Being held at gunpoint was a scene Yang Jian had only witnessed in Hong Kong films. Biao Biao and Liang Liang were only twenty years old. Though they were hot-blooded and had the guts to wield knives, their legs trembled uncontrollably as they knelt on the ground behind Si Xi.
"You think you're tough, huh? Get on your knees."
Seeing Yang Jian still standing, Cao Wu moved the gun towards his head.
Yang Jian refused to kneel before this thug and suffer humiliation and abuse. Moreover, he gambled that Cao Wu wouldn't dare to actually fire.
As the dark muzzle of the gun was about to press against his forehead, Yang Jian's left hand, with lightning speed, grabbed the wrist holding the gun. Simultaneously, his right hand seized Cao Wu's collar. He stepped forward with his right foot, executing a shoulder throw and using the momentum to hurl Cao Wu's body sideways.
A scream echoed as Cao Wu's body, weighing over 120 catties, crashed onto the man holding a wooden pickaxe nearby. Both men fell to the ground.
The handgun was now in Yang Jian's hand, but he had no intention of using it. Instead, he quickly drew his extendable baton and attacked the closest young man holding a wooden stick.
The turn of events was too sudden. It wasn't until Yang Jian's baton struck the young man's shoulder that the others reacted.
In less than two seconds, three men were already down. The last young man, likely with a shattered shoulder blade, cried out in agony on the ground.
Everyone was stunned into silence. No one dared to attack Yang Jian, as his left hand now held the gun, its safety disengaged.
"Drop your knives, or I'll shoot."
Yang Jian spoke as he walked towards Cao Wu, who was struggling to get up.
The previously aggressive youths didn't hesitate. They all dropped their cleavers onto the ground. It was no joke; this was real firepower. Cao Wu had secured this rural road project using this very gun, having injured another boss at the time.
"Boss Cao, I apologize, but you're too dangerous. I have to cripple you."
Yang Jian swung his baton, smashing it onto Cao Wu's kneecaps four times in rapid succession. He instinctively felt that Cao Wu was a vengeful person. When facing an enemy who could pose a threat, he had to act decisively and incapacitate them to prevent any possibility of retaliation.
Cao Wu clearly looked like a ruthless individual. Carrying a firearm indicated he was a desperate man. If he wasn't crippled, Yang Jian would face endless retribution.
"Aargh, stop hitting me, I'll pay you back."
Just as Yang Jian thought Cao Wu was tough, Cao Wu, writhing in pain, began to beg for mercy.
Both kneecaps were undoubtedly shattered. Yang Jian retracted his baton and then looked at Si Xi, who was still kneeling there in a daze.
"Brother Si, get up. What do we do now?"
"Oh, let me ask Brother Hao first."
Si Xi was also at a loss. The opponent had pulled out a gun, and Yang Jian had severely injured him. If this wasn't handled properly, they might all end up in jail.
Biao Biao and Liang Liang immediately jumped up, picked up two cleavers, and pointed them at the young men surrounding them. "All of you, get on your knees!"
"Biao Biao, forget it. Don't escalate things."
Yang Jian already felt the situation had gotten a bit out of hand. Injuring anyone further would make it even harder to resolve.
Biao Biao, however, didn't listen. He slapped the young man in front of him twice. "You damn punk, you made me kneel? I'll beat you to death!"
Liang Liang didn't strike, but he held the cleaver pointed at the others, preventing them from resisting.
"Little Yang, Brother Hao's phone is off. How about you call Sister Feng and ask her how to handle this situation?"
Si Xi shook his phone in his hand.
Yang Jian cursed Brother Hao inwardly. How could his phone be off at such a critical moment? He wasn't very familiar with Yu Feng. Would she get involved in something like this? He decided to try; her connections were broader.
"Sister Feng, it's Yang Jian. Are you busy?"
"Oh, Little Yang, I'm playing cards. What's up?"
"Sister Feng, we came to collect a debt from Cao Wu. He ambushed us with ten men and even pulled a gun. But I broke both his legs, and we've controlled the others. I wanted to ask your advice on how to handle this. If we just leave, will there be any repercussions?"
"Holy shit, you broke Cao Wu's legs and controlled over ten of his men?"
Yu Feng's exclamation came through the phone.
"Yes, he pointed a gun at my head, so I had to fight back. To prevent him from retaliating later, I shattered his kneecaps. His legs are likely ruined. But I don't know how to proceed now. Can we call the police?"
"Wow, Yang Jian, you're amazing! Come back to the hotel later and tell me the whole story in detail."
"Sister Feng, what do we do now? I did injure someone, and there's a firearm involved."
"Oh, how many of you are there? How many of them? Do they have any other weapons?"
"There are four of us. I only have a metal baton. They have eleven men, carrying ten cleavers, two wooden sticks, and a handgun."
"How many were injured? Where are you now?"
"Two, both injured by me. This place is called Caojiashan."
Sister Yu pondered for a moment and said, "Yang Jian, let's settle this outside of the law. First, ask Cao Wu if he's willing to settle privately, as a firearms case would be disadvantageous to him."
Yang Jian immediately asked the wailing Cao Wu on the ground, "Boss Cao, are you willing to settle this matter privately today?"
"Yes, yes. Are you talking to Sister Feng? Can I speak with her for a moment?"
Cao Wu recognized the voice of Yu Feng from Yang Jian's conversation. He had met her a few times.
Yang Jian handed him the phone.
"Sister Feng, it was my fault today. I'm willing to settle this privately and won't pursue this brother's responsibility. Please coordinate and don't call the police."
Yu Feng wasn't old, but her economic power was immense. Cao Wu could only address her as Sister Feng.
"Boss Cao, Little Yang is my brother. But he's working for Song Jianhao today. He's a former special forces soldier. Even ten more men like you wouldn't be his match. I can persuade him to settle privately, but don't think about retaliating against him later. And you still owe him the money and interest."
Yu Feng was now excessively praising Yang Jian to intimidate Cao Wu, while also avoiding taking the conflict upon herself.
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. This brother is too formidable. I guarantee I won't retaliate against him. Let him return the gun and the IOU to me. I'll pay him the debt and interest back in Chengguan. Sister Feng, please act as my guarantor."
Cao Wu was a person of interest to the police station and had been to detention twice. He naturally knew the consequences of a firearms case.
"Alright, Boss Cao, I've recorded everything you've said. If you go back on your word later and report me to the police, I'll hand over the recording to the authorities."
Yu Feng was very thoughtful. Once the handgun was returned to Cao Wu, he might hide it and then report Yang Jian for assault. Without physical evidence, and with his connections, Yang Jian would be unable to defend himself, facing not only criminal charges but also civil compensation.
"No, no, Sister Feng, I understand the rules of the underworld. I took out the gun. If things escalate, I won't be able to handle it."
"Very well, hand the phone back to Yang Jian."