Chapter Eleven: Yang Fei, the Thunder and Lightning Sage

At this moment.

Yang City.

Pearl River Villa Park—a sprawling estate situated in the heart of the Pearl River New District, occupying some of the most coveted land in the city.

Every inch here is worth its weight in gold. Within the park, there are only detached and semi-detached villas; not a single garden apartment in sight.

Inside one of the three-story standalone villas in this upscale community, a middle-aged man with a square face exuding unshakable confidence, dressed in a black suit, was on the phone. “Find out. Investigate. You must determine who this ‘Chopsticks Fiend’ is—the one who killed my son.”

“What? The Special Action Team, Group C, has already taken up the case?” His expression shifted slightly. As a man of considerable influence in Yang City, he’d heard rumors of this Special Action Team.

“Special Action Group C? Good. I refuse to believe that with the resources at their disposal, they won’t be able to uncover the identity of the Chopsticks Fiend.”

The man spoke a few more words; it was clear the person on the other end was someone of no little standing. After three minutes, he hung up.

“Damn that Chopsticks Fiend! My son only raped a few poor girls, ran over a few paupers, and drove some families to ruin—what’s the big deal? Damn it, with all the contributions I’ve made to society as a leading tycoon, I deserve certain privileges. Chopsticks Fiend, Chopsticks Vigilante—you killed my son; now I want you dead.” This man was none other than Qin Zhengtian, one of the foremost magnates of Yang City.

He’d already amassed millions back in the eighties.

His current fortune must amount to several, perhaps tens of billions. Perhaps even more.

“Still, if I want the Chopsticks Fiend, I must employ every means at my disposal.” Qin Zhengtian gritted his teeth. He did have illegitimate sons, but they’d always remained in the shadows, never groomed to run his companies. In truth, he harbored genuine affection for Qin Yan.

After some thought, he instructed his secretary, “Summon the Thunder King.”

His secretary’s expression turned a touch peculiar but she nodded. “Yes, sir.”

Qin Zhengtian was an exceptionally successful businessman.

His wealth ranked him among the top dozen in all of Yang City, perhaps even the top ten.

When his assets were modest, he didn’t need to concern himself with the city’s underbelly; there was little to worry about.

But as his fortune grew, so did the troubles that came knocking.

He’d come to understand that an underworld existed in this world—one known as the Jianghu.

He knew he lacked any heritage or youth, and would never be able to master martial arts or enter the Jianghu. Therefore, he spent lavishly to recruit top martial artists to serve him. For instance, his bodyguard Wu Qing was a skilled fighter from the underworld.

Yet the most formidable of his recruits was not Wu Qing, but the renowned Thunder King—Yang Feikuang.

Yang Feikuang’s status in the Jianghu eclipsed even that of Old Beggar Lu.

By rights, Qin Zhengtian paid Yang Feikuang a monthly stipend of one million, money he was free to spend as he pleased, without having to lift a finger.

However, Yang Feikuang found this arrangement tedious. His temperament was twisted; he relished tormenting others. So he proposed to Qin Zhengtian that he establish a center for treating internet addiction.

A center for internet addiction—where troubled teens were sent to be reformed.

The fees were steep—four or five thousand per child per month—yielding a healthy profit.

Most importantly, Yang Feikuang could indulge his penchant for tormenting children and adolescents at will.

Qin Zhengtian considered the idea and agreed.

They set up the Yang Internet Addiction Rehabilitation Center, affiliated with the city’s Third Psychiatric Hospital, and let Yang Feikuang run it.

Yang Feikuang’s title, “Thunder King,” referred not to his martial prowess, but to his obsession with using electricity to shock the children. In the Jianghu, he was notorious for his depravity. Most ordinary people found his company unbearable.

An hour later, the door opened.

The Thunder King, Yang Feikuang, entered.

Despite his grandiose name, his appearance was wholly unremarkable.

Yet his smile was unsettling. At first glance, it seemed normal. But the longer one looked, the more one could see the madness lurking beneath.

It was, in truth, a devil’s smile.

It sent chills down the spine.

Yang Feikuang sat down directly before Qin Zhengtian, his devilish grin undiminished. “Chairman Qin, you rarely summon me. What trouble are you facing today? Who needs killing?”

“I have only one legitimate son—Qin Yan,” Qin Zhengtian said calmly. “Today, he’s dead. Killed by someone called the Chopsticks Fiend.”

“The Chopsticks Fiend? That sounds vaguely familiar.” Yang Feikuang frowned, lost in thought.

“He never used to operate in our region—mainly in County N. He’s known for targeting criminal gangs, always staying anonymous. Recently, the gangs in County N have been nearly wiped out, and now he’s come to Yang City. The first thing he does is use my son as a sacrificial offering.”

“That’s why I want you to kill him.”

“Oh, right. Now I remember—he’s the one who killed Old Beggar Lu, isn’t he? That caused quite a stir in the Jianghu of the south. If he could take down Old Beggar Lu, he must have some skill,” Yang Feikuang nodded. “But he’s not beyond my reach.”

“The biggest problem is that he always keeps his identity hidden.”

“Yes.” Qin Zhengtian reflected. “But there are ways. I’ve studied the Chopsticks Fiend’s methods. In County N, when two juvenile delinquents killed their teacher, the Chopsticks Fiend immediately appeared and dealt with them. If we create a similar incident—let the news spread—the Chopsticks Fiend is bound to show himself.”

“That sounds reasonable,” Yang Feikuang mused, that crazed, demonic smile returning to his face. “But when we catch him, I want to try out my electric methods on him first. I’ve tormented too many kids and teenagers; it’s no longer satisfying. But to torment someone with his reputation in the Jianghu—now that would be exhilarating. Ha ha ha, ha ha ha!”

“No problem. All I want is the Chopsticks Fiend dead,” Qin Zhengtian nodded. Although he’d retained Yang Feikuang for a long time, he still felt uneasy whenever confronted with the man’s manic, neurotic manner. “Of course, if possible, I’d like to carry out the execution myself.”

(I had planned to post this around noon, but got stuck on the plot. Spent the afternoon working out the story’s direction. Plotting is really no easy task—imagine a sweating emoji here. Anyway, this is the first update; there should be two more tonight. The next boss to appear: Thunder King Yang…)