Chapter 20: Brothers

Qian Ye slowly clasped Zhao Gongzi’s outstretched hand, which seemed to be clutching something. Two of his fingers were broken, yet he did not loosen his grip. Between the broken fingers, one could see a standard medicine vial, its label indicating a common nerve-soothing agent.

To those with connections, this vial was worth merely a few silver coins, perhaps the reason why the murderer had abandoned it in the end.

But Qian Ye knew the purpose of this medicine.

Zhao Gongzi had bought it for Qian Ye to ease the symptoms when the dark blood flared up. It had just been delayed in shipment, so it never reached Qian Ye.

What Qian Ye hadn’t expected was that, even as he lay dying, both legs severed, Zhao Gongzi still remembered the vial.

Qian Ye could almost see Zhao Gongzi standing again, offering the vial with a brash spirit, “I, Zhao Mou, have never failed to honor my word!”

The medicine was now in his hands, but Qian Ye no longer needed it.

Qian Ye had been fighting for Zhao Gongzi for some time. Each wagered battle earned him a silver coin, and three battles would yield another vial. Virtual combat, being a technical affair, paid more than brutal brawls.

In the Abandoned Land, fearless men were plentiful, but true fighters were rare.

This was the reality of the Abandoned Land, where people gambled with their bodies and lives. Even if they won, what they gained was less valuable than a piece of bread thrown away by the upper classes of the mainland.

On the continent of Eternal Night, where order and justice were non-existent, Zhao Gongzi, who honored his promises, was an anomaly. Officially, he and Qian Ye were merely temporary employers, but privately, Zhao Gongzi treated Qian Ye like a brother. This was why Qian Ye was willing to collaborate with him and protect him on several occasions.

With Zhao Gongzi around, other forces couldn’t infiltrate Lighthouse Town, allowing the townsfolk to live in some semblance of order.

Zhao Gongzi, the sheriff, and Qian Ye maintained the town’s peace in the light, dark, and gray areas. Within the territory of Black Flow City, Lighthouse Town was a small haven, attracting more and more settlers, even scavengers who sought shelter here whenever possible.

Yet, all their efforts were futile against the massive Expeditionary Force, which, with a flick of its little finger, crushed everything.

Qian Ye took a deep breath, feeling a surge of blood rage boiling within him! He was powerless against the Expeditionary Force, but he could give those henchmen and lackeys a lesson they would never forget!

“Zhao Gongzi, let me have it,” Qian Ye said softly, “I have already received my payment.”

Miraculously, Zhao Gongzi’s hand loosened.

Qian Ye pocketed the vial and scanned the room.

Everything had been ransacked. The steel doors of the weapon cabinet were missing, leaving it empty. As expected, Qian Ye was not concerned about the ordinary gunpowder weapons.

He left Zhao Gongzi’s room, silently walking down the corridor.

As he passed a room, Qian Ye stopped and shouldered his rifle.

Voices emerged from the room, one of them Yan Laohu.

“This time, I owe it to Qi Gongzi for helping me secure this position. From now on, whatever Qi Gongzi commands, I, Yan Laohu, will do without hesitation!”

A somewhat lecherous and effeminate voice replied, “That Zhao and that Qian Ye are too disrespectful. They think our Qi Gongzi’s words are just idle talk? Hmph! What Zhao Gongzi? Just a thug boss, and he dares to call himself ‘Gongzi’?”

Yan Laohu, also a thug boss, chuckled awkwardly.

The spiteful voice continued, “For you lot, being able to serve our Qi Gongzi and become his dogs is a blessing others would kill for. A mere bone from Qi Gongzi can keep you fed for years! But if you get any other ideas, don’t blame me for being harsh. Your fate today will be the same as Zhao’s tomorrow!”

Yan Laohu hurriedly replied, “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare! I will serve Qi Gongzi with all my heart! Master Wang, it’s getting late. Should we rest? Which woman in the town catches your fancy, and I’ll bring her to you!”

Master Wang sighed, “There’s only that Minger who has some charm. Unfortunately…”

“Who bit our Qi Gongzi? He ordered her to suffer for seven days before she dies. It’s already the fifth night. She’s unrecognizable now, maybe we should pick someone else.”

After a pause, the man said, “Alright.”

Suddenly, a cold voice came from outside, “No need to change.”

“Who’s there?”

“Who’s outside?”

Voices erupted in the room.

Qian Ye’s enhanced vampire senses kicked in, mapping out the room from the chaotic footsteps, as if he were seeing it with his own eyes.

A guard charged at the door, a foolish display of bravery.

Qian Ye pressed the rifle to the door and fired!

The thin wooden door exploded, and the guard, hit by the blast, flew backward, his chest and stomach a bloody mess.

Qian Ye kicked the door open and, without looking, fired into the room. A dense cloud of iron pellets covered half the room, followed by shrieks.

Behind Master Wang, a burly man, over two meters tall, with muscles bulging, lunged out. Compared to him, the 1.85-meter-tall Qian Ye looked like a child.

The man’s body was peppered with iron pellets, but the crude double-barreled rifle had no effect on him.

With a roar, the man charged, swinging a fist nearly as large as Qian Ye’s head, aiming for his face.

Qian Ye didn’t flinch, meeting the punch with his own, and the sound of breaking bones filled the air. The man’s fist and arm were clearly deformed, and Qian Ye had completely overwhelmed him!

Qian Ye delivered a kick, and his seemingly frail body unleashed an incredible force, sending the man crashing through two walls before he crumpled, unable to rise.

Qian Ye dusted off his hands, smiling, “Yan Laohu, we meet again. And you, Mr. Wang?”

Master Wang, a middle-aged man with a balding head and a large belly, was no less dangerous. Underestimating him because of his appearance would be a mistake. Such a man had the strength of a first-class soldier.

“Qian Ye! You’re not dead?” Yan Laohu exclaimed, instinctively edging towards the wall.

Master Wang remained calm, having shielded himself with a table during the barrage, seemingly unharmed.

“So, you are Qian Ye? I’ve heard of you. Our Qi Gongzi is interested in you. I thought you had fled or died, so I cleaned up, removing some obstacles. Since you’re back, I can offer you another chance. Serve Qi Gongzi, and you can truly realize your potential. Otherwise, you’ll end up like the scum on the wasteland, doing anything for a meal, and becoming dog food after death. Is that the life you want?”

Master Wang’s soft, persuasive voice carried a surprising power.

“But I don’t like some of your subordinates, like this one,” Qian Ye pointed at Yan Laohu.

Seeing Qian Ye, Master Wang felt a strange relief, “If you join us, he’s useless. You can do with him as you please, and his territory will be yours. How about it? I can make that decision!”

“No! No! Master Wang, this can’t happen!” Yan Laohu, shocked, jumped up.

Then, in a fit of panic, Yan Laohu pulled out a pistol and, grinning, fired at Qian Ye, “Die, you brat!”

Gunshots and smoke filled the air. When the bullets ran out, Qian Ye stood unharmed.

Master Wang’s eye twitched. He saw Qian Ye’s body twist, dodging each bullet. Such skill, he’d only seen in elite soldiers, the reason gunpowder weapons were ineffective against origin adepts.

With the clip empty, Yan Laohu kept pulling the trigger, the clicks like a death knell.

The commotion finally alerted others. Footsteps rushed towards the room.

Qian Ye kicked, sending a fallen guard’s pistol to his hand, and fired at the corridor wall.

Bullets pierced the thin wooden partitions, hitting the approaching men. Their screams echoed as they fell, tumbling down the stairs.

From the third floor, a fall could break bones, and a neck injury would be fatal.

Five shots, five men down, and one bullet left.

Without turning, Qian Ye aimed over his shoulder, the bullet piercing Master Wang’s arm, causing him to scream and drop his heavy pistol.