Li Hu—Wang Hao's number one lackey and another worthless rich kid who used his family's small fortune to regularly hang around the black market.
"Li Hu?" Lin Mo's eyes turned cold.
"Tsk tsk, Lin Mo, I heard you really showed off at school today—actually managed to draw qi into your body." Li Hu smiled without warmth, his eyes flashing with jealous malice. "But so what if you can draw qi? Trash is still trash! You don't actually think you can turn your life around, do you?"
He'd obviously heard about Lin Mo's school incident and come specifically to mock him.
"Whether I can turn my life around isn't your concern." Lin Mo didn't want to waste time on him.
"Hmph! Still talking tough!" Li Hu stepped forward, blocking Lin Mo's path with a nasty grin. "Lin Mo, my boss Wang Hao says you'd better have a little 'accident' during tomorrow's aptitude test. Otherwise... face the consequences!"
A naked threat!
Lin Mo's eyes flashed dangerously.
Apparently Wang Hao wasn't giving up. Even after his frame-up failed, he still wanted to use these underhanded tactics.
"Get lost." Lin Mo spat out two words coldly.
"What did you say?!" Li Hu exploded in rage, not expecting Lin Mo to dare speak to him like that.
He swung his fist straight at Lin Mo's face!
Though Li Hu was worthless, he was still a martial arts high school student who'd managed to cultivate some strength. This punch could leave an ordinary person black and blue.
However, before his fist could reach Lin Mo, it was caught by what looked like a thin but iron-strong hand.
Crack!
The crisp sound of breaking bone rang out.
"Ahhhhh—!"
Li Hu let out a bloodcurdling scream as Lin Mo crushed his wrist!
In the underground betting pool, Li Hu rolled on the ground clutching his mangled wrist, sweating bullets from the pain.
The surrounding gamblers and enforcers instinctively stepped back, looking at Lin Mo with shock and wariness.
One move!
Just one move had crippled Li Hu, who had some reputation in the black market!
Was this really the legendary "Lin the Loser" from Jiang City First High?
"Kid, don't you think you went a bit too far?"
The lean boss who'd brought Lin Mo in emerged from the shadows, his face dark.
Li Hu's father was a minor boss in the black market—worthless as he was, he wasn't someone just anyone could mess with.
Lin Mo remained calm. "He threw the first punch. I was just defending myself."
"Self-defense?" The lean boss sneered. "That's quite some 'self-defense' you got there."
Before he could finish speaking, commotion erupted from the bar direction as several more dangerous-looking thugs rushed over, led by Li Hu's father—a black market enforcer boss nicknamed "Li the Butcher."
"Who dares touch my son!" Li the Butcher roared like thunder.
When he saw Li Hu writhing on the ground with his unnaturally twisted wrist, his eyes instantly filled with blood as murderous intent swept out.
"You?!" Li the Butcher's gaze locked onto Lin Mo as if he wanted to devour him alive.
Just as violence was about to erupt, the lean boss stepped forward, blocking Li the Butcher.
"Li the Butcher, calm down." The lean boss's voice was steady but carried undeniable authority. "Your son started this confrontation. This young man's response was heavy-handed, but he was pushed to it. The black market has its rules—we can't just let people bully the weak here."
His words seemed conciliatory but were actually a warning to Li the Butcher not to escalate things.
Though furious, Li the Butcher wasn't stupid. The lean boss had deeper backing than him—he couldn't afford to offend him lightly.
Besides, Lin Mo's earlier move had made him wary. This kid wasn't as simple as he appeared.
"Fine, just fine!" Li the Butcher glared at Lin Mo through gritted teeth. "Kid, you better watch your back! This isn't over!"
After dropping his threat, he had his men carry Li Hu away.
The crisis passed temporarily.
The lean boss gave Lin Mo a meaningful look. "Nice moves, young man. But Li the Butcher holds grudges. You'd better be careful in the black market from now on."
"Thanks for the warning, boss." Lin Mo nodded.
He knew he'd completely crossed Li the Butcher today. But he didn't regret it. Don't start trouble, but if someone starts trouble with you, pay them back a hundredfold—that had been his principle across two lifetimes.
Leaving the noisy betting pool, Lin Mo didn't head straight home.
He had somewhere else to go.
As night deepened, Lin Mo appeared by a quiet riverside.
He sat cross-legged and began circulating the "Innate Qi Cultivation Technique."
Threads of qi gathered from all directions, flowing into his body, restoring the minuscule amount of qi he'd used against Li Hu while slowly strengthening his cultivation.
Just as he was immersed in his practice, a hoarse voice spoke behind him.
"Young friend, please wait."
Lin Mo's eyes snapped open as he spun around alertly.
A stooped old man in rough hemp clothing had somehow appeared behind him.
It was Boss Qian!
"Boss Qian? What are you doing here?" Lin Mo was surprised.
Boss Qian's face showed a mysterious smile. "The more I looked at that copper piece, the more extraordinary it seemed. I was wondering about the remaining piece you have... I'd be willing to pay a high price for it. The amount is negotiable!"
Lin Mo's heart jumped. Apparently the copper piece was even more valuable than he'd thought.
"To be honest, boss, the one I have left was a gift from my grandmother. I already regret selling you the first one."
Boss Qian's eyes flashed with disappointment, but he quickly recovered. "No matter. Fate cannot be forced. Here's my contact information. If you ever come across similar items, or if there's anything you need help with, just let me know."
He handed Lin Mo an antique business card.
"Thank you, Boss Qian." Lin Mo accepted the card. He had a feeling this Boss Qian was more than just an ordinary antique shop owner.
After parting with Boss Qian, Lin Mo finally headed home.
When he arrived, his mother Su Wan was already asleep.
Lin Mo quietly entered his small room without turning on the lights.
He sat on the edge of his bed, feeling the endless qi flowing within him and the mysterious changes brought by the "Innate Qi Cultivation Technique," his heart full of anticipation for tomorrow.
The aptitude test wasn't just his chance to prove himself—it was the starting point for changing his fate!
And those 1 to 2000 odds...
Lin Mo's lips curved in a confident arc.
This would be a sleepless night.