Chapter 126: Let Me Handle It

The evening in Kyoto was stifling, the sun casting long, dying rays over the city. Cicadas had begun their shrill chorus along the roadsides.

Inside the Hummer, the air conditioning was running, but the heavy traffic made Zhang Xiaofan feel increasingly irritable. Xia Shihan, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying herself; it had been a long time since she was last here, and she watched the scenery outside the window with keen interest.

Around 6:30 PM, they finally reached their destination: a famous snack street in the North District, lined with century-old Kyoto establishments. After parking, Zhang Xiaofan and Xia Shihan found a barbecue shop. Most of the eateries on this street were open-air stalls. The barbecue here was distinctive and delicious; Zhang Xiaofan had tried it once before, and since Xia Shihan was craving skewers, they decided to stop.

The owner was very welcoming, ushering them to a table. A bright, sunny girl soon ran out from the kitchen, dressed in sportswear with her hair tied in a ponytail. Her large eyes were remarkably clear, and she looked to be about twenty years old.

"Big brother, you’re so handsome!" she said with a smile, running over to hand Zhang Xiaofan the menu. It was only natural for a young girl in her prime to feel a spark of admiration for someone as dashing as him.

"You have a sweet tongue, little sister," Zhang Xiaofan chuckled. He quickly ticked off several items on the menu, then handed it to Xia Shihan and said, "Order whatever you like."

"Fine, I’ll eat you out of house and home tonight, young master," Xia Shihan joked. She then began to order with reckless abandon. Zhang Xiaofan’s eyes widened—not because he was stingy, but because he wondered if one person could possibly consume so much: twenty skewers of beef tendon, two roasted eggplants, and thirty skewers of meat!

"What’s with that look? Are you regretting it?" Xia Shihan rolled her eyes at him.

"No, I was just wondering, are you a pig? Can you really eat that much?" Zhang Xiaofan asked with an innocent expression.

"You’re the pig!" Xia Shihan pouted, looking quite indignant.

Zhang Xiaofan poured himself a glass of draft beer and snacked on some peanuts while the young girl smiled and headed back inside with the menu to tend to other customers.

The owner was quick with the grill. Within ten minutes, the food began to arrive, and Zhang Xiaofan finally witnessed the true extent of Xia Shihan’s appetite—it was like a whirlwind sweeping through the table. One could never underestimate the appetite of a woman; when they really started eating, even three men couldn't keep up. The same went for their tolerance for alcohol—the women who could drink would often finish a bottle in one go.

About ten minutes into their meal, a group of men swaggered down the street. The diners, who had been chatting and laughing over their skewers, immediately fell silent; some even paid their bills and left before they had finished eating.

Zhang Xiaofan turned to look. A man with dyed red hair, wearing ear studs and chewing gum, was leading a dozen strangely dressed thugs toward them. They were mostly in their late twenties, walking with such wide strides that it felt as if they were trying to claim the entire street for themselves.

The restaurant owner’s face turned ghastly pale at the sight of them.

"Boss, isn't it time to pay this month’s protection money?" The red-haired man walked up to the owner and slammed a foot onto the table, looking incredibly arrogant.

"Brother Yue, Master Yue, business has been bad this month. I really can't pay..." the owner pleaded, looking terrified. He was in his twenties, slightly plump, and possessed an honest, simple demeanor. The business was doing okay, but the prices were so low that after costs and rent, there was hardly any profit left.

"Heh, no money? Do you think you can keep this place open?" The man called Brother Yue’s expression hardened, and he slammed a dagger into the table.

"Brother Yue, please, give me a few more days. I’ll make sure to get the money together for you," the owner begged.

"A few more days? And who’s going to give me a few more days?" The thug glared, flipped the table over with both hands, and slapped the owner across the face. "One word: if you don’t pay today, I’m smashing this place to pieces!"

"You bullies, don't you dare hurt my father!" The sunny girl from earlier rushed forward, spreading her arms to shield her father.

"Xiaolan, move away! Get to the side, let me handle this!" The owner was horrified. These people were no good; if they turned their malice toward his daughter...

Brother Yue looked at Xiaolan and grinned, a lecherous glint in his eyes. "I didn't know you had such a pretty daughter. Just finished school for the summer break, right? I won't make it hard for you. If your daughter spends the night with me, I’ll give you a ten-day extension. How about that?"

"You scum! I won't let you hurt my daughter, even if I have to die!" The owner’s greatest fear had materialized, and in that moment, all traces of cowardice vanished. Perhaps he had never been a coward; he had simply been trying to avoid trouble. He grabbed a kitchen knife and stared at the thug, roaring, "If you dare lay a finger on my daughter, I’ll fight you to the death!"

The thug’s expression darkened. He spat out his gum and said viciously, "Old man, acting tough, are you? Trying to play with knives against me?" He looked at his followers and shouted, "Get him! Cripple him, or no one on this street will respect Yue Xiaohua anymore."

A dozen men surrounded the owner with murderous intent.

"These people are despicable!" Xia Shihan’s beautiful eyes flashed with fury as she stood up.

"Let me handle this," Zhang Xiaofan said, pressing her shoulder gently. He stood up and walked toward the group.

"Pay ten thousand, then get lost, before I lose my temper," Zhang Xiaofan said calmly, looking at the thug.

"Kid, trying to be a hero?" The thug turned around, stunned. Was this brat really that arrogant? Telling him to pay ten thousand? Telling him to get lost? Was he a comedian sent by the heavens? On this street, who dared to speak to him like that?

"I’ll pay your—" Zhang Xiaofan cut him off with a cold snort. Without another word, he picked up a beer bottle from the table and smashed it against Yue Xiaohua’s head.

Yue Xiaohua was shocked; he never expected Zhang Xiaofan to actually strike first. Had this kid lost his mind? He instinctively raised his arms to block, but just as he did...

*Clang!* The bottle shattered against Yue Xiaohua’s skull, and blood began to stream down his face. Yue Xiaohua reached up, touched the wound, and stared at his hand. His head had been cracked open!

"Damn you..." Before Yue Xiaohua could scream in rage, Zhang Xiaofan jammed the jagged, broken bottle into his shoulder. The agonizing pain stifled the rest of his roar, replacing it with a howl of pure torment.

"Roaring? Why don't you keep roaring?" Zhang Xiaofan threatened, his eyes cold and ruthless. He felt no mercy for scum like this.

"I..." Yue Xiaohua, still defiant, tried to shout again, but the moment he started, Zhang Xiaofan twisted the broken glass.

"Aaaah!" The sensation of flesh being shredded forced a scream from Yue Xiaohua even more intense than the first.

The restaurant owner stood frozen, shocked by the young man’s ruthlessness, yet feeling a surge of secret satisfaction. He had wanted to beat these bastards for a long time. They were good for nothing, constantly exploiting the hardworking and bullying the weak—they deserved this!

"Kill him!" Xia Shihan shouted. The women of Kyoto had a wild streak in them, after all.

"Screw this! He actually attacked Brother Yue! Brothers, hack him to pieces!" The followers finally reacted. This kid had guts, daring to strike their leader, but in their eyes, he was just one man—no match for all of them. They grabbed beer bottles and pulled out hidden knives, closing in on Zhang Xiaofan with murderous intent.