Chapter Sixty-Two: Fallen for the Stratagem of Luring the Tiger from the Mountain

Chapter Sixty-Two: The Stratagem of Luring the Tiger from the Mountain

In the end, Xu Yun wrapped Qiangzi’s hands with gauze, then tossed the painkillers to Xiao Fei. “Take them if you really can’t bear it. But these things are bad for your nervous system, and they’re hard on the kidneys too.”

Hearing this, Qiangzi immediately tossed the painkillers aside. “I’m a grown man, I don’t need that stuff. It barely hurts anymore.”

“Brother Qiang, stop pretending. You’re sweating bullets…” Xiao Fei’s heart ached for this man who was more of a brother to him than his own blood. “Why not just take a couple? Just two, it shouldn’t do any harm.”

“Take what?!” Qiangzi, his bravado exposed, flushed with embarrassment. “I told you it doesn’t hurt. Didn’t Yun say these mess with your kidneys? If I end up impotent, are you going to take responsibility?”

At that moment, the Three Tigers of the Southern City arrived with their men. Seeing the smashed cars outside, Kong Zhong was the first to cry out in alarm. He was certain this was Jin Biao’s work; after all, Jin Biao had a man named Zhao Sanlai who loved smashing cars—whenever there was a fight, he always started with the cars.

Shan Hongning pushed the door open and, upon seeing the scene inside, couldn’t help but worry. He hadn’t expected Jin Biao to strike here rather than at the main store. The man was truly devious.

Lu Feng’s expression was clouded, as if he’d thought of something, but he didn’t say it aloud for lack of certainty.

“What are you all doing here?” Qiangzi was startled, feeling both surprised and oddly honored.

“Who did this?” Xu Yun had finished treating Qiangzi’s injuries. Now, it was time to make the culprits pay back every debt.

Qiangzi, whose face had regained a hint of color, suddenly turned pale. “Brother… did we offend Jin Biao because of that house?”

“Jin Biao?”

“Yeah, that guy who’s with Weng Qing.” Qiangzi gritted his teeth, obvious fear outweighing hatred on his face.

Xu Yun let out a cold laugh and said nothing. Clearly, the Three Tigers’ concerns were justified, though none of them had expected Jin Biao to attack here.

“How did they know about my shop?” Qiangzi was baffled. “It wasn’t even closing time when Jin Biao showed up with over two hundred men and surrounded the place. At first, I didn’t even think they were from the East District of Hedong…”

Looking at Qiangzi’s hands, thickly wrapped in gauze, Lu Feng finally voiced what he’d been thinking. “I’m afraid someone from our side sold us out…”

These words struck like a stone cast into calm waters, stirring up waves.

First, Jin Biao had clearly learned about the Three Tigers’ ambush near the medicinal restaurant from someone in the South District. Second, he must have found out about this branch in Hongnan District from that same source.

Who could the traitor be?

Xu Yun glanced outside the restaurant. The Three Tigers had brought over two hundred men, dozens of cars all crowded at the branch’s entrance. No doubt, that Jin Biao was now making his move on Ruan Qingshuang’s main restaurant.

What a clever stratagem—drawing the tiger away from the mountain.

It had to be that someone had passed all their plans to Jin Biao, otherwise he wouldn’t have been so confident.

“Damn!” Shan Hongning suddenly realized, his face paling. “Doesn’t this mean Sister Shuang and the others are in danger?”

Lu Feng slapped his forehead. “Exactly! We’re all in Hongnan now. Jin Biao must be attacking there right now! We have to take our men back, fast!”

“Since we’re here, it won’t be so easy to leave,” Kong Zhong said with lingering fear. “Knowing Jin Biao’s methods, there’s no way he hasn’t left people here to block us…”

As Kong Zhong finished, chaos erupted outside. In moments, the Three Tigers’ two hundred men were surrounded. The three leaders were instantly alarmed, cold sweat breaking out on their backs. Jin Biao, sly old fox that he was, wasn’t an opponent to be underestimated.

A faint smile curled Xu Yun’s lips. Fortunately, Qiu Yan was still at the restaurant. Unless Jin Biao had two hired second-rate masters, there was no way he’d get the better of her.

“Brother, what now?” Qiangzi asked nervously. He’d just seen how ruthless those men were, emboldened by Zhao Sanlai’s gun, acting as if they were invincible.

“We’ll simply pay him back in his own coin.” Xu Yun couldn’t care less whether they were from the East District or not; anyone looking for trouble with him faced only one end.

The same end as those who played with fire—ruin.

To the astonishment of the Three Tigers, Xu Yun strode straight out the door. Facing the crowd, he said coldly, “Whoever did this, step forward. The rest of you, clear out!”

Zhao Sanlai, who’d followed Jin Biao since he was fifteen—a veteran of twenty years—wasn’t fazed. He smirked at Xu Yun. “You’ve got guts, kid. I’ve seen plenty of tough guys, but let’s see if you’re still tough after I loosen you up.”

“Was it you who stabbed Qiangzi?” A flash of cold light shot from Xu Yun’s eyes, piercing Zhao Sanlai to his core.

A chill swept through Zhao Sanlai’s heart—those weren’t the eyes of an ordinary man. Unnerved, he pulled a pistol from his pocket for reassurance. “Yeah, it was me. So what?”

With a flourish, Zhao Sanlai raised his pistol.

“Yun! Look out!” The Three Tigers were alarmed. Zhao Sanlai wasn’t one to bluff; he really would shoot. Of the ten shootings in Hedong, he was involved in at least three or four.

Zhao Sanlai was pleased, and his two hundred men surged with confidence. By contrast, the Three Tigers’ men faltered. Though Shan Hongning, Kong Zhong, and Lu Feng all had illegal guns at home, none dared to draw them. The leader of the Four Wolves Gang had just gotten thirty years for firearms possession; in the South District now, playing with guns was asking for trouble.

Even if they had guns, they weren’t men like Zhao Sanlai, who didn’t hesitate to use them.

Everyone was afraid—except Xu Yun. In his past missions, every enemy he’d faced had been quick to draw and shoot. Some of them could kill with a toothpick if they didn’t have a gun—far more dangerous than Zhao Sanlai could ever be.

To Xu Yun, a gun was no more than a toothpick. In the hands of a true killer, even a toothpick was a deadly weapon, and Zhao Sanlai’s gun was nothing more than that.

Xu Yun gave Zhao Sanlai no chance to boast, nor to fire. In a flash, he closed the distance, and with a lightning-quick sweep of his leg, sent the gun flying.

Zhao Sanlai was stunned. Before he could react, a heavy punch, packed with hidden force, struck his chest, sending him flying several meters before crashing into a black sedan.

Xu Yun had held back enough for an ordinary man to survive; he didn’t want to kill. Still, it was more than enough for Zhao Sanlai, who coughed up blood and gasped for breath.

Not giving his opponent a moment to recover, Xu Yun advanced again. A gleam of cold steel—he now held the two knives that had pinned Qiangzi’s hands to the cutting board.

Before Zhao Sanlai could process what was happening, Xu Yun stabbed down. The blade pierced Zhao Sanlai’s right palm, through the back of his hand, and sank with a crunch into the car’s hood.

“Ah—!” Zhao Sanlai’s screams tore through the night. Just an hour before, he’d used a knife to pin Qiangzi to the cutting board. Retribution had come swiftly.

Before his cries ended, Xu Yun plunged the second knife through Zhao Sanlai’s left hand.

Xu Yun pinned both of Zhao Sanlai’s hands to the hood of the black sedan, leaving him writhing in agony. He’d enjoyed torturing others like this before, but now that he was the victim, he couldn’t endure it at all.

“Shut up!” Xu Yun rose suddenly and stomped hard on Zhao Sanlai’s body. Both he and the car sank several centimeters, then all was silent.

Everything Xu Yun did happened before the eyes of over four hundred men from both sides. When Zhao Sanlai passed out, not a sound was heard.

Shan Hongning couldn’t help but marvel—Yun was truly something else. Who else would face down a gun and take the fight to the enemy, never hesitating to use a blade? He’d never seen anyone more ruthless.

Thank heavens we never crossed him, Kong Zhong thought, recalling how Xu Yun had handled the Shan Zi gang at his own turf. He’d known Xu Yun was extraordinary, but hadn’t expected such ferocity.

“What are you waiting for, brothers? Take them down!” Lu Feng roared. Instantly, their two hundred men surged with fresh momentum.

With their leader captured, the enemy’s ranks fell into chaos. Though the numbers were even, Xu Yun’s actions had completely broken their spirit. In less than half an hour, the Three Tigers’ men had hacked the opposition to pieces.

The Hongnan District police weren’t as diligent as Qin Wan’er; upon hearing of a gang fight, they were reluctant to get involved. A single police car arrived only after the fight ended, rounding up those too badly beaten to flee.

Zhao Sanlai was infamous, on the city’s blacklist. Seeing him half-dead, nailed to a car, the officers were awed. What kind of gang could do this—cripple the East District overlord’s right-hand man?

The Three Tigers, strictly following Xu Yun’s orders, scattered their men as soon as the fight was over, speeding away. This was Hongnan, not Wenhui District, and Qin Wan’er couldn’t protect them here. Anyone caught would just have to count themselves unlucky.

Xu Yun drove the Shenlong Fukang, racing Xiao Qiang back to the restaurant. Xiao Qiang was heartsick over his car, which had been destroyed after only two days—no insurance, no police report, thirty thousand yuan down the drain. Losing such a big chunk of money, how could he not ache?

Because the brawl in Hongnan had been so intense, the Three Tigers had to order their men to scatter or risk being targeted by the authorities. Once everyone had dispersed, only the three of them drove after Xu Yun. The underlings could skip the restaurant, but the leaders could not.

Even if they feared Jin Biao might be waiting there, they had to grit their teeth and go!