Chapter Seventy-Nine: Carnage

Among all those present, no one was more shocked than Lin Shengnan. She knew better than anyone the quality of those two guns, but the shot fired just now…
She turned her head and looked directly at Liu Jingye, who was leisurely pulling out a cigarette and lighting it, as if he were simply here to watch the spectacle.
A moment ago, everyone’s attention had been fixed on the thug and Lin Shengnan’s guns, so nobody paid any heed to Liu Jingye. Even if someone had noticed him, it would have been nearly impossible to catch his lightning-fast movement—drawing, firing, and holstering his gun all within the blink of an eye.
"This is outrageous," shouted one of the outsiders, "You have guns! What’s the point of fighting?"
"If you know what’s good for you, then get lost!" Da Niu waved his gun as he spoke.
"We refuse to accept this!" the man insisted. "If you’ve got guts, let’s fight fair and square, see who’s really got the strength. Using firearms—what skill is that?"
"If you’re so capable, then go get yourself some guns!" Da Niu scoffed. "This is as real as it gets—steel and lead!"
"You’re playing dirty. Don’t you follow any code of the underworld?" the outsider said. "Fine, we’ll cede the territory, but winning this way lacks honor. We refuse to accept it. So if, in the future, someone gets bitten by a poisonous snake in some club, or the bathwater in a spa turns into urine, don’t blame us."
"Damn it, you’re playing dirty?" Da Niu cursed angrily.
Liu Jingye wore a cold smile. "Lowlifes will always be lowlifes," he thought. "Nowadays, whether in the underworld or out of it, people only recognize money, not friends. What’s left of any code?"
Lin Shengnan spoke, "You think it’s unfair that we have guns? Well, you’ve gathered dozens of men against just a handful of us. We find that unfair too."
"If you’ve got guts, let’s settle it one on one!" The one-eared thug finally managed to get up, gritting his teeth against the pain, unwilling to lose face: "No crowd tactics, no guns. Let’s send out representatives for a fair fight."
Everyone fell silent, considering the proposal. It was undoubtedly the best solution. Otherwise, whether the outsiders won through strength in numbers or Lin Shengnan’s group intimidated with firearms, no side would truly accept defeat, and the chaos would continue.
"Agreed. One-on-one it is. Bosses upstairs, do you consent?" the outsider shouted to the watching proprietors.
The bosses readily agreed. They saw that the men from Radiant Dynasty were still arrogant and experienced, the outsiders had numbers, and Lin Shengnan’s group wielded firepower. None of them dared provoke any side, but having these groups manage their venues would save them much trouble.
"We have three teams now. How exactly should we duel?" Lin Shengnan asked suddenly.
That raised another issue—whether a three-way brawl or a round-robin, both seemed unfair.
The situation stalled once more. Just then, Liu Jingye exhaled a plume of smoke and said, "I have a solution."
Everyone looked at him. The outsider immediately asked, "Who are you?"
"Who I am doesn’t matter," Liu Jingye replied. "What matters is that I have a gun." He drew out a massive Desert Eagle, as imposing as Thor’s hammer, radiating a deadly aura.
The one-eared thug from Radiant Dynasty, who had just gotten used to the pain, felt it stab sharply again.
The outsider fell silent. This was an overwhelming show of force. Liu Jingye continued, "Since we’re talking duels, here’s my method: Each group selects one person, and these three should be similar in height, build, and age. The three will fight each other, comparing their ability to take hits, their strength, stamina, and willpower.
It’s simple. The three stand in a circle. A punches B; then B punches C; finally, C punches A. No one struck may retaliate or dodge, and each puncher may only throw one punch with no extra moves. They go round and round—whoever lasts the longest wins."
After hearing this, many gasped in disbelief. It was undeniably a good solution, but far too brutal.
A strikes B, but B can’t hit back—only vent his rage on C. C’s anger doubles, and so on, endlessly compounding. This would undoubtedly bring out their most savage sides.
"Where do we hit?" someone asked timidly.
"Hit the face," Liu Jingye said with a devilish smile.
Instantly, silence fell. The proposal was vicious, making everyone’s faces ache just imagining it, and giving a suffocating feeling.
"Fine, let’s do it! Who’s afraid of whom?" the outsider suddenly declared. For them, fighting and killing was routine—taking a beating was nothing.
"In these times, taking a few hits is better than being looked down on," he said.
"Agreed," came affirmation from Radiant Dynasty. "But who do we choose as representatives?"
"As I said, for fairness, pick people with similar builds and weights. We’ll send out our man first—you can use him as a template," Liu Jingye said calmly, pointing behind him. "Stone, you go."
"Me?" Stone nervously pointed at his nose, his face pale.
"Yes, you." Liu Jingye pushed him forward. "Victory or defeat depends on you."
"Can I really do this?" Stone asked.
"Have confidence. Go for it. You’re our ace," Liu Jingye replied.
"I’m the ace?" Stone’s eyebrows shot up, surprise flooding his face. He could hardly believe it.
Muttering to himself, he walked to the open space, while the other two groups began selecting their own representatives to match Stone’s physique.
"Big Bro, is Stone up to it?" Hu Ming asked anxiously, and Lin Shengnan also cast a questioning glance at him.
Liu Jingye lit another cigarette, unconcerned. "Don’t worry, he’ll be fine. Stone has been suppressed for too long—it’s time for him to erupt."
The others were puzzled by Liu Jingye’s confidence, especially since they had grown up with Stone, while Liu Jingye had only met him a few times. Why was he so certain?
Liu Jingye merely smiled, thinking to himself, "Their impression of Stone’s weakness runs too deep. They don’t realize even a salted fish yearns to turn over. Stone was always timid, frequently bullied, beaten regularly. Since joining Lin Shengnan’s group, he’s become a bit bolder, but mainly because he had backup, not because he himself was strong.
He possesses a strong body but never used it to defend himself or strike back, always worried—afraid he’d lose, afraid he’d hurt someone and be held responsible, afraid of provoking harsher retaliation...
Now, he’s got a chance to turn the tables. This is a fair fight, with no responsibility. If someone hits you, you can hit someone else!"
As Liu Jingye said, this tested a person’s courage, endurance, and willpower.
Soon, the other two sides picked burly men matching Stone’s build. The Radiant Dynasty representative looked fierce, and the outsider was stocky and solid. Each had nervous, disgruntled eyes, probably cursing Liu Jingye for his nasty idea.
To be hit and unable to retaliate, instead directed to hit someone else—it was bizarre, almost absurd.
But that’s life. There are always those you can't afford to provoke, and others below you, the bullied and the bullies.
"Who goes first?" the outsider asked, still wary of Liu Jingye’s gun.
"Rock, paper, scissors," said Liu Jingye.
Ridiculous, yet fair…
Though Stone was timid by nature, luck was on his side—he won. Then came the Radiant Dynasty man, followed by the outsider.
"Begin," Liu Jingye said, calm as a director calling a scene.
Stone hesitated, staring at the fierce Radiant Dynasty man before him, clenching his fists, unable to act.
Liu Jingye understood his feelings. Fighting is fueled by anger or resentment—only when pushed will someone strike. Hitting another without cause is something only madmen or villains do.
Yet this was the underworld, like a battlefield. There was no "without cause"; if you don’t hit him, he’ll hit you.
"Stone, do it!" Da Niu shouted, knowing him well. "Don’t you remember how the Radiant Dynasty guys bullied us? Just the other day, they beat Er Niu so badly. Don’t hold back—give it to him!"
Er Niu and Hu Ming joined in, while Radiant Dynasty retorted, and the outsiders cheered for their own. Their leader cried, "Fourth, it’s up to you. If you win, our brothers can avoid a bloodbath, avoid casualties…"
That sentence not only rallied his own but awakened Stone. Yes, if he won, Lin Shengnan’s crew wouldn’t have to risk their lives, and a bloodbath could be avoided.
"They’ve protected me for years. Today, it’s my turn to protect them!" Stone resolved.
Suddenly, his eyes blazed; he roared, summoned all his strength, and swung a punch straight at the Radiant Dynasty man’s nose.
With a dull thud, the man was knocked to the ground, blood and tears streaming together. He sprang up, furious, ready to attack Stone, but Liu Jingye’s cold voice rang out, "Anyone who breaks the rules gets a red card and is out."
The man, staring down the barrel of Liu Jingye’s gun, forced himself to stop, then spun around and, like a beast, glared at the outsider, delivering a fierce uppercut to his jaw that sent him sprawling.
The Radiant Dynasty man was clearly trained—an uppercut is the easiest way to knock someone down in boxing—and the outsider took a long time to get up, spitting out a bloody tooth, his steps unsteady, clearly dazed…