After bidding farewell to Hao Fangfang, Zhang Tianxing and Guo Jiajia embarked on their return journey.
Guo Jiajia wore a look of resentment. They had only been here a few days, and she hadn't had enough fun yet. Men engrossed in their work just didn't understand romance.
However, Guo Jiajia was certain that Zhang Tianxing was going to lose money this time. "A Chinese Odyssey" – the name alone sounded like a game. Such a movie wouldn't attract any audience, especially since it was released five years ago.
Zhang Tianxing merely smiled without a word. The constant running back and forth these past few days had taken quite a toll on his energy, but at least everything had been successful in the end.
Zhang Tianxing felt a hint of sleepiness. He told Guo Jiajia that he was going to take a short nap to refresh himself.
At that moment, an angry female voice rang out: "Get out of my way! What do you think you're doing?"
Then, a loud slap echoed, followed by a gruff male voice shouting.
"You damned shrew, you don't know how to manage a household at all! The children at home haven't eaten for days, and you still want to go out and have fun? Is this how a mother behaves?"
"Honestly, even if my brother doesn't earn much, you can't just leave without saying a word. Is this a life where you can come and go as you please?" a sharp, sarcastic voice chimed in.
"Alright, enough, sister. This woman just needs a good lesson. I'll deal with her properly when I get back!" the burly man's voice boomed again.
"Enough, we'll get off the car immediately. Don't make a spectacle of ourselves on the car! What kind of behavior is this!"
"Slap, slap!!" Two more slaps sounded.
"I don't know them at all! They're human traffickers!" a helpless voice cried out.
"Slap! I'll beat you to death, you wicked woman! I'll teach you to spout nonsense and not live your life properly!" The man's voice rose again as he heard the woman's shouts.
A flicker of panic crossed his face, and he immediately began beating the woman ferociously.
The onlookers began to murmur.
"This woman is dressed quite fashionably, how can she not know how to manage a household?"
"Didn't you hear that old woman? She said this woman is lazy, only wants to go dancing, and doesn't do any chores at home."
"This woman is quite beautiful, but these are not things a decent person would do. Which wife neglects her family? She deserves to be beaten!"
"I originally thought hitting women was wrong, but I didn't expect it to be this kind of woman. She deserves it. If it were me, I'd hit her even harder."
The woman, being brutally beaten by the older man, showed despair. Heaven was her witness, she didn't know these people at all.
She was just walking along when they dragged her into the car, followed by punches and kicks, and accusations of not living her life properly.
Her heart sank to the bottom.
At first, a few passersby had said something, but then an old woman spoke up, mentioning that the child at home had been hungry for several days, which prompted the whole family to come looking for her.
A basin of dirty water was dumped on her, and she couldn't even refute it.
Every time she tried to say a few words, she was beaten into incoherence.
Perhaps she was going to be beaten to death by these scumbags.
If she ever got another chance, she would never travel alone again.
With intense unwillingness, the woman collapsed to the ground.
"Don't kill her! The child needs a mother!" the old woman said, her voice trembling.
"Understood. Let's leave her with her life so she remembers a lesson, knows what she can and cannot do!" the man said gruffly.
No, that woman's voice sounded a bit familiar. She should be someone he knew. Zhang Tianxing squinted and looked closely. The woman who had been knocked unconscious was none other than the female reporter, Xiao Rong'er.
Reporter Xiao, why is she here? No, these scumbags...
"Stop! Talk it out properly, you can't just hit people!" Zhang Tianxing rushed forward directly. This was too heinous.
Guo Jiajia put a hand to her forehead. Zhang Tianxing was too impulsive. This was clearly a domestic dispute; why was Zhang Tianxing rushing in? This wasn't right.
"Young man, don't meddle in other people's affairs. You can't manage family matters. It's hard to say who is right and who is wrong," someone nearby advised.
Zhang Tianxing crouched down beside the woman. "Sister Xiao, wake up. It's Zhang Tianxing."
Before Zhang Tianxing could finish speaking, the man swung his enormous fist directly at him.
"I'll show you for meddling, you punk! Tell me honestly, are you this bitch's lover!" the man cursed obscenely.
Two more young men came over, and the three of them prepared to drag Zhang Tianxing away and teach him a lesson.
Zhang Tianxing assessed the situation. He was outnumbered; he had to finish this quickly.
Giving the men in front of him no chance, Zhang Tianxing charged forward and threw a punch at the older man.
"Bang!"
Zhang Tianxing's straight punch landed directly on the older man's neck. The older man didn't even grunt before falling to the ground.
The remaining two young men exchanged glances. One of them pulled out a dagger and said fiercely, "Kid, don't butt in. Keep butting in, and you'll lose your life."
Guo Jiajia nervously covered her mouth with her hand. Everything unfolding before her was beyond her imagination.
She didn't understand why Zhang Tianxing had rushed out, nor what had happened to the older man who had fallen.
"Kid, murder demands a life, debts must be paid. Boss, what's wrong?" someone nearby looked at the older man.
"Young man, you've killed someone! You're finished!"
Upon hearing this news, the young man with the dagger's eyes glowed red with grief and indignation.
"Kid, I'll make you pay for my brother's life! You die!" he yelled, lunging at Zhang Tianxing with the dagger.
Zhang Tianxing dodged the dagger attack with a sidestep. His left hand shot out rapidly, grabbing the man's wrist.
His right fist struck the young man's neck. The young man's body went limp, and he collapsed forward onto him.
The people on the bus were stunned. Someone shouted, "Murder! Someone's been murdered! Hurry!"
Zhang Tianxing roared, "Nobody move! Anyone who moves, I'll take their life!"
A young man nearby shouted curses, "You, the one hitting people, you're so arrogant! The authorities will deal with you later!"
Zhang Tianxing said coldly, "Initially, it was just fists. Now, if anyone makes a move, don't blame the merciless dagger."
Zhang Tianxing picked up the young man's dagger and stood up.
Putting aside everything else, just Zhang Tianxing's imposing physique standing there was enough to freeze the few men in their tracks.
"Young man, this is a matter between a couple. Why are you interfering?" the old woman said indignantly.
A young man charged forward, "I'll show you for meddling!"
Before he could finish, he was again knocked out by Zhang Tianxing's punch to the neck.
"Clang!" The young man quickly followed suit, falling to the ground and losing consciousness.
"Nobody move, just listen to me!" Zhang Tianxing roared sternly.