Chapter 257: The Grudge
In the two-meter-wide corridor, Li Wuming charged into the group of bodyguards with powerful and decisive moves.
*"Bang! Bang! Bang… Ah… Ah…"*
*"Bang!"*
Each of Li Wuming's punches and kicks landed squarely, creating a series of loud impacts. The attacked bodyguards screamed in pain and struggled on the ground, unable to get up.
Seeing Li Wuming handle the enemies with such efficiency, and glancing at the stunned second-generation rich kids at the box door, Xia Yu couldn't help but reveal a cold smile. He now had a more intuitive understanding of Li Wuming's combat abilities.
There were other private rooms along this corridor. From the beginning, people in the other rooms had noticed the conflict. However, whether they were Chinese or foreigners, they preferred to stay out of it and avoided getting involved.
But just because they didn't want to interfere didn't mean they weren't interested. Spectators always enjoyed watching.
As the situation escalated into a fight, the onlookers peered out, and when they saw Li Wuming's formidable combat skills, many foreigners gasped in surprise, their eyes widening in amazement.
Bruce Lee had passed away only a few years ago, and Chinese martial arts had gained worldwide fame due to him, creating a wave of interest.
Many foreigners had heard a bit about Chinese martial arts or seen Bruce Lee showcase his skills on television, but they had never witnessed it in person.
Seeing Li Wuming demonstrate his prowess, they couldn't help but exclaim.
*"Wow, Chinese martial arts!"*
*"So impressive!"*
Hearing these comments, Li Wuming, who was handling the situation with ease, frowned slightly. He disliked being treated like a circus animal, so he became even more serious and aggressive.
*"Ah!"*
*"Bang… Ah!"*
In no time, seven or eight black-clad strongmen were all knocked down by Li Wuming, writhing on the ground with various parts of their bodies injured and unable to get up.
Seeing that Xia Yu's group still had two people who hadn't made a move, and that all eight of their bodyguards had been taken down by Li Wuming alone, the arrogant second-generation rich kids were suddenly afraid.
Good men don't seek trouble when they're outnumbered! Given the current situation, it was futile to fight back, so it was better to lower their heads for now.
When the arrogant second-generation saw Xia Yu approaching him, he ignored the pain on his face and said with an apologetic smile, "My friend, I'm sorry. I was drunk and didn't think clearly. Please forgive me!"
As a person from a prominent family, the arrogant second-generation was not a fool. Although he could be arrogant, he wasn't reckless. He knew when to back down, especially when he was drunk and lost control.
As the saying goes, a smart person knows how to adapt to the situation. Since he had been beaten awake, he understood what needed to be done. Even if he wanted to take revenge, he knew that preserving himself was the priority.
Revenge could come later!
However, the arrogant second-generation's attempt to smooth things over wasn't acceptable to Xia Yu. His anger had not yet dissipated.
Now that the confrontation had started and a grudge had been formed, Xia Yu didn't care about deepening the grudge further.
He still hadn't fully vented his anger!
The provocation and harassment of Li Qian by the arrogant second-generation couldn't be resolved with just one slap. Xia Yu was determined to prove he wasn't someone to be trifled with.
"What are you doing!"
The man who had gone to call for help earlier stepped forward to block Xia Yu, glancing nervously at Li Wuming, who stood beside Xia Yu with a grim expression. He swallowed hard and said with a facade of bravery.
Without needing Xia Yu to act, Li Wuming pushed him aside, revealing the arrogant second-generation behind him.
"My friend, there's no need to escalate things. I haven't touched your girlfriend. You've slapped me once; that should be enough. It was a thoughtless mistake due to my drunken state."
The arrogant second-generation was trying to stay calm. He forced a smile, but the pain on his face made his muscles twitch, causing him further discomfort.
"A single apology won't suffice?"
"If you have other demands, just say them. I will do whatever I can!"
*"Heh!"*
*"Slap!"*
Xia Yu walked up to the arrogant second-generation with an expressionless face, coldly sneered, and then swiftly slapped the other side of his face, producing another loud crack.
*"Ah!"*
The arrogant second-generation cried out in pain, his face burning with pain and humiliation. Being hit in front of his friends and on his own turf was especially embarrassing for him.
A surge of rage welled up from his chest, but he managed to suppress it and didn't lash out. Instead, he forced another smile through the pain as he looked at Xia Yu.
The arrogant second-generation's reaction made Xia Yu frown. There was a significant difference between someone's behavior when drunk and when sober. He could endure this much, so he wasn't an easy opponent.
This could be troublesome!
Xia Yu knew well that a barking dog doesn't bite.
However, after landing two heavy slaps, Xia Yu's anger had mostly dissipated. If Li Qian had been touched, it would have been more than just two slaps; even breaking his hand would have been too lenient.
On someone else's turf and under public scrutiny, Xia Yu couldn't do much more to the arrogant second-generation. After venting his anger, it was time to end it.
"Let's go!"
Xia Yu glanced coldly at the others, then turned and led Yan Shining and the others away.
It wasn't until Xia Yu and his group disappeared from sight that the others around the arrogant second-generation finally breathed a sigh of relief.
One of them looked at the bodyguards still moaning and unable to get up, feeling a lingering fear, and said, "Damn, they're really tough. Who are these people?"
"Third Young Master, should we call the police? They might escape later."
Another person, noticing the dark expression on the arrogant second-generation's face, asked with concern.
The arrogant second-generation clenched his fists, his eyes filled with rage. He said through gritted teeth, "Don't call the police. As long as we're in Britain, they can't escape! Find out who they are first!"
When he was sober, the arrogant second-generation wouldn't blindly seek revenge. He needed to understand Xia Yu's background first. If he found out Xia Yu was someone he could handle, he would have ways to deal with him!
As for calling the police?
He couldn't afford to lose face. Reporting to the police would only escalate the situation. If word got out that he was beaten on his own turf, it would tarnish his reputation and impact his standing in the family. That's not something he wanted!
Moreover, given the efficiency of the British police, by the time they arrived, the culprits would already be gone.
*"Hiss… Ah"*
Unintentionally clenching his teeth, the arrogant second-generation's face tightened, causing him more pain, and he couldn't help but cry out in agony.
"Third Young Master, you should go to the hospital!"
The arrogant second-generation's subordinate quickly said, then helped him downstairs.
...
On the way back, and even while in his room that night, Xia Yu continuously comforted Li Qian to prevent the incident from leaving a lasting impact on her. With Xia Yu's reassurance, Li Qian felt significantly better.
A quiet night followed.
Early the next morning, Xia Yu and his group flew to Budapest, the capital of Hungary. He was going to meet Professor Ernő Rubik of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics to purchase the Rubik's Cube patent.
As for betting, it wouldn't be affected. Hungary, located in Central Europe, had numerous betting shops, making it easy to place bets.
Moreover, betting in Hungary was safer for Xia Yu and reduced the risk of exposure.
*"Woo…"*
The massive plane took off from Southampton Airport and soared into the sky.
Sitting in first class, Xia Yu looked at the shrinking buildings outside the window, his eyes filled with anticipation as he muttered, "Budapest, here I come! Let's hope I don't return empty-handed…"