Chapter 46 Fang Che's Self-Harm Breaks the Situation
In that instant, the drain cover at the back wall of the workshop was pushed open, and a figure emerged, covered in mud and clutching an iron pipe.
It's Fang Che.
His face was covered in soot, but his eyes were bright.
As soon as it came out, it lunged at the nearest Thai man and smashed the iron pipe hard into the back of his knee!
With a "crack," the Thai man screamed and fell to his knees.
The other man turned and raised his gun, but Fang Che was faster!
He didn't dodge or flinch, but lunged forward, grabbed the other man's gun-wielding hand, and bit his wrist!
"Ah!" The gun flew out of his hand.
In a flash, Fang Che had already picked up the gun, rolled it behind the tire, and pointed it at the thug holding the child hostage.
"Release them! Or we'll shoot!"
His voice was hoarse, and his hand holding the gun was trembling...
He had never fired a real gun. But the fierce look in his eyes kept his henchmen from making a move.
Li Hanzhou moved.
He pounced like a cheetah, pulling the trigger the instant the henchman raised his gun.
"Bang bang bang!"
Three shots, and three people fell to the ground!
All of them were non-fatal, but they had already lost their fighting ability.
Ma Wang's expression changed drastically. He turned to flee, but Li Hanzhou's gun was already pressed against the back of his head.
"Make your men put down their guns."
The voice was cold and hard.
Horse King gritted his teeth: "Let it go... let it all go!"
The remaining henchmen looked at each other, then slowly lowered their weapons.
Gunfire suddenly intensified on the west side!
Ah Biao's men arrived and surrounded them from the outside, while Ah Gui began to fight back.
The situation has reversed.
Fang Che crawled out from behind the tire, pointing a gun at the henchman while cutting the rope binding the child's hands.
“Brother Che…” the youngest girl cried.
"It's alright now." Fang Che's voice softened, but his eyes remained fixed on Ma Wang.
Li Hanzhou escorted Ma Wang over, his gaze falling on Fang Che.
The boy was covered in mud, and blood seeped through the gauze on his left shoulder...
The wound reopened.
"Nonsense." Li Hanzhou's voice was deep.
“I can’t let you be the only hero.” Fang Che grinned, his white teeth standing out against his dark face. He turned to Ma Wang, his smile fading: “Uncle Ma, you’re going to hurt the child?”
Ma Wang's face turned ashen, but he still stubbornly insisted, "Fang Che, you think you've won? Young Master Jiang won't let you off the hook, and neither will those in Thailand..."
"Bang!"
Another gunshot rang out!
It was neither Li Hanzhou nor Fang Che.
A bullet came from above the stacking area and hit Li Hanzhou's feet... It was a warning!
Everyone looked up and saw a sniper crouching in the cab of an abandoned truck high above.
The gun was pointed at Li Hanzhou.
"There's another trick up your sleeve." Li Hanzhou narrowed his eyes.
Ma Wang laughed, a twisted smile: "Li Hanzhou, why would I lay all my cards on the table? Put down your gun and let me go. Otherwise, the next shot won't hit the ground."
He then looked at Fang Che: "Kid, put down your gun, or I'll have someone kill those little brats first."
Fang Che's heart tightened.
The children were right behind me.
Li Hanzhou remained silent for two seconds before slowly lowering his gun.
Horse King retreated triumphantly!
"Wait a minute," Fang Che suddenly said.
He raised his gun... and pressed it against the wound on his left shoulder!
“Uncle Ma,” Fang Che said calmly, “guess what, if I shot myself in the shoulder and then told the elders that you kidnapped the child to force Brother Li to submit and even injured me! Who would the old guys believe?”
King Ma was stunned.
Fang Che continued, "Brother Li saved my life, and everyone on Portland Street saw it. If you lay a hand on me and the child today, you're slapping the faces of all the neighbors. Even if you leave here, do you think you can still live in Hong Kong?"
He paused, then said, word by word, "The foundation of the Wo Yee Tong is the neighborhood. If you lose the hearts of the people, even if you become the leader, you're just a figurehead."
King Ma's face turned pale.
He dared to take action because he was certain that Li Hanzhou wouldn't make a big fuss over a few children, and he was also certain that he could twist the truth afterward.
But if Fang Che really injured himself to frame someone, coupled with the neighborhood gossip...
“You wouldn’t dare,” Horse King gritted his teeth.
"Try it?" Fang Che pressed the gun barrel hard against his wound.
The gauze was instantly soaked with blood, which flowed down his arm.
The children cried, "Brother Che, no!"
Li Hanzhou's pupils contracted: "A-Che!"
“Brother Li,” Fang Che didn’t look at him, but stared at Ma Wang, “If I die here today, remember to burn lots of paper money. I’ll still be with you in the next life.”
He spoke softly, but his hand holding the gun was extremely steady.
Sweat beaded on Ma Wang's forehead.
He couldn't see through this young man.
He looks like a pretty boy, but he's more ruthless than a seasoned veteran.
Gunfire was approaching from the outside... Ah Gui and Ah Biao's men were about to break in.
Time is running out.
“King Ma,” Li Hanzhou suddenly spoke in a low voice, only those around him could hear, “you are not leaving today. But if you put down your gun now, I promise to spare your life. You will be dealt with according to the rules of the gang.”
Horse King's eyes flickered.
"What did Jiang Tianqi promise you? Money? Territory?" Li Hanzhou continued, "What he can give, I can't? But think it through, with Jiang Tianqi, you'll always be a dog. In Heyitang, at least you're still a human being."
These words are utterly hurtful.
Horse King's expression changed.
He knew Li Hanzhou was right.
Young master Jiang Tianqi looked down on them, these seasoned veterans.
Cooperation is merely exploitation.
Li Hanzhou... though ruthless, he keeps his word.
"Why should I believe you?" Horse King sneered.
"Based on the name Li Hanzhou," Li Hanzhou looked at him, "I never break my word."
silence.
The gunshots were getting closer, and Ah Gui's roar could be heard.
Finally, King Horse slumped down, saying, "...I admit defeat."
He waved towards the high place.
The sniper moved his gun away.
Li Hanzhou looked at Fang Che: "Put down the gun."
Fang Che slowly lowered his hand, still holding the gun.
His left shoulder was covered in blood, and his face was pale, yet he still managed to stand up straight.
Li Hanzhou quickly stepped forward to support him: "Hold on."
"I won't die..." Fang Che grinned, his smile weak, "I'll just feel dizzy..."
Before he could finish speaking, he fell forward.
Li Hanzhou caught him; his hands were warm and sticky…covered in blood.
"A-Gui!" Li Hanzhou shouted sharply, "Clean up the scene! Get him to the hospital!"
He scooped Fang Che up in his arms and ran towards the exit.
The boy in her arms was very light, and his breath was faint.
"A-Che, don't sleep." Li Hanzhou's voice was tense. "Speak."
Fang Che barely opened his eyes; his vision was blurry.
All he saw was Li Hanzhou's tense jaw and the anxiety in his usually calm eyes.
"Brother Li..." he whispered, "Wasn't I... handsome just now?"
Li Hanzhou's Adam's apple bobbed: "...Handsome."
"Then...can I get a raise next month...?" Fang Che mumbled, his mind wandering.
Li Hanzhou hugged him tighter and quickened his pace.
Behind them, the firelight from the junkyard illuminated half the sky.
Ma Wang was being held captive by A Gui, his face ashen.
The children were led out by Ah Biao's men, and they all cried.
That night, Portland Street changed completely.
When Fang Che woke up again, he smelled disinfectant.
When I opened my eyes, all I saw was the pale ceiling of the hospital.
My left shoulder is wrapped in thick gauze, and there's a dull ache, but it's getting better.
It was broad daylight outside the window; it was already the next day.
A person was sitting by the bed, peeling an apple.
With skillful knife work, the apple peel was cut into a long strip that hung down to the ground.
It was Li Hanzhou.
He changed into a clean black shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms.
There's a pale blue tinge under his eyes, clearly indicating he didn't sleep all night.
“Brother Li…” Fang Che began, his voice dry and hoarse.
Li Hanzhou looked up, his hands still moving: "Awake?"
He peeled and cut the apple into pieces, stuck toothpicks in them, and held it to Fang Che's mouth: "Uncle Chen said you lost a lot of blood and need to take vitamins."
Fang Che opened his mouth and took it.
The apples are sweet, and their juice is soothing to the throat.
Where are the children?
"It's nothing serious, just a superficial injury. He went home yesterday." Li Hanzhou fed him another piece. "Ah Ming has a minor fracture in his neck. He'll need to wear a neck brace for a few days, but it's not serious."
Fang Che breathed a sigh of relief.
Where is the Horse King?
“According to the gang rules, three cuts and six holes mean expulsion from the gang.” Li Hanzhou said calmly. “Several of his core subordinates, including that scarred guy at the dock, have been dealt with. The businesses on the two streets will be temporarily managed by Ah Gui.”
Fang Che was taken aback: "Then King Ma..."
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