Chapter 159: Conflict
Chapter 159: Conflict
"It doesn't matter?"
Zhuo Bao's face contorted into a ferocious expression. "If you say it doesn't matter, then it doesn't. We're settling this today, or you're not going anywhere." He pointed at Chen Chuan with his cigarette-holding hand, "If you can't find the murderer, then you'll take the fall."
Chen Chuan glanced at him, "So, you're not going to be reasonable?"
Zhuo Bao scoffed, displaying a reckless disregard for anything, "When has the Bloodstain Gang ever been reasonable?"
Chen Chuan nodded, "Actually, I think your behavior fits my impression of gang members."
Zhuo Bao felt irritated. Chen Chuan's casual and composed demeanor made him feel that his threats and intimidation had no effect, which only fueled his desire to subjugate Chen Chuan to his will.
"Do you think I'm all talk and no action?"
He brought the cigarette to his lips and took a deep drag, causing the remaining half to glow red and burn. It then turned into sparks and ashes that scattered. He lifted his head to look at Chen Chuan, his eyes filled with malice, "You're the murderer!"
The burly leader showed a look of horror, "Damn, the boss's condition is acting up again!"
Zhuo Bao was also known as Mad Panther in the gang. He usually appeared calm, but one could never predict when he would lose control of his emotions. When he did, he would go berserk, even disregarding his family. If it weren't for his exceptional fighting skills, the gang members wouldn't tolerate him.
At that moment, after his declaration, his body lunged forward, charging towards Chen Chuan. The henchmen around them felt a blur before their eyes, as the speed was too fast for them to follow.
Immediately, they heard a dull thud, and they finally caught a glimpse of Zhuo Bao's figure. He was in mid-air, maintaining a forward-thrusting stance, with one hand pressing forward.
But Chen Chuan caught his hand with a single hand, standing firmly in place without moving his feet. Despite the continuous surge of power, Zhuo Bao couldn't push him back.
Zhuo Bao's cheeks were now contorted with bulging veins, a sign of his body's mutated tissues being stimulated. He pushed forward with all his might, attempting to topple his opponent.
However, he seemed to be pushing against a solid wall, unable to budge even a fraction. His elbow began to bend, and his body trembled under the strain.
Chen Chuan's calm gaze met Zhuo Bao's. Zhuo Bao grinned, and suddenly, the scene before him shifted. The henchmen only heard a loud bang, and Zhuo Bao flew horizontally, sending the sofas and decorations in his path flying as if caught in a whirlwind.
Chen Chuan slowly lowered his kicking foot.
Zhuo Bao was propelled by the force and slammed into the wall. Amidst the dull thud, his body stuck to the wall for a moment before pushing back, causing him to take two steps forward.
He shrugged his back and straightened up, fixing his gaze on Chen Chuan. He twisted his neck, seemingly unharmed, but his eyes grew more menacing, and the bloodstain on his chest became a vivid crimson.
After kicking Zhuo Bao away, Chen Chuan took a quick breath. Beyond the Second Limit, he could activate the power of his mutated organs and bones simultaneously. However, at his current stage of initial growth, he couldn't instantly summon all his strength. It required a process of accumulation and concentration.
Breathing techniques remained the most efficient method for this.
After a few breaths, the mutated tissues throughout his body became active, as if awakened. This time, he didn't wait for Zhuo Bao to approach; instead, he took the initiative and walked towards his opponent.
Zhuo Bao, a skilled member of the Bloodstain Gang and one of the Five Claws, had also reached the Second Limit. In fact, most skilled fighters were at this level.
However, this merely indicated a certain stage of bodily mutation and couldn't be used as a standard for measuring strength. Especially since most people's mutations only enhanced specific internal organs, unlike his comprehensive mutation.
His Xuejun Blade remained sheathed in his left hand. As he approached Zhuo Bao, the latter lowered his body, spreading his arms to the sides and fixing his gaze on Chen Chuan. His body rose and fell slightly with each breath, as if buoyed by an invisible force, ready to soar with a gentle lift.
Chen Chuan stood still, his wrist lifting slightly to raise the Xuejun Blade diagonally upwards. Even without unsheathing it, the blade, empowered by his strength, could sever bones and tendons upon impact.
Prepared, Zhuo Bao took a small jump backward, and the blade's trajectory changed mid-air, transforming into a slashing strike. Before his feet touched the ground, he nimbly lifted them, planting them on the wall behind him. Simultaneously, his body curled backward, sticking to the wall. He squinted, watching the blade pass in front of his face.
Suddenly, his right hand clenched into a blade-like shape, and his legs pushed off the wall, propelling him forward as Chen Chuan's strike missed.
In that instant, his toes touched the wall, his body fully extended, and his arm stretched forward with all his might, resembling a leaping panther in mid-air.
One could see his skin rippling as something moved beneath it, starting from his heels, up through his legs and back, and finally reaching his outstretched hand. The skin there turned red and hot, and the tip of his hand blade emitted a white vapor, as if tearing through the air.
Chen Chuan observed his movements calmly. He shifted his center of gravity backward, retracting his forward foot, and the Xuejun Blade in his left hand moved diagonally upward.
As Chen Chuan's blade sliced through the air, a sudden movement caused the sword to retract slightly, and Zhuo Bao's fingers just barely touched his chest. The glint of the sword reflected in the living room as a powerful force severed a portion of Zhuo Bao's muscular arm at the blade's edge, sending it flying!
Despite losing a part of his arm, Zhuo Bao's face remained calm, his eyes unblinking. He maintained his forward-lunging posture, his legs about to detach from the wall. In that fleeting moment before his legs left the wall, he exerted one last burst of strength with his toes.
As his body continued to surge forward, a surge of energy rose from his abdomen, causing his entire chest to expand outward, and his mouth opened slightly.
This energy was the power of his mutated lungs, and at close range, this exhale could tear apart a face, shatter the skull, and instantly end the fight.
But before he could release this breath, a fist slammed into his face, causing his teeth and bones to crack. His entire face deformed, and the energy he was about to unleash was trapped within him. The force of the blow sent his body tumbling through the air.
His body traced a parabolic path, flying from near the room's entrance to a distant corner, where he landed with a thud.
A powerful force surged into his brain, causing him to lose consciousness instantly. His eyes rolled back, and his upper body slumped forward while his lower body flipped over, with one leg hanging over the overturned sofa. His body contorted into an unnatural position.
Chen Chuan saw that Zhuo Bao had completely lost his fighting ability, so he glanced at him and then turned his attention elsewhere. Zhuo Bao might have had some mental issues, as he dared to fight Chen Chuan unarmed even though he saw him holding a sword.
Fighting with or without weapons was entirely different. Even if someone was significantly stronger, fighting them unarmed could still result in a quick defeat.
Chen Chuan sheathed his Xuejun Blade, turned to the door, and reached for the handle. With a gentle twist, the door opened, but before he could step out, the gang members seemed to regain their senses. Instinctively, they drew their guns and aimed them at Chen Chuan's back.
Chen Chuan paused, his eyes scanning the scene. With guns involved, there was no room for negotiation. He extended his hand forward, and with a click, the door closed again.
Simultaneously, outside the arena, a sharp whistle pierced the air. A large contingent of patrol bureau armed vehicles surrounded the Bloodstain Gang members in the square, aiming their Datong-style rifles at everyone. They herded the gang members to the center of the square and ordered them to drop their weapons.
The crowd parted, and Wei Laohu emerged, his pistol raised. "Who dares move? Listen up! Anyone who defies me will be eliminated!"
"Yes, sir!" came the unified response from behind him.
The gang leader of the Bloodstain Gang quickly ordered his men to put down their weapons. Normally, they might have dared to resist with their numbers, but they had lost several leaders recently and were engaged in a fierce battle with the Iron Chain Gang. They didn't want to provoke the patrol bureau further.
Wei Laohu surveyed the scene, assigned a deputy to handle the situation, and led a team into the arena. Inside, his men quickly dispersed, securing all exits and observation points. He took a few men upstairs, where he found a closed door. He positioned two men on either side of the door and approached it with his gun raised.
Before Wei Laohu could kick the door open, it swung open from the inside. Chen Chuan stood there, holding his Xuejun Blade, his posture relaxed and his clothing neat.
Wei Laohu immediately lowered his gun and looked at Chen Chuan. "Little Chuan, are you alright?"
Chen Chuan smiled. "Uncle Wei, I'm fine."
Wei Laohu stepped to the door and peered inside. He saw scattered bullets on the floor and bullet holes in the wall, and his face darkened. "These bastards used their guns?"
Chen Chuan nodded. "Yes."
"There's nothing to say then. They should all be eliminated," Wei Laohu said, his eyes cold as he looked at the dozen or so Bloodstain Gang members lying on the ground.
In Dachun, the law was clear—using a weapon without a permit meant death, no exceptions. This law applied to everyone, even ordinary citizens, and Chen Chuan, with his weapon permit and Wu Yi armor, was no exception.
"By the way, where's Zhuo Bao?" Wei Laohu had received news that Zhuo Bao was here, and he had also received a call from Chen Chuan, so he took this matter very seriously and requested a large team from the bureau.
Chen Chuan gestured and said, "He's lying in the corner over there."
Wei Laohu turned and looked, carefully identifying the body. Indeed, it was Zhuo Bao, one of the Five Claws of the Bloodstain Gang, known for his arrogance and tenacity. Wei Laohu was shocked to see him in such a pitiful state.
"Little Chuan, was this your doing? You even took down Zhuo Bao? Is he dead?" Wei Laohu asked, patting Chen Chuan's shoulder.
Chen Chuan thought for a moment. "He might still be breathing."
"Good job, Little Chuan!" Wei Laohu exclaimed, slapping Chen Chuan's shoulder again. "Zhuo Bao has always been a cocky one, and he always has a lawyer to bail him out when he gets into trouble," he chuckled darkly. "This time, I'll make sure to skin him alive!"
Chen Chuan said, "Uncle Wei, everything's under control here. I'll head back now."
Wei Laohu waved him off. "Go! I'll take care of the rest. You go get some rest, Little Chuan."
...
(End of Chapter)
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