Chapter 115: The Sound of Slaps

The crisp sound of slapping echoed repeatedly.

The four boys in black, who had just been arrogantly boasting about their own bullying, never expected to find themselves prisoners so quickly. Conversely, the vulnerable boy in purple, Ling Guanghan, had suddenly transformed his situation by gathering seven allies. Among the eight of them, only four of the lower-ranked youths were needed to render the black-clad attackers completely helpless. In truth, Qin Zhen had spent half the time leading his opponent on a chase without even exchanging blows; the real action came from Ling Guanghan, Li Hao, Kui Hu, and Li Zhan. Li Hao, in particular, had taken down his opponent with a single move.

Li Hao looked at the four boys, maintaining his signature wicked smile, and said, "Just now, I heard someone say that 'might makes right' and that if others can bully, then they can bully you as well. Is that what was said?"

Qin Zhen hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes, I heard it too! The young master is absolutely correct."

The leader of the boys in black felt his guts twisting with regret, but his predicament was entirely self-inflicted, and no amount of remorse could change his situation. Despite his helplessness, he refused to give up without one last struggle. "You had better let us go!" he spat.

*Smack! Smack! Smack!*

Several sharp, crisp slaps rang out. The boy who had spoken was left dazed. The one who struck him was Qin Zhen, who had been feeling deeply frustrated after being chased around earlier. Finding a perfect outlet for his pent-up resentment, he unleashed his anger without reservation. The leader’s face was soon swollen into a pig’s head—a state so disfigured that even his own mother would likely fail to recognize him.

Qin Zhen had acted without hesitation, catching everyone off guard. After finishing, he pulled his hand back, looking as though he hadn't had enough, and asked, "And if we don't? What will you do about it?"

The boy in black seized the chance to speak again. "You dare do this? Do you have any idea who our backer is?"

"Oh? Trying to threaten us now?" As Qin Zhen spoke, he reached toward the boy’s face again. The leader flinched in terror, but Qin Zhen only lightly touched his cheek instead of striking. Seeing he hadn't been hit, the boy felt a momentary sense of relief and opened his mouth to speak again.

*Smack! Smack! Smack!*

Another symphony of palm meeting cheek erupted, this one even more thorough than the last.

"Hmph! Still daring to threaten us?" Qin Zhen waited until the boy had relaxed his guard before delivering another flurry of slaps. Only after finishing did he speak.

Ling Guanghan felt a phantom pain watching the boy get beaten, while Lin Xueyou and Lu Yao were left somewhat dazed by Qin Zhen’s ruthless and brutal display. Lu Yao, unable to bear it, said to the black-clad boys, "Sigh! You’re already in this state, why must you still be so stubborn? Now look, you’re suffering even more, and you can’t escape. Who is bringing this upon you?"

To the four boys in black, Lu Yao’s words sounded like the height of mockery; to her companions, they sounded painfully naive. Li Hao and the others found her words baffling, wondering why she would speak up for outsiders. Was this the classic case of a girl siding with others? But they would be wrong to think so. Lu Yao had simply seen the miserable state of the boys and, overcome by a moment of soft-heartedness, spoke without thinking.

Zhen Ba, standing nearby, said to her, "Sister Lu Yao, these people are not worth your sympathy. Your soft heart will only lead to your own suffering. I was often bullied in the past, and no one ever showed me mercy. If you don't save yourself, you’re helpless. If they were the ones bullying you today, they would show you no mercy. People like this are like wolves; you cannot make friends with a wolf just because you saw it weep. Sooner or later, when you lower your guard, it will devour you."

"Ah!" Lu Yao gasped, covering her mouth with her small hands, looking genuinely frightened. Though she was well-educated and knowledgeable, she was still, at heart, a simple ten-year-old girl. "Is it really as terrifying as Brother Zhen Ba says?"

"Then why," she asked, "does Grandpa always tell me to be kind? He says if you are kind to others, they will be kind to you."

Zhen Ba explained, "That is true, but your kindness should be reserved for the good-hearted or those who know how to repay gratitude. People like these have no kindness in their hearts; they only care about their own interests. They are not worth anyone's mercy."

Lu Yao frowned, confused. "But thinking of one's own interests is right, isn't it? Grandpa often says: 'Every man for himself, or the heavens will destroy him.' How do you explain that?"

Zhen Ba felt a deep sense of helplessness. *My heavens,* he thought, *how did I end up with such an incredibly naive girl?* He was stumped and didn't dare explain further for fear of making it worse. He looked toward Lin Xueyou, hoping she could help.

Lin Xueyou originally didn't want to explain such a complex issue, but seeing the plea in the eyes of this boy she had just met, she relented. "The saying 'Every man for himself' isn't inherently wrong, but it is interpreted differently by different people. For good people, the pursuit of interest is done through honorable means, not like these villains who use despicable tactics."

Zhen Ba gave her a thumbs-up, thinking, *This sister I just met is truly knowledgeable and articulate.*

Having heard this, Lu Yao’s confusion cleared. From that moment on, she began to analyze things through both good and bad lenses. "Thank you for the guidance, Sister Xueyou. I know what to do now!"

The group felt relieved to see her understand so quickly. The three other boys in black, seeing their leader reduced to a swollen mess, didn't dare move or speak, waiting quietly for Li Hao’s judgment.

"Who is your backer?" Li Hao asked. "Who ordered you to rob the spirit herbs?"

The leader, terrified of Qin Zhen, didn't dare speak. He hoped his teammates would answer, but they were equally paralyzed by fear, terrified that a single wrong word would invite Qin Zhen’s mental and physical torment.

Li Hao noticed their hesitation and promised, "As long as you speak, I guarantee no one will lay a hand on you, and I will deal with you leniently."

Finally, the leader stammered, "Du... Du Jinlong."

The simple name felt like a massive burden to utter. The boy’s pathetic state was a mix of physical pain and deep-seated fear. He looked up, expecting another blow, but Qin Zhen only crossed his arms.

The group, including Ling Guanghan, watched with smiles. They realized that the once-arrogant boys were now completely broken. Aside from Kui Hu, everyone else looked blank at the name "Du Jinlong."

Kui Hu spoke up, "So it's that guy? I thought it was someone else."

The four boys in black felt a glimmer of hope, thinking that if their boss knew their backer, he might show some restraint. But Kui Hu’s next words sent them straight back into the abyss.

"I thought it was someone important. It’s just that bastard? Whenever I find him, I’ll teach him a lesson. Every time I see him, I’ll beat him until he learns to behave."

Hearing this, the four boys fell into utter despair.