Chapter Eighteen: This Is a Misunderstanding

“What’s going on?”

Conflicts were a daily occurrence here, but due to the formidable backing of the Golden Pavilion, even when they happened, they were always settled outside. As the manager, Cao Long usually enjoyed watching the drama unfold. But now, the one involved in the conflict was Yu Wei, and Cao Long found himself unable to sit still. The kid might be a blockhead, but his family was powerful. Although Cao Long’s own connections meant he didn’t fear the Bureau of Industry and Commerce, maintaining good relations could only benefit him—and prove his ability to handle tricky situations. If someone above came to inspect, it might even earn him a promotion.

However, at this moment, Qin Yang was already teetering on the brink of losing control.

Was this a joke? He had always been the one to intimidate others—how could he allow someone else to threaten him? The spoiled young master could be as arrogant as he liked, but petty men were not to be trampled on.

Just as Yu Wei was about to complain to Cao Long and demand that Qin Yang be punished, he suddenly sensed a shadow drawing near. Startled, he had no time to react before a searing pain lanced through his abdomen, and he was sent flying. As Qin Yang approached, he snatched a bottle of liquor from someone’s hand. Ignoring the shocked cries and attempts to stop him, he brought the bottle down with a crash.

Bang.

Blood gushed from Yu Wei’s head as the bottle shattered into shards, the remaining alcohol splattering both of them.

“You—!” Yu Wei tried to curse, but Qin Yang stomped his foot on Yu Wei’s chest and coldly spat, “You dare pour wine on my head? Did you really think the clay Buddha has no temper?”

Cao Long and the others were stunned. Was this man mad? Yu Wei was notorious for his vindictiveness, and few dared tangle with someone so brazen yet so brainless. More than that, Yu Wei had Long Qiu Hu backing him—no one in all of Haitian City dared treat him this way. Even those who dared show off in front of him would never have gone this far.

Yang Yaxin stared in wide-eyed shock, anxiety clouding her gaze, while Qin Wu, on the other hand, was so electrified that she clenched her fists in excitement. Let the sky fall, she didn’t care—she even wished for more chaos. Looking at Qin Yang now, he was not at all detestable; on the contrary, he was truly handsome.

“Get him!” Even a dog’s owner must be respected. Yu Wei, though just a sidekick, was still under his protection. This guy was simply too insolent. He roared, but suddenly realized no one responded to his command.

He didn’t feel awkward; instead, he turned to glance at Cao Long, his eyes icy with threat. Cao Long frowned and waved his hand, and four burly men immediately stepped forward. Qin Yang’s eyes flickered. In his consciousness, hell’s depths erupted with a violent black light that surged through his body, even suppressing the energy from the jade pendant. A manic strength swept over him, and for a moment, he felt an urge to slaughter everyone present.

With this enormous surge of power, his whole body trembled. As one man approached, Qin Yang kicked out, hooked the man’s leg with his left arm, and drove his right fist down hard. There was a sickening crack—those nearby clearly heard the bone shatter.

“Aaargh!”

A scream rang out from the thug as Qin Yang sneered and tossed him to the ground. At the same time, he saw over a dozen black souls floating toward him, slipping into hell. Deep, rumbling voices questioned him, but he ignored them.

“Incredible… Absolutely incredible.”

Qin Wu was so exhilarated she could barely contain herself. Yang Yaxin’s worry deepened—what were they to do now?

Cao Long, seeing his men so thoroughly crushed, gasped. These four men had fought their way up through countless battles, striking with ruthless efficiency—yet Qin Yang was even more savage, crippling one with a single move. This kid was no pushover. Could he really have picked the wrong opponent this time?

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

Suddenly, a voice rang out with authority. A valiant-looking woman stepped from the crowd, followed by three or four others. At the sight of her, Long Qiu Hu’s brow knit tightly, and even Cao Long and his men were startled. Why was the tigress here?

The shout snapped Qin Yang from his murderous haze. Seeing Sun Qi’s blazing eyes, he was momentarily taken aback.

“Steward, what’s happening?” Qin Yang ignored the others for now, asking inwardly, “Why did I just want to kill someone?”

“You are the host of hell—a reaper. Killing should come as naturally to you as breathing,” the steward replied nonchalantly, unconcerned with the fate of a few lives. In fact, he wished someone would die, as that would strengthen hell. After a pause, he added, “I sensed several wraiths here just now. You absorbed them, didn’t you? They were only first-level spirits, but they should still help you.”

Even without the steward’s reminder, Qin Yang sensed the wraiths. Watching the black specters pour into hell, he made no move to read their memories—he didn’t need to waste his limited soul points on that.

“Captain Sun, it’s him.” One of Sun Qi’s subordinates quietly informed her.

Sun Qi snorted coldly and waved her hand. “Take them all in for questioning.”

“Deputy Captain Sun, isn’t that a bit much?” Long Qiu Hu said flatly, “It’s clear that Qin Yang is the troublemaker here. We’re the victims. Two of my friends were hurt.”

Sun Qi spared her a glance.

Long Qiu Hu remained composed and turned to Yang Yaxin and Qin Wu. “Yaxin, Wu, you two can testify, can’t you?”

“We…” Yang Yaxin was instantly torn.

It was an obvious demand to choose—a choice between Qin Yang, who had stood up for her, and the young master who held her father’s company’s fate in his hands. It wasn’t a good choice at all. Qin Wu, brash as ever, was about to speak, but Yang Yaxin stopped her at once, hesitating endlessly.

“Sis!” Qin Wu protested.

Qin Yang gave a wry smile. So his good deed would go unrewarded after all.

Long Qiu Hu nodded in satisfaction. “Silence is admission, Deputy Captain Sun. I think you know what to do.”

Sun Qi snorted and waved her hand.

Two officers shrugged, stepped forward, and cuffed Qin Yang. These were the same officers who had chatted amiably with him at the station yesterday morning. They whispered, “No big deal—we saw what really happened. Don’t worry, you’ll be out soon. But don’t argue with Captain Sun—she’s in a foul mood. If you provoke her, and something goes wrong, it’ll be messy.”

Qin Yang nodded helplessly and took a few steps with them. He picked up a glass of wine from the table, took a sip, then glanced at Cao Long and said, “The stuff inside is good. I’m spoiled—I'll talk about everything I know.”

A cryptic remark, but Cao Long’s face instantly turned pale, a storm raging in his heart. In just a few seconds, he had made his decision. “Wait, Captain Sun, this is all a misunderstanding.”

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

Everyone was baffled—what was Cao Long playing at, helping Qin Yang now? But Qin Yang only flashed a clownish, mocking grin.

“Whether it’s a misunderstanding or not, we’ll judge for ourselves,” Sun Qi replied coldly, ignoring Cao Long’s pleas and leading Qin Yang away. Her final meaningful glance left Cao Long in torment—did Qin Yang know something, or not?

Because of the commotion, Yang Yaxin and Qin Wu slipped away early. Along the road, Qin Wu was indignant. Seeing Yang Yaxin’s slightly pale face, she couldn’t help but speak up, “Sis, what were you thinking? If not for Qin Yang, who knows what would have happened to us?”

“Wu,” Yang Yaxin replied with a bitter smile, “I had no choice. My father—”

At that, Qin Wu felt a wave of helplessness.

At the entrance, Wang Zhibing overheard their conversation. Fury flared in his eyes, his fists clenching so tightly that his knuckles cracked. “Good, Yang’s Jewelry. Very good. I’ll show you what the true end of days looks like!”