The Tuotu sedan continued along the highway. Before long, it arrived at the outskirts of Dongbao District, adjoining a National Boulevard that ran straight to other cities and could even take one directly to Center City.
These were military-grade roads built back when Yangzhi City served as a supplies transit hub; not only were they broad and solidly built, but one could drive tanks straight down them.
Only the areas off the road were somewhat desolate. Off in the distance ahead and to the left, several hills were visible, with numerous makeshift shacks and sheds scattered across their peaks and slopes.
Atop one hill stood an old guard tower. As the sedan drove up, someone up there was observing with binoculars, then swapped out the flag atop the tower for another.
As the car drew closer, a small camp came into view ahead, ringed by sporadic sentry posts. Manning them were vigorous young men and women in open jackets, crossbows in hand. Five blood-red claw marks had been spray-painted onto their clothes and chests.
The sedan pulled up and stopped in front of the road barricade at the entrance. The arrows on the sentries' crossbows shifted, vaguely training onto the vehicle. A muscular, bald woman chewing gum walked over, rapped on the window, and asked, "Where are you from?"
Wei Chang'an rolled down the window, handed her a card, and said, "Commissioner Lu arranged it with your boss. An appointment this morning."
The bald woman took the card, clicked her tongue, and said to a subordinate behind her, "Go tell the boss his appointment is here."
After a moment, someone in the back waved over in their direction. The bald woman stepped aside to clear the way and shouted back, "Let them through!"
The barricades in front were cleared away, and the camp's pair of corrugated iron gates swung open.
Seeing the potholed ground ahead dotted with waterlogged mud puddles, Wei Chang'an couldn't help a twitch at the corner of his mouth. Still, bearing the pain of what it would do to his car, he drove on through.
Once inside the camp, while keeping an eye on the road, he instructed Chen Chuan, "Junior, when we see Fatty Guo in a moment—that's the boss here—try not to speak. Let me handle the negotiations with them."
Chen Chuan replied, "Alright, Brother Wei."
Wei Chang'an glanced at him again and smiled. "No need to be nervous, though. We've come under commission, backed by both the agency and the upper echelons of the Blood Mark Gang. Fatty Guo won't dare go too far. But I reckon he'll try to pull a few tricks in a bit. Just play it by ear when the time comes."
The car reached an open expanse. Inside the camp lay a fairly large open ground, likely used for military drills in the past.
Nearby stood a battered, barred telephone booth, and at the perimeter were stacks of hollow concrete drainage pipes, upon which scattered members of the Blood Mark Gang sat lounging.
These men wore red-and-yellow plaid shirts, most sporting brass knuckles and daggers tucked into their waists. Watching the car pass before them, they eyed it with ill intent.
In the middle of the camp stood a sizable two-story barracks. Before it sat a pale, clean-shaven fat man whose seated height alone was well over two meters. He had a shaven head and wore a tight undershirt that pinched into his rolls of flesh, with five torn claw marks painted across his chest. Standing beside him was a man in a white lab coat and a medical mask.
Not far away, several small white lambs were tethered on leashes, bells hanging from their necks. Their coats were groomed sleek and immaculate, making them look like pets.
Wei Chang'an said, "That's Fatty Guo, one of the Blood Mark Gang's bosses."
Chen Chuan studied him and noted that the man's breath was very steady; he likely practiced a breathing technique. Most striking of all, gleaming silver finger guards were fitted over the five fingers of his right hand, immediately drawing the eye.
When the car came to a stop in front, the two opened their doors and got out. Fatty Guo rose to his feet as well, arms spread wide. "Commissioner Lu's people. I've been waiting for you."
Stepping out, Wei Chang'an stood not far from the hood, held up his card, and said, "Mr. Guo, I'm Commissioner Wei Chang'an." Chen Chuan also stood by the car door, one hand slipped into his trouser pocket, where two small pebbles he had prepared lay waiting.
Fatty Guo said, "So it's two young men. Why don't you come inside for a drink first?"
Wei Chang'an declined, "Pardon us, Mr. Guo, but we aren't here to make small talk. Commissioner Lu should have settled things with you. Hand the man over to us, and we'll leave immediately without getting in the way of your business."
Fatty Guo's eyes shifted. His face was so fleshy that it made his eyes appear exceptionally small and beady. He grunted and said, "I did say I'd hand the man over to you. But if you just take him away like that, where's my face in the gang?"
Wei Chang'an asked, "Oh? Mr. Guo, are you going back on your word?"
Fatty Guo waved his pudgy hand. "Hardly. I, Guo, am a man of my word. But..." He stepped forward two paces and looked down at Wei Chang'an. "I give Commissioner Lu face, but that doesn't mean I have to give you face. If you want to see the man, let's see if you have what it takes."
Wei Chang'an had known something like this was coming. That was why he hadn't shown any pleasantries from the start; the more accommodating you were, the more someone like this thought you were an easy mark. He sneered, "Mr. Guo, that certainly sounds like your style. Go on, what do you want?"
Fatty Guo seemed to perk up. Backing up a step, he rubbed his thick-armed hands together. "Simple. I hear you're a student from Wuyi. Fight one of my guys, how about it? Win, and I'll let the man go with you. Fair enough, right?"
Wei Chang'an frowned. Though he hailed from Wuyi, he didn't care to brawl in front of a crowd. It struck him as undignified.
Yet he knew that refusing would only drag things out indefinitely. Wasting no words, he began unfastening the wristwatch on his arm. "Fine. Where is he?"
"Decisive!"
Fatty Guo quickly added, "However, I get to pick the spot for the fight."
Wei Chang'an paused his hands, fixing him with a stare. "Where do you want it? Mr. Guo, don't stir up trouble. If this ends badly, don't blame me for not showing you respect."
"Of course, of course. You're Commissioner Lu's man, so I have to show regard for his standing..."
Fatty Guo chuckled and pointed toward the battered barred telephone booth nearby, saying playfully, "How about inside there?"
Wei Chang'an frowned, but did not refuse. He began unbuttoning his overcoat, walked over to the car, and tossed his belongings inside.
Fatty Guo clapped toward the sky with a whoop. At the edge of the ground, a drummer immediately began pounding a drum with both hands. Amid the rhythmic beat, a lean, scar-covered man in his thirties walked out.
He glared darkly at Wei Chang'an, blew his nose into his fingers, wiped it casually onto his trousers, gave a leering grin, and stepped straight into the phone booth.
Disgust flickered across Wei Chang'an's face. He said to Chen Chuan, "Junior, I'll take care of this. Remember to play it by ear."
Chen Chuan maintained an easy composure. "Understood."
Wei Chang'an gave him an appreciative look. Having been a novice himself and mentored others, he knew that anyone visiting a place like this for the first time was inevitably tense. Someone who carried themselves as naturally as Chen Chuan was exceptionally rare.
He walked over, squeezed into the phone booth, and someone stepped up to push the door shut and padlocked it from the outside—ordinarily meant to keep the combatants from spilling out as they grappled.
Chen Chuan observed the scene. The booth's interior was exceedingly cramped; the two were practically face-to-face, less than half a foot apart. Throws and takedowns were out of the question, as were kicks. Barring short weapons, the most effective tools inside were punches and elbows.
Yet neither could easily dodge, nor could they generate clean power. It came down to who was more savage and who threw hands faster. Even if someone possessed superior skill, taking hits and injuries was almost unavoidable—an added constraint.
Chen Chuan gave it a thought, then unbuttoned his jacket, took it off, and tossed it into the car as well.
Once inside, Wei Chang'an's gaze turned completely indifferent. He showed no reaction to the grime on his opponent's body or the foul breath from his mouth. It was as if the fastidious, respectable urban elite from moments before had vanished, leaving behind only a pure combatant.
The drumming paused. Fatty Guo raised both hands high and roared, "Begin!!!" The drumbeats instantly resumed at an accelerated tempo.
The lean man reacted swiftly. The moment the shout fell, he swung a punch straight in.
As the shout rang out, Wei Chang'an merely tilted his head slightly back, then slammed a headbutt down like a hammer!
His legs seemed bolted to the floor. His whole body acted like a whip, and in that split second, his head became the tip of the whipcord. Though the motion was compact, the power originated from the soles of his feet, traveling from knees to waist, from waist to spine, and from spine to neck. Relayed stage by stage, its speed became blindingly fast.
His forehead actually slipped right through the flurry of punches, crashing into his opponent's head first. With a dull thud, the entire telephone booth shuddered. The lean man's eyes rolled back, and he slid down like a lump of wet mud.
The cheering outside cut off abruptly. Even the drums couldn't halt immediately, striking a few extra beats in stuttered surprise. No one had anticipated that what was meant to be a thrilling show would end so swiftly.
Wei Chang'an even had the leisure to straighten his tie. Producing a handkerchief, he dabbed his forehead and called outside, "Mr. Guo, can you hand the man over now?"
Fatty Guo stared at him with pea-sized eyes for a moment. "Of course, of course." Turning back, he yelled outside, "Go bring him out!"
Before long, a slight, heavily bearded man in his forties walked out, escorted by three bodyguards. One of them cast a sinister, appraising gaze around the area.
"What's going on, Boss Guo?"
Fatty Guo gave a wheezing chuckle. "Old Bearded Chou, it's not that I won't cover for you." He pointed at Wei Chang'an, then over at Chen Chuan. "Commissioner Lu's people came to take you back to the constabulary for questioning."
Chou Huzi's face fell. He spat a curse and barked at two of his bodyguards, "Hold them off!" Then he turned on his heel and bolted toward a parked sedan.
Seeing this, Wei Chang'an's expression darkened. He slammed his hand against the booth door. "Fatty Guo?!"
Fatty Guo spread his hands. "I said I'd give you the man. He's right in front of you now. Whether you can take him back is your problem."
Wei Chang'an knew that if Chou Huzi reached the car, catching him would be next to impossible. Drawing a sharp breath, he hammered a fist into the door. The entire phone booth rattled, but it failed to burst open.
Fatty Guo chuckled gleefully.
Ever since Wei Chang'an entered the telephone booth and was locked inside, Chen Chuan had sensed that things might go sideways, so he was already prepared. Seeing the scene unfold, he did not hesitate in the slightest. Pushing off the ground, he shot forward like an arrow, darting after Chou Huzi.
Catching the movement, Wei Chang'an called out in alarm, "Hey, don't go! The guy with him is Zhai Wu from the underground ring!" But Chen Chuan sprinted with astonishing speed, not breaking stride for an instant, as if he hadn't heard a word.
Anxiety surged through Wei Chang'an. He glanced at the door, but with a body crammed right by his feet, it was even harder to exert leverage.
No choice.
Sighing in frustration, he drew a deep breath, leaned back once more, and slammed his forehead straight into the door.
……
……
Chapter 36