Chapter 5: Intercepting Ye Feng

As Ye Feng's words hung in the air, Old Li Tau's eyes sparkled with greed. This young man, foolishly unaware of the value of what he held, had just offered a small fortune for what was essentially junk. The old man could hardly believe his luck.

"I agree!" Old Li Tau exclaimed, his eagerness palpable. The thought of pocketing 200,000 yuan sent a thrill through him. He couldn't help but see Ye Feng as an easy mark, someone so naïve that he'd pay a king's ransom for mere trinkets.

"Let me pack it for you, young man!" he said, bustling to gather the bottles, desperate to finalize the deal before the boy changed his mind. With shaky hands, he arranged the items, glancing nervously at the stack of cash he assumed was tucked away in Ye Feng's backpack.

But just as the deal was about to close, a heavy hand shot out from the crowd, seizing Ye Feng's wrist. Startled, he turned to find a burly man glaring down at him, an arrogant smirk plastered across his face.

"What do you want?" Ye Feng demanded, his voice low and simmering with anger. The audacity of this man was infuriating. Just when he thought he had secured his opportunity, someone dared to intervene.

"What do I want? Just these antiques," the stout man scoffed, his disdain evident. His nostrils flared as he surveyed Ye Feng, sizing him up like prey.

Ye Feng felt his face flush with rage. This wasn't just an interruption; it was an outright challenge. He had fought tooth and nail to regain his footing in this world, and now some brute was trying to rip that away from him.

"You!" Ye Feng stammered, the words bitter on his tongue. The humiliation of being treated like an afterthought was a wound that cut deep.

"You can make an offer if you have money, or just step aside," the man sneered, flicking his gaze dismissively. "What kind of rich man are you pretending to be, huh?"

Old Li Tau, caught in the crossfire, felt the tension rise. The strongman loomed over him, and the old man realized he was far out of his depth. The threat in the air was palpable, and he couldn't afford to refuse this new customer, especially one who looked ready to cause trouble.

"Of course, of course!" Old Li Tau stammered, his previous cordiality evaporating. He turned to Ye Feng, now devoid of any respect. "You have no claim here, kid. Can you even pay?"

Ye Feng's fists clenched at his sides, each word a knife twisting in his gut. "We just made a deal! You can't back out now!" His voice trembled with indignation, but the confidence he tried to project was fading fast.

"What? When did I make a deal with you? Prove it! You're just a poor kid trying to play rich," Old Li Tau shot back, a smirk on his face. The shift in power left Ye Feng feeling cornered, humiliated in front of the gathering crowd.

"You're bullying me too much!" Ye Feng's voice rose in a desperate plea, his face burning with shame. The onlookers began to murmur among themselves, their judgmental eyes piercing through him like daggers.

"Look at him; he's just a kid playing games!" someone in the crowd jeered, laughter rippling through the throng.

"Such a disgrace! An old man bullying a young guy," another voice chimed in, but it did little to alleviate Ye Feng's growing humiliation. He felt exposed, like a deer caught in the headlights, their laughter echoing in his ears.

Breathing heavily, Ye Feng turned to leave, fighting against the tide of anger that threatened to consume him. The antiques were important, but he had no means to compete with this muscle-bound intruder.

As the strongman closed the deal with Old Li Tau, Ye Feng's resolve hardened. He would not let this insult stand. The stout man was one of Ling Tian's bodyguards, though Ye Feng had yet to connect the dots.

In a fit of rage, he stormed out of the antique street, determination fueling his steps. He needed to find a way to reclaim his honor.

Navigating through narrow alleyways, he felt the weight of humiliation press down on him. It was then that he spotted a secluded path—a perfect place for a confrontation.

The burly man strutted confidently down the dead-end alley, basking in his victory. But he failed to notice Ye Feng waiting in the shadows, his heart pounding with a mix of anger and resolve.

"Come out! I've found you at last!" the strongman bellowed, his bravado unshakeable.

"Nice little graveyard you've chosen," Ye Feng retorted, stepping forward, his expression fierce. The moment had come, and he would not be the victim any longer.

The man's grin faltered, sensing the shift in the atmosphere. "No, that's not it. I chose this place for you," he said, dismissing Ye Feng's bravado.

Without another word, Ye Feng lunged forward, adrenaline surging through him. He had no intention of backing down this time.

But before he could land a blow, the strongman's palm struck him with brutal force, sending him crashing to the ground.

"Burh!" Ye Feng spat blood, shock coursing through him as he tasted the metallic tang. The pain radiated from his mouth, and he could feel the sharpness of broken teeth against his tongue.

"Aaaah!" he screamed, fury igniting within him. His face was flushed with rage as he glared at the hulking figure above him.

"Shut up!" the man growled, his voice muffled as he used true qi to disguise it. With another strike, Ye Feng was left gasping, his vision blurring from the impact.

Ye Feng struggled to rise, his body protesting with each movement. He felt utterly humiliated—his clean face marred, teeth missing, the laughter of the crowd still echoing in his mind.

"Who are you?" Ye Feng shouted, his voice strained but resolute. The humiliation was too much; he refused to let it end here.

The strongman loomed closer, his presence overwhelming. Rather than ending Ye Feng's life, he reveled in the act of degrading him further. But Ye Feng's spirit, battered yet unbroken, was ready to fight back.

With a deep breath, he prepared for the next move, determined to turn the tide of this battle, no matter the cost.