TDU Chapter 109: Familiar Faces

Chapter 109 Familiar Faces

Before Qiao Jiajin could fully react, the imposing man charged into his abdomen with a force akin to a mountain, forcefully pushing him backward with a firm embrace. 

Regaining his composure, Qiao Jiajin instinctively kicked back, his foot striking the wall and stabilizing his stance. In quick succession, he unleashed a flurry of punches against the man's back, but after several blows, he realized that this hulking figure was exceptionally well-trained, his back muscles like iron. 

Adjusting his strategy, Qiao Jiajin shifted his focus and brought his elbow crashing down. The resounding impact echoed in the air, yet the giant remained unfazed. Undeterred, Qiao Jiajin propelled his knee upward, delivering a fierce strike to the man's face.

The imposing man immediately raised his right foot to intercept the attack. Confusion flickered across his face; he had expected to easily overpower someone of Qiao Jiajin's lean build, but the opponent’s movements clearly indicated that he was not an ordinary person—he had undoubtedly trained in martial arts. The pain in his back intensified; if he took a few more hits, he would likely be injured.

“Fuck! What are you all staring at?! Come and hold him down for lǎozi!” the man bellowed. 

At his command, those nearby rushed forward to assist.

As the situation unfolded before him, a wave of urgency washed over Qi Xia. His gaze quickly swept across his surroundings; given the circumstances, he could manage to subdue only two of the men at most, but what of the others? Even if he succeeded in taking them all down, how could he possibly contend with Zhang Shan?

And why did he suddenly attack Qiao Jiajin?

Seeing several people rushing toward Qiao Jiajin, Qi Xia sprinted to the nearest tables and chairs. He shoved them haphazardly into the corridor, creating a makeshift barrier, then quickly grabbed another chair from the ground. The school’s furniture was predominantly made of iron; being struck by such an object would make it difficult for anyone to stand.

While the two individuals in front of him were momentarily blocked, others continued to rush from different directions. With a clenched jaw, Qi Xia hurled the chair toward the other group, successfully halting two more.

“Motherfucker… is this Qi Xia also a problem?” One of the assailants shouted in frustration.

“Forget about him! Focus on restraining that tattooed guy!”

The individuals circumvented Qi Xia, charging toward Qiao Jiajin and Zhang Shan. 

Qi Xia knitted his brow, an inexplicable unease taking root. Why was their target solely Qiao Jiajin? 

“Let him go!” Qi Xia charged at the crowd, kicking one person down along the way. But against so many, his fists were no match; having never received any combat training, he found it nearly impossible to navigate this overwhelming situation with mere strategy. 

“I'll hold Qi Xia back; you all hurry and grab him!” a man suddenly lunged at Qi Xia, wrapping his arms around him and shouting to the others. 

Grinding his teeth, Qi Xia seized the man by the ear and twisted it fiercely. 

“ARGHH! OW! Let go!” the man yelped in pain. “Let go, let go!”

Seeing that he had the man under control, Qi Xia swung his arm with all his might, landing a solid blow to the man’s throat. The man immediately coughed violently, collapsing to the ground and gagging.

“Do you really want to provoke me...?” Qi Xia gritted his teeth, glaring menacingly at the surrounding crowd. “You want to kill my teammates in front of me again? This time, I will do everything I can to stop you.” In a fit of rage, Qi Xia smashed the nearby window with his elbow, then pulled out a long shard of glass. His eyes burned with fury, as if he truly intended to kill. 

Upon seeing the man before them transformed into a veritable incarnation of evil, everyone instinctively stepped back, none daring to advance. With a cold, unwavering gaze, Qi Xia turned away from the thugs and focused solely on Zhang Shan, his resolve hardening like steel.

At that moment, Zhang Shan and Qiao Jiajin were locked in a fierce struggle, each refusing to relinquish their hold. The air crackled with the intensity of their clash, the two figures caught in an unyielding grip.

Qi Xia, poised to make his move, was suddenly jolted by a presence. A corpulent figure appeared out of nowhere, latching onto Qi Xia's waist. “Are you out of your motherfucking mind, using a shard of glass?! Are you trying to kill someone?!” the plump figure shouted, “Zhang Shan! Run!” 

Qi Xia’s expression darkened, his grip tightening around the shard of glass as he prepared to thrust it forward. The glint of the jagged edge flashed with deadly intent, and he was mere centimeters from striking. But just as his arm surged toward its target, a flicker of recognition sparked in his eyes.

He froze.

The man clinging to him was none other than Ole Lu. The very spot he was about to strike was the same as where the bald hoodlum had stabbed Ole Lu not long ago. Back then, Ole Lu had thrown himself recklessly into danger, embracing the villain to save him. But now, the roles seemed reversed. Ole Lu was the one obstructing him, and Qi Xia was poised to become the very thing he had once condemned.

The scene before him mirrored a memory from the hotel corridor—the only difference now was that the murderer had shifted from the bald hoodlum to him.

Could Qi Xia truly bring himself to kill Ole Lu?

Perhaps, in another circumstance, he could have taken down anyone without a second thought, his resolve as cold and unyielding as the glass shard in his hand. But Ole Lu was different. In that moment, a flicker of understanding washed over him, a realization so sharp it left him breathless. He finally grasped why Specs had been so determined to save Ole Lu, even in the face of a savage bear.

Back then, Specs had sworn, “Ole Lu saved my life before. I can’t just abandon him!”

It all made sense now. Ole Lu wasn’t just any person—he was the kind of man who would risk everything to save a friend, no matter the cost. Qi Xia had felt that very truth when Ole Lu had once pulled him from the brink of death.

Now, standing over him, Qi Xia realized he couldn’t do it. Ole Lu had saved his life, and no matter the chaos around them, he could never bring himself to harm him.

As Ole Lu clung to him, his grip firm and desperate, Qi Xia found himself paralyzed, unsure of what to do. The rush of emotions left him momentarily weak, every ounce of strength drained in the face of this unexpected turn. After a fleeting moment of shock, the shard of glass slipped from his fingers, falling to the ground with a soft clink, its purpose abandoned.

Seizing the opportunity, the ambushers surged forward like a pack of wolves, their movements swift and brutal. Within moments, they had Qiao Jiajin bound tightly with rope, his struggle futile against the overwhelming numbers. 

“Damn…” Qiao Jiajin exclaimed, genuinely taken aback. “What are you all trying to do? If you’ve got the guts, fight me fair and square! What’s the point of having some brute just hold onto me?”

Seeing Qiao Jiajin finally subdued, Zhang Shan winced in pain and stretched his waist. “Chu Tianqiu was right; if we hadn’t gone all out, eight people would have never been able to hold you punk down.”

“Hey! Buff lou! You look to be a good fighter, but you’re just ganging up on the smaller numbers!” Qiao Jiajin twisted his body, shouting in anger. “Using tricks, ambushes, and encirclements—are you even fucking a man? If you have the ability, let me go and fight me one-on-one! Life and death are but a matter of one's own destiny!”

“I…” A hint of embarrassment crossed Zhang Shan’s face. “I’m not here to fucking compete with you! No one wants to go one-on-one against you! Chu Tianqiu said to tie you up, so that’s what I did. It’s that simple.”

“Then let Chu Tianqiu face me one-on-one!” Qiao Jiajin was clearly enraged. His face seemed to convey eight words—‘A gentleman would rather die than be humiliated.’ He would rather be knocked to the ground than bound by a rope.

Seeing the man who resembled a rabid dog finally restrained, Ole Lu gradually loosened his hold. He cast a nervous glance at the glass shard that lay discarded on the ground before giving Qi Xia a pat on the shoulder.

Qi Xia turned to him, confusion flickering in his eyes.

“Punk… did you just… hold back?” Ole Lu voiced his disbelief.

“I…” Qi Xia was at a loss for words, unsure how to respond.

“That was really frightening ah… you could have killed me…” Sweat began to bead on Ole Lu’s forehead, a delayed realization washing over him.

“I was just repaying the favor.” Qi Xia gave a small shake of his head, his expression impassive. “Mister, don’t hug others like that anymore. You’re wide open for a strike. Please attempt a safer move next time…”