chapter five

"Mercy is a luxury only the strong can afford-unfortunately, I'm broke."

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Zhang Wei sat on the table, one leg crossed, idly flipping a coin between his fingers. The metal glinted under the harsh light, his sharp profile half-shadowed, effortlessly dangerous-sexy as sin.

His voice cut through the silence.

"So. Who's your leader? How does he look? Where's your main base? Say it fast... or else."

The gang member sat rigid, lips pressed tight, eyes avoiding his.

Behind the two-way mirror, Zi Xuan leaned forward, arms crossed. "Damn. If he doesn't talk soon, I swear he's losing a finger for real." He grinned like it was a game show.

Zhao Ming chuckled, eyes never leaving the scene. "Nah. I bet it'll be his palm. Dead center."

Zi Xuan arched a brow. "Bet??"

Zhao Ming leaned closer, lips curling. "Bet."

Inside, Zhang Wei's patience cracked. He exhaled slowly, his coin clinking onto the table. "Last chance. You gonna speak... or not?"

The gang member stubbornly looked away.

Without hesitation, Zhang Wei picked up his pen-then drove it straight through the man's palm.

The scream tore through the interrogation room, muffled only slightly by the glass.

Zi Xuan flinched but laughed anyway. "Shit! You were right, palm it is."

Zhao Ming smirked, already counting imaginary bills. "Told you. I never lose."

Back inside, the gang member broke down, words spilling fast like a rapper on stage.

"I'm sorry-I'm sorry! I'll talk! I only work for our branch leader, I swear! The Serpents have many divisions, each one with its own boss, all chosen by the real leader! But I've never seen him! Never!"

Zhang Wei raised a brow, cold and unimpressed. "Then where's your branch leader?"

"H-he didn't come. Said that girl was easy prey, so he sent us instead."

Zhang Wei's lip curled in disgust. He leaned back, voice low. "Cowards. Sending children to catch children."

He sighed, standing, adjusting his jacket with infuriating calm. "Fine. Then tell me where your so-called branch leader is."

The man stuttered before blurting, "On ****** Street! He's... he's always there, I swear it!"

Zhang Wei gave a single nod and walked out, coin spinning between his fingers again.

On the other side, Zhao Ming was grinning ear to ear, fanning himself with money. "See? Easy win. I always win."

Zi Xuan pouted, looking like a kid robbed of candy. "Not fair! You cheat at life!"

Zhang Wei entered, deadpan eyes sweeping over the two of them. "Stop playing around." His voice was calm, but it cut like a knife. "We're going. Time to drag that coward out of his hole."

The air in the room shifted. The hunt had begun.

Zhang Wei, Zi Xuan, and Zhao Ming arrived at the same rotten street - the stench of damp walls and decay clinging to the air. Zi Xuan gagged the moment he stepped in, memories of his last time here flooding back. Even with the black mask covering his face, the odor clawed at his throat.

They walked deeper, their footsteps echoing against cracked concrete, until a filthy house came into view. Zhang Wei raised a hand, signaling.

"You two go in," he murmured, leaning against the wall outside. His lollipop clicked against his teeth.

Zi Xuan and Zhao Ming pushed the door open. Inside, the air was thicker, smoke curling up from half-burnt cigarettes. A group of restless youngsters stared at them for half a second before lunging forward. The fight was quick - brutal thuds, broken noses, groans of defeat. Zi Xuan and Zhao Ming handled them with ease.

On a torn leather couch sat their real target. The gang leader.

He smirked, his long blonde hair falling into red-stained eyes, tattoos crawling up his arms like serpents. He looked more like a beast than a man.

"After years," he said, standing, cracking his neck, "finally, worthy opponents."

Before either could react, he darted forward, faster than expected. His fist slammed into Zhao Ming's stomach, sending him flying back into a table. Zhao Ming coughed blood, shock spreading across his face.

"Zhao Ming!" Zi Xuan shouted, only to be snatched mid-step.

The leader twisted his arm with brutal precision - crack! A bone-snapping sound tore through the room. Zi Xuan's scream followed, raw and pained, dropping him to his knees. Tears welled in his eyes, sweat dripping down his face.

The leader grinned, tightening his grip. "Pathetic."

But before he could finish, Zhao Ming staggered up, fury in his eyes. With a desperate kick, he struck the leader in the chest, sending him crashing against the wall. The fight turned savage - fists, kicks, wild movements - but Zhao Ming was faltering, his breaths shallow, every strike weaker than the last.

Finally, he pulled out his gun, aiming straight.

The leader's eyes widened, then narrowed with a grin. Instead of surrendering, he bolted, smashing through the window in a rain of shattered glass.

He landed outside-right in front of Zhang Wei.

Zhang Wei sucked on his lollipop, gaze cool, unbothered.

"Wassup?" he asked casually.

The leader scoffed and lunged. But before his fist could land, Zhang Wei shifted, precise, calm-striking the nerve in his neck. The man dropped instantly, collapsing like a puppet with its strings cut.

Zi Xuan and Zhao Ming came running out, battered and breathless. Zi Xuan clutched his mangled arm, still crying in pain.

"Leader, that-" he froze, eyes widening at the sight of the gang leader unconscious on the ground.

Zhang Wei turned, his expression unreadable. For a moment, his gaze lingered on Zi Xuan's trembling form, anger flashing behind his calm mask. But his voice was steady.

"What happened? Did you get hurt?"

Zi Xuan nodded weakly. Zhao Ming clenched his fists, guilt burning in his chest.

Zhang Wei crouched, inspecting Zi Xuan's arm.

"It's broken. Fixable, but it'll take time." He looked up at Zhao Ming. "Take him to the hospital."

"But what about him?" Zhao Ming asked, glaring at the unconscious leader.

Zhang Wei's lips curved into the faintest smirk. Behind him, sirens wailed closer, flashing lights cutting through the night.

"Don't worry. The police will take out the trash."

To be continued "待續"

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