NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 8:
Chapter 8: A Deliberate Encounter:
In such a dangerous situation, even the bravest person might hesitate. After all, fear is human nature—especially when facing a vicious robber.
As the man charged toward them, Lin Fan’s eyes turned cold. He was just about to make a move.
With lightning speed, his fists clenched, ready to knock the robber down with a single punch.
But before he could act, a well-dressed young man moved first.
Shen Wuxiao didn’t reveal his true strength. Instead, he grabbed an iron chair from the nearby store and smashed it against the robber with force.
The robber, who had been sprinting at full speed, was hit hard and fell to the ground.
Despite the blow, the tall and muscular man quickly rolled over and tried to escape again.
This time, Lin Fan dashed forward and, with just a few swift moves, pinned the man to the ground. The robber couldn’t move.
Lin Fan retrieved the stolen handbag.
The robber, restrained and helpless, could only curse furiously, hurling all kinds of vulgarities, even insulting Lin Fan’s ancestors for eighteen generations, and making threats that carried no weight.
As the bystanders watched the scene unfold, they erupted in applause.
The beautiful woman who had been chasing the thief arrived, panting heavily. She looked at Lin Fan gratefully.
“Thank you!”
Lin Fan gave her a soft smile. “It was nothing. Just doing my part.”
He handed the bag back to her.
The woman accepted it and bowed slightly. “Thank you. If it weren’t for you, I would’ve been in serious trouble. There’s a lot of important information in here.”
“I work nearby. If you ever need anything, I’ll be more than happy to help!”
As she spoke, she handed Lin Fan her business card.
Lin Fan saw that she was indeed quite attractive and accepted it with a nod.
Just then, someone nearby reminded her, “Miss, you should thank that handsome guy, too. If he hadn’t hit the robber with the chair, it wouldn’t have been so easy to catch him.”
Hearing this, the woman turned her gaze to Shen Wuxiao.
Suddenly, her body stiffened slightly, and a blush crept across her cheeks. She walked toward him nervously, acting completely different from how she was with Lin Fan.
She looked shy and flustered.
“Thank you… Thank you so much. I really don’t know how to repay you. I… I’m willing to give myself to you…”
“Oh no— I mean…”
She immediately realized what she had said and blushed furiously. The words slipped out in her nervousness.
Lin Fan, however, felt a little uneasy.
Seriously? That handsome guy helps once, and she’s ready to give herself to him? I’m not too bad myself—why just a polite thank you for me?
He felt a bit overlooked.
But Shen Wuxiao simply smiled and said nothing.
Soon, patrolling officers arrived and took the robber away.
Everyone praised Lin Fan and Shen Wuxiao for their heroic actions.
After giving her statement, the woman threw a few more glances at Shen Wuxiao—who was calmly buying breakfast—before finally leaving.
Everything gradually returned to normal.
Lin Fan sat back down and resumed eating his breakfast. Shen Wuxiao, having bought some food, deliberately sat across from him. When Lin Fan recognized him, he smiled and gave a respectful nod.
Lin Fan had a favorable impression of him.
Anyone brave enough to step up for justice couldn’t be a bad person.
“Brother, you were bold back there!” Lin Fan took the initiative to speak.
Shen Wuxiao set his breakfast down. “When you see injustice, help those in need!”
Lin Fan nodded approvingly. “If everyone were like you, the crime rate would drop drastically.”
Shen Wuxiao smiled but said nothing.
If everyone were like him, the world would’ve ended already.
“Thanks for the kind words. By the way, you seem pretty skilled. You practice martial arts, don’t you?” Shen Wuxiao asked casually.
Lin Fan didn’t deny it and gave a slight nod.
He didn’t want to draw attention to himself.
“I practiced Sanda for a few years.”
He kept it low-key.
If the man in front of him knew he was the Border Wolf King—a fifth-grade, eighth-level master—he’d probably be shocked.
“No wonder! Those moves were so sharp and efficient!”
“What’s your name?” Lin Fan asked, curious about the young man who carried such an extraordinary aura.
Shen Wuxiao, of course, didn’t use his real name.
His real identity was too high-profile.
“Sikong. That’s my surname,” he replied smoothly.
He wasn’t lying. His mother’s surname was Sikong—Sikong Lan.
Using it as a pseudonym made perfect sense.
“Nice to meet you, Brother Sikong!”
“What about you, brother?”
Lin Fan cupped his fists slightly. “Lin Fan. Just call me Lin Fan.”
“Lin Fan, huh? Anyone with the character ‘Fan’ in their name must be special. You have the look of a soldier. You served in the military, didn’t you?”
Lin Fan didn’t try to hide it and nodded. “Yeah. What about you? Any military background?”
Shen Wuxiao shook his head. “Nope. I’m too lazy. I can’t handle hardships. But my second uncle’s family is in the army.”
Lin Fan found him amusing and began chatting.
“Oh? Which military district? What’s his rank? Maybe I’ve met him.”
Lin Fan wasn’t bluffing.
He was a prominent figure in the army and had met many top officials.
He had earned the rank of colonel at a very young age—more than 99.9% of people could ever dream of.
It wasn’t a rank gained by privilege, but one earned with his life.
But now, it was all in the past.
Shen Wuxiao took out a pack of cigarettes, offered one to Lin Fan, and placed one in his own mouth.
“It’s the Imperial Capital’s military district. I think his rank is… green shoulder boards, golden wheat emblems, and three golden stars.”
“Golden wheat ears, three stars… That’s a general. A general from the Imperial Capital?”
Lin Fan looked at him in disbelief.
Generals in the Imperial Capital weren’t ordinary people. Their rank was steeped in authority and prestige.
That kind of status wasn’t easy to reach.
“Yeah,” Shen Wuxiao replied with a faint smile.
Lin Fan chuckled and picked up a steamed bun.
He figured the guy was just joking around.
Generals weren’t people you randomly bumped into. You couldn’t just meet someone on the street and discover their uncle was a general from the Imperial Capital.
What kind of nonsense was that?
And if his surname was Sikong, his second uncle’s surname must also be Sikong. Lin Fan had never heard of any general named Sikong.
The commander of the Imperial Capital Military District was surnamed Shen—and Lin Fan knew that for a fact.
Still, he didn’t expose him. There was no need.
It was normal for people to brag a little.
As Lin Fan ate his breakfast, Shen Wuxiao slowly sipped his soy milk.
Later, he would accompany Lin Fan to investigate the person who had killed Lin Chen.
There was a gap in Lin Fan’s knowledge.
He didn’t know his brother had died after crashing someone else’s wedding.
And he definitely didn’t know it was Shen Wuxiao’s wedding banquet at the Dragon Court Hotel that day.
But honestly, it wouldn’t be difficult for Lin Fan to find out.
Shen Wuxiao didn’t intend to hide it, either.
If Lin Fan wanted to kill someone, it would be Shen Wuxiao. But so what?
The two sat across from each other, eating their breakfast quietly.
When they were nearly finished, Lin Fan stood up.
“Brother Sikong, it was nice meeting you. Hope we meet again someday.”
He smiled and prepared to leave.
He couldn’t waste any more time. He had to uncover the truth about his brother’s murder today.
“Brother Lin, are you off to work?” Shen Wuxiao also stood and asked.
Lin Fan shook his head. “No, I’ve just got something important to take care of.”
“Is that so?” Shen Wuxiao took a step forward and pointed at his car. “Let me give you a ride. We’re friends now, aren’t we?”
“Oh, and I forgot to mention—here in Zhonghai, I’ve got some influence. If you need anything, I can help.”
Lin Fan glanced at the sleek Bugatti Veyron nearby.
This young man definitely wasn’t simple.
Anyone who could casually drive a luxury car like that… had to be someone important.