Chapter 36: A Sudden Turn of Events!

"Die!"

Duan Lingxiao stomped on Tsunoda Koichi repeatedly. He had always preferred to show his 'respect' for enemies in the most brutal way possible.

In moments, Tsunoda Koichi was covered in wounds, his chest completely caved in, and blood gushing out. There wasn't a single intact part of him left. Like a bullfrog tossed into a pot of boiling water, he was reduced to nothing but instinctive twitching and trembling. He was unable to perform even the slightest deliberate action.

"Damn it, this guy is a monster!"

Kiyohara Kazuma’s expression shifted wildly. He flashed away, ignoring Tsunoda Koichi entirely, and bolted toward the interior of the Sakura Society.

As a gang sheltered by the Eastern Japanese Chamber of Commerce, the interior of the Sakura Society was funded and constructed by the organization itself. To be safe, Kiyohara Kazuma had even built a steel basement inside. Its original purpose was to facilitate his torture and abuse of kidnapped women, but it had now become his sanctuary for survival.

He sprinted into the Sakura Society and pressed a button on the wall. With a low rumble, the wall before him split down the middle. He dove into the narrow space that opened up, and an instant later, the gap sealed shut.

"Damn it, damn it! How is this Dragon Kingdom brat so strong? I’ve already called Chairman Tokugawa; I just need to hold out, reinforcements should be here soon."

Kiyohara Kazuma’s face was deathly pale. For the first time, he felt the true threat of death. Yet, he felt secure now. The walls of this room were lined with steel plates and reinforced with a meter of concrete—it was incredibly sturdy, capable of stopping even bullets. No matter how powerful his opponent was, he was still a martial artist! And martial artists were still flesh and blood. He did not believe Duan Lingxiao could break through.

*BOOM!*

At that moment, a deafening sound echoed through the room, forcing Kiyohara Kazuma to cover his ears.

"What the hell, no way!"

Kiyohara Kazuma was stunned; the violent vibration brought him a deep, overwhelming sense of unease. He scrambled to pull out his phone and dialed several more numbers. Just then, another massive crash erupted—louder than the last. Kiyohara Kazuma looked up, staring at the wall. Suddenly, his face was filled with shock and disbelief.

On the sturdy wall, chunks of concrete began to flake off rapidly, soon exposing the thick steel plating underneath.

*BOOM!*

Another strike landed. On the steel plate, a deep fist print appeared. This was steel! It was of a density capable of repelling bullets and standard artillery. Yet now, it was being buckled by a bare fist? At that moment, Kiyohara Kazuma’s expression shifted, his eyes narrowing in terror.

The only thing left was a creeping, thick sense of dread.

*THUD!*

Kiyohara Kazuma collapsed to the ground, his body drained of all strength. He watched helplessly as more and more fist prints appeared on the steel, forming a dense cluster of indentations.

"Damn it, am I, a dignified Vice Chairman of the Eastern Japanese Chamber of Commerce, going to die here?"

Kiyohara Kazuma’s face turned ashen. Just then, his phone buzzed. It was Chairman Tokugawa Qiangyue!

"Chairman! Have you arrived? This Dragon Kingdom brat has severely wounded Vice Chairman Tsunoda and wiped out over thirty of our mid-level warriors! I’m about to be killed!" Kiyohara Kazuma roared, his voice trembling with agitation.

"Don't panic. I am not in Jiangnan City right now, but I have already requested Young Master Ouyang to go and save you!"

Tokugawa Qiangyue’s voice came through. Even he found it incredible. When he had presided over Jiangnan City, no one had ever dared to storm their headquarters. What was the origin of this young man from the Dragon Kingdom? Why had he never heard of him before?

"Young Master Ouyang?"

"Good, good, good! I’ll wait for him! I should be able to hold out for a few more minutes!"

"Chairman, please tell Young Master Ouyang to hurry, or this time tomorrow will be my death anniversary!" Kiyohara Kazuma screamed frantically.

Grandma Liu Xiaoqing once said that everything is trivial compared to life and death. When the crisis of death arrives, few can remain calm.

*CRASH!*

At that moment, the heavy steel plate was suddenly smashed open, leaving a gaping hole.

*BOOM!*

A powerful blast of energy surged through. Kiyohara Kazuma was struck by the shockwave, feeling an immense pressure on his chest, and he vomited a large mouthful of black blood on the spot.

"You... don't come any closer!"

Kiyohara Kazuma saw Duan Lingxiao walking in. His gaze trembled, like a flickering candle in the wind, seemingly about to be extinguished.

"I didn't expect you to build a safe house here."

Duan Lingxiao scanned the room, his expression growing darker. Inside this steel-and-concrete chamber, various special implements were hanging on the walls: whips, hooks, daggers, candles, ropes, chains, a gantry... Many of them were still stained with blood. It was obvious this place had been used for unspeakable acts.

"Eastern Japanese dogs, always so perverted."

Duan Lingxiao kicked Kiyohara Kazuma out of the room. The latter landed like a dead dog right next to Tsunoda Koichi. Both men looked at Duan Lingxiao, shivering, their eyes filled with pure terror—as if they were at the bottom of the food chain, facing a terrifying predator at the very top.

"Speak. Why are you trying to seize the Xiao family’s assets?"

"No matter how you look at it, the Xiao family’s business is not something for your Eastern Japanese Chamber of Commerce to meddle in. If there aren't other forces involved behind this, then you're just joking."

"The methods your Eastern Japanese Chamber of Commerce has used to expand its influence in the Dragon Kingdom over the years... they’ve always been the same, haven't they?" Duan Lingxiao said calmly.

Hearing this, the expressions of both Kiyohara Kazuma and Tsunoda Koichi changed instantly. They hadn't expected Duan Lingxiao to know the inner workings of their organization so well.

"Mr. Ling, spare me! As long as you spare my miserable life, I am willing to betray Eastern Japan and become your slave—a dog at your feet. If you tell me to eat filth, I won't hesitate," Tsunoda Koichi, kneeling on the ground, crawled toward Duan Lingxiao and begged for mercy.

"Tsunoda Koichi, you dog! You would actually betray our Great Eastern Japanese Empire!?" Kiyohara Kazuma glared at him, cursing furiously. He had already notified Tokugawa Qiangyue, and reinforcements would arrive soon. Yet, at this critical moment, this piece of trash Tsunoda was choosing to betray them.

"There is an old saying in the Dragon Kingdom: he who understands the times is a hero. Kiyohara Kazuma, don't be so stubborn! I suggest you learn from me—kneel and beg Mr. Ling for mercy, and acknowledge him as your master!" Tsunoda Koichi remained unmoved, his voice cold.

At the same time, Tsunoda Koichi’s right hand pressed against his own waist.

A flash of realization crossed Kiyohara Kazuma’s eyes. Previously, Tsunoda Koichi had participated in the Eastern Japanese human experimentation project and passed the first round of trials. The result of this project was the ability to conceal lethal toxins within the human body. Once released, the surrounding area would instantly become a living hell, with no one surviving—a guaranteed death.

Tsunoda Koichi had already been severely wounded by Duan Lingxiao and had missed the window for effective treatment. Even if he went to a hospital with the best medical care now, he would be unlikely to recover. Therefore, he intended to drag Duan Lingxiao into the abyss with him before he died.

"Answer my question first," Duan Lingxiao said.

"The Chairman of our Eastern Japanese Chamber of Commerce is Tokugawa Qiangyue. His Tokugawa family is one of the ten great families of Eastern Japan. They have immense influence and have been deepening their market roots in the Dragon Kingdom for a long time, establishing a massive base. One of the local Dragon Kingdom forces collaborating with the Tokugawa family is the Ouyang family."

"The Ouyang family? You mean the Ouyang family of Jinling?" Duan Lingxiao asked.

"Yes!" Tsunoda Koichi looked at Duan Lingxiao with surprise, thinking to himself that it was just as he suspected. Duan Lingxiao even knew about the Ouyang family in Jinling; it seemed his background was not simple at all.

"Mr. Ling, all of this was done under the orders of Tokugawa Qiangyue, with the involvement of the Ouyang family. I was just following orders! I haven't harmed a single member of the Xiao family in the last five years!"

"Please, look at the fact that I’ve confessed everything and spare my miserable life!" Tsunoda Koichi continued to plead. In the next moment, he suddenly tore violently at his own waist, exposing his raw flesh.

At the same time, a thick, black cloud of toxic mist instantly filled the air.

The sudden change had begun!