Chapter 251: Tomorrow

"Seems... you're quite curious? Or perhaps in disbelief?" Xiang Ri taunted, his gaze fixed on the grotesque man across from him, his tone dripping with provocation.

In truth, Xiang Ri was indeed startled by the phenomenon of the ugly man's electrical discharge. But as he reflected on the absurdity of his own soul possessing a new body post-death, accepting the existence of an electrified grotesque man hardly seemed far-fetched by comparison.

Still, it had never occurred to him that the man could wield electricity. Moments earlier, just as Xiang Ri prepared to teach him a lesson, the grotesque figure had silently hurled a glowing object. Its speed was such that evasion was impossible, leaving Xiang Ri with no choice but to endure the hit.

Fortunately, the luminous projectile had no substantial effect apart from numbing his body momentarily. Of course, if he ever felt itchy, the grotesque man might serve as a convenient scratching post—though Xiang Ri doubted he'd agree to the arrangement.

"I hadn't expected you to be an ability user," the ponytailed man remarked calmly, drawing his own conclusions.

He'd already deduced why he hadn't noticed the grotesque man's powers earlier—his opponent must possess a tool capable of concealing energy fluctuations. This thought filled him with excitement. Such a tool would allow him to hide among ordinary people, rendering his pursuers powerless to locate him.

And this artifact of liberation, which promised him unbridled freedom, now lay with the seemingly muscle-bound oaf before him. All he needed to do was eliminate the man to claim it as his own.

Whether or not he could succeed in killing his opponent was irrelevant to the ponytailed man. Although the other had stood unscathed after taking a thunderbolt, it was only because he hadn't intended to kill him. He'd merely used a fraction of his energy to deliver a warning.

Moreover, that thunderbolt wasn't even his strongest ability! Confident in his prowess, the ponytailed man felt no concern.

Xi Ri, for his part, remained oblivious to the specifics of this "ability user" term but could infer its meaning—likely a reference to those with peculiar powers, such as the grotesque man's ability to discharge electricity.

But Xi Ri himself was no such person. His uniqueness lay in being a soul-bound wanderer. Such an advanced phenomenon would undoubtedly surpass the comprehension of the grotesque man, whose intellect seemed inversely proportional to his unsightly appearance. It was laughable that the man had lumped them together based on Xi Ri's resilience against an electric projectile—an insult of the highest order.

Xi Ri's gaze shifted to Chu Chu beside him. Her tear-streaked face tugged painfully at his heartstrings. Recalling her heart-wrenching cries moments ago, his resolve hardened as he turned a cold, piercing glare upon the ponytailed man. "What I am is irrelevant. What matters is that you dared to make the woman I love most cry. That's a price you cannot afford to pay."

Beside him, Chu Chu was overwhelmed by a wave of bliss. *The woman he loves most... Xi Ri said I'm the woman he loves most!* Her heart swelled with joy, and in that instant, she felt her life's purpose fulfilled.

Liu Yiyi, on the other hand, bore a far more complicated expression. Her gaze darted between the man making bold declarations and the radiant woman basking in happiness, as though trying to unravel some hidden truth.

A grating laugh shattered the moment. The ponytailed man pointed mockingly at Xi Ri, his voice dripping with derision. "Kid, I don't know who you are, but I have to admire your audacity. That woman you claim to love so much..." He trailed off, gesturing toward Chu Chu.

"If you dare continue, I promise you'll regret it!" Xi Ri interrupted icily, his eyes flashing with menace.

Without a word, he shifted subtly, positioning himself to shield the women while inching closer to the ponytailed man. Five meters—just five more meters. Xi Ri clenched his fist.

"Make me regret it? I'd like to see what you've got," the ponytailed man sneered, unfazed by Xi Ri's approach. Confident in his strength, he dismissed the notion that Xi Ri could pose any real threat. Even if the man somehow closed the distance with extraordinary speed, he doubted it would be enough to harm him.

With a flick of his fingers, the ponytailed man summoned a blue shield to encase himself—a luminous barrier that had never failed him.

"Care to test that theory?" Xi Ri muttered under his breath, a faint smirk curling his lips. Calculating the distance, he judged it sufficient.

With a sudden burst of speed, Xi Ri lunged forward, his fist crashing toward the ponytailed man.

"That's it?" the man scoffed, unimpressed by Xi Ri's movement. Just as he dismissed it entirely, a chilling sensation of impending danger clawed at his instincts. Without hesitation, he formed a hand seal. The blue barrier enveloped him instantly.

Yet, before he could feel secure, a peculiar sound rang out—*pop!*—as if something unseen collided with his shield. Electric arcs danced chaotically across its surface.

"Invisible energy attacks?" the ponytailed man thought, alarmed. Such an attack was unlike anything he'd encountered, save for mental assaults. He could only conclude that the mysterious artifact was at play again. The thought spurred his desire further. With that artifact, he could finally escape his pursuers.

Driven by greed, he cast all other considerations aside, focusing solely on defeating Xi Ri to claim the prized tool.

"Thunder!" the ponytailed man roared, conjuring a dazzling arc of blue lightning, which surged toward Xi Ri.

But Xi Ri didn't flinch. He knew that dodging would expose the women behind him. Based on his earlier experience, he was confident that these electric projectiles posed no real threat to him.

Though resolute, Xi Ri still exercised caution. He channeled the mysterious energy within him to his chest, readying himself for impact. This inner force, while not yet controllable enough for external attacks, could be directed anywhere within his body with ease.

It was a skill born from necessity—an accidental mastery acquired during a near-fatal car accident. Without it, he'd have perished countless times over.

Had he mastered this technique earlier, he might have spared himself significant regret. With his right hand enveloped in the mysterious energy within him, piercing through a concrete wall would not have left him gravely injured—in fact, even the faintest scratch would have been unimaginable. 

A sharp crack resounded as the electric arc struck Xiang Ri square in the chest. Yet, aside from scattering like water splashed against him, it bore no effect whatsoever. 

"Impossible!" This singular thought reverberated in the minds of both the ponytail man and the ice-cold beauty. 

While shock coursed through the ponytail man, it was eclipsed by an all-consuming fervor. He was utterly convinced that this phenomenon was the work of a miraculous artifact—one he now coveted with every fiber of his being. To acquire it, he would not hesitate to kill the so-called "worthless man" before him. 

Liu Yiyi, on the other hand, was stupefied, her disbelief writ large. She had witnessed, with her own eyes, how even captain-level powerhouses sustained grievous injuries from a mere touch of such an arc—flesh charred, blood spat. Yet, here stood this man, unscathed, his skin as smooth as before, devoid of even the faintest blemish. 

Xiang Ri had already closed the distance and swung another punch. 

The ponytail man, caught off guard by the earlier strike, had no time to evade—not that he intended to. In his view, physical attacks were laughably inferior to the devastating potential of supernatural abilities. To rely on brute strength alone was tantamount to courting death. 

Little did he realize, Xiang Ri's true lethal power lay precisely in his physical prowess. Though his immense strength was often constrained, it was fully unleashed upon direct contact. 

A deafening "bang" echoed as Xiang Ri's fist collided with the blue shield. The moment the strike landed, the shield dimmed noticeably, its shimmering surface hinting at imminent collapse. 

The ponytail man, scrambling to form another hand seal and conjure a new shield, was too late. Xiang Ri's knee was already driving forward with unrelenting force. With his right hand yet to recover, and his left having just delivered a punch, his right knee remained his swiftest available weapon. 

As anticipated, the blue shield shattered beneath the brutal impact. Like shards of a broken glass bottle, it disintegrated into countless glowing fragments, each fading into the ether. 

But Xiang Ri's assault was far from over. His knee continued its trajectory, striking the ponytail man directly. Fatefully—or rather, tragically—the point of impact was none other than the most vital part of a man's anatomy. 

A soul-rending scream tore through the air as the ponytail man clutched at the injured area, only to discover a formless, mangled mess beneath his trembling fingers. 

The sheer agony robbed him of the presence of mind to use his prized abilities to numb the injury, forfeiting any chance of retaliation. Yet, as his hands confirmed the irreparable loss, the realization plunged him into a harrowing abyss of physical torment and mental despair. 

Xiang Ri was never one to show mercy. His philosophy in life adhered strictly to the principle of "strike while the enemy is weak," especially when the opponent had dared to verbally insult his woman. This only made his retaliation even more ruthless. 

Watching the ugly man wailing on the floor, Xiang Ri delivered a swift kick, sending him flying out the door. Not satisfied, he dashed outside, landed another kick, and launched the man even farther, as though he were a soccer ball. 

Since his next actions were bound to be even more brutal, Xiang Ri had no intention of letting the women inside witness them. He didn't want to taint their impression of him by revealing his bloodthirsty nature. 

Glancing behind and confirming no one had followed him out, likely because they were still in shock, Xiang Ri turned his gaze to the man sprawled on the ground, now resembling a dead dog. With a look of disdain, he stomped viciously on the man's mouth. 

A peculiar "pfft" sound escaped, akin to air leaking from a punctured balloon. This was followed by a loud "blegh" as the ponytail man spat out a mouthful of crimson blood, along with several small, pebble-like objects. 

"Trash. Did you really think your little electric trick made you invincible? Beating you only took one hand," Xiang Ri sneered shamelessly, conveniently forgetting that he had just used his knee to strike the man's most sensitive area. 

Still feeling unsatisfied, he stomped again on the same spot, fully intending to ensure the man lost every last tooth. Of course, if the ponytail man hadn't been so foul-mouthed earlier, perhaps he wouldn't have ended up in such a miserable state. 

Though the man had already passed out, Xiang Ri wasn't ready to let him off so easily. His gaze shifted downward, locking onto the man's lower body. If he stomped there again, perhaps the man would wake up, only to continue living the nightmare anew. 

Just as Xiang Ri was entertaining this wicked thought, several figures approached swiftly. Assuming they were reinforcements for the ugly man, Xiang Ri immediately planted his foot on the man's vital area, standing at the ready. His intention was twofold: to deter the newcomers and to savor the "melodious" cries of the unfortunate man beneath him. 

However, to Xiang Ri's surprise, among the group were three familiar faces. 

"Eh? Why is it you lot?" Xiang Ri remarked, eyeing the raggedly dressed man whose chest bore a charred wound and whose cheek displayed three thin claw marks—clearly not someone to be trifled with. He then turned to the others: a red-haired man, a tall figure, and a pale pretty boy. If his memory served, these were the agents codenamed "Red," "Black," and "White," supposedly sent to protect him but in truth meant to keep him under surveillance. 

Piecing together the earlier conversation between the ice-cold beauty and the ugly man, and noting the burn mark on the fierce-looking man's chest, Xiang Ri deduced these must be the companions the ice beauty had mentioned. 

Yet, the newcomers had no intention of answering Xiang Ri's questions. Their eyes remained fixed on the ponytail man, who lay beneath Xiang Ri's foot, groaning pitifully. 

In fact, one of the captain-level figures in the group had already suspected a trap when the target went missing earlier. Leading his team back in haste, he feared the worst upon returning. 

But the scene before them exceeded even their most pessimistic expectations. The formidable "Great White Shark" lay sprawled on the ground, mercilessly trampled by a seemingly frail man with an injured right hand. 

Relief mingled with cold sweat as they took in the sight. What truly made their blood run cold, however, was the realization that Xiang Ri's foot rested on the very symbol of the Great White Shark's manhood. Judging by the grotesque mess of red, white, and yellow beneath that foot, it was clear that the organ in question would never again fulfill its primordial function. 

The group exchanged uneasy glances. As men, witnessing such a scene inevitably stirred a shared sense of dread and sympathy, like foxes mourning the death of a hare. 

However, Xiang Ri clearly had no intention of letting them linger in their sentiments. Pressing forward, he demanded, "Hey, why so silent?" 

Startled back to their senses, the captain opened his mouth to speak, but the fiery red-haired youth stepped forward first, whispering a quick explanation of Xiang Ri's identity. 

The captain's expression flickered with surprise before returning to composure. He hesitantly pointed to the unfortunate figure on the ground and asked, "Did you take him down?" 

"Got a problem with that?" Xiang Ri waved his left hand dismissively, inwardly scoffing. These guys had clearly failed to subdue the opponent, had been toyed with, and hadn't even managed to snag a single advantage. Now they dared to question his capabilities? Pathetic. 

Despite his disdain, Xiang Ri knew he had to give them some credit. After all, they were sent by the government and had just saved his father-in-law's family. It wouldn't do to burn bridges. 

"Apologies, I may have been... a bit heavy-handed. If you're hoping to get any information out of him, you might need to wait for him to recover. Uh... about his teeth... well, I think you've already noticed," Xiang Ri muttered awkwardly. 

Judging by the expressions on their faces—expressions that suggested they wanted to eat the ugly man alive—he figured they had hoped to extract some information from him. Instead, Xiang Ri had beaten him so thoroughly that he couldn't even open his mouth, let alone speak. Admittedly, this left Xiang Ri feeling a bit at fault. 

The newcomers nearly staggered at Xiang Ri's nonchalant words. Heavy-handed? That man wasn't someone you could simply overpower with a bit more force. If it were that easy, they wouldn't even have been needed! 

Though their thoughts churned, one shared assumption emerged among them: the "Great White Shark" must have been gravely injured—perhaps from that gaping wound at his side—and had lost most of his combat ability. While targeting a few civilians, he had the misfortune of crossing paths with someone as unyielding as Xiang Ri, who then capitalized on the situation and beat him half to death. 

But Xiang Ri's next words shattered their assumptions entirely: "By the way, what was that guy, anyway? He could generate electricity? If my punches weren't strong enough, I wouldn't have been able to crack open that shell of his—y'know, the transparent thing that glowed blue like a lightbulb." 

The group collectively froze, startled by the implications. Though Xiang Ri's explanation was rough, it revealed key details. A glance at his chest confirmed their suspicions: scorch marks were indeed visible, yet his skin remained untouched. Their bodies stiffened with shock. 

Exchanging another look, they found mutual astonishment mirrored in one another's eyes. This man wasn't merely lucky; he had endured a grueling battle. Judging by his tone, that so-called "Thunder Shield" of the unlucky opponent had been forcibly shattered with nothing more than Xiang Ri's fists. My God, could such a monstrous person truly exist? 

The captain nodded firmly, a decision already forming in his mind. No matter what it took, he had to recruit this freakishly powerful man into their ranks. His original plan to test Xiang Ri's combat abilities himself was promptly abandoned. 

At that moment, the group in the hall—having finally recovered from their shock—came running outside. When they saw a few additional faces present and the primary culprit lying twitching on the ground, they all exhaled in relief. 

"Xiang Kui!" A woman, with tears brimming in her eyes, threw herself into his arms and embraced him tightly. 

Xiang Ri gently stroked her hair, drawing her tenderly into his embrace. At the same time, he used his body to shield her eyes from the gruesome scene before them. 

The Ice Queen cast a glance, laden with complexity, at the affectionate couple. Without a word, she turned and walked calmly to her companions. 

Meanwhile, as the host, Chu A naturally extended his gratitude. Beyond the fact that these people had saved his family, he was particularly indebted because among them was someone who had saved his life three years ago. 

"Captain Zhong, I truly cannot thank you enough. If it weren't for you..." 

"Mr. Chu, you're too kind. Our mission was to apprehend the fugitive escapee. It's simply our duty," the captain replied courteously, though his demeanor betrayed a wary respect. Despite Chu A holding no official position, his status as one of the nation's wealthiest individuals made him an influential figure. A mere shake of his hand could ripple through the entire economy, and such a person had to be handled with care. 

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Chu A invited the group to continue their discussion at one of his other villas. His current residence was in no condition to host guests, with its interior thoroughly wrecked from the earlier chaos. 

Fortunately, as the owner of the True Dragon Villa District, Chu A had several smaller villas nearby that he usually reserved for entertaining clients. Lodging was the least of his concerns. 

However, the captain declined his hospitality. "Mr. Chu, you know we have other tasks at hand. We wouldn't want to impose." 

With that, he cast a glance at the man still engrossed with his girlfriend, then hefted the unconscious "Great White Shark," now as limp as a ragdoll, and departed with his team. 

Their departure was swift, facilitated by a vehicle they had discreetly stationed at the mansion's entrance. This avoided any awkward spectacle of someone carrying a bloodied figure in broad daylight. 

The captain's urgency wasn't merely to leave but to uncover the full story of what had transpired after they left to chase the fugitive. Lan, who had stayed behind to protect the Chu family, would undoubtedly have the clearest account. Through her, he could determine Xiang Ri's true strength. 

Chu A, understanding their professional obligations, did not press them to stay. He retrieved a car from the garage and, with his wife, daughter, and son-in-law, headed to the nearest villa. Many of the household staff resided there, ensuring that they would be well cared for upon arrival. 

During the drive, Chu Chu recounted the sequence of events to Xiang Ri, filling in the gaps of what he had only partially guessed. This time, Chu A did not interrupt her, remaining silent with a dark expression, lost in thought. 

At the villa, the staff were curious about their master's unexpected appearance but refrained from questioning him. They understood their place and knew better than to pry into matters beyond their purview, lest they risk their positions. 

After taking a bath upstairs, Xiang Ri changed into clean clothes. These happened to belong to his brother-in-law, whom he had only met once and found rather unremarkable. The outfit, unworn for years, still fit Xiang Ri well. 

Although the formal suit felt somewhat restrictive, it was certainly better than returning to his tattered attire. 

Just as he finished dressing, his phone rang. Remarkably, despite the earlier chaos, the battered old device still functioned, a testament to its uncanny resilience. 

The call was from Miss An, who was worried about his prolonged absence and scolded him at length. Xiang Ri briefly explained the situation and promised to return soon, which finally appeased her. 

Downstairs, the Chu family had already changed into fresh clothes and were seated in the living room. When Xiang Ri expressed his intent to leave, Chu Chu became anxious, insisting on accompanying him. 

Her parents, however, adamantly refused, particularly her mother, who had only recently reunited with her daughter. Persuaded by her mother's pleas, Chu Chu reluctantly bid Xiang Ri farewell. 

Though tempted to stay, Xiang Ri ultimately decided against it. He had already promised Miss An he would return, and as it was his first visit to the An family home—having borrowed their car—it would be rude to delay further. 

Just as he reached the door, Chu A called out to him. "Let me have someone drive you." 

Momentarily stunned, Xiang Ri politely declined. "Thank you, Uncle Chu, but I still have a car parked nearby. I can manage on my own." 

As he spoke, a subtle intuition struck him. Chu A's demeanor toward him had noticeably shifted. Though he couldn't pinpoint the exact change, one thing was clear: the elder's attitude had softened considerably. Perhaps it was gratitude for saving his family today. 

Xiang Ri mused to himself, *In the past, would that old man have even offered to send someone to drive me? A curt 'Leave!' would have been his most polite response.* 

"Mm." Chu A nodded slightly, watching his future son-in-law depart. Glancing at his visibly displeased daughter beside him, he let out a long sigh. 

"Xiang Kui, why did you even change your clothes?" Although she had heard an explanation over the phone, it had been brief, and An Xin hadn't caught any mention of the wardrobe change. 

"My clothes were torn, so I had no choice but to change," Xiang Ri replied with a wry smile. Turning toward An Laohu, who sat in the main seat, he added apologetically, "I'm sorry, Uncle, for being delayed by other matters." 

"It's all right. Young people should have such drive," An Laohu responded with a hearty laugh. 

But Xiang Ri's next words froze that smile on his face. "About your car, Uncle—I think it might need to be replaced." 

Though his words were tactful, An Laohu caught the implication. His cheerful expression shifted to a strained one, and inwardly, he cursed this profligate son-in-law. That car, obtained through considerable effort and connections, was one of a kind. To have it ruined on its very first outing—now that stung. 

Did Xiang Ri think such cars were easy to replace? But despite his inner fury, An Laohu maintained his facade of magnanimity. "Replace it if you must. I wasn't all that fond of it anyway, haha…" Even as he laughed, his heart bled; that car had been a personal favorite. 

Naturally, Xiang Ri saw through the forced smile, realizing that An Laohu wasn't indifferent about the car but was simply refraining from scolding his future son-in-law outright. 

Feeling awkward, Xiang Ri quickly offered, "Uncle, how about I buy you an identical one to replace it?" 

"No need for that. It's the thought that counts," An Laohu replied politely. However, he inwardly doubted this son-in-law's ability to procure such a car. While he had heard from his eldest son about multiple parties attempting to bail Xiang Ri out during his police station stint—suggesting the man had some connections—An Laohu still wasn't convinced of his capabilities. 

Though An Laohu chose to let the matter drop, his eldest son, An Wen, was less forgiving. As the heir apparent to the An family, he had his own grievances. 

That car, which he had yet to drive himself, had been taken out and wrecked by this upstart brother-in-law, who spoke as if such a vehicle could be obtained at will. Infuriated, he decided to provoke Xiang Ri. "Fine. Since you're offering to replace it, I'll graciously accept. I actually liked that car quite a bit. When can I expect it?" 

"Big Brother—!" An Xin couldn't tolerate anyone speaking so snidely to her man, not even her own brother. 

"Tomorrow," Xiang Ri interjected, catching the taunt in An Wen's tone. He knew the car would be difficult to acquire but agreed nonetheless. 

If worse came to worst, he could turn to General Chen. With the man owing him a considerable favor, Xiang Ri was confident he wouldn't refuse. 

"Good. I'll be waiting," An Wen said before leaving the room, heading upstairs. 

"Dad, look at Big Brother! He's bullying me!" An Xin pouted, clinging to her father. 

"There, there, my precious. I'll deal with him later!" An Laohu doted on his beloved daughter, always indulging her whims. Turning to Xiang Ri, he added with an apologetic glance, "Xiao Xiang, don't take it to heart. That's just how he is. Rest assured, I'm the one who calls the shots in this household. As for the car, let's not make a big deal out of it—it's settled!" 

An Laohu's words were as much about preserving Xiang Ri's dignity as they were about pragmatism. He knew all too well how challenging it was to obtain that car. Even a month wouldn't suffice, let alone a single day. 

Despite his distaste for the pompous eldest son, Xiang Ri chose not to pursue the matter. With both his future wife and father-in-law standing by him, he saw no need to escalate things. 

Still, he couldn't help but smirk inwardly, imagining An Wen's reaction when the car arrived tomorrow. While he now understood how difficult it would be to procure the vehicle, having General Chen as a reliable ally made it a trivial task. 

Yet another headache loomed on the horizon. Tomorrow was Sunday, and he'd promised a certain lanky girl to help her with a basketball game. What a bother!