chapter 5 Layla Su

Castor leisurely made his way to the university’s town nearby.
There were many streets filled with food around.
He chose "Kelly's Grill" and walked in.
He randomly ordered some food and started eating while reading a web novel.
He felt bored as he couldn't cultivate.
Castor, a practitioner at the Rebirth stage, found himself with nothing to do and thus returned to his high school hobby of reading web novels.
"Look, Layla, that kid looks thin and tall, about your age. I can't believe he ordered over six hundred yuan worth of food," said the owner of the grill.
She was a woman in her forties, as she picked leeks and smiled at her daughter.
Although in her forties, she looked twenty years younger compared to Aunt Jo, showing the power of good maintenance.
Her daughter, helping with the leeks, was pretty and delicate, with rosy lips and a small nose, wearing her old high school uniform, which added a sense of youthful campus charm.
“Mom, aren’t you afraid he's another dine-and-dasher?” asked the daughter.
“We get a few of those each month, but most customers pay honestly,” the mother replied with a wry smile.
“Several a month, that means we work for free for several days,” complained Layla Foster, her daughter.
"Forget it, Layla. There’s nothing we can do about Brother Kosmos and his gang. We can’t afford to offend them," the mother sighed.
“That’s why I'm working hard to pay for your education, to get you into an educated society and away from these thugs.”
“I know, Mom…”
Castor overheard their conversation but remained expressionless, continuing his novel.
Soon, a group with dyed hair entered the grill, making the place noisy.
Layla's expression changed at their arrival and she tugged at her mother's apron in fear, "Mom! They are here!"
“Quick, hide in the kitchen!” her mother instructed, urging her to leave.
"Serve us, lady! What are you waiting for?"
A thug with a skull bandana demanded, kicking chairs aside, creating a noisy disturbance.
Castor frowned at the noise.
He simply used his energy to block his hearing and continued reading his novel.
He was reading the most exciting part of the novel.
“Alright, Brother Archer.”
The mother said with a forced smile, offering the menu. “What would you like today?”
“The usual!”
Brother Archer patted her suggestively.
“Sister Kelly, you're still charming. Why stick with that loser Nyx Foster? It’s better to be with me.
With me, at the very least, no one would dare trouble you on Lily Moon Street.”
The thugs at the table laughed loudly.
“Brother Archer, what kind of joke is this? I'm old and faded, how could I catch your eye?"
"Wait for me, I'm going right to the kitchen to make it. Today, I'll give you big brothers an extra grilled fish."
Emily Kelly, the shop owner, said humbly and subserviently.
"Alright, go ahead and do it!"
Archer Evans waved his hand, propped his feet up on the table, and chatted with his brothers while drinking.
Their conversation was crude, discussing about nightclubs and fights, loud and unpleasant.
Other customers who had come for food were intimidated and left.
Seeing that these customers had left without paying, Layla, who was hiding behind the cashier bar, unwilling to see this continue on, ran out, covering her face with her sleeve.
"Whoa, look at that hot schoolgirl," remarked a blonde thug, pointing at Layla.
Archer's eyes lit up at the sight of her.
Another thug said, "I think I've seen her before. She's Emily’s daughter. She usually attends high school in Southern city and comes back once every few months."
"This woman, Emily, hiding such a sprightly daughter and sending her to study in the Southern city, guarding against us like we’re thieves. Let's see how I deal with her later."
"Gulp, gulp, gulp..."
Archer gulped down beer while wickedly ogling at Layla naive figure.
"Phew, finally getting something back."
Layla, holding several hundred-yuan bills, was walking back when suddenly a hand snatched them away.
"What are you doing, that's my money, give it back!"
Layla looked at Archer, both anxious and scared.
"Give it back? How can you prove it's your money? Call it and see if it answers you."
Archer leered at Layla.
"I..."
Layla Foster, with a pleading look, turned towards Castor sitting at the nearby table, flipping through a novel, showing no intention of helping her.
She bit her cherry lips in anger, glaring at Archer Evans, "This is my money!"
"Little cutie, you’re so cute."
Archer reached out teasingly.
Layla pushed his hand away, "Give me the money, or I'm calling the police!"
"Oh, calling the police? Here, take my phone and try."
Archer reached for Castor’s phone.
Thinking the young man wouldn't dare refuse, he was met with an annoyed glare, "What are you doing?"
Archer was about to explode in anger when Emily, hearing the commotion, hurried out.
Seeing her daughter Layla exposed to the lewd gazes of the gangsters, she quickly intervened, "Brother Archer, the food is almost ready, you may eat soon..."
"Eat?"
Archer slapped Emily across the face, fiercely saying, "I'm telling you, every shop on Lily Moon Street has to pay an extra four thousand yuan in management fees every month, that's Brother Kosmos' order!"
"Mom!"
Layla cried, hugging Emily.
Emily, disregarding the injury on her face, said in terror, "Brother Archer, you... you're cutting off our means to live! Four thousand yuan, how can I afford that?"
"Can't afford it? How about this, let your daughter treat me as her godbrother, then you'll be my godmother, and I assure you no one on this street will dare to bully you anymore, how about that, sister Kelly."
Archer, while speaking, kept his eyes fixed on Layla, her slender figure and innocent face irresistibly tempting.
"Brother Archer, please spare us, mother and daughter, I beg you. Layla's only eighteen, she just got into Greenville University."
Emily knew what Archer intended, pleading on her knees.
"Mom, mom don't kneel!"
Layla too, was in tears.
Seeing this, Castor remained expressionless.
Having lived for over two thousand years and witnessed countless similar situations in the cultivation world.
At least on Earth, there are laws, but in the cultivation world, there's nothing. Desire leads to seizing, those who got in the way was killed, and wiping out entire villages is done without hesitation.
Should he save them?
Sigh, is it even possible?
"Boss, how much do I owe for these?"
Castor decided to pay and leave.
He wanted to finish reading his novel at home.
"Young man, you..."
Emily looked at Castor, bewildered.
Layla also found him strange but still said, "A total of five hundred and thirty yuan."
As Castor was about to make the payment, Archer swung a slap towards his face, "Did I say you could pay?"
The next second, Castor grabbed his wrist and gently squeezed.
"Crack!" With a crisp sound, Archer's wrist bone was broken, and he screamed in agony, rolling on the ground.
"Payment received, five hundred and thirty yuan."
The announcement came from the cash register.
Layla was completely stunned.
What was happening?
This guy, while knocking Archer down, calmly completed the payment?
"I've paid."
Castor pocketed his phone, ready to head home.
"Kill him!!!"
Archer, lying on the ground, screamed angrily.
Five thugs became ferocious, and instantly swung their fists at Castor.
"Annoying, aren't you guys?"
Castor frowned and slapped them.
This slap, swift as lightning, hit each of the five thugs' faces in succession, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, five consecutive hits!
Several bloodied teeth flew out.
The five thugs lay next to Archer, clutching their bleeding cheeks, also screaming, some even crying from the pain, their gums dislodged, the agony unbearable.
By the time Layla and Emily had recovered, Castor had already left.
He wanted to hurry home to read his novel.
"Wait, wait a minute!"
At the crossroads, Layla, panting, caught up with him.