Chapter Forty-One: The Bodhi Gathering

Brother Snake was momentarily stunned, not expecting Qin Tian to speak so arrogantly.

But then he curled his lips into a smirk. Those who dared to act wild in front of Brother Snake had long since become cripples—if not broken arms, then broken legs.

Brother Snake twisted his neck, producing a series of cracking sounds, then flexed his wrists and ankles, tilting his head to fix his gaze on Qin Tian, looking every bit the seasoned fighter.

“Are you sure you want to fight here? Aren’t you afraid of getting arrested?” Qin Tian asked.

“Oh? Then you pick the spot,” Brother Snake glanced around. Sure enough, a crowd had gathered, pointing and whispering about them.

“There’s an alley just around the corner—let’s go there. It’s close to where we’re going for dinner anyway,” Qin Tian replied coolly.

“Kid, you’ve got guts! Even crazier than Brother Snake!”

“But I like beating up people like you! There’s nothing more exhilarating than stomping arrogant fools like you underfoot!” Brother Snake let out a booming laugh.

“Enough useless chatter. Let’s go, don’t waste my time for dinner,” Qin Tian shrugged.

Brother Snake narrowed his eyes, watching as Qin Tian and the two women walked away, his face darkening. It had been a long time since anyone dared to so brazenly challenge his authority!

“Brother Snake, do you think they’ll use this chance to run?” one of his henchmen asked.

“Run? Hmph! Unless he wants to leave the country for good, he’ll have to face me in a fight!”

“No, he’ll have to obediently take a beating from me! Hahaha!” Brother Snake laughed wildly, climbing into the freshly smashed new car, signaling his underlings to follow.

Leisurely, Brother Snake rested his arm behind his head and even hummed a tune, giving no thought to Qin Tian at all.

Their Bodhi Society was an extremely powerful commercial organization, fully legitimate and official.

However, it included figures like Brother Snake, whose presence served to maintain order.

After all, in business, who doesn’t make a few enemies? At times like these, such men step forward to resolve matters according to their own rules.

Of course, it was always kept within bounds—more a test of skill than a real brawl, never going too far.

Brother Snake was one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Bodhi Society in Wu City, a renowned expert whose countless opponents had fallen before him.

His fame extended throughout the Bodhi Society of Jiang Province, earning him a reputation that only fueled his arrogance. Aside from the highest echelon of the society, he looked down on everyone.

This time, he intervened solely for the sake of Lin Zhiyong’s father, Shen Mingfei.

Shen Mingfei was a giant in the business world, his fortune well over a hundred billion, with many business dealings involving the Bodhi Society.

Lin Zhiyong, too, was adept at socializing, often inviting Brother Snake and his circle out for drinks and meals, and over time, they became well acquainted.

Brother Snake, for all his arrogance, was a man of loyalty. He treated his friends well, and whenever they asked for help within his ability, he never refused.

Just like this time—when Lin Zhiyong asked for his help, he didn’t take a single cent!

To give Qin Tian a taste of his power, he even bought an identical car with his own money, smashed it in front of Qin Tian, intending to humiliate him.

Such loyalty was rare these days.

“Brother Snake, that kid is very strange—not an ordinary person. You must be careful, don’t underestimate him,” Lin Zhiyong cautioned in the car.

“A mere brat, what’s there to fear? Not an ordinary person? Then what, am I just ordinary?” Brother Snake laughed.

Brother Snake had a big secret he never revealed to anyone.

He was a disciple of Shaolin Temple—a true inner disciple.

He didn’t learn the superficial skills the world knows, but practical fighting techniques.

Even the Buddha can be angry! Even the Buddha needs guardians!

Brother Snake’s skills could easily defeat ninety-nine percent of ordinary people.

He doubted Qin Tian was also an inner disciple. Unless Qin Tian came from a similar sect, Brother Snake had nothing to fear.

The car stopped at the entrance to the alley. At that moment, only Qin Tian stood there; Jiang Yingying and Shen Xiaoqing had been sent ahead to order food.

“Kid, looks like you’re a man of your word. For that, I’ll be a bit more merciful when I strike,” Brother Snake said with a grin.

“Enough talk. Come in,” Qin Tian beckoned him.

“You wait here,” Brother Snake ordered with a wicked smile, following Qin Tian alone into the alley.

A nearby scavenger witnessed the scene, particularly noticing Brother Snake’s sinister smile. His mind immediately went astray, shivering with disgust.

These days, people are so daring? Two men, in broad daylight, heading into an alley for that sort of thing?

Unaware of the misunderstanding, the two had already reached the depths of the alley, facing off for a while.

“Shall I let you have three moves?” Brother Snake said, smiling.

“I’ll let you have one hand,” Qin Tian replied, placing one hand behind his back.

Brother Snake was taken aback, realizing he had underestimated Qin Tian’s arrogance.

“What? One hand isn’t enough? Then I’ll give you both legs—I won’t use my feet,” Qin Tian said, pressing his legs together and standing straight.

Standing with legs together in a fight makes it easy to lose balance. The best stance is shoulder-width apart for stability.

Brother Snake noticed this subtle gesture. Qin Tian clearly didn’t see him as a real opponent.

“Kid, I’ll give you a proper welcome,” Brother Snake licked his lips, his expression turning fierce.

Unknown to Qin Tian, his entry into the alley with Brother Snake had been witnessed by an old acquaintance.

Brother Snake gave a shout, launching the first attack—a flying kick aimed at Qin Tian’s knee.

Qin Tian was arrogant? Then cripple his leg first!

A leg is certainly longer than an arm, so Qin Tian couldn’t block with his hand.

But he had promised not to use his feet, meaning he could only take the hit if he kept his word.

Yet Qin Tian bent backwards, his body arching to an incredible degree, nearly a palm’s width from the ground.

His left leg was slightly bent, his right leg completely parallel to the ground!

Brother Snake hadn’t expected such a move and flew past Qin Tian, landing his kick in a pile of trash.

Disheveled, Brother Snake climbed out of the garbage, his eyes dark with frustration—he’d suffered a hidden loss.

“Kid, you’ve got some skill. Now I’ll get serious,” Brother Snake drew a deep breath, his entire demeanor shifting.

Qin Tian smiled on the surface, but inwardly prepared himself, not daring to be careless.

Brother Snake had lived in the underworld for years, his experience surely surpassing Qin Tian’s. Though Qin Tian had learned many fighting techniques, his real combat experience was lacking.