Chapter 90: Defeated!
A phantom image flashed across everyone's retinas, and in the next instant, Zhao Dong was right in front of them! This terrifying speed left the thugs dumbfounded, each one staring at Zhao Dong as if they had just seen a ghost.
In a flash, Zhao Dong kicked several men, sending them flying into the crowd behind them. A chorus of screams and wails erupted. Their brief shock quickly gave way to outrage.
"You little shit, you're pushing your luck! Brothers, get him! Take this bastard down!"
As if pumped full of adrenaline, the group swarmed and encircled Zhao Dong.
A cold glint flashed in Zhao Dong's eyes. He clenched his fists and unleashed a flurry of punches as swift and violent as a sudden storm. Cries of pain filled the air as one body after another was sent flying. Zhao Dong's expression was frigid. Each punch and kick cut through the air with an audible whoosh.
When several more rushed him, Zhao Dong let out a cold laugh, leaped into the air, and lashed out with a kick.
BANG!
The men flew back as if they'd been hit by a truck, skidding back dozens of meters.
Zhao Dong cracked his neck and casually slapped a man standing nearby. The man let out a muffled groan, unable to utter a single word as a spray of teeth and bloody spittle flew from his mouth.
Zhao Dong kicked the man aside and strode through the throng. He casually grabbed another man's wrist and squeezed.
CRACK! CRACK!
The sound of shattering bones echoed crisply.
"You bastard, you're courting death!"
An ominous roar erupted from behind him, followed by the sound of a dagger slicing through the air. A chill shot up Zhao Dong's spine. He spun around, and his roundhouse kick slammed into the man's waist. The man's waist seemed to break on impact, his body twisting sideways as he flew through the air.
As two more daggers came at him from behind, Zhao Dong dropped low, bracing his hands on the ground. He powerfully swept his legs out, striking both attackers' shins.
CRACK! CRACK!
With a series of sickening snaps, Zhao Dong shattered their shin bones.
Zhao Dong smoothly rolled to his feet. He glanced at the dozen men already writhing on the ground, a cold smirk touching his lips. "Come on. Let's continue."
After saying this, Zhao Dong held nothing back. His blows landed with solid, meaty thuds, and his fists and feet moved with whirlwind speed. He took down one man per second. In just a few moments, another dozen men were on the ground.
The ground in front of the academic building was littered with bodies. The last dozen or so thugs just stared at Zhao Dong, their eyes filled with utter terror.
Can anyone in this world really fight like this? It hasn't even been ten minutes, and he's taken down dozens of guys! Is he a man or a ghost?
Zhao Dong beckoned to the remaining men with his finger. "All of you, together."
Spurred on by rage, the group roared, brandishing their weapons as they charged at Zhao Dong.
Zhao Dong shrugged, took a step forward, and engaged them in close-quarters combat. They were no match for him. One man was foolish enough to try and trade blows with Zhao Dong. His entire hand shattered, and he was sent flying over ten meters, where he lay screaming in agony.
Zhao Dong shook his head, his eyes full of disdain. With a cold snort, he pressed his attack. Instantly, another round of agonizing screams filled the air as more bodies were sent flying.
Pan Longxiao and Pan Wu were dumbstruck. Su Yuxi, Zhao Qirou, and Deng Yun were equally stunned.
The students and teachers watching from the academic building were all silent.
One man against fifty or sixty, and he... he actually won?
The ground was covered with bodies. All sixty-plus of Pan Longxiao's thugs had been completely wiped out.
Pan Longxiao's mouth hung open, the arrogance in his eyes replaced by a burgeoning fear. This... this is horrifying! How can one person possibly defeat this many people?
The scene unfolding before him completely shattered Pan Longxiao's worldview.
Pan Longxiao shuddered violently. Looking at Zhao Dong, he asked in terror, "Who... who the hell are you?"
Zhao Dong enunciated every syllable. "My name is Zhao Dong!"
"Zhao Dong... Zhao Dong..." Pan Longxiao muttered the name, and then his pupils contracted. He suddenly remembered something.
A few days ago, he'd heard some rumors. They said a ruthless character had emerged in East Sea. Not only had he slept with Lin Qingyun, but he had also openly defied a major family from the Provincial City and even defeated their top enforcer! Pan Longxiao remembered now. That man's name... it was Zhao Dong!
In that instant, Pan Longxiao felt the world go dim and start to spin.
Oh, God, what kind of person had I just offended? This was a man who didn't even fear the powerful families from the Provincial City, and I'm just a common thug from East Sea...
At that moment, the hair on Pan Longxiao's body stood on end. He was scared. He was truly, deeply scared.
Just then, Zhao Dong began to walk toward him, one step at a time. Pan Longxiao's legs turned to jelly, and he trembled as he collapsed to the ground.
Staring at Zhao Dong in horror, he stammered, "What... what are you going to do?"
Zhao Dong didn't stop walking. A strange smile appeared on his face. "What do you think I'm going to do?"
Zhao Dong was smiling as he spoke, but that smile sent an icy chill down Pan Longxiao's spine. In his eyes, that smile was more terrifying than the devil himself.
In a blur, Zhao Dong was right in front of him.
Pan Longxiao cried out in alarm, "You—"
But before he could finish, Zhao Dong's hand clamped around his neck, lifting him clean off the ground. Zhao Dong swung his other hand, slapping Pan Longxiao hard across the face.
SMACK!
That one slap sent Pan Longxiao flying as if he'd been hit by a car. He crashed heavily to the ground and immediately spat out a mouthful of blood. That single slap was so jarring, Pan Longxiao almost saw the Buddha in the Western Paradise.
Pan Longxiao struggled to open his eyes. Looking up at Zhao Dong, he spat out another mouthful of blood and said wretchedly, "You... you're taking this too far..."
Zhao Dong's gaze turned ice-cold. He appeared in front of Pan Longxiao in a flash and stomped down hard on his left hand and left foot.
CRACK! CRACK!
Pan Longxiao let out a bloodcurdling scream as his arm and leg were brutally snapped.
The entire academic building fell deathly silent. Every teacher and student was completely stunned by the scene before them. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Everyone stared at Zhao Dong, their eyes filled with a mixture of awe and terror.
Zhao Dong crouched down, grabbed Pan Longxiao by the neck, and said, word by word, "My name is Zhao Dong. If you have a problem, you come to me. If you ever dare to touch the people by my side again, I will kill you. Do you understand?"
Pan Longxiao trembled, and a foul-smelling yellow liquid soaked his trousers. He had pissed himself in fear. His entire body trembled, tears of fear streaming down his face. "Sir... Sir Zhao, I was wrong... Please, spare me... spare me..."
Zhao Dong pointed at Su Yuxi, Zhao Qirou, and Deng Yun. "Apologize to them. And do it on your knees."
Kneel?
Pan Longxiao felt utterly humiliated, but when he saw the murderous glint in Zhao Dong's eyes, he trembled and got on his knees.
The faces of the teachers and students were masks of pure shock. Pan Longxiao is kneeling?
"Ladies... ladies, I was wrong. I know I was wrong... please, could you spare me..."
Su Yuxi, Zhao Qirou, and Deng Yun all felt as though they were in a dream.
Zhao Dong beat sixty men all by himself and even made Pan Longxiao, a major gangster from East Sea, get on his knees and beg?
A complex look flickered in Su Yuxi's eyes. The Zhao Dong of years past was a frail, poor young man. How had he become so incredibly powerful in just a few years? It was shocking, simply unbelievable.
"Take your men and get the hell out of here now!" Zhao Dong roared.
Enduring the intense pain, Pan Longxiao scrambled to lead his men away, fleeing the school in disgrace. Pan Wu hadn't dared to utter a single word from beginning to end, his face deathly pale.
Once the commotion had settled, Zhao Dong helped Zhao Qirou and Deng Yun to their feet. Both girls were clearly still frightened, but they relaxed slightly now that Pan Longxiao and his gang had been run off.
Zhao Qirou stared at Zhao Dong in amazement for a long moment before saying, "Brother, you're incredible! So incredible I can hardly believe it."
Zhao Dong smiled. "It's alright. You and Deng Yun should hurry to class. They won't be coming back to cause trouble again."
Zhao Qirou and Deng Yun exchanged a look. "Okay, we're going to class then, Brother. I'll find you after school so we can talk properly."
"Alright."
Zhao Qirou and Deng Yun left for their class, but Su Yuxi stayed behind. She just stared at Zhao Dong, her expression shifting constantly.
Zhao Dong scratched his head and smiled. "What's wrong? You're giving me a strange look."
Su Yuxi smiled back. "Zhao Dong, you're like a completely different person compared to how you used to be. It's unbelievable."
"And how was I before?"
Su Yuxi pursed her lips. "I'm not telling you."
Then she added, "By the way, Zhao Dong, do you have any plans for the rest of the day?"
"Not really. Why?"
Su Yuxi hesitated for a moment. "Well, if you're free... would you want to get lunch together? It's almost noon, and I don't have any more classes today."
Zhao Dong grinned. "Of course. I have to cherish any opportunity to have lunch with Beauty Su."
"Beauty Su" was the nickname everyone had for Su Yuxi back in their school days. As the class belle, the name had stuck.
Su Yuxi's cheeks flushed crimson. She shot Zhao Dong a playful glare. "When did you become such a smooth-talker?"
Zhao Dong laughed. "I'm not being a smooth-talker. I'm just telling the truth. You really are beautiful."
Su Yuxi pressed her lips together, clearly a little shy, and quickly changed the subject. "So, what should we get for lunch? My treat."
"There's no way I'm letting you treat. I'll pay. Come on, follow me."
Su Yuxi looked at Zhao Dong, bit her lip, and said nothing more as she followed him off campus.
They quickly hailed a cab and arrived in front of a restaurant. After getting out, Su Yuxi looked at the storefront and suddenly seemed a bit embarrassed. "Zhao Dong, why did you bring me here?"