Chapter 139: Bullying Others with Power

Wujue strode forward, his shotgun blazing incessantly. "Then all of you, go to hell!"

In that instant, the thrill of slaughter washed over him. He treated the stunned men like living targets, firing with manic intensity.

The scene spiraled into chaos, with sheer terror permeating the entire courtyard. The leaders of the South China Gang, finally snapping back to reality, scrambled to escape for their lives.

Some tried to vault over the courtyard walls, only to be blasted down by Wujue the moment they reached the top. Others turned to grab their weapons, only to have their heads blown off.

When fewer than half of the targets remained, someone in the yard finally shouted, "Enough! If you want to kill someone, come for me! The South China Gang has fallen today, but don't let us die in such a pathetic way."

Wujue recognized the voice immediately; it was Boss Cheng, the leader of the South China Gang’s Ning City branch. He turned, shotgun raised, and stared at the man emerging from the shadows.

The man wore only a tank top and a pair of haphazardly pulled-on trousers, clearly having dressed in a hurry. However, his eyes were bloodshot, radiating a murderous intent so intense it seemed he wanted to devour human flesh.

"Boss Cheng, so you’ve finally decided to emerge after hiding for so long," Wujue said with a smirk, tossing his shotgun to Huron. He walked forward and added, "These men all died because of you!"

"Spare me the lecture!" Boss Cheng pulled out a pistol and aimed it at Wujue. "I have no grudge against you; was such a massive display of force really necessary? Let your brothers die knowing the truth—why did you wipe out our branch of the South China Gang?"

"As for why? There are plenty of reasons!" Wujue chuckled, stepping closer and lowering his voice. "Did you notice that a few of your men didn't come back today? Care to guess what happened to them?"

Boss Cheng’s gaze tightened as the implications dawned on him. He let out a bitter laugh. "Fine, you’re ruthless and vicious! Let’s put this matter aside. Can we step aside and talk?"

He gestured toward the door behind him, hoping for a private conversation. Wujue, confident in his own lethality, didn't hesitate. He nodded and said, "After you."

The two entered the room one after the other. Wujue kicked the door shut behind him, then looked at the tense Boss Cheng and sat down. "Say what you want—begging for your life, I assume? Make it quick and see if you can impress me."

Boss Cheng didn't respond immediately; instead, he set his gun on the table, pulled out a lighter, and lit a cigar. "I’ve walked these paths for many years and seen plenty of ruthless men, but someone like you is truly rare. I’ve never seen you before—where did you come from?"

Wujue waved a hand dismissively. "Enough with the pleasantries. You won't find out about my background. Just tell me what capital you have that makes me want to spare you!"

This was not the time for idle chatter; he needed to see what leverage Boss Cheng still possessed. Once he had that, he could kill him without delay. After all, a branch leader held different value than his underlings.

Boss Cheng sneered, sitting in the opposite armchair. "Fine, let’s stop beating around the bush and get to the point. Why go to such lengths? It’s all about supplies and women. The South China Gang may not be the largest force, but we know how to survive in this apocalypse. What do you think we rely on?"

He tapped his temple, exhaled a smoke ring, and clenched his fist. "We rely on brains and brawn. Don't look at the zombies everywhere and think there are few people left. Across the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui, we have at least two or three thousand brothers still alive in over a dozen cities. That is how we dominate. If you kill me today, you’d better weigh the consequences of what happens next."

He leaned back in the sofa, looking at Wujue with a smug expression, expecting his words to strike fear into his opponent.

Wujue, however, let out a cold laugh. "Is that all? Did the South China Gang just get lucky, or is there something else? Tell me, what backing do you really have, or what dirty secrets are you hiding?"

His words pierced the veil of the South China Gang’s mysteries, causing Boss Cheng’s cigar to freeze in mid-air. "Impressive, brother. You saw right through it. Since it’s come to this, I won’t lie. Before the apocalypse, we hitched a ride with a very mysterious international organization. They wanted to fund us and turn the gang into a corporate-style multinational group, but circumstances changed, and it all went to hell."

"But there was a silver lining. They were well-informed, and as soon as the crisis broke, they arranged an exit strategy. We did them a favor by helping their local representatives escape, so they funded us, and that’s how the South China Gang survived." Boss Cheng sat up, staring intently at Wujue. "You probably don't know this, but we possess unique assets: weapons that can kill zombies. They aren't here because they are rare, but they are treasures. With these, you could live without worry in this apocalypse, and perhaps even wipe out the zombies and become a hero who saves the world."

"Brother, let’s not talk about the future, let’s talk about now," Boss Cheng tapped the table. "I’ll give you a chance. Kneel and apologize, and I’ll cover for you regarding today’s events. Just hand over a few scapegoats, and we’ll be family. I’ll even recommend you for the South China Gang; I’ll make you my second-in-command, no questions asked."

Wujue chuckled, scratching his head. "Boss Cheng, you’re trying to bribe me! It’s hard not to be tempted by such an offer."

"However..." His voice trailed off. He glanced at the curtains by the window and smiled. "I don’t like playing second fiddle to anyone. I only want to be the one on top."

With that, he suddenly lunged behind the sofa. At the same moment, a figure burst from behind the curtains and fired a barrage of shots at the spot where Wujue had been sitting. The old fox had actually kept an ace up his sleeve.

Fortunately, Wujue’s hearing was superhuman. He had sensed another presence the moment he entered the room. He whipped his hand out and fired a single shot; the bullet traced a perfect arc through the air, striking the assassin behind the curtains and killing him instantly.

Wujue emerged from behind the sofa, aiming his gun at Boss Cheng. A split second before the boss could fire, Wujue shot the Black Star pistol right out of his hand.

"Alright, the show is over," Wujue sneered as he strode over. He pressed his hand firmly against Boss Cheng’s ribs, pushing down until the man struggled for breath. "How does it feel to be oppressed? I’m sure you’ve done this to plenty of others; consider this your retribution."

"I’ll take the secrets of the South China Gang for myself. You can head to the next world first." Without waiting for a struggle, Wujue fired a shot into Boss Cheng’s right arm and leg, severing the arteries. He let go and said, "A normal person can struggle for ten minutes while bleeding out. Let’s see how long you last."

Boss Cheng waved his hands. "Wait! Spare my life, and I can negotiate with the other leaders for you. And those monsters in the East Suburbs—you won't be able to get past them without me as a middleman..."

Wujue didn't waste another word. He picked up Boss Cheng and hung his upper body out the window, letting him savor the cold air. "Your stunt just now killed any interest I had in talking. What else are you hiding from me?"

"Nothing! Nothing but the matter of the East Suburbs. Pull me up! I’ll give you all the treasures in the basement, including high-tech gear..."

Wujue poked the wound on his leg with the barrel of his gun. "What would I do with that junk? It’s not like I can eat it."

"No, that stuff can kill zombies! It’s really useful. I kept two weapons just in case. And the bosses in the East Suburbs are prominent figures—you can’t talk to them; only I can get you in..."

Wujue hauled him back onto the windowsill. As the pale Boss Cheng handed over the keys, Wujue smiled. "Don't worry, it's just a face. I can always find someone to impersonate it."

Without a shred of mercy, he took the keys and shoved Boss Cheng out of the second-story window, sending him crashing onto the ground below.