The buzz-cut guy froze for a second.He didn't expect this kid to still have the guts to fight him for the goods—much less talk with that arrogant tone.
Was the kid blind to the situation?Or… was he always this bold?
"Give me the bag." He伸 out his hand with a cold smirk.
Cao Yang completely ignored him. He even picked up Fat Qi's bag and stuffed both the cash and the goods into his own.
Seeing him turn to leave without giving him a shred of face, the buzz-cut guy gave a subtle signal.In an instant, the men in black surrounded Cao Yang.
No words.Fists flew.The fight erupted instantly.
They were all bare-handed.And Cao Yang didn't fear them at all—one man taking on ten.
Screams echoed. Someone was kicked into the air and slammed into the wall.
And that was only the beginning.One after another, bodies were punched, kicked, and sent flying.For a moment, it looked like people were raining from the sky.
Lei Yu was stunned.Lei Dian had told her Cao Yang was strong, but she never expected this strong.
Even the buzz-cut guy was stunned.He knew the kid had some skills—the thugs lying outside had proved that.But this wasn't "some skills."This was terror level skills.
The guys he brought today weren't the same low-tier street punks.These were battle-tested fighters.But to Cao Yang?They were no different.
Bang!
A gunshot exploded.
A bullet grazed Cao Yang's scalp.He smelled burnt hair.
Cold sweat ran down his back—this was his first time facing a gun, and his first real taste of danger.
He stopped and turned his gaze on the buzz-cut guy.Around him, the men he knocked down were staggering to their feet.
"You think being good at fighting means anything? Out here, it's all about power and background. One pull of the trigger, and your head bursts like a watermelon."
"Oh really?"
A small stone lay near Cao Yang's right foot.As he spoke, he kicked it hard.
The stone shot out like a blade, piercing straight toward the man's wrist.
The buzz-cut guy didn't expect that at all.The speed and accuracy were insane.Pain exploded through his wrist—his gun flew out of his hand.
Before it even hit the ground, Cao Yang had already flashed forward.With a shoulder strike, he sent the man flying.
Then, with one smooth motion, he grabbed the falling gun and aimed it.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunshots erupted nonstop.The buzz-cut guy yelped, scrambling and rolling like a rat, diving behind a support pillar, not daring to show his head.
Cao Yang had never used a real gun before.But talent? He had plenty.Speed, strength, reflexes, learning ability—everything was monstrous.(Textbook knowledge excluded.)
It wasn't that he couldn't hit the man.He simply didn't intend to.
"What are you hiding for? Weren't you arrogant just now? 'Yi He Society' this, 'Yi He Society' that… just a bunch of small-time punks."
He tossed the chip bag to Lei Yu and pocketed Fat Qi's money bag.Cao Yang nodded to Lei Yu, and the two walked out of the abandoned building.No one dared to stop them.
"Hurry." Cao Yang urged.He was worried they might have more guns.If someone shot him in the back, he'd be done for.
Fortunately, no one chased them.But the place was so remote it took ten minutes of walking before they finally caught a taxi.
"In the car," Cao Yang asked, "Do you know anything about the Yi He Society?"Now that he'd offended them, he had to understand what he was dealing with.
Lei Yu nodded—then shook her head."I've only heard of them. Not the details."
"I know them!" the taxi driver suddenly chimed in.He was very talkative."Yi He Society is a big Hong Kong syndicate. If you've pissed them off, you two better buy a train ticket and run home fast."
"Mind telling us more?" Cao Yang handed him a cigarette.Lei Yu frowned, but both men were already puffing away.
"Their story goes way back—hundreds of years if you count the early roots. But the modern Yi He Society grew from about twenty years ago."
"Early in the reform era, many Hong Kong businessmen came to the mainland to build factories. Some Hong Kong groups secretly followed… and Yi He Society developed the fastest."
"Now they have thirteen branches across the mainland. Each hall master is a heavyweight. Way stronger than He Sheng He or 14K."
"As for the thirteen hall masters, my favorite is Dongguan City's hall master—Tang Shaojie. Handsome, young, principled, knows his limits. Loads of young guys worship him. They're proud just to call him boss."
Tch—
Cao Yang sneered.Those guys helped him move goods and ended up with two men arrested—and the hall still demanded compensation.What principles? What backbone?
The driver continued, "You know Guangdong Hongmen, right?"
Cao Yang nodded.
"Well, Yi He Society has ties to that. A hundred years ago, Hongmen had a Hong Kong branch called Sanhehui. Yi He Society grew from that."
"In strict terms, Yi He Society went from the mainland to Hong Kong… and now back to the mainland."
"But Hongmen's fallen now. Only overseas Chinese still keep it alive. On the mainland you barely see it. Meanwhile Yi He Society keeps expanding—but they've long forgotten Hongmen's old values. No loyalty, no patriotism, nothing. They're just a black-market gang now."
The more the driver talked, the heavier Cao Yang's heart grew.This mess… was serious.
The taxi dropped them off at Lei Yu's building.
Cao Yang wanted her to hide at his place for a few days, but she didn't like Li Yan.Plus, after hearing the driver's stories, she was scared.She decided to go back to her hometown and lay low.
"Leave the chip with you for now," she said.It was a burning-hot potato—she didn't dare hold it.
Cao Yang felt troubled.Losing it would be a pity.Keeping it was dangerous.Returning it?Impossible.The moment he turned back, they'd kill him.
Damn trouble.
"You got money?" he asked as she turned to leave.
"…A little?"
Her hesitant tone told him everything.
He opened the bag and pulled out two stacks of cash."Take it. Travel expenses."
"I…"She wanted to refuse, but she really didn't have money.And who wouldn't want cash?
Technically, they had agreed to split the earnings 50–50.But they hadn't sold the goods.Yet they still ended up with money.
This cash was practically robbed—she didn't dare ask for any.Now that Cao Yang handed it to her, she accepted quietly.
"Be careful on the road. Call me when you reach home."
"Mm." She nodded softly.
Cao Yang turned to leave.
"Cao Yang…" Lei Yu called after him.
"What?"
"…Will we meet again?"
Cao Yang grinned."Didn't you say you didn't like me?"
"I…" She stammered twice, stomped her foot, and walked off.
When Cao Yang returned to the shop, Li Yan rushed over.
"Well? Sold it? Did you get the money?"
Three rapid questions.She grabbed the bag from him, opened it—and saw only electronic chips.Her face fell instantly.
"Didn't sell it?"
Cao Yang tossed her another bag and said bitterly, "Didn't sell it.But we got the money."
Money-hungry Li Yan opened it—and was instantly blinded by a sea of shimmering bills.