Chapter Eleven: Battle Against the Shadows

Su Mei, Captain Guo, and several others, dressed in plain clothes, entered the Jiahao Grand Hotel in waves. He Zhixing had already been brought to the large ballroom on the third floor. Upon entering, a right turn led to a bar counter, where a dedicated bartender and staff attended to their duties. As evening had not yet arrived, there were very few patrons drinking at the bar.

Their leader sat at a table not far from the entrance, surrounded by twenty or thirty scattered subordinates at nearby tables. The boss sipped a cocktail with a striking blend of red and white, his gaze cold as he regarded He Zhixing, who was brought before him. "You have quite the airs, don’t you? Couldn’t invite you until now. Don’t you know who I am?"

He Zhixing didn’t bother with unnecessary words. He went straight to the point. "Honestly, I don’t know who you are, and I don’t care to know. Enough with the nonsense—where’s Hou Juan? Where’s the girl?" As he spoke, he glanced around.

The boss let out a sneering laugh and slammed the table. "Well, aren’t you something? You don’t know what’s good for you. Who do you think you are?" Even before he finished, several thugs surged forward to attack He Zhixing.

Iron rods, clubs, and bottles rained down on him. Standing at the edge of the table, He Zhixing barely had time to turn when an iron rod came swinging for his shoulder. With a swift twist and a grip, he seized the rod and yanked hard, sending the attacker sprawling across the table toward the boss. At the same moment, two more thugs lunged at him, one aiming for his abdomen, while another prepared to smash a bottle over his head.

He Zhixing’s eyes flashed; their movements seemed unbearably slow, as if they were moving in another realm altogether. These desperate attacks were, in his eyes, no threat at all. In a blink, he pressed lightly on the table with his left hand, vaulted into the air, and swept his leg around in a wide arc. The assailants were struck down with cries of pain, tumbling in all directions, losing the will to fight.

He Zhixing pressed his advantage, dispatching the next wave of attackers with a flurry of powerful kicks. Not a single one could approach; those who tried were incapacitated by the force of his blows.

The boss, a man seasoned by countless brushes with death, was nonetheless rattled by this display. Clenching his teeth, he shot a look at the thugs guarding the corridor. They immediately understood and slipped into the inner rooms to fetch the bound girl.

In an instant, He Zhixing saw them drag Hou Juan out. Her mouth was sealed with tape, and at the sight of He Zhixing, she whimpered pitifully, her eyes pleading.

He Zhixing spotted her immediately. "What have you done to her? Let her go, now!"

The boss leisurely pulled out a premium cigarette, lighting it and exhaling a cloud of smoke with relish. "If you want her released, that’s easy. All you have to do is surrender quietly."

He Zhixing knew full well that a wise man doesn’t court disaster. Rescuing the girl was his top priority. He scanned the room. "Fine. Untie her and bring her to me first. I’ll do whatever you want."

Tears welled in Hou Juan’s eyes as she looked at him, deeply moved. To encounter such a man in her lifetime—she felt she could die with no regrets. Tears streamed down her face.

The boss nodded. "All right. Untie her."

Hou Juan was freed and brought to He Zhixing’s side. He took her hand, concern in his voice. "Are you all right? Did they hurt you?"

She flung herself into his arms, overcome with emotion. "Brother He, I’m fine."

By now, dozens of men had surrounded them. He Zhixing stood fearlessly, shielding her and whispering in her ear, "Hold my hand tightly. In a moment, I’ll get you out of here."

Before the thugs could act, He Zhixing struck first. Gripping the girl’s hand, he surged toward the exit, pulling a carving file wrapped in newspaper from his pocket. With a flurry of kicks, he carved a path through their ranks—this time holding nothing back. The sound of bones cracking filled the room as he incapacitated his attackers, quickly forcing an opening and rushing for the door.

The gang boss shouted in alarm, "Stop him at any cost—even if you have to die!" Spurred on by his words, his men brandished weapons and charged. As He Zhixing and Hou Juan reached the exit, the boss nearly drew a gun—when salvation arrived.

A large contingent stormed up the stairs, led by Su Mei and Captain Guo. The police brandished electric batons and pistols, launching themselves at the gang with a thunderous shout. "Freeze! You are suspected of kidnapping and organized crime. Surrender immediately, or face the consequences!"

With the police joining the fray, He Zhixing no longer needed to flee. He entrusted the girl to an officer and immediately joined the crackdown on the gang. The police had come prepared, deploying hundreds of officers to sweep the place. In the fierce melee that followed, the ballroom became a battlefield. Within less than half an hour, the entire gang, led by Liu Lei, was apprehended.