168: Chapter 168 Zhao Kuo tests Lin Yuan, Tie Niu kneels down like scrap metal with one punch.

Captain Zhao stared at Lin Yuan.

Then he looked toward Wang Ya.

Finally, his gaze settled on the teddy bear in Lin Motong's arms.

"Where did that come from?"

Lin Yuan said, "Passing through."

Captain Zhao chuckled.

"Being able to injure Pockmarked Chen shows you've got some skills."

"But in Zhe City, having skills isn't anything rare."

"Having a backer is the real way to go."

The people on both sides of the refugee district all retreated backward.

As soon as Captain Zhao arrived, even the crying on the street quieted down.

Wang Ya lowered her eyes, her fingers retracting into her sleeves.

Lin Motong hugged the teddy bear tighter.

She was very well-behaved.

She just held a grudge.

A large man stepped out from behind Captain Zhao.

His neck was thicker than an average person's thigh.

His exposed arms were covered in hard lumps, like iron knots.

Pockmarked Chen's eyes lit up.

"Brother Tie Niu!"

Tie Niu grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.

"Brother Zhao, let me have a try."

"That little girl is my type."

Captain Zhao touched his gold chain.

"Don't kill her."

Tie Niu stretched his neck, his bones cracking in a series.

He walked up to Lin Yuan and looked down at him.

"I heard you're pretty good at fighting?"

Lin Yuan glanced at him.

He didn't reply.

Tie Niu pointed at Wang Ya and Lin Motong.

"Here's the deal."

"You take three punches from me."

"If you can take them, your whole family gets to enter Middle City."

"If you can't, I'll personally give them a body check."

As soon as those last four words were out,

The complexions of the refugees around them changed.

Lin Yuan stepped forward.

"Come."

Tie Niu was stunned.

He hadn't expected Lin Yuan not to even negotiate.

Captain Zhao narrowed his eyes.

Pockmarked Chen shouted from behind, "Brother Tie Niu! Break his legs!"

Tie Niu laughed.

"First punch."

He threw a punch.

The air was squeezed out with a dull thud.

Someone in the refugee district closed their eyes.

Bang!

The fist landed on Lin Yuan's chest.

Lin Yuan didn't retreat.

Instead, the cement under his feet cracked in a circle.

The smile on Tie Niu's face froze.

He felt like he wasn't hitting a person.

It was like hitting a load-bearing wall.

Lin Yuan looked down and brushed off his clothes.

"Second punch."

Tie Niu's face flushed red.

He roared, his shoulder muscles bulging, his skin taking on an iron-gray hue.

"I'm a B-rank Physical-type!"

"What are you acting tough for!"

The second punch smashed toward Lin Yuan's jaw.

Lin Yuan raised his hand.

Snap.

Five fingers clamped onto Tie Niu's wrist.

The fist stopped in mid-air.

Tie Niu's pupils constricted.

He pulled back with all his might.

It didn't budge.

He used more force.

Still nothing.

Lin Yuan's palm slowly tightened.

Crack.

The first sound was very faint.

Tie Niu's expression changed.

Crack, crack.

His wrist bone fractured.

Sweat beaded on Tie Niu's forehead, and his knees bent slightly.

He wanted to scream.

But he was afraid of losing face.

Lin Yuan looked at him.

"What about the third punch?"

Tie Niu's throat bobbed.

The onlookers were all dumbfounded.

"Tie Niu got clamped?"

"Isn't he the one Captain Zhao uses specifically to break bones?"

"What level is this guy, exactly?"

The spite on Pockmarked Chen's face completely faded.

Only paleness remained.

Captain Zhao's hand, which had been touching his gold chain, stopped.

He had seen many B-rank Physical-types, but Tie Niu's punch just now hadn't even moved Lin Yuan's feet.

Suddenly, a fierce glint appeared in Tie Niu's eyes.

His left hand lunged toward Lin Motong.

"I'll kill your little one first!"

Water threads shot out from Wang Ya's sleeves.

But Lin Yuan was faster.

He released Tie Niu's wrist and stomped down.

Boom!

Tie Niu's knee smashed directly into the cement ground.

Half his leg sank in.

The sound of bone fracturing drowned out the scream.

Tie Niu knelt before Lin Yuan, his mouth wide open, his scream delayed for a beat before it finally burst out.

"Ahhh—!"

Lin Yuan kept his foot on his knee.

He looked down.

"Don't touch my child."

The street was deathly silent.

A few onlookers subconsciously rubbed their own knees.

Captain Zhao's expression shifted.

This person was protective of his own.

And absurdly strong.

Lin Motong looked up at Lin Yuan.

The teddy bear she was holding was slightly askew.

[Ding! Target Lin Motong, favorability +1%, current favorability: 30%.]

The water threads on Wang Ya's fingers dissipated.

Lin Yuan didn't look back.

Captain Zhao's hand stopped touching his gold chain, his knuckles pressing a white mark into the links.

He clapped twice and walked forward with a smile.

"Good!"

"A misunderstanding."

"It's all a misunderstanding."

Pockmarked Chen was stunned.

"Captain Zhao?"

Captain Zhao backhanded Pockmarked Chen across the face.

Slap!

Pockmarked Chen was spun half a circle from the slap.

His broken hand hit the wall again, and he knelt down in pain.

Captain Zhao said coldly, "Who told you to offend our honored guest?"

Pockmarked Chen opened his mouth.

"I..."

Captain Zhao kicked him again.

"The inspection team is for you to check for infection, not to throw your weight around."

Many people in the refugee district lowered their heads.

No one dared to laugh.

But many people's eyes lit up.

Just this morning, Pockmarked Chen was using "righteous inspection" to oppress people.

Now he was being kicked by Captain Zhao in the middle of the street.

Captain Zhao turned to look at Lin Yuan.

"Brother, what should I call you?"

Lin Yuan took out his temporary pass.

"Boss Lin."

Captain Zhao looked at the incredibly tacky name, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

He certainly didn't believe it.

But he didn't call him out.

"Brother Lin, are you interested in joining my team?"

"Live in Middle City."

"Eat white flour."

"Collect contribution points every day."

"Your wife and child can also be arranged with a clean room."

When Wang Ya heard the word "wife," her eyelashes fluttered.

Lin Motong hugged her bear and whispered, "Mom."

Wang Ya stroked her head.

Captain Zhao saw this, and felt even more confident.

A family of three.

Refugee Espers.

Strong, but with weaknesses.

These kinds of people are the easiest to use.

As long as the treatment is good enough, and you use the woman and child to bind them, they won't be able to escape.

Lin Yuan looked at Captain Zhao.

"I'll take a look first."

The smile didn't leave Captain Zhao's face, but he lightly clenched his back teeth.

"Look at what?"

"Whether this place is worth staying in."

One sentence.

The expressions of the thugs behind Captain Zhao darkened.

These words were too arrogant.

Like choosing a stall to buy groceries.

Yet Captain Zhao didn't flip out.

He reached out and pointed at Pockmarked Chen.

"Fine."

"Pockmarked Chen."

Pockmarked Chen looked up, covering his face.

Captain Zhao said, "You will be Brother Lin's guide."

Pockmarked Chen's face stiffened.

"Captain Zhao, my hand..."

Captain Zhao leaned down to look at him.

"Do you not want your other one either?"

Pockmarked Chen didn't dare to speak anymore.

Lin Yuan glanced at Captain Zhao.

"You certainly know how to handle people."

Captain Zhao laughed and said, "It's the apocalypse, after all; more friends mean more paths."

Lin Yuan said indifferently, "Don't use the word 'friend' too early."

Captain Zhao's smile faltered for a moment.

Then it became even warmer.

"Spirited."

"I like people with spirit."

Tie Niu was still kneeling on the ground, covered in sweat.

"Captain Zhao... save me..."

Captain Zhao looked at Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan lifted his foot.

Tie Niu collapsed to the ground, clutching his leg and rolling around.

Captain Zhao had people drag him away to the medical room on the side.

From beginning to end, he never mentioned revenge again.

The way the people in the refugee district looked at Lin Yuan changed.

Before, it was sympathy.

Now, it was awe.

Pockmarked Chen climbed up and walked to Lin Yuan.

His face was swollen, his broken hand hanging.

His voice was eight degrees lower than it was this morning.

"Mr... Mr. Lin."

"Please, this way."

If Tang Qiqi were here, she would likely comment: After reporting, he switches jobs to a tour guide; the employment flexibility in Zhe City is truly high.

Lin Yuan led Wang Ya and Lin Motong to follow.

Captain Zhao, however, whispered to his subordinates behind his back, "Investigate this Boss Lin, and the woman beside him. Especially that little girl; I keep feeling like there's something wrong with her."