The Heir to the Seven Killers in the City

Chapter 32: There’s Always Something Beyond

“I’ll drop you off here. I don’t know—I can’t say whether it’s for the best or not if I don’t try to talk you out of going.” Zhang Xiaofei pulled over at the edge of the county town next to the small island and said to Qin Yu. Qin Yu hopped out of the car, brushed the dust off his clothes, and said with a smile, “These clothes fit pretty well. It’s fine—I’m just going to check it out today. I’m not planning on doing anything.” “What good does it do that it fits? It’s still disposable, isn’t it? Be careful out there—you might get arrested by the police before you even reach the island.” Qin Yu waved goodbye to Zhang Xiaofei and entered the county town alone. As he mulled over Zhang Xiaofei’s words, it suddenly dawned on him that if the police found out he was already linked to dozens of murders—even if all the victims were the most heinous criminals—he’d likely rot in prison for the rest of his life. But unless they saw it with their own eyes, who would dare believe it? Who would believe that a sunny-looking, well-built young man in the prime of his life could be a cold-blooded killer? Qin Yu entered the county town and discovered that the Honghan Restaurant—once considered a prominent building there—had now become a derelict ruin. Qin Yu, still unconcerned, asked passersby about the restaurant. Those who knew the story all replied that a massive fire had killed several people, including the owner. Qin Yu knew full well that the police had classified the incident as a gangland feud—a case of “black eating black”—and that all the victims were irredeemable gangsters. It would be difficult for the police to pursue the case further, so it was better to keep the matter under wraps for now to avoid causing public panic. As for whether the case would ever be closed, that was a matter for another time. So Qin Yu’s last lingering doubt vanished. He strode confidently past the Honghan Restaurant and right past the Police Station. He walked all the way to the Bund waterfront, which was completely deserted. Everyone knew that the Fire Scorpion Gang lived on the island just across the water; even the most ordinary citizen would need the courage of a lion to linger in such a place. Qin Yu, of course, didn’t care. He was out to pick a fight with the Fire Scorpion Gang, so seeing that no one was around, he plunged into the water with a splash. The straight-line distance between the small island and the county seat wasn’t that far to begin with, and Qin Yu was a strong swimmer; it felt like he’d reached the other side in just a few strokes. Since it was still daylight, Qin Yu didn’t dare to be too brazen; he made his way slowly toward the island, hugging the reed beds. Yet even after he’d fully come ashore, he hadn’t seen a single soul, which left him somewhat puzzled. But upon reflection, the Fire Scorpion Gang didn’t have many members left these days. The deaths of the Third and Second-in-Command had likely dealt them a significant blow. Once he realized this, Qin Yu broke into a light jog toward the exit. He wasn’t worried about any traps; with his current burst of speed and stamina, it would be difficult for anyone to catch him on this vast yet uneven island. As he ran cautiously deeper into the island, he didn’t encounter a single person. Qin Yu felt increasingly uncertain, but driven by the thought that it would be a waste to return without investigating thoroughly, he didn’t stop. The island wasn’t very large to begin with; otherwise, it wouldn’t have been possible for the Fire Scorpion Gang to hold it for so long without anyone coming to challenge them. Before long, he reached the very center of the island, where a row of single-story houses suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Qin Yu had keen eyesight, so he spotted a figure standing in front of the houses from a distance, but no matter how hard he looked, he couldn’t find a second person. Qin Yu knew this might be a trap, but he still didn’t stop. When he reached the buildings, he could clearly see the man’s face—a face he recognized well. It wasn’t because they knew each other, but because he had studied this man’s photos closely and had once targeted him for assassination. “So you’re Qin Yu? You’re certainly in a hurry—you got here so fast,” Yang Yong said calmly, showing neither surprise nor delight as he looked at the young man standing before him. Qin Yu, standing nearby, didn’t know what to say. He had originally been suspicious of Uncle Chen San’s true identity and had come in person to investigate the real situation within the Fire Scorpion Gang, only to encounter the gang leader—the very person he’d been waiting for but could never seem to find. A surprise attack is most effective, so just as Yang Yong finished speaking, Qin Yu’s throwing knife had already flown out, heading straight for Yang Yong’s brow. Yang Yong was startled by this surprise attack; his eyes suddenly widened, and with a sideways dodge, he seemed to evade it effortlessly. With the first surprise attack came a second. Just as Yang Yong turned his head to look ahead, Qin Yu had already closed in beside him, the dagger in his hand glinting blindingly in the sunlight as he lunged at Yang Yong once more. Yang Yong remained unhurried. He grabbed Qin Yu’s wrist with his free hand, twisted it, and pushed him back, causing Qin Yu to stumble two steps. Qin Yu was taken aback but didn’t let his guard down; his right foot swept out with a powerful side kick. “Protect your head,” Yang Yong called out, then, light as a swallow, he dodged the right leg and landed a solid punch right on Qin Yu’s face. To Yang Yong’s surprise, his punch felt as if it had struck iron. He had expected Qin Yu to be sent flying backward, but Qin Yu simply shifted his body slightly backward. His right leg, which had been in the air, swept toward Yang Yong, sending him flying backward. Qin Yu abruptly straightened up, regaining his balance in an instant, and his foot moved again, the blade once more pointing at Yang Yong. “Clang.” A bullet fired from a distance struck Qin Yu’s knife squarely, sending it flying and leaving his entire hand tingling. “Damn it, a sniper!” Qin Yu frantically scanned his surroundings but still saw no one, so he exclaimed in astonishment. Just as Qin Yu was still in shock, Yang Yong lunged forward and landed another punch on Qin Yu’s face. Qin Yu’s reflexes were beyond what most people could imagine; though he didn’t have time to move out of the way, he still managed to land a punch of his own on Yang Yong’s head. When it came to raw strength, Qin Yu wasn’t afraid of anyone, so he actually had a slight edge in this exchange and was the first to launch the next attack. Just as Qin Yu thought victory was assured and was about to deliver the finishing blow, Yang Yong suddenly raised his left hand, pressing the pistol against Qin Yu’s head—freezing the punch he’d already thrown mid-air. “I advise you to surrender. Otherwise, no matter how tough you are, you won’t survive a bullet to the head.” Yang Yong held the pistol to Qin Yu’s head, and Qin Yu, gritting his teeth, had no choice but to lower his attacking stance. “Old Luo, hurry up and bring me the handcuffs you made for this little guy,” Yang Yong shouted. Before long, Luo Jiang walked over carrying two sets of handcuffs. “Here, one for your hands and one for your feet. They were custom-made just for you—with your strength as a freshman, you won’t be able to break free anytime soon,” Yang Yong said with a satisfied smile. Once handcuffed, Qin Yu discovered that he really couldn’t break free using only his own strength. He tried prying at the collarbone, but that didn’t help either. “You’ve got a lot of strength, young man, but you just don’t know how to use it. Otherwise, an old-timer like me could take care of this in no time,” Yang Yong said, not missing the chance to offer some “wise” advice. “What exactly are you trying to do?” “Me? I’m going to tell you a story.”