Chapter 448: The Hero Arrives, But the Script is Wrong!
Magic City Antique Street.
Lu Ran and Long Hao arrived on their electric bikes, just about to set up their stall.
The old man next to them, who sold antique coins and jade, immediately looked flustered and said in a hurry, "Lu Ran, hurry, leave! Qian Bao just came with his men looking for trouble with you. He left when he didn't find you, so you better leave quickly, or if Qian Bao and his gang corner you, you'll be in big trouble."
The old man's voice was a harsh whisper, his eyes darting left and right as if the shadows themselves had ears. A thin sheen of sweat glistened on his wrinkled brow, and his gnarled hands trembled slightly, nearly rattling the ancient coins laid out on his velvet cloth. He wasn't just being a concerned neighbor; he was terrified.
He'd seen what Qian Bao and his thugs were capable of. He remembered the last time a young stall owner had crossed him—the sickening crunch of bone, the crimson splatter that had ruined a priceless Qing dynasty vase on a nearby stall, and the laughter of the gang as they walked away, leaving a broken man moaning on the cobblestones. The old man's livelihood was fragile, a collection of jade pendants and copper cash that could be shattered in an instant. The thought of blood tainting his wares, of his small business being destroyed in the crossfire, sent a spike of icy fear through his heart.
Of course, a small part of him felt for the boy. Lu Ran was a good kid, burdened beyond his years. With a grandfather and sister both gravely ill, he worked himself to the bone, juggling a day job with this nightly stall. He was a portrait of tragic diligence, and the old man felt a pang of pity. But pity couldn't pay for broken jade.
"Qian Bao?" Lu Ran's face, already weary from a long day, tightened with a new layer of tension. The name alone was enough to make his stomach clench.
Beside him, Long Hao's eyes lit up with a predatory gleam. An opportunity! A golden, heaven-sent opportunity! He puffed out his chest, a subtle, almost pathetic attempt to appear heroic.
"Lu Ran, who is that Qian Bao?" he asked, his voice laced with a feigned concern that barely masked his eagerness. "And why does he have a grudge against you?"
A flicker of raw anger ignited in Lu Ran's eyes, momentarily burning through his fear. "He's the most vicious gang leader in the vicinity of Magic City Antique Street," he spat, his hands balling into tight fists.
"A few days ago, I brought Qiong Qiong here to set up the stall with me. I… I never should have." A wave of guilt washed over him. "Qian Bao saw her and took an interest. He demanded she become his girlfriend. Of course, I refused."
"So he threatened me," Lu Ran continued, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and outrage. "He said he'd bring his men to beat me into the ground." He took a shaky breath, trying to steady himself. "I believe that evil can't triumph over good. A mere gang leader can't possibly cover the sky with one hand. If he dares to touch me, I'll call the police."
Hearing this, Long Hao could barely contain his glee. This was it! This was the perfect script! He slapped his chest with a resounding thud, projecting an aura of confidence he hadn't felt in years.
"Lu Ran, don't you worry! With me here, there's no need to call the police," he declared magnanimously. "I guarantee I'll beat that Qian Bao into a bloody pulp."
'Yes! This is my moment!' Long Hao's mind was racing, a full-blown fantasy playing out behind his eyes. He might be a martial arts cripple now, his power reduced to a mere three stages of inner strength after his humiliation at Shen Anyu's hands, but that was still more than enough to handle a few street-level thugs.
He could see it all so clearly: he would leap into action, a whirlwind of fists and feet, effortlessly dispatching Qian Bao and his men. Lu Ran, the future Immortal Doctor, would look at him with awe and eternal gratitude. This heroic act would be the ultimate investment, securing Lu Ran's unwavering trust. From there, the path was clear—soaring success, boundless wealth, reaching the absolute pinnacle of life! And the best part? The sweet, sweet revenge. He pictured Shen Anyu and that bitch Su Hongmian on their knees, begging him for forgiveness, their arrogant faces stained with tears of regret. It would be glorious. A grin stretched across Long Hao's face, a wide, manic smile of pure anticipation.
Whoosh!
As if summoned by his very thoughts, a sudden commotion erupted at the end of the street. The low hum of the crowd died instantly, replaced by sharp gasps and the frantic shuffling of feet. Seven or eight figures swaggered toward them, parting the sea of tourists like a foul odor.
Their hair was a chaotic explosion of neon colors—toxic green, garish pink, and bleached blond. Tattoos snaked up their arms and necks, crude and poorly drawn. At their head was a man built like a small bull. He was stout and burly, his bare chest a canvas of menacing ink. A green dragon writhed on his left pectoral, a white tiger roared on his right, and a massive, bloody axe was tattooed directly over his sternum. His face was a fleshy mask of pure aggression.
The surrounding stall owners and tourists scattered like frightened mice, their faces pale with a familiar terror. They avoided the gang as if they were carriers of the plague.
"Qian Bao is here," the old man at the neighboring stall squeaked, his face draining of all color. "Lu Ran, you're on your own." He immediately shrank back behind his display, his body trembling so hard the coins on his stall began to rattle softly.
Every eye was now on Lu Ran, looks of deep sympathy and pity painting the faces of the onlookers. They all knew Qian Bao's reputation for casual cruelty. This time, it looked like he was serious.
Lu Ran's own face had turned a pasty white, but he stood his ground, forcing courage into his veins. "Qian Bao, what do you want?" he shouted, his voice cracking slightly. "If you mess around, I will definitely call the police!"
"Heh heh, call the police?" Qian Bao's jowls quivered as he let out a low, contemptuous chuckle. He stepped forward, the stench of stale cigarettes and cheap liquor rolling off him in waves. "Why don't you ask around? Ask anyone on this street who my brother-in-law is."
He could afford to be this reckless. He had backing. He had protection.
The blood drained completely from Lu Ran's face. He knew exactly who Qian Bao was talking about.
"Heh heh, what are you so afraid of, future brother-in-law?" Qian Bao's voice was a greasy, condescending purr. He reached out and slapped a heavy, meaty hand onto Lu Ran's shoulder, the force making the boy stumble. "Besides, I'm not going to hit you."
His grip tightened, fingers digging into Lu Ran's clavicle like a vise. "Brother-in-law, if you just let Qiong Qiong accompany me for a while, why would I ever need to hit you? Your grandfather's medical expenses? Qiong Qiong's medical expenses? I, Qian Bao, will cover them all. Every last yuan."
He leaned in closer, his foul breath washing over Lu Ran's face. "We'll be family. Why make things so tense? With me protecting you, you'll live a life of luxury. No one on this entire street will ever dare to bully you again."
Though his body was trembling uncontrollably, Lu Ran's spirit burned with righteous fury. The thought of his innocent sister in the clutches of this monster was unbearable. "Qian Bao, you wish!" he roared, finding a sudden well of courage. "I would never let my sister Lu Qiong go with you! I won't push her into a pit of fire!"
"Don't think I don't know how many women you've harmed!"
Qian Bao's faux-friendly expression vanished, replaced by a mask of cold fury. His face turned ashen. He clapped Lu Ran's shoulder again, this time with enough force to nearly dislocate it. The sound was a sickening Thump!
"Lu Ran," he said, his voice dropping to a sinister whisper. "Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. If you won't be my brother-in-law, then you'll be my enemy." He let out a dry, humorless laugh. "Heh heh, and being my enemy… that won't end well for you."
His subordinates cackled and closed in, forming a tight, intimidating circle around Lu Ran.
"Hey! Let go of that woman—no, let go of that young man!"
It was Long Hao. He had been practically vibrating with anticipation, and now, he stepped forward, striking a heroic pose. He sternly rebuked the thugs, his voice ringing with what he hoped was righteous authority.
'What a great opportunity! A truly magnificent opportunity!' he thought, his heart pounding with excitement. 'It seems my luck hasn't run out after all! This heroic rescue will seal the deal. Lu Ran's trust, a successful investment, generous returns, the pinnacle of life! Shen Anyu and Su Hongmian will be crawling back to me!'
Long Hao was practically giddy. He began rolling up his sleeves, cracking his knuckles theatrically, ready to unleash a world of pain on Qian Bao and his goons.
Just as he was about to launch his glorious attack, the piercing sound of sirens cut through the air. A fleet of police cars screeched to a halt at the edge of the street. In seconds, a group of uniformed officers descended on the scene, moving with calm, disciplined efficiency. Before anyone could even process what was happening, they had surrounded Qian Bao's gang, and the cold, metallic click of handcuffs echoed through the stunned silence.
Qian Bao was completely blindsided, his face a mask of disbelief. "This is a misunderstanding!" he blurted out, his voice filled with panic. "My brother-in-law is—"
He never got to finish. The lead officer, a man with a stern face and sharp eyes, cut him off curtly. "I don't care who your brother-in-law is. Magic City has no place for a black sheep like you. Take him away."
With a wave of his hand, the officers dragged the entire sputtering, protesting gang away.
Then, the lead officer turned to Lu Ran, his expression softening into one of kindness. "You're Lu Ran, right? You'll need to come to the station for a brief statement." He paused, leaning in slightly. "Don't worry. With that person looking out for you, nothing will happen."
That person?
Lu Ran stared, completely puzzled. The officer saw his confusion, smiled faintly, and silently mouthed a single, powerful word: Shen.
The realization hit Lu Ran like a bolt of lightning. A tidal wave of emotion crashed over him—shock, relief, and an overwhelming, soul-shaking gratitude. His eyes instantly turned red, hot tears welling up.
'Brother Shen… I can't believe it. I didn't expect Brother Shen to care about me so much,' he thought, his heart swelling with a profound sense of loyalty. 'Without him, I would have been in terrible trouble tonight. Such great kindness… how can I ever possibly repay it?'
First, the medical expenses and the world-class medical team for his grandfather and sister. Now, this silent, powerful rescue from the shadows. The weight of this immense kindness settled upon Lu Ran, solidifying into an unwavering devotion. He felt an impulse so strong it was almost a physical need—an impulse to dedicate his life, even to die, for Shen Anyu.
Watching Qian Bao get hauled away and Lu Ran being led gently toward a police car, Long Hao just stood there, his mouth hanging wide open.
His mind was a blank, static-filled void.
No… Wait. Where was his heroic rescue of the Immortal Doctor? Where was his grand opportunity?
Gone?
What happened? It's… gone???
[Ding! The Child of Destiny Long Hao's mentality has exploded! Plundering +9999 Destiny Points!]
[Ding! The Child of Destiny Long Hao is doubting his life! Plundering +9999 Destiny Points!]
[Ding! The Child of Destiny Long Hao has once again missed the opportunity with the Immortal Doctor, Lu Ran! Plundering +23333 Destiny Points!]
...
All of this, of course, had been arranged by Young Master Shen. He had no need to appear in person; a single command sent over the phone was more than enough. For the heir of the Shen family to personally deal with a pack of low-life thugs would be utterly demeaning. If the situation hadn't involved a Child of Destiny, Shen Anyu wouldn't have even bothered to show up and watch the show.
From the shadows of a nearby alley, Shen Anyu watched with a faint, amused smile as Long Hao's heroic posture deflated into a pathetic slump before the man slinked away into the crowd. Satisfied, Shen Anyu too prepared to leave.
Just then, the black jade qilin pendant tucked in his inner pocket suddenly vibrated with a gentle warmth.
A stream of thought, ethereal and distinct, flowed directly into his mind. It was from Huangfu Xian.
A look of genuine surprise flickered across Shen Anyu's handsome face.
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