Contact Number, #XXXXXXXXXXX
Address, ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Reward, XXXXX Yen
(Picture.jpg)(Picture.jpg)
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"I'm worth that much? That's over 20,000 yuan…" Pfft! No way I'm only worth 20,000! I've gotta be priceless!
Fu Lin leapt down from the tree, muttering to himself. Then he suddenly turned and looked behind him. The empty street was still and quiet, with only the rustling of leaves in the breeze—no suspicious figures in sight.
A trace of suspicion flashed in Fu Lin's eyes, "Why do I feel like several pairs of eyes are watching me?"
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Fu Lin glanced around, confirming that there were no suspicious figures, and then continued to walk forward with his head down, feeling a bit amused inside, "Ridiculous. I don't have paranoia. How could there possibly be people everywhere trying to harm me?"
After Fu Lin left, several heads popped out from the bushes, their eyes gleaming as they stared at Fu Lin's back. Without exception, they were holding either nets or sacks in their hands.
"Suspicious behavior — looks like this is the cat we're after!" A burly man with a robust build tightened his grip on the net in his hand. He turned to his companions, narrowed his eyes, and raised a fist the size of a sandbag, threatening,
"I know you're all here for the money, but do me a favor and back off. This cat belongs to me, Nichikawa Okaban."
A short man with a small tuft of mustache sneered, "Baka! I'm Meikawa Kucha, and I'm not convinced! Whoever catches it first gets it. Why should I give it to you?"
"Because my fists are bigger." Nichikawa Okaban pressed down on Meikawa Kucha's shoulder, his face fierce as he raised his fist, ready to strike.
A young man wearing overalls and with a neat middle part in his hair walked up with a charming smile and a friendly expression. He raised the corners of his mouth slightly, adding to his handsome demeanor, and stepped in to stop them,
"Hey, what are you guys doing? Let's talk this out. No need to get physical. Fellow countrymen, how about giving me, Kini Taimei, a little face?"
Nichikawa Okaban pushed Kini Taimei aside, his face turning dark and menacing, "What fellow countryman? I advise you not to meddle, or I'll take you down too."
Kini Taimei smiled devilishly, loosened the straps on his overalls, and wagged his finger arrogantly, "Take me down? Let's see if you have what it takes!"
"Tch, you pretty boy — I could take down ten of you." Nichikawa Okaban cursed under his breath, raised his fist, and swung it toward Kini Taimei's handsome face.
Just as the punch was about to land, Kini Taimei's lips curled into a mocking smile. He sidestepped swiftly, dodging the blow with ease.
Then, he brought his hands together in front of his abdomen, his shoulders shaking rapidly. With a strange yet aesthetically pleasing posture, he struck toward Nichikawa Okaban. The next second, Nichikawa Okaban was sent flying, landing on the ground with a bewildered expression.
"I've been practicing Lightning Five-Strike Whip for two and a half years... Kini is simply too beautiful, baby~" Kini Taimei didn't stop. He started hopping in place, humming a tune with a cheerful smile on his face. The onlookers around him burst into applause.
"…ol~"
"I can't believe I got to see such an incredible fight this early in the morning. Is this the martial arts showdown from the East? This is too cool!"
Feeling that something was off, Fu Lin decided to retrace his steps. Seeing the crowd gathered ahead, he leaped into a tree, becoming an onlooker. When he saw the intense 'duel' unfolding on the road, his eyes widened in disbelief.
Nichikawa Okaban, seeing the crowd applauding, darkened his expression, quickly got up from the ground, spat out the blood in his mouth, and tore off his vest as he walked toward Kini Taimei.
"One more time — I got careless just now and didn't dodge."
"Lightning Five-Strike Whip, two and a half years of practice — please enlighten me."
Kini Taimei stopped dancing when he heard this. His arrogant demeanor toned down slightly as he clasped his hands together and looked at Nichikawa Okaban seriously,
"Ah, so you're a disciple of the Lightning Five-Strike Whip. It's an honor to meet you."
"I've long heard that the Iron Mountain Lean from the Kun Sect is unbeatable. Today, I'd like to test it out."
"I've also heard that the Lightning Five-Strike Whip is as fast as lightning and unstoppable. Today, I'd like to see if the rumors are true."
After exchanging polite words, Kini Taimei and Nichikawa Okaban stood in place, carefully sizing each other up with narrowed eyes, sensing the aura of strength radiating from each other. Both of them thought inwardly at the same time, "A master!"
A gentle breeze brushed across their faces. As the excited crowd cheered, the two took their stances, slowly circling each other, looking for an opening.
Meikawa Kucha rubbed his bald head, confused as he glanced around at the crowd and muttered,"...Weren't we supposed to be catching a cat?"
"Meow!!!"Yes! Fight! Fight!
Fu Lin jumped down from the tree, nimbly squeezing through the crowd to the front. His eyes sparkled as he stared at the two fighters, worried that he might miss even a single detail of the duel if he blinked.
As the sound of a cat's meow echoed through the crowd, the noisy cheers suddenly fell silent.
Everyone lowered their heads and turned their gaze toward the excited-looking Fu Lin.
Even Kini Taimei and Nichikawa Okaban paused, their eyes glinting with a strange light as they looked toward Fu Lin.
"Meow!"Fight! Why are you looking at me?
The sudden silence left Fu Lin bewildered. He glanced around, then meowed in confusion and punched the air, signaling for them to continue fighting.
"Taimei."
"Okaban."
"How about we postpone the match for another day?"X2
Kini Taimei and Nichikawa Okaban looked at Fu Lin with fiery eyes, then exchanged intense glances with each other before shaking hands and making peace.