Chapter 29: I Want It All

Seeing the dozen or so thugs swaying as they rose to their feet, Wu Bei stepped forward, shielding the other three. He stared at the bald, portly man with a playful glint in his eyes and asked, "I'd like to ask, on what grounds did you snatch away the earnings we worked so hard for? Is it because you have more men than us, or because you think you’re tougher?"

"That’s right. Got a problem with that?" The fat man wheezed, extending a finger to jab at Wu Bei.

*Zip!*

Before he could finish, he felt a blur before his eyes. Wu Bei, who had been two meters away just a second ago, was now right in front of him. He was as fast as a lightning strike.

Then, the fat man felt a sharp, searing pain in his outstretched right hand. Half of his index finger flew off with a *whoosh*, landing directly on the face of the young woman standing nearby.

"Ah! Ah!"
"Oh my god, blood! A finger! Ah!"

The fat man clutched his right hand with his left, blood gushing out in torrents as he let out a pig-like shriek. The terrified girl also let out a piercing, shrill scream.

The dozen young thugs, who had been eager to jump into the fray, froze in place as if someone had hit a pause button.

After only a couple of cries, the fat man’s voice abruptly cut off.

Wu Bei held a disposable razor blade he had swiped from the hotel between his thumb and forefinger, pressing it against the man's throat. He smiled grimly. "Now, I’m the one who’s tougher!"

The fat man’s thick lips quivered, but he dared not make a sound.

"I want that! That! Yes, and that girl! I want it all!"

Wu Bei pointed first to the travel bag he had tossed aside, then at the fat man’s gold necklace, and finally fixed his gaze on the girl, who had turned deathly pale.

The fat man gritted his teeth and growled, "She’s my girlfriend!"

"Hmm?"

Wu Bei applied a little pressure with the razor blade, and a small cut instantly appeared on the fat man’s neck. Terrified, the man shrieked, "Take it! Take it all!"

"Brother Lai, I don’t want to go with him..." The girl turned her head, panicked and frantic.

"Shut the hell up!" the fat man cursed through gritted teeth.

After hesitating for a few seconds, he glared viciously at Qi Jinlong. "You ungrateful piece of trash! You told me this guy Wu was just some blacklisted nobody running online loan scams!"

Hearing this, Wu Bei frowned but betrayed no further emotion. He signaled to Luo Hou, "Go, get back what belongs to us!"

"You got it, boss!"

The stark-naked Luo Hou immediately ran barefoot to the girl and pulled her into his arms.

"Good grief..." Wu Bei almost lost his composure. He signaled to Wang Shun, "Take the money!"

"Let me do it."

Qi Jinlong, who had been in a daze, suddenly spoke up. He walked over slowly and picked up the travel bag. After hesitating for a few seconds, he took out ten bundles of cash and placed them on the table.

He said in a low voice, "Big Brother, this hundred thousand is my share. I never intended to keep it for myself. Your birthday is next week, and I was planning to buy you a decent used Audi as a gift... Forget it, never mind. I’ve put the money on the table for you."

As he spoke the last few words, Qi Jinlong’s voice was clearly choked with tears. He packed up the travel bag and walked toward the door with a faltering, unsteady gait.

The fat man, still with the blade against his throat, opened his eyes wide, murmuring in disbelief, "Little Long, I’ve failed you, brother. Don't go..."

"Big Brother, I followed you for four years, and you’ve cheated me for four years. I never got a share of the bonuses, and the good things never came my way. I’ve badmouthed you behind your back, but I never once thought of betraying you. But this time, you’ve truly hurt me!"

Qi Jinlong didn’t look back. He shook his head, sobbing, and his figure vanished beyond the door.

A circle without trust is like water-boiled dragon meat—all show, but flavorless and hollow.

"Look after yourself."

Wu Bei ripped the heavy gold necklace from the fat man’s neck and nudged Wang Shun and Luo Hou to leave.

"Friend, I admit defeat today! Leave your name; next time..." The fat man called out, still unwilling to let it go.

"You’d better hope there isn't a next time! Otherwise, it won't just be defeat—it'll be a corpse!"

Wu Bei stared into his eyes, enunciating every word.

Facing that cold, predatory gaze, the fat man couldn't help but shiver. He opened his mouth to spout more threats, but after a few seconds of hesitation, he swallowed them back.

As a drifter who had survived for years without ever being locked up, his instinct for self-preservation was stronger than most of his kind, and he knew better than anyone which people should never be provoked.

"I’m off. Wish you a prosperous business!"

Wu Bei spat, leaving the man with a cool, retreating back.

*Whoosh...*

The moment he stepped out the door, the dozen henchmen swarmed over, all talking at once.

"Boss, should we do it?!"
"Let's take them out! There are so many of us!"

The fat man wiped the sweat from his forehead and barked, "Do what, you idiots? Are you a match for someone who dares to chop off my finger the moment he walks in? He dared to come here alone with half a million just to ransom someone, which means he never took us seriously to begin with. Ow... quit the useless talk! Find my finger and get me to the hospital!"