"Hey, kid, do you know how hard I've been looking for you?"
An unfriendly voice rang out.
Shawn Shi turned his head, lifted his chin, and saw Carter Cheng already striding over. Carter was staring straight at Evan Lin, which made Shawn frown. "Who are you to disrespect His Excellency!"
"Are you tired of living?!" Dong Zi instantly shot up from his seat.
Carter Cheng sized up Shawn and Dong Zi, sneering. "You two aren't even worth my time. You haven't even trained Inner Strength, huh? Move, or I'll have my guys mess you up right here!"
Plus, after taking half a Great Strength Pill a few days ago, Shawn had reached late-stage Outer Strength. His muscles were much more solid now.
Hearing Carter Cheng's words to Evan Lin, Shawn immediately stepped forward, chest out, glaring fiercely at Carter.
Carter Cheng glanced at Shawn but didn't say a word. Ryan Cao, standing next to him, shoved Shawn and sneered, "Where'd these nobodies come from, daring to talk to Carter Cheng like that? You two must be tired of living!"
"Carter Cheng?"
Shawn Shi was momentarily stunned.
"That's Carter Cheng from the Cheng family!"
Someone nearby saw Shawn Shi's confusion and helpfully reminded him.
"Carter Cheng from the Cheng family!" Shawn finally realized, his face changing dramatically.
Leighton City only has two major clans: the Ding family and the Cheng family.
"Are these two idiots for real? They don't even recognize Carter Cheng?"
"Damn, you can tell they're outsiders. Haha."
"Daring to mess with Carter Cheng, huh? Sure, Carter himself can't really fight, but the Cheng family has plenty of hitters. Besides, this is Ding family territory, their in-laws. These out-of-towners are seriously gutsy."
Everyone looked at Shawn Shi with mocking smiles, all waiting to see how they'd get put in their place.
Carter Cheng glanced at Shawn and Dong Zi, who now looked grim, and sneered coldly, "You two aren't even fit to tie my shoes, let alone block my way. Who here is really tired of living?"
Shawn looked sincere. "Man, your skin's thin—must be your first time getting slapped. Feels pretty good, right? Take a few more and maybe you'll finally toughen up."
Dong Zi swallowed hard, feeling a bit uneasy inside.
He knew Carter Cheng's reputation too.
Compared to the Cheng family, he and Shawn were just ants—easy to crush, totally insignificant.
Shawn was nervous too, still standing face-to-face with Carter like a wall.
Carter Cheng looked Shawn up and down, full of contempt. "Still not moving? Want me to call my guys to mess you up right here? Look at you—haven't even trained Inner Strength, huh? You're just trash, and you think you can act tough in front of me?"
Shawn's palms were sweaty, and he forced a bitter smile, hesitating.
"Move!"
Carter Cheng's face darkened as he suddenly roared at Shawn, spitting everywhere.
"This kid really isn't afraid of dying, huh? Late-stage Outer Strength, and he's got guts." Not far away, a man at early-stage Inner Strength crossed his arms and watched curiously.
"Who knows what he's thinking. But the guy next to him looks kinda familiar, doesn't he?" The yellow-haired man in short sleeves beside him glanced at Evan Lin sitting behind Shawn, looking thoughtful.
"That guy... Isn't he the one who blew up the testing pillar with a single kick?" Someone on the other side suddenly remembered and blurted out.
"No way, that's him? He doesn't look like it at all—there's no aura around him, just seems like a regular guy." someone said skeptically. "I heard the guy on stage was intimidating enough to shock Medicine King Valley! How could it be that ordinary kid?"
This person had tested on the second day and hadn't seen Evan Lin on stage.
But rumors kept spreading these days about how terrifying the guy who blew up the Ding family's testing pillar was.
It got exaggerated to mythical levels, but only those who tested on the first day had actually seen it happen.
"I'm absolutely sure! It's him! I was in the front row! He had a backpack and a baseball cap! That's him! Oh man, we're in for a show!" someone nearby shouted excitedly.
Instantly, the crowd looked over again—some amazed, some skeptical, some just there for the drama.
But all that commotion didn't reach Carter Cheng's ears.
He just frowned, annoyed that Shawn Shi still hadn't moved.
He was just about to have Shawn and Dong Zi dragged away and beaten.
Evan Lin, who'd been sitting there with a cold, indifferent face, finally spoke: "Slap him three times. Hard."
Evan's tone was flat and emotionless, not even bothering to lift his eyes.
"What did you say?!"
Carter Cheng's face twisted in disbelief.
He couldn't believe his own ears.
"Hey, are you out of your mind, kid?!"
Beside him, Ruby Ding frowned deeply, glaring at Evan Lin. "Where'd this poor brat come from? Do you even know what you're saying?"
"Boss?" Dong Zi glanced at Shawn.
Shawn Shi shuddered all over. Hearing Evan's order, his heart steadied. He fixed a fierce glare on Carter Cheng, looking ready to pounce.
"What, you dare hit me? If you lay a hand on me, I swear you won't leave Leighton in one piece!" Carter raged, turning to call for backup.
Smack!
Smack!
Smack!
Three slaps in a row.
Shawn Shi's hands weren't huge, but each was nearly the size of a fan.
After three slaps, Carter Cheng's whole face swelled up instantly. He nearly collapsed, only staying upright because Ryan Cao grabbed him.
Carter's head was spinning, mind totally blank.
He slowly raised his head, staring at Shawn in disbelief. "You... you actually hit me!"
Shawn shrugged, "Boss told me to do it—what else could I do?"
Shawn looked sincere. "Your skin's thin—must be your first time getting slapped. Feels pretty good! Take a few more, and you'll get tougher."
"You want to slap me again? Screw you!" Carter roared, eyes bloodshot.
Getting slapped in public, his dignity was utterly destroyed.
"Guards! Guards! Get these two—no, these three—out of here! Mess them up!" Ruby Ding, seeing Carter humiliated, turned pale and started looking for help.
Just as she shouted, Derrick Ding walked over from the hall, face dark. He shot Ruby a look, clearly annoyed. "What's all the yelling about?"
Ruby instantly quieted down, lowering her voice and pouting. "That guy slapped Carter Cheng! You have to drag them out and mess them up!"