Chapter 29: I've Got Your Back

Ma Zhifeng’s eyes burned with jealousy. First Lin Xueling, now Xu Xier—these two peerless beauties, both inexplicably entangled with Lin Le, a penniless loser—he found it utterly intolerable. And now they wanted his help to save that wretched kid? He was already doing them a favor by not making things worse himself!

“I really wish I could help,” he said, putting on a look of difficult sincerity. “I do know Zhao Hu, and if you’d asked me before that incident, maybe he’d have listened. But after what Lin Le did—beating Zhao Hu in front of all those people and humiliating him—now that he’s already announced his intentions, with his temper, I’m afraid no one can stop him this time.”

“Then… there’s nothing else we can do?” Xu Xier’s voice faltered, disappointment clear in her eyes.

Lin Le had noticed Ma Zhifeng’s lingering gaze on Xu Xier and his attitude toward Lin Xueling. He knew perfectly well what kind of person Ma Zhifeng was—he never intended to help, but had his own agenda.

“No need to trouble yourself, Ma. I’ll handle this myself,” Lin Le replied coldly.

“Is this really the time to be stubborn?” Lin Xueling’s face was etched with worry. “I’ve already called Lin Kai. Doesn’t he know people in the Heavenly Hero Gang? Maybe he can help.”

“That’s not necessary. Xier, let’s go.”

With that, Lin Le and Xu Xier walked toward the school gate.

“You—you’re just asking to get beaten to death!” Lin Xueling screamed after Lin Le.

By now, the school grounds were abuzz with excitement. The news of Zhao Hu’s vendetta had spread like wildfire, and students were already anticipating the spectacle after school.

As Lin Le approached the gate, he became the focus of countless pointing fingers and pitying glances—everyone was convinced he wouldn’t escape unscathed.

Just as they neared the gate, a voice called from behind, “Master!”

Lin Le turned to see Ji Xiaorui grinning at him like a blooming flower. Behind her stood a dense crowd—all students from Haizhou First High, all her followers.

It was a bizarre sight: so many tall, strapping boys following Ji Xiaorui’s lead.

“Xiaorui, what’s all this?” Lin Le was bewildered.

“I heard everything about Zhao Hu. I promised to look out for you, didn’t I? How could I not show up at a time like this?” Ji Xiaorui replied with a smile.

“Our Sister Xiaorui started rallying the troops at noon, just for you. See how much she cares?” Lulu chimed in.

“This is wonderful! With Ji Xiaorui here, Zhao Hu won’t dare go too far!” Xu Xier said happily.

Lin Le could only smile wryly. This was far too high-profile for his taste; he’d just returned and didn’t want to stir up trouble like before.

“Really, it’s not that big a deal. Maybe let your people wait here for now,” he suggested.

“Fine, but with me around, Zhao Hu won’t dare lay a finger on you,” Ji Xiaorui said breezily.

With that, Lin Le, Xu Xier, Ji Xiaorui, and Lulu walked straight toward the school gate.

The students around them scattered in fear, as if the four carried some kind of plague, desperate to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

As they exited the gate, they saw the entire street packed with people—far more than Zhao Hu had mustered last time, blocking the road completely.

The security guards in the school’s booth glanced at Lin Le with pity; once he stepped outside, he was no longer their concern.

“Well, well, you’ve got guts, you little punk! You knew I was waiting and still showed up?” Zhao Hu snarled, baseball bat in hand.

Lin Le had humiliated him before, and he’d nursed a toxic hatred ever since—he’d have killed Lin Le with a single swing if he could.

“What’s wrong, mongrel? Was the lesson I taught you last time not enough?” Lin Le replied coolly.

The crowd burst out laughing at Lin Le’s taunt.

“You bastard, Lin! Today I’ll beat you to death!” Zhao Hu yelled, raising his bat to strike.

“Zhao Hu, lay a hand on my master and I’ll be the first to take you on!” Ji Xiaorui stepped forward, pointing at Zhao Hu.

“Ji Xiaorui?!” Zhao Hu was genuinely shocked; he hadn’t expected her to intervene.

The crowd gasped. Who at Haizhou First High hadn’t heard of the “Crown Princess” Ji Xiaorui? Though a girl, her fiery temper was legendary—even Zhao Hu gave her a wide berth. For her to take Lin Le’s side meant things were about to get interesting.

“Ji Xiaorui, this has nothing to do with you. Best stay out of it,” Zhao Hu growled, voice low.

He might fear her influence at school, but today was his moment to reclaim his pride—even if it meant offending her.

Besides, he had an ace up his sleeve today; if she dared intervene, he’d take her down too.

“I’m now Master Lin’s disciple. His business is my business. Today, I’m not backing down!” Ji Xiaorui declared, hands on her hips, full of bravado.

Not far off, Lin Xueling watched the standoff, tension thick in the air, ready to ignite at any moment.

Despite disliking Lin Le’s personality, she couldn’t suppress her sense of responsibility as his cousin.

Beside her, Ma Zhifeng seethed with jealousy at her concern for Lin Le—he almost wished Zhao Hu would finish the job, so Lin Le would be out of his sight forever.

“Hey, Lin Kai, where are you?” Lin Xueling called.

“Sis, I’m almost at the school gate. Wait, why are there so many people here…” Lin Kai’s voice was incredulous.

Moments later, Lin Kai arrived, his face pale at the sight of Zhao Hu’s crowd.

“Don’t tell me all these people are here for Lin Le?” he stammered.

“That’s right,” Lin Xueling replied weakly. “Didn’t you call that Fire Ox from the Heavenly Hero Gang?”

“Well…” Lin Kai hesitated, embarrassed.

He’d exaggerated his friendship with Fire Ox just to impress the Lin family—in reality, he’d only treated the man and his subordinates to a meal months ago. He doubted Fire Ox even remembered him.

“Bad timing. I just called, and Fire Ox is out of town for a couple of days…” Lin Kai lied.

“What? Then what do we do? I heard Zhao Hu even brought in some underworld guys—they’ll be here any minute…” Lin Xueling was now frantic.

Meanwhile, tension at the gate had reached its peak.

“Ji Xiaorui, don’t say I didn’t warn you. If you keep meddling, I won’t be so polite!” Zhao Hu snarled, his followers tapping their clubs on the ground in unison, a threatening sound.

“You think I’m scared of you?” Ji Xiaorui yelled back. “Touch a hair on his head and I’ll have you gelded and sold off to Africa!”

Lin Le couldn’t help but smile wryly. This girl’s favorite threat was to castrate people and ship them to Africa—if she meant it every time, she’d have founded a small country there by now.

“Looks like you’re begging for death today!” Zhao Hu finally lost his patience.

Just then, sirens wailed. The crowd parted as three white vans screeched to a halt at the gate.

With a heavy thud, the doors slid open and more than twenty burly, tattooed men emerged, exuding an unmistakable underworld aura.

The onlookers recoiled in fear at their menacing appearance.

Seeing his reinforcements arrive, Zhao Hu’s face lit up with smug satisfaction. “My backup’s here, Lin Le! Let’s see you escape now!”

The students finally understood why Zhao Hu was so bold—even Ji Xiaorui didn’t intimidate him. With such powerful support, Lin Le’s defeat seemed certain.

No matter how tough he was, Lin Le was still just a student—how could he fight these hardened thugs?

Everyone thought Lin Le was done for.

Lin Xueling, watching from a distance, felt all hope drain away. She had thought Zhao Hu’s threats were just bluster—but he’d actually gone this far. Things were truly out of hand now.

At that moment, the gangsters surrounded a man who stepped down from one of the vans—a hulking brute with a cigarette dangling from his lips, radiating arrogance.

“Who dares mess with our brother Zhao Hu? Are you trying to make enemies of the Heavenly Hero Gang?” he bellowed.

The name sent a chill through the crowd—everyone had heard of the notorious Heavenly Hero Gang.

So Zhao Hu’s backers really were the Heavenly Hero Gang, and he called them brothers. Now, even if the king of heaven himself showed up, Lin Le was doomed. In Haizhou, only Black Xing Society’s Wu Sanxing from the northern district dared cross the Heavenly Hero Gang.

At that moment, Lin Kai, buried in the crowd, suddenly cried out, “Fire Ox?!”