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

Su Yue was overjoyed and deeply moved by Qiao Yang's righteous act.

She quickly stood up, bowed deeply three times to Qiao Yang, her eyes reddening, too excited to utter a complete sentence:

"Mr. Qiao... I can't thank you enough!"

Qiao Yang waved his hand lightly, his voice gentle yet carrying an air of composure:

"Miss Su, there's no need for such formalities. Helping those in distress is simply what we fortune tellers should do."

He paused, then changed the subject:

"Tell me Wen Jing's birth date and time, as well as the wealthy merchant's address."

Su Yue dared not delay and quickly recounted everything in detail.

Qiao Yang lightly traced all the information on his left palm with his right index finger.

Su Yue glanced at the deepening night and rose to take her leave.

"Mr. Qiao, Mr. Liu, thank you both very much for today. It's getting late, so I'll head back now and come back to express my gratitude another day."

She had just turned to take a step when Qiao Yang suddenly stood up, his voice calm but brooking no refusal:

"etc."

Su Yue immediately stopped and looked at Qiao Yang with a puzzled expression.

"It's dark at night, and it's not safe for a young woman like you to go home alone. I'll take you."

Su Yue quickly declined:

"How can you do that? Your eyesight is poor, and it's even more difficult for you to walk at night. What if you can't find your way..."

Qiao Yang suddenly laughed, a frank laugh carrying a hint of the confidence of a江湖人 (jianghu person, someone who has roamed the martial arts world):

"It's alright. I came to Tianjin to work when I was eighteen and spent more than two years here. I've been to places like Quanyechang, Lishunde, Xiaobailou, Machangdao, Binjiangdao, Nanshi, Guanyinhao, Jingangqiao..."

"Which place haven't I been to? Even without a horse's pole, I can find my way around."

Su Yue looked at the inconspicuous horse pole in his hand and worried that it would be in the way if she carried it, so she gently stepped forward and carefully took his arm.

The two walked side by side, a gentle evening breeze blowing, the atmosphere quiet and warm, like an ordinary couple taking a stroll after dinner, which lessened the earlier danger.

Su Yue's heart stirred slightly, and she asked softly:

"Mr. Qiao, do you have any relatives at home? Are you married?"

"I'm all alone and haven't married yet," Qiao Yang said calmly.

Su Yue's cheeks flushed slightly, and she whispered:

"Well... once things settle down, I'll keep an eye out for a good family for you, sir."

Qiao Yang chuckled and shook his head:

"No need to bother. I live in the countryside. Which city girl would be willing to suffer with me?"

"That's not how you put it," Su Yue said seriously. "Mr. Qiao is so capable; he can settle down in the city in the future."

"Having gotten used to rural life, I feel very uncomfortable in this big city."

The two chatted quietly along the way, the atmosphere was harmonious, and before they knew it, they had arrived at the Haihe River.

The river flowed quietly, the night was deep, and the shadows of the trees on the banks swayed, giving off an indescribable eeriness.

Just then—

Several dark figures suddenly shot out from the darkness!

There weren't many of them, but each one landed with a steady, rock-solid gait, breathing long and powerfully, exuding a ruthless aura of someone who had been through countless battles—far more than just street thugs!

Qiao Yang stopped in his tracks, his expression instantly turning cold.

"They're tough guys hired by the Huang family."

He spoke in a low voice, calm yet carrying a reassuring solemnity:

"Miss Su, no matter what happens later, stay behind me and don't move. I'll take care of everything."

As soon as he finished speaking, he hurriedly shoved the horse-drawn pole he was holding into Su Yue's hand; the small piece of dark iron at the tip gleamed coldly in the night.

"Take this. If anyone dares to come near you, swing it hard!"

Su Yue's heart tightened, she gripped the horse pole tightly, and pressed herself close to Qiao Yang's back, her heart almost leaping out of her chest.

The next second, three dark figures pounced on their prey like hungry tigers!

They no longer wielded short knives, but instead used gleaming steel pipes and sharp daggers, each move ruthless and aimed directly at vital points!

"You blind fool, how dare you oppose the Huang family! Not only do you rob people of their money, but you also dare to rape them! Do you really think Tianjin is a place for you to run wild?"

With a low roar, the leading man slammed the steel pipe down on Qiao Yang's head with a whooshing sound!

This blow was powerful and heavy, clearly intended to cripple him on the spot!

At the critical moment, Qiao Yang neither dodged nor evaded, but suddenly lowered his body like a willow in the wind, barely avoiding the fatal blow!

Almost at the same instant, his right hand shot out like an iron clamp and precisely grabbed the other person's wrist!

"Snap—!"

A crisp, ear-piercing sound of bones cracking suddenly rang out on the silent Haihe River!

Before the thug could even let out a complete scream, Qiao Yang swiftly swept his left arm around him and delivered a clean and decisive over-the-shoulder throw, slamming the man hard into the ground!

"Bang!"

The heavy object landed, causing the ground to tremble slightly.

The remaining two, their eyes bloodshot, pounced on him simultaneously from the left and right!

The dagger pierced straight for the heart, the steel pipe swept across the waist and abdomen—all deadly moves, relentless and deadly.

"court death!"

Qiao Yang uttered two words, his tone chilling to the bone.

With a slight shift in his steps, his figure moved through the night like a ghost. Despite being blind, his senses were ten times more acute than those of sighted people!

The dagger grazed his clothes, and the missed strike caused the attacker to stagger.

Qiao Yang flicked his finger out, accurately striking the opponent's elbow joint!

"Snap!"

Another crisp sound.

The man's arm went limp instantly, and the dagger fell to the ground with a clatter, causing him to convulse in pain.

The last man, seeing his companions crippled in the blink of an eye, was terrified and dared not fight any longer. He turned and tried to escape into the darkness.

"It's too late to leave now."

Qiao Yang let out a cold shout, took a step forward, and shot out like an arrow. He reached out and grabbed the other person by the back of the collar, pulling him back sharply!

"Thump!"

The man was thrown violently to the side of the road, his face hitting the hard curb. Blood gushed from his nose, and he passed out on the spot.

It only lasted a dozen seconds.

The three ruthless characters that the Huang family hired at great expense are all useless!

There were no unnecessary movements, and not a single unnecessary step.

Qiao Yang stood quietly in place, his imposing aura making the three people on the ground not even have the courage to raise their heads.

Just then, a suppressed scream came from the shadows by the river.

Qiao Yang's ears twitched slightly, and he slowly turned his head, his gaze "falling" in that direction.

It's the third son of the Huang family!

He had been hiding in the distance, originally intending to watch Qiao Yang get beaten to a pulp, but instead he witnessed his hired thugs being unilaterally crushed and completely crippled by a blind man!

Fear, like an icy tide, instantly engulfed his entire body, leaving his hands and feet ice-cold.

Qiao Yang ignored the trash on the ground and slowly walked towards Huang's third son, step by step.

The footsteps were light, yet they felt like heavy hammer blows, each one striking the heart of the third son of the Huang family.

Every step he took terrified him.

"You...you stay away!" The third young master of the Huang family was so frightened that he backed away repeatedly, his legs went weak, and his voice trembled.

"I am a member of the Huang family! If you dare to touch me, the Huang family will never let you off! There will be no place for you in the entire city of Tianjin!"

"The Huang family?"

Qiao Yang uttered those two words softly, his tone indifferent, yet carrying a chilling pressure.

"You have repeatedly broken into the hospital at night, blocked my way with knives, and cut off my path to survival."

He kept walking, his voice growing colder:

"Do you really think I, Qiao Yang, am made of clay, easy to bully?"

The third son of the Huang family was so frightened that his face turned pale. His eyes darted around, and he suddenly whistled sharply!

In an instant, another dark figure darted out from the shadows of the trees behind him!

The man, wielding a short knife, didn't attack Qiao Yang but instead lunged straight at Su Yue!

It's as fast as a ghost!

Qiao Yang's expression changed drastically. He wanted to turn around and stop him, but it was too late!

"Don't hurt her!" he roared, his voice tinged with panic for the first time.

"Ha ha ha ha--!"

The third son of the Huang family burst into wild laughter, "Blind man, you didn't expect that, did you! I had a backup plan all along!"

He pointed at Qiao Yang, his face contorted with rage: "Today, you either cripple your own arm, or you watch this little wench die right in front of you!"

The blade was already close to Su Yue's neck; the icy touch made her freeze and her face turn deathly pale.

Qiao Yang clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. For the first time in his life, he was driven to the brink of despair.

He could only soften his tone and speak slowly, word by word:

"Don't...don't touch her. Everything can be discussed."

"discuss?"

The third son of the Huang family sneered, "You've injured my eldest and second brothers, and crippled many of my brothers. Today, either you'll be crippled, or she'll die! Choose!"