Chapter 517: Chaos in the City

“Captain…”

In that moment, Gecko swiftly turned his head to look at Lu Xin.

Lu Xin was watching the commotion on the other side, deep in thought.

Han Bing glanced at Lu Xin and quickly said, “That man in the white shirt has his tattoo hidden by his collar. He doesn’t seem to be on the straight path. He claims that his agitation is due to insomnia—the soothing effect of a girl’s song is supposed to calm the mind. But his emotions are nearly out of control, twisting that sense of calm into something else entirely…”

Gecko, with his hands on the table, murmured, “Is this really the time to talk? If we don’t act soon, the girl’s going to suffer…”

Han Bing shot Gecko a glance and said, “Haven’t you noticed something else?”

“Hmm?”

In his disgruntled tone, Gecko turned abruptly and suddenly sensed that something was amiss.

When the man in the white shirt had pinned the girl with the guitar against the table, even the typically dull onlookers couldn’t help but notice. Faces filled with anger turned their gaze over, and some even reached for their alcohol bottles.

Unexpectedly, none of the man’s tablemates tried to intervene despite his crazed behavior—instead, they burst into uncontrollable laughter.

It was as if they were witnessing not a fellow companion bullying a young girl, but the funniest spectacle in the world.

Their laughter, infectious and unseen, began to spread to others as well.

At the next table, a person with a blank expression sat quietly until a smile suddenly broke across his face, growing louder and more joyful.

The mirth, charged with a strange kind of energy, rallied more people to join in, with some even egging each other on.

Amidst the uproar, even those who had initially shown discontent began to hesitate.

Within the laughter-riddled crowd, they felt as if they themselves had become abnormal.

Soon, the bottles in their hands slowly dropped to the floor, and they all joined in the laughter.

At last, even the little boy who had been kicked to the ground looked around dazedly. Tears still streaked his face, but gradually, as if overwhelmed by the laughter, a goofy smile took over. The more he laughed, the happier he seemed.

He even clapped his hands, exclaiming, “Hee hee hee, this is hilarious! Keep it up, sis…”

The scene quickly descended into a frenzy of madness and sickness.

The poor girl, being bullied, had now become the center of a raucous gathering. Laughter boomed, hands clapped, and the mocking grew wild.

Some even began to dance around her.

Meanwhile, the man in the white shirt, who had pinned her down, grew increasingly exhilarated amidst the laughter.

…

Han Bing explained in a low voice, “Because their sleep has been robbed, their will and thoughts have been severely weakened. Their rationality is already on the verge of collapse—add to that unbridled drinking and maybe even some of that Black Grass, and they’re far too susceptible to the influence of those around them. They’re like computers without a firewall, ready to erupt into a pathological, unconscious frenzy at any moment…”

She added quietly, “In other words, this city has become a haven for spiritual corruption…”

“Their inner turbulence craves an outlet. That girl has become a sacrificial offering.”

“…”

Lu Xin finally grasped Han Bing’s meaning as he looked over at the frenzied crowd.

At that moment, he noticed the simple-minded little boy cheering along with the mob, his brows knitting in concern.

“But isn’t this secondary now?”

Gecko had already risen and turned to Lu Xin, asking, “Captain, what should we do?”

Lu Xin first glanced at Han Bing.

Han Bing nodded and said, “If completing the mission is our top priority, we can’t risk exposing our identities now.”

She paused briefly, then added, “But…”

She fell silent, her gaze lingering on Lu Xin.

“We did come here to investigate the pollution affecting this city—our mission is indeed crucial.”

Lu Xin understood her meaning and murmured thoughtfully, “But I can’t shake the feeling that this matters more than the mission…”

With that, he nodded subtly at Gecko.

Gecko stared blankly for a moment before suddenly springing to life with excitement. In a flash, he lit a cigarette.

He laughed, “Captain, give me a clear standard—how much should I hit them?”

After a moment’s serious thought, Lu Xin replied slowly, “I don’t really know. I hardly ever get into fights, but…”

He nodded and chuckled, “Just make sure you don’t let them come out on top.”

“Alright!”

Gecko’s face lit up as he interlaced his fingers and snapped them loudly.

“Ah…”

Han Bing quickly warned, “They’re all a bit off balance right now. When you strike, remember to go easy…”

“Off balance?”

Gecko gave Han Bing a puzzled look and laughed, “You say that as if anyone here is normal…”

Without another word, he leaped forward in a flash.

Fueled with adrenaline, his pace was almost as fast as running over a short distance.

Despite several crowded tables in between, one fluid twist of his body saw him bypass them and reach the man grabbing the girl’s hair. With a swift hook, he slipped his arm between the man’s hands, lifting the girl’s shoulder to help her up.

The drunken man, barely aware of what was happening, only staggered back a couple of steps.

Before long, Gecko had pulled the girl behind him and even slipped a 50-yuan bill into her hand.

“Little sister, see over there?”

Bending over with a gentle smile, he pointed towards Lu Xin and said, “My Big Brother loves singing. Head over to him.”

The girl looked bewildered, her face streaked with tears and soaked with alcohol.

The drunken man, shoved aside by Gecko, suddenly erupted in fury, “Who the hell are you to steal from me?”

Gecko spun around and grabbed a table bottle, swiftly smothering him with a backhanded strike.

He roared, “I am your father!”

“Thud!”

Glass shards flew as the man’s cursing died down. After several seconds, a stream of bright red blood began to trickle down.

All around, an eerie silence fell, and even the clamor of nearby patrons abruptly ceased.

“Bastard, how dare you lay a hand…”

It wasn’t until the blood trickled down his forehead that his tablemates realized one of their own had been struck.

In an instant, they leaped to their feet—sleeves flung back, bottles gripped tightly.

Though they were tipsy and their minds foggy, their reactions were noticeably two beats slower than normal.

But Gecko was anything but slow. He strode to the front of the table, his hands moving so fast they were nearly invisible.

“Smash, smash, smash…”

He snatched up the bottles and cups from the table, dashing towards each person’s head.

The group at that table, who had just risen, were left dazed—standing amidst shards of glass with blood trickling down their heads.

The suddenness of the attack and Gecko’s swift movements were simply staggering.

All five people at that table were knocked senseless, while the onlookers around seemed frozen in shock by the unfolding chaos.

Blood continued to flow from the beaten, their injuries so severe they forgot to wipe it away, drenching their faces in a horrific display.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, some of the bystanders, their eyes barely focused, suddenly caught sight of the five blood-soaked individuals—like waking from a daze to see a ghastly head, triggering screams.

“Crash, crash…”

One scream ignited a chain reaction among the multitude; the bloodshot eyes of countless people grew even darker in an instant.

The beaten ones howled in response, cursing furiously as they staggered clumsily toward Gecko.

Their fervor—filled with clenched teeth and determined grunts—as they surged at Gecko, spurred more people to join in.

Soon, many grabbed their alcohol bottles and swung at Gecko and the singing girl in the middle of the fray.

The contagion of chaos persisted; Gecko’s arrival had disrupted their wild revelry, uniting them in a common enemy.

“You bastards—since you can’t sleep, let’s wake up properly…”

Gecko, ever fierce, faced the onslaught of folding stools, bottles, and other objects hurled from all directions. With a spin, he shielded the singing girl with his body, absorbing several hits before pushing forward with both hands.

The singing girl, nearly out of control, was propelled with uncanny precision through the throng, landing next to Lu Xin’s table.

Lu Xin remarked, “Things have really escalated…”

Han Bing quickly got up to support the girl and dragged her to the table.

At the same moment, Red Serpent had just returned to his seat, cradling the little boy who had been swept up by the frenzied crowd.

The little boy continued to cheer wildly, clapping his hands as though he was delighted by his sister’s misfortune.

Red Serpent quietly gave the boy’s thigh a firm twist.

Almost immediately, the boy’s exuberant cheer turned into uncontrollable wailing.

Lu Xin observed the spreading brawl; countless people were knocked to the ground, trampled in a cacophony of breaking bones and spilled blood. Yet somehow, his mood lifted as he smiled at Han Bing, saying, “It’s alright.”

“Gecko’s Spider-type skills ensure he won’t suffer any losses.”

“…”

Han Bing, at a loss for words, glanced at Lu Xin with resigned affection, “Just indulge him…”

At that moment, within the frenzied mob, someone still hadn’t spared the singing girl.

Screaming and brandishing a bottle, the assailant charged forward.

Their faces bore the pallor of long sleepless nights, with a red flush of alcohol; bloodshot eyes, contorted muscles, and expressions of raw aggression made them look like demons.

The singing girl was so terrified she could no longer cry, clutching her head as she screamed.

With a swift swing, Han Bing stood up, grabbed a folding stool, and hurled it forcefully, knocking down the foremost attacker. Then, with a half-turn, she kicked low—the hard-soled leather shoe connecting with the second man’s shins. A piercing cry rang out as he collapsed.

Without pause, she swung again, sending a bottle flying through the air.

She caught it nonchalantly and brought down a third foe.

Her actions were precise and unflinching; once the threat was neutralized, she calmly sat back down. Meeting Lu Xin’s stunned gaze, she admitted, “Uncontrolled revelry can sometimes reveal the best in people, but it can just as easily bring out the worst.”

“Ultimately, it depends on the nature of their hearts.”

“In this city, turning the bullying of a little girl into a celebration shows that most are inherently wicked.”

“So Mr. Gecko isn’t wrong; they do deserve a lesson.”