Chapter Ten: This Is All Because of You

The remaining men, seeing the situation, turned pale but still refused to yield. They lunged forward, unwilling to back down. Hu San moved with incredible agility, his fists and feet swift as the wind, every strike precise and powerful. Each punch carried the force of brass knuckles, leaving his adversaries utterly helpless. In just a few minutes, five burly men lay groaning on the ground, defeated.

The bald man realized things had taken a turn for the worse—he had met his match today. He hurriedly tried to flee. Hu San sneered, swiftly catching up and grabbing him by the collar, throwing him heavily to the ground. The bald man struggled to get up, but Hu San planted a foot firmly on his back and said coldly, "Trying to run? Did you ask me first?"

Terrified, the bald man begged for mercy. "Brother, spare me! We had no choice... just wanted a meal!"

Hu San snorted, released his foot, and deftly retrieved my bag of cash from the bald man's embrace. He tossed it at my feet.

I hadn't yet managed to thank him when a sharp pain shot through my chest. Hu San didn't look at me but turned back to the defeated bald man on the ground. "Go back where you belong. You're not welcome here."

The bald man nodded desperately, gathered his companions, and fled the alley in disarray.

Just as they had barely escaped a few steps, Hu San suddenly called after them. The bald man, clutching his broken hand, trembled.

Hu San looked back at me. "Brother, is it alright if I take thirty thousand from you for your safety?"

Leaning against the wall, wracked with pain but filled with gratitude, I thought—not just thirty thousand, I'd gladly give Hu San everything I had.

I tossed the bag back to him. "You decide."

Hu San took out three bundles of cash and threw them at the bald man's face.

"Take this as a lesson. We're all hustling out here—no one's trying to kill anyone. Next time, know whose territory you're in before you make trouble, understand?"

"Take the money, buy yourself some food, fill your belly, and think things over."

The bald man stared blankly for a second, then picked up the money, overwhelmed with gratitude.

Wiping blood from the corner of my mouth, I watched the scene unfold. In that moment, Hu San seemed to embody the legendary spirit of a true hero.

Hu San walked over, offered his hand, and helped me up, asking with concern, "Are you alright?"

I shook my head, forcing a smile. "Thank you. If not for you, I would have been finished today."

He patted my shoulder and laughed. "Don't mention it. This is my turf. Those petty thugs didn't know what they were getting into. But that's how it is—if you want to do business in this market, be careful."

I nodded, silently resolving to be more cautious and never trust anyone easily again.

Hu San looked at me and smiled. "Can you walk on your own? Try taking a few steps!"

I got up and attempted to walk, but after only a few steps, my body faltered and I collapsed, losing consciousness completely.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself lying on a shabby wooden bed in a simple house. Sunlight streamed through the window onto the floor. The room was mostly empty, save for a table, a sofa set, and a few chairs. On the table were some instant noodles and fruit.

"How are you feeling?"

Hearing the voice, I turned and saw Hu San. I struggled to sit up, realizing my wounds had been bandaged, and the pain had lessened considerably.

"Much better. Thank you, Brother Hu San," I said gratefully.

He smiled and handed me a steaming bowl of porridge. "You must be hungry. Have some porridge first."

I took the bowl and drank a mouthful, warmth spreading through my body. Glancing around, I asked, "Where is this?"

Hu San explained, "This is my home, not far from the market. After you fainted, I brought you back."

I nodded, my heart full of gratitude.

After finishing the porridge, I began to chat with Hu San. He told me he worked as the market's security guard—the owner had hired him because of his size and fighting skills to keep order. The pay wasn’t much, but it was better than the days when Hu San wandered about, scraping by.

I told him a bit of my own story—how my father used to be a small businessman, but after our family fell on hard times, he had to seek work wherever he could.

"Brother Hu San, with your skills, I can help you find a way out!" I suddenly thought of Sister Hong. It seemed she could use someone like him.

"You want to find me a job? Why?"

I looked at him and smiled. "Because I think you're a good man."

Hu San burst out laughing. "A good man? Are there good men in this world?! If there were, would people like us have our families fall from grace?"

It struck me then that Hu San had his own past. He didn’t elaborate, only saying his situation was much like mine—we both came from families that had declined.

"But don't expect me to be a good man... That word makes me uncomfortable!"

As we talked, Hu San suddenly smiled. "Speaking of poverty, you and I are quite fated."

"But today you earned three hundred thousand in a single day... Our fate ends here!"

I laughed too, feeling a rare sense of kinship. I managed to sit up, took out the bag, and handed thirty thousand directly to Hu San.

"Now—ten thousand for you, fifteen thousand for me, our fate is even!"

Hu San watched me spend so freely. "Wait, buddy, did you hit your head too hard? I care a lot about money; don’t mistake me for a good man!"

I laughed. "I’m not a good man either... I kept an extra fifty thousand for myself!"

Hu San laughed as well, and the conversation flowed so easily that we ended up talking for two hours straight. Still, Hu San refused to take my money unless I insisted.

"Are you hiring me as your bodyguard or errand boy?" he joked.

I looked at him seriously. "Brother!"

Hu San was taken aback, realizing I meant it. Still, he teased, "Brotherhood? That calls for a ceremony!"

Ignoring the pain in my body, I got out of bed, knelt, and facing the window, declared loudly, "Heaven above, I, Wang Hu, today vow to become sworn brothers with Hu San! Not asking to be born on the same day, but to die on the same day!"

I knocked my head three times against the floor, then turned to Hu San—your turn!

In that instant, I saw Hu San falter, but after a brief silence, he solemnly knelt beside me.

After the oath, Hu San said, "Now that we're brothers, I won't hide things from you."

I looked at him curiously. "What is it?"

Hu San's expression turned grave. "Although the men who attacked you today were outsiders, based on my experience, they didn't behave like true wandering thugs—"

He turned to me. "It seemed like they were targeting you specifically."