Travel through time, and then establish an anomaly management bureau!

Page 47

Then, with a backhand slap, he delivered another precise slap to the face of another terrified boy, making him spin around in place.

"Slap! Slap!" "Bang! Bang!" The crisp sounds of slaps and dull kicks echoed through the dead-end alley, accompanied by the boys' terrified screams and cries of pain.

Zhang Su moved with effortless ease, darting and weaving through the narrow space. With each strike, a boy would either clutch his face and scream in pain or fall to the ground clutching his backside. His movements were swift and composed, his face bearing the sternness of a school principal.

"At such a young age, you're already learning bad habits! You're going to rob people?"

"Slap!" (A slap)

"And they specifically target outsiders?"

"Bang!" A kick to the buttocks.

"Even thieves have their code of honor? I know a little about that, but if you don't have the power, don't play with fire!"

"Slap!" Another slap.

"Consider today's 'education fee' as payment for your 'travel expenses'! Remember this taste!"

In just over ten seconds, the six boys who had attacked him, except for the one who missed with the screwdriver and hadn't gotten up, were all slapped by Zhang Su until they saw stars and their cheeks were swollen, or kicked until their buttocks were bleeding and they were lying on the ground groaning. They were completely incapacitated and could only wail in fear.

The entire alley was a mess, with only Zhang Su standing in the center, slightly moving his wrists as if he had just done a warm-up exercise.

His gaze, like that of a headmaster, finally landed on Terry, the only one still standing, whose face was ashen and whose body was trembling like a leaf.

“It’s your turn in the end, kid.” Zhang Su walked quickly toward him. “Although you didn’t lay a hand on me, there’s no doubt that you were the mastermind behind this whole thing from beginning to end. In other words, you are the principal offender, and they are the accomplices. This last, and most resounding slap, will be yours to bear.”

Then, with a loud slap, Terry was sent flying by the horrified gazes of the other boys.

Volume 2: Chapter 2: Education, Tracking

Terry felt an irresistible force engulf half of his face, his vision spun, and he was sent flying like a broken sack, crashing heavily onto the wet, cold ground with a thud.

His ears were ringing, and he saw stars. His left cheek swelled up at a visible speed, and the burning pain made him curl up and cry out in agony.

Zhang Su stood still, slowly and methodically tidying up his clothes and cuffs, which had become slightly disheveled from his earlier movements, as if he had merely brushed away a few specks of dust.

He calmly observed the boys lying sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain, his gaze serene and unwavering, devoid of either victor's smugness or any further ruthlessness.

Only heavy breathing and suppressed groans of pain remained in the alley.

The six boys who had been slapped and kicked in the buttocks were finally able to catch their breath from the initial pain and dizziness.

They covered their rapidly swollen cheeks, rubbed their buttocks which seemed to have split into eight pieces, struggled to sit up or barely leaned against the wall, and looked at Zhang Su with disbelief, fear and lingering dread.

Everything that just happened was too fast and too upheaval!

This seemingly refined and even somewhat gullible outsider turned into a completely different person when he got into a fight!

So fast you can't even see it, and so precise and ruthless, he was hit on the shoulder with an iron pipe but acted like nothing happened!

Those legends circulating in the streets and alleys about rare people who possessed mysterious Eastern "martial arts"... they were all true! He wasn't weak and alone; he was a monster with hidden strength!

As Zhang Su watched their terrified gazes sweep over him, a playful smile suddenly appeared on his lips. He asked, "How does it feel? Does it hurt?"

These casual questions, falling into the ears of the boys who had just been "beaten," were nothing short of the devil's whispers!

"Hiss—" Someone gasped, their hair standing on end.

"He...he hasn't had enough!" another boy cried out in a terrified voice.

"Quick...back off!" someone shouted. The group of boys who had been so fierce just moments before were now like frightened rabbits, scrambling back on all fours, desperately trying to get as far away from Zhang Su, this menacing figure, even though behind them were cold walls and a pile of stinking garbage.

Two of the bolder boys, or perhaps those who were a bit dazed from the beating, looked at Zhang Su's "malicious" smile and shouted defiantly:

"You...you better not be so smug! You hit us, you're finished!" A boy, clutching his swollen cheek, glared at us, trying to intimidate us. "Wait...wait until our big brother comes, you'll be sorry!"

“Yes! That’s right!” Another boy, who had been kicked in the butt and could only sit sideways, immediately chimed in, his voice trembling with pain and fear, but he tried to raise it, “Our boss is the best… the strongest fighter on this street! He can take on five people by himself! If he knew you beat us up like this, he would never let you off! You just wait!”

Zhang Su's smile deepened, and he said with undisguised mockery, "Oh? Your eldest brother? Sounds impressive. What's his name? How old is he?"

Without a second thought, the boy who had first uttered the threat blurted out, "Our eldest brother is nineteen! His name is..."

"Shut up!!" A hoarse roar abruptly interrupted him.

It was Terry, who had just struggled to sit up.

Half of his face was swollen, and there was blood at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes were unusually fierce as he glared at the boy who almost let slip the secret: "Idiot! Do you want to drag your older brother into this?! Shut up! Don't say another word!"

He yelled so hard that it aggravated the injury on his face, causing him to grimace in pain, but the warning in his eyes was crystal clear.

The boy who had been yelled at suddenly shrank back, meeting Terry's murderous gaze. He then secretly glanced at Zhang Su, who had a half-smile on his face, and instantly felt as if he had been choked. He swallowed the rest of his words, leaving only a look of terror and lingering fear in his eyes.

Zhang Su took in all of this.

Terry's reaction of disregarding his own injuries to prevent his companions from leaking information, and the underlying fear in the boys' eyes despite their shouts of "Big Brother, get revenge!", clearly told him that this so-called "Big Brother" was nothing more than a futile straw these kids clung to in their despair and fear, their last pitiful psychological comfort. They probably knew in their hearts that even if that "Big Brother" really came, facing the strength Zhang Su had displayed, their fate wouldn't be much better than theirs.

Zhang Su shook his head and stopped asking about the "elder brother".

He had no interest in bullying the weak, and even less interest in crushing a street youth who might also be struggling to survive.

He looked at the group of boys who, though hateful, also appeared pitiful and disheveled. His gaze swept over their tattered clothes and cheekbones that were particularly prominent due to hunger. He then changed the subject and asked, "So, you bunch of half-grown boys, willing to do such despicable things to make money, are you really starving to death, or is one of you suffering from a sudden illness and needing money to save your life?"

"—Or is it simply a desire to use money to live a decent life?"

This question clearly surprised the teenagers.

They were stunned and frightened, and their minds didn't immediately process what had happened.

Why rob them? Is that even a question? For these homeless people at the bottom of society, it's all three reasons!

But... the fact that the person who was robbed asked the question so calmly left them somewhat at a loss.

The boys exchanged glances instinctively, their eyes filled with confusion and a hint of barely perceptible panic.

In the end, everyone's attention focused on Terry, who was barely managing to sit up straight. He was the leader, the "brain," and it was up to him to decide what to say and what not to say at this time.

They dared not speak carelessly again, fearing they would cause trouble once more.

Terry met Zhang Su's gaze, his swollen cheeks making his expression somewhat distorted.

He was silent for a few seconds, seemingly weighing his options, or perhaps struggling with something.

Finally, he lowered his head, avoiding Zhang Su's gaze, and replied, "No comment!"

He uttered those four words as if he had used up all his strength, paused for a moment, and then continued, his tone filled with a resigned dejection, "You won, we lost. Kill us or do whatever you want with us. But... don't try to get anything out of us. We... have nothing to say."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried the last remaining defense of a young man from the lower class, built with silence in dire straits.

Seeing his appearance, Zhang Su didn't ask any more questions.

People at the bottom of society have their own secrets, and it is immoral to forcibly reopen their wounds.

He stopped asking questions and instead walked forward.

"What...what are you going to do?!" Terry shuddered as he heard footsteps approaching, instinctively covering his head and curling up, bracing himself for another beating.

The other boys also stared wide-eyed in horror.

However, the expected fist or slap did not fall.

Terry felt a tall figure squat down in front of him, blocking the light coming in from the alleyway.

He nervously peeked through the crook of his arm, only to see that Zhang Su wasn't looking at him, but instead reached into the inner pocket of his respectable coat.

Amidst the astonished and uncertain gazes of Terry and the other teenagers, Zhang Su pulled out several brand-new coins bearing the imperial eagle and intricate patterns.

Sora! And it's a brand new Sora!

Zhang Su took out five one-sola coins and handed them to Terry, who was staring at him with a near-frozen expression.

Five Sola! That's enough for these teenagers to survive for more than half a month if they save every penny! They could even buy some decent healing medicine!

“Take it,” Zhang Su’s voice was calm, revealing no emotion. “This money is for you; consider it payment for your medical expenses.”

"Wh...what?!" Terry jerked his head up, his swollen face filled with disbelief and utter confusion, even forgetting the pain. He wondered if his ear had been damaged. "Give us money? Medical expenses? Why?!"

He couldn't understand it at all.

They were the ones who set a trap to rob the other party, but they ended up getting a beating from them, leaving them bruised and battered. Normally, it would be incredibly merciful if the other party didn't take them to the police station or kick them a few more times to vent their anger.

Now, this terrifying rarity is actually giving them money? And five Sola, a sum that's considered a "huge sum" by them?!

"Why?!" Terry asked excitedly. "We robbed you, we deserved to be beaten! There's no medical expense involved! You... what do you mean?!"

Looking at Terry's shocked and distorted face, and the equally dumbfounded teenagers around him, Zhang Su smiled and said, "Because I'm kind-hearted, okay? I can't stand seeing others suffer, even if you're just a bunch of little brats trying to rob me. I disciplined you because you did something wrong and deserved it. I gave you money because you genuinely seemed to need help. These are two different things."

He shook the coin in his hand, making a soft clattering sound: "Now, take it. Don't make me say it a third time."

Terry was completely stunned, his mind went blank.

He looked at the few green banknotes that still smelled of fresh ink, and then at Zhang Su's terrifyingly calm face—this was completely beyond his comprehension.

He stared blankly for two or three seconds before, as if bewitched, with immense hesitation and a hint of longing he himself was unaware of, he slowly and tremblingly extended his dirty, scratched hand, wanting to accept that "windfall."

Just as his fingertips were about to touch the banknote!

Zhang Su suddenly flipped his hand, not to take back the money, but with lightning speed to grab Terry's outstretched wrist! The force was so great that Terry felt as if his bones were about to be crushed.

"Ah!" Terry cried out in pain.

Zhang Su's gaze instantly turned incredibly serious and sharp, like two cold knives piercing deep into Terry's eyes, and the smile from before vanished without a trace.

His voice was low, carrying an unquestionable, chilling authority:

"But listen to me carefully. This money of mine isn't so easy to take."

Terry felt a chill run down his spine from Terry's gaze; the sharp pain in his wrist and the icy killing intent made it almost impossible for him to breathe.

“Take this money,” Zhang Su said, enunciating each word clearly, “and all of you, turn over a new leaf! Find a respectable job! Whether you work as a porter at the docks, sell fruit at the market, or even run errands, deliver mail, or shine shoes! In short—no more evil! No more of this kind of highway robbery, petty theft, or other despicable acts!”

His gaze swept over each terrified boy, like a real whip lashing their hearts.

"If I find out you took my money and then went off to do those despicable things..." Zhang Su's voice was like a cold wind in December, "You know the consequences. It won't be as simple as a spanking. Do you understand?!"

The last sentence struck Terry like a thunderclap.

He felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, as if the shadow of death had instantly enveloped him. He had no doubt about the truthfulness of Zhang Su's words. This man was a man of his word!

"I...I understand!" Terry shouted, almost crying, nodding frantically. "I understand! We...we won't do it again! We absolutely won't!"

The other teenagers were also terrified by the sudden murderous intent, nodding frantically like chickens pecking at rice, repeatedly promising, "We won't dare! We absolutely won't dare!"

Only then did Zhang Su release the iron grip on Terry's wrist.

Terry felt like he had been granted a pardon. He was almost completely exhausted, panting heavily, with a clear red mark on his wrist that stung painfully.

Zhang Su stuffed five Sola banknotes into Terry's still somewhat stiff hand, then stood up and patted off non-existent dust from his pants.

He bent down, picked up his light little suitcase, and without glancing at the group of slumped, still-shaken teenagers, turned and walked toward the light at the alley entrance.

Reaching the alley entrance, he paused slightly, not turning his head, but simply waving casually, his voice regaining its previous lightness: "Goodbye, kids. Take care."

He left as soon as he finished speaking.

It wasn't until Zhang Su's figure completely disappeared into the noisy crowd at the alley entrance that a few heavy breaths, as if they had survived a disaster, suddenly erupted in the deathly silent alley.

"You scared me to death..." A boy collapsed to the ground, clutching his still throbbing buttocks, his face pale.

“I thought he was going to crush Terry’s hand and then kill us!” another boy with a swollen face said, his voice trembling with tears.

After the initial fear subsided, the boys' eyes immediately focused on the few green banknotes in Terry's hand.

"Money! Terry! Is the money real?" Ignoring the pain, a boy crawled to Terry's side, his eyes fixed on the few Sora bills.

"Look! Look! Five! Five Sola!" The others also gathered around, their faces filled with unbelievable joy, forgetting their own pain.

Terry's hands were still trembling slightly. He lowered his head and carefully stroked the coin again and again, feeling its unique texture. He then examined the anti-counterfeiting patterns and serrated edges in the dim light.

“It’s…it’s true.” Terry’s voice was hoarse and shocked. “Brand new…Five Sola.”

"Wow—!!!" After a brief silence, a suppressed yet fervent cheer erupted in the alley!

"Five Sola! We're rich!!"

"My God! Getting beaten up for this much money?! This is a great deal!" a boy, wincing in pain from his buttocks, exclaimed excitedly.

"Worth it! It's totally worth it! If I'd known I could get this much money by getting beaten up, I wouldn't have bothered robbing anyone!" Another boy, his cheeks swollen like steamed buns, excitedly chimed in. "Terry! Next time you see this 'kind-hearted' guy, tell him, 'I'm thick-skinned! I'll beat you up ten times a day! As long as you pay me!'"

The boys were immersed in immense, almost absurd joy, and the pain in their bodies was overshadowed by this unexpected windfall.

They chattered amongst themselves about how to spend the money—on food, on medicine, and some even fantasized about buying a new outfit.

Only Terry, clutching the five Sora cards that carried an inexplicable chill, did not join his companions' revelry.

His swollen face showed little joy; instead, his brows were furrowed, and his gaze was complicated as he looked in the direction of the alleyway where Zhang Su had disappeared.