Volume 1, Chapter 30: Eldest Brother, Something Terrible Has Happened

"Brother Wang, you're pinching me too hard." Han Xiao pulled her hand back and gave it a few light shakes.

As she did so, her small hand landed squarely on Wang Sheng’s chest, continuing to trace circles against it. This touch immediately settled Wang Sheng down; a look of visible comfort washed over his face.

"Are you okay? I didn't mean to, I was just a bit worked up. I’ve certainly heard of Zhang Tao; he’s nothing but a spoiled heir."

"Yeah, yeah, he’s the one who bullied me. He stole a piece of high-quality gear and destroyed my brother's mecha. I..." Han Xiao seemed to have touched upon a painful memory, and tears began to trickle down her face uncontrollably.

Seeing this, Wang Sheng’s heart ached. He reached out to gently wipe away her tears and comforted her softly, "Little sister, it doesn't matter who he is. Today, Brother Wang will make them give us an explanation. Have you two finished eating? If so, let’s go find them right now."

Han Xiao looked up, her eyes gleaming with gratitude. She whispered, "Brother Wang, you are so good to me."

"My dear girl, you came to seek refuge with me, how could I be anything but good to you?"

Han Xu watched the two of them acting intimate in front of him. He wasn't sure what to feel, but he kept his silence.

A few minutes later, they were ready to set off. The three of them stood upon the back of the steel serpent, Da Hua. Leading the way was the high-spirited Wang Sheng, with Han Xiao clinging to his arm like a bird, her body leaning almost entirely against him. Han Xu could only stand alone behind them, invisible and forgotten.

"Let’s go. First, we head to Zhang Tao’s villa."

Zhang Tao was indeed quite famous in Chuan City. It wasn't exactly common knowledge where he lived, but at least half the city’s residents knew. Finding him would be easy.

With Da Hua clearing the path and the smaller creatures it had subdued patrolling the perimeter, any mechanical lifeform they encountered along the way was torn to shreds by the minions before Da Hua even had to lift a finger.

Han Xiao felt immense satisfaction with this treatment; it was far better than the cautious, fearful way she and her brother had arrived.

"Oh, Brother Wang, be careful! Mechanical birds are coming from above," Han Xiao cried out to warn him. Their procession had caused quite a stir, and they had caught the attention of the aerial mechanical birds.

However, Wang Sheng didn't care at all about the birds in the sky. He patted Han Xiao’s hand gently. "Don't worry, it’s fine. Da Hua can handle it."

Han Xiao wanted to say more—after all, they were standing on Da Hua’s back. If the serpent started fighting the birds, what would happen to them?

Clearly, Wang Sheng’s confidence was well-founded. When the mechanical birds dived to within fifty meters of the ground, Da Hua suddenly opened its mouth. Its tongue, over a meter long, whipped through the air like a silver steel lash. Amidst a chilling hiss, every time the tongue lashed out, a bolt of lightning erupted from its tip.

The lightning seemed to have eyes; each strike hit a mechanical bird with unerring precision. Against such electrical discharge, the armor of the mechanical birds was like paper. They malfunctioned on the spot and plummeted from the sky. After losing a dozen wrecks, the remaining birds retreated in terror.

"So powerful!" Han Xiao’s praise was heartfelt. In her eyes, Da Hua was truly formidable.

"Heh, impressive, isn't it?" Wang Sheng wrapped his arm around Han Xiao’s shoulder with satisfaction, pulling her closer.

"Mmhmm, so powerful! With Da Hua here, we don't have to fear them anymore."

"Fear them? Far from it. We’re here to help you get your revenge. If he doesn't submit, we’ll just kill him."

"I’ll listen to whatever you say, Brother Wang."

"Heh!"

Amidst their flirtatious banter, the group drew closer to Zhang Tao’s residence. In less than an hour, they entered the villa district. There were many mechas in the area, but when they saw the lineup Wang Sheng brought, they all backed down; not a single one dared to block their path. In this world, everyone looked out for themselves—as long as Wang Sheng wasn't there to cause them trouble, they wouldn't meddle.

However, when they reached the entrance of Zhang Tao’s villa, they were intercepted.

"What are you doing? Do you know where this is?" The bodyguards responsible for home security were dutiful. They felt no fear at the sight of Da Hua or the other mechanical creatures. After all, their own boss was incredibly powerful; what did a few mechanical beasts matter?

"This is Zhang Tao’s place, right? Where is he?" Wang Sheng looked at the blocking mechas with a burning gaze. He didn't have a mecha of his own—only Da Hua as a powerful pet. Naturally, he was dying to get his hands on a mecha. These models blocking him looked quite decent, especially the two standing fifteen meters tall.

"Who are you? You think you can just see him whenever you want?" Faced with a group clearly bearing ill intent, the bodyguards had no intention of being polite.

Wang Sheng frowned. Since they couldn't have a civil conversation, then...

"Da Hua, attack."

Since the three of them were still on Da Hua's back, the serpent couldn't move too violently, so it relied on its skills.

In a flash of lightning, four mechas were struck in an instant. The defensive capabilities of basic mechas weren't much better than those of the mechanical birds; the struck units collapsed to the ground, paralyzed, though not yet dead.

"Brothers, attack! These guys are here to cause trouble!" The bodyguards erupted. If this had happened yesterday, they wouldn't have been so brave, but today was different—their boss was right behind them, and they couldn't afford to be looked down upon.

Wang Sheng was surprised that these people dared to resist.

"Let’s go, we’re getting down. Da Hua, disable them all, but don't kill them yet."

Wang Sheng jumped to the ground with Han Xiao. As for Han Xu, he had to jump on his own. Once the three of them were off its back, Da Hua began to slither rapidly, its speed increasing by several notches.

"Fire!" The long-range guards opened fire first. But their aim was abysmal, and even when they landed a hit, it did nothing against Da Hua’s armor. Da Hua’s combat power was over a hundred, nearing two hundred. These basic-tier mechas stood no chance of harming it.

It was a total rout. Da Hua’s aggressive entry swept through the mechas, leaving a dozen of the home-defense units scattered and crippled across the courtyard.

"Wait! Sir, please wait! You can state your demands, and I will relay them to my young master," the butler inside the villa shouted, rushing out upon hearing the massive roar in the yard.

"Tell Zhang Tao to come out. He bullied my woman, and today we’re going to settle this account properly," Wang Sheng said, his tone overbearing. There was no choice; the side that wins gets to be overbearing.

"Sir, may I ask the name of your woman?"

"Han Xiao."

"Very well, sir. I understand. I will notify my young master immediately."

With that, the butler contacted Zhang Tao. When Zhang Tao received the news, he glanced in surprise at Zhang Wei, who was currently busy slaying monsters. Once Zhang Wei finished off the current wave, Zhang Tao exclaimed, "Big Brother, we’ve got big trouble."