Back pay secured!
Feeling lighthearted, Su Jin went downstairs and wandered the streets with a cigarette between his lips.
Despite having nowhere to be, a faint, lingering satisfaction warmed his chest.
He hadn't walked far before he paused, glancing slightly over his shoulder.
A heavyset figure had been following him for some time.
He knew who it was just from the footsteps.
Su Jin scratched his head, a wry smile creeping onto his face.
Wang Yuntong really was a strange man. After all this time, and even with the upper hand, he still clung to Su Jin like a plaster that would not come off.
He could certainly hold a grudge.
But right now, Su Jin simply lacked the energy to entertain him.
After everything Su Jin had been through in that ruined world, there was little he could not accept. He could not even summon the anger.
As long as that bastard left him alone, he could do as he pleased.
As he wandered past the traffic, Su Jin had a thought.
Maybe it was time to buy a car.
Tidy up today, have a good meal, and find a decent bar for a drink tonight.
Tomorrow, he would head home.
He had money now. He ought to buy a good car—a luxury car, even a sports car!
....
Inside the dealership.
"Sir, of all the models you’ve seen, this one best fits your needs. It has plenty of power, saves fuel, and has more than enough room," the salesman said, holding up the paperwork.
"How's the off-road ability?" Su Jin asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
The salesman laughed. "You’re joking, right? How would you take a Jinbei van off-road? It’s only fifty thousand yuan. Are you hauling goods, or do you have something else in mind? I can show you another model."
"I want something I can load up and live in, something sturdy enough for all kinds of terrain. I’d feel safe driving it anywhere in the world," Su Jin said.
"Planning to become a travel blogger?" The salesman looked puzzled. "Then you want an RV, though a good one costs more than a few tens of thousands. You could also modify this van. That might turn heads. Look at the chassis..."
"Thanks, I'll keep looking."
Su Jin gave a polite answer and left the dealership.
Before long, he sat down on the steps of a mall by the street.
He took the Company’s job offer from his pocket and stared at it.
The prospect of going home was a relief, but the Sword of Damocles remained hanging over his head.
He had meant to buy a sports car, yet somehow he had come here to look at vans.
What was he really thinking? Some part of him was still preparing for danger.
Did he, deep down, actually want to join the Company?
But if he truly wanted to join, why had the paper shown no response?
To feel another person’s loss as your own... What would become of this world?
Su Jin looked up at the sky, his thoughts clouding over again.
"Sigh..."
After a long while, he lost all interest in buying a car and resumed his walk.
...
Night fell.
After eating at five night-market stalls, Su Jin headed home with a bag of snacks.
Leaving the neon glare of the market behind, the surrounding lights grew sparse.
When he reached an alley, he turned into it without hesitation.
Before he had reached the end, several shadows followed him in.
Su Jin turned. The men shone flashlights in his face.
"Kid, you stuck to the crowds all day. You picked a fine place to come tonight." Wang Yuntong pushed past his men, his eyes vicious.
"Mr. Wang?" Su Jin pretended to tremble. "What are you doing? This is a society governed by law. Don’t do anything foolish!"
The alley erupted into cruel, mocking laughter.
"You think the law can touch me, you broke bastard?" Wang Yuntong advanced with a nasty smile.
"I’ve been around the streets for years. No one’s ever dared hit me in the face. This won’t be settled until I take one of your legs."
"Don’t come any closer. There are cameras here!" Su Jin tried to sound brave.
"No cameras in this alley. I checked for you... On your knees!" Wang barked, and the eight men behind him surged forward.
Su Jin glanced at the corners of the walls and smiled faintly.
"There really aren’t any cameras. Mr. Wang, I’ve already forgiven you. Why keep after me? It’s been so long. Why don’t we let it go?"
"Did you hear what he said?" Wang turned to his men in surprise.
"I heard him, boss. He says he forgives you. Must have had too much to drink."
"Brother Wang, stop wasting time. Let’s break his leg and go get dinner."
The men joined in with threats of their own.
Wang sneered. "Kneel and knock your head on the ground a few times. I’ll make it hurt less."
"You really know how to hold a grudge. When we were doing business, you kept calling me your little brother. I thought we got along," Su Jin said with a frown.
"I called you little brother and you thought we were equals?" Wang leaned his greasy face close. "You’re right. I’ve held grudges since I was a kid. What’s that word again?"
"Supermale, Brother Wang," one of his men supplied.
"Right! Supermale. I’ve been one since I was little. How else do you think I got where I am— Aagh!" Wang clutched his crotch and screamed.
Su Jin drew back his foot and calmly pulled on a pair of plastic gloves.
The men stepped back in shock and shone their flashlights on Wang.
Su Jin had kicked too fast for them to see.
Half of Wang Yuntong’s "QQ" had just been uninstalled.
While the men stood stunned, Su Jin kicked Wang in the stomach.
Wang fell hard. A wet sound followed—he had soiled himself.
"You thought that was a compliment? Stupid dog!"
Su Jin flexed his gloved fingers and looked from Wang to his men. "I’ve cured his supermale condition. Now it’s your turn."
"Fuck! He kicked the shit out of Brother Wang... kill him!!"
The eight men rushed him together. Su Jin moved like the wind through the dark alley.
He aimed a hard downward kick at the first man’s knee.
With a crack, the knee bent backward like a dog’s hind leg.
Before the second man could reach him, Su Jin punched him hard enough to break his nose.
Both fell almost at once.
The difference between them and Su Jin had grown so great that even weapons could not make up for it.
By the time he finished weaving among them, all eight had broken legs and dislocated jaws. They could only whimper for mercy.
Su Jin looked at the mess on the ground and frowned.
They had posed no threat, but he seemed to have used too much force.
If they called the police, it would be troublesome, even though there were no cameras in the alley.
The streets outside had cameras everywhere. Someone could easily trace him.
He looked at Wang, still moaning and clutching himself, shrugged helplessly, and took out his phone to record.
....
Half an hour later, a line of naked thugs with yellow stains at the corners of their mouths crawled out of the alley like zombies.