Chapter 156: Boss Wu

Wujue and Xiao Han, escaping for their lives all the way with Liu Xian, finally managed to leave Three Kings Village.
However, the road ahead was uncertain. Where should they go now that they had left this place?
Wujue probed cautiously, "Brother, are there any other survivors from your group around here? We have good news to share with them. Could you take us to pass along the message?"
Liu Xian was no fool. Rashly leading two dangerous characters back was not something easily explained away.
He evaded the request, saying, "Well, that might not be very appropriate. I deeply appreciate the two of you saving my life, but the situation on our side is complicated. As you know, there was some misunderstanding with Three Kings Village just now, and I'm afraid you might be regarded as enemies if you go over there."
Sensing that this fellow still wanted to shake them off and slip away, Wujue exchanged a glance with Xiao Han. Xiao Han patted Liu Xian's shoulder with a slight smile and said, "It's fine. My big brother and I are very easy to talk to, and any issue can be cleared up. Besides, we brothers were born with thick skin and flesh, so we aren't afraid of a beating. We're only worried about wandering outside too long and running into zombies or the like. We can take care of ourselves, but you, my friend..."
In short, it was a carrot-and-stick approach. Liu Xian looked around. Wandering endlessly in these desolate mountains was no solution either; it would be better to return to the territory of the South China Gang.
So, he patted his chest and said, "Rest assured, you two are my saviors. How could I not repay you? Come with me right now!"
He obediently led the way, guiding the two toward the city center where the South China Gang had temporarily set up camp.
Wujue fell back a step and whispered to Xiao Han, "Use the mirror light to scan him later and see if this scoundrel is plotting anything else."
Xiao Han nodded, understanding tacitly.
Following Liu Xian quite a distance further, they finally reached the outskirts of the city. After bypassing a few streets, they arrived outside a large building. Liu Xian stopped, looked back at the two with considerable hesitation, and said, "Gentlemen, this is the entrance to our hideout. Normally, we aren't allowed to reveal it to outsiders. I'm taking a huge risk just telling the two of you today. When we get back, the boss is going to blame me. Since I'm risking it all here, you mustn't forget how you'll repay me in the future, right?"
Wujue thought to himself that this fellow was truly long-winded and petty to the extreme, so he smiled and said, "Don't worry, we happen to have some news regarding the South China Gang to deliver to you all. Once that's settled, I'll naturally leave."
Only then did Liu Xian harden his resolve. He knocked on the entrance, and someone from inside responded, "Who is it?"
"It's me, Liu Xian! Is the boss in? I've newly recruited two brothers; I'm bringing them down."
"Newly recruited? Where from? Are they reliable?"
"Do you even need to ask if they're reliable?" Liu Xian snapped, growing angry. "Do you think I'd just bring anyone back randomly?"

The voice inside chuckled instead, "Nothing, don't get mad, Brother Xian. I was just asking out of turn."
With that, the iron door was unlatched from the inside, and a young man poked his head out, saying, "Oh, right, Brother Xian. Your sworn brother, Tiger, has come over and is discussing matters with the boss. Do you want to go see him first?"
"Tiger is here?" Hearing this, Liu Xian felt a surge of joy and hurried to ask the gatekeeper for details.
Wujue and Xiao Han, upon hearing this, felt a stir in their hearts. Wujue, in particular, immediately realized that this Tiger was likely the thug they had previously encountered in Ning City.
Logically speaking, he should have been blown to death at the resort. How had he managed to escape back here? Maintaining his guard, he cautiously signaled Xiao Han.
As the two descended into the tunnel, led forward by Liu Xian, Liu Xian was visibly excited by Tiger's arrival, incessantly asking his companion when Tiger had arrived and what he had said.
The guide replied, "What else could it be? He came here as a refugee, obviously. By the way, what kind of people did you bring back, trusting them so much? Are they some sort of experts?"
Liu Xian glanced back at the pair, rubbed his nose, and said, "You bet. They really are incredible guys, and I'm waiting to introduce them to the boss."
At that moment, Xiao Han sensed unusual intentions from the divine mirror on his chest: this fellow was about to make a move on him and Wujue.
Almost simultaneously, Liu Xian signaled the other people in the tunnel. Several figures immediately closed in, brandishing daggers and pressing them against Wujue and Xiao Han, thinking they could hold the two hostage.
Little did they know, Wujue had already sensed something was amiss. He suddenly dropped to the ground and executed a sweeping low kick, instantly knocking all the surrounding thugs off their feet.
Following closely, Xiao Han charged forward, shoving Liu Xian facedown onto the ground. When the fellow tried to reach out and resist, Xiao Han rained blows down on him, sending bloody nasal spray flying everywhere.
Seeing this, another man prepared to draw a gun and shoot Xiao Han, but Wujue hurled a dagger with pinpoint accuracy, piercing straight through the man's throat. Blood splattered across the ground, and the man staggered back four or five steps before collapsing.
Xiao Han glanced back to see Wujue pressing his palms together in a Buddhist salute, chanting, "Amitabha. Left with no choice, I had to resort to killing."
"Well done!" Xiao Han stood up, offering praise. He pulled Liu Xian up and delivered another punch to his face, demanding, "Is this your idea of hospitality? What did you promise us earlier?"
Moving with lightning speed, Wujue had already struck the pressure points of the other thugs, immobilizing them. He stepped forward quickly and said, "Liu Xian, oh Liu Xian, did you really take us for fools? We knew what the South China Gang was up to, and we originally wanted to leave you a way out, unwilling to push things to the extreme. Look at that man over there—he died entirely because of you."
Terrified, Liu Xian stammered, "Damn it, I shouldn't have brought you back! I knew you didn't come with good intentions, trying to trick your grandpa."

Xiao Han backhanded him across the face, knocking out four or five teeth instantly. "Watch your mouth! You harbored malicious intent yourself; who else can you blame?"
Wujue stepped over, grabbed Liu Xian by the collar, and pulled him forward. "Cut the nonsense. Lead the way immediately; we still need to go see your old acquaintance, Tiger. Care to guess what kind of surprise awaits us?"
Liu Xian had no idea what kind of grievances existed between Wujue and Tiger, so he could only plead, "Gentlemen, go easy on me. I'll be completely honest. I'll lead the way right now."
Wujue no longer trusted him at all. He applied a bit more strength to his grip, told Xiao Han to stay close, and the two proceeded deeper into the underground air-raid shelter.
After walking a bit further, Liu Xian claimed that ahead lay their main lair, where people were much more numerous, and asked them to release him so he could help provide cover.
Xiao Han snorted and said, "Provide cover for what? To give you a chance to run away?"
Wujue smiled instead. "No matter. I'll use a special trick this time."
With a sudden flash of his hand, he struck several acupoints on Liu Xian's body, instantly slowing Liu Xian's movements and making his voice grow deeply hoarse.
"From now on, you can only say yes or no. Don't even think about saying anything else, or the energy in your acupoints will rupture, and you'll die." Over the past few days, Wujue had secretly studied the Great Forest Temple's pressure-point techniques and combined them with Huron's martial arts to create these unique methods specifically designed to subjugate opponents.
Seeing Liu Xian rendered mute on the spot, Xiao Han chuckled. "Nice. Teach me that trick later."
With his voice hoarse and unable to speak, Liu Xian could only walk forward awkwardly. Up ahead lay the entrance of the air-raid shelter. Upon stepping inside, they found dozens of thugs and hoodlums gathered together, noisily playing cards and gambling.
Wujue gave a low hum and shoved Liu Xian forward. Not daring to stall, Liu Xian led them directly to see Boss Wu.
Seeing them, someone asked, "Liu Xian, what's this about? How come all your subordinates changed? Were they bitten by zombies and transformed?"
Liu Xian offered an awkward, apologetic smile, unable to tell the truth, and led them straight to a private room at the very end of the air-raid shelter. The space had been partitioned into separate rooms, and voices could be heard coming from within.