Chapter Fifty-Nine: The One I'm Here to Beat Is You

The uncle was an honest man. These people were reckless, but he had a family to support—elderly above and children below—so he treated the two thousand yuan as the price of peace. Hearing the uncle's words, Fang Yuan was so furious that his nostrils flared. He said, “Uncle, you don’t need to take me back. Wherever you’re off to deliver the money, just take me along. I’d like to see what sort of people dare to live with such shamelessness.”

“Young man, you can’t be serious with people like them. I’m just spending money to avoid trouble. They fight like they don’t care for their lives. I heard from some of my driver friends today, they frequent that place, always staging accidents for compensation. Even the police can’t do anything about them. Don’t get involved because of me, it’s not worth it,” the uncle said.

“Don’t worry, uncle. I just want to see, I won’t cause you any trouble,” Fang Yuan replied.

The uncle checked the time—their appointment was near, and the location was on the route he’d take to drop Fang Yuan off.

“Alright, since it’s on the way, I’ll deliver the money first, then take you home. You can pay five yuan less for the ride,” the uncle said, sincere as ever, glad to save himself an extra trip.

Their agreed meeting point was in a narrow alley, pitch dark, even cameras couldn’t see much there.

In the night, Fang Yuan’s eyes were like lanterns, clearly picking out three figures waiting in the gloom.

“Uncle, you wait here. I’ll hand over the money. I’ll make sure to retrieve all your belongings,” Fang Yuan said, not giving the uncle a chance to object, taking the money from his hand and heading into the alley.

The uncle wanted to go with Fang Yuan, but after scanning the surroundings, he gave up the idea. It was just a matter of handing over money and retrieving his things; it shouldn’t be dangerous.

So the uncle sat in his car, waiting for Fang Yuan to return before driving off.

In the dark alley, the men had already heard Fang Yuan’s footsteps. Before he reached them, he heard their voices: “You came alone?”

Fang Yuan smirked inwardly. What a pointless question—did they expect him to bring bodyguards for this?

“Yes, I’m alone. Who’s coming out to take the money? It’s too dark inside, I can’t see you,” Fang Yuan said calmly.

“You just need to come over; you’re already close enough,” one of them replied.

Hearing this, Fang Yuan paused mid-step, reconsidering his approach. Were they simply extortionists?

Their tone didn’t sound like mere opportunists after compensation. Though uncertain, Fang Yuan continued into the alley. Whatever tricks they had, he wasn’t worried.

After all, tonight’s chance for a scuffle shouldn’t go to waste.

As he walked in, Fang Yuan was startled to see all three holding weapons. If not for his keen eyesight, he wouldn’t have noticed the objects in their hands.

Were they planning to hurt someone? Why bother with violence over money? He’d already brought cash and hadn’t called the police. Was it worth risking a life for a thousand or so yuan?

“To whom should I give the money? One thousand five hundred, not a penny short,” Fang Yuan asked, his face impassive.

If only the uncle had come with him, he might have recognized from their silhouettes that these men were not the same trio from earlier in the day.

At Fang Yuan’s words, a man of slight build stepped forward, holding a crescent-shaped knife Fang Yuan had never seen before, making him uneasy.

The man approached slowly, a faint chuckle in his throat. Though quiet, Fang Yuan heard it clearly.

These men were too strange; Fang Yuan felt his composure slipping.

“Master, wake up, please! If you don’t wake up, we’re finished tonight,” the little bug anxiously tried to rouse the unconscious Fang Yuan.

After Fang Yuan passed out, no matter what the bug tried, he wouldn’t wake. Sensing danger, the bug had no choice but to control Fang Yuan’s body itself, hoping to find a few people to stretch its limbs, perhaps rousing Fang Yuan in the process.

If they were just ordinary petty thugs, the bug could handle it. But these men were clearly not common lowlifes.

Sensing danger, the bug dared not act recklessly, only wishing Fang Yuan would wake up. Fighting was up to Fang Yuan; the bug was just for show.

“Master, don’t abandon me! I don’t want to die,” the bug thought as the man raised his curved blade high. The bug wanted to howl at the sky, but, remembering it was no beast, restrained itself.

“Brother, spare me!” Seeing the blade almost touch its neck, the bug pleaded desperately.

The blade was already at the bug’s throat, but upon hearing its plea, the man halted.

He flashed a sly smile at the two behind him, then turned to the bug. “Interesting.”

“Please, brothers, have mercy! I have elders and children at home, and maybe even another little one in my belly. Spare me, please. If you let me go, I’ll get you more money. If not, take my bank card—the password is on the back. Withdraw it yourselves,” the bug said, choosing to beg for mercy, knowing it was no match for them.

Fang Yuan’s unconscious body couldn’t take any harm, or the bug would be devastated.

As the saying goes, as long as the mountain stands, there’ll always be firewood. Even if it had to surrender everything Fang Yuan owned, so long as they didn’t harm his body, the bug would accept it. Yet, if Fang Yuan learned of this, he’d surely think the bug shameless.

“What’s in your belly?” one of the tall men behind couldn’t help but ask, suppressing a laugh.

The lighting was poor, but their ears worked fine. The person before them was obviously a man, yet claimed to have a child in his belly?