Although killing Xidi was unplanned, Fang Senyan calculated in his mind and felt it wasn't yet a dead end. Xidi’s death was undoubtedly bad news, but Hua Shanfei didn't know that. A corpse, if used correctly, could be just as effective as a living person.

Qing Ba had escaped, but he had a severe neck injury. Since the distance to the pier was still considerable, even if Hua Shanfei got the news immediately and rushed over, the remaining time would be enough for Fang Senyan to make arrangements.

Once his breathing settled slightly, Fang Senyan went to the nearby washroom, gulped down some water, and splashed cold water on his face. He then quickly cleaned and bandaged the gunshot wound on his abdomen. Inside, he found some intact, clean clothes to put on Xidi’s corpse before painstakingly moving Xidi to the passenger seat of the van outside. He paused, feeling he had missed something, re-arranged things one more time, and only then felt satisfied.

When Hua Shanfei was usually away, Bai Fenming would take the younger brothers around in this van to collect protection money. Fang Senyan found the keys on Bai Fenming’s body, casually tucked the Type 54 pistol into his waist, and drove the vehicle toward the pier.

Although the wound in his abdomen sent throbbing waves of pain, Fang Senyan suddenly noticed an instinct awakening within his body. Involuntarily, he was enjoying and savoring the feeling from moments before—that satisfaction of close-quarters, flesh-on-flesh combat, the exhilaration of life and death hanging by a thread, the scent of blood swirling around his nose. It seemed that this mastery—and yearning—for death was the true goal he should pursue in life!

In the instant he killed Xidi, Fang Senyan felt truly alive!

That sensation surpassed the ecstatic release of ejaculation at the peak of making love, surpassed the intoxicating dizziness of deeply inhaling 'Dama' (Ma)!

"Damn it, do I have the potential to be a mass murderer?" Fang Senyan shook his head with a wry smile, desperately trying to cast the thought from his mind as he focused on driving the van toward the pier.

The van had barely traveled fifty meters when Fang Senyan spotted Qing Ba’s rigid corpse. The man lay face down in the mud, his bent, stiff fingers clawing into the earth beside him. The torrential rain was already submerging his mouth and nose. The flesh around the ghastly wound on his neck had been washed pale, and his right hand was still held in the posture of clutching the wound on his neck. Strictly speaking, Fang Senyan’s throat-slashing blow had only inflicted a serious injury, not a fatal one; if Qing Ba hadn't fled in sheer terror, causing massive blood loss, he might have clung to a shred of life.

Seeing Qing Ba’s body brought Fang Senyan a measure of relief. It meant Hua Shanfei still hadn't received news that his stronghold had been attacked. Undoubtedly, this was good news for what he planned to do next: an unprepared Hua Shanfei suited Fang Senyan’s interests far better.

When the familiar white van pierced through the rain and mist, screeching to a halt and skidding sideways in a spray of mud and water before Hua Shanfei and his men, their astonishment was palpable. Fang Senyan stopped the car seven or eight meters away, switched on the interior light deliberately to keep it dim, and then held the fish-slaying knife to the neck of Xidi’s corpse, snarling:

“Hua Shanfei! Do you want Xidi dead or alive?”

Hua Shanfei’s pupils instantly contracted. An indescribable fury surged in his chest! In this Town of Four Bridges, he was practically an undisputed local emperor; when had he ever been threatened like this? But Hua Shanfei also knew that if Xidi died here today, his father, "Black Ghost Dong," would likely vent his wrath upon him! Thus, Hua Shanfei suppressed his enraged and shocked subordinates and bellowed:

“What do you want?”

Fang Senyan’s chest was equally filled with rage, and a madness like consuming flames burned in his eyes, for he saw Fourth Uncle Da.

Fourth Uncle Da, bound and gagged!

Fourth Uncle Da’s face was ashen; he had clearly fainted. Both his hands were a bloody mess; his left hand was severed cleanly at the wrist, and only three fingers remained on his right. Nearby sat a half-full, gruesome bowl filled with Fourth Uncle Da’s fingers, sliced off piece by piece!

“Hua, Shan, Fei!” Even though he was prepared, Fang Senyan had to take a deep breath, repeatedly instructing himself to remain calm. But the contorted muscles on his face and the bloodshot veins in his eyes now carried a certain violent edge. His thick, dark eyebrows arched, and he sneered:

“You ask what I want? Hua Shanfei, you meant to wipe out every one of our Fu Yuan men, so don’t blame me for playing dirty!”

Just then, the door of the nearby shack opened, and Gao Qiang and San Zai, whom Fang Senyan had tricked away, were shoved out. Both were beaten black and blue and covered in injuries. Upon seeing Fang Senyan, they involuntarily cried out, their voices laced with tears:

“Brother Yan!”

Hua Shanfei glared venomously at Fang Senyan. It was pouring rain, and the light in the van was extremely dim; he assumed Xidi was just knocked unconscious and never suspected Fang Senyan dared to face him alone with a corpse. Hua Shanfei had fought his way up for so many years, scrambling through scenes of bloodshed and violence. He knew Fang Senyan wouldn't let this matter drop today, and his bottom line would certainly be ensuring the safety of the Fu Yuan men. So, with a swift wave of his hand, he ordered his underlings to gather the captured Fu Yuan men, hold knives to their throats, and surround them to pressure Fang Senyan.

Facing this standoff, Fang Senyan narrowed his eyes, a cold smirk flickering on his lips. While ostensibly holding the knife to the corpse’s throat, his right foot was continuously kicking Xidi’s body beneath the dashboard, making it look from a distance like he was coughing or gasping violently. Then Fang Senyan shouted:

“Hua Shanfei, I stabbed Xidi in the right side of his chest; looks like I hit his lung. He’s already struggling to breathe. If you deliberately stall and let him die here, do you think Black Ghost Dong will give you a chance to explain?”

Hua Shanfei's expression was blank, but the knuckles of his right hand gripping the cleaver had turned white, showing his inner fury was by no means small. Yet, his voice remained unchanged, cold:

“Then stop the damn nonsense and state your terms!”

Fang Senyan gazed deeply at Fourth Uncle Da in the distance, as if trying to engrave his aged, haggard face into his memory. Then he stated decisively:

“You let them go, and I stay behind. Once they are safe, I’ll turn myself in immediately.”

Hua Shanfei laughed in anger: “Do you think I’m an idiot? Once they leave, you’ll drive off and flee! Who will I find?”

Fang Senyan replied bluntly: “I can get out of the car, can’t I?”

Hua Shanfei’s expression shifted several times. Fang Senyan deliberately gave Xidi a hard kick, making the corpse shudder violently, then subtly pressed the blade against Xidi’s neck, making him slump forward onto the dashboard, feigning unconsciousness. These actions undoubtedly increased Hua Shanfei’s psychological pressure, and he spat out fiercely:

“Fine!”

Then he waved his hand toward his men: “Let them scram!”

Hua Shanfei’s underlings grumbled as they cleared a circle, allowing the captured Fu Yuan men to stagger out. Fang Senyan, clutching his abdomen with his left hand, staggered out of the van and leaned against the hood, panting, his lower body shielded by the door. A cold glint flashed in Hua Shanfei’s eyes as he signaled to the armed subordinate beside him. However, Fang Senyan pulled out the stolen "Type 54" pistol from his chest and aimed it at Xidi, who was slumped over the dashboard, from a distance of over two meters. This move instantly made Hua Shanfei hesitate, afraid to make a rash move.

The released Fu Yuan men, having escaped catastrophe, rushed toward Fang Senyan, supporting the semi-conscious Fourth Uncle Da. Fang Senyan’s heart sank with anxiety because if they got close, they would most likely discover Xidi was a cold corpse. This might reveal a flaw in his composure. Furthermore, although the van could hold seven or eight Fu Yuan men, its speed was limited. Town of Four Bridges had more than one car, and Hua Shanfei would undoubtedly pursue them. If they gathered together now, their survival would be nearly impossible!

“Don’t come closer! Get to the Fu Yuan!” Fang Senyan shouted at the crew members twenty meters away. Hearing Fang Senyan’s shout, the expression on Hua Shanfei’s face instantly stiffened! Just as Fang Senyan thought, if they tried to escape by car, Hua Shanfei, the local power, was a hundred percent certain to capture them. But the aftermath of the typhoon still lingered; if they managed to board the Fu Yuan and set sail, chasing a fishing boat on the vast, stormy ocean would be a truly troublesome task.

However, the Fu Yuan men seemed numb from their recent ordeal, or perhaps still steeped in fear, and continued to move sluggishly toward the van! Fang Senyan gritted his teeth and fired a shot into the air! The crisp gunshot made them all flinch. Fang Senyan yelled again:

“Don’t come closer! Get to the Fu Yuan!”

This time they clearly heard Fang Senyan and hesitated. But precisely at this moment, San Zai cried out with a sob:

“I’m not going! Brother Yan, we live together, we die together!”

With his cry, the others understood, and they all agreed. Fang Senyan was so anxious his vision blurred intermittently. He desperately wanted to drag San Zai over and slap him hard for such behavior that was ostensibly loyal but fundamentally stupid! If he weren't here tying up Hua Shanfei, how could they possibly escape? Moreover, Xidi, the most crucial bargaining chip, was actually a dead man? But Fang Senyan couldn't say more just then. After all, Hua Shanfei was old and cunning; if Fang Senyan said anything superfluous, Hua Shanfei might spot a flaw!

(To be continued, please visit for the latest chapters:.)