Shangguan Haitang’s eyes blazed with boundless rage, feeling as though his soul had been deeply insulted. This was contempt, naked contempt.
At this moment, Shen Jiayi trembled uncontrollably. Why? Because she knew that this incident was getting out of hand, they had offended the Shangguan Family, one of the supreme overlords of Zhonghai City. Yet, Xiao Zheng was just an ordinary person. How could he possibly be a match for them?
The ignorant know no fear.
That was what everyone thought, and they all mourned for Xiao Zheng in silence. After all, as one of the four major families in Zhonghai City, the Shangguan Family were behemoths with ties in both the military and political spheres, their reach extended to the heavens.
Xiao Zheng looked at the people around him, their gazes varied—some sympathetic, some gloating, some regretful, there was an abundance of reactions.
Huh, everyone thinks I’m a goner? Ridiculous!
"Kid, if you’ve got guts, don’t leave!"
At this point, Shangguan Haitang could no longer hold back his fury and pointed at Xiao Zheng as he made a phone call.
Xiao Zheng, however, confronted him tit for tat, "Leave? Why should I leave? The minor Shangguan Family doesn’t even factor into my concerns."
Soon after, several men in black suits entered and stood beside Shangguan Haitang, ready to heed his command.
Shangguan Haitang glanced at his own bodyguards and locked his eyes on a man with a scar on his face.
He knew this man was of mercenary origin, one of the top thirty most valuable mercenaries in the world, one for whom the Shangguan Family had paid a hefty sum.
Now, it seemed apt to send him into action.
"Hou Tao, cripple this arrogant kid for me. Let him understand that there are always people better than him, higher skies beyond the one he knows," Shangguan Haitang ordered.
"Master, rest assured, I shall not fail your trust!"
After bowing respectfully to Shangguan Haitang, Hou Tao turned to look at Xiao Zheng, regarding him as if he were already a dead man.
"Kid, taking money to get rid of a disaster for someone—don’t blame Laozi for being cruel and ruthless!"
"Like a dog, just act, why the idle talk?"
Xiao Zheng stood fearless, but first, he positioned Shen Jiayi behind him; she was someone close to him, and he had to ensure her safety.
Hou Tao pulled out a dagger and brandished it with "swish, swish, swish" sounds, moving with a dance-like grace, as he sneered and approached Xiao Zheng, confident of victory.
"Haha, since Laozi returned to Huaxia, it’s been years since I’ve seen blood. I hope, kid, you won’t disappoint me."
"Hahaha, I can smell the mercenary on you, but you’re just a nobody. You don’t even recognize Laozi?"
Xiao Zheng stood unmoved, as steady as Mount Tai, watching Hou Tao with a mocking gaze. He was a mercenary who didn’t even recognize Evil God—such ignorance.
Hou Tao paused, looking closely at Xiao Zheng. He seemed familiar, but he couldn’t recall where he’d seen him.
Just then, Shangguan Haitang’s impatient voice came through, "What are you dawdling for, kid? Make it quick!"
No longer hesitant, Hou Tao brandished his dagger with such skill that water couldn’t penetrate his defenses. He attacked Xiao Zheng, intent on bringing about his demise.
"Kid, I hope you die slowly; otherwise, Laozi will have no fun."
Xiao Zheng smiled faintly and moved his hands as fast as thunder and lightning, reaching for the dagger.
"Come here, will you!"
"Eh?" Hou Tao suddenly realized that his dagger had vanished without a trace. Looking up, gosh, it was already in Xiao Zheng’s hand.
Was he using it to clean his nails?
A master, definitely a master among masters, one that even Laozi had to look up to.
Hou Tao knew he had encountered an insurmountable obstacle today, a tough nut to crack.
However, taking people’s money and doing their bidding is natural and right; even facing death, one cannot lose this professional ethic.
"Truly a master, witness my Iron Mountain Lean!"
"Child’s play!" Xiao Zheng swiftly made his move, his eyes harboring a mysterious smile, as he lightly touched Hou Tao.
"Damn it, what’s happening, why is it so itchy?"
Hou Tao, pushed back by Xiao Zheng’s move, felt an intense itchiness, not on the skin but deep within his bones, itching from the inside out and then back again, a never-ending torment.
Xiao Zheng looked at him with a pitying smile and said, "Time’s about up!"
Time’s about up? What does that mean?
Hou Tao was stunned, unable to comprehend, only feeling his bones grow itchier.
"Ah... my hand bone is broken!"
Clutching his left hand, Hou Tao screamed aloud, his face the very picture of a fate worse than death, feeling his bones continually breaking one after the other without respite.
He collapsed to the ground, rolling and crying out in pain, his body convulsing continuously, his complexion deathly pale.
"Spare me, please, save me! Ah..."
What the hell is going on?
Everyone was dumbfounded, including Shangguan Haitang; damn it, was this possession by a ghost? Too bizarre.
Xiao Zheng, however, kicked Hou Tao twice and sneered, "Kid, you’ve been hit with my ’Bone-breaking Needle’. It’s a type of poison technique; if not treated promptly, your bones will gradually break apart, and by the time all your bones are broken, you’ll become nothing but a pile of meat."
"Save me! Hurry, save me! I’ll do whatever you ask."
The pain of his bones fracturing caused Hou Tao to lose all reason, desperately begging for mercy. To die would be too much to bear.
"Are you sure it’s ’whatever I ask’?" Xiao Zheng asked with a feigned smile, his eyes maliciously glancing over at Shangguan Haitang.
Shangguan Haitang felt a sudden pang in her heart, knowing nothing good was coming.
Meanwhile, Hou Tao’s eyes were filled with severe congestion, clearly on the edge of unbearable pain, hastily blurting out, "I’ll agree to any condition, just save me! Ah!"
His screams were chilling, as if someone were sawing through his legs.
Everyone else turned pale and pursed their lips, damn it, even watching hurts, that’s downright evil.
Xiao Zheng pointed at Shangguan Haitang, commanding, "Hou Tao, if you want to live, break his damn leg for me!"
The words were cut and dry, leaving no room for doubt.
Hou Tao was teetering on the edge of life and death; if forced to choose between money and life, he now wanted only to live.
Money lost can be earned again, but what good is money if life is gone?
With this thought, Hou Tao clenched his teeth and, step by step, approached Shangguan Haitang with murderous intent in his eyes.
Shangguan Haitang was scared out of her wits, wasn’t it about taking money to avert disaster on someone’s behalf? He couldn’t possibly, he just couldn’t.
Yet, she was wrong. By the time she realized her mistake, Hou Tao had already lifted her leg.
She cried out in horror, "Hou Tao, I am your master, let go!"
Hou Tao replied coldly, "A master can be replaced, but once life is gone, there’s nothing left... "
Without a doubt, Shangguan Haitang’s leg was broken, and he was howling in agony.