Chapter 51: Qichang Hill

Thud, thud, thud!

The coffin lid slammed shut, and several burly men swung their hammers in unison.

Before Yang Ting could react, the lid was nailed tight!

Inside, he screamed in terror, but it was all in vain. The men simply hoisted the coffin and carried it away.

Seeing their boss hauled off in a coffin, the rest of the Bihaiting crowd were petrified with fear.

Ye Tianci strode over to Brother Nan.

Brother Nan, trembling uncontrollably, cowered on the ground, his face etched with alarm. “Big brother, I know I was wrong, I really do.”

“Why admit fault now? I rather liked your defiant attitude just a moment ago,” Ye Tianci gazed down at him.

Brother Nan’s face drained of color, panic twisting his features. “I swear I know I was wrong, big brother! Please, let me go. Don’t put me in the coffin.”

“Want to live?” Ye Tianci’s tone was cool.

Brother Nan nodded frantically, like a pecking chicken. “As long as you don’t put me in the coffin, I’ll do whatever you say, big brother!”

“Good. Then take word of everything that’s happened here to the Yang family. If, within twelve hours, the Yang family issues a statement severing all ties with the Qi family, I’ll spare them.”

“I understand! I swear I’ll get it done!” Seeing Ye Tianci give a nod, Brother Nan scrambled to his feet and, despite the pain of his broken bones, fled in haste.

Four men in fitted black attire stepped forward, dropping to one knee. “The Four Guardians of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness await your command, Master Ye!”

“Master, these are the Four Guardians of my Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness. Each is formidable,” an introduction followed. “This is Huo Gang, the First Guardian, master of the sword; this is Zhao Qingyang, Second Guardian, fierce with the blade; this is Yuan Shu, my nephew, the Third Guardian, whose fists are the hardest among them. The youngest, Pan Jiang, is the strongest of all. They are the most loyal brothers I have!”

Ye Tianci nodded, his voice cold as he ordered, “Each of you take several dozen brothers and sweep through the Yang family’s hotels and nightclubs. If you encounter resistance, use force without hesitation.”

“There’s only one goal—make the Yang family suffer.”

“At your command!” the Four Guardians replied in unison, immediately leading their men out.

...

Western District of Shu City, Chaoman Hotel.

A Yang family business.

On the surface, it appeared to be a run-of-the-mill three-star hotel, but filth lurked beneath. The top floor was a secret casino, run by the Yang family, drawing countless gamblers night after night.

At this golden hour, the hotel’s parking lot was packed, and guests of every stripe streamed in and out of the casino. With the Qi family backing them, business at the Yang family’s hotel boomed, and no one dared interfere.

In the security booth at the entrance, a few guards lounged, sipping tea and playing cards.

“Brother Li, should we be out on patrol? I heard there’s a crackdown in Shu City lately. What if inspectors show up?” a young guard asked nervously.

“Nonsense! Who’d dare check up on us?”

“This isn’t just the Yang family’s turf. I heard the Qi family holds shares too. No one would dare touch this place!”

“Exactly. With the Qi family covering us, what’s there to fear? Straight flush, by the way—take it or leave it!”

Bang!

Before the words were out, the security booth door was kicked open!

The guards startled, barely able to glimpse the intruders before they were slammed to the ground, arms twisted behind their backs, black hoods yanked over their heads.

Engines roared and footsteps thundered like drums—an army had arrived!

The young guard, convinced this was a terrorist attack, wet himself in fright.

More than a dozen vehicles stormed into the hotel’s courtyard. Huo Gang leapt from his car, waved his hand, and dozens of brothers from the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness raced up the stairs behind him.

As they stepped off the elevator, several black-suited bodyguards at the casino entrance drew batons and leveled them at Huo Gang. “What’s your business? Stop right there!”

“Out of the way!” Huo Gang shot forward like an arrow, sending the burliest guard flying with a single kick.

With a crash, the heavy casino doors burst open as the guard’s body slammed into them, then tumbled inside.

Thud! Thud, thud!

The rest of the guards followed, hurled inside and crashing to the floor.

Shrieks of panic erupted from the women inside the casino.

Huo Gang walked in, hands clasped behind his back, while his men swept in with a roar, lining up on either side.

A middle-aged man in Ares leisurewear stepped forward with a group, idly rolling a walnut in his hand, face arrogant. “Well, well. Snow in midsummer! Who’d have thought someone would dare cause trouble in our Yang family’s establishment?”

“And you dare harm our people! You’re like a fool lighting a lantern in a latrine—courting death!”

Huo Gang looked at him impassively. “You’re in charge here?”

“That’s right! Name’s Yang An. I’m Fourth Master on the street, and Yang Ting is my brother!” Yang An jabbed a thumb at himself, radiating arrogance.

A wicked grin curled Huo Gang’s lips as he gestured. “Take him!”

Suddenly, a young man darted out from behind Yang An, brandishing a hunting rifle, its dark muzzle aimed at Huo Gang’s group.

“Anyone dares touch our boss, I’ll put some holes in you!” the youth shouted.

Yang An sneered, “Go on, take me if you dare!”

“Filthy dog, you still—” Before he could finish, Huo Gang moved in a flash.

The crowd barely registered a blur before the gunman screamed, flying backward, the hunting rifle somehow now in Huo Gang’s hands.

Bang!

The gun went off, shattering a light fixture in the ceiling.

Screams erupted from the women, and gamblers scrambled for cover as chaos engulfed the casino.

“Take them!” Huo Gang’s voice boomed like thunder. His men surged forward, knocking down the remaining guards and seizing Yang An.

The rest got busy, smashing the Yang family’s casino to pieces.

“Who the hell are you people? Don’t you know the major shareholder behind our hotel is Master Qi Changling of the Qi family?” Yang An, forced to his knees, glared furiously at Huo Gang.

Huo Gang didn’t bother with a reply. He dragged Yang An downstairs and tossed him into a waiting coffin.

The lid was hammered shut, and he too was sent to the Qi family!

At the same time, the Yang family’s other three businesses were also raided by the remaining three Guardians and their men.

After the rampage, devastation reigned everywhere.

Every single Yang family manager suffered the same fate—nailed into coffins and sent to the Qi family!

Yang Ming fared the worst. Not only did Pan Jiang shove him into a coffin, but he was given a savage beating as well, left moaning and wailing inside.

On the open ground before the Qi family’s grand mansion, five coffins lay neatly in a row!

Inside, Yang Ting and the others shouted ceaselessly, the air growing thinner by the minute, suffocating them.

Old Master Qi Changling, alarmed by the commotion, hurried over with his servants.

Seeing the row of coffins, Qi Changling’s face darkened. He waved his hand and barked, “What are you dawdling for? Open them up and save them!”

The Qi family servants scrambled to pry open the coffins. Yang Ting, Yang Ming, and the others clambered out, collapsing on the ground, gasping gratefully for air.

“What on earth happened here?” Qi Changling demanded, his face thunderous as he glared at his disheveled sons-in-law and the other Yang family members.