Chapter 22: You've Been Deceived, Officer

"Ah!" Black Dog let out a harrowing, blood-curdling scream.

The men present felt a chill run down their spines, as if they, too, could sense a dull ache in a certain part of their bodies. The women, however, wore expressions of satisfaction and relief.

Monkey glanced at Black Dog's groin and sighed, unsure whether he was lamenting the end of a man's life or dreading how to explain the situation to the gang.

"I'll kill you! I'll kill you!" Black Dog roared like a demon, his voice twisted by the unbearable pain from below.

"Boss!" Black Dog's lackeys yelled again, yet none dared to rush forward.

"Boss, my ass! Move already! He wouldn't dare lay a hand on me!"

"Oh, really?" Xiang Ri's foot struck Black Dog's leg with force, bending it unnaturally.

"Are you all dead?! Forget me, kill him! Hack him to pieces!" Black Dog howled in madness, his manhood lost, the agony forgotten in his frenzied vow to butcher Xiang Ri.

"Charge!" With the kill order given, the gang leaders hesitated no more, raising their blades and rushing in.

Tie Wan's face turned pale. Even if that man was strong, he couldn't withstand such a number. She was just about to step in when something happened that she would never forget.

Xiang Ri's hand moved swiftly to his waist, and without a sound, a massive silver handgun appeared in his grip, pointed at the advancing thugs. A calm, disdainful smile played on his lips. It was one of the Desert Eagles he had confiscated earlier, carried on a whim.

"Boom!" The bar erupted into chaos. People who had been sitting scrambled to the floor, covering their heads, seeking shelter from the stray bullets.

The lackeys halted, frozen in place, never expecting such a turn of events. Their eyes locked on the menacing firearm, their bodies still poised mid-attack.

Monkey nearly fainted. The boss had been carrying a gun this whole time? Did he not realize it was illegal? And to pull it out in such a public space without a second thought—this world had truly gone insane!

"Desert Eagle," Tie Wan muttered bitterly under her breath.

"It's a fake!" Black Dog's voice rang out, vicious and defiant amidst the silent bar.

Bang! A deafening shot resounded, leaving a fist-sized crater just inches from Black Dog's face. Xiang Ri blew the smoke from the barrel, his motion impossibly cool. The women screamed, terrified.

The lackeys recoiled in terror, staring at the hole in the floor. If that shot had landed on someone, it would have left a gaping wound, large enough to send chills down their spines.

Black Dog's head was still ringing. Glaring at Xiang Ri's mocking gaze, rage erupted within him. "Go on, kill me if you dare!"

"Killing is illegal, you think I'm stupid enough to fall into your trap?" Xiang Ri removed his foot from Black Dog's leg, only to mercilessly kick the other one.

A sickening crack echoed as the leg twisted into a grotesque shape.

Black Dog's body convulsed, his head reflexively jerking upward from the unbearable pain, his mouth wailing in agony.

Those closest to the scene had already turned away, unable to stomach the violence. Some of the smaller thugs were covering their mouths, nauseous.

Tie Wan clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white, glaring at Xiang Ri with inner turmoil. Yes, murder was a crime, but what about this? Wasn't this still illegal? Black Dog might be a criminal, but he should be judged by the law, not at the mercy of a vigilante. As a police officer witnessing such brutality yet powerless to intervene, she became even more resolute—this violent madman must be brought to justice, or more people would suffer.

Finally, unable to endure the pain any longer, Black Dog summoned all his strength and pleaded, "Spare me!"

"Spare you?" Xiang Ri sneered, pressing down on his left arm with his foot. "Give me one good reason."

"I..."

"You're nothing but a beast! Just knowing scum like you exists makes me sick. I may be a rogue, but at least I'm a righteous one! Did you ever show mercy to those girls when they begged for their lives? When you violated them, did you ever think their hearts were bleeding? And when you murdered them in cold blood, did you ever imagine you'd end up like this?" Xiang Ri's cold eyes gleamed with murderous intent, impossible to conceal.

"Spare... spare me!" Black Dog groaned unconsciously.

"Spare you? I'll ruin you!" Xiang Ri, growing more furious with each passing moment, stomped down on both of Black Dog's arms, shattering them completely. Now with all five of his limbs crippled, Xiang Ri finally felt a sliver of justice for the women who had perished at Black Dog's hands.

Black Dog lay unconscious on the ground, overwhelmed by the pain.

"Get lost! Drag this dead dog out of my sight! I don't ever want to see you again!" Xiang Ri roared at Black Dog's lackeys.

Upon realizing that Xiang Ri had no intention of attacking them, the thugs hastily carried the limp, corpse-like Black Dog out of the bar.

"Boss, that was incredible! I want to be a righteous rogue too!" Monkey exclaimed, rushing toward Xiang Ri with admiration. He had no concern for Black Dog's fate. Even though the incident took place on his turf, he hadn't personally lifted a hand. In fact, he had advised Black Dog to leave. Black Dog had brought this upon himself, and except for his boss Dulang, most of the gang members had long despised him. Now that Black Dog was crippled but not dead, it wasn't a big deal. If the sky fell, the higher-ups would bear the weight.

"Get out of my face! I don't have time for you!" Xiang Ri laughed, cursing playfully as he stowed the weapon back in his coat. Suddenly, a thought struck him, and his face changed. "What time is it?"

"10:30," Monkey said, glancing at the clock on the wall.

"What?! I'm late, I'm late!" Xiang Ri groaned in frustration, dashing out the door.

Tie Wan's eyes lit up, immediately suspecting the timing had to do with some shady deal. She hurried after him.

"Monkey, who's that chick?" asked Fatty, surprised at how fast she could run in heels.

"Don't even think about it, Fatty! Let me warn you, that's the boss's girl. If you so much as touch her, I'll cut you myself!"

"I wasn't thinking that! I just meant—"

"Meant what? Hurry up and treat us! Damn it, we made thousands tonight—I want shark fin and bird's nest for dinner."

"..."

"You've been following me for a while now," Xiang Ri suddenly stopped, turning to face the mature, alluring woman trailing behind him.

"And? Is this street yours alone?" Tie Wan shot him a sultry smile.

"Honestly, I have my doubts."

"Doubts about what?" Tie Wan's heart skipped a beat, though her expression remained calm as she edged closer.

"Whether you actually fancy me and want to sleep with me," Xiang Ri replied with a teasing grin.

"You..."

"But tonight's no good—I have more important things to take care of." Xiang Ri cut her off, speaking to himself.

"Oh? And what could be more important than spending time with a woman who's, well, at least somewhat attractive?" Tie Wan feigned a wounded look, becoming more certain that a deal was about to take place in some hidden corner that night.

"I'm going home to my wife."

"You... you have a wife?" Tie Wan's eyes widened, her right hand subtly lifting in preparation.

"Is that so surprising?" Whether by design or coincidence, Xiang Ri shifted slightly to the right.

"Surprising indeed, given how young you are," Tie Wan replied casually, lowering her raised hand.

"That's nothing! In fact, I have a secret to tell you. Want to hear it?" Xiang Ri said, feigning an air of mystery.

"Of course! But are you really going to tell me? Aren't you afraid I'll spill it?" Tie Wan's interest was piqued.

"It's fine, as long as you don't tell the police," Xiang Ri winked.

"Alright, I promise!" Tie Wan said, brimming with excitement.

"Lean in close," Xiang Ri's eyes flashed with mischief.

"Hmm..." A flicker of unease passed through Tie Wan's heart, but the allure of the "secret" was too powerful to resist.

"I'll tell you!" Xiang Ri leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Actually, you've been deceived, Officer!" In a lightning-quick motion, he slapped her backside and dashed away, moving twice as fast as before.

Tie Wan stood frozen in disbelief. By the time she snapped out of it, all she could see was the fading silhouette of the man disappearing into the distance.