https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-35-An-Unusual-First-Day-of-School/13029465/
Chapter 36: Old Camp
Chapter 36: Old Camp
These were originally military-grade roads built when Yangzhi City served as a logistics hub, sturdy and wide enough to drive a tank on.
However, the areas beyond the road were quite desolate. In the distance, several hills could be seen to the left of the road, with numerous temporary shacks scattered both at the tops and the bases of the hills.
Atop one of the hills stood an old watchtower. As the sedan approached, a person there was using a telescope to observe, then replaced the flag on top with another one.
As the sedan drew closer, a small camp appeared ahead, surrounded by scattered guard posts. Inside, young men and women with open jackets stood, each holding a crossbow. Their clothes and chests were marked with five blood-red slashes.
The sedan stopped in front of a roadblock, and the crossbows of the guards were subtly aimed at the vehicle. A muscular, bald woman, chewing gum, walked up and knocked on the car window, asking, "Where are you from?"
Wei Chang'an rolled down the window and handed her a name card, saying, "The Luwei Office has already spoken with your boss. We have an appointment this morning."
The bald woman took the name card, snorted, and told one of her subordinates, "Go tell the boss, the people he's waiting for are here."
After a while, someone waved from behind, and the bald woman stepped aside, shouting, "Let them through!"
The roadblock was removed, and the two metal doors of the camp were opened.
Wei Chang'an saw the bumpy ground and muddy puddles ahead, his lips twitching, but he still forced himself to drive through, despite his reluctance.
Inside the camp, he kept an eye on the road while instructing Chen Chuan, "Junior, when we meet with Guo Fat, the leader here, try not to speak. I'll handle the negotiations."
Chen Chuan replied, "Got it, Wei Ge."
Wei Chang'an glanced at him, smiled, and said, "But don't be afraid. We are here on a commission, with the backing of the commission company and the upper echelons of the Bloodstain Gang. Guo Fat won't dare to mess around, but I expect he'll try some tricks. Just play it by ear."
The car drove to an open area. Inside the camp, there was a large open space, likely used for drills in the past.
Next to it stood an old wire mesh phone booth, and at the edges, concrete hollow pipes were piled up, with several members of the Bloodstain Gang sitting on them.
These people were dressed in yellow and red checked shirts, most wearing finger guards and carrying daggers at their waists. They all gave the sedan a hostile look as it passed.
In the middle of the camp was a large two-story barracks. In front of it sat a white, clean, bald-headed man who was over two meters tall, wearing a tight vest that strained against his flesh. His chest was marked with five torn claw marks, and he was accompanied by a man in a white coat and a mask.
Not far away, several white sheep with bells around their necks were tied with ropes, their fur well-groomed and clean, looking more like pets.
Wei Chang'an said, "That's Guo Fat, one of the leaders of the Bloodstain Gang."
Chen Chuan observed him, noting that the man's breathing was steady, indicating he practiced a breath technique. Most notably, his right hand was adorned with shiny silver finger guards, which caught the eye.
When the car stopped, the two men got out. Guo Fat also stood up, opening his arms, "We've been waiting for you, people from the Luwei Office."
Wei Chang'an stood a short distance from the car, showing his name card, and said, "Mr. Guo, I am Wei Chang'an, the commissioner." Chen Chuan stood beside the car door, his hand in his pocket, ready with two small stones.
Guo Fat said, "Two young men, why don't you come in for a drink?"
Wei Chang'an declined, "Mr. Guo, I'm sorry, we're not here to socialize. The Luwei Office should have already discussed this with you: hand over the person, and we'll leave without disturbing your business."
Guo Fat's eyes, small due to the excess fat on his face, darted around, looking sly. He nodded, "I said I'll hand over the person, but if you just take them away, I'll lose face in the gang."
Wei Chang'an said, "Oh? Mr. Guo, are you reconsidering?"
Guo Fat waved his fat hand, "Not reconsidering, I'm a man of my word. However..." He took a couple of steps forward, looking down at Wei Chang'an, "I'll give the Luwei Office face, but not necessarily you. If you want to see the person, you'll have to prove you're worthy."
Wei Chang'an had expected this, so he didn't show any friendliness from the start, knowing that the more he did, the more the other side would see him as weak. He sneered, "Mr. Guo, that's more like you. What do you want?"
Guo Fat seemed excited, stepping back and rubbing his thick arms together, "It's simple. I heard you're a student at Wu Yi University. How about a fight with one of my men? If you win, I'll let the person go. Fair enough?"
Wei Chang'an frowned. While he was a Wu Yi student, he didn't particularly enjoy fighting in front of a crowd, finding it undignified.
However, he knew that refusing would only prolong the matter, so he didn't waste time, starting to unfasten his wristwatch, and said, "Where is the person?"
"Let's do this!"
Guo Fatzi quickly added, "But I get to choose the location for the fight."
Wei Chang'an paused, staring at him, "Where do you have in mind, Mr. Guo? Don't cause trouble; if things get out of hand, don't blame me for not giving you face."
"Of course, of course. You're from the Luwei Office, so you should consider his reputation..."
Guo Fatzi chuckled and pointed to the dilapidated wire mesh phone booth not far away, "How about in there? What do you say?"
Wei Chang'an furrowed his brows slightly, then proceeded to take off his outer coat and walked to the car, throwing all his belongings inside.
Guo Fatzi clapped his hands skyward, and with an "Oh ho!" a drummer immediately started beating the drums, creating a rhythmic sound. A lean man in his thirties, covered in scars, emerged from the booth.
He first glared at Wei Chang'an with a sinister look, then blew his nose towards him and wiped it on his pants, grinning. He then entered the phone booth.
Wei Chang'an felt a bit disgusted and said to Chen Chuan, "Junior, I'll handle this. Remember to act according to the situation."
Chen Chuan remained calm and said, "Okay."
Wei Chang'an gave him an appreciative glance. He had been a newcomer himself and had mentored others; it was natural to feel nervous the first time in such a place, so Chen Chuan's composure was rare.
He walked over and squeezed into the phone booth. Then, someone came and pushed the door shut, locking it from the outside. This was usually done to prevent two people from squeezing out during a fight.
Chen Chuan glanced at the phone booth; it was very cramped, with the two men almost face-to-face and less than half a foot apart, it was impossible to grapple or kick. If they didn't use short-range weapons, the most effective moves inside would be elbow strikes.
But it would be difficult for either of them to dodge or exert force; it would come down to who was more ruthless and faster with their punches. Even if one had higher strength than their opponent, they could still get injured, an extra limitation.
However, after thinking for a moment, he unbuttoned his shirt and took off his outer coat, throwing it into the car as well.
A 16-year-old boy was reading a book!
Wei Chang'an stood there, his gaze becoming indifferent. He showed no reaction to the dirt on his opponent or the foul smell from his mouth, as if the clean and respectable urban elite had disappeared, leaving only a pure fighter.
At this moment, the drums paused, and Guo Fatzi raised his hands high, shouting, "Begin!!!" The drumbeats immediately quickened.
The lean man reacted swiftly, and in the instant the sound fell, he swung a punch upwards.
As the sound rang out, Wei Chang'an slightly tilted his head back, then smashed it down with a headbutt!
You could see his feet firmly planted on the ground, his entire body like a whip, and his head, in this moment, seemed to be the tip of the whip. Despite the small movement, the power surged from his feet, through his knees to his waist, from his waist to his spine, and from his spine to his neck, layer by layer, making his speed incredibly fast.
His head seemed to penetrate the shadow of the fist, colliding with his opponent's head first. A dull thud echoed, and the phone booth shook slightly. The lean man slid down like mud, unconscious.
The cheers outside abruptly stopped, and even the drumbeats couldn't be controlled, continuing for a few extra beats. No one expected the anticipated exciting fight to end so quickly.
Wei Chang'an still had some leisure time, adjusting his tie and wiping his forehead with a handkerchief. He called out, "Mr. Guo, we can take him now, right?"
Guo Fatzi's bean-like eyes stared at him for a moment. "Of course, of course." He turned and shouted outside, "Bring the man out!"
Soon, a man in his forties, thin and small, with a full beard, emerged, accompanied by three bodyguards, one of whom eyed the surroundings with a sinister look.
"What's up, Boss Guo?"
Guo Fatzi chuckled, "Chou Bigbeard, it's not that I won't protect you..." He pointed at Wei Chang'an and Chen Chuan. "The Luwei Office sent them to take you to the Patrol Bureau for questioning."
Chou Bigbeard's face changed, and he spat out a curse. He ordered his bodyguards, "Stop them!" Then, he turned and ran towards a parked sedan.
Wei Chang'an's expression changed, and he pushed against the door. "Mr. Guo, you said you'd give me the man. Can you take him back now or not?"
Guo Fatzi spread his hands. "I said I'd give you the man, and now I've brought him to you. Whether you can take him back is your business."
Wei Chang'an knew that if Chou Bigbeard reached the car, it would be difficult to apprehend him. He took a deep breath and punched the door, shaking the entire phone booth, but it wouldn't open.
Guo Fatzi chuckled.
When Wei Chang'an entered the phone booth and was locked inside, Chen Chuan anticipated that the situation might change, so he was mentally prepared. Seeing this, he didn't hesitate, sprinting towards the direction Chou Bigbeard had fled.
Wei Chang'an saw his action and called out, "Hey, don't go! His bodyguard is Zhai Wu from the Black Arena!" But Chen Chuan kept running without pause.
Wei Chang'an felt anxious, looking at the door. With someone at his feet, it was even harder to exert force.
There was no other way.
He sighed, took a deep breath, and headbutted the door again.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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