The police asked a few questions and then quickly left. The location was more than 20 kilometers from where the crime occurred.

The third brother watched as Brother Dao bowed and scraped as he saw the police officer off, a forced smile on his face: "Brother Dao, wasn't that a good thing? I didn't say anything."

"Ten thousand yuan!" Brother Dao gritted his teeth and held up one finger.

"That's a bit too little," the third brother said, pouting.

"Damn it, don't you know my situation? It's just ten thousand, take it or leave it!"

"Alright then." The third brother nodded.

Zhang Zhongming kept an eye on the doorway, his hands in his cotton-padded coat pockets, pacing casually.

The third brother had his back to the door.

Zhang Zhongming walked up behind Lao San, suddenly pulled his hands out of his pockets, and strangled Lao San's neck like iron clamps!

Dao Ge pounced on him almost reflexively.

Zhang Zhongming clenched his teeth, his nostrils flared, and his arm muscles bulged as he gripped the reins tightly.

The third brother's face turned a deep liver color, his eyes bulged out and were bloodshot.

Dao Ge covered Lao San's mouth tightly with one hand, and reached into his clothes with the other hand to pull out the gun.

Soon, the third brother's body went limp and he fell silent.

"Huff...huff..." Brother Dao gasped for breath. This was his first time killing someone. His heart was pounding and his hands and feet were ice cold.

Zhang Zhongming acted as if nothing had happened, letting go of the body, bending down to drag Lao San's corpse towards the window.

"Zhongming, what do we do now? There are people everywhere outside!" Brother Dao's voice trembled.

Zhang Zhongming tilted his head and thought for a moment, then threw the corpse on the ground: "Brother Dao, how about we do this..."

Not long after, Dao Ge's roar echoed from the small house.

"Get the hell in here, all of you!"

The underlings waiting outside pushed the door open and entered the room, laughing and joking.

"Bang!"

Standing by the door, Brother Dao's eyes flashed with a fierce light. He locked the door behind him and pulled out the gun that belonged to the third brother.

All the henchmen's smiles froze on their faces, their expressions tightening.

"Brother Dao, what are you doing!"

"Brother, don't point the gun at me, it might go off accidentally!"

Zhang Zhongming remained expressionless, toying with a dagger in his hand.

Dao Ge, breathing rapidly, asked, "Brothers, how have I treated you these past few years?"

"Brother Dao, you are loyal and courageous..."

"Brother Dao, just let us know if you need anything, we'll definitely back you up..."

"Clang!" Zhang Zhongming threw the dagger on the table.

Brother Dao also spoke up: "Since you acknowledge me as your elder brother, shouldn't we share the hardships together?"

Zhang Zhongming bent down, lifted the tattered sack on the ground, revealing the third brother's unseeing face.

The room fell silent, and everyone's face turned deathly pale.

"Pick up your knives, everyone give Third Brother a stab. From now on, we're brothers who'd risk our lives for each other!" Brother Knife gripped his gun tightly, the muzzle trembling slightly with tension.

The crowd looked at each other, none daring to move.

Zhang Zhongming grinned, picked up the dagger on the table, turned around and squatted down.

"puff!"

The dagger pierced the third brother's chest cleanly and swiftly, then was pulled out abruptly, splattering bright red blood all over Zhang Zhongming's face.

He turned to his group of henchmen, a sinister smile on his face: "Who wants to go first?"

"Brothers, don't push me!" Brother Dao's voice was hoarse.

After a few seconds of deathly silence, a young man, his face pale, gritted his teeth, stepped forward, took the dagger from Zhang Zhongming, closed his eyes, and stabbed wildly.

Once someone takes the lead, the rest will follow naturally.

Dao Ge's breathing gradually calmed down, and he forced a twisted smile: "Now, we're all in the same boat."

...

Funing County.

Office on the second floor of Nanyang Street Police Station.

Zhao Daming sat in the chair, looked at Zhang Cheng in front of him, and shook his head almost imperceptibly.

"Your case has been merged into two investigations in Funing and Jiaxing. However, since you killed them all, it will be difficult to find out if they have any accomplices."

Zhang Cheng remained silent.

Zhao Daming sighed softly: "Are you going back to Zhangjia Village to handle the funeral arrangements for your fellow villager, or are you going directly to Shanghai?"

"Go to Shanghai first," Zhang Cheng said calmly. "With so many treasury bonds, it's unsafe to leave them anywhere. We need to sell them as soon as possible."

Zhao Daming looked at him, hesitated, and finally just nodded: "Be careful on the road."

Zhang Cheng hummed in agreement and turned to leave the office.