Starforce Warriors

Chapter 401: Ruthless

In the heart of Xiajing City’s central business district, the landscape was dominated by towering skyscrapers and represented the most magnificent display of modern technological architecture in the city. @@novelbin@@

Li Xiaofei rode the cloud elevator up to an aerial plaza. The sun was warm, and people were all around. This area was lively and prosperous. Li Xiaofei approached the entrance of an old shop called Shu Yu Zhai.

“This is the place.”

He looked at the shop’s traditional name, a smile appearing on his face. According to publicly available information online, this store had a history spanning over a hundred and thirty years and was one of the core enterprises of the Tan family in Xiajing. It specialized in the sale and processing of star cores and Inscribed Treasure Bones.

“Welcome.” A young female attendant greeted him warmly at the entrance.

The old shop wasn’t particularly large. Various star cores and Inscribed Treasure Bones were displayed on the shelves, each labeled with prices and detailed descriptions. The items on display were mainly extracted from star beasts of level three or lower.

The more valuable high-grade goods were kept in encrypted safes, with only video footage and descriptions available for viewing. One needed to pass through financial verification to purchase such items.

“Are you looking for something specific? I’d be happy to assist you.” The young attendant said politely.

She was fair-skinned and beautiful, with a striking resemblance to Tan Qingying.

“Are you from the Tan family?” Li Xiaofei asked curiously.

The young attendant’s expression shifted slightly. For a brief moment, Li Xiaofei clearly noticed a flicker of anger flash in her eyes, though it was fleeting.

However, she maintained her professional smile and patiently replied, “Yes, my name is Tan Baiqu. What would you like to buy? We have a full range of star cores and Inscribed Treasure Bones from star beasts of various types. We’re currently running a promotion with discounts up to 12 percent off.”

“I’m not here to buy anything; I’m looking for someone.” Li Xiaofei got straight to the point. “I have a friend named Tan Qingying. I haven’t been able to contact her for a long time. Can you tell me where she is or how to reach her?”

“You’re looking for Little Ying?” Tan Baiqu was visibly surprised, scanning Li Xiaofei carefully. She asked skeptically, “You claim to be her friend, yet you don’t know where she is?”

It was clear she knew Tan Qingying. Li Xiaofei’s heart leaped with joy, and he quickly responded, “It’s a long story, but I really am her close friend.”

“Alright, I believe you.” Tan Baiqu said, surprising even herself.

The Tan family had weathering turbulent circumstances recently, attracting many with questionable intentions. Yet this young man seemed different from the others. There was an indescribable sincerity about him.

“Little Ying is currently in seclusion at the Tan family’s ancestral home. You won’t be able to see her...”

But before she could finish speaking, a commotion suddenly erupted nearby. It was followed by two sharp screams. Several young men who had entered the store at some point were harassing two of the female attendants. One of the attendants had already been struck and lay on the floor.

“Excuse me,” Tan Baiqu said apologetically. “I need to handle this.”

She rushed over.

“What’s going on here?” She helped the fallen attendant to her feet and shielded her.

The young men across from her laughed and surrounded Tan Baiqu.

She forced herself to remain calm and smiled politely. “If one of my employees did something wrong, I can apologize on her behalf. However, hitting someone is unacceptable under any circumstances.”

“What right do you have to talk to me like that?”

The leader, a man with a horse-like face and an earring, sneered and swung at her without warning. Tan Baiqu instinctively stepped back, narrowly avoiding the strike.

She held back her anger and said, “Sir, please don’t take things too far, or I’ll have to call the police.”

“Oh, you dare to dodge? And now you’re threatening me?” said the man as his face twisted into a grin. “I came here today to make trouble, so call the police if you want. Haha! I’ve already spoken to the security department... Try it and see if anyone comes.”

A lecherous smile appeared on his face as he reached out to grab Tan Baiqu’s face.

“Little miss, are you the manager? You’re quite pretty. Here’s the deal: spend the night with us, and I promise not to cause trouble for three days. How about it?”

At that moment, something unexpected happened. A long, pale hand reached out from the side and casually grabbed the horse-faced man’s wrist.

“You... ah.”

Before he could react, there was a sharp crack. His forearm was snapped in half, the bone splintering under the force.

The horse-faced man stared at his broken arm, then glanced at Li Xiaofei, who had intervened. He tried to suppress the pain, a sneer twisting his face. “Meddling in other people’s business? Do you even know—”

Smack.

Li Xiaofei slapped him across the face. The blow shattered the bones on half of his face in an instant.

“Ahhh....” The man let out a scream, followed by a bitter laugh. “Ha, you’ve got guts, kid, you—”

Before he could finish, Li Xiaofei kicked him twice, landing blows squarely on his thighs.

Crack, crack.

Both thighs snapped under the force. The man collapsed to the floor, fear finally crossing his face. “Wait, let’s talk this out. We’re from the Fei Lu Sect...”

But Li Xiaofei didn’t respond. The other young men didn’t even have time to run as their limbs were swiftly broken and their mouths smashed, leaving them writhing on the ground, moaning in agony.

Tan Baiqu and the other store attendants were stunned. It was ruthless. Without uttering a single word, Li Xiaofei had disabled the horse-faced man and his companions. Although medical technology was incredibly advanced now and these injuries could be treated, the sheer pain alone would be enough to leave them half-dead.

“You...” Tan Baiqu looked at Li Xiaofei, unsure of what to say. She could only signal him with her eyes to leave quickly.

Li Xiaofei, however, stood with his arms crossed, waiting. Before long, a team of security officers burst into the shop.

“Arrest him! He’s the assailant!” The horse-faced man shouted as he struggled, his eyes filled with venom as he glared at Li Xiaofei. “You little bastard, you’re finished. You’re dead, hahahaha...”

Li Xiaofei stepped forward.

Crack, crack.

Right in front of the officers, he stomped on the man’s arms, reducing them to shattered bones.

“Aaaah...”

The man’s scream was as shrill as a pig being slaughtered. No one could have expected that Li Xiaofei would still be brutal in front of the officers and injure someone further right in front of them.

“Hands up!”

“Put your hands on your head!”

“This is your final warning!”

The officers immediately took defensive stances, drawing their weapons.

Special electromagnetic anti-qi pistols glowed with a cold, bluish light, their barrels pointed squarely at Li Xiaofei. Xiajing City was truly the capital. The officers’ gear was far superior to that of the Liuhe Base City.

Li Xiaofei slowly produced a custom insignia and said, “Take your men and... leave.”

The lead officer’s face fell dramatically upon seeing the insignia.