Chapter 80: Arrogance and Overbearance

Yang Fan had killed a man. None of them could have imagined that the one who fired the gun would be Yang Fan, and that the victim would be the man nicknamed Tiger. In an instant, the faces of those who had just been shouting approval and urging such action turned ashen, like earth.

“Hahaha, kill! Go on, kill! Now you’re scared, aren’t you?” Fu Gaobin was the first to react. He grabbed a bench and smashed it over the face of the nearest man. With a sharp swing, there was a loud smack, and the man was knocked flat. This fellow had been the loudest in jeering, and Fu Gaobin had made note of him.

Wang Cheng didn’t spare the man he held either; after a flurry of slaps, he delivered a few brutal kicks, breaking one of the man’s ribs. No one else dared to intervene; the beaten man could only hope that Wang Cheng’s anger would quickly abate.

Li Qiang finally wanted to step in, but Yang Fan showed no sign of calming. He merely watched the crowd in silence. After Fu Gaobin dealt with another troublemaker, he went to his two women, whose clothes were crumpled as they sobbed in pain. Their arms had nearly been broken, and they had almost suffered humiliation, so their tears flowed uncontrollably.

Fu Gaobin glared at the three or four men nearby, his teeth clenched. Their faces now showed fear, regret, and terror: fear that Yang Fan might kill them; regret for their reckless lust; terror at the murderous look in Fu Gaobin’s eyes.

Inside the workshop, Li Qiang spoke up: “What’s all this noise? Stop this chaos and get back!” His words eased the tension somewhat, and some of the onlookers hurried away, as did those who had just been making cynical remarks. They feared the trouble would come to their own door.

“No one leaves!” Yang Fan’s voice was cold as he uttered those words and stroked his chin. Wang Cheng immediately took out a cigarette and lit it for Yang Fan, ingratiating himself. No one mocked him; in fact, they wished they could be in his place. With such a powerful leader, what was there to fear?

Yang Fan’s command made the crowd seethe inwardly. Their chief, Li Qiang, had already said to disperse, giving Yang Fan a way out, yet he acted as if he were the true leader. He was stronger, certainly, but did he really intend to go against everyone here?

That was the thought in most people’s minds, but none dared voice it. They stood obediently where they were, not one willing to stand out. The burly man and Tiger had not died for nothing; no one would risk being foolish now, standing quietly as meek as chicks.

Contrary to their inner resentment, Fu Gaobin stood his ground, and Wang Cheng watched the surroundings warily at Yang Fan’s side. He felt a twinge of anxiety, but Yang Fan’s calm demeanor gradually eased it, until the tension faded altogether.

“What’s the matter?” Li Qiang looked at Yang Fan with displeasure. After all, this was his domain. He acknowledged Yang Fan’s strength, but couldn’t allow him to overstep authority, especially not so brazenly challenge his leadership. Li Qiang could not accept such a challenge.

“Nothing much. I can give you five vials of the same potion as before. I suspect your interest in those exceeds your concern for these people. I’ll be direct: I need to keep a few lives here. What do you say?” Yang Fan didn’t force his authority but spoke in a tone of negotiation. Li Qiang paused; those potions were invaluable, perhaps even worth studying. He thought it over, feeling a deep hunger for them, and after a moment, he walked out.

The implication was clear: the potions were irresistibly tempting, able to save lives. In battle, or when injured, a single vial could heal wounds—it was as precious as life itself. How could Li Qiang not covet it?

So he chose to sacrifice a few lives in exchange for the five vials. It was somewhat ruthless, but compared to others who would offer their bodies for a loaf of bread, or kill for a biscuit, this deal held real value.

“Do it,” Yang Fan said to Fu Gaobin. Fu Gaobin paused, then looked at the four men and sneered.

“Master, I was wrong! I’ll kneel to you, please spare me, spare me!”
“We admit our mistakes, we won’t dare again! Master, we’re strong, let us follow you, we’ll obey you!”
“Master, I beg you not to kill me, I beg you! I lost my mind for a moment, Master, I’ll kneel to you!”

They knew enough to beg for mercy, but Fu Gaobin was too angry to let them go. He slapped each of them several times, then beat and kicked them fiercely. Wang Cheng pointed at one, shouting, “You, come over here.”

The man he singled out was sturdy; he had been one of the worst in making sarcastic comments. Now, Wang Cheng’s command made him anxious, but he quickly composed himself and walked over. “What do you want? I only said a few words, didn’t do anything.”

He tried to explain, hoping to escape. Wang Cheng said nothing else, pointed to the ground coldly: “Kneel. Kneel down!” he shouted, full of authority. The man’s face changed at once; he was a survivor of the apocalypse system, once a notable figure before the end.

Now, to be made to kneel so easily—he resented it, and refused, even in his current predicament.

“Will you kneel or not?” Wang Cheng asked coldly again.

“Hmph!” the man snorted. Wang Cheng’s anger flared, but then Yang Fan handed him a pistol and said, “Shoot! If he won’t kneel, shoot him!”

The words were merciless, cold and iron-blooded.

Wang Cheng was stunned for a moment, then understood. He gripped the gun tightly and pointed it at the man. “Do you believe I’ll shoot?”

The man’s face grew worse. Seeing everyone else with heads bowed, he realized his situation. At last, he knelt on the ground, full of resentment.

“The hell with you, still not convinced, eh?” Wang Cheng kicked him, arrogant and domineering, planting his foot right on the man’s face.

The man nearly spat blood from rage, but endured, saying nothing as he stayed kneeling.

As for Yang Fan, he smoked in silence, gazing at the doorway, inwardly mocking. Li Qiang had lost; for a few healing potions, he’d agreed to Yang Fan’s demand, chilling the hearts of his people. Li Qiang would never win their loyalty now.

With a single potion, Yang Fan had gained both ways!

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