Yama Reborn
Chapter 57 - 55: [Brother Haonan’s World]

Chapter 57: Chapter 55: [Brother Haonan’s World]

Chapter 55: Brother Haonan’s Underworld

The minivan passed through several streets and arrived at a brilliantly neon-lit building. Then it slipped into a small alley and wound its way to the rear iron gate, which opened to let them in.

Sun Keke and Zhang Linsheng were pushed out of the vehicle.

The kidnappers were clearly very cautious, keeping knives pressed against School belle Sun the whole time.

School belle Sun’s pale face blanched with fear, and her eyes filled with tears. After being brought down from the vehicle, she was shoved through an iron gate.

A fearsome-looking man kept a wary eye on Zhang Linsheng. "Come on, buddy, the boss is waiting to see you!"

Zhang Linsheng’s eyes widened, somewhat dazed.

Behind the iron gate was the back area of Wind Shelter Hall, with a small elevator leading upstairs. After passing through a corridor, they entered a large room.

The room was extravagantly decorated, exuding the air of a nouveau riche from Southeast Asia; even the door handles were gilded.

After Zhang Linsheng and School belle Sun were brought into the room, the latter was dragged to a corner, where the frightened girl began to scream nonstop.

"Shut her up."

A cold voice commanded.

Li Qingshan stood up from the sofa, eyeing the people his men had brought in.

One of the underlings went over, pinched School belle Sun’s cheeks, forcing her to open her mouth, and stuffed a cloth strip inside. Then, he took a piece of rope and tied it around her mouth.

Sun Keke could only make "MMMM" noises.

"You’re here, so take a seat!" Li Qingshan waved his hand grandly, sneering coldly at Zhang Linsheng.

At this moment, Zhang Linsheng had regained some composure and looked at the older man in traditional Chinese attire.

The room also contained seven or eight robust young men, each one muscular and fierce-looking. Some had knives visibly tucked into their belts, while others casually twirled daggers in their hands.

Zhang Linsheng sat down in a daze.

"First off, I really admire you," Li Qingshan sneered, settling grandly into the sofa. He then picked up the teacup before him, took a sip, and pointed at his own nose. "It’s been twenty years since I last took a serious loss, you know?"

How the heck would I know!

What the heck do I know!

Zhang Linsheng internally screamed, feeling helpless.

"I was laid up in the hospital for a full fifteen days! And I damned well developed complications, got pneumonia, had to be on a drip, my hands swelled up!" Li Qingshan said angrily. "I’m still not entirely recovered! Sometimes I even cough a bit. Kid, don’t you have something to say to me?"

Zhang Linsheng blinked a few times, pondered for a few seconds, and then hesitated. "...Drink more hot water?"

Li Qingshan: "..."

A few seconds later, several men in the room started to shout, "You little twerp, what’s with the attitude?!"

"Deal with him!"

"Damn it! Ruin him!"

Li Qingshan smiled coldly, allowing his men to swear for a bit before making a commanding gesture with his hand, silencing the room.

The grandiose Hall Master Li coughed. "Kid, we haven’t properly gotten acquainted! We haven’t had the chance, right? But now that we have met today, we should make up for lost time!"

Saying that, the elder pushed a cup of tea towards Zhang Linsheng and said in a serious tone, "I am Li Qingshan! In the Jianghu, those who respect me call me Hall Master. And you? Kid, what’s your racket? Which hall are you with?"

"...I..." Zhang Linsheng swallowed. "I... am Chen HaoNan from No. 8 Middle School."

PFFT! The elder almost spat out his dentures.

Chen HaoNan?

You really think this old man hasn’t seen *Young and Dangerous*, you little punk!

Anger surged in his heart, but he forcefully suppressed it.

Hmm, this kid’s too tough. Using the girl might barely keep him in check, but I can’t push him too hard.

Calming his breath, Li Qingshan stared at Zhang Linsheng for a few seconds and gritted his teeth. "Since you refuse to come clean, never mind. We’ve truly met today! We’ll get to know each other slowly over time!"

Li Qingshan tilted his head. An underling then threw a suitcase on the table and opened it with both hands.

CLICK.

Upon opening the case, it revealed stack after stack of banknotes.

Zhang Linsheng’s eyes stared fixedly for a moment!

Then the youth blinked and looked at the old man.

"Here, not much, 500,000! Just consider it a meeting gift from me to you, little brother!"

What?!

Zhang Haonan’s eyes bulged. Could there really be such a good thing?

Has my reputation as Brother Haonan from No. 8 Middle School become this big?

"...You can take the money! But, I want something in return!"

Zhang Linsheng hesitated. He swallowed hard, looking bewilderedly at the money before him, then lifted his head to look at Hall Master Li...

"That... I won’t do anything like selling myself, you know."

"HAHAHAHA!" Li Qingshan deliberately burst into a loud laugh—also, who knew when it started, but these guys who became big shots in the underworld always had the habit of bursting into loud laughter for no reason, just like they’d learned from some third-rate TV dramas.

"Little brother, whether you’re a mighty dragon from across the river or a lone wolf, I’m well aware that this amount of money can’t buy your allegiance!"

Actually, it can, Zhang Linsheng silently muttered in his heart.

"I just want to buy one thing. You agree, and today, you can take this money! Take it anytime! I’ll courteously see you out this door!" Li Qingshan pointed at the gilded doorknob on the room’s door.

"What thing?"

"I just want... Bald Lei’s hand!" Li Qingshan clenched his teeth. "You can take the money today! You have three days. Chop off Bald Lei’s right hand and bring it to me!"

Saying this, Li Qingshan looked back at School belle Sun, who was already sitting on the ground with watery eyes, struggling incessantly.

"What a cute little sister! She must be your close female friend, right?"

I bloody wish... Zhang Linsheng continued to be dumbfounded. And by the way, who the hell is Bald Lei?

Are you even speaking Chinese, Big Bro?

"For these three days, I’ll have to trouble this little sister to be my guest! Don’t worry, I’m a man of principle. As a guest here, she’ll be well looked after! Not a single hair on her head will be touched! Not a single finger will lay on her! After three days, bring me Bald Lei’s right hand, and you can have her back!"

Zhang Linsheng’s mind flashed with thousands of thoughts...

Five hundred thousand?

The biggest project I, Brother Haonan from No. 8 Middle School, ever handled was robbing a wonton stall last month for fifty yuan!

And now you’re telling me about a 500,000 deal... and it involves taking someone’s hand...

This big shot... I haven’t even finished my homework yet!

"..."

Zhang Linsheng’s heartbeat thundered like drums. Even though he was initially scared stiff, even though he was completely bewildered, he finally began to catch on.

Although he didn’t know why, although he didn’t understand what was really happening.

But one thing he did understand.

These people, it seems, have mistaken me for someone else?

Wait a second... who on earth did they mistake me for?

Could it be...

That troublesome figure instantly popped into Zhang Linsheng’s mind.

Yet it felt utterly absurd!

Him?

Him?!

Could he actually be the reason these real big shots of the underworld are treating me with such seriousness?

Was this scene, like something straight out of a movie, truly set up for *him*?

No way, no way...

Zhang Linsheng’s mind gradually cleared and whirred into action.

Reveal my own identity and tell them they got the wrong person?

Glancing at the fierce-looking guys in the room, the knives, the daggers... and the 500,000 on the table.

Zhang Linsheng, no matter how foolish, understood that if he dared to reveal himself, he’d probably be done for tonight!

Can’t say it, can’t say it...

So...

Should I keep acting?

How the hell am I supposed to keep acting?!

Just then, background music started playing in his mind:

"Ruling the world, I roam free, admired by all..."

"Haonan, Mountain Chicken, Dai Tin Yee, Banana Peel... Ugly Kwan, Crow..."

One familiar scene after another flashed before his eyes.

The fire of youth surged within!

SLAP!

Zhang Linsheng extended his hand, but instead of grabbing the case on the table, he slowly picked up a box of cigarettes in front of Li Qingshan, flicked one out with one hand, and, holding it in his mouth, drew it out.

This act of single-handedly flicking a cigarette out of the box was something he did to look cool, practiced countless times, and now it seemed he was quite adept at it.

His other hand was in his pocket, pinching his own thigh hard.

Why? Pain stops the trembling!

"Got a light?" The teenager’s voice was a bit hoarse from tension, but it sounded steady.

Li Qingshan tilted his head slightly.

A subordinate walked over to Zhang Linsheng, took out a lighter, and flicked it on.

Zhang Linsheng brought the cigarette in his mouth closer and inhaled a few times. After the flame flared up, he exhaled a stream of smoke from his nose.

"Not enough."

A flash of something odd crossed Li Qingshan’s eyes, but he smiled instead. "Good! You’ve got guts, and you’re greedy enough—I like that! When this is done, I’ll double this amount for you!" Saying so, the old man pointed to the leather case on the table.

Zhang Linsheng took a few more deep drags, then forcefully blew the smoke out. He stood up, stepped on the cigarette butt on the floor, grabbed the cash case from the table, closed it, and lifted it.

"I’ll take the job."

Having said that, Zhang Linsheng turned and walked towards Sun Keke, but Li Qingshan’s men immediately stopped him. The one standing beside Sun Keke also quickly pressed a knife to her neck.

"I just want to say a couple of words. What, don’t you trust me?" Zhang Linsheng asked, his voice hoarse.

Li Qingshan sneered, "Little brother, you’re too capable for me to trust! Whatever you want to say, say it right here."

"... " Zhang Linsheng took a deep breath and looked at Sun Keke. Then, using all his effort, he managed to squeeze out a smile that didn’t look too tense. "Keke, don’t worry. I’ll get you out of here. I’ll keep my promise, no matter what."

With that, Zhang Linsheng winked at Sun Keke.

A shiver went through Sun Keke’s mind...

Promise... Chen Nuo?

Zhang Linsheng turned to look at Li Qingshan. "Not a hair on her head can be harmed."

"Don’t worry, in three days, I’ll return her unharmed!"

The young man exhaled, stood tall and proud, and strode toward the door.

Two subordinates opened the door to let him out, following him all the way to the elevator and accompanying him downstairs, seeing him to the exit.

It wasn’t until Li Qingshan’s two men had gone back up in the elevator that Zhang Linsheng, standing outside the door, finally allowed his body to go limp. He leaned against the wall, his legs shaking uncontrollably.

As the wind blew, his body trembled, and his back felt chillingly cool, completely soaked with sweat!

Chen Nuo... Chen Nuo!

I must find Chen Nuo right now!

These people clearly mistook me for Chen Nuo!

Zhang Linsheng had no mobile phone... His family couldn’t afford one. And he didn’t know Chen Nuo’s phone number either.

Standing disoriented by the roadside, he glanced back at the building with its neon lights flickering.

Should I call the police?

The thought flickered in the young man’s mind.

But just then, a motorcycle came speeding over and, with a SCREECH, stopped by the roadside!

A person wearing a helmet dismounted, striding towards the grand entrance.

Zhang Linsheng glanced over and immediately shouted at the top of his lungs, "Chen Nuo!"

Chen Nuo stopped in his tracks, turned around, and looked at Zhang Linsheng with eyes hidden in the helmet.

"Eh? You’re here? How could you recognize me?"

"...I..."

Zhang Linsheng wanted to say... Do you really think I wouldn’t recognize you just because you’re wearing a motorcycle helmet?

With that wobbly gait of yours, and that silhouette!

I’d recognize you even if you turned to ashes, damn it!

Before he could say much more, Zhang Linsheng stuffed the cash box he was holding into Chen Nuo’s hands and pointed at the grand door behind him.

"They’ve taken Sun Keke! An old man called Hall Master Li! They mistook me for you. Keke is all right for now, but they want five hundred thousand for the right hand of someone called Bald Lei..."

Speaking in one breath, Zhang Linsheng seemed to have exhausted all his strength. His body went limp, and he swayed, leaning against the wall. "That’s all I know. That’s everything."

Chen Nuo looked at Zhang Linsheng, "Is Sun Keke inside?"

"Mhm, she’s fine, for now."

Chen Nuo looked down at the cash box in his hand and nodded. "Okay, you go back."

"Ah? Me, can I do anything to help you? Should we call the police or find someone..."

Chen Nuo smiled and patted Zhang Linsheng’s shoulder. "Go home... What comes next is not something you can get involved in, Brother Haonan."

In the room, Li Qingshan squinted at Sun Keke.

"Boss, this chick is not bad, maybe we should..."

Li Qingshan glared at the subordinate who was speaking. "Aren’t there enough women in the place to satisfy your urges?"

The old man sneered. "No rush. If that kid really brings Bald Lei’s hand to me in three days, do you think it’s all over then?"

"...Eh?"

"These next two days, find some guys to keep a close watch on Bald Lei! Keep a tight eye on him! Take some decent digital cameras! If something happens to Bald Lei, make sure you get a good shot of the kid in the act!"

"And then?"

Li Qingshan sneered. "Then... of course, we call the police! We are law-abiding citizens, after all!"

After a pause, the old man laughed heinously. "Five hundred thousand for one of Bald Lei’s hands! And then this kid gets to spend eight or ten years behind bars... That’s what I call a fair price!"

At this, Li Qingshan smiled. "If everything really gets sorted out, that weirdo kid really goes in, and the dust truly settles, are you still worried you won’t be able to find this chick? Be patient!"

The subordinates laughed one after another, with a wave of flattery like "Boss is awesome," "Boss is brilliant."

CLICK.

The handle of the door was turned, then the door was slowly pushed open, and a figure stepped in.

Li Qingshan looked up.

HISSS!

Black leather jacket, black helmet, leather gloves...

This getup... it looks familiar!

A sinking feeling gripped Hall Master Li’s heart, but he still managed to squeeze out a smile. "Brother Haonan, why have you come back?"

"Came back to see you."

"...Why did you change clothes?"

"Scared of being photographed."

"...What do you mean?" Li Qingshan rose to his feet.

"Hold on a sec," said Chen Nuo as he turned around, first activating the deadbolt on the door handle, then, after a thought, he secured the security chain as well.

Only then did he turn back to Li Qingshan, sigh, and say, "Our last encounter was rather hurried. Your little building wasn’t that big, so I didn’t see a safe... But this time, we’re in your establishment. With a business as big as yours, surely you have a safe here, right?"