Chapter 47: Jiangnan Bar

After ending the phone call, Lin Xiao frowned in thought. Nonetheless, he wasted no time and headed towards the Jiangnan Bar.

Since he was not well-acquainted with Jinghai City, he had no idea where the Jiangnan Bar was. But that wasn’t much of a problem. He simply hailed a cab, asked about the location from the driver, and was soon on his way to the bar.

The Jiangnan Bar was conveniently situated right next to Jiangnan Floral Estates, where Wan Caixuan resided. Within half an hour, Lin Xiao found himself at the bar’s entrance.

Without any hesitation, he strode inside. The bar was buzzing with activity, its lights shimmering brilliantly.

As soon as Lin Xiao stepped in, an amalgamation of scents, the warmth of human bodies, the sharp tang of alcohol, and the mixed fragrances of various perfumes hit his nostrils, prompting a slight frown.

Regardless, Lin Xiao continued to venture deeper into the bar, navigating through the sea of dancing couples while tuning out the deafening music.

He scanned the room in search of Wan Caixuan, his gaze finally resting on a lone figure at the bar counter. There she was, casually sipping from a bottle of red wine, surrounded by several empty bottles of unknown foreign alcohol.

Perhaps due to the substantial amount of alcohol consumed, her eyes had a glazed-over look, and her cheeks were flushed.

As she downed the last of her wine as if it were water, Wan Caixuan succumbed to her inebriation. She soon slumped over the bar counter, motionless.

Just as Lin Xiao was about to approach and help her, a cold glint flashed in his eyes, accompanied by a sardonic smile.

A group of young men in their twenties were unabashedly leering at Wan Caixuan. Their lustful eyes, underscored by dark circles, kept scanning her enticing figure, seemingly unable to divert their gaze.

They were constantly whispering to each other, presumably planning something. One of them, his face marred by acne, then stood up and sauntered over to Wan Caixuan. After a cursory look around, he reached out to grab her arm.

“My dear, how could you drink so much? Come on, let me take you home.”

As the young man was about to grasp Wan Caixuan’s hand, a glimmer of excitement sparked in his eyes. The woman at the bar was a breathtaking beauty he had never touched or even seen before. But now, he had an opportunity to get close to her. The very thought was enough to make him salivate.

However, in his daydream, a hand abruptly grabbed his wrist. The shock of the firm grip yanked him back to reality.

“Who are you? What do you want?”

He raised his head to confront his interrupter, irritation flaring in his voice.

“What do I want? Shouldn’t I be asking you that? What are you trying to do?” Lin Xiao stared at the young man, his voice frosty and filled with veiled threats.

“Crazy fool, you’d better release me now!”

The young man tried to wriggle his wrist free from Lin Xiao’s grip, but it felt as if his hand was ensnared by an iron claw. His futile struggle only intensified the pain as Lin Xiao’s grip tightened.

Seeing Lin Xiao obstructing his advances, a malicious glint flashed in the young man’s eyes. He cursed, pointing a finger at Lin Xiao, “Are you out of your mind? I’m taking my girlfriend home; what business is it of yours? Release me now.”

“Girlfriend?” Lin Xiao chuckled derisively, “I suggest you disappear from my sight immediately, or else.”

“If you’re seeking death, then don’t blame me for my actions. You’re finished, punk!”

The young man picked up an empty wine bottle from the bar and swung it violently at Lin Xiao’s head.

Lin Xiao sidestepped the attack with ease, a cold light flickering in his eyes. Without missing a beat, he retaliated with a swift, powerful kick to the young man’s midriff.

Despite using only a fraction of his strength, the frail young man was unable to withstand the blow. He let out a piteous scream, crumpling onto the floor. He clutched at his stomach, writhing in agony, much like a boiled lobster.

“Lin, are you alright?”

“Lin, are you injured?”

The young man’s friends, witnessing the unfolding scene, were instantly consumed by a surge of anger. They charged toward Lin Xiao, forming a hostile ring around him.

“So, you have a death wish, punk. Then we’ll grant it and show you what it’s like to court death!”

As the words hung in the air, they pounced from all directions toward Lin Xiao.

With an icy smirk, Lin Xiao evaded their grasp, his body shifting like a specter. His legs sprang into action, swift as lightning strikes.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Before the goons could process what was happening, those who had cornered Lin Xiao found themselves floored by his strikes.

They writhed on the ground, hands clutching their bellies as they screamed in agony. None could muster the strength to rise.

The bar patrons watched in stunned silence, eyes wide in disbelief as they stared at Lin Xiao as if he were an unnatural creature.

One man single-handedly taking down an entire group in under a minute? It was a sight that bordered on the unreal.

Yet Lin Xiao stood there, calm and composed, not even breathing heavily. The fight hadn’t tested him in the slightest. His opponents had fallen before he’d so much as broken a sweat.

Lying flat on the ground, the young man stared up at Lin Xiao, hatred blazing in his eyes. He let out a furious roar, “Do you know who I am? How dare you lay a hand on me?”

“Oh? And who might you be?” Lin Xiao asked with a cold smirk, then crouched beside the young man, his voice icy, “Regardless of who you are, if you dare strut around here from now on, you’ll be done for.”

“Done? Haha, moron! You just wait, I…”

The young man’s arrogant declaration trailed off into fearful silence as his words hung mid-air.

Lin Xiao grabbed an empty beer bottle from the bar. Without a word, he seized the young man’s right hand and forced it open. Then, gripping the bottle tightly, he slowly raised his arm.

“Seems like you won’t shed tears until you’re facing your coffin. Let me give you a taste of reality.”

With a sharp snap, Lin Xiao brought the bottle crashing down onto the young man’s open palm. Glass shattered instantly. Without missing a beat, he pressed the jagged remains into the torn flesh and began grinding them back and forth, slow and deliberate.

“Ah! It hurts… I can’t bear it! Release me! I beg you!! I surrender; I admit defeat!”

The young man’s anguished screams filled the air, his right hand spasming, vainly trying to pull away.

However, Lin Xiao’s grip was unyielding. Despite the young man’s desperate struggle, he could not extract his hand by even an inch.

Blood seeped slowly from the young man’s mutilated palm. His face was a mask of agony, streaming with tears and mucus, unable to articulate a single coherent sentence. Only then did Lin Xiao cease his torment.

The young man’s companions could only watch in frozen terror as his right hand was reduced to a bloody pulp by Lin Xiao’s ruthless onslaught. Each of them shivered uncontrollably, their heads bowed in silent fear, hoping to escape Lin Xiao’s attention.

Lin Xiao nonchalantly slapped the young man’s face and hoisted him up by his collar.

“So, do you still have the nerve to cause a scene?”

The young man, completely shattered by Lin Xiao’s brutality, stared at him with a mix of fear and dread. He nodded feverishly, his previous arrogance all but evaporated.

“That’s good to know. If I ever catch you engaging in such activities again, your punishment won’t be as lenient as today’s.”

“Yes… yes, big brother, I won’t dare in the future, I swear I won’t dare.”

The young man nodded hurriedly, his whole body trembling.