As soon as Heizi caught sight of Li Shuying emerging from the gate, his breath caught. In her hands casually, as though they weighed nothing were six or seven compact pistols.
For a fleeting moment, he simply stared. Only he knew the sheer weight of those carding drums, and how even shifting one without alerting the guard inside required strength, precision, and luck.
Yet she had gone in and come out with weapons.
How…?
The question rose instinctively in his mind, but he suppressed it just as quickly. Some things, he realized, were better left unasked.
Without wasting time, he gestured subtly. "Come," he whispered. "Not here."
They moved away from the warehouse, until they were a safe distance from prying eyes. Only then did Li Shuying stop. Without ceremony, she picked one of the pistols from her hand and passed it to him.
"The man guarding inside has been injured," she said quietly. "Do not let anyone discover it yet. If word spreads, it will disrupt our plan before it even begins."
Heizi froze, "You… injured him?" he asked, unable to hide his shock.
Li Shuying glanced at him sideways, her tone faintly mocking, "Yes. Why?" she said. "Are you feeling sorry for your senior brother?"
Heizi shook his head quickly. That was not it. The man inside was no ordinary guard, he was one of the core, a trained martial artist. And yet this girl, who looked barely past childhood, spoke of him as though he were nothing more than an inconvenience.
For a moment, Heizi wanted to question her, to ask what kind of person she truly was, but he held his tongue.
Li Shuying's gaze dropped to the pistol now in his hand, "You know what to do with it," she said evenly.
Heizi tightened his grip around the weapon. The cold metal seemed heavier than before he nodded, "Don't worry," he replied. "I understand."
Li Shuying gave a small nod, and turned without another word towards Warehouse Number Three.
The night had deepened.
In the shadows near Warehouse Three, she saw a group of youths huddled together. Their figures were tense, restless, their youthful faces half-hidden in darkness.
When Li Shuying approached, her steps light and silent, she called out in a low voice, "Zhang Junyi. I have brought the weapons."
The group stirred immediately. Several heads turned at once, eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"A… girl?" one of the boys whispered, disbelief evident in his tone.
Another leaned closer to Zhang Junyi, muttering, "Brother Zhuzi… who is this? And why is she calling you by your real name?"
Zhang Junyi hesitated for the briefest moment before he straightened, "She is with us," he said firmly. "Do not ask more."
His tone carried enough authority to quiet further questions, though the curiosity in their eyes remained.
He quickly turned to Li Shuying, lowering his voice.
"The southern client has arrived," he said. "Just now, three core members went inside. They came out again and are waiting there personally to receive him."
He gestured toward the warehouse entrance.
Li Shuying followed his gaze. Under the dim glow of lantern light stood three imposing figures, all dressed in long robes.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, "Is there anyone still inside with the captives?" she asked.
Zhang Junyi shook his head, "We have been watching for a long time," he replied. "No one remained inside. Only those three entered briefly, then came out to welcome their guest."
Li Shuying nodded, processing the information quickly. Without another word, she bent slightly and placed the pistols she had brought onto the ground.
A quiet murmur spread through the group.
She straightened and spoke calmly, "Distribute these to those who can handle them properly. Make sure no one acts rashly. One mistake… and everything falls apart."
Her tone was not loud, yet it carried an unmistakable weight. Then she asked. "Did you send someone to the county?" she asked.
He nodded immediately, "Yes. It has already been arranged."
"Good." Li Shuying lifted her gaze once more toward the warehouse entrance, where the three robed figures stood waiting like wolves in the dark.
Her voice dropped slightly, "Then listen carefully," she said. "No one runs away tonight."
Zhang Junyi met her gaze and nodded without hesitation, "Don't worry," he replied. "We will hold them here."
Meanwhile, in the dimly lit inner chamber of the courtyard, Master Kui stood by the latticed window, a ceramic bowl cradled loosely in his hand. The faint glow of oil lamps cast wavering shadows across the carved wooden walls.
Behind him, four of his core members sat in heavy wooden chairs, their postures attentive yet restrained.
At length, Master Kui exhaled slowly, his gaze fixed on the darkness beyond the window, "This deal…" he said, his voice low but edged with displeasure, "is beneath expectation."
One of the men shifted slightly. "Master, the southern client insisted that the route has become more dangerous. He claims the risks have increased."
Master Kui let out a cold laugh.
"Risks?" he repeated. "When did we begin bearing the cost of their fear? If the mountains are difficult, then they should pay more, not less."
Another core member leaned forward, clasping his hands. "Master, the situation is not as before. There has been talk that a detached troop of soldiers from Baicheng has been stationed in the county these past month. Patrols have increased, and the public security officers have grown more vigilant. We must tread carefully."
At the mention of soldiers, Master Kui's expression darkened, "So now," he said slowly, "we must bow our heads like frightened rats?"
"No, Master," the man replied quickly, lowering his gaze. "But for a few days, it may be wise to pause operations. Once the pressure eases, we can resume at full scale."
The room fell quiet again. Master Kui's grip tightened around the ceramic bowl, "For a few days…" he murmured, almost to himself.
Then, suddenly... Crash!
The bowl shattered violently against the ground, fragments scattering across the polished floor. The sharp sound cut through the chamber like a blade.
"Damn these regulations!" Master Kui roared, his composure snapping. "Damn this country and its so-called order! There was a time when we moved goods freely, silver flowed like water. And now? We are forced to bargain like beggars!"
No one dared to speak and the air grew heavy. After a moment, another of the core members spoke cautiously, "Master, calming the waters for now may not be entirely disadvantageous," he said. "Clients like the one today, seeing the tightened conditions will only use it to suppress our prices further. If we withdraw briefly, we regain leverage. When we return, they will come to us on our terms."
Master Kui's breathing slowed. His anger did not vanish, but it cooled, condensing into something sharper, more controlled.
"Hmph," he snorted. "So even jackals think they can bite the tiger when it limps."
He turned slightly, his eyes cold.
"Very well. Let them wait. When we resume, we will raise the price, double if needed."
The men nodded in agreement. But before the matter could settle a sudden sound shattered the uneasy calm.
Bang...!
Then another, Bang....! Bang...!
Gunfire echoed around the courtyard, sharp loud and unmistakable. Every man in the room froze. Master Kui's head snapped toward the window.
Behind him, the four core members shot to their feet, their expressions shifting instantly from composure to alertness.
"What is that?" one of them muttered.
"Gunfire? In our territory?" another said, disbelief lacing his voice.
Master Kui's eyes narrowed dangerously, "Who dares…" he murmured, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper, "…to fire guns in my domain?"
At that very moment, outside in the courtyard, chaos had already begun to stir.
Heizi stood near the edge of the open space, his heart pounding violently against his ribs. He had heard the gunshots, the signal. A faint smirk flickered across his lips for the briefest instant.
Then, just as quickly, it vanished as he put panicked expressions. He staggered forward, raising his voice with urgency, "Master! Master!" he shouted, his tone laced with fear. "Something has happened!"
The guards stationed around the courtyard turned sharply, their expressions which were already alarmed by the sound of gunshot looked at Heizi and asked hurriedly, "what's happening?"
Heizi pointed toward the direction of Warehouse Three, his breathing deliberately uneven, "Warehouse Three has been attacked!" he cried. "The clients and our three senior brothers have been taken hostage!"
The words hit like a thunderclap and the courtyard erupted. Guards rushed in confusion, voices overlapping in rising panic. Because unlike knives or sticks, firearms were rare and precious. Most of them had never even held one, let alone faced an enemy wielding such weapons.
This was no ordinary conflict, this was something far more dangerous for them.
The chamber doors burst open and Master Kui strode out, his presence like a storm unleashed. The four core members followed close behind, their expressions grim, "Who dares to attack my gang?" Master Kui's voice thundered across the courtyard.
The guards fell silent instantly.
Heizi stepped forward, forcing himself to meet that terrifying gaze. His legs trembled, but he held his ground, maintaining the illusion, "Master…" he said, bowing his head slightly, his voice strained, "I do not know who they are. But there are many of them each carrying guns. They have already taken control… no one could resist them."
Master Kui's eyes burned with fury.
For a moment, it seemed as though the very air around him would ignite, "Arrogant fools!" he snarled. "They dare provoke me in my own territory?"
He swept his gaze across the courtyard, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade.
"You!" he barked at the guards. "Why are you standing here like idiots?"
Then he turned to his core members.
"Go!" he ordered sharply. "All of you go and see what is happening. Take men with you. Crush them if you must!"
The four men nodded immediately, moving without hesitation.
Master Kui continued, his tone cold and decisive, "One senior member stays with me. A few guards as well." His gaze hardened further, "The rest of you, move! Now!"
The courtyard burst into motion, boots pounded against stone and once heavily guarded courtyard became empty.
In the far corner of the courtyard Heizi caught sight of a fleeting figure slipping silently past the outer threshold. She moved like a ghost.
For a brief moment, Heizi's gaze lingered on her retreating silhouette. A complicated emotion flickered across his face. I hope… you don't suffer, he thought quietly.
Then, forcing himself back into the role he had chosen, he turned and followed the core members and guards rushing toward Warehouse Three.
Master Kui stood at the center of the courtyard, his fists clenched so tightly that the veins on the back of his hands stood out like cords. His breathing was heavy, uneven with rage barely restrained.
"They dare…" he growled, his voice thick with fury. "They dare to attack within my territory?"
His eyes burned like coals in the night.
"I will crush them," he continued, each word sharper than the last. "Crush them until not even their bones remain."
Behind him, one of the core members walked swiftly, his expression composed but alert.
"Master, please do not worry," the man said in a steady tone. "Three of our brothers are already there, and three more have gone to reinforce them. No matter who these intruders are, the situation will soon be brought under control."
Master Kui did not immediately respond. Instead, his eyes suddenly widened. Then, as though a thought had suddenly struck him, he turned his head sharply.
"Do you think…" he said, his voice lowering, "…they know about Warehouse Eight?"
The core member stiffened, then shook his head firmly. "That is impossible, Master," he replied without hesitation. "No one knows what lies within that warehouse. Even among our own people, only a handful are aware. You can rest assured, nothing will go wrong."
He glanced at Master Kui's still-trembling hand, then added in a softer tone, "Master, the night air is cold. It would be better if you returned to your chamber to rest. We will handle the situation."
Master Kui's gaze remained fixed toward the distant factory ruins, as if trying to pierce the darkness itself. Then, slowly, he nodded.
He turned, taking a step back toward his chamber...
Bang! Another gunshot rang out.
Master Kui froze mid-step.
At that same moment, in front of Warehouse Three, the tension reached its breaking point.
A sharp cry split the air.
One of the Hei Lang gang's core members staggered, then collapsed to one knee. His hand clutched his leg, blood seeping rapidly through his fingers and staining the ground beneath him.
From the shadows, Zhang Junyi's eyes widened in shock. He turned sharply toward one of the boys in his group, his voice dropping into a harsh whisper. "Why did you shoot?" he demanded. "Didn't we agree? No one fires unless necessary! The guns are for intimidation, to hold them in place!"
The boy, pale but resolute, shook his head quickly, "Brother Zhuzi," he said, his voice tight with urgency, "he was trying to sneak into the warehouse, and was not taking our warning seriously so I had no choice."
Zhang Junyi clenched his jaw, frustration flashing across his face.
Before he could respond, Hu Ge stepped forward, his expression calm but firm, "It may not be a bad thing," Hu Ge said quietly. "Look at them now."
Zhang Junyi followed his gaze. The effect was immediate. The remaining enemies, guards and even the southern client had frozen completely. Fear had spread among them like wildfire. No one dared to move, let alone resist.
Hu Ge continued, "Now they know we are serious. None of them will dare act rashly."
Zhang Junyi exhaled slowly.
Then he nodded. Raising his voice just enough to carry across the tense standoff, he shouted, "No one moves!" His tone was sharp, commanding, "And listen carefully, no one is to enter the warehouse. Take one step forward, and the next bullet will not miss."
The threat hung heavy in the air.
Near the entrance, the southern client had already collapsed onto the ground. His earlier arrogance had vanished entirely, replaced by sheer terror.
"Yes… yes… we won't move!" he stammered, his voice trembling. "Good comrade, please… don't shoot. We will cooperate, everything, we will cooperate!"
His words tumbled out in panic, his hands raised as though surrendering to fate itself.
Around him, the others remained frozen, caught between fear and uncertainty.
Not far from the abandoned factory grounds, along a narrow forest road swallowed by darkness, the low growl of engines broke the stillness of the night.
A military jeep sped forward, its headlights cutting through the dense trees like twin blades of light. Dust and fallen leaves swirled in its wake as it raced toward the source of the distant gunfire.
Inside the vehicle, a militia officer in a worn green uniform gripped the steering wheel tightly, his eyes fixed ahead. The rough terrain made the jeep jolt violently, but he did not slow.
In the passenger seat sat Gu Zhenhua.
The militia officer spoke over the rumble of the engine, "Officer Gu," he said, his tone cautious yet urgent, "this area belongs to a group known as the Hei Lang gang. They have been operating here for some time."
Gu Zhenhua's brows drew together, "A gang?" he repeated, his voice low but edged with disbelief. "In this day and age? Were not all such elements suppressed and eradicated long ago? The new society does not tolerate such remnants."
The militia officer let out a quiet breath, "On the surface, yes," he replied. "But as the saying goes 'when the bright road is blocked, the rats burrow underground.' There are still many such groups. They no longer act openly, instead, they move in the shadows."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"This Hei Lang gang is one of the more troublesome ones. Every time the public security bureau attempts to crack down, someone steps forward to take the blame. A scapegoat. Meanwhile, the real leader slips away untouched."
Gu Zhenhua's expression darkened, just as he was about to ask something else Another gunshot rang, "Drive faster," he ordered.
Behind them, two more military jeeps followed in formation, carrying Gu Zhenhua's troop. The soldiers sat alert, rifles in hand.