C22 Hidden Dragon Gang

Qiao Gao glanced at the large crater on the boulder, then turned his head and said sternly, “Come out, quit sneaking around!”

From a pile of rocks in the distance, three figures emerged.

Leading them was Choo Guang, a burly man with sharp eyes, followed closely by two scrawny, shifty-looking men.

Choo Guang eyed Qiao Gao suspiciously, thinking to himself, “How did this kid seem to have eyes in the back of his head, dodging the ambush like he saw it coming?”

The Hidden Dragon Gang had plenty of experience with ambushes and robberies, executing them flawlessly. How did they fail this time? Was it a fluke or just luck?

However, as Choo Guang focused on Qiao Gao, his doubts vanished. Qiao Gao appeared slight, at least compared to him, and more importantly, Choo Guang sensed no energy emanating from him. Even if Qiao Gao were a master at the Soul Connecting Stage, Choo Guang would have detected some level of energy. In other words, if Qiao Gao were indeed a master, he couldn’t have hidden it from Choo Guang’s discerning eyes.

Since he wasn’t a master, there was nothing to worry about.

Choo Guang flashed a cruel smile and, with his two henchmen in tow, swaggered toward Qiao Gao.

“Kid, you’ve crossed the wrong people,” Choo Guang shouted, his voice booming with power. If it were an ordinary Three-vein Connection fighter, they’d likely be scared stiff.

Qiao Gao squinted his eyes, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. "Oh? Are you talking about the front desk clerk at the underground training room?"

Choo Guang's eyes widened, a hint of surprise crossing his rugged face. He had planned to intimidate this big fish and then take advantage of him, thinking it would make things easier. After all, these young heirs with a bit of money are usually spineless; a little scare, and they'd crumble.

Choo Guang hadn't expected Qiao Gao to remain so calm.

"This kid seems more complicated than he looks," Choo Guang thought to himself. Despite being a bit taken aback by Qiao Gao's demeanor, he didn't take him too seriously.

"Judging by the energy waves coming off him, his strength is definitely below the Five-Vein Connection. Let's see what kind of trouble you can stir up," Choo Guang mused internally.

"If you know you've offended someone, then apologize," Choo Guang said, extending a hand. "That clerk is under the protection of the Hidden Dragon Gang. Offend her, and you offend the entire gang!"

"Hidden Dragon Gang?" Qiao Gao murmured. He had heard of them—a notorious group from the nearby towns of Great Flame City, known for their ruthless deeds and thievery.

"You dare to cross the Hidden Dragon Gang? Pay ten thousand dollars in compensation and break your own arm!" Choo Guang demanded with a cold smile, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

"Alright, I'll give you ten grand and then break my own arm!" Qiao Gao laughed heartily.

"Oh? Looks like you know your place," Choo Guang's eyes lit up with a sinister gleam. "These rich kids are all spineless. Just a little scare, mention the Hidden Dragon Gang, and they practically wet themselves. The gang's 'achievements' over the years really do have some effect, scaring people out of their wits!"

Qiao Gao shook his head, still smiling. "No, you give me ten grand and break your own arm!"

Whoosh~~~

The entire wasteland fell silent, the only sound was the cold wind blowing.

"What did you just say, kid?" Choo Guang was stunned, thinking he misheard. His eyes narrowed dangerously, locking onto Qiao Gao, as if daring him to repeat himself so he could tear him to pieces.

Qiao Gao squinted, still smiling. "You give me ten grand and break your own arm, and I'll let you walk away."

"Boss, this kid's messing with us!" one of the henchmen growled.

"Take him out!"

Choo Guang laughed cruelly. No one had dared to stand up to him like this in years. With a swift motion, he signaled his two goons to attack Qiao Gao...