Chapter 19

Just as Yang Fan had left, Daoist Zhang came to visit, hinting that he wanted to take Li Mang as a disciple and teach him ghost-catching skills. Li Mang politely declined, saying that he didn't want to learn these skills for the time being, as he had been scared enough this time and had no interest in ghost-catching.

Although he now had a certain immunity to ghosts, recalling the appearance of the female ghost still made Li Mang feel a bit uncomfortable. Therefore, instead of learning the Heavenly Master's techniques from Daoist Zhang, he preferred to focus on developing his own "Classic of Mountains and Seas" space. As long as he consumed more rare treasures, his strength would naturally increase.

Moreover, learning the Heavenly Master's techniques was not as easy as it sounded. It would take years just to get a basic grasp. Li Mang knew he wasn't a genius, and even if he were, he wouldn't become a god overnight. In comparison, he preferred to be a foodie.

Daoist Zhang could only leave with regret, but he didn't give up. Before leaving, he said, "Let me know whenever you change your mind."

"Sure, Daoist Zhang, please take your time!" Li Mang saw him off, only to be greeted by an eight-year-old child running up eagerly. Who else could it be but the little brat?

Seeing Li Mang, the little brat called out from a distance, "Li Mang, you're finally awake!"

"Finally..." Li Mang's face showed a hint of displeasure, but he didn't say anything, opening the door to let him into the yard.

"Li Mang, is it fun outside?" the little brat asked with longing.

Li Mang put his changed clothes into the washing machine and answered without looking up, "Not really, there are a lot of bad people outside, not like the carefree life in the compound!"

"You're lying! I saw on TV that the outside world is very fun, with beautiful cars, tall buildings, and lots of interesting toys and events!" the little brat said with childlike innocence.

Li Mang shook his head helplessly. For the little brat, such a childhood was indeed terrible, but there was nothing he could do about it. The child had been born with superhuman strength but was also intellectually challenged. He couldn't take care of himself outside and had a great destructive power. If he were to be used by someone with ill intentions, the consequences would be unimaginable. Although the Yanhuang organization was strict, their methods were not wrong.

Seeing that Li Mang didn't respond, the little brat's longing for the outside world faded, and he smiled, "Yesterday, I beat up Xiao Tu from Group 8. That bastard dared to say bad things about our Group 9!"

Seeing the little brat raise his fist, Li Mang found it amusing and asked, "What did he say about us?"

Xiao Tu was the secretary of Group 8, holding the same position as Li Mang. However, it was rumored that he had been a killer in the past, and he was quite strong. He had always looked down on Li Mang, and the relationship between the two was not good, partly due to the long-standing rivalry between Group 8 and Group 9.

"That bastard said our Group 9 has no strong members and is ranked last in the Yanhuang compound. He even said our secretary is a weak bookworm. I got so angry that I beat him up, and he was screaming for mercy, hehe!" the little brat laughed.

Li Mang silently mourned for Xiao Tu. No matter how impressive his past, once he entered the Yanhuang compound, his status was lower, and he couldn't even beat a little brat.

Of course, if it came to killing, the little brat was no match for Xiao Tu. But even if Xiao Tu had the courage of a water tank, he wouldn't dare to kill the little brat, or he would end up dead.

However, it was true that Group 9 was ranked last in the Yanhuang compound, being the last group formed and consisting of new members. But this was no reason for Xiao Tu to meddle. The little brat was right to beat him up.

"That guy deserved it for his foul mouth, and Group 8 isn't much better than us!" Li Mang, who was hanging clothes in the yard, scolded.

"Exactly, a mere secretary dares to talk big!" the little brat agreed.

"..." Li Mang was speechless. He was also a secretary, and the little brat's comment seemed to be a veiled insult, though unintentional. At that moment, Li Mang suddenly felt a strange killing intent enveloping him. Instinctively, he looked up and saw a man in his thirties standing at the gate. The man was dressed in a suit, with a shaved head and sharp eyes, but he was now glaring at Li Mang in the yard. It was Xiao Tu, the secretary of Group 8, who had just passed by.

"Li Mang, what did you just say!" Xiao Tu asked with a hint of anger.

"Xiao Tu, are you looking for a beating!" Before Li Mang could respond, the little brat, who had once burned down Old Cao's yard, pointed at Xiao Tu and scolded him.

"Hmph!" Xiao Tu snorted, not daring to argue with the little brat, who was powerful and had unlimited potential, making it unwise to offend him.

"I said you deserved a beating for your foul mouth!" Li Mang calmly repeated his words, continuing to hang clothes as if Xiao Tu didn't exist.

"..." Xiao Tu's mouth gaped open, disbelievingly looking at Li Mang. Was this the same Li Mang who used to be timid in front of him? He then became furious and narrowed his eyes, "Don't think the little brat will protect you forever. If you have the guts, come out and fight me!"

"Xiao Tu..." The little brat was about to say something but was stopped by Li Mang.

"Scared, are you?" Xiao Tu became even more smug.

"Do you really want me to hit you?" Li Mang asked seriously.

"Come out if you dare!" Xiao Tu said disdainfully.

Li Mang shrugged and, under Xiao Tu's disdainful gaze, suddenly took two steps to the yard fence. With a heavy step on the grass, he transformed into a flying eagle, easily clearing the one-meter-high fence and landing right in front of Xiao Tu, who was two meters away from the yard.

"What..." Xiao Tu was already stunned, but as a former killer, he had quick reflexes. Realizing the danger, he quickly retreated.

However, he was fast, but Li Mang was faster. Bending down, Li Mang punched Xiao Tu's abdomen— "Bang!"

Xiao Tu felt his body become light and then crashed heavily into the flower bed opposite. His abdomen throbbed with pain, and his stomach churned. But as Li Mang approached again, he quickly used his hands to leap into the air, trying to stand up.

"Hey!" Li Mang smiled and quickly lifted his foot, stomping down on Xiao Tu, who was just standing up, and continued to stomp, kick, and punch.

Without any exaggerated moves or supernatural abilities, Li Mang, relying on speed and strength, brutally beat the once-feared killer Xiao Tu, turning him into a beaten dog. This was the difference between a normal person and a superhuman. No matter how strong Xiao Tu had been in the past, he was just the result of brutal training, unable to break the limits of human potential.

Actually, Li Mang was a good-natured and gentle person who rarely got angry. But in the Yanhuang compound, he had been bullied for over half a year. Although he had gotten used to it, he couldn't help feeling angry and frustrated. Now, Xiao Tu had walked right into his trap.

Each kick made Li Mang feel better, his bones feeling more relaxed. He didn't know if he was being perverse, but he needed to vent his pent-up frustration.

However, Xiao Tu on the ground was suffering. He felt his body was no longer his own, and he was losing sensation, close to fainting!

"Stop!"

A voice shouted, and Li Mang felt a sense of danger. Looking up, he saw a black shadow approaching.

Li Mang was shocked, but the enemy was too fast, and he couldn't react in time. He was bound to be hit.

"Bang!"

Li Mang felt a violent collision in front of him, the wind stinging his skin. Instinctively, he took a step back, his back drenched in cold sweat.

Focusing, he saw that Yang Fan, wearing glasses, had appeared in front of him, standing with his hands behind his back, looking very cool. In front of him was a wise man in his forties, whom Li Mang recognized as Cai Cai, the manager of Group 8.

"Thank you, Manager Yang." Li Mang bowed slightly, knowing that if Yang Fan hadn't intervened, he would have been seriously injured, if not dead, and would have had to lie in bed for ten to fifteen days.

Yang Fan nodded slightly and then looked at Cai Cai with a blank expression, mockingly asking, "Cai Cai, you are a respected senior. Is it right to attack a junior?"

Cai Cai's face was dark. He glanced at the half-dead Xiao Tu on the ground and then turned to Li Mang, saying, "Your secretary was so ruthless. Wasn't it right for me to teach him a lesson?"

"Manager Cai, you may not know, but Li Mang only acted because your secretary asked him to. I heard it clearly. If you don't believe me, you can check the surveillance video," Yang Fan said with a sardonic smile.

"..." Li Mang was surprised to see his superior, not expecting that his actions had been noticed by Yang Fan, who hadn't intervened. But considering Yang Fan's relationship with Cai Cai, Li Mang understood that Yang Fan might have been secretly pleased.

"..." Cai Cai's face turned a liver color. He knew Yang Fan wouldn't lie about this and understood Xiao Tu's character. He quickly pieced together what had happened.

However, hearing that Yang Fan had let Li Mang beat up his subordinate without intervention, Cai Cai was still extremely angry, his teeth grinding and veins bulging on his forehead.

"Hmph!" Cai Cai snorted, walked to Xiao Tu, and easily lifted him with one hand. He gave Li Mang a deep look and then turned to leave. Since Xiao Tu was at fault, it would be unwise to pursue the matter further.

"Hehe, well done!" Yang Fan patted Li Mang's shoulder, gave him a lecherous smile, and left, genuinely pleased to see Cai Cai humiliated.

"..." Li Mang was speechless for a long time.