Hun Hun 03

Fang Zhiyi walked out of the courtyard, and Old Yu watched his retreating figure with deep concern in his eyes.

"We'll do our best to protect him. We’ve already told him that if he senses danger, he can stop immediately," Section Chief Zhang adjusted his collar. "But I think this young man should be fine."

Old Yu remained silent, and Section Chief Zhang patted him on the shoulder.

Fang Zhiyi reached the ground floor just in time to see Wang Xiaoqiang scratching a bicycle with a small knife. He stood with his arms crossed, watching for a while. When Wang Xiaoqiang turned and noticed him, his eyes flashed with disdain. Wang Xiaoqiang often heard his grandmother call this jobless orphan a "good-for-nothing." Though the tattoos looked intimidating, the guy was actually a pushover—last time Granny Wang had cursed him out, he hadn’t even fought back.

But then, without warning, Fang Zhiyi lunged forward and slammed Wang Xiaoqiang against the wall. The spot was a blind corner, hidden from view upstairs.

"You little brat, recognize me now?" Fang Zhiyi’s left hand clamped down on the back of Wang Xiaoqiang’s neck, making him grimace in pain. When Wang Xiaoqiang tried to scream, Fang Zhiyi’s right hand immediately covered his mouth, while his knee dug into the boy’s stomach. "Make a single sound, and I’ll break your arm right now!"

His grip shifted from Wang Xiaoqiang’s neck to his arm, applying just enough pressure. For the first time, the usually fearless Wang Xiaoqiang felt a surge of terror. Fang Zhiyi gritted his teeth and hissed, "From today on, stay the hell away from me. If I catch you causing trouble again, I’ll throw you off the building—no, I’ll break your legs first, then toss you down."

Wang Xiaoqiang was twelve, tall for his age, but under Fang Zhiyi’s glare, he trembled uncontrollably. He was convinced this "good-for-nothing" genuinely wanted him dead. Fang Zhiyi glanced down and saw liquid trickling down the boy’s pant leg. Disgusted, he shoved Wang Xiaoqiang away, letting him collapse to the ground.

"Go home and tell that old hag of yours, along with your useless parents—if you ever cross me again, I’ll end you."

Wang Xiaoqiang scrambled home, too terrified to eat, which sent Granny Wang into a frenzy. But no matter how much she pressed, he couldn’t utter a word until midnight, when he finally wailed about a demon threatening to break his legs. After hearing the story, Granny Wang flew into a rage and stormed upstairs to pound on Fang Zhiyi’s door.

"You piece of trash! Come out!"

Fang Zhiyi woke up but didn’t respond, listening as the old woman’s shrill voice pierced the night, rousing the entire neighborhood.

The young couple across the hall opened their door, irritation written on their faces, but they faltered at the sight of Granny Wang.

The elderly couple upstairs, however, had no such reservations. "Granny Wang, what the hell are you screaming about at this hour? We’re old—our sleep is already light enough without your nonsense!"

Granny Wang only grew more incensed. "None of your damn business, you old fossils! Get lost! Fang Zhiyi, come out here, you bastard!"

Unlike the others, the old couple didn’t back down—they were just as shameless as she was.

"Is that how you talk to people?" Old Man Gao’s temper flared. "Disturbing everyone at night and still acting righteous?"

Encouraged, the young couple chimed in, "Yeah, if that punk messed with you, deal with him in the daytime. Who knows if he’s even home at night? Probably out causing trouble."

Granny Wang planted a hand on her hip and jabbed a finger at them. "What? Ganging up on an old woman, are you?" Emboldened by her fury, Wang Xiaoqiang, who had been cowering earlier, regained his confidence and stomped up to the couple, chest heaving.

His parents trailed behind, hesitant.

"Let it go. We’re all neighbors," Father Li tried to mediate.

The other residents watched from their doors but stayed silent—no one wanted to get involved with these lunatics.

The "refined" young couple backed down first, muttering curses under their breath before shutting their door. Wang Xiaoqiang turned his glare to the elderly pair on the stairs. Old Man Gao squared his shoulders. "What are you staring at? Touch me, and I’ll drop right here. See who’ll testify for you!"

Granny Wang hesitated, her beady eyes narrowing at Old Man Gao. "Go ahead and drop! Let’s see who’ll back you up!" As if to prove her point, the other onlookers retreated into their homes.

Old Man Gao glanced at Wang Xiaoqiang. Everyone knew the kid was unhinged—if he actually lashed out, it wouldn’t end well. He tugged his still-muttering wife back inside.

With the meddlers gone, Granny Wang turned to Father Li’s family. "Stop pretending to be saints! I’m doing everyone a favor tonight!" Wang Xiaoqiang’s beady eyes locked onto Li Tiantian, who hid behind her father.

The look made Mother Li uneasy, and she quickly pulled her husband and daughter inside.

"What about Brother Fang?" Li Tiantian asked.

Father Li patted her head. "Don’t worry. If he were home, he’d have opened the door by now." Their impression of Fang Zhiyi wasn’t bad—despite being jobless, he’d never caused trouble and was always kind to Tiantian.

Hearing Granny Wang’s continued screeching, Fang Zhiyi knew the spectacle was over. He yanked the door open just as Wang Xiaoqiang raised his foot to kick it. The boy lost his balance and did the splits, his agonized howl echoing through the building.

Granny Wang whirled around, barking at her son and daughter-in-law to tend to the boy while she squared off with Fang Zhiyi, hands on hips.

Clang! A sharpened steel pipe struck the doorframe. Fang Zhiyi rested a hand on Wang Xiaoqiang’s head, and the boy instantly clamped his mouth shut, the terror from earlier flooding back. His parents froze, unsure what to do.

"Old hag, did I give you too much leeway before? Keep yelling if you want to collect your grandson’s corpse." Fang Zhiyi slowly lowered the pipe.

"You—" Granny Wang started, but the sharp end of the pipe now pressed against Wang Xiaoqiang’s throat cut her off.

"Say one more word, and I can’t guarantee where this might ‘accidentally’ land." Fang Zhiyi smirked, every bit the villain. "Did you forget what I’m capable of?"

"You wouldn’t dare!" Granny Wang pointed, but her voice lacked conviction.

"Breaking into my place and getting killed in ‘self-defense’? At most, I’d get fifteen years." As a street thug, Fang Zhiyi knew the basics of Northern laws. "With parole, I’d be out in thirteen."

"Who’s breaking in?" Granny Wang panicked.

Fang Zhiyi spread his hands. "Then prove you weren’t."

Granny Wang faltered. It was true—those spineless neighbors wouldn’t testify for her, just like they wouldn’t for him. All of them were selfish cowards!