The street had gone deathly quiet.

  Moments ago, it had been filled with gasps, whispers, and the low, ugly excitement that always followed the appearance of someone powerful throwing their weight around. Now, every pair of eyes was fixed on me instead.

  They stared as if they couldn’t quite process what they were seeing. A bystander, someone who had been standing among them only moments ago, stepping in and beating down the so-called mysterious senior who had dominated the scene with impunity.

  I straightened, blood dripping from my knuckles, and turned slowly toward the crowd.

  “Have you all gone deaf?” I said.

  My voice carried farther than I expected, sharp and cutting. I didn’t raise it much, but there was something in it that made people flinch anyway.

  “Screw off.”

  The words came out harsher than I intended. Or maybe not. I wasn’t usually this irritable, this eager to bare my teeth, but I could feel it bubbling up regardless. It was the part of me that didn’t bother with politeness, that didn’t tolerate spectators enjoying another man’s suffering. Maybe it was the adrenaline. Maybe it was the Yakuza Man in me surfacing.

  Either way, it worked.

  People averted their gazes, muttering under their breath as they backed away. Some hurried off as if afraid I might turn on them next. Within moments, the street cleared, leaving behind only the cracked stones, the groaning cultivator on the ground, the limping white-haired swordsman, and Tao Fang.

  I noticed Tao Fang first.

  He was staring at me, eyes wide, posture stiff, and his expression was… impressed?

  Yeah, that was the only word for it. His usually composed features were animated now, eyes shining with something dangerously close to admiration, like a disciple watching a legend descend from a storybook.

  The look was far too burdensome.

  I deliberately ignored him and turned my attention inward instead.

  My system interface flickered into view.

  [NAME: YAKUZA MAN]

  [LEVEL: 106]

  Health: 100%

  Energy: 20%

  Awesomeness: 40 + 5

  Swiftness: 32

  Toughness: 32

  Life Token: 2 / 3

  [INVENTORY]

  [SHOP]

  I exhaled slowly and allocated the points I’d gained without ceremony, spreading them where they felt right.

  Behind me, Huang Long let out a wet groan.

  I turned and kicked him squarely on the head, not hard enough to kill him, but enough to drive the message home.

  “Stay down,” I said.

  His status flickered.

  [Health: 1%]

  Dangerously low.

  I stopped there.

  He wasn’t going anywhere, and neither was I interested in pushing this any further. I could feel my energy ticking upward at a steady pace, the familiar mechanic kicking in, basic attacks feeding recovery of Energy, the rhythm of violence returning something it had taken.

  Tao Fang finally spoke.

  “Senior,” he said carefully, cupping his fists. “I am grateful for your intervention… but that man came from a greater domain. Won’t this cause you trouble?”

  I shot Tao Fang a glare sharp enough to cut stone.

  “This is your fault,” I said flatly. “If you hadn’t stepped in, I wouldn’t have intervened either.”

  Tao Fang stiffened.

  “Senior—”

  “Don’t,” I snapped. “Do you have any idea how close you were to getting beaten half to death just now?”

  He hesitated, then lowered his gaze. “I… I was not aware at first that he came from a greater domain.”

  That only irritated me further.

  “You’re old,” I continued, not bothering to soften my words. “You should be thinking about how many years you have left, not charging in because of youthful passion or whatever heroic fantasy you thought you were fulfilling.”

  Tao Fang’s shoulders slumped. He cupped his fists and bowed his head. “This one apologizes. The doctrines of my Peaceful Lake Sect demand that I intervene when injustice occurs.”

  I stared at him.

  “Peaceful my ass,” I said. “You drew a sword. I thought you’d at least try to talk it out.”

  He opened his mouth, then closed it again, clearly realizing there was no winning this argument.

  I sighed and rubbed my face.

  What was done was done. The beating had already happened, and there was no rewinding it. I looked down at Huang Long’s unconscious body, sprawled on the street like discarded refuse. For a moment, I felt an uncomfortable tug in my chest.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Just like Tao Fang, maybe I’d been swept up by something I didn’t fully control.

  On any normal day, I wouldn’t have done something this brutal. I would have stayed back, weighed the risks, and told myself it wasn’t my problem. I wanted to blame the Yakuza Man persona, the way it crept into my bones when things turned ugly. Or maybe it was that ridiculous ‘Man of Chivalry’ title, nudging me toward action when I should have known better.

  Either way, excuses didn’t change reality.

  I pinched the bridge of my nose.

  “What now?” I muttered to myself. “Bury him somewhere?”

  No. That was stupid.

  People had seen everything.

  Before I could dwell on it further, the white-haired young man limped closer and bowed deeply. “Benefactor, my name is Jia Bao. May I know your honored name?”

  Before I could answer, Tao Fang spoke up. “This is Senior Yakuza Man, a hidden expert.”

  I shot him a look.

  I didn’t need the introduction, thanks.

  I bent down, hoisted Huang Long up, and slung him over my shoulder like a sack of grain. His body was lighter than I expected.

  Jia Bao straightened, eyes determined. “If consequences come, I am willing to take responsibility—”

  “Fuck off,” I said without looking at him. “And cherish your life.”

  He froze, then bowed again, chastened.

  Footsteps rushed toward us.

  “Grandfather!” Tao Yu’s voice rang out, breathless. She arrived moments later, sweat beading on her brow. “Why did you suddenly leave me?”

  Her gaze shifted to Huang Long’s limp body on my shoulder, then to my bloodstained clothes. She frowned deeply. “What happened?”

  I didn’t answer her directly.

  “Where’s the official residence of the lord of Xincheng?” I asked instead.

  The three of them exchanged looks, confused, wary, and more than a little nervous.

  Tao Fang cleared his throat. “Senior… what do you intend to do to the lord of Xincheng?”

  I raised an eyebrow. “What kind of look is that? Do you think I’m going to beat him up?”

  He didn’t answer, which was answer enough.

  “We’re filing a complaint,” I said. “You,” I pointed at Tao Fang, “are a witness. You,” I pointed at Jia Bao, “are the victim.”

  Tao Yu’s eyes widened. “Complaint? What’s happening?!”

  I started walking.

  Tao Yu cried out again and hurried after us, her footsteps quick and uneven.

  “Senior, what is going on?” she asked breathlessly. “Why are we going to the lord of Xincheng?”

  I honestly had no idea where this would lead. Still, if I had to place my bet somewhere, I would place it on the goodwill of others. Specifically, on the lord of Xincheng.

  Back on Earth, politicians were almost universally viewed through a negative lens. Bad government, corruption, and incompetence were ideas came first and almost reflexively when they were involved. But that perception was flawed. Governments were not created with malicious intent. At their core, they existed to establish order, to enforce rules so that people could live without constantly fearing one another.

  This world was different, but the principle should remain the same.

  I might have been digging my own grave, but at the very least, I was doing something fundamentally right.

  I was turning in a criminal.

  I stopped abruptly.

  Tao Yu walked straight into my back with a small yelp, while Tao Fang nearly collided with her as he turned around. Jia Bao hobbled to a stop behind us, breathing heavily, his face pale from blood loss and pain.

  “What’s wrong?” Tao Yu asked.

  I glanced past her and frowned.

  “Can’t you see he’s injured?” I said sharply. “Why aren’t you offering him a hand?”

  Tao Yu stiffened, flustered. “I—I—”

  She quickly moved to Jia Bao’s side and offered her shoulder. Jia Bao leaned against her gratefully, though his steps remained unsteady.

  I shook my head. “If you support him like that, it’ll take us forever to get there.”

  She looked at me, confused. “Then what should I do?”

  “Give him a piggyback.”

  She blinked. “A… piggyback?”

  “Carry him on your back,” I said. “Properly. That way you won’t strain his injuries further.”

  Tao Fang cleared his throat. “Yu’er, you must listen more carefully. If you do not understand, how will you know what to do?”

  I turned my gaze on Tao Fang.

  He immediately looked away.

  Tao Yu knelt down in front of Jia Bao and spoke softly. “Please, get on my back.”

  Jia Bao recoiled as if struck. “Absolutely not. It would be undignified to make a woman carry me.”

  I sighed.

  “If you keep dawdling,” I said flatly, “I will kick your ass and carry you myself.”

  Jia Bao flinched.

  A moment later, he awkwardly climbed onto Tao Yu’s back, his face burning red with embarrassment. Tao Yu staggered slightly, then steadied herself and rose, carrying him with surprising resolve.

  I nodded, satisfied.

  As we resumed walking, I turned to Tao Fang. “Should we look for the cops first?”

  He frowned. “Cops?”

  I paused, searching my mind for the right word.

  “Guards?” I tried. “Constables? Militia?”

  Tao Fang looked thoughtful but uncertain.

  I waved it off. “Never mind.”

  This was already beyond something that could be handled quietly. The man I had beaten was clearly important, and pretending otherwise would only make things worse.

  “Take us to Lord Meng’s official residence,” I said.

  Tao Fang hesitated for only a moment, then nodded.

  “This way.”

  We reached the official residence of Lord Meng sooner than I expected.

  The compound stood apart from the surrounding streets, enclosed by high stone walls and a massive wooden gate reinforced with iron bands. Two guards stood watch at the entrance, spears held firmly in their hands. The moment they saw us approach, they stiffened.

  Their eyes lingered on me.

  More specifically, on the man slung over my shoulder.

  The guards stepped forward in unison and crossed their spears, blocking the way.

  “Halt,” one of them barked, his voice tight. “State your business at the lord’s residence.”

  “Turn back at once,” the other added, his gaze flicking between my bloodstained clothes and Huang Long’s limp form. “This is not a place for troublemakers.”

  One of them swallowed and asked cautiously, “Is that man… alive?”

  “He is,” I replied evenly.

  The second guard leaned closer, squinting at Huang Long’s face. His expression changed abruptly, color draining from his cheeks.

  “That—That’s one of the lord’s guests,” he said, his voice rising. “How dare you injure him!”

  Both guards immediately shifted their stances, spear tips angling toward me.

  Tao Fang stepped forward before I could speak. He cupped his fists respectfully and bowed.

  “We mean no offense,” he said calmly. “We seek an audience with Lord Meng to present a criminal and explain the circumstances surrounding this incident. As it is a sensitive matter involving outsiders, we deemed it inappropriate to resolve elsewhere.”

  The guards hesitated, clearly torn.

  Then a voice rang out from above the gate.

  “Let them in.”

  I looked up.

  Standing atop the archway was a familiar middle-aged man, his posture straight and his expression unreadable. I recognized him immediately. It was the same man who had distributed our payment after escorting Zhu Shufen and Xue Hai to the closed inn.

  I did not bother with pleasantries.

  “Teng Wen,” I called out. “Let us meet your lord.”

  The name had an effect.

  I could see it in the way his eyes narrowed, the subtle tightening of his jaw as he reassessed us. Floating above him, plain as day, was the familiar indicator.

  [Teng Wen] [Level 48]

  So he really was connected to this place.

  Teng Wen stepped off the archway, descending with a light leap. He landed soundlessly on the stone path before us, then turned and struck the gate with his palm. The heavy doors rumbled as they slowly swung open.

  He faced us again, his gaze sharp.

  “I will lead you to Lord Meng,” he said. “But hear this clearly. Do not do anything you will come to deeply regret.”

  I met his eyes without flinching.

  “Trust me,” I said. “I’m already past that point.”

  With that, we followed him into the residence.