Xu Ke replaced words with actions, standing still in his original spot.
"Alright, you’ve got guts. Do you think I won’t hit you just because I haven’t made a move? You guys, show him what we’re made of." Being ignored in front of a beauty, how could the conceited young man tolerate it?
At the man’s command, the six strong men behind him immediately went into action, unconcerned about their current location, as if they believed that no matter what outrageous things they did, the man would back them up.
The group’s behavior made Xu Ke furrow his brows slightly, but only for a moment. Even though Yunzhou wasn’t his territory, Xu Ke was confident he could retreat safely with Ariel.
Ariel was someone even more accustomed to being unruly. Although she restrained her temperament somewhat in China, appearing no different from a regular girl, the madness etched in her bones couldn’t possibly vanish just because she changed places.
Thus, watching the strong men charging at her, Ariel was not afraid. Instead, deep in her eyes, a gleam of eagerness and craziness surged.
"Just teach the guy a lesson, don’t touch the girl. Anyone who harms my beauty won’t walk away from it," the man said, looking at Ariel with eyes sparkling like stars, feeling a sudden thirst arise.
Those eyes made him want to possess them, ensuring they only ever held his image.
"In this day and age, such gender favoritism is unacceptable." Ariel pouted unhappily as she watched the two alter their course of action due to the man’s words.
Adhering to the principle of if the mountain won’t come to me, I’ll go to the mountain, Ariel rushed towards their direction, diverting the two to relieve Xu Ke’s pressure.
"Be careful while playing around, and come back to my side when you’re done," Xu Ke glanced at Ariel and reminded her.
"Don’t worry, I haven’t skipped my basic training for a single day; I can handle two people," Ariel confidently raised an eyebrow in Xu Ke’s direction, while her hands remained in motion.
Quickly, the eight people clashed in a group, with Xu Ke taking on four without showing signs of losing. His trench coat fluttered in the air, accentuating his graceful figure, yet every move struck with enough speed and force to cut through the wind, perfectly combining aggression and softness. An outsider might have thought they were filming a movie, compelled to stop and watch, unable to resist cheering at exciting moments.
On the other side, Ariel maneuvered like a cat between the two men, who, constrained by the man’s orders, didn’t dare target Ariel. For a moment, Ariel had them entangled, unable to move, helplessly watching their companions fall one by one to Xu Ke.
"Are you sure you won’t fight back? This kind of fight is really not fun," Ariel pouted, dissatisfied with their evasive, non-retaliating behavior.
"A fight is only exciting when there’s give and take; what’s the point if you two just keep dodging?" Ariel’s mild complaint was like hot water poured into boiling oil.
To the two strong men, Ariel’s words embodied the adage of feigned humility after gaining advantage.
Already simmering with frustration stirred by Ariel, the two men heard the man from not far away shout, "What are you two doing over there? Can’t you see everyone else is getting beaten? Hurry up and help! I’m not sending you to flirt with the girl I have my eye on!" The man grew anxious seeing Xu Ke on the verge of dealing with the fourth man, shouting desperately.
"And you, what are you filming for? Don’t you all have better things to do? Put your phones away, and delete any footage, or I’ll send you to the police to enjoy a seven-day detention tour," the man furiously yelled at the spectating crowd filming the fight.
Anyone who dared retort had their phones slapped away by the man’s underlings, causing a minor stir among the crowd.
Meanwhile, in the circle, the two strong men, urged by the man, exchanged a glance as if they had made a decision. In a blink, they swiftly switched their tactics, deftly attacking Ariel, one aiming for her neck, the other attacking her waist.
Ariel hadn’t expected such harmony in their change of tactics, caught off-guard and unprepared, leaving her in a passive position. Inevitably, Ariel could only dodge the attack in one place, forced to endure the forthcoming strike in another.
But in a brief moment, Ariel quickly assessed, deciding her waist could take more hits than her vulnerable neck. Determined, she braced for a strike to her waist, focusing earnestly on evading the attack on her neck.
In that critical juncture, Ariel felt a breeze brushing her ear, narrowly avoiding the strike aimed at her neck, while the expected pain to her waist did not come.
"Why are you foolishly standing there waiting to get hit? Your skills have weakened recently, so obediently stay behind me, I’ll handle these two," Xu Ke chuckled softly, his voice tender yet authoritative above Ariel’s head.
"It’s just because life’s been too comfortable lately," Ariel murmured a light rebuttal, yet she followed Xu Ke’s command, retreating to the outer edge.
The two strong men’s attack on Ariel was merely to lure Xu Ke over, and now that they had succeeded, they naturally didn’t continue to pursue Ariel, shifting their full attention to Xu Ke.
They didn’t underestimate Xu Ke, but realized the gap between them only when they engaged. Despite caution and effort, they were effortlessly defeated by Xu Ke.
As they hit the ground, the pain in their joints drained them of the strength to stand.
"The people you brought aren’t up to the mark," Xu Ke adjusted his coat, looking in the man’s direction as he spoke.
That casual glance made the man feel as if he was being eyed by a wild beast, sending a chill down his spine.
"Baby, you’re amazing! You handled those two so easily, I really admire you!" Ariel exclaimed, holding her cheeks, starry-eyed as she looked at Xu Ke, unreservedly showing her admiration and fondness.
"Good girl," Xu Ke said as he ruffled Ariel’s hair.