The moment that double-chinned thug opened his mouth with those arrogant words, Lu Chen could already feel the murderous intent radiating from Ei—it was no longer being held back.
Even back when she cut him down in front of the statue of the Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed God, she hadn't shown this level of intensity.
It was sharp, cold—like the endless thunderstorm raging beyond Inazuma's seas.
The last time he'd seen her like this was on the battlefield.
Lu Chen quietly glanced at Ei, lost in thought...
...
The thug, completely unaware of the situation, mistook their silence for fear.
Which only made him more cocky.
"Scared now, huh?"
"Do you even know who you're messing with?"
"Kneel down and call me grandpa and maybe we'll go easy on you—hahahaha!"
The gang roared with laughter.
Strangely, Lu Chen found himself laughing too.
You lot—Level 2s, maybe Level 3s at best... your combat power is worse than Hydro Slimes. Lu Chen was seriously considering whether to hold Ei back so he could enjoy the XP alone...
The sight of a teen surrounded by thugs still grinning calmly made the big man a little uneasy.
"What the hell are you laughing at?"
"Did Zhang Zikai hire you?" Lu Chen asked. "Where is he? I'd like a word."
"Who the hell is Zhang Zikai? Never heard of him." The thug glared at him. "Don't try to play me!"
Lu Chen looked into the shadows deeper inside the carport and shrugged.
"If you're not coming out, don't blame me for not sparing you for old classmates' sake."
He had both a plan A and plan B. But since things had escalated, it was time for plan B.
Seeing Lu Chen still smiling, the thug reached for his collar.
"You little punk, you must have a death wish—"
But before he could finish, a fist shot out in front of him.
He hadn't even seen Lu Chen move. The kid was standing right there—not even tall.
So fast!
The clean, no-frills punch slammed into his chin. His double chin rippled into a triple. The pain shut his brain down instantly.
"Argh—!"
His men finally reacted and lunged forward to avenge their leader.
At that moment, a streak of purple shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow.
Raiden Ei made her move—and screams filled the carport, sounding eerily like the slaughtering of pigs during Lunar New Year in the countryside.
Pedestrians nearby paused when they heard the sounds coming from inside—none dared approach.
True to her name, Raiden Ei moved like lightning. That flash of purple was her Musou Isshin.
Lu Chen realized he hadn't even needed to lift a finger—Ei had taken them all down in an instant. When he looked again, bodies were scattered across the floor.
Some were clutching broken limbs, howling in pain. Others had been knocked out cold from blows to the head. One way or another, none of them were getting back up.
Musou Isshin—a blade passed down through two generations of Electro Archons, a witness to eternity. Ironically, it wasn't even sharpened.
Ei had literally used it like a baseball bat, whacking people across the head...
"Mr. Double Chin," Lu Chen said with a smile, stepping in front of the downed thug.
The man was rubbing his jaw, glancing around with growing despair in his eyes.
"Zhang Kaizi—no, Zhang Zikai. Where is he?"
With Lu Chen and Ei towering over him, the thug trembled.
They had taken out all his men in one round... Who the hell had he messed with?!
"Not talking?" Lu Chen's smile deepened. "How professional of you."
The thug glanced up at the teen's smile—it didn't reach his eyes. Then at the woman beside him, who radiated nothing but lethal energy...
Just as both of them raised their fists again, the thug finally broke and glanced toward the back of the carport.
"So he really is here." Lu Chen gave a polite smile. "Thanks."
Then Ei knocked him out with one swing.
...
As they walked deeper into the carport, Lu Chen found himself reflecting on the earlier fight.
If I were stronger, that first punch should've knocked him out right away.
That said, Ei had definitely gone way too hard just now.
She did it for me...
From the start, she'd intended to kill. Her protective instincts might be a little... excessive.
Sensing the thoughts behind his gaze, Raiden Ei gripped Musou Isshin tightly.
"If I wasn't by your side—what then? You've lost all your strength, and they were carrying weapons."
"I value my life now. I wouldn't put myself in danger," Lu Chen said with a smile.
"Easy for you to say."
"You saying the former number-one master has to be protected by you forever?"
"You don't want that?" she asked, glancing over.
"I do, I do... my General."
"That's more like it." She pointed to a dark corner of the carport. "He's over there."
...
The two quickly found Zhang Zikai, who was hiding in the shadows. He looked up, clearly terrified.
"Good afternoon," Lu Chen greeted.
"G-good afternoon!"
"Huh? Zhang, what are you doing squatting here? Is it hot outside?"
"Hot, hot—uh, no! Not hot at all!"
His voice trembled—his former arrogance completely gone.
"I kind of miss that smug face of yours..."
"Lu Chen, please—my dad's on the school board! Just let me go!"
Lu Chen patted his shoulder.
"It's because your dad is on the board that I'm letting you go. Come on, get up!"
Zhang Zikai breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Lu Chen's sincere smile.
"You should've said so earlier..."
But then—Lu Chen's smile twisted into something darker.
"From now on, we're friends. And in the Lu family, friends are always invited home for dinner."
"H-huh?"
Lu Chen extended a hand, grinning playfully.
"Let's go. Don't make me ask twice."
...
The sun was still shining brightly when they left the parking lot, but Zhang Zikai felt like he'd stepped into a freezer.
He was being forced along by two monsters disguised as humans. In a daze, he watched the familiar streets of his school fade into the distance.
Where are they taking me?!
Are they going to bury me by the ocean?!
...
By the time Zhang Zikai arrived at the unfamiliar four-bedroom apartment, he was still in shock.
So... this is their lair?
What are they going to do to me?! Why are they holding kitchen knives?!
"How do we eat this one?"
"...The meat's too tough. Let's bleed it first..."
"Will it taste good that way...?"
"Don't worry... I've done this a bunch of times. It's just messy. We'll clean it up and chop it to bits..."
"Huh? Ah Chen, why did he faint?"
Lu Chen stepped out of the kitchen holding a chicken by the neck, only to see Zhang Zikai passed out on the sofa, eyes rolled back and tied up.
Both he and Ei had changed into casual clothes and aprons—they were genuinely preparing lunch for their guest.
"Guess squatting in the carport too long caused his blood pressure to drop."
Holding a cleaver, Raiden Ei tilted her head. "But we walked for quite a while afterward."
Lu Chen frowned, glancing at the slippery chicken in his hand. "Maybe he passed out from hunger. Whatever—let's just chop the chicken first."
"Okay."
"Ei, bring the mushrooms and the salt!"
"Okay."