Volume One: Beihai Qinyang Chapter 25: Wang Hao

He stepped slowly out of the car, lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and watched as thirty or forty young men poured out of the van, faces alight with excitement. Most of them were barely seventeen or eighteen, in the prime of youth, full of rebellious energy. The dreariness of school and the heavy pressures needed release, and fighting was one way they let out their feelings. Besides, someone was paying them this time—how could they refuse?

The leader’s hair was dyed entirely green, as if he wore a verdant cap. “Are you Qin Yang?” he asked, a bit uncertain. After Qin Yang nodded, he waved his hand decisively. “Brothers, get him.”

“Wait a moment,” Qin Yang called out with a smile, just as they were about to rush him. He never truly expected them to stop. He took another deep drag from his cigarette and asked, “Are we doing this one-on-one, or all at once?”

His question stunned them—none seemed to understand what he meant. Seeing their confusion, Qin Yang laughed, “Looks like it’s going to be one-on-one after all.”

“I’ll take all of you on myself,” he said calmly, his tone peaceful but brimming with arrogance and dominance. He placed his cigarette on the car roof. “If the cigarette burns out before I finish with you, it’s my failure.”

With those words, he leaped forward like a leopard, his movements ghostly and swift, fists flying amidst the crowd. The young men were utterly shocked—none of them had seen such ferocity before. Their mouths fell open, but all they met was his powerful fist.

The area was desolate, with no passersby. If anyone had witnessed this, they would have been amazed. The leader fumbled for his phone, discovering a contact for Feng Bo and dialed.

At the swimming pool, Feng Bo had just showered, his mood slightly improved. For days, Zhang Yiming and Wang Hao had been at his door demanding payment, leaving him irritable. As his phone rang, he answered, “Old Cat, how’s it going?”

“Not well.”

“Not well? What do you mean?” Feng Bo’s eyes widened suddenly—the voice was all too familiar. He hadn’t expected Qin Yang to be the one calling. What had happened to Old Cat?

His mind stalled. Old Cat had promised to bring thirty or forty men. Had they all been defeated? For some reason, facing Qin Yang made Feng Bo nervous. “Qin Yang, what do you want?”

“The ten million you owe me—have it in my account within three days, or I’ll show you the consequences.”

Feng Bo tried to respond, but the line was dead.

Bang! He slammed his phone to the floor, his face contorted in rage. Damn it! Damn it! I refuse to believe I can’t deal with you. He hurried into the inner room, leaving chaos behind.

Qin Yang looked at the bodies scattered on the ground, a phone tossed nearby. There wasn’t even a taxi stand here; he felt a headache coming on, unsure how to leave.

As he pondered, a car horn sounded in the distance.

“Brother Wang!”

He hadn’t expected Wang Hao to pass by. Wang Hao glanced at the bodies on the ground, his eyes narrowing, though his expression barely changed—yet he was clearly shocked. He laughed, “What are you standing around for? Get in.”

“Hehe, thanks, Brother Wang. If not for you, I’d be sleeping on the street tonight.”

“Hahaha!”

Baotong No. 6.

Located near the main avenue of Bincheng, surrounded by supermarkets, hospitals, schools, and all manner of amenities. Most houses here were villas, priced exorbitantly—the cheapest went for tens of millions, a symbol of wealth.

Following Wang Hao home, Qin Yang found the decor simple. Aside from a few servants, there was no one else in sight. As a guest, Qin Yang sat while Wang Hao bustled about, brewing a fine pot of tea. “This year’s tea,” Wang Hao said with a smile. “I find it decent. Try it.”

As they chatted, Qin Yang learned why Wang Hao had appeared at the scene. It turned out Wang Hao had assigned someone to keep an eye on Feng Bo. When he noticed movement, he rushed over—though in the end, his intervention wasn’t needed.

“Brother Qin Yang, are you perhaps a practitioner of ancient martial arts?” Wang Hao sipped his tea, lowered his head, and observed Qin Yang carefully, asking in a quiet voice.

Ancient martial artist.

A term found only in modern novels—no one in reality knew whether such people existed.

“Brother Wang, you’re an ancient martial artist too, aren’t you?”

Hearing this, Wang Hao confirmed his guess and nodded in acknowledgment.

Qin Yang had never heard of ancient martial artists before, but his heart was filled with anticipation for their world. If he were the only one cultivating, life would be dreadfully dull.

“Brother Wang, could you tell me about the ancient martial world?”

Wang Hao looked puzzled, guessing from Qin Yang’s strength that he should be somewhat famous. Yet Qin Yang knew nothing about the martial world, meaning he must have obtained some other opportunity or inheritance. Wang Hao nodded and began to explain.

“I don’t know much about the ancient martial world myself. Our Wang family left it years ago. Once, the martial world was divided into one sect, two orders, and three families. The sect was Wu Tian Sect; the orders were Demon Order and Sword Order; the three families were Ji, Yu, and Long. They were incredibly powerful. In their prime, cultivators of the Core Formation stage emerged. But as time passed, resources dwindled, making it increasingly difficult to advance.”

“I’ve spent over ten years just to reach the Advanced Enlightenment stage. By the way, Brother Qin Yang, what level are you at now?”

“Intermediate Epiphany stage.”

“What?” Wang Hao jumped to his feet, eyes wide with shock. He hadn’t expected Qin Yang to be at the Epiphany stage—each level was like an insurmountable chasm. And Qin Yang was so young, barely in his twenties, yet his power far outstripped Wang Hao’s own.

Originally, Wang Hao thought Qin Yang’s strength was close to his own, perhaps at the peak of the Enlightenment stage. But he never imagined Qin Yang had reached the Epiphany stage, and at the intermediate level.

Eyes open wide, Wang Hao drank some water to steady his shock.

“Brother, you truly astonish me.” His expression grew serious. “Brother, though your power surpasses ordinary people, don’t use it recklessly. In the face of the state apparatus, brute force is meaningless, and this country is far more complex than you imagine.”

“Don’t let them notice you, or you’ll be in serious trouble.”

Though Wang Hao was somewhat long-winded, Qin Yang sensed his deep concern and was moved.

To meet like this by chance and receive such consideration—it was rare and precious. This was a man worth befriending.