Chapter 39

Back in the day, Xu Hao was the main force in dormitory brawls. Even though this skill had been neglected for many years, the experience still remained.

With fewer opponents, fight to the death; with more opponents, retreat quickly.

Xu Hao quickly calculated the number of people on both sides. Hmm, the enemy outnumbered him, and the worst part was that he was alone, while the other side had at least seven or eight people. "Smart Xu Hao" immediately judged that he needed to make a quick escape.

But in this era, there were no taxis. How could he quickly get away from the battlefield? Xu Hao scratched his head. Moreover, a strategic retreat was not the same as a desperate flight. As the saying goes, the faster you run, the more likely you are to die!

Since he couldn't avoid it, he had to advance to retreat. Xu Hao quickly lowered his head, hoping to find the three great tools of street brawls: bricks, no. Bottles, no. Benches, no.

He habitually felt his body, and Xu Hao cried; he didn't even have a handy mobile phone. He might as well surrender. Trembling, he raised his hand and pointed at the approaching enemy, shouting, "I warn you, whoever dares to make a move, don't say I didn't warn you!"

The problem was that Young Master Cao didn't know the power of these words. He sneered, "I've been waiting for this day. A gentleman doesn't let a grudge go unavenged. You're dead."

The other side had already surrounded Xu Hao. Seeing someone about to make a move, Xu Hao quickly called out, "At least give me some dignity and find a place where no one is around to beat me."

Young Master Cao was furious when he heard this. He shouted sternly, "Did you give me any dignity that day? Shut up, everyone, attack!"

"Go to hell, here come the hidden weapons!" Xu Hao waved his hands, and dozens of copper coins and a few pieces of silver flew out like a shower, delaying the enemy's actions.

Taking advantage of this moment, Xu Hao quickly rushed toward Young Master Cao. The famous skill from his university days reappeared. He leaped high and delivered a flying kick.

"Ah!" Young Master Cao fell backward, and Xu Hao pounced on him, punching him in the groin.

The key to a group fight is not how fierce you are, but how accurate you are. Remember, hitting too hard or causing serious injury can result in medical bills, and killing someone can get you shot. What we need to do is ensure a one-hit knockout, quickly incapacitating an enemy to create a numerical advantage for our side.

A man's vital points include the groin, eyes, temples, and abdomen, which can all cause temporary dizziness. Warning: Do not use any foreign objects to attack these areas, as serious consequences will not be your responsibility.

Young Master Cao, in pain, reached down to cover his groin, and Xu Hao punched him hard in the eye socket. Young Master Cao felt a buzz, stars danced before his eyes, and he couldn't see or hear anything for a short time.

Punch, punch, punch, punch! Xu Hao repeatedly beat the poor Young Master Cao with his fists, and then punch, punch, punch, punch! He was viciously kicked and beaten by a group of people.

Feeling intense pain, Xu Hao quickly used his old defensive technique, covering his head with his hands and squatting on the ground, using his elbows to protect his face and chest.

While enduring the pain, Xu Hao didn't forget to search the ground for anything useful. In the past, he had found many phones, watches, ZIPP lighter, cigarettes, and even a stack of game cards, which allowed his dorm mates to play for free for a whole month.

Suddenly, a green jade pendant caught his eye. Xu Hao mentally shouted, "Worth it!" This small thing was enough to compensate for his injured body and mind.

By feeling, it should belong to Young Master Cao. Xu Hao quickly grabbed the jade pendant and shouted for help.

"Help! They're trying to kill me!"

Shouting for help is also a life-saving skill. Xu Hao wasn't afraid of being beaten, as that would only result in some bruises and a few weeks of rest. What he feared most was someone getting desperate and pulling out a knife or dagger.

Indeed, Young Master Cao, humiliated twice, was already out of control. He shouted for his servants to bring him his sword, intending to kill his enemy with one strike.

This unusual action startled the accomplices. Combined with Xu Hao's cries for help, it cleared their bloodthirsty minds. Back then, Hu Weiyong's son was executed for killing a pedestrian on the street, leading to the extermination of his entire family. If Young Master Cao were to kill a nobleman in public, it would be a serious matter.

The crowd quickly restrained the irrational Young Master Cao. Xu Hao took this opportunity to stand up, blood dripping from his mouth, and gave Young Master Cao a deep look. A wise man doesn't fight a losing battle, so he turned and left.

This grudge must be avenged. Xu Hao had already forgotten that he was the one who started it, only remembering that he had suffered a great loss today, something he hadn't experienced in years. Fine, he would return the favor tenfold.

Xu Hao, revealing his true nature, secretly vowed to repay every slight. This was one of the survival rules in the modern jungle, at least in his opinion.

He hurriedly boarded his small boat, instructing the boatman to row to the middle of the river and go downstream.

In the cabin, he first took off his torn robe, wincing as he examined his injuries. Fortunately, they were mostly bruises and swelling, with few bleeding wounds.

He simply wiped himself with his undergarments, stood up, and took several deep breaths, feeling no internal injuries. Finally, he carefully examined the jade pendant, which looked even more translucent in the sunlight and was likely worth a lot of silver.

He found Lai Bao chatting in a teahouse along the river. Facing Lai Bao's exaggeratedly sad expression, Xu Hao scolded him a few times and instructed him to go ashore to find medicine and clean clothes.

Beijing was a bustling place with a dense population. Lai Bao quickly returned from a nearby town. Half an hour later, Xu Hao was back at the Mu family estate's dock. This time, he moved quickly, and the gate was already open. He quickly took a number from the gatekeeper and rushed inside.

Once in a safe area, Xu Hao relaxed and began to ponder the small wooden token in his hand, which had "48" written on it in paint. He didn't understand what it meant. As he walked, he saw a group of dejected young men walking by, some of them cursing and denouncing the shameless person who sold the exam questions.

Following the crowd, he reached the main gate of the Mu family estate. A dozen servants stood in a row, only allowing those with tokens to enter. Those dressed as servants, like Lai Bao, were not allowed in.

"No wonder so many people," Xu Hao thought, looking at the young men around him. Anyone above the commoner class could enter, so it seemed the Mu family was being fair.

More people meant greater difficulty, but Young Master Xu had always been well-prepared and was confident as he stepped through the side gate.

He passed the green wall with a large "Fu" character carved on it and reached the open area in front of the front courtyard. He asked the gatekeeper and learned that twenty people were in each group, and the first twenty had already been tested. The second group was currently being tested.

People occasionally pointed at him and whispered. Xu Hao touched his injured cheek, muttering about bad luck, and waited in a corner.

While waiting, he looked around but didn't see Young Master Cao. Could this guy have come specifically to take revenge? How did he get the information?

"Wait for me, I will return the favor," Xu Hao narrowed his eyes, thinking that the most likely scenario was that Young Master Cao had obtained the information through his own people, who could be easily bribed with a few silver coins.

Through this incident, Xu Hao reminded himself to be more cautious in the future and to keep his plans secret when going out or doing anything.