Chapter Twenty-Six: Passing the Torch to Xin

The moment I learned where Long Xin was currently staying, I immediately logged off, rushed downstairs, and waited at the bus stop. According to Long Xin, that man wasn’t home and wouldn’t be back until evening. I waited for ten minutes, then endured nearly two hours on the bus—my god, what a remote place. Following the directions she gave me, I wound my way through twists and turns until I finally found this damned spot. There stood a building about twenty stories tall, quite imposing, and, as fate would have it, Long Xin’s apartment was on the very top floor. Worse yet, today was the scheduled elevator maintenance, so I had no choice but to climb all twenty flights of stairs. By the time I reached the top, I was exhausted. If not for my stamina, any other person would have collapsed halfway.

Before me was a single grand door, unlike the others on the lower floors. It was a luxurious security door, far superior to the one in my own home. I knocked, and the door opened to reveal an exquisitely beautiful young woman; the lively beauty before me was none other than Long Xin herself. I looked around the apartment—television, air conditioning, washing machine, all the household appliances one could ask for, and all top brands. “You’ve got quite a place here,” I remarked.

Long Xin invited me in, immediately threw herself into my arms, and began sobbing. I said, “Don’t cry, please. Grab your things, let’s leave.”

Long Xin lifted her head and said, “It’s alright, I just want to spend a bit more time with you.”

I replied, “When we go home, we can be together always. Why stay in a place like this?”

Long Xin urged me to sit. She brewed a cup of tea and brought it over, its fragrance wafting through the air. “Mm, the tea smells wonderful—what kind is this?” As I sipped the tea, suddenly a loud slap hit the table and a furious voice erupted: “Bastard! Who do you think you are? Long Xin isn’t some hostess for entertaining guests. You’d better get that straight.”

“You bastard, stay out of our family affairs. Finish your tea and get out,” the man growled. “Long Xin, you know perfectly well—if you dare leave, there’ll be consequences.”

Before he could finish, I punched him in the nose. He staggered back several steps, blood streaming down. Not letting up, I snarled, “Listen, she’s my sister. Where I take her is my business, not yours.”

Clutching his nose, he muttered, “You—what exactly is your relationship with Long Xin?”

“I’m her brother,” I declared. “We share the same father. Our bond is closer by blood than yours could ever be. If you know what’s good for you, step aside—or I’ll smash that big nose of yours flat.” I raised my fist, as big as a sandbag.

Just then, two handsome young men entered. One of them immediately said, “Wang Bin, what’s going on? Why are you holding your nose? Seen too many movies?” He glanced at me and Long Xin. “Nice, she’s really pretty. Who’s this guy, Wang Bin? Did you invite other guests?”

The other chimed in, “Wang Bin, you called me over for a live performance—so what’s the show? Hurry up, I’ve got girls to meet.”

Wang Bin answered, “Lin, Fan, the show’s delayed. This guy wants to take the performer away, ruining your fun.”

Lin said, “Kid, you ruined my mood. Tell me who your boss is, let him talk to me.”

“I don’t have a boss,” I replied.

Lin continued, “No boss? That makes things easier. I know you don’t want trouble. Apologize, leave her here, and we’ll all enjoy the show and become friends.”

“I don’t want trouble, but I have no reason to apologize. I’ve done nothing to you. And Long Xin—I’m taking her today. If you try to stop me, I can’t guarantee you’ll walk out of this door.”

Lin angrily retorted, “If you want to keep living in this city, you’d better behave.”

“I won’t.” With that, I kicked him in the abdomen, sending him reeling backward. “You dare—” He didn’t finish before I grabbed a stool and smashed it over him, shattering it instantly. Seizing his collar, I pummeled his stomach with my fists, and after a series of strange cries, I threw him out the door, slamming him into the wall. He spat blood and struggled to rise, then lunged at me with another punch, but I caught it and used a joint lock. A cracking sound echoed as his arm dislocated. His screams filled the air, but I wasn’t done. I grabbed his other arm, and another crack signaled its ruin. “Now, which part shall I dismantle next? Legs, waist, spine, or neck?” I grinned wickedly.

Seeing him sprawled on the ground, unable to get up, Long Xin shrieked, “Long Ling, stop! You’ll kill him! A lesson is enough—besides, his father’s an official in the city government. If things go wrong…”

Before she could finish, I said, “It doesn’t matter who he is. If he comes, good. If not, I won’t bother looking for him. As for this guy, his luck’s run out today.” Grabbing the fire extinguisher by the hallway, I prepared to act, but Long Xin rushed forward to block me: “Enough, stop it! This isn’t a game—someone could die.”

Suddenly, I felt my body go limp. I exhaled deeply and set down the fire extinguisher. “Damn, I nearly lost control.”

Long Xin asked, “Were you pretending just now, or was it real? I’ve never seen you so fierce before!”

Fan, who’d been watching the spectacle, commented, “Wang Bin, you picked the wrong fight. Messing with him is suicide.”

Wang Bin, plugging his nosebleed, asked, “Who is he? Why is provoking him so dangerous?”

Fan replied, “Have you forgotten? Five years ago, a middle schooler hospitalized eighteen high schoolers for eight months—that notorious incident? This is the culprit. You’re wasting my time.” With that, he headed downstairs.

I hurried to call an ambulance for Lin, then turned to Long Xin: “Pack your things—we need to leave quickly!”

As we walked out, Long Xin asked, “Long Ling, was that story really true?”

I smiled bitterly. “Yes. I don’t know what comes over me—fighting gets me excited, and I end up hitting too hard… Long Xin, am I a bad person?”

“Not at all,” she replied. “With a brother like you by my side, I feel completely safe.”

“Is that so? But once we get home, you’ll have to agree to three rules.”

“Three rules?” she echoed.

“First, handle your own affairs—no bossing others around. You need to break your habit of ordering people about.”

“I lost that habit long ago. This past year, I’ve been ordered around every day, and I finally understand how painful it is. I won’t do it anymore.”

“Long Xin has grown up,” I said.

“But if I don’t order others, I’ll order you,” Long Xin teased.

“Why?”

“Because you’re my brother.”

“My damned father—dead and still causing me so much trouble,” I cursed inwardly.