Qin Liang exuded a thuggish aura, with dragons and tigers tattooed across his body—clearly a man not to be trifled with.
His arrogant demeanor instantly cowed most of the passersby.
Some didn't dare linger and left in sullen silence, while others retreated far back, not daring to crowd around.
Seeing the onlookers scared off by his display, Qin Liang grew even more brazen. Grabbing the girl by the hair, he demanded viciously:
"I'm asking you, are you out of your mind? You actually tried running away from me again!"
"Big brother, I was wrong! I really don't want to do this anymore, I want to quit!"
Yan Xiaoyou wept bitterly, her face streaked with tears like pear blossoms in the rain. She made a pitiful plea, terror filling her eyes—it was obvious she had taken more than her share of beatings!
Hearing this, Qin Liang sneered and raised his hand to deliver a slap.
"Quit? You think this place is somewhere you can come and go as you please? I think you've got a death wish..."
Bang!
Suddenly, a heavy kick landed squarely on the waist of the violent Qin Liang.
The immense force sent Qin Liang flying several yards, crashing into a garbage can.
"Who the hell do you think you are?"
Liangzi was truly Liangzi!
Even after taking such a kick from Qi Tongwei, not only did he manage to stay on his feet, but the cigarette in his mouth didn't fall out, and his hair wasn't even out of place.
Cursing as he got back up, Qin Liang wore a ferocious expression as he pulled out a dagger and pointed it at Qi Tongwei in a threat.
"You have a death wish, don't you? What business is this of yours? Who the hell are..."
Qi Tongwei was not one to coddle the likes of Qin Liang. He kicked Liangzi right in the back of the knee, then slammed Liangzi's head hard against the wall with a single palm.
The overwhelming pressure pinned Liangzi in place, rendering him completely unable to move.
"I'm just a kind-hearted citizen passing by, and I can't stand you bullying a girl!"
Qi Tongwei did not reveal his identity as a police officer; the time wasn't right yet.
Meanwhile, the onlookers watching from not far away saw Qi Tongwei cleanly and decisively beat down Qin Liang, and they broke out in cheers.
"Well done, young man!"
"That's how you deal with scum! What kind of tough guy bullies a girl?"
"Call the police and arrest him!"
...
Even while completely pinned down by Qi Tongwei, Qin Liang kept hurling vicious curses.
"Fuck your mother! If you've got the guts, let me go and see how I deal with you!"
Huh?
Qi Tongwei raised an eyebrow and punched the back of the hand that was pinning Liangzi's head.
Bang!
"Ah!!!"
A streak of blood slid down the wall.
Although Qi Tongwei didn't use his full strength, he still ruptured Qin Liang's eardrum on the spot.
"Big brother, forget it, let's... let's hurry and go!"
At that moment, the pretty Yan Xiaoyou tugged at the corner of Qi Tongwei's jacket from behind, urging him to hurry and take her away.
During this time, Yan Xiaoyou had tried to escape in secret several times, but Qin Liang had caught her every single time.
Qi Tongwei was currently the only kind-hearted person who had stepped up to help.
Hearing Yan Xiaoyou say this, Qi Tongwei slowly eased his grip on Qin Liang.
The moment he got back to his feet, Qin Liang spat out his cigarette butt, pointed fiercely at Qi Tongwei and Yan Xiaoyou, and shouted in a threatening tone:
"Little punks! You two better not run, just wait right here for me!"
With that, clutching his lower back, Qin Liang stalked off into the depths of the alley, apparently going to call for backup.
Seeing this, Yan Xiaoyou trembled all over, a flash of terror crossing her alluring face as she anxiously pleaded with Qi Tongwei:
"Big brother, please take me with you! Calling the police works too—yes! Let's call the police!"
Qi Tongwei turned around slowly, looked at the young girl, and gently reassured her:
"Don't be afraid. Tell me what's really going on."
When Yan Xiaoyou got a clear look at Qi Tongwei's face, she froze.
Such a handsome man!
Qi Tongwei's heroic and martial demeanor brought an involuntary blush to Yan Xiaoyou's lovely face.
"I... my name is Yan Xiaoyou. I came here to work a week ago to earn some tuition money... I never expected this wasn't a legitimate establishment, and they're even planning to make me do drugs, I... sob, sob!"
Drug trafficking!
An eyewitness!
Qi Tongwei's eyes lit up as he looked at Yan Xiaoyou, realizing that the girl before him was a crucial witness.
Now that they had a witness, all they needed was physical evidence!
"You just said someone here is dealing drugs, is that right?"
"Mhm... No! That's not right! I didn't say anything! Big brother, let's hurry up and leave!"
It seemed Yan Xiaoyou had suddenly remembered something, terrified that she would be caught and dragged back.
And since Qi Tongwei wasn't a police officer, telling him these things was completely useless.
Seeing this, Qi Tongwei realized that Yan Xiaoyou had been terrified by her beatings.
Therefore, he didn't pressure her any further, but instead gave her head an affectionate, reassuring pat.
"Master! Master!"
At that moment, Qi Tongwei's young apprentice, Wang Zhan, came running over, holding Qi Tongwei's outer jacket.
"Your coat..."
Qi Tongwei took the coat, draped it over the scantily clad Yan Xiaoyou, and spoke with stern gravity to his apprentice:
"I've found the witness. Protect her with your life! Tell Brother Jiu that there are drug traffickers here!"
With those instructions given to Wang Zhan, Qi Tongwei strode straight into the depths of the alley without looking back.
"Hey? Master! Master!"
Wang Zhan felt a vein throbbing on his forehead. Watching his master charge alone into a tiger's den, he anxiously pulled out his walkie-talkie.
"Brother Jiu! Brother Jiu! This is bad!"
"This is Station Chief Zhang Li, speak slowly!"
"Chief Zhang! Master found a witness and discovered a drug den!"
"Good job! You two stay right there and wait for backup, we'll be there in fifteen minutes!"
"But Chief, Master went charging in there all by himself..."
"What did you say? That's sheer madness! Why didn't you stop him?"
"I..."Wang Zhan, this is Li Hongflag! Let me ask you, did Qi Tongwei take his gun with him when he went in?"
Wang Zhan glanced down at his own issued firearm, finally realizing the situation. His mouth twitched as he said urgently:
"No! Master didn't take anything! Captain, what do we do now?"
Since there were drug dealers in the KTV and it was a stronghold, they were bound to have lethal firearms!
Li Hongqi fell silent for a moment over the walkie-talkie, then spoke rapidly:
"Wang Zhan, protect the witness. I'll be there in ten... five minutes!"
Li Hongqi felt that Qi Tongwei was acting far too rashly and recklessly, daring to charge into a drug den alone without even carrying a gun!
Wasn't that just looking for death?
"Understood, Captain!"
Wang Zhan clicked off the walkie-talkie, anxiety and worry flashing in his eyes.
He wanted to follow and support his master Qi Tongwei, but Yan Xiaoyou standing right before him made it impossible for him to leave.
Meanwhile, listening to Wang Zhan's conversation, Yan Xiaoyou realized that both Qi Tongwei and Wang Zhan were police officers.
Knowing how terrifying the people inside the KTV were—that the drug dealers not only outnumbered them, but also possessed firearms—she quickly urged Wang Zhan:
"Officer, forget about me, hurry and go help your master! I... I'll be fine by myself!"
Hearing this, Wang Zhan took a deep breath and finally nodded at Yan Xiaoyou.
He quickly checked his firearm before striding into the depths of the alley.
"Don't run around! I'm going to back up my master!"