Chapter 201: Gods at War
"Zhang Yang, don't worry about me... are you crazy?" Yang Fei, who had been calm all along, finally showed a trace of panic on her face.
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhang Yang suddenly moved. Just as Du Yuheng thrust out his blade, Zhang Yang's body charged straight toward him, as if deliberately offering himself up to be stabbed.
Just as the gleaming dagger was about to touch Zhang Yang's chest, Du Yuheng realized that the blade in his hand missed by just a hair's breadth, sliding past Zhang Yang's chest instead. The next instant, the back of his head took a heavy elbow, and his body pitched forward uncontrollably, stumbling a few steps before collapsing on the road, unable to get up for a long while.
Zhang Yang didn't stop but used the momentum to push off the ground, leaping toward the burly man holding Yang Fei hostage.
"Fuck!" The burly man wasn't stupid. He swung his knife instantly, deciding to go all in, slashing straight toward Yang Fei's face. But before the blade could touch her skin, a hand reached out and grabbed the dagger firmly, stopping it from cutting any further.
The man froze. Someone that fearless? This kind of scene only happened on TV!
That thought had barely flashed by when a huge iron fist smashed into his face.
The massive impact instantly twisted his face to one side. His upper and lower jaws wrenched violently apart and dislocated. Blood mixed with three or four teeth flew out together.
"Ugh!" The man pulled at the blood-soaked dagger and fell backward.
Seeing that the burly man had lost all fighting strength, Zhang Yang turned coldly toward the others, shook his blood-covered hand, and stood sideways to block Yang Fei. Without looking back, he asked, "You okay?"
"You... are you insane?" Yang Fei stared at his slightly hunched back and his right hand dripping with blood. Her heart ached, her beautiful eyes turned misty, and crystalline tears quietly gathered in them.
Why was it that every time she was in danger, this man would always appear like a guardian deity to protect her? That moment when he grabbed the dagger with his bare hand left her stunned. Although she never believed in sincere emotions, at this moment, she did.
If there was still someone in this world willing to give up everything for her, she believed it would be Zhang Yang.
"Does it hurt? I'll take you to the hospital."
She reached out to grab Zhang Yang, dragging him toward the Z4.
The few burly men, including Qi Xiaoxiao, were dumbstruck by the scene before them. None dared to move. Just then—
Suddenly, the sharp sound of car brakes rang out, followed by a dull thud — the horrific sound of flesh and bone being crushed under a tire.
Everyone instinctively turned their heads. A white van sped past them, tires streaked with a long trail of blood stretching forward.
"Young Master Du...!" The burly man called Bi Zi widened his eyes, roaring toward the bloody, mangled corpse less than five meters away.
Du Yuheng, who had been punched by Zhang Yang, was lying on the road and was run over by the car. The others, just snapping out of their shock, were petrified again at the sight.
Then one of them roared, and the rest reacted, rushing forward.
The tire had crushed Du Yuheng's chest, shattering his heart. Blood gushed from his mouth and nose as he weakly raised a trembling finger toward Zhang Yang before his arm dropped lifelessly.
"Kill him!" the burly men shouted, led by Bi Zi, charging at Zhang Yang — but before they could get close, a swarm of police cars arrived from afar.
"Zhang Yang, you'll pay for Young Master Du's life!" Bi Zi glared at him venomously and said coldly.
Zhang Yang curled his bloody right hand, glanced indifferently at Du Yuheng's motionless body, and after a long pause, said slowly, "You reap what you sow."
[System Alert: Righteous deed detected. You rescued Yang Fei from the hands of criminals. System rewards 3 points. Current total: 14 points...]
[System Alert: Righteous deed detected. You saved a police officer from the hands of criminals. System rewards 2 points. Current total: 16 points...]
Though Du Yuheng's actions didn't necessarily deserve death, the system didn't deduct any points from Zhang Yang. In other words, his death wasn't directly related to Zhang Yang.
However, that didn't mean he could completely wash his hands of the matter. The Du family would surely see him as a murderer. Zhang Yang didn't care what they thought, but that didn't mean he wanted to carry that crime.
He looked at the blood trail extending forward, glared coldly at Bi Zi, and said, "If you weren't such an idiot, you'd know why that car just happened to run over his chest."
Hearing this, Bi Zi looked down at the blood trail. Sure enough, the vehicle's path was suspicious.
"So what? If not for you, would Young Master Du be lying on the road? That car and you both share responsibility! If you think you can mess with the Du family and get away with it, just wait." Bi Zi sneered at the approaching police. "We'll be out soon enough. But you—prepare for the Du family's storm of revenge."
Zhang Yang chuckled coldly, gave him a glance, and said, "Big words mean nothing. The Du family, huh? Even if they don't come for me, trust me—I'll come for them sooner or later."
Zhang Yang flexed his hands slightly. Both were in excruciating pain. He didn't even know where the courage to grab that dagger came from. If he had to do it again, he wasn't sure he could.
The call to the police was made by the big-eyed beautiful policewoman. The reason was simple — she knew Yang Fei. The recent flood of news about Zhang Yang and Yang Fei had made her quite familiar with them.
She had just finished her shift and was preparing to head home to Linhai District for lunch when she spotted Yang Fei's red Z4 surrounded by three black Toyotas. She initially thought it was a traffic accident but realized what was happening the moment she saw Yang Fei.
Clearly, someone intended to harm her. She wasn't reckless — first she called the police, then used the excuse of checking for violations to buy time.
She thought she could stall until backup arrived but didn't expect the thugs to be so bold as to abduct even her. Fortunately, Zhang Yang arrived in time; otherwise, the consequences would've been unimaginable.
Du Yuheng died on the way to the hospital. His eyes remained wide open; no one knew what he wanted to say. But it was certain that he hated Zhang Yang to his last breath.
With Qi Xiaoxiao's testimony, Du Yuheng's men were arrested on the spot for kidnapping. Zhang Yang was allowed to go to the hospital for treatment and, after being bandaged, went with Yang Fei to give his statement.
After finishing their statements, they were supposed to be free to go. But before they could leave, Qiao Xier, Xu Danlu, and Chen Tianxiong arrived to pick them up.
Yet before they could get in the car, five or six police officers blocked them.
They weren't from Meining either. Two officers showed their IDs—one from Mingzhou, another from the Provincial Public Security Department. They claimed Zhang Yang was suspected of murder and were taking him to Mingzhou for investigation.
Qiao Xier sneered coldly, "Where's the arrest warrant?"
She wasn't stupid. The officers included members from Mingzhou's criminal division and the provincial department, with ranks both high and low — clearly people who had come to Meining for a meeting.
That meant they were acting on someone's orders.
"Cut the crap. He's a murder suspect. What warrant do we need?" one officer snapped at Qiao Xier.
"No arrest warrant? How dare you try to kidnap someone in front of a police station?" Qiao Xier countered calmly.
"You dare obstruct official duty? I can arrest you too!" The young officer rolled up his sleeves and reached out to grab her.
Before he could touch her, his hand froze midair. A square-faced man had gripped his wrist like an iron clamp, squeezing just enough to make tears well in the young man's eyes.
"You dare assault a police officer!"
"You dare obstruct official duty."
The other officers immediately flared up, several pulling out handcuffs.
Xu Danlu, seeing this, gave a cold laugh and signaled Lao Yi and Wen Zi with her eyes. The two rushed to Chen Tianxiong's side, their presence exuding an icy killing intent that spread instantly.
Two or three officers who tried to act were thrown to the ground before they even knew what happened.
"What the hell..."
Seeing chaos about to break out, over a dozen Meining police rushed out and surrounded the scene. After taking in the situation, they quickly checked with the Mingzhou officers and Qiao Xier.
After Qiao Xier explained, the leading Meining officer was furious. They'd just received orders to protect Zhang Yang at all costs — and now, right outside their own station, someone was trying to take him away? That was a slap in the face!
Besides, even if Zhang Yang had done something wrong, it was under Meining's jurisdiction. For Mingzhou officers to come here was a clear overreach. The local police immediately blocked them, demanding documentation.
There was none!
The Meining police hurriedly reported the situation to their superiors.
Within ten minutes, Deputy Mayor Xia Guoqing and the Director of Meining's Public Security Bureau issued strict orders.
Not only was Zhang Yang not to be taken away, but those unexpected officers were to be monitored as well.
The Mingzhou officers were dumbfounded. They had indeed come to Meining for a conference and had taken on a last-minute order to apprehend Zhang Yang. They thought it'd be easy, but instead, they were resisted and even beaten.
To make it worse, the local police not only refused to cooperate but detained them as well. Their faces burned with humiliation — after all, they were clearly in the wrong. First, they hadn't informed local authorities. Second, they lacked a warrant from the prosecutor's office. Third, Zhang Yang hadn't been caught at the scene. Fourth, by the book, this was dereliction of duty.
But things quickly changed. Just as Zhang Yang was about to leave the station again, Meining police officially received a follow-up arrest order from the provincial department.
Yet before they could act, Meining's Public Security Bureau sent new instructions — to protect Zhang Yang.
Everything was in chaos. Should they arrest or protect him? The Linhai District criminal division was left speechless. Two conflicting orders from the same system — clearly, this was a battle of gods.