Chapter 119: A Brawl, A Reprimand, and the Severed Hand

As soon as the restrictions on his summoned contract creatures were lifted, a swarm of girls appeared around Hao Ren, and then… without a word, they launched into a brutal beatdown.

These girls had been following Hao Ren, living in constant anxiety. Although they were temporarily sealed by the master brain, they could still observe the world through Hao Ren’s perspective. It must have been the effect of several of Hao Ren’s skills that, while depriving the girls of their bodily freedom, had liberated their minds. Thus, every reckless move Hao Ren made along the way had been witnessed by them.

What? Did he think he deserved a reward for cheating death? If not a steamy hookup, couldn't he at least get a light kiss?

"To hell with that! You made us worry so much and now you want a reward!? Let us vent our frustration first!"

With this mindset, the girls showered Hao Ren with kicks and punches. If not for Hao Ren’s exceptional attributes and the existence of his Nen abilities, he would have likely ended up in the hospital for a couple of days. Hao Ren noted that, apart from Sherry’s fists which made him cough up a mouthful of blood, the physical attacks from the others felt no more than a tickle.

Right, he couldn't let that blood go to waste.

The sight of Hao Ren cupping his hands to catch his own blood while being beaten only fueled the girls' anger and bitterness. Why did he have to give up on being a normal person?

As the girls, whose physical strength wasn't enough to break his defenses, involuntarily eased up, the trio of cosmic weapons exchanged nods. With their hair dancing wildly, they transformed their limbs into over a dozen drills, all aimed directly at Hao Ren.

Feeling the barrage stop, Hao Ren looked up, only to be struck with terror! He immediately retracted his comment about it being a "tickle" and decisively fell to his knees.

"Ahhh! It hurts, it hurts! My whole body hurts! Please, have mercy!" Hao Ren knew that his stunts over the past few days had nearly left him anemic. If he were to have a dozen more holes drilled into him, how much pork liver would he have to eat to recover?

Hao Ren’s priorities were always completely skewed.

Nemesis smirked and led the charge, diving down.

"Ken!"

With a teeth-gritting screech, Hao Ren, curled into a ball, struggled to block the penetration of the drills. It was one thing to pierce others, but being pierced himself was incredibly unpleasant.

...

Rubbing his swollen cheeks, Hao Ren lay prone on a stone slab, bottom in the air, writing something on a piece of paper stroke by stroke.

A letter of apology.

"To my beloved contractors:

I, a legitimate Summoner, often engage in self-destructive behaviors that would make even a masochistic warrior tremble. I venture deep into danger alone, challenge bosses solo, get excited at the sight of blood, and don't know how to have fun unless I'm courting death, constantly stuffing all sorts of chaotic things into my body.

Dying was a daily routine, and somehow, even self-mutilation has become a part of my everyday life.

I was so foolish, truly.

I know I was wrong.

I promise that from now on, I will never again leave you behind to throw myself into the jaws of death.

If I relapse...

May all the high-definition, three-point-bikini photos on my F-drive turn into images of growing paramecia.

Signed, Hao Ren."

...

No sooner had Hao Ren proudly dotted the period with an arched eyebrow than he was kicked in the kidney and sent sprawling to the ground. A brand new iPhone 5S was lost in the scuffle.

"奏 (Kanade), don't stop me! Let me kick this incorrigible bastard to death!" The pink-haired young lady, Saya, was completely livid. Her meager eight points of strength nearly broke through Kanade Tachibana’s blockade, and the tear tracks on her face hadn't even dried yet.

Hao Ren, what was the use of your 90 points of strength?

"Look, it’s not like I had a choice... If I didn't court death, it would be too hard to survive in this high-power world," Hao Ren said, scratching his head. He was referring to the use of the Spirit Light Jade and his bloodline awakening. If there had been even the slightest variation during those two events, Hao Ren would have likely perished, and the girls would have been buried along with him.

"See, Kanade is on my side," Hao Ren said, pushing his luck. He hid behind the petite Kanade Tachibana and made a face at Saya.

Kanade turned around and carefully cradled Hao Ren’s face, her pure, innocent eyes meeting his. The distance between their noses grew shorter and shorter, and at the same time, Hao Ren’s face grew redder and redder.

"Not here, Kanade, we’re still too young, at least wait until there’s no one watching... Uh!" Just as Hao Ren thought she was about to give him a deep French kiss, the hands Kanade used to cup his head decisively twisted his neck to the left.

*Crack.*

Hao Ren foamed at the mouth.

Kanade, you hate me that much too...

Shiina pressed her fingers against Hao Ren’s neck.

"Tch, he’s still alive," Shiina muttered, casting a glance at her broom.

Shiina, you can't be like this!

The knight, clad in crystal ice armor, picked Hao Ren up from the ground, her left arm clutching his waist tightly while her right hand persistently pinched his cheeks, seemingly venting something. The swelling on his left cheek from before had been caused by the ice dragon Sherry; among the girls, only Sherry possessed strength greater than Hao Ren’s.

After pinching his left cheek, she pinched the right. Knowing he was in the wrong, Hao Ren could only grit his teeth and endure it.

Lord Jesus once said, if someone strikes your left cheek, offer them your right.

"Lord, are you a masochist?" Hao Ren thought to himself, feeling he would rather be a happy Judas.

"My Lord, it is time to leave behind an heir. If you keep courting death like this, I fear I will never have the experience of raising a little dragon." A pair of large, water-blue eyes within the knight’s helmet suddenly conveyed a very dangerous message—the unmistakable signal of female hormones.

"An heir? Sherry, what are you trying to do?" The pants he had just managed to pull back up were nearly ripped off. Hao Ren felt the cold, armored gauntlet reach between his legs. Sherry was as bold as ever, but why wouldn't she take off the armor?

"Mother Dragon! Let go of that beast!" Saya rushed over and grabbed one of Hao Ren’s legs, pulling with all her might.

"I’ll join in too." The school doctor dragged the bewildered Tia along to join the fray, setting her sights on Hao Ren’s other leg.

"Lady Hiiragi, should we participate too? For the sake of team unity?" The girl Orihime hadn't fully integrated into the chaotic team yet, and she was seeking the opinion of the furball.

"Count me in!" The golden furball pounced and slammed into Hao Ren’s stomach.

Ryougi Shiki and Saeko Busujima exchanged looks, a silent communication leading to a mutual nod.

Time to teach this reckless guy a lesson.

Hao Ren’s two free hands were grabbed by the two of them respectively.

"Is this... the legendary 'five horses rending the body' punishment..." Hao Ren still had the strength to speak.

"Huh?" "Hmm?"

Saeko and Shiki let out a surprisingly delicate gasp simultaneously.

Hao Ren, in a fit of suicidal audacity, had grabbed both of their chests.

The tactile difference between an A-cup and a D-cup was undeniable; one you could grasp in a palm, the other you couldn't—the gap was immense...

Shiki-san, don't cry!

"I surrender! I surrender! I surrender!" Hao Ren howled.

Having been groped in front of others, the two girls were simultaneously enraged and fiercely twisted Hao Ren’s arms.

...

"Heh, he looks just like a dirty rag." Mea poked Hao Ren’s ribs. Hao Ren was sprawled face-down with his butt in the air, nearly broken by the ordeal.

"You brought this on yourself." Golden Darkness gave Hao Ren a stealthy kick. Perhaps due to a flicker of hidden concern, she carefully chose the spot with the most meat to land her foot.

A fresh shoeprint appeared on Hao Ren’s backside.