Lin Wanwan—the same girl Chen Yun had seen not long ago—was trapped in the middle of a ring of scruffy riders. She was trying to squeeze through the gaps between the motorcycles when a yellow-haired kid perched on a bike grinned and reached out to block her.

“Wanwan, don’t go. It’s been a while—let’s catch up,” he said, smirking.

Chen Yun’s gaze snapped to the boy who’d put out his hand. In the next instant he froze. Pain prickled across his limbs and a cold, murderous thought flashed through his mind.

Wang Erhu.

The second son of the village chief. In his last life it had been this guy, together with his older brother Wang Dahu and a few thugs, who kicked in his family’s door, broke his limbs, stole his food and left him in the snow to die.

Chen Yun’s fist clenched. Instinct pushed him forward two steps.

The group hadn’t noticed him approaching; they were still crowding around Lin Wanwan, joking and jostling.

“Little sis, Tiger’s serious about you. Just be his girl.”

“Yeah, let Tiger ride you around town on his bike—looks badass.”

Lin Wanwan didn’t answer. She kept her head down, trying to slip out of the circle.

“You little bitch—don’t you have any shame? It’s your luck Tiger even looks your way,” sneered a pockmarked, yellow-haired thug.

“Wanwan, you know my dad’s the village chief. We’re not short on money. Wouldn’t you rather live the high life with me?” Wang Erhu waved his hand in a showy gesture. “You’re just saying no because you don’t know me. Come for a ride—trust me, you’ll like it.”

He reached for her arm.

“Get your hands off me!” Lin Wanwan shoved his hand away.

“You fucking hit my brother?” One of the yellow-haired kids with buck teeth leapt off his bike and swung at Lin Wanwan’s face.

The fist was about to connect when a bony, sure hand grabbed the buck-toothed boy’s wrist.

“Who—!?” the kid spat, half angry, half scared, looking over.

Chen Yun stood beside him, but he didn’t look at the buck-toothed kid. His expression was blank as he stared at Wang Erhu.

“Little Yun-ge!” Lin Wanwan’s face brightened with relief.

“So it’s that bastard from the Lao Chen family—playing knight in shining armor?” Wang Erhu squinted at the sudden intruder. “Wanna see what happens if I send you off to join your dead parents?”

Chen Yun tightened the hold on the buck-toothed kid’s wrist and twisted with sudden force.

“Aaaah—!” The thug let out a piglike scream; his face contorted.

“Your mom—” cursed the pockmarked kid as he shoved at Chen Yun.

Before his hands could reach Chen Yun’s shoulder, Chen Yun swung the buck-toothed kid’s wrist outward. The kid flew like a ragged sack, screaming as he slammed into another bike; both went down with a clatter.

Chen Yun grabbed the pockmarked kid’s arm and threw him in a clean, practiced over-the-shoulder slam. He hit the ground hard.

“Fuck you—” Seeing his two goons floored, Wang Erhu dropped from his bike and lunged, swinging at Chen Yun’s face.

Chen Yun tilted his head slightly and the punch missed. He grabbed Wang Erhu’s wrist, twisted it down, and brought his right knee up hard.

A surge of force ran through Wang Erhu’s arm. He stumbled forward, then a heavy knee struck his gut.

“Ugh—” Wang Erhu’s eyes popped wide; the swear that was on his lips choked off. He doubled over and collapsed, clutching his stomach.

One of the remaining riders fumbled to start his bike and gunned it, escaping toward the edge of the village without looking back. The other, a yellow-haired kid with a black tattoo over his brow, roared and charged Chen Yun—only to be sent flying with a single kick.

Less than a minute had passed. The tough talkers who’d been swaggering around a moment ago were now writhing on the ground or crawling away in pain. Only the rider who’d fled remained at large.

Lin Wanwan stood frozen, staring at Chen Yun. “Little Yun-ge… you’re so—” she murmured.

Chen Yun ignored her stunned admiration and stood over the curled figure of Wang Erhu. He forced down the violent urge swelling inside him—this wasn’t the time. If he killed Wang Erhu now, before whatever else was coming, it would only bring trouble.

He planted his right foot hard on Wang Erhu’s head.

“Wang Erhu, I’ll give you two options,” Chen Yun said coldly, looking down at the man who was trying to crawl away. “Either you kowtow to me ten times. Or I break your hands and feet.”

Wang Erhu didn’t move; his eyes burned with hate.

Chen Yun shifted his foot from Wang Erhu’s skull to the outside of his right forearm and dug in.

Pain shot through Wang Erhu. The hate in his eyes flashed into fear. “Chen—Chen, I was wrong. I didn’t know she was yours. Please—please don’t—” He begged and begged.

Chen Yun didn’t speak. He increased the pressure a little. There was a faint crunch.

“Ahhhh—!” Wang Erhu screamed. “I’ll kowtow! I’ll kowtow!”

Chen Yun lifted his foot.

Wang Erhu hauled himself up, wincing through the pain in his gut, and slammed his forehead repeatedly against the hard ground.

Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!

Each dull thud rang out on the quiet village lane.

By the ninth bow, his forehead was a bloody mess.

Thunk!

As he finished the tenth and tried to lift his head, a boot crashed down on the back of it.

Chen Yun bent close and murmured into Wang Erhu’s ear, “Enjoy life for a few days. I’ll be looking you up again.”

He lifted his foot and said, with ice in his voice, “Get out.”

Wang Erhu seemed to find sudden mercy. He pushed himself up, scrambled onto his bike and rolled away, clutching the throttle. The other guys on the ground stopped pretending and got themselves on their bikes too, speeding off after him.

Wang Erhu glanced back once at Chen Yun with pure malice. “You’ll pay for this.”

Chen Yun took a step forward, and Wang Erhu flinched, then gunned his bike and tore toward the eastern edge of the village. The others followed.

Chen Yun watched them disappear down the road, his eyes hard and cold.

“Little Yun-ge…” Lin Wanwan’s voice came from behind him. “Thank you.”

He turned to look at her. Her eyes were bright, her black dress fluttering in the breeze.

“It’s nothing,” Chen Yun said softly, nodding.

“You probably haven’t eaten yet,” she said, stepping closer, her voice light. “Come to my place tonight for dinner.”

Chen Yun started to refuse, shaking his head.

“Oh come on—please? I can cook. I’m a great cook,” she pleaded, earnest. “Consider it my thanks for saving me.”

Chen Yun hesitated for a moment, saw the hopeful look on her face, and then nodded.