"Why is it a place like this?"Cao Yang hadn't expected the deal to take place in an abandoned, half-finished building. The place was remote, overgrown with weeds, construction debris everywhere.
"Is he… trying to double-cross us?"Thinking of scenes from movies, Lei Yu nervously inched closer to Cao Yang.
"I don't know. But stay alert."Cao Yang, bold and skilled, strode inside without hesitation.
…
Inside, the building was empty—silent, not a soul in sight. Just as they were about to call Fatty Qi, footsteps echoed from the third floor.
"Here, come up."Fatty Qi waved from upstairs.
Cao Yang led Lei Yu up. Truthfully, he hadn't wanted her to come. Deals like this only became harder when you brought a completely helpless woman along.
But Lei Yu insisted.Like Li Yan, she was afraid he'd take the money and run.
When they reached the third floor, they found that besides Fatty Qi, six other men were waiting—some with long, messy hair, others bald. One look and you'd know none of them were good people.
"Stay close. If anything happens, hide behind me."Cao Yang whispered. Lei Yu nodded.
"Brother, sister, you brought the stuff?"Fatty Qi said with his usual greasy smile.
Cao Yang nodded, patting the backpack. "It's all here. Did you bring the money?"
"Of course I did."Fatty Qi pointed at a bulging briefcase behind him, then reached for the backpack in Cao Yang's hand.
Cao Yang quickly pulled it back. "We want to see the money first."
Fatty Qi laughed loudly."The money? I'll burn as much as you want! Plenty of it!"
As he spoke, he gestured subtly to the six thugs.They drew machetes from their waists and walked over with sinister grins.
"Boss Qi, the chick looks nice. We want a taste."
"I just want the goods. The rest is yours—just clean it up afterward."
"Ah—!"A scream echoed.
Before Fatty Qi could even react, Cao Yang had already kicked him.His nearly 200-pound body smashed into the wall and slid down, unable to get up.
Fatty Qi had imagined Cao Yang would be terrified right now—either running or kneeling to beg.Never in his life did he think the kid would strike first.
The six thugs froze.He kicked that heavy man flying with one strike?How strong was this guy?!
"Kill him!"One of the long-haired men charged, swinging his machete at Cao Yang's neck—he was going for the kill.
Cao Yang moved fast.Very fast.
He grabbed the man's wrist—Crack!The bone snapped.
"Ahhhh—!"The machete fell.
Before it hit the ground, Cao Yang kicked it up, caught it mid-air, and plunged it straight into the long-haired thug's stomach.
The blade entered through the front and poked out near his lower back, blood dripping onto the floor.
Originally, Cao Yang meant to thrust it into the man's heart—or even take off his head.But at the moment he struck, a flash of his mother's terrifying glare crossed his mind, and he instinctively shifted the angle.
He pulled out the blade and kicked the man away, unsure if he would survive.
The remaining five thugs were horrified.Their leader had been taken down instantly.
"Kill him! Avenge Brother Ji!"
They rushed in together.
One bald guy led the charge, swinging downward fiercely.
Cao Yang didn't dodge.He raised his machete and clashed with him head-on.
Bang!
The bald man's machete flew from his hands from the sheer force of the impact. His wrist split open, blood gushing, and his entire arm trembling uncontrollably.
His eyes widened with fear.That strength… it was beyond anything he could imagine.
Cao Yang reversed the blade and chopped at his head.
The bald man's heart froze—This is it. I'm dead.
BANG!
His head jolted violently, and he collapsed. A long red welt swelled on his shiny scalp.
Cao Yang had used the blunt side of the blade—and had held back. Otherwise the man would be dead.
While fighting the bald man, Cao Yang didn't forget the others.One kick landed squarely on a thug's crotch.
The guy flew backward, rolling on the ground, screaming in agony.
The remaining three were terrified.They looked at each other—none daring to make a move.
They didn't dare fight.But Cao Yang did.
He charged at them with the machete.
"Mommy save me!"The three yelled, abandoning their injured friends and bolting down the stairs.
"Tch."Cao Yang snorted. Cowards.
He didn't bother chasing them.He came here for a deal, not a fight.
He glanced at Lei Yu—who was completely stunned—then walked toward Fatty Qi.
"Brother! Brother! Don't do anything stupid! Killing people is illegal! Don't walk down a criminal path!"Fatty Qi cried, trying to talk him out of murder.
Cao Yang kicked him again."Couldn't we have done a normal deal? Why take it so far?"
"I didn't want to! But this batch belongs to the Yi He Society! If I take it, I have to clean up loose ends!"
"Oh… then should I clean you up too?"
"No! Brother please! I was wrong! Spare me! Forget the goods—there's sixty grand in the briefcase. Take it as a gift!"
Cao Yang opened it.Stacks of cash inside.
Fatty Qi had planned two scenarios:If only Cao Yang came, he'd kill him.If Cao Yang brought backup, he'd do a normal transaction.
Just as Cao Yang picked up the money—
Shrieks came from downstairs.
He froze, hearing heavy footsteps.Looking down, he saw a group of men in black suits hauling up the three thugs who ran earlier.
They threw them on the ground like dead dogs.
After scanning the scene, their eyes landed on Cao Yang.
A muscular man with a cropped haircut stepped forward."You're Thunderbolt?"
Cao Yang shook his head.
The man looked at Fatty Qi and strode over."You knew this batch belonged to our Yi He Society, and you still dared take it? Think we're dead?"
"I—I didn't, I don't know!"Fatty Qi denied frantically.
SLAP!
The man smacked him across the face.
Fatty Qi cursed Li the Boss's ancestors in his heart.Yi He showing up here wasn't coincidence—it had to be Li's doing.
The cropped-hair man bent to pick up Cao Yang's bag and ordered arrogantly:
"You. Come with us."
Cao Yang snatched the bag back before he could touch it, eyes cold.
"Who the hell are you?And why should I go anywhere with you?"