Chapter 042 Fighting

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The Dream Life Reborn

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Yang Tian did not want to cause trouble, so he quickened his pace. But just as he was about to round the corner and enter the school gate, four youths suddenly emerged from behind the large camphor tree at the entrance, blocking his path.

All four had their hair dyed a glaring gold and wore garishly colored clothes. The one in front sported sunglasses, held a beer bottle in his hand, and had a menacing expression.

Yang Tian instinctively took a few steps back. At that moment, the people who had been following him appeared as well—eight in total, dressed in a motley array: some looking like street punks in floral jackets, others in military training uniforms.

Yang Tian immediately realized these guys were likely students from the newly established Vocational High School in town, probably all around sixteen.

There was a fair distance between Luohe Vocational High School and Victory Middle School. For them to show up here, could they be planning a mugging?

“Tch, just this little punk, you think he could take on seven or eight of us by himself?” sneered a high schooler wielding a long iron rod, his tone full of contempt.

“Yeah, middle schoolers these days are so weak. Back when I was in middle school, I used to beat up teachers all the time!” a fat one boasted loudly.

“Oh yeah, you were tough all right—until you got expelled, and had to come join us at voc school…” the one with the iron rod took a swig of beer and burst out laughing.

“Four, Five, shut your mouths!” the sunglasses-wearing one barked, cutting them off.

Yang Tian understood why the leader intervened: those two rookies, so loose-lipped, had not only given away their identities but also handed him plenty of useful information.

One guy against seven or eight? Yang Tian immediately realized they were talking about when he fought Sun Hui and his gang.

Which meant, these people had been sent by Sun Hui!

“Hand over your money!” the guy in sunglasses stepped up to Yang Tian, barking the command.

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“I don’t have any money!” Yang Tian instinctively took a step back, readying himself for a fight. He understood these guys were only pretending to mug him as a pretext; their real purpose was what Sun Hui had hired them for—to rough him up.

“Don’t play dumb. Do we really have to beat you up before you’ll hand it over?” the one with glasses snarled, the others backing him up, clinking beer bottles and iron rods for intimidation.

“I don’t want to fight. Don’t force me,” Yang Tian said coldly.

“Oooh, I’m so scared! Haha… Boss, why are you wasting words on him? Just beat him up and let’s go, then we can sleep and have a big meal tomorrow!” the one with the iron rod laughed wildly, and the others joined in.

“Yeah, even if he knows who we are, so what? Would he dare tell his parents or teachers? If he does, we’ll beat him even worse!” The fat one smashed a beer bottle on the ground, sending shards scattering over Yang Tian.

Yang Tian reacted instantly, dodging so the glass wouldn’t hit his face, though some shards still landed on his pants.

Seeing this, his opponents thought Yang Tian was frightened, and laughed even harder. To them, a group of high schoolers against a single eighth grader was easy pickings—especially since they came armed.

“So, my brothers are all eager to give you a good thrashing. Why don’t you just oblige us this once?” Sunglasses pulled a fruit knife from his pocket, flipping it menacingly in his hand, still trying to scare Yang Tian.

“I have classes tomorrow. I’d rather get some sleep—you all go ahead and have your fun,” Yang Tian said with a shake of his head, stepping aside to leave.

“Hey, trying to act tough, are you, kid? Looks like you really need a beating!” Sunglasses didn’t immediately use the knife, but instead swung a slap at Yang Tian.

Yang Tian was much smaller than his attacker, but showed no fear. He planted his feet shoulder-width apart, left heel in line with his right toe, body leaning slightly forward, knees bent—a simple defensive stance to keep his balance.

At the same time, his right hand shot out in a sharp chop, striking the left side of the sunglasses-wearing guy’s neck with all his strength—his aim to bring him down swiftly and make an example for the others.

The neck is one of the body’s weak points. The guy lost his balance instantly, crashing to the ground, the knife flying from his hand, blood spurting from his nose, leaving everyone nearby stunned.

“Boss! Boss! Get him!” the iron rod-wielder and the fat one yelled, rallying the others, though Yang Tian could see they were shaken—after all, they were only high schoolers.

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These guys were ruthless, but didn’t dare rush him directly. Instead, they tried to pelt Yang Tian from a distance with beer bottles and bricks, the clatter echoing nonstop.

At first, Yang Tian dodged nimbly. Once their supply of bottles and bricks was exhausted, he suddenly kicked three bricks lying at his feet, sending them flying at the fat one.

The fat one was knocked over instantly, clutching his belly and unable to get up, terrifying the others into retreat.

The iron rod-wielder was braver than most; he tried to sneak up behind Yang Tian, planning to club him over the head.

But just as he raised the rod high, Yang Tian spun around, faked as if pulling something from behind, and made a throwing motion. The other guy flinched instinctively.

That flinch gave Yang Tian his opening. In a flash, he closed the distance and landed a heavy uppercut to the guy’s chin—a notorious weak spot—making him cry out for his mother.

The real threats had been dealt with; the rest were just putting on a show, and by now had scattered in panic.

Yang Tian shook his head in disdain, then strolled over to the sunglasses-wearing leader, fishing a pack of Three-Five cigarettes and a flashy stainless steel lighter from his pocket.

He took out two cigarettes, put them both in his mouth, and lit them with a click. Inhaling gently, he blew out a ring of smoke.

“How’s it feel? Does your neck still hurt? Remember this—don’t mess with me again. When I was fighting, you were still playing with mud pies! Oh, and for this cigarette, do me a favor tomorrow and make sure you give Sun Hui a good beating. That guy’s getting out of hand!” Yang Tian placed a cigarette between his opponent’s lips, smiling as he spoke.

Then, crushing out his own cigarette, he tossed it aside and strolled calmly toward the school.

Watching Yang Tian’s departing figure, the sunglasses-wearing guy shivered, then took a deep drag on his cigarette, staggered to his feet, and muttered, “Sun Hui, you little bastard, you told me it was just an eighth grader. Now I’ve been beaten like this—if I don’t skin you alive tomorrow, my name’s not Fight King Zhou Bing!”