Who hits whom?

"Damn it! Ah Fei, don't hit the head! I just washed this car this morning..." The driver, a burly man, shouted as he saw Ah Fei—the bag snatcher—raise an iron pipe to strike Xia Yunjie's head through the rearview mirror.

But before the driver could finish his sentence, a loud "bang!" echoed inside the car. The sound of the iron pipe hitting a skull reverberated, followed by Ah Fei clutching his head and screaming shrilly, "My head, my head! It's bleeding!"

The car suddenly fell into an eerie silence. The only sound was Ah Fei's wailing as he clutched his head. Everyone, including the driver, stared blankly at Xia Yunjie through the rearview mirror. Xia, now holding the iron pipe, played with it nonchalantly as if nothing had happened.

None of them could figure out what just transpired. Clearly, Ah Fei was the one holding the pipe, and it was aimed at Xia Yunjie's head. How did everything suddenly turn around?

"Unexpectedly, little brother, you're a martial artist, huh? No wonder you dared to meddle in our affairs and storm into our lair alone!" The bald man, evidently their leader, quickly regained his composure. He glared at Xia Yunjie with a mixture of menace and wariness.

"Your lair? You dare call yourselves a lair of dragons and tigers? Please, don't be so shameless," Xia Yunjie retorted sarcastically.

"You bastard! Get him!" Furious at Xia's mockery, the bald man cursed and swung an iron pipe at Xia Yunjie's head.

The others immediately joined the fray.

As the saying goes, even a master can be overwhelmed by numbers. They believed that with three people attacking in such a confined space, even a seasoned martial artist like Xia Yunjie would end up defenseless.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" Three sharp clashes of iron pipes against skulls resounded inside the vehicle, followed by three agonized screams. Then came the screech of an emergency brake—the driver had slammed on the brakes in terror, seeing his boss and the others clutch their bleeding heads.

"If you don't want your head to end up like theirs, you'd better drive quietly. Head to Nanshan Road," Xia Yunjie instructed calmly, lightly tapping the driver's head with the cold iron pipe.

The driver shuddered under the touch of the pipe, cold sweat streaming down his forehead.

"Yes, yes, I'll drive right away," he stammered, his trembling hands restarting the car.

Seeing the vehicle back on the road, Xia Yunjie's expression softened slightly. He then gripped the iron pipe with both hands, effortlessly bending and straightening it like an exercise bar.

Watching this, the bald man and his companions, who were nursing their injuries, broke out in a cold sweat. It was a genuine iron pipe! Yet this young man was treating it as a toy. What kind of monster was he? If he suddenly decided to test their "soft arms and legs" with it...

The bald man gulped, his once-prized muscular arms suddenly seeming frail and tender.

"This… Sir, I, Bald Qiang, failed to recognize your greatness. I apologize! I promise we won't bother you again!" Despite his notoriety in Jiangzhou, where he led a gang of car thieves, pickpockets, and bag snatchers, Bald Qiang was utterly subdued. His voice quivered with fear as he apologized.

"An apology? Does that mean I can hit you with a pipe and just say sorry afterward?" Xia Yunjie retorted disdainfully, still toying with the "exercise bar."

Hearing this, Bald Qiang and his men felt like crying. Justice? What justice? Who hit whom here?

"Well then, what do you want, Sir?" Bald Qiang cautiously asked, his usual bravado reduced to that of a trembling, submissive figure.

Xia Yunjie didn't answer but instead turned to the trembling Ah Fei, who looked as if he deeply regretted every decision that had led him here. "You know what to do," Xia said flatly.

Ah Fei blinked in confusion, then suddenly realized. He turned to Bald Qiang and the others, shouting, "Hand over all your wallets!" He nearly sounded like a robber himself.

"What the hell, Ah Fei, are you out of your mind?" Furious, Bald Qiang slapped Ah Fei on the head.

Ah Fei clutched his head in grievance, glancing at both Bald Qiang and Xia Yunjie.

"What's wrong, Qiang? Don't want to cooperate?" Xia Yunjie asked, his voice calm but chilling.

Bald Qiang, mid-rage, felt a bucket of cold water douse his fury. Realizing that Ah Fei wasn't crazy—he himself was—Bald Qiang hurriedly pulled out his wallet and handed it over to Ah Fei.

Seeing this, the others, including the driver, followed suit, surrendering their wallets.

Ah Fei counted the cash and handed it respectfully to Xia Yunjie. "Six hundred fifty-one yuan and thirty cents, Sir."

"That's it? With your setup, I thought you'd have at least a thousand. This is just pocket change," Xia Yunjie scoffed, tossing the coins back at Ah Fei.

Seeing Xia's gaze shift to Bald Qiang's gleaming gold necklace, Ah Fei immediately understood. "Qiang, the necklace!" he demanded.

Though reluctant, Bald Qiang removed the necklace and handed it over. The others, realizing their necklaces were fake, wisely stayed quiet.

Satisfied, Xia Yunjie pocketed the cash and real necklace before addressing Bald Qiang, "Remember this lesson. Next time, carry more cash and wear real gold. Fake stuff is embarrassing."

"Yes, Sir, we won't dare trouble you again!" Bald Qiang promised tearfully.

"Good. Driver, stop the car and let them out. Too many people, the air feels stifling," Xia instructed.

The driver immediately pulled over. Bald Qiang and his crew disembarked, their faces filled with despair as they watched the van speed away.

Who was the real gangster here?

The Deya Community was a bit far from Nanshan Road. Normally, taking a bus would take at least half an hour, but with a private ride, the trip was much quicker. By about 4:40 p.m., Xia Yunjie had arrived at Nanshan Road.

Feeling that he still had time to spare, Xia Yunjie got off at the entrance of Nanshan Road. As soon as he stepped out, the Jinbei van sped away, disappearing as if afraid he might chase after them.

Nanshan Road, lined with lush greenery and bars aplenty, was the most famous bar street in Jiangzhou City. Walking along it, people often found themselves immersed in a fleeting, dreamlike night. The street offered a variety of bars—some noisy and rock-infused, others chic and steeped in bourgeois vibes, and even a few quaint, refined ones with carefully curated environments. Once evening fell, the street came alive with neon lights, exuding an allure unique to the night.

For now, however, it was still daytime. Nanshan Road remained quiet, with only a few pedestrians strolling under the shade of towering phoenix trees that lined the road, providing a rare respite from the summer heat.

With his work prospects looking bright and having just gained an unexpected windfall, Xia Yunjie felt relieved for the first time in a while. His pockets now held 800 yuan in cash and a gold necklace worth around 4,000 to 5,000 yuan. Strolling leisurely along Nanshan Road, he finally allowed himself to relax.