The bald, muscular man was striding step by step toward the back seats of the bus.
His gaze swept across every passenger's face; even if someone was wearing a mask, he'd reach out and pull it down for a look.
The passengers were angry but too scared to speak up.
The driver's nostril was still being viciously hooked by the other muscleman's finger—by the time he let go, that nostril would probably be two sizes bigger.
"Hurry up!"
The woman beside Evan Lin grew anxious when she saw him staying put.
Unable to hold back, she reached out from her seat, half her thigh crossing over Evan Lin's lap, ready to climb out the window. She grabbed for the handle, preparing to open the window and escape.
But her movement froze mid-action, her body suddenly stiff and stuck in place.
"This bus has sealed windows. There aren't any handles. You can't open them."
Evan Lin's indifferent voice sounded quietly by her ear.
Evan Lin replied coldly.
Evan Lin asked curiously.
The passengers cheered, and the way they looked at Evan Lin had changed; most now regarded him with admiration.
The muscleman’s eyes lit up. He strode forward, planting himself in the aisle right beside the woman’s seat.
These trash are so weak, Evan Lin didn't even consider using force. If not for worrying about punching a hole in the bus and having to walk to Mercy Bay, he would've acted already.
Hey kid, you trying to butt in?
The muscleman’s face darkened, his tone growing colder: "And while sneaking off, you even stole my private stash of cash—didn’t leave me a single coin. That’s just crossing the line."
Evan Lin nodded, wrapped his arm around Lora Locke, and stood up from his seat.
Lora Locke gave an awkward smile, a sigh lingering on her face.
She’d finally managed to slip away, but now it looked like she was about to be dragged right back.
"We know you're strong, Miss Locke, but right now you're in those special few days every month. You don't have any combat power, so please don't make things difficult for us. No need to embarrass everyone."
The other muscleman pulled his finger out of the driver's nostril, twisted his body, and swaggered onto the bus. As he spoke, he even winked flirtatiously at a handsome guy sitting nearby.
His whole act was honestly a bit much for anyone to handle.
"Are you getting off yourself, or do you need my brother and me to help you off?"
The muscleman beside Lora Locke crossed his arms, his gaze fierce.
"I'll get off myself, I'll get off myself! No need for any fighting, okay?"
Hearing that, she hurriedly spoke up, sounding a bit exasperated.
Just as she was about to climb off Evan Lin and obediently follow the musclemen out...
A hand pressed against her waist.
The hand wasn’t especially big, but the warmth in its palm made her shiver, feeling a little weird inside.
"Your surname is Locke?"
Evan Lin asked curiously.
"Locke!"
She stared at Evan Lin, eyes wide, nodding repeatedly.
She looked a bit like a puppy seeing the world for the first time.
"Hey, kid, you trying to butt in?"
Seeing this, the muscleman's face darkened: "Let me tell you, if you don't want to die, you'd better let go of her right now!"
"Don't make trouble, little bro. If you piss us off, we're really scary!" The effeminate muscleman made a delicate gesture and shot Evan Lin a sultry look.
"Enough talk. Get off the bus and fight me. If you win, you can take her."
Evan Lin said calmly.
"Damn! Bro, you're wild!"
"Did this kid get a lightbulb stuck in his head or something? Look at that scrawny frame—he really thinks he can take on those two musclemen?"
"I mean, I can't stand those two idiots either, and yeah, it'd be nice to see a hero save the beauty, but this dude is obviously just a clueless student. If he gets off and fights those two brutes for real, he's gonna get killed, isn't he?"
A bunch of people nearby turned to look, chiming in one after another.
They looked at Evan Lin with a mix of sympathy, and a few women wore worried expressions.
"Do you even know what you're saying?"
The muscleman clenched his fists, veins bulging.
Getting called out by a skinny kid in front of so many people was a huge blow to his pride.
"This bus is way too cramped. If you've got the guts, get off now—both of you, together."
"If you don't, then get lost and stop wasting my time."
Evan Lin's tone was icy.
As he spoke, his hand was still on the woman's waist.
She was still sprawled across Evan Lin's lap, unable to move, but listening to his words made her heart race. She couldn't help sneaking a few glances at him.
"Fine, fine, fine!"
The muscleman, furious, let out a cold laugh. He cracked his knuckles, joints popping: "Let's do this—right now! I want to see just what kind of skills you have to talk like that!"
"Yeah! I'm mad too! I'm gonna punch you right in the chest with my little fists!" The effeminate muscleman piped up, looking annoyed.
"Let's go then."
Evan Lin nodded, wrapped his arm around the woman beside him, and stood up from his seat.
"Go! Get off the bus! I'm gonna beat you to death today, you punk!" the muscleman roared.
"Me too! I'm gonna beat you down, you little punk!" the effeminate one chimed in.
They stomped ahead, heading out of the bus.
Bang!
The moment their feet hit the ground, the sound of the bus door slamming shut echoed behind them.
When they turned around, they saw the long-distance bus's engine roar to life. The big-nosed driver floored the gas, and the bus shot off, leaving them in a cloud of exhaust.
"Bro... they ditched us." The effeminate muscleman was stunned.
Smack!
The muscleman slapped him on the back of the head. "I'm not blind, damn it!"
He cursed and fumed, burning with frustration. For a moment, he felt like a total idiot: "That kid! Just you wait!"
On the bus, a round of applause broke out.
"Smart move!"
"Nicely done!"
"Those two idiots must've come here just to put on a show!"
The passengers cheered, looking at Evan Lin with new respect—most of all, admiration.
When the bald muscleman got off, Evan Lin shut the bus door.
Trash like them, Evan Lin didn't even bother to fight. If he hadn't worried about punching a hole in the bus and having to walk all the way to Mercy Bay City, he would've handled them himself.
The driver didn't hesitate either—he floored the gas, leaving the two musclemen choking on exhaust.