Chapter 1933: Chapter 1930: Mingxing
Zhang Mingxing’s mouth was swollen and bruised, and there were red marks on his face, clearly showing he had been beaten. Who would lay a hand on a twelve-year-old child?
"Mingxing, who hit you?" Lin Tian asked coldly.
"I... I’m fine..." Zhang Mingxing tried to avoid Lin Tian, not wanting him to see, and prepared to leave after putting down his things.
Lin Tian grabbed him, frowned, and asked, "What’s going on? Was it Zhang Zhicheng?"
"No, around five in the afternoon, according to Elder Heyuan’s instructions before he left, I went to town to buy clothes and daily necessities for Brother Lin. I ran into a gang of hooligans in the alley, and they beat me up," Zhang Mingxing explained, then added, "I’m okay, it’s just a few minor scratches."
"You’ve got injuries on your face, and you say you’re alright!" Lin Tian was very angry. Then, thinking of something, he added, "No, I’ve been to Qingtan Town. The people there are honest and hospitable, especially with the Zhang Family overseeing the place; hooligans wouldn’t dare to act out casually."
"I don’t know either," Zhang Mingxing felt rather aggrieved, also finding it strange, having grown up in Qingtan Town and never seeing hooligans cause trouble there.
Lin Tian thought for a moment, his eyes flashing with a dangerous light, "It’s likely some people can’t swallow their anger and came to get revenge on you."
"Brother Lin means Zhang Zhicheng?" Zhang Mingxing, though young, was smart. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be a top student. He understood Lin Tian’s words instantly.
"If it wasn’t him, then it was his minions. Previously, I embarrassed him in the cafeteria, and he’s been sulking these past few days. He doesn’t dare to come after me, so they targeted you," Lin Tian said with certainty.
"But I have no evidence. It might just be an accident," Zhang Mingxing shook his head.
Lin Tian sneered, speaking lightly, "When does Lin Tian need evidence to teach someone a lesson? Where did they beat you? When did it happen?"
Not knowing what Lin Tian planned to do, Zhang Mingxing could only reply, "About an hour ago, in the back alley of Yulin Tavern in town. They beat me and then went into the tavern."
"An hour ago, the tavern - they’re probably still drinking. Regardless of who orchestrated it, first deal with the ones who hit you," Lin Tian said coolly and turned to leave. Zhang Mingxing had no other ideas and followed.
With Heyuan’s Token, no one dared stop them as they left the Zhang Family residence. The Zhang Family wasn’t far from the town, and Lin Tian walked with the youth, reaching the street within minutes.
Though Qingtan Town wasn’t large, it had everything, being a special tourist destination with inns and taverns complete. Indeed, hotels in Qingtan Town were termed "inns," and places for drinking were termed "taverns," just like in ancient times.
This might be due to the old town’s traditions or to accommodate tourist development. Nevertheless, finding Yulin Tavern wasn’t difficult, as a quaint building stood before them, with a plaque outside reading "Yulin Tavern."
It was nighttime, and the tavern was lively. However, instead of songs or exotic dances like in bars, it featured performances with actors energetically playing out Wu Song fighting the tiger, earning rounds of applause from the audience.
There were both locals and a large number of tourists enjoying drinks and the play, visiting Qingtan Town to experience local customs.
Zhang Mingxing had sharp eyes and instantly recognized five young men inside, all around twenty. The group was drinking and watching the play intently.
"Brother Lin, it’s them," Zhang Mingxing pointed at the five youths.
Lin Tian approached the bar, took out a Hundred Yuan Banknote and handed it to the server as a tip, "Brother, lend us a hand; tell them someone is looking for them in the back alley." He pointed at the five youths.
The server, likely accustomed to receiving tips, accepted smoothly, gestured "OK" with his hand, and walked towards the young men.
"Let’s go, wait for them in the back alley," Lin Tian patted Zhang Mingxing’s shoulder. Zhang Mingxing, though only twelve, felt anxious yet excited.
A teenager longing to slay demons and monsters had a fervent heart, thus he didn’t resist Lin Tian’s arrangements. If he couldn’t stand up to hooligans, how could he talk about fighting monsters?
The back alley was quiet, with even the tavern sounds seeming distant, yet unlike those dirty and chaotic city alleys.
Instead, Yulin Tavern’s back alley was clean, with bluestone slabs glimmering faintly in the moonlight; it was quite tranquil. However, this peace was soon shattered by a chaotic footfall, as five young men walked over.
"Who’s looking for us?" Rumbled a youth, intoxicated yet shouting. But quickly, the youths recognized Zhang Mingxing, freezing momentarily before breaking into laughter.
"Ha, so it’s you, kid, actually bringing help," the young man wasn’t dull and instantly grasped the situation.
"Seeking revenge? Come on, let’s not waste time. We’ve just had drinks, perfect for loosening up; let’s learn Wu Song fighting the tiger," another young man taunted, also drunkenly.
"Fighting a tiger? At best, he’s just a cat," a young man sneered.
Though Lin Tian was tall, he didn’t have the bulky appearance of a muscleman, thus the five didn’t perceive him as threatening. Yet, just after they spoke, a breeze seemed to whip by, each felt a sharp blow to their belly, promptly felling them in pain.
No unnecessary words, no introduction. Lin Tian acted decisively, dropping the five quicker than drinking water. Zhang Mingxing watched with shining eyes - wasn’t this exactly what he aspired to?
With such skills, roaming the Jianghu, slaying demons, how exhilarating it would be.
"Urgh..." The five almost simultaneously vomited, spewing out the recently consumed food and drink, filling the alley with stench.
Mingxing nearly shed tears from the odor but resisted covering his mouth, forcing himself to appear unaffected. He didn’t want to embarrass himself before Lin Tian.
After vomiting and facing the night breeze, the five quickly sobered and broke out in cold sweat, realizing they’d kicked against an iron board. They couldn’t even see the attack clearly.
"Speak up, who told you to hit him," Lin Tian pointed at Zhang Mingxing and said lightly, "The consequence of lying is ten times worse than before, think carefully."
"We don’t know either; it was a phone arrangement, providing time, place, photo, and costing us to teach someone a lesson."
"Every word is true; we dare not deceive such a hero," the young man seemed to have watched enough performances, mistaking Lin Tian for a hero.
Lin Tian believed they dared not lie, knowing the orchestrating people wouldn’t reveal themselves. He glanced at the five, coldly spat out one word, "Scram!"
The five, grateful for being spared, endured the belly aches, scrambled away in haste.
"I thought Brother Lin would give them a real thrashing," Zhang Mingxing said, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Don’t worry, I struck the acupuncture points in their abdomen; they’ll have diarrhea for three days straight back home, enough to suffer," Lin Tian chuckled wickedly.
