Chapter Fifty: Coward

No matter how formidable Hu Paotzi was, at this moment Wu Daode remained alone, the weakest link. Sooner or later, what was bound to happen would come; if not now, then when? The beautiful leader had spoken, and Qin Feng and the others understood. Since they had to face it anyway, they might as well give that pig-headed fool a good thrashing first.

Wu Daode’s cries were beyond pitiful; to call it the squeals of a slaughtered pig would be an understatement, for no pig ever howled so earth-shatteringly. Old grudges and new animosities were settled together, and with their leader’s orders, the security guards attacked with gleeful abandon. Save for Yang Jiekai and Old Stick, all the security guards crowded in, eager to land a blow, lest they miss the chance to throw a punch or a kick.

Yang Jiekai stood on the edge, watching with interest. He had to admit—this sort of street brawl, though lacking the ferocity of a battlefield, held its own crude appeal. Old Stick, on the other hand, appeared utterly indifferent, squatting nearby like a farmer, puffing on an unfiltered cigarette, lost in thought.

“Why aren’t you joining in?” Lin Sha glanced at Yang Jiekai with disdain, believing his reluctance to act stemmed from fear of Hu Paotzi’s imminent revenge.

“I’m afraid of being retaliated against later,” Yang Jiekai replied, knowing what Lin Sha was thinking, yet too lazy to explain, speaking without looking back.

“Coward!” Lin Sha bit her lip and spat the insult.

Yang Jiekai merely smiled, amused by the new nickname. If those in the mercenary world heard someone call Night Owl a coward, jaws would drop in disbelief. Night Owl, a coward? Those who knew Yang Jiekai would sooner believe that God was a black man than accept that Night Owl lacked courage.

Old Stick leisurely finished his cigarette, then stood up slowly and stopped Qin Feng and the others from continuing their assault.

“If you keep beating him, someone’s going to die,” Old Stick spoke in his perpetually emotionless tone.

Only then did Qin Feng and the others cease, cursing as they did, and spat at Wu Daode, who lay on the ground barely alive, still unsatisfied.

“Damn it, that’s enough. When Hu Paotzi comes, let him do what he wants!” one security guard said, flexing his arm with a vicious glare.

“At worst, we lose a couple of arms or legs. Does Hu Paotzi really dare kill us all?” another echoed.

Qin Feng spat, panting, and turned to Lin Sha, “Assistant Lin, I think you should lay low for a while. Hu Paotzi’s gang doesn’t care about age or gender; their hands are ruthless!”

Lin Sha’s smile suddenly took on an unusual playfulness. “Leave? Of course we’ll leave!”

Qin Feng and the others were stunned, unable to fathom how the woman who had just displayed heroic resolve was now so quick to retreat.

Seeing their puzzled faces, Lin Sha continued to smile. “I’ve said before, when facing an unbeatable enemy, you must not only make them suffer, but also know when to withdraw. Listen up, everyone: dispose of your steel rods and wooden sticks, then leave separately. I’ll handle this with the police!”

She borrowed Qin Feng’s phone, dialed a few numbers, and spoke cheerfully, “Hello, Ning Ning? It’s me, Weiwei. I know you’re busy. This isn’t about shopping; I need to report an incident… Yes, some thugs were causing trouble, armed, and our security dealt with them. Send someone over to handle it… Haha, I knew you’d worry about me. I’m fine, really, no fatalities, just self-defense… Alright, next time I’ll treat you by the river. Hanging up now…”

After the call, Lin Sha’s icy demeanor returned. She was about to hand the phone back to Qin Feng when she paused in confusion, “What’s wrong with you all? Why are you looking at me like that?”

Gongsun raised his thumb in admiration, “Brilliant, truly brilliant, Assistant Lin! I admire you to the core!”

Yang Jiekai smiled at this clever woman. So the courage she’d shown earlier was all part of a well-laid plan—connections at the station.

Lin Sha laughed, “I never fight unprepared battles,” and handed the phone to Qin Feng. “Go home, rest early, and don’t be late tomorrow.”

“Yes, Assistant Lin!” the security guards responded in unison, standing at attention.

A born leader, Yang Jiekai thought to himself. With a few words, she resolved the matter and won their loyalty. After this, all the security guards would likely become her trusted followers. This woman was no ordinary person—perhaps even a match for the one in his own family.

Though still a bit inexperienced.

Yang Jiekai smiled, listening as faint footsteps echoed from deep within the alley, growing closer. Lin Sha and Qin Feng seemed completely unaware. This group had brains and courage, but lacked street experience.

After all this commotion, they hadn’t considered Hu Paotzi might appear at any moment.

But Yang Jiekai was not alone in his awareness. Old Stick silently walked over to Qin Feng, took his distinctive belt, folded it, and placed it back in Qin Feng’s hand, saying quietly, “When you fight, hold your belt like this—more forceful, and you won’t hurt your own men.”

Qin Feng was about to ask when his expression suddenly froze.

A group of men had emerged from the far end of the alley. Leading them was a bald, muscular giant in a tight vest, followed by a dozen others, all broad-shouldered and imposing. Their aura far surpassed that of Qin Feng’s group.

“Hu Paotzi!” Qin Feng immediately recognized the bald giant at the front—a professional enforcer known even in the underworld.

Aura is intangible and abstract, yet undeniably real. Some people inspire fear at a glance: a seasoned detective to a criminal, a veteran soldier to a civilian. That is aura.

The highest level of aura is in its concealment—so that others cannot sense it easily. Yang Jiekai belonged to this category. Otherwise, with the lethal air he carried from crawling out of death, he’d never survive in normal society; nobody wants to be near someone who radiates danger.

The security guards felt the overwhelming aura and instinctively tightened their grips, stepping back.

Lin Sha hadn’t anticipated Hu Paotzi’s untimely arrival and was momentarily at a loss. Yet, after years in business, her composure surpassed most; though fear gnawed at her, not a trace showed on her face.

Wu Daode, barely alive on the ground, suddenly revived with Hu Paotzi’s appearance, leaping up as if injected with adrenaline, restored to full health.

“B-big brother!” His battered face made speaking difficult, but he staggered toward Hu Paotzi, gesturing back at Qin Feng and the others as he spoke.

After listening, Hu Paotzi’s eyes flashed with menace. He shoved Wu Daode aside and strode toward Qin Feng, pointing at him, “You’re the one who attacked my brother?”

Wu Daode followed, grinning obsequiously. “Yes, it was him, Brother Paotzi, and them too! They all did it, and said bad things about you—they’d throw you in a latrine to eat shit…”

“Enough!” Hu Paotzi, enraged by Wu Daode’s embellishments, snarled at Qin Feng, “Kid, I won’t make it hard for you today. All I want is your teeth and an arm. Will you do it yourself, or shall I help?”

Qin Feng met Hu Paotzi’s fierce gaze, gritting his teeth. “I accept it. Do what you want to me, but today’s actions are mine alone—my brothers behind me had nothing to do with it.”

He took a steel rod from someone nearby. “I’ll knock out my own teeth, break my own arm, just leave my brothers out of it.”

“Nonsense, you think you can decide? None of you are getting away…” Wu Daode, emboldened beside Hu Paotzi, started to protest, but was cut off by a gesture.

Hu Paotzi looked at Qin Feng with respect. “Alright, you’re a man. I’ll agree just this once—knock out your own teeth and break your own arm, and it’s over.”

“Is that your word?” Qin Feng gripped the steel rod, slowly extending his arm.

“My word is iron. I never go back on what I say.”

“But, Brother Paotzi…” Wu Daode seemed unwilling to let it end so simply, but Hu Paotzi glared at him. “Who decides here, you or me?”

Wu Daode shuddered, not daring to object. “Of course, Brother Paotzi decides…”

Qin Feng tightened his grip, raised the steel rod high, closed his eyes, and swung it at his own arm.

With a loud clang, the rod never struck Qin Feng’s arm—it was caught mid-air by a hand.

“Old Stick…”

Qin Feng opened his eyes to see Old Stick had silently intercepted the rod, twisting it out of his grasp. He turned to Hu Paotzi, expressionless. “If you’re not afraid to die, come on.”

Hu Paotzi’s expression flickered, then twisted into a grin. “Another loyal one hops out.” He turned to the other security guards. “Who else? Step forward, so I don’t have to deal with you one by one.”

The security guards exchanged glances, hands trembling as they gripped their weapons, but stepped forward as a group.

“Interesting,” Hu Paotzi sneered. “In that case, I’ll oblige you. Get them!”

Standing behind, Lin Sha shut her eyes in despair. She knew what was about to happen but was powerless to stop it. In her work, she was a force few men could rival, but faced with raw violence, she felt utterly helpless.

Just then, a soft voice drifted out.

“Hu Kui, it’s been a while. Do you still remember me?”

Lin Sha started, slowly opening her eyes. Yang Jiekai, always shrinking into the background, smiled and stepped forward.