wrong, or in a few minutes, I'll beat all of you so badly your own mothers won't recognize you. You choose."
At his words, the entire place fell dead silent. Everyone stared at Zhao Dong as if they had seen a ghost. A group of teachers nearby was also shocked out of their wits by his statement.
Su Yuxi's vision went black, and she nearly collapsed. This guy... Does he have any idea who he's talking to? Does he see how many people are standing right in front of him?
Several onlooking teachers began to mutter among themselves. "Is this kid crazy? There are at least fifty or sixty of them. Does he think he can fight them all by himself?"
A PE teacher, his face a mask of disbelief, scoffed, "He's obviously just posturing and trying to act tough for Miss Su. I bet his knees are knocking right now!"
"Exactly! We're trained in athletics, and even we could only handle two or three of them. He doesn't even look as tough as us. One of those thugs could probably kill him!"
A group of PE teachers deliberately disparaged Zhao Dong, taking the opportunity to praise themselves. Although they didn't dare to step up themselves, they were irritated to see Zhao Dong acting so arrogantly in front of Su Yuxi. After all, Su Yuxi was the dream girl of every male teacher there. Seeing another man posture in front of their goddess naturally displeased them.
Zhao Dong overheard the teachers' comments. He turned to look at them and said coolly, "A bunch of PE teachers see thugs causing trouble at school, and not one of you dares to step up. Instead, you stand there making snide remarks. I have one word for you: cowards."
His comment was like a stone tossed into a calm pond, instantly infuriating the group of teachers.
"You little punk, who do you think you are, acting all high and mighty? You're about to get beaten to death!"
"That's right! You're only acting tough because we chose not to. Anyone can run their mouth like you!"
"Yeah! Who do you think you are? Anyone can make empty threats. I bet your knees are shaking in fear right now!"
Zhao Dong shook his head, not wanting to waste his breath on such trash. He turned back to Pan Longxiao. "Well? What's your choice?"
Pan Longxiao clapped his hands, his face breaking into an ice-cold sneer. "In all my years in East Sea, you're the first person who's dared to be so arrogant in front of me! Everyone, get him! Go all out! If you kill him, I'll take responsibility!"
Instantly, the sixty or seventy thugs Pan Longxiao had brought, their eyes blazing with fury, roared and charged at Zhao Dong. They were already furious at Zhao Dong's provocations, and now that Pan Longxiao had given the order, they naturally intended to kill. Dozens of men shrieked as they swarmed toward him, an overwhelming sight that kicked up clouds of dust.
Zhao Dong's speed exploded as he retreated more than ten meters, putting distance between the fight and Su Yuxi, Zhao Qirou, Deng Yun, and the others to avoid them getting caught in the crossfire. The group of burly, red-eyed thugs charged recklessly after him. Their roars were deafening, shaking the very ground.
Zhao Dong stopped his retreat and glanced coldly at the overwhelming, tide-like mob.
Then, with a hard stomp of his right foot, he shot into the crowd like an arrow.