Chapter Seventy-Six: Xu Yun’s Method

Chapter Seventy-Six: Xu Yun’s Method

Xu Yun took out the pack of Hongtashan cigarettes he had just put away, flicked out another half-smoked one, and handed it once more to the taxi driver, Feng Wei.

This time, Feng Wei didn’t reach for the cigarette. The corner of his left eye twitched noticeably. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about. You must have the wrong person.”

Xu Yun withdrew the cigarette. “Buddy, I’m a straightforward man, and I hope you are too. You should understand, I’m not a cop, so I don’t have to follow so many rules and principles.”

A threat?

Feng Wei glared fiercely at the young man in front of him, who wore beach shorts and flip-flops but could afford to drive an Audi. “I told you, you’ve got the wrong person! Stop bothering me. Everyone living in these buildings is from our village. If you don’t want trouble, you’d better leave soon.”

“You wouldn’t dare say that to the police, would you?” Xu Yun smiled faintly. “Let me ask you just one thing. After that fugitive took your cab at the airport, where did he go? Tell me, and I’ll leave right away. I guarantee I won’t say it was you who told me. You have my word.”

Feng Wei suddenly exploded, shouting, “I told you I don’t know anything about any fugitive! I never picked up a fare at the airport! Get lost!”

Xu Yun showed no intention of leaving. “I know you’re afraid that talking will get you killed. And as long as you keep denying it, you won’t be charged with harboring a criminal, so you refuse to say anything.”

Feng Wei glared at him, furious. “You must be with the police. I’ve told you so many times, I don’t know! Stop pestering me over and over!”

“I already said, I’m not a cop. I don’t have to follow rules and principles,” Xu Yun said, and as soon as the words left his mouth, he lashed out with a whip-like kick, the wind slicing through the air.

The kick landed hard on Feng Wei’s abdomen, nearly dropping him to his knees.

Xu Yun wore the sly, thuggish look of a street hoodlum. “If you don’t talk, I’ll keep beating you until you do.”

“I’ll fight you!” Fury boiled over in Feng Wei. He sprang up from the ground, his fist the size of a hammer swinging straight at Xu Yun.

Xu Yun sidestepped easily, then raised his knee and drove it hard into Feng Wei’s stomach. Feng Wei let out a sharp cry and collapsed to the ground, the pain twisting through him unbearably. This unimpressive young man, with his seemingly slight frame, possessed such astonishing explosive strength.

Gasping for breath, Feng Wei struggled for air. Ever since that fugitive had taken his cab, he hadn’t had a single peaceful day. If it wasn’t the local gangster Ma Pinghai threatening him, it was the police coming to investigate. His endurance was nearing its limit.

Xu Yun remained where he was. “Still not willing to talk?”

Feng Wei clenched his jaw. He believed that if he just held on, this would all blow over, and peace would return if he could withstand this ordeal.

Suddenly, Xu Yun struck again, hooking his toe under Feng Wei’s chin with a savage kick. Weighing over a hundred and fifty pounds, Feng Wei was sent flying more than two meters into the air! Before he could land, Xu Yun’s fist, brimming with terrifying power, crashed into him, smashing him five meters away.

Feng Wei had always thought himself in decent shape, but now he couldn’t even get up.

A few idle neighbors, witnessing the scene, were stunned. This was a rural resettlement community, and most of those at home were village women; none dared intervene, and the few who cared enough ran off in a panic to the village committee for help.

Xu Yun felt a pang of guilt for the taxi driver, but he had no choice. He couldn’t think of any other way—this was the only way to force Feng Wei to talk.

When a man’s life is threatened, if you want him to divulge something that could endanger his life, there’s only one way: make him believe that if he stays silent, death will come even sooner.

Brutal as it was, Xu Yun still went through with it. The sooner Red Scorpion was caught, the sooner everyone would be safe—including the taxi driver whose life was under threat.

Xu Yun also suspected that Red Scorpion might kill the taxi driver to silence him, so in a way, he was doing this for the driver's own good.

A man must be ruthless when necessary. Once you decide, go all in.

“Speak when you’re ready,” Xu Yun said, unhurried, walking over to Feng Wei and squatting beside him. “I’ve told you twice now: I’m not a cop. I don’t have to follow rules or principles. If you don’t tell me, I’ll kill you.”

His voice was calm and unremarkable, but the threat it carried was overwhelming.

“I’ll kill you.” Those words drilled into Feng Wei’s ears, his trembling muscles betraying the fear that gripped him.

Xu Yun continued, “I’m looking for that man because I have a score to settle with him. If you tell me where he is, you’re helping me—I don’t harm those who help me. But if you don’t, you’re helping him, and those who help him are my enemies. My enemies have only one fate: death.”

With that, Xu Yun pressed a finger against the stone slab in front of Feng Wei and, with a sudden burst of strength, drove it straight through the flagstone, burying his entire finger into the ground.

It was shocking—if not for the pain wracking his body, Feng Wei would have thought he was dreaming. He could hardly believe such a person existed in this world.

Feng Wei’s voice quavered, his spirit on the verge of collapse. At last, he could not withstand the life-threatening pressure Xu Yun exerted.

“He… took the cab… to… Ma Pinghai!”

Ma Pinghai? The name sounded familiar.

A sudden realization dawned on Xu Yun. Earlier that day, Shan Hongning had come to see him, saying that Jin Biao was inviting them to dinner, and mentioned both Wu Lei, the boss of the west side, and Ma Pinghai, the boss of the north.

So that’s how it is…

“That’s him! He’s the one who did the beating!” Suddenly a woman’s shrill voice rang out.

The village committee members and a horde of men, brandishing various farming tools, came running from a distance, their faces menacing. Xu Yun’s heart skipped a beat—damn! This was their turf, and by the looks of it, they wouldn’t rest until they’d beaten him senseless.

There was no time to think. Xu Yun apologized to Feng Wei, thanked him, then darted into the Audi A6 and sped off.

But the villagers were not to be trifled with. Someone had already smashed a hoe into the car as he fled; Xu Yun heard a loud bang but didn’t dare stop, racing away from the dangerous neighborhood.

On his way back, Xu Yun called Shan Hongning.

“Brother Yun, what should we do about that matter? The guy who brought the message is still waiting for my reply. Should I just refuse him?” Shan Hongning said. “We’ve already fallen out with Jin Biao, so there’s no need to show him any courtesy.”

Xu Yun chuckled lightly. “No, accept the invitation. Tell them Sister Shuang and I will definitely be there tonight.”

Shan Hongning was puzzled. “Okay, I’ll tell them. But, Brother Yun… why give face to Jin Biao?”

“I’m not going to see him,” Xu Yun replied ambiguously, then hung up.

Shan Hongning could only tell himself that Brother Yun was inscrutable, far beyond his own understanding. In any case, he would do whatever Brother Yun said. If Brother Yun dared to storm Tuoshan and thrash Jin Biao, then surely Jin Biao wouldn’t dare try any tricks.

When a man rises to power, all those around him benefit. Now, the street toughs of the southern district were no longer the pushovers they once were. Shan Hongning now had the guts to challenge any gang, anywhere, at any time.

With Sister Shuang presiding, and Brother Yun and Sister Yan as their right and left hands, even if they were arrested, Officer Qin would bail them out. That was the unbeatable combination.

…

By the time Xu Yun drove back to the medicinal cuisine restaurant, Guoguo was already home from school. She watched as Xu Yun got out of the car with swagger, and gave him a look of disdain. “Dad, did you go out cruising for girls again? Brother Qiang said you’ve been gone for two or three hours.”

Xu Yun grinned, tossed the car keys to Qiangzi, and pinched Guoguo’s cheek. “Without my precious daughter’s permission, I wouldn’t waste time or money on such things. I only go after whoever you tell me to.”

“I told you to pursue Mom, and there’s been no progress at all. I even said it was okay to go after Sister Wan’er, still nothing. I tried to help you with Miss Su, and you haven’t made a move. Honestly, it’s embarrassing to have you as my dad. Are you planning to chase after Sister Qiu Yan next?”

Whack!

Qiu Yan flicked Guoguo’s forehead with a snap.

“Ow!” Guoguo winced, baring her teeth, and, seeing Qiu Yan’s stern face, dared not say another word.

“Go do your homework,” Qiu Yan ordered. Aside from Ruan Qingshuang, she was the only one here who could keep Guoguo in line.

Guoguo stuck her tongue out and obediently went upstairs to do her homework.

Suddenly, Qiangzi cried out, “Brother Yun! Where did you drive to? What… what happened here? Who smashed the back door? That’s a huge dent! My… oh, my poor new car!”

Only then did Xu Yun recall the loud bang as he escaped the resettlement area—someone had hit his car.

“Uh…” Xu Yun looked at Qiangzi’s aggrieved face and chuckled. “Don’t be so stingy. It’s just a little dent, you can barely notice it. Drives just fine, too. This car is a bargain for you.”

Qiangzi pointed at the fist-sized dent. “You call that barely noticeable? Sister Yan, be fair!”

Qiu Yan glanced back, gave a cool “Mm, can’t see anything,” then turned and went upstairs.

Xu Yun clapped Qiangzi on the shoulder. “See? Neither of us can see it, so it must be your eyes.”

“You’re all bullying me…” Qiangzi muttered, exasperated.

At that moment, Ruan Qingshuang came downstairs, and Xu Yun stopped teasing Qiangzi. “We’re not opening tonight. You’re coming with me to a dinner.”

“A dinner?” Ruan Qingshuang was surprised. “With whom?”

“Uh, you don’t know them.” Xu Yun shrugged and smiled. “You’ll see when you get there.”