DANDELIONS

Ch.8

As the orange and blue figures entered the alley, my breath caught in my throat. Dre was running effortlessly along the rooftops, and Cheng was in hot pursuit.

Sensing the impending confrontation, I quickly followed suit, scaling the buildings and trailing them from above.

When I spotted Dre, I leaped onto another rooftop, positioning myself to observe their interactions. A surge of adrenaline coursed through my veins as I witnessed the tense exchange between Dre and Cheng.

In a split second, I made a bold decision. I jumped from the rooftop, landing gracefully but with purpose, causing a stack of soft drink cases to collapse with a resounding crash.

The noise served as a temporary barrier, momentarily halting their pursuit of Dre. Seizing the opportunity, Dre swiftly disappeared into another nearby alley.

Without wasting a moment, I chased after them, my determination fueling my steps. Soon, we reached a gated area where Cheng's friends had gathered, closing the gate behind them. My heart sank, realizing that Dre was now trapped within their clutches.

Amidst the chaos, I could hear someone utter, "Your speed wasn't fast enough." A pained groan followed, echoing through the air. Fear and anger surged within me, intensifying my resolve to rescue Dre from this situation.

Banging on the gate with all my might, I knew deep down it was a futile effort. Nevertheless, I propelled myself over the gate, landing firmly on the other side. Cheng's friends stared at me in astonishment, taken aback by my sudden arrival.

"Who are you?!" Liang exclaimed, his voice laced with surprise. I glared at them, my determination shining through. "Let the boy go!" I huffed, my words charged with urgency.

"And who are you, his protector?" Cheng retorted, a mocking tone in his voice. I tilted my head, meeting his gaze with unwavering determination. "Just let him go, so that no one else gets hurt," I asserted, hoping to appeal to their sense of reason.

However, instead of heeding my plea, Cheng signaled his friends to attack me. Two towering figures rushed towards me, their intentions clear.

Swiftly evading their punches, I countered with a strike to the left side of one boy's face, while simultaneously delivering a swift kick to the other boy's right side.

Cheng's remaining friends stared at me in a mix of shock and fear. Seizing the opportunity, Cheng charged towards me, attempting to catch me off guard.

Yet, I deftly maneuvered, leaping over him and delivering a forceful kick to his back, causing him to collide with the gate wall.

A groan escaped his lips as he crumpled to the ground, momentarily subdued. However, the respite was short-lived as I felt a sharp kick to my ribs, causing me to hiss in pain. I looked up, only to find Liang smirking down at me.

Protecting my injured side, I attempted to regain my footing, but before I could stand, someone grabbed my arm, restraining me from moving.

Cheng, now standing in front of me, bent down to meet my eye level, a malicious smile stretching across his face.

"What's your name, huh? Let's see what you're hiding behind that hideous mask, Dre's protector," Cheng taunted, his words laced with malice.

I struggled against the person holding me, their grip tightening in response. Cheng reached out, his fingers inching closer to my mask and hood, intent on revealing my identity.

Just as he was about to touch my mask, a sudden interruption occurred. Someone stepped forward, and I looked up to see Mr. Han, the old maintenance man, interjecting himself into the confrontation.

He forcefully grabbed Cheng's hand, pushing him away from me, while simultaneously releasing the person holding me.

"Go home," Mr. Han commanded, his grip firm as he tightly held onto Cheng's wrist. With a swift motion, he pushed Cheng back, causing him to stumble and fall into the arms of his friends.

Kneeling beside Mr. Han, I glanced at Dre, noticing his battered state, yet he seemed unfazed by our presence. Mr. Han acknowledged his injuries but turned his attention away, choosing to ignore them for the moment.

Cheng, now focused on the old maintenance man, swung his wrist in an attempt to alleviate the pain. His friends approached, ready to retaliate, but Mr. Han stopped them in their tracks, pushing them back firmly.

Cheng lunged forward, aiming a powerful kick at Mr. Han, but the seasoned maintenance man swiftly caught his ankle. Gripping it firmly, Mr. Han pulled himself towards Cheng, causing the boy to wince in pain as if caught in a painful split.

With a calculated release, Mr. Han let go, causing Cheng to stagger. As one of Cheng's friends tried to attack Mr. Han, the old man deftly blocked the assault. Another friend, along with Zhuang, rushed forward, attempting to overwhelm Mr. Han.

Yet, with fluid movements and surprising agility, Mr. Han evaded their punches effortlessly. Taking advantage of their momentum, he cleverly pulled their arms, causing the two boys to collide with each other instead.

Mr. Han's prowess in kung fu left me astounded. It was clear that there was much more to him than met the eye. He continued to defend himself against the onslaught of attacks, skillfully navigating through the chaos while ensuring no lasting harm befell his opponents.

As Zhuang prepared to launch another attack, a battle cry erupted from behind him. Turning my attention, I watched in awe as Mr. Han deftly parried and blocked the strikes with finesse. His movements showcased a level of skill and precision that I hadn't expected from a mere maintenance man.

Mr. Han's dedication to non-violence shone through, as he skillfully defended himself without inflicting serious harm. It became increasingly evident that he possessed a deep understanding of martial arts and the principles that underpin them.

In the midst of the confrontation, I remained by Mr. Han's side, offering support and witnessing the incredible display of his kung fu expertise. As the battle raged on, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and gratitude towards the unassuming old maintenance man, who had revealed himself to be a true master of his craft.