C32 Jackhammer

Lee was on edge, gripping Wang Yipao, ready to bolt.

The thought of Wang Yipao recalling a meal that once meant nothing to Lee never crossed his mind.

Lee's aid to Wang Yipao stemmed from respect.

After all, he was Wang Yipao, the Divine Wind Sword Immortal's most devoted fan.

His presence here was spurred by troubling news that had sent him racing over.

But Lee was no match for Wang Yipao, try as he might to pull him away.

"Lee, what's the problem? What havoc can Divine Wind wreak? Forgotten when your Mr. Pao arrived at the branch, knocking sense into those who wouldn't see? It was a one-punch affair. Who could Divine Wind possibly send? Just a bunch of punks, no real threat, just a few punches away from being dealt with," Wang Yipao chuckled.

"Mr. Pao, there's no time for explanations. You need to come with me now. Hey—You!"

Lee's efforts to move Wang Yipao were futile, prompting a wry smile.

"Mr. Pao, Divine Wind's directors are out to cripple you. I know you're tough, but they'll be armed. You can't take on four hands, especially when they're wielding weapons. Let's get out of here and lay low! They mean business this time!" Lee's urgency was palpable.

Yet Wang Yipao remained stoic.

Left with no choice, Lee reached for his phone to call for help, only to find no signal.

Impossible!

In a villa district, how could there be no signal?

Lee's complexion drained of color.

It was clear to anyone that the lack of signal meant the enemy was upon them, their presence jamming the connection.

Sure enough, a mob armed with clubs and blades was spotted on a nearby road.

Lee even caught sight of a security guard from outside the district being hauled along by the group.

Total insanity!

Divine Wind had lost all semblance of reason, resorting to this extreme.

"Who is Wang Yipao?"

The leader flung the battered guard aside with a dismissive air of invincibility.

"Wow, impressive, truly a man of the world," Wang Yipao chuckled, unable to contain his amusement.

"You looking for trouble, kid?" the man growled, clearly provoked by Wang Yipao's laughter. His expression turned grim as he brandished his saber and slammed it into the ground, sending sparks flying.

"Do you want a taste of this blade?" he snarled menacingly.

Wang Yipao simply clapped in response, "666." He then began to approach his adversary with a measured stride.

The man's brow furrowed in anticipation, his saber poised mid-air, ready to demonstrate his ferocity. But in a swift motion, Wang Yipao reached out, and the saber vanished from the man's grip.

Confusion painted the man's face. Had he not held his weapon firmly? Did it just fly out of his hand?

His eyes narrowed as he realized the saber now rested in Wang Yipao's hands. With a flair, Wang Yipao toyed with the weapon before suddenly resting the sharp edge against the man's throat. "Quite the feat, young man. It's not often you see such a well-honed saber on the market, especially with the tight regulations these days. You must have pulled some strings to bring this into the villa district, huh?"

The entire exchange had unfolded in less than three seconds, yet the tables had turned dramatically.

The man, with the blade pressed to his neck, was petrified, bewildered by Wang Yipao's uncanny speed and skill. It was one thing to have his saber taken, but to see it wielded with such elegance, as if it had always belonged to Wang Yipao, was something else entirely. He couldn't fathom how the saber had been snatched away, nor how it had so swiftly found its way to his neck.

The man's allies, witnessing the scene, drew their weapons and aimed them at Wang Yipao.

"Release Brother Ghost, now!"

"Do you have any idea who Brother Ghost is?"

"Do you even know what Brother Ghost is capable of?"

Wang Yipao was momentarily taken aback but quickly found the situation amusing. With a swift kick, he knocked the so-called Brother Ghost to the ground. The saber then danced across the man's chest, its sharp blade slicing through fabric to reveal the skin beneath.

"Yo yo yo, if it isn't the infamous Brother Jackhammer! And just what kind of ghost are you supposed to be?"

Wang Yipao toyed with his horse blade, his face twisted into a mocking grin as he taunted Jackhammer.

"Brother! Brother! I'm not Brother Jackhammer. Just Jackhammer. No, in your presence, I'm nothing but a lowly spirit, a tiny ghost. Please, have mercy and spare me!" Jackhammer was in a full-blown panic.

The man before him was unnervingly odd.

This was no ordinary person!

The old adage says the soft fear the strong, the strong fear the brash, but the brash cower before Wang Yipao's wicked ways.

Right now, Jackhammer hardly seemed like someone who had ever taken a life.

But precisely because he had, he was all the more terrified.

It's not people who are frightening; it's the fear that maybe, just maybe, the other isn't even human.

Have you ever seen anyone this badass, this formidable?

"Do you know who I am?" Wang Yipao suddenly pressed the sharp edge of the horse blade to Jackhammer's chest, drawing blood.

"I don't know you, I swear! Please, I didn't mean any disrespect, I truly didn't..." Jackhammer's eyes rolled back as he passed out.

"Eh? Passed out just like that?"

Wang Yipao was taken aback. These men were all armed, the leader with a sharpened horse blade no less.

Not the toughest guy, but no pushover either.

And he faints just like that, scared stiff?

Could the Divine Wind really be that clueless?

To send such a man for the job!

Your underlings are still standing, and you're out cold?

"I'm Wang Yipao. Who sent you?"

Wang Yipao stepped back, sheathing the horse blade, and with a swift kick, he roused the unconscious man.

The others were frozen in shock.

Meanwhile, Jackhammer, propped up by his flunkies, slowly came to.

"It was... it was the general manager of Divine Wind, Tong Lou," Jackhammer confessed, still visibly shaken. Even knowing Wang Yipao was his target, and merely human, he couldn't muster the nerve to retaliate.

"What did he send you for?" Wang Yipao let out a chuckle, amused by the evident urgency of the Divine Wind folks.

They had just come to Divine Wind Word in the morning to apologize, only to stir up trouble that same evening.

"He wanted us to take your hands, but no, no, no, we wouldn't dare!" Jackhammer, having snapped out of his daze, was too terrified to even make eye contact with Wang Yipao.

My hands?

Wang Yipao's eyes narrowed with intrigue.

Interesting.

"Enough. Take your knives and beat it. You think you can confront me with such meager skills? You have no idea what I'm capable of. And relay a message for me: tell them to watch their backs. If I run into them, my fists—big as sandbags—might just explode their pig heads."

With a flick of his wrist, Wang Yipao tossed the knife, landing it a mere 3 centimeters between Jackhammer's legs.

Jackhammer fainted from fear once more.

Wang Yipao gave them a look of contempt and escorted Lee into the villa.

"Jackhammer, what do we do now? This guy is... he's trained... definitely!" Someone revived Jackhammer, stammering in fear.

They hadn't caught Wang Yipao's quick knife grab, but the way he stabbed it into the ground was no ordinary feat.

And the precision of the throw.

Just 3 centimeters more, and Jackhammer would have been singing soprano.

Such power, such control.

This man is not to be messed with!

Absolutely not!

"Quit your babbling and let's get out of here. I can't stand this eerie place for another second. It's just too weird!"

Jackhammer bellowed, scrambling to his feet, ready to bolt.

Then Wang Yipao flung the door open again: "And another thing, fix the damn signal for me. You think it's funny blocking my internet at night? Don't you know I make my living off gaming? Unblock my network!"

Jackhammer's eyes rolled back as he collapsed once again, foaming at the mouth.