"Hey hey hey, aren't you even thinking of coming to help?!"

Oriental September was truly at her limit. A girl’s stamina has its limits, after all. This narrow alley made it hard to move freely or fight properly.

Her left arm blocked a bat swing, and the pain brought tears to her eyes.

"I told you not to start this," I said, stepping forward with a cigarette dangling from my lips. I grabbed the charging teen’s head and slammed it hard against the wall.

Blood streaked the wall as the boy lost consciousness instantly.

"This is a real fight," I said. "What you were doing was just kids playing around."

I caught the next bat mid-swing, then hurled the wielder—and his bat—down to the ground. The second guy went out cold.

"Hey, you punks," I called, yanking Oriental September back by her collar to stand beside me. "Don’t hit girls so hard. Show some gentleness."

"Watch slowly," I added. "I’ll handle the rest."

A backhand punch to the chest sent a third teen crashing into the wall. He spat blood and crumpled to his knees.

"Come on."

Three down in an instant. The remaining delinquents froze, shrinking back nervously.

"W-what do we do? This guy’s actually skilled," one stammered.

"Xiaohei’s coughing blood—is he dead?"

"Let’s just quit! A grand won’t even cover medical bills, Wolf Bro!"

As I advanced, the thugs retreated step by step.

"If you won’t come to me," I said, my vision tinting red as some savage urge stirred inside, "I’ll come to you."

"W-wolf Bro, let’s bail! This man’s trouble!"

"Bail my ass! Attack! Anyone who runs, I’ll kill them later!"

*Bang!* The lead thug’s head cracked against the wall, leaving a long blood trail dripping to the floor.

"Charge! Charge!"

A direct punch bent the metal bat in half. The teen flew backward, knocking over his buddies like dominoes.

I stepped over his fallen body and kept moving.

One hit per guy—none could even scratch me. Just a bunch of CP5 trash.

Bodies littered the ground, silent and unconscious. No groans, no movement.

Only three stood between me and the exit.

"M-monster…"

"Don’t be rude," I said. "I just know a bit of kung fu."

Facing me, Wolf Bro trembled with fear. He even threw his knife at me.

I dodged slightly. The blade sliced my shoulder, drawing blood that soaked my shirt.

"R-run! He’s pissed!" Seeing my frown, his two buddies bolted in terror. Only Wolf Bro tried to flee—but I grabbed his neck and pinned him down.

"Bold of you," I said.

"I-I’m sorry… I messed up…"

His struggles were useless against my tightening grip.

"Sorry for what?"

"L-let me go…"

His eyes glazed over. His limbs twitched.

"Let go! He’s dying! Stop this!" Oriental September rushed over, yanking at my arm—but it was like steel. She couldn’t budge it an inch.

"Huh? Oh, sorry. Zoned out for a sec."

By the time I snapped back, Wolf Bro was foaming at the mouth, unconscious.

"You zone out *now*?! You almost killed him!"

"My bad."

I pulled a cigarette from my pocket and lit it.

*Puff—*

The smoke curled and faded, calming the violence inside me.

"Phew… he’s still breathing. You scared me to death," Oriental September sighed, patting her chest.

"This is the fight you wanted. Thrilling enough?" I asked.

The alley was a mess: unconscious thugs, blood-stained walls and ground, utter silence.

"This isn’t fighting—it’s murder!"

"Aren’t you happy?"

"How could I be?! Real fights are for justice! You win when you’re battered but hear your enemies cry in defeat. This was just one-sided slaughter!"

*Sigh.* This girl’s brain must be fried from too many shonen manga.

I flicked the cigarette butt to the ground and crushed it underfoot, heading for the alley exit.

"Hey! Where are you going? Take me with you!"

"To settle the score with whoever sent them. Self-defense, right?"

"What about these guys? Should we call an ambulance?" Oriental September glanced back.

"Nah. They’ll wake up soon enough."

"Good!"

She caught up, chattering nonstop.

"Seriously, you’re crazy strong! Do you really know kung fu? What style? Can you teach me? I wanna be that tough too—oh! You’re bleeding! Are you okay?"

Only now did she notice my shoulder wound.

*Dude, your reflexes are glacial.*

"It’s fine. Just a scratch."

I’d had worse. This was routine.

"Still, we should bandage it. Infections are no joke."

"I’m fine."

She ignored me, rummaging in her bag until she pulled out a clear pouch holding a white cloth.

"What’s that?"

"A sanitary pad. Normally, you split it into seven pieces, but that won’t cover your wound. I’ll use the whole thing—don’t worry, I’ll grab more later."

…

I twitched.

"Relax! It’s sterile. Totally safe."

*It’s not the sterility I’m worried about… Who bandages wounds with pads?!*

"N-no thanks. I’m good."

"I said don’t move! What if it gets infected?!"

In the end, she wrapped the pad around my shoulder. I couldn’t even look at myself.

"Let’s go. Time for revenge."

"You seem happy."

"Wouldn’t you be?"

Just as we reached the alley mouth, a figure blocked our path.

She stared at me, then at Oriental September beside me, finally scanning the unconscious thugs in the alley.

After a long pause, she bit her lip.

"You fought again. We agreed you’d stay out of trouble. Why can’t you just behave? Do you know how scared I am when I’m with you? Yueyue, you were there—why didn’t you stop him?"

She unloaded a barrage of words.

I didn’t reply.

"Snowy, listen! It was self-defense! They ambushed us!" Oriental September stepped forward, reaching for Ouyang Qingsnow—but she shook her off.

"Why didn’t they ambush *me*? You even threatened a woman, Aotian Long. I misjudged you. I came back worried you’d forgotten to pay the bill, and *this* is what I find. How many more times must you disappoint me?"

"Apologize! Snowy’s furious. Just say something nice!"

"Unnecessary."

I walked past Ouyang Qingsnow, leaving cold words behind.

"I’ve always been this way. I won’t change for anyone. Whether you like it or not—that’s your choice."

"Don’t you have any responsibility at all?!" Her voice cracked with tears from far behind. I paused briefly, then kept walking.