Chapter 18: Young Master Lu: I'm really here to squander money, why are you arresting Lin Zihao?
Beneath the night sky of the Capital, a hint of restlessness stirred beneath the prosperity.
South of the city, the basement of an abandoned chemical factory.
It was brightly lit, with heavy metal music loud enough to shatter eardrums, and the air was thick with the smell of cheap tobacco, alcohol, and rampant hormones.
Lu Shixuan pushed open the heavy, soundproof iron door, followed by two expressionless bodyguards in black.
He was wearing the suit he had complained about being "stained with alcohol," his collar was loosely open, and he carried an aluminum alloy briefcase filled with cash.
He looked exactly like a prodigal son ready to splurge thousands at a casino.
"Oh, Young Master Lu, right on time."
Lin Zihao sat in the VIP section on the second floor, swirling half a glass of whiskey, his eyes fixed on Lu Shixuan with a hint of malice.
The wine stain on his chest had been treated, but since he hadn't changed clothes, he still looked somewhat disheveled.
Lu Shixuan tilted his head back, aimed his nostrils at Lin Zihao, and let out a highly contemptuous scoff.
"Lin Zihao, is this dump of yours a pig farm? With this smell, anyone who didn't know better would think you moved your home into a public restroom."
As he cursed, he swaggered toward the central gambling table and slammed the heavy briefcase down onto the surface.
"Bang!"
The case sprang open, and the neatly stacked red banknotes dazzled the eyes of the surrounding gamblers.
"This Young Master is in a bad mood tonight and wants some entertainment. Lin Zihao, I heard you have some fighters here? Bring one out for a walk. If he can last three minutes, this five million is his!"
Lu Shixuan's voice carried far in the noisy fighting arena.
Lin Zihao stood up with a sneer: "Since Young Master Lu wants to give away money, how can I, Lin, refuse?"
"But just betting money is boring. If you lose, I want you to kneel on the ground and lick the alcohol off this floor until it's clean!"
Lu Shixuan instantly blossomed with joy internally.
Good!
Excellent!
Lin Zihao, you truly are my blood brother!
Kneel and lick the floor?
This kind of utterly humiliating and shameful behavior is practically a villain's ending custom-made for me!
As long as I completely disgrace the Lu Family here tonight, tomorrow I'll be on the front page of the Capital news: 'Lu Family Fake Young Master Gambles Heavily Late at Night, Loses Everything and Begs for Mercy on His Knees.'
Then Big Sister will definitely have a heart attack from anger and kick me out immediately.
System, did you hear that?
I must lose this time!
I must lose badly!
However, Ye Chen, sitting in the shadows not far away, was currently staring intently at Lu Shixuan.
He had acquired the fighter list for tonight's match through special channels. The boxer Lin Zihao invited was a professional Thai Boxing Champion nicknamed the "Black Market Grim Reaper," who had killed people before.
Ye Chen had originally thought Lu Shixuan would bring the Lu Family's top bodyguards, but he didn't expect this idiot to plan on fighting himself?
"Lu Shixuan, you are too arrogant." Ye Chen snorted coldly, thinking to himself, "When the Grim Reaper crushes your bones, let's see how arrogant you still are."
Just then, the lights in the arena suddenly dimmed, leaving only a blinding white beam shining down on the stage.
A dark-skinned, muscular man, 1.9 meters tall with muscles like gnarled tree roots, slowly walked onto the stage.
The ground seemed to tremble slightly with every step he took.
"A Hu, go have some fun with Young Master Lu." Lin Zihao winked at the strong man.
A Hu grinned cruelly, showing two rows of stark white teeth, and made a throat-slitting gesture toward Lu Shixuan.
Lu Shixuan took off his suit jacket, tossed it carelessly to a bodyguard, and walked onto the ring while stretching his wrists.
Hiss... This guy looks pretty intimidating. His arms are thicker than my thighs.
When he punches later, I'll deliberately not dodge, letting him knock me out with a single blow.
But I have to watch my posture; I can't let him hit my face. If I get disfigured, I won't have the Capital to hook up with rich women in the Maldives later.
Hmm, I'll just let him hit my chest. I'll fall backward naturally, fake some blood spitting, perfect.
Lu Shixuan stood in the ring, hooked a finger at A Hu, and said arrogantly, "Hey, big guy, you look like a gorilla. You must be strong, right? Come on, hit me here. If you can make This Young Master take even one step back, I'll add five million!"
The entire venue erupted.
"Young Master Lu is mighty!"
"Kill him! Kill this arrogant rich second generation!"
Lin Zihao laughed so hard his mouth wouldn't close: "A Hu, did you hear that? Young Master Lu thinks you're weak."
A Hu roared in anger, charging toward Lu Shixuan like a mad rhinoceros.
His heavy punch, accompanied by a sharp tearing sound, went straight for Lu Shixuan's chest.
Lu Shixuan closed his eyes and silently chanted: Fall down!
Fall down!
My Retirement Fund is right in front of me!
However.
God-level Combat Technique (Mastery) automatically triggered at this moment.
Lu Shixuan felt as if his body had developed a mind of its own.
In his perception, A Hu's seemingly ferocious heavy punch moved so slowly it looked like rehabilitation exercises.
Every muscle tremor and shift in center of gravity was clearly visible in Lu Shixuan's eyes.
Furthermore, he instinctively detected an old injury below A Hu's left rib—his weakest point of defense.
"Swoosh!"
Lu Shixuan's body, as if possessed, flashed to the left, perfectly evading the heavy punch.
Immediately after, his right hand turned from a palm into a fist, striking A Hu's left rib almost reflexively.
"Thud!"
A muffled sound.
A Hu's two-hundred-plus-pound body actually flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the ring ropes.
The entire venue fell silent.
Lu Shixuan opened his eyes, looked at his right hand still held in the punching posture, and felt completely numb.
Damn it!
System, are you messing with me?!
Didn't I tell you not to dodge?
Didn't I want to lose?
How did he fly away after that punch?
Isn't he the Grim Reaper?
The Grim Reaper is only this good?
It's over, it's over, now I've put on too much of a show again.
Why does Lin Zihao look like he's seen a ghost?
Lin Zihao truly looked like he had seen a ghost; the whiskey glass in his hand dropped and shattered on the floor.
A Hu was the ace he had paid a fortune for, yet he was instantly taken out by one punch from Lu Shixuan, this spoiled dandy?
"A Hu! Get up! What are you doing!" Lin Zihao roared furiously.
A Hu struggled to stand up, but the punch had hit his vital spot. His face was pale, his breathing was labored, and he could only flop around on the ground like a fish out of water.
Lu Shixuan watched this scene in despair, then suddenly had an idea.
No, I have to salvage this!
I need to behave even worse!
He abruptly jumped onto the ropes, pointed at Lin Zihao below the stage, and cursed loudly: "Lin Zihao! Are you screwing with me? You found this piece of trash to fool This Young Master?"
"This Young Master didn't even use my full strength, and he collapsed! Does this trash deserve to be called the Grim Reaper? I think 'Dead Pig' is closer!"
"Give me my money back! This Young Master is not playing in such a low-level match!"
While cursing, he grabbed the cash brief case and hurled it straight at Lin Zihao's head.
"Take this filthy money and scram! Don't disgust me here!"
Hundreds of banknotes flew everywhere in the arena, like a red rain.
The gamblers went crazy, scrambling on the floor to grab the money.
Lin Zihao grimaced in pain after being hit on the shoulder by the cash box, but he was even angrier about Lu Shixuan's humiliation.
"Lu Shixuan! You won't leave this place!"
Lin Zihao clapped his hands sharply, and dozens of thugs armed with clubs poured out from all sides, surrounding the ring completely.
Lu Shixuan finally breathed a sigh of relief seeing this formation.
Yes!
This is it!
Hurry and hit me!
Hurry and gang up on me!
I love this kind of many-against-one scenario. As long as I get injured and hospitalized, the Lu Family will definitely feel I've disgraced the family.
Come on, hit me here!
Just as Lu Shixuan was preparing to welcome the "Righteous Gang-up."
"Boom—!"
The heavy iron door of the chemical factory was violently rammed open from the outside.
Immediately after, countless red infrared crosshairs wildly swept across the venue.
"Nobody move! Police!"
Third Sister Lu Hongyi, dressed in a black SWAT combat uniform and carrying an automatic rifle, charged in front with heroic flair.
Behind her was an entire squadron of the SWAT Team.
"Everyone, hands on your head and squat down!" Lu Hongyi's voice was cold as ice.
The entire venue instantly quieted down. The thugs threw down their clubs and squatted with their hands on their heads.
Lin Zihao's face turned pale with fright, his legs shaking uncontrollably: "Team... Team Lu, misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding..."
Lu Hongyi completely ignored him, rushed to the side of the ring, grabbed Lu Shixuan's hand, scrutinized him up and down, her eyes filled with anxiety.
"A Xuan, are you okay? Are you hurt?"
Lu Shixuan looked at the scene and completely collapsed.
Third Sister... you really picked the worst time to show up, didn't you?
I was just waiting to get beaten up. If you show up, how am I supposed to be the villain?
Also, what's with that look in your eyes?
I came here to gamble and cause trouble!
You should be arresting me and putting me in jail!
Lu Shixuan took a deep breath, shook off Lu Hongyi's hand, and shouted with an annoyed expression: "Lu Hongyi! Who told you to come here? You ruined This Young Master's fun!"
"This Young Master was having a blast here! Why did you bring so many people? To show off that you're a cop?"
"Hurry up and take your people and scram! Don't interfere with me winning money!"
Lu Hongyi listened to his volatile words, and then to his pitiful inner thoughts, and her heart twisted in pain.
This kid... to prevent Lin Zihao's Dark Forces from realizing he was working with us, he's deliberately insulting me?
He put himself in danger alone, challenging the Thai Boxing Champion, just to stall for time until we could complete the encirclement?
He even pretended to be disgusted just so his sister wouldn't worry.
Lu Hongyi suddenly reached out and vigorously ruffled Lu Shixuan's hair.
"A Xuan, stop acting. Big Sister knows everything."
Lu Shixuan: "??"
What do you know?
Do you know I want to retire?
Lu Hongyi turned around, and the look she gave Lin Zihao instantly became one of extreme disgust.
"Lin Zihao, you are suspected of organizing illegal underground gambling, intentional assault, and unlawful confinement."
"Take him away!"
When Lin Zihao was handcuffed, he completely broke down: "Lu Hongyi! Lu Shixuan was the one who struck first! He crippled my man!"
Lu Hongyi scoffed: "My Little Brother's actions were self-defense, or even better, an act of courage. If he hadn't gone deep into the tiger's den, we wouldn't have gotten the evidence of your transaction so quickly."
"Team, fall in!"
Lu Shixuan stood on the empty ring, watching Lin Zihao being led away, and then looked at the SWAT Team Members who were gazing at him with admiration.
He looked at the System Panel, wanting to cry but having no tears.
Ding!
Detected that the host has completed the "Causing Chaos at the Arena" mission.
Because the host assisted the police in eliminating the largest underground black industry den in the South City and successfully sent Lin Zihao, one of the Capital's Four Young Masters, to prison.
System judgment: The host is not just a bully, but an Embodiment of Justice.
Reward: Due to the extreme contrast in behavior, rewards are doubled!
Cash 50 million.
Reward: God-level Physique Enhancement (stacked again).
villain points: -2000 (Public reputation across the entire network has completely reversed; the host has become the 'Light of the Righteous Path' in the Capital).
Lu Shixuan plopped down on the ring, looked up at the chandelier on the ceiling, and issued a Soul-searching Question.
"System, I really just want to be a villain. Is that so hard?"
At this moment, Ye Chen quietly slipped away through the back door. He, who had originally wanted to see Lu Shixuan suffer misfortune, now had only one thought:
The Lu Family... I can't stay here!
Lu Shixuan, that guy, is completely inhuman!
Lu Hongyi walked over to Lu Shixuan, handed him a bottle of mineral water, and said with a doting tone:
"Let's go home. Big Sister has already told the kitchen to prepare your favorite seafood feast; she said it's to calm your nerves."
Lu Shixuan: "..."
Calm my nerves?
I went there to commit evil deeds!
Is your whole family full of Overthinkers?
!