Establishing Dominance, Taking Revenge

Vuong Hi was a lone individual. His father was arrested by the government for theft early on and thrown into prison. His mother consequently ran off with a wild man. Lacking upbringing since childhood, after becoming sensible, he sold off the family's farmland, living a carefree life day by day, wandering between villages, stealing, his reputation utterly rotten.

But because his physique was robust and imposing, he could fight, and he spoke of "righteousness," so ruffians from his own village and others were willing to follow him.

Yesterday's daytime harvest wasn't as much as the day before. This led to Vuong Hi being unwilling to lead people down the mountain even as it neared dark. It wasn't until they found a wild boar, chased it for half a day, and finally caught it, that they fumbled their way down the mountain in the dark.

Perhaps because there were many people, aside from a few who suffered minor injuries, no one died.

It was too late when they returned. Same as before, Vuong Hi planned to distribute and eat the meat this morning.

Early in the morning, before the sky was bright, the villagers woke up, gathered at the east end of the village, and woke up Vuong Hi and his group of ruffians.

Then, a group of people carried the wild boar killed last night, went to the riverside to gut and butcher it, coincidentally encountering Han An Nuong washing clothes by the river.

Seeing Han An Nuong blush with fright and run away without even wanting her clothes, Vuong Hi, Luu Nhi Cau, and the other ruffians not only didn't feel a shred of remorse or that they had done anything wrong, but instead burst into unrestrained laughter, spewing vulgar words repeatedly.

"That Mistress Han's butt is really big, bounces when she runs, looks very fertile at a glance."

"Tran Dai was a pitiful fellow, spending so much money to marry her, yet had no fortune to enjoy her."

"If I could touch it once, I wouldn't be willing to wash this hand for a month."

"Bah! What are you talking about? That's the woman Bro Vuong Hi has his eyes on! Can you guys even think about it?"

"Bro Vuong Hi, my mistake."

"..."

Vuong Hi looked at the men who normally looked down on him, now scratching their heads and looking respectful. He knew his plan had succeeded.

This feeling of reverence was real; normally, he only saw it on others' faces when they confronted yamen runners.

He laughed and scolded Luu Nhi Cau: "Nhi Cau, don't get handsy. From now on, we're all our own brothers."

"Bro Vuong Hi teaches rightly."

The pot was already set up, the water already boiling, just waiting for the meat to be added.

Vuong Hi jumped onto a large stone, raised a bone-scraping knife, and said loudly, "From now on, everyone follow me, I'll definitely lead you to eat well and drink well! If I have a bite to eat, you will have a bite to eat!"

"Bro Vuong Hi is righteous!" Luu Nhi Cau shouted.

The group of ruffians who usually followed Vuong Hi also chimed in.

The surrounding villagers followed suit.

"Put in the meat!" Vuong Hi waved his arm and shouted.

The ruffians cut the meat into chunks, put them into the pot, and stewed them until tender.

Just as Vuong Hi was adding coarse salt to the pot, a villager beside him said, "Bro Mac is here."

"What's he here for?"

A group of ruffians also looked over.

Thump thump thump...

The sound of footsteps rang out. A youth in black clothes strode over. His build was quite tall, his face cold, his aura extraordinary. A wood-chopping knife was tucked into his waist. He looked like an unwelcome visitor.

"Yo, I didn't go looking for you, yet you dare to come?" Luu Nhi Cau's mouth revealed a sneer. He picked up a pig bone head that had just been discarded on the ground and walked over.

Luu Nhi Cau raised the bone in his hand, pointing at Tran Mac: "Stop right there for me!"

Tran Mac turned a deaf ear, walking straight over.

"Damn! Lao Tzu is talking to you! Didn't you hear?"

"Still acting tough with Lao Tzu!"

Luu Nhi Cau had long been annoyed with Tran Mac. At this moment, seeing him put on such airs, not putting him in his eyes, he was even more furious with no outlet. He raised the bone in his hand, gathered all his strength, and smashed it towards Tran Mac's forehead.

But the next second, that smashing bone was caught by Tran Mac with one hand.

Luu Nhi Cau hadn't even reacted when a big slap flew towards his face.

"Slap..."

A crisp sound. The crowd suddenly quieted; only the howling cold wind could be heard in their ears.

Luu Nhi Cau's face was slapped to one side. A tooth, along with thin blood, was knocked out of his mouth. His eyes bulged like copper bells. For a moment, he even forgot the pain on his face; instead, his anger soared. He spat out a mouthful of blood: "I..."

Just as he opened his mouth, he felt a huge force transmit. He, along with the bone, was pulled before Tran Mac. Before Luu Nhi Cau could regain his senses, he only felt his stomach churn, the pain making him wish he were dead. He crumpled to the ground like a soft-legged shrimp.

Tran Mac's face was icy. He kicked Luu Nhi Cau again, sending him flying several meters, dragging a long mark on the ground.

After knocking down Luu Nhi Cau, Tran Mac rushed towards the crowd, like a wolf among a flock of sheep. With three punches and two kicks, he beat the ruffians who had reacted and wanted to advance together to the ground.

Vuong Hi finally realized something was wrong. He glanced at the bone-scraping knife in his hand, felt it was too short, picked up a piece of firewood over two meters long from the ground, and swung it towards Tran Mac.

Swish—

Vuong Hi only saw a flash of blade light before him; the firewood in his hand was cut into two pieces.

Vuong Hi's heart was terrified. He then looked fierce, holding the remaining half and striking towards Tran Mac, but the next second, his chest received a heavy blow.

Tran Mac delivered a straight kick, fiercely kicking Vuong Hi in the stomach. The latter only felt a wave of pain transmit from his abdomen, then his face turned pale, the firewood in his hand slipped and fell, and he flew backward, rolling for several zhang before stopping.

Vuong Hi was burly and imposing, weighing upwards of one hundred and seventy jin.

But today, he was kicked five or six meters away by Tran Mac. Such an outcome made the group of villagers unable to believe it; each one looked at Tran Mac with horrified eyes.

"What are you dazed for?! Kill him for me!" Vuong Hi clutched his stomach, enduring the pain, his expression savage as he pointed at Tran Mac.

At this time, Tran Mac had successively put down over ten people. His expression was ruthless. He removed the handle from his waist, attached it to the wood-chopping knife, and slammed the knife hilt onto the ground. He suddenly took a step forward, his eyes sweeping around, shouting loudly, "Who dares to stop me?"

Swish!

The villagers who were preparing to surround him were scared into retreating together; some even threw away the weapons in their hands.

"Ha ha ha!"

Seeing this scene, Tran Mac couldn't help but laugh loudly. It was just that the laughter was a bit cold. He walked towards Vuong Hi step by step.

"What are you afraid of?! He's only one person! Get him for me..." Vuong Hi said in panic.

However, at this moment, Vuong Hi suddenly discovered the villagers' gazes towards him had changed.

The previous reverence for him gradually dissipated, instead shifting towards Tran Mac.

At this instant, Vuong Hi only felt a chill all over his body, his hands and feet icy cold.

"Noisy!"

Tran Mac kicked him in the face. Vuong Hi's head fiercely hit the ground, thump thud.

Then Tran Mac stepped on his head, patted Vuong Hi's face with the flat of the blade, and said icily, "Close your eyes."

"You... Bro Mac, you can't kill me! If you kill me, the government won't let you off! You... you'll have to pay with your life too!"

"Close your eyes."

"Don't want to..."

Vuong Hi's liver and gallbladder were split with fear.

Crack—

"Ah..."

Tran Mac's wood-chopping knife fell from high, the blunt side of the blade fiercely striking Vuong Hi's thigh.

Vuong Hi fainted from the pain...