Chapter 36: The Bull Terrier Who Lost His Best Friend

The "Fight to the End" mahjong parlor was packed with people.

The ceiling lamp, which had originally been shattered, had been replaced with a new, simple bulb by the owner of the adjacent shop, illuminating the hall as brightly as day. More than thirty players from the Chaos faction, who roamed the surrounding area, stood there staring at the crime scene, a chill running down their spines.

The scene was simply too tragic and too bloody.

Beside a mahjong table, Old Yin was hunched over, his entire body wrapped in a large curtain like a newborn baby, his corpse frozen in a kneeling, prostrate position. Just half a step from his cheek lay a ten-yuan banknote. Seen from the front, it looked as if Old Yin were kowtowing in worship to that ten-yuan note. His cause of death was a blade that had pierced his neck, blood pooling across the floor. This man was a miser who would betray anyone for profit—even debasing his own dignity if necessary—so this manner of death was quite fitting for his persona.

Nearby lay the others: the woman who had been clamoring to buy medicine was covered in festering sores; the middle-aged man who believed gambling was all about winning had half a set of mahjong tiles stuffed into his mouth, his hands clutching a ten-yuan bill in each, lying peacefully on the sofa; and the blunt, foul-mouthed young man who liked to smoke had his tongue cut out and stuck to his forehead.

Everyone in the hall was a villain, yet witnessing the horrific demise of their four companions made them shudder.

At the front of the crowd, a sturdy young man wearing a tank top and a hip-hop cap scanned the four corpses. Veins bulged on his forehead, and his chest heaved. His nickname was Bull Terrier, a key figure in the "Roadside Dog" organization of Shanghai and a trusted subordinate of the lame boss, holding a slightly higher rank than Old Yin.

"Old Yin, oh, Old Yin!" Bull Terrier’s eyes welled with tears as he bent down and grabbed the corpse. "How could you just die like this?!"

"Brother Terrier, my condolences," a player nearby urged.

"Condolences my ass!" Bull Terrier snapped, turning around to curse viciously. "This bastard and I invested in a gym together. I already put up the initial capital, and they started renovations last month—how could he just die now?!"

...

On the side of Tongren Road, several off-road vehicles screeched to a halt. Huang Wei and his team, who had just arrived, glanced at the entrance of the parlor. Seeing the large gathering of players, their hearts sank.

"What's going on? Why are there so many people?" Ren Ye asked, his voice laced with anxiety.

Gu Nian frowned slightly. "There’s a smell of blood. It’s very strong."

"Third car, fourth car, and the brothers from Huangjiang District, hold your positions. Everyone else, come with me," Huang Wei commanded over the radio before pushing his door open and stepping out.

Ren Ye followed behind a dozen Watchmen, walking straight into the mahjong parlor under the watchful eyes of the Chaos faction players at the entrance. Upon entering, all the Watchmen froze. They were first stunned by the brutality of the scene, and then an overwhelming sense of irritation rose within them.

Old Yin was dead. They had arrived one step too late.

"Damn it!" Huang Wei loosened his collar, staring at Old Yin's corpse and gritting his teeth.

From behind, Ren Ye asked in a cold voice, "Are these... the targets we were supposed to capture?"

"Yes," a nearby Watchman nodded.

While everyone was still in shock, Bull Terrier, who had been squatting beside Old Yin's body, stood up. He turned to look at Huang Wei, his expression feigning grief and anger. "Honorable Watchmen, I want to report a crime! My good brothers have been murdered. And damn it, not only were they killed, but the killer even posed them. I believe some outlaws are provoking the Watchmen organization; they must be severely punished!"

The words were dripping with sarcasm, as it was impossible for this man not to know why the Watchmen had come, nor could he be unaware of the dirty business Old Yin had been conducting in the shadows.

Huang Wei looked at him coldly. "How did they die?"

"Are you asking me?" Bull Terrier looked at Huang Wei with an amused gaze, shrugging his shoulders dismissively. "You’re the law enforcement officers! Do I need to investigate how they died for you?!"

The two locked eyes, and the surrounding Chaos faction players instinctively surrounded the Watchmen.

"Whoosh!"

A halo of light appeared. A magic wand suddenly manifested in front of Gu Nian’s chest. "Get lost, all of you!"

After the rebuke echoed through the room, Bull Terrier waved his hand at his own people and spoke to Huang Wei again with a flippant air: "Do you need our cooperation? Just say the word."

Huang Wei stared straight at him. "Do you know what happened at the University Town?"

"Ha, just two runaway criminals dead, what about it?"

"Are they really just runaways? Did they never appear in this mahjong parlor?" Huang Wei pointed at the man’s chest, enunciating every word. "Do you really not know them?!"

Bull Terrier grinned. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Let me tell you, these members of the Bell Society have touched the core interests and bottom line of the Watchmen. Their end will not be pleasant!" Huang Wei raised an eyebrow and continued, "And I guarantee you, whoever helped them will not have a good ending either. It will be miserable!"

"Oh, now I understand." Bull Terrier, wearing his baseball cap, feigned fear and stepped back twice. He bent down to squat beside Old Yin’s body again, tilted his head, and asked, "My dear brother, did you sell information to the Bell Society and become a criminal? Did you help them hide? Did you sell your ass in this room?! Get up, quickly tell this Watchman... we must cooperate with their work!"

The room fell silent. Ren Ye looked at Bull Terrier with gloomy eyes, his fists clenched tight.

"You... wait a moment, my brother is answering," Bull Terrier said, his body stiffening. He leaned his ear close to Old Yin’s bloody mouth, pretended to listen for a moment, then suddenly stood up and replied to Huang Wei, "Oh! My brother wants me to ask you for evidence. Do you have any? If you do, he’ll plead guilty and submit to the law immediately!"

It was cynical, mocking, and full of undisguised defiance. This was the attitude of Chaos faction players toward the Watchmen—hostility and resistance. Ever since the Star Gates appeared, this confrontation had never vanished; it was merely kept in check by a delicate balance.

"Oh, it looks like you don't." Bull Terrier stared at Huang Wei’s face. "Heh, then you're talking out of your ass. Honorable Watchman, please find the killer of my brother as soon as possible, otherwise I will go through the Occult Arbitration Tribunal..."

Before Bull Terrier could finish, Ren Ye’s large hand suddenly grabbed the back of his collar and slammed him downward.

"Whoosh!"

A surge of Star Source energy erupted from Bull Terrier’s body. He whipped his head around, but felt a wave of dizziness, his consciousness momentarily scrambled.

"Ren Ye, don't be impulsive!" Huang Wei’s voice rang out.

"Bang!"

Ren Ye’s left hand gripped Bull Terrier’s throat tightly, smashing his head heavily onto the mahjong table. Light flickered as a primitive yet luxurious heavy sword appeared in Ren Ye’s hand.

"Pfft!"

With a flash of cold light, the blade sliced through like tofu, instantly severing Bull Terrier’s right ear. Blood splattered across half the table. It was clean, decisive, and filled with murderous intent.

"I’m not a Watchman, I don’t have to show you evidence!" Ren Ye’s eyes glowed with an eerie light. Holding the man’s neck with his left hand, he roared hysterically, "Where are the people from the Bell Society? Speak!"

"Ren Ye!" Xu Peng stepped forward, grabbing Ren Ye’s right arm. "Don't be impulsive..."

"My family is in danger, get lost!" Ren Ye shook off Xu Peng’s arm, his face twisted with killing intent. He was about to fix his gaze on Bull Terrier and use his charm ability in front of everyone. Old Yin was dead, the trail had gone cold, and Ren Ye, deeply worried about his father’s safety, had no intention of waiting any longer.

Huang Wei hesitated for a moment and did not intervene immediately. The surrounding Watchmen instantly gathered around Ren Ye, turning to face the Chaos faction players, who had all activated their occult states.

A great battle was on the verge of breaking out. Ren Ye summoned his willpower, maneuvering Bull Terrier’s head with his left hand, about to make eye contact.

"Bang!"

At that moment, a muffled sound erupted in the room. Ren Ye’s body was instantly sent flying, staggering until he collided with Huang Wei. He looked toward the entrance in astonishment, feeling as if he had been struck by a train, though he had suffered no major injuries.

Footsteps sounded as a refined, middle-aged man walked in with four others. He merely glanced at the Chaos faction players, and they retreated on their own, suppressing their occult powers.

"Damn it!"

Bull Terrier jumped up in a rage, clutching the wound on his right cheek, his eyes glaring viciously at Ren Ye. "I'll kill you...!"

"Stop!" the refined middle-aged man ordered from the doorway.

Bull Terrier’s chest heaved, his eyes locked onto Ren Ye for a full three or four seconds before he finally stepped back.

"Have we broken the law?" the refined middle-aged man turned to ask Huang Wei.

"I didn't say you broke the law," Huang Wei said, glancing at the severed ear on the table, then waved his hand. "Team, retreat!"

With that, the group pulled Ren Ye along and followed Huang Wei to leave. The refined middle-aged man blocked the doorway, asking slowly, "Since no law was broken, why did the Watchman cut off someone’s ear?"

Huang Wei walked up to the middle-aged man and slowly lifted his head. "Do you believe that if I take off this Watchman’s uniform, I can clear you 'Roadside Dogs' out of Tongren Road tonight?!"

The refined middle-aged man fell silent.

"Don't fucking push your luck!" Huang Wei cursed, frowning and calling out, "Team, retreat!"

The group left the mahjong parlor.

"Just let them leave like that?!" Bull Terrier stood in the hall, so angry he kicked Old Yin’s corpse. "I don't accept this. I’m going to call people to give them some trouble."

The refined middle-aged man looked at him. "The higher-ups are fighting over that Star Gate inheritance; don't mess around. You offended Huang Wei today; go into hiding for a few days and take a Star Gate mission. Do you understand?"

"Yes!" Bull Terrier replied, trembling with rage.

...

On the way back, everyone was silent. Huang Wei adjusted his emotions and said quietly, "Someone was a step faster than us, and they seem to be looking for that Bell Society group, too. And I keep feeling like the crime scene at the mahjong parlor looked a lot like..."

"Stop for a second, I need to take a leak," Ren Ye, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly said.

"Fine." Huang Wei pulled over to the side of the road, preparing to step out with Ren Ye.

"I'm just taking a leak, no need to follow," Ren Ye said, walking toward a small grove of trees by the road.

Old Huang rested his chin on his hand, full of melancholy. "Damn it, I have a feeling it’s not one group making trouble, maybe not even two..."

Listening to Old Huang’s analysis, no one spoke, only Gu Nian cast a strange look toward the small grove.

About five minutes later, Huang Wei felt something was wrong. He immediately released his professional perception, and his face stiffened. "It's over, Ren Ye ran off! Damn it, this kid is being hot-headed again..."

"Slap!"

Gu Nian suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist. "Has your father ever been kidnapped?"

"Huh? What are you doing?"

"Anyone whose father is kidnapped would be very anxious," Gu Nian said, looking at Huang Wei calmly. "Only a beast wouldn't be anxious! Tell me, are you a beast?!"

"..." Huang Wei frowned at her and didn't move.

"He isn't a Watchman right now... the constraints don't work on him," Gu Nian said softly. "Let him run for a while, then we'll chase him, shall we?"

...

An hour later.

Bull Terrier had left Tongren Road. Sniffling with grievance, he held his phone and said, "Find me a Light-attribute player who can heal external wounds quickly... my ear was cut off. Yes, let's keep in touch."

He hung up the phone and walked a few steps along a construction site before stopping abruptly, suddenly looking behind him.