Street Stories: A True Account of a Group of Blind Men in the Underworld

Qiao Yang lightly touched the ground with the smooth, worn-out horse pole in his hand, steadily making his way back to Tianjin Hospital.

This Western-style building is the most impressive hospital in Tianjin, with bright and clean windows, but the hospitalization fees are also shockingly expensive.

If his master hadn't been seriously ill, he wouldn't have had to show his face in public, setting up a fortune-telling stall on the street to earn this hard-earned money.

Arriving at the ward door, Qiao Yang placed his fingers on the cold door panel and gently pushed it open.

The door hinges turned silently, and the ward was deathly quiet except for the strong smell of medicine that wafted in, making one's chest feel tight.

Lying on the hospital bed is an elderly man with gray hair and a robust build. He is Liu Shang, the president of the Baodi County Blind Association and his mentor.

"Master." Qiao Yang tiptoed to the bedside, his voice extremely low.

Liu Shang struggled to prop himself up halfway, managing a weak smile:

"Qiao Yang, you're back... Did you get into any trouble on the street today?"

He knew better than anyone that a blind young man trying to make a living in the chaotic city of Tianjin was walking on a knife's edge.

Qiao Yang smiled slightly and replied in a gentle tone:

"Don't worry, Master, everything is fine. Business went well today, and we've raised enough for medical expenses. You can just focus on recovering."

He didn't mention a word about the street thugs causing trouble, or the military control committee secretly probing him... He didn't want his master to worry about those thrilling and dangerous situations.

Liu Shang nodded slightly and let out a long sigh:

"You've suffered so much, insisting on sending me to such an expensive place..."

"What are you saying?" Qiao Yang held his master's hand tightly. "Without your generous teachings, I wouldn't have the skills to make a living today. Serving you is my duty as a disciple."

For the next two days, Qiao Yang continued to set up his stall near Quanyechang, and business was booming.

But his keen nose caught a lingering, sinister scent amidst the bustling crowd—the peculiar, spoiled stench unique to the Third Young Master of the Huang family.

Qiao Yang sneered inwardly.

Just as Miss Su had said, the Huang family was still resentful about the three silver dollars they had spent on fortune telling.

Now that Tianjin has been liberated, under the clear sky, they dare not openly rob, but can only do so furtively in the shadows.

He had assumed that the other party was at most spying on him in secret.

But little did they expect that the murderous intent would descend upon them in the dead of night.

That night, the master and apprentice were talking in hushed tones when a barely audible sound of footsteps suddenly drifted in from outside the ward.

It was as light as a cat stepping on a fallen leaf, yet it carried a deliberately suppressed ruthlessness, concealing an unbridled restlessness.

Ordinary people can't hear it, but Qiao Yang's five senses are far beyond those of ordinary people, and his hearing is as sharp as an eagle's.

These footsteps weren't those of a doctor making rounds, a nurse changing dressings, or a family member visiting a patient; they seemed to be wrapped in bone-chilling malice!

"Master, please don't make a sound."

Qiao Yang's voice suddenly turned cold, and he abruptly raised his blind eye, accurately locking onto the direction of the ward door. The gentle aura around him vanished instantly, replaced by a bone-chilling coldness.

Liu Shang's heart tightened. Seeing his disciple's solemn expression, he immediately shut his mouth and dared not breathe.

The next second, "Squeak—"

The ward door was slowly pushed open a crack from the outside!

A dark figure squeezed in like a ghost, hunched over, clutching a short knife tightly in his hand, the blade gleaming coldly in the dim light!

The room was dimly lit, and the shadowy figure assumed that the master and disciple were already fast asleep. So, it tiptoed toward Qiao Yang by the bedside.

An intense killing intent, like a tidal wave, instantly engulfed the entire ward!

coming!

It turns out the Huang family has come knocking on our door to rob us and take our lives!

The shadowy figure drew closer, a flash of cold light from the blade aimed straight at Qiao Yang's back.

The corridors were deathly silent; the hospital lay dormant.

No one would have imagined that such a deadly trap was hidden in the hospital room late at night!

Qiao Yang sat motionless on the edge of the bed, his eyes closed, looking completely unguarded, like a lamb to the slaughter.

The shadowy figure was overjoyed. He lunged forward, his arm locking tightly around Qiao Yang's neck, the cold blade pressed against his side, and growled menacingly:

"Where's the money? Do you want your life or your money? Hand over the money if you don't want to die!"

The icy touch against the skin, death is just around the corner!

A close call!

At that moment, Qiao Yang made his move!

He appeared frail, but his movements were as fast as lightning, so fast that he was just a blur!

With a sudden burst of strength, his right arm struck the shadowy figure's wrist, which was gripping the knife, with his five fingers like iron clamps, gripping and squeezing it tightly!

"Click—"

A crisp cracking sound rang out in the quiet hospital room!

"ah--!"

The shadowy figure screamed in agony as the dagger clattered to the ground, slipping from its grasp.

Qiao Yang used the momentum to pull and push, employing the opponent's force against them with unparalleled strength!

"Bang!"

The dark figure was slammed onto the floor like a tattered sack. The excruciating pain of fractured bones swept over his entire body. Cold sweat instantly soaked through his clothes, and he convulsed in pain. The thug-like ferocity he had displayed earlier was completely gone.

He lay on the ground, his eyes filled with terror, staring intently at the blind young man in front of him.

How is that possible?!

He was so careful and meticulous, how could a blind man have seen through his plan so easily?

Why does this seemingly frail, blind young man, who only knows how to tell fortunes at his stall, possess such terrifying strength in his hands? Why is he so agile?

Qiao Yang slowly stood up. Although he was blind, the chilling aura emanating from his very bones made the people on the ground feel as if they had fallen into an ice cave, and they trembled with cold.

He looked down at him, his voice as cold as ice, devoid of any warmth:

"You think you can mess with us, master and disciple? You're far from it. If my master makes a move, you'll be dead today!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Qiao Yang kicked out!

"Aww—"

The shadowy figure curled up in pain, but dared not utter another sound.

"Get lost." Qiao Yang's tone was indifferent, but every word was like a knife. "If you dare to cause trouble again, I'll cripple both your legs."

The man scrambled to his feet, picked up the dagger from the ground, and fled the ward in a disheveled state, running away without looking back.

The ward returned to quiet.

Liu Shang lay on the bed, his chest heaving violently, his emotions running high:

"Qiao Yang, you shouldn't have let him go... These ruthless people, if they fail this time, they'll only become more insane next time..."

Qiao Yang returned to the bedside, gently supported the teacher, and said in a steady tone:

"Don't worry, teacher. Since I dared to let him go, I'm not afraid that he will cause trouble again. Don't you always teach your disciples to be lenient when possible?"

They thought that after the major battle in Tianjin, they could continue to control everything, but they were wrong.

This is a new society; there are military control authorities and laws. No matter how arrogant he is, he can't turn the world upside down.

Despite this, Qiao Yang understood.

These local thugs have been entrenched in Tianjin for many years, their power deeply entrenched, with countless henchmen under their command, making them difficult to guard against from behind.

Master is physically weak and cannot withstand the slightest fright or disturbance.

He paused for a moment, then slowly spoke:

"Master, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

"you say."

"Tianjin is a place where all sorts of people mingle, and it's not suitable for a long stay. Your disciple sees that your health has improved considerably. After a few more days of recuperation, we will return to Baodi immediately after you are discharged from the hospital."

"Good, good!" Liu Shang laughed. "I don't want to stay here for even one more day. Don't underestimate Baodi just because it's a small rural area. The people are honest and kind. Once we go back, no matter how far the Huang family's third young master's influence extends or how much he hates us, he won't be able to reach us anymore."

Qiao Yang nodded: "Our hometown is the safest choice. As for Tianjin..."

He slightly raised his head, gazing at the deep night outside the window, his eyes profound:

"Today, I, Qiao Yang, have made a name for myself here, forging bonds of karma and making enemies. There are some debts I cannot settle here just yet."

Liu Shang was startled: "You want to stay? No! It's too dangerous!"

"I won't stay long," Qiao Yang said calmly. "I have to deal with those villains, the three young masters of the Huang family, so they won't dare to be so arrogant and domineering again, and then I can go back to Baodi to be with you."

"But he..."

"Don't worry, Master." Qiao Yang's lips curled into a slight smile, radiating confidence. "Your disciple is just a fortune teller; I won't use knives or guns, at most just a few punches and kicks, but I can ruin their reputations and rid the people of Tianjin of a scourge!"