Soon, Lin Xiao Tian followed the leader into a small alleyway nearby.
The alley was dimly lit, and though there was a surveillance camera overhead, it had been smashed. The other end of the alley was blocked by various debris, making it impassable.
The leader instructed a few of his subordinates to guard the alley entrance, then looked at Lin Xiao Tian with a smirk.
"Kid, I'll give you a chance. Kneel down and sing 'Conquer' ten times for me, and I might let you go," the leader said, pointing at Lin Xiao Tian.
One of the subordinates sidled up.
"Kid, see the gold chain on our boss's neck? It screams toughness! And look at our boss's neck – so short. That's an evolutionary advantage. You won't be able to hurt him in a fight. Get ready to get beaten!"
Listening to the subordinate, Lin Xiao Tian's gaze swept over the leader again.
He was about 1.6 meters tall, stout with short limbs and a short neck, and a beer belly. Truly an evolutionary advantage!
Behind the subordinates, Chen Tong was diligently recording a video.
The leader's appearance had successfully boosted the live stream's popularity. His stream was currently at eight million viewers, and at this rate, it might even break ten million.
"Holy crap, it's about to go down."
"The mistress and the main wife clashing head-on, so exciting!"
"The boss's short neck being an evolutionary advantage? That line broke me."
"The boss is a genuine gangster, this is legit."
"Isn't this a public brawl? Should we call the police?"
Chen Tong smiled faintly, looking at the comments in the live stream.
He had considered the risk of calling the police and was prepared.
His plan didn't involve the gangsters actually fighting. After all, that would lead to jail time. Even if the gangsters dared, he wouldn't!
He had called the gangsters mainly to scare Lin Xiao Tian. Any normal person would back down when confronted by these gangsters. He didn't believe Lin Xiao Tian wouldn't be afraid.
That would be his cue to step in.
*Clang!*
A glass bottle smashed against the wall next to Lin Xiao Tian, sending shards of glass flying.
"Damn it, kid, are you deaf? Didn't you hear what I said? Kneel!"
Lin Xiao Tian shielded Bai Xue behind him. Facing the fierce leader, his face showed no panic.
"Why should I kneel?"
"You touched my woman, so you have to kneel!"
"Your woman? Do you even know her name?" Lin Xiao Tian asked.
Hearing Lin Xiao Tian's question, the leader froze.
Remembering Chen Tong's plan was already the limit for his brain. He couldn't possibly remember another name, and Chen Tong hadn't mentioned it.
"Of course, I know her. She's our sister-in-law, her name is Xiao Hong," a subordinate quickly chimed in with a name.
"Xiao Hong?" Lin Xiao Tian chuckled.
"What are you laughing at? It's Xiao Hong!" The leader quickly recovered.
He was here to cause trouble anyway, what did her name matter?
Bai Xue, hearing their answers from behind, gritted her teeth in anger. "My name isn't Xiao Hong, it's Bai Xue! You're just picking a fight on purpose!"
"Oh, oh! Bai Xue, right! It's Bai Xue. Xiao Hong is your stage name," the leader said with a sly grin.
"You guys..." Bai Xue wanted to argue further, but Lin Xiao Tian stopped her.
It was clear that arguing with these people was futile. It seemed like the only way was through force.
But Lin Xiao Tian had studied law and knew very well that if he struck first, even if he beat them down, it would be considered provocation and he might spend a few days in jail.
However, if they attacked first and he retaliated, the situation would be entirely different. As long as he didn't kill them, it would be legitimate self-defense!
With this thought, Lin Xiao Tian looked at the leader.
"If I don't kneel, what will you do?"
"Not kneel? Heh! Then you're looking for death!" the leader's voice rose.
"Then I refuse to kneel!" Lin Xiao Tian smiled at him.
Lin Xiao Tian's smile completely enraged the leader. He clenched his fist, ready to step forward and teach Lin Xiao Tian a lesson, but at that moment, a subordinate stopped him.
The subordinate whispered a few words in his ear. The leader then realized that if he attacked first, with so many people watching the live stream, he would be the one to suffer.
So, he took a few steps back.
This move caught Lin Xiao Tian off guard. He couldn't quite figure out what they were planning.
However, since they weren't making a move, he didn't want to stay any longer. The next moment, he grabbed Bai Xue and prepared to leave.
Seeing Lin Xiao Tian about to leave, the leader was incensed. At that moment, he spotted Bai Xue behind Lin Xiao Tian and immediately came up with a plan.
Just as the two were about to leave, the leader suddenly reached out and grabbed Bai Xue's arm.
"Xiao Hong, where are you going?"
Not far away, at the alley entrance, Chen Tong exclaimed in admiration at the leader's move. He hadn't even thought of this. Now, he was sure Lin Xiao Tian would have to act.
His judgment proved correct. The moment he saw the leader's perverted hand reach out, Lin Xiao Tian struck.
*Slap!*
A loud slap echoed through the alley.
No one even saw how Lin Xiao Tian moved, and then they heard the leader's screams.
"Ahhh... it hurts! Beat him to death! Beat him to death for me!"
Hitting someone's face was a particularly infuriating act. Lin Xiao Tian's move had completely enraged the leader.
He no longer cared about anything else, only wanting to beat Lin Xiao Tian up.
Several subordinates immediately surrounded Lin Xiao Tian, preparing to gang up on him.
Seeing this from the alley entrance, Chen Tong's heart sank. Why had the leader attacked so soon? Just as he was thinking of turning off the camera, he noticed that the live stream's popularity had increased again.
For the sake of his popularity, Chen Tong gritted his teeth and finally stayed put.
He had been recording for so long, what was a little longer? At worst, before things got too serious, he could step in and stop the gangsters, making Lin Xiao Tian lose face and himself a hero. It wouldn't be a total loss.
As he was contemplating this, a name suddenly patted his shoulder.
Chen Tong turned around curiously and saw a scruffy middle-aged man looking at him expressionlessly.
"Holy hell, you scared me! Who are you?"
The man didn't answer. He glanced at Chen Tong, then suddenly reached out and grabbed towards the left collar of his shirt.
Immediately, a pinhole-sized camera appeared in the man's hand.
*Crackle!*
The man crushed the camera right in front of Chen Tong.
"What the hell, are you an idiot? Do you know how expensive this is?" Chen Tong roared.
But before he could finish, he felt a sharp pain in his stomach.
"Ah..." Chen Tong grunted and collapsed on the ground, writhing in pain.
The man casually pocketed Chen Tong's phone and then walked step by step towards Lin Xiao Tian.
At this moment, Lin Xiao Tian also saw the approaching figure.
"It's you?"