Chapter 2: Going Home

“Stop.”

Tong Xingyao said.

Her voice was not loud, even carrying a soft, girlish sweetness, barely intimidating amid the noisy street corner.

However, the few women ahead who were huddled together, pointing at passing pedestrians with obvious ill intent, reacted as if a cat had had its tail stepped on the moment they heard that voice.

Their bodies stiffened, and without even turning their heads, they bolted, trying to flee!

In Tong Xingyao’s dark, emotionless eyes, not even a ripple stirred.

Seeing that they completely ignored her words, she pushed off the ground and closed the distance in just a few large strides.

Her figure moved so quickly it almost stirred up a gust of wind, and she steadily blocked their path, then simply stared at them coldly.

The women swept by her gaze instantly felt their scalps tingle and cold sweat break out across their backs.

We’re done for!
How did we run into her?!

The infamous “Demoness of Chaos,” Tong Xingyao!
Rumor had it she could snap construction-site rebar with her bare hands!

Why does she look at us like we’re already dead…
She’s not going to… eat us, is she?

These street thugs, who normally swaggered around the neighborhood, now felt their legs trembling under Tong Xingyao’s expressionless stare.

“Give me your money.”

Tong Xingyao spoke.

Her tone remained flat and unhurried, yet it carried an unquestionable dominance.

Money?

Hearing this, the women who had just been scared out of their wits and thought they were about to die immediately heaved a collective sigh of relief.

As long as it wasn’t their lives, anything could be negotiated.

The most slickly dressed woman with the most slippery gaze—clearly the leader of this little gang—quickly forced a fawning smile and pulled out a crumpled wad of cash from her pocket.

“Oh, Sister Yao, you should’ve said so earlier! Money’s easy! Here, 700. Please take it. Just a little token of respect from us sisters!”

As she spoke, she cautiously handed it over.

Seeing that Tong Xingyao did not take it, her eyes darted, and she raised the stakes.

“As long as you go easy on us in the future and don’t interfere with us sisters handling, uh, business around here… I’ll add another 500! No, 800! What do you think?”

Her courage even grew slightly as she tried to negotiate.

“If Sister Yao is interested, you could even join us—”

“Too much talk.”

Before she could finish, Tong Xingyao’s brows knitted ever so slightly, as if annoyed by the noise.

The next second, without warning, she stepped forward and drove a kick straight into the woman’s abdomen.

Bang!

With a dull thud, the gang leader did not even have time to scream before her entire body flew several meters through the air like a torn sack.

She crashed heavily onto the filthy ground, curling up, reduced to pained groans.

It all happened too quickly.

The remaining thugs had not even processed what happened and stood frozen in place.

When they saw their boss sprawled on the ground, their faces turned deathly pale, and the way they looked at Tong Xingyao filled with terror.

“Y-you…”

One of them pointed at Tong Xingyao, her finger trembling, unable to finish her sentence.

Tong Xingyao remained expressionless, as if she had merely brushed off a speck of dust.

She stepped forward and walked up to the remaining thugs, who looked on the verge of wetting themselves.

“Hand over all your money.”

Her voice was still flat.

But with their leader groaning on the ground behind them, the intimidation factor shot through the roof.

The thugs dared not resist.

With mournful faces, they trembled as they emptied their pockets—crumpled bills, flat ones, even coins—placing everything into their hands.

At that moment, a girl with a ponytail, who appeared quieter and more refined than Tong Xingyao, jogged over from the side.

She naturally positioned herself slightly behind and beside Tong Xingyao.

She was Guo Zimu, Tong Xingyao’s friend and “assistant.”

Guo Zimu first quickly scanned Tong Xingyao with concern, confirming she was unhurt.

Only then did she turn to the thugs and extend her hand.

“Give it to me.”

The thugs hurriedly placed all the money into Guo Zimu’s hands.

She skillfully counted and organized it, setting the coins aside separately.

Tong Xingyao did not look at the money being counted.

Her gaze remained fixed on the thugs, unmoving, simply staring at them.

The thugs felt their hearts pound under that stare.

After handing over the money, they neither dared to move nor leave.

The atmosphere was suffocating.

Tong Xingyao’s eyes paused briefly on their bulging pockets and slightly unnatural stances.

There’s more.

She said nothing.

She simply continued to apply silent pressure.

That cold gaze, as if it could see through everything, finally shattered their psychological defenses.

“T-there’s more…”

One thug, nearly in tears, pulled out several hidden bills from the lining of her pocket.

Only after confirming they had truly been squeezed dry did Tong Xingyao tilt her head slightly, signaling that they could get lost.

As if granted amnesty, the thugs scrambled to their feet, dragging their still-groaning leader away.

They disappeared at the end of the alley far faster than when they had arrived.

Only then did a clear, prolonged growl echo from Tong Xingyao’s stomach.

Guo Zimu immediately looked at her, frowning.

“You didn’t eat lunch?”

Tong Xingyao did not answer.

She simply raised her hand and lightly pressed against her stomach.

When she had been fighting earlier, she had already felt a hollow sensation.

Now that things were quiet, the hunger felt even more pronounced.

“Let’s go home.”

Guo Zimu sighed and put away the neatly organized money.

The two left the chaotic street side by side.

Guo Zimu’s house was on the street opposite Tong Xingyao’s, very close.

When they reached the fork in the road, Guo Zimu waved the rather thick stack of money in her hand.

“Xingyao, today’s haul isn’t bad. Do you… want to take some to buy something to eat? Or save it?”

Tong Xingyao stopped walking and looked at the money taken from the thugs.

She coldly shook her head.

Guo Zimu looked at her friend’s pale profile and the hand still resting on her stomach, worry filling her heart.

“Remember to eat.”

Guo Zimu gave one last reminder.

She watched as Tong Xingyao turned and walked toward the dim alley leading to her home.

Only after her figure disappeared around the corner did Guo Zimu head in the direction of her own house.