Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Overlord
Chen Dehai could be considered a leading figure in Zhonghai City. Years ago, he arrived alone from the north to seek employment in Zhonghai. Through a stroke of luck, he caught the eye of a local underworld figure and gradually rose from a mere thug to become his right-hand man. Chen Dehai was ruthless and suspicious by nature. Within a few years, he helped the local boss expand his territory significantly, becoming a force to be reckoned with in the western district of Zhonghai.
Then, just over a decade ago, Chen Dehai suddenly allied himself with the leader of the largest faction in the west district, the Western Alliance Society, under the leadership of Situ Mingze, who happened to be the father of Qiangwei. After eliminating his former boss, he became one of the most important elders under Situ Mingze's command.
Given Chen Dehai's control over the significant power of the former underworld boss, his usurpation was relatively smooth, encountering little resistance. Many had already recognized him as the new leader, and his ascension was supported without much effort.
It could be said that without Chen Dehai, it might have taken several more years for the Western Alliance Society to establish dominance in the west district. Some joked that Chen Dehai was like Wu Sangui during the fall of the Ming Dynasty, betraying his master to become a lord. Yet, no one knew when he might betray again.
Despite the numerous rumors circulating outside, within the Western Alliance Society, Chen Dehai was highly respected. After all, in terms of strength, he was one of the most formidable among the elders. Moreover, the more overtly villainous someone appeared, the more cautious others became. Therefore, the president of the Western Alliance Society, Situ Mingze, treated Chen Dehai exceptionally well, and their relationship was surprisingly harmonious.
After briefly reviewing Chen Dehai's information, Yang Chen's first impression of him was summed up in two words: "Overlord." Unconcerned with societal ethics and morals, and even less concerned with the rules of the underworld, everything he did was to gain a larger backing and ascend to a higher position, yet he proceeded with careful and solid steps.
Such a person, barring any unforeseen circumstances, would be one of the few in the underworld who could potentially live out his twilight years peacefully, for he himself was a betrayer who knew well how to prevent others from betraying him.
"Unfortunately, you fathered a foolish son," Yang Chen muttered quietly, closing his laptop and committing all the map data provided by Qiangwei to memory.
In the heart of the city at night, neon lights illuminated the streets, a sharp contrast to the outskirts and the highways.
Over half an hour later, Yang Chen parked his BMW outside a small park on the western outskirts of Zhonghai. The surrounding area was a somewhat rundown residential district. Chen Dehai's private apartment was located by the river about a kilometer away. Parking too close would not be conducive to concealment.
Yang Chen changed into a slightly tight-fitting black short-sleeved shirt and paired it with a similarly dark brown pair of trousers. As the chilly night breeze blew past, he bounced and twisted his body in some odd movements, causing his bones to crackle and pop. After about two minutes, he stopped moving.
"Phew..." Yang Chen breathed out, lifting his gaze to the moon obscured by clouds, a relaxed smile playing on his lips. "Thankfully, my body hasn't rusted yet."
As soon as he spoke, Yang Chen's figure vanished from its original position, reappearing moments later on the rooftop of a three-story building several tens of meters away. His agile body moved like a skilled lynx, swiftly leaping and bounding between rooftops towards a brightly lit mansion by the riverbank.
In less than two minutes, Yang Chen was crouched on a towering tree, with Chen Mansion just thirty meters ahead—a colossal five-story apartment occupying over eight hundred square meters.
According to the intel, Chen Dehai's wife had died shortly after giving birth to their son, Chen Feng, due to breast cancer. So, this massive fortress-like building was, in reality, inhabited only by the father and son. Of course, there were guards and protectors occupying a significant portion of the premises to ensure their safety.
The higher one's position, the more concerned one became about their safety, and Chen Dehai was no exception.
Yang Chen glanced over briefly; there was only one entrance to Chen Mansion, guarded by eight black-clad sentinels standing side by side. Occasionally, a few guards would patrol the courtyard, but their numbers seemed limited. With careful stealth, it wouldn't be too difficult to infiltrate the apartment building.
However, Yang Chen doubted that there were only a few people in such a large place. Most of the thugs, it seemed, were stationed inside the apartment building, ready to provide closer protection to the Chen father and son.
Infiltrating the mansion wasn't difficult for Yang Chen. However, that wasn't the main concern. Yang Chen's primary consideration was figuring out where Chen Dehai was located within the large house and how to locate him and his son, Chen Feng. So, Yang Chen thought it would be better to grab someone and ask.
With that thought in mind, Yang Chen's figure once again left the tree branch, appearing at the entrance of Chen Mansion, wearing an innocent and harmless expression.
The eight guards were initially startled by Yang Chen's sudden appearance, but they immediately closed in on him.
"Stop! Who are you?! Do you know where you are?!" one of the leading men bellowed.
Yang Chen didn't respond. When he was about five meters away, he suddenly pointed his toe to the ground, his body shooting forward like a launched arrow, swiftly darting towards the eight men!
The eight men didn't even have time to react. Though they all had pistols tucked in their waistbands, there was no opportunity to draw them at such close range. One of them attempted to raise his fist to block, but Yang Chen's sudden punch only grazed him, causing an intense, excruciating pain as if his hand bones were being crushed!
If one were to look from afar, it would seem as though Yang Chen's body had defied gravity, soaring into the midst of the eight men with a 360-degree whirlwind rotation. Like a black cyclone, his fists and feet made intimate contact with each of the eight men's fists, palms, chests, and stomachs.
This scene unfolded in a flash, before the eight men could fully react, they were already sprawled on the ground, writhing in pain from the impact on various parts of their bodies. Groans of agony escaped their lips uncontrollably. The leading man felt as if his hand bones had been pulverized. Knowing he had encountered a tough opponent, he dared not resist further. With beads of sweat forming on his forehead, he hastily reached for the button on his mini intercom, intending to notify everyone inside.
However, before he could do so, a sneaker-clad foot suddenly kicked him in the cheek. Not only did the kick smash the intercom, but the man's head also tilted to the side, blood spurting from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. His skull bore a deformed indentation, and a crimson pool formed on the ground. He was clearly lifeless!
The other seven men, upon witnessing this horrific sight, gasped in shock, feeling genuine fear from the depths of their souls. The young man before them still wore a faint smile, as if he were the devil incarnate. If demons from hell truly existed, his smile might be just like theirs!
The seven henchmen who had intended to sound the alarm now stared at Yang Chen, drenched in cold sweat, too terrified to move.
Yang Chen was quite satisfied with the outcome. As for killing a gangster, he didn't even bat an eye. After all, he had more than enough lives in his hands, enough to build skyscrapers.
"I'm in a hurry and don't have time to waste with you. I want to know where Chen Feng and Chen Dehai are right now. Tell me, and you can scram. Refuse, and I'll make you scram," Yang Chen said casually, as if he were asking someone for a lighter on the street. But to the seven men, his words were akin to the summons of death.