****
In the BMW X6, Xu Mo and Bald Chao stared, slack-jawed, as Ji Feng vanished into the alley.
"This kid's *that* strong?" Xu Mo muttered, swallowing hard, his face pale with disbelief.
Bald Chao's expression darkened. His six men were seasoned brawlers from his bathhouse, hardened by countless scraps. A few average guys wouldn't stand a chance against them. Yet Ji Feng had floored them all without breaking a sweat.
"Master Xu, we hit a wall this time," Bald Chao growled, teeth gritted. "Next time, I'll bring more guys—armed. No matter how tough he is, he won't stand a chance."
He relied on Xu Mo's father, Deputy County Magistrate Xu Fu, to shield his shady business. Failing Xu Mo could cost him dearly.
"Damn, who knew he was such a beast?" Xu Mo exhaled, shaking his head. "Brother Chao, he got away this time, so he'll be on guard. It'll be harder to catch him off-guard again."
"Then we hit his house," Bald Chao suggested, eyes glinting. "Grab a few boys and rough up his parents too."
Xu Mo waved him off. "No way. Secretary Tong Kaide's gunning for my dad. If this blows up, it'll hurt us more than them." His eyes suddenly gleamed with malice. "Wait—let's use *official* means."
"Official?" Bald Chao frowned, confused.
Xu Mo's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Your guys got beat, right? They're injured?"
Bald Chao caught on, grinning. "You mean have them call the cops?"
"Exactly," Xu Mo sneered. "Fighting and causing serious injury is a crime. The school will expel Ji Feng, and the police won't go easy on him."
Bald Chao clapped, delighted. "Brilliant, Master Xu! Even if he's got skills, he can't escape your trap."
"He brought this on himself," Xu Mo spat. "Messing with *my* girl? He's begging for pain." He paused, then asked, "Your men solid? They won't talk?"
"No worries," Bald Chao assured. "Give each a hundred grand to settle, and they'd let you break their legs for it."
Xu Mo shook his head. "One's enough. Six guys claiming one kid beat them? Cops won't buy it."
"Smart thinking, Master Xu," Bald Chao said. "Let's call it in."
Xu Mo glared into the alley where Ji Feng had fled, smirking coldly. "You're done, Ji Feng. You'll learn what happens when you cross me."
---
Ji Feng didn't stop running until he reached the nearest police station, his heart still pounding from the ambush. *If not for Intelligent Brain, I'd be half-dead by now.*
Clenching his fists, his eyes flashed with cold resolve. "Xu Mo, you're ruthless," he muttered. He'd assumed a school rival would settle scores with pranks or fistfights, not hired thugs. Xu Mo, son of a deputy county magistrate, played dirty.
"You think money and power let you do whatever you want?" Ji Feng sneered. "Let's see how long that lasts."
Glancing at the lit duty room, he strode inside. He wasn't naive. Those six were likely Xu Mo's hired muscle, and if they spun the story against him, he'd be in trouble. Reporting the incident first was his best move.
A middle-aged officer looked up. "What's up, kid?"
"Uncle Officer, I need to report a crime," Ji Feng said urgently. "I was robbed right after school."
The officer stood, alarmed. "Where?"
"I can show you," Ji Feng replied.
"Alright, I'm calling backup," the officer said, hitting the alarm. Moments later, a dozen officers poured out, led by a burly man in his thirties.
"What's going on, Lao Wang?" the leader, Captain Yan, asked.
"This kid says he was robbed," Lao Wang replied.
Captain Yan turned to Ji Feng. "Where'd it happen? Take us there."
Without waiting for details, he ushered Ji Feng to a police car. Sirens blaring, several patrol cars sped out of the station.
In the car, Ji Feng spoke up. "Officer, it happened on Renmin Road. They jumped me after school, taking advantage of the dark."
"You were the victim?" Captain Yan asked, surprised. "How'd you make it here to report?"
Ji Feng scratched his head, feigning embarrassment. "I don't know. They came at me, and I panicked. I think I hit their chins, and they passed out. I got scared and ran here."
Captain Yan, trained in combat, knew a chin strike could hit a nerve and knock someone out. Assuming Ji Feng got lucky in a frantic scuffle, he nodded. "How many were there?"
Ji Feng hesitated, playing nervous. "Six, I think. I was too scared to count."
Captain Yan gave him a reassuring look. To him, Ji Feng was just a frightened kid, rattled by a brush with danger.
---
Back on Renmin Road, Bald Chao loomed over his groaning men, furious. "Useless! Can't even handle a student? Why do I keep you around?"
Xu Mo, calmer, said, "Brother Chao, leave one guy here. Take the rest and report the assault. Say you don't know the victim, just saw a kid in a No. 2 High uniform knock him out. Describe Ji Feng's looks—the cops will handle the rest."
Bald Chao nodded, about to respond when sirens wailed nearby.
Their faces paled. "Shit," Bald Chao hissed. "We can't be here when the cops show up. No way we explain this."
---
*