Skinwalker Belle – Chapter 76 – Iron Fist

Three off-road vehicles sped through the ruins.

Zhou Ming sat in the front passenger seat, his gaze fixed on the wandering Zombies outside the window.

“Ah Hu,” he said suddenly.

“Hmm?” Ah Hu replied, his focus on the steering wheel.

“Say… if only I could evolve too,” Zhou Ming said, a hint of envy in his voice. “Like Lei-jie. One person who’s as strong as an entire stronghold.”

Ah Hu chuckled.

“Evolved beings are one in ten thousand,” he said calmly. “For ordinary people like us, the best we can do is follow in Lei-jie’s footsteps.”

“But…”

“No buts,” Ah Hu cut him off. “You’ve seen Lei-jie in action. That kind of power is beyond our imagination.”

He paused.

“But we have our value too.”

“What value?”

“Executing orders, completing missions, protecting the stronghold,” Ah Hu’s voice was firm. “That is our value.”

Zhou Ming fell silent.

He thought of Liu Ruyan, and he thought of Chen Yao.

If he had been stronger back then, would he have been able to protect them?

“We’re here.”

Ah Hu’s voice broke him out of his thoughts.

Ahead, a massive shopping mall appeared in their field of vision.

South City Shopping Mall.

Huo Feng’s stronghold.

The three vehicles stopped at the entrance of the shopping mall.

Ah Hu got out with twenty fully armed team members, each carrying a standard-issue rifle.

The main entrance of the shopping mall was shut tight.

A few guards stood at the door, holding steel pipes and crossbows, watching them warily.

“We’re from Fragrant Hills International.” Ah Hu took a step forward, his voice loud and clear. “Please have your person in charge come out. We have important matters to discuss.”

The guards exchanged glances, and one of them turned and ran into the shopping mall.

A few minutes later, the main door opened.

A man in his thirties walked out.

He was of medium build with short hair and a scar on his face. His eyes were sharp and vigilant.

“I’m Zhao Lei. I’m in charge here now.” He sized up Ah Hu and his group. “What do you want?”

Ah Hu didn’t waste words.

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He took out his phone and played the video.

“Your boss, Huo Feng, is dead.”

Zhao Lei’s expression changed instantly.

He took the phone, his eyes glued to the screen.

In the video, Huo Feng, dressed in her fiery red combat suit, was surrounded by thousands of Zombies.

She fought back with all her might, flames erupting time and again.

But in the end, she collapsed from exhaustion.

Zhao Lei’s hands began to tremble.

“This… this is impossible…”

“Our boss filmed this near the military camp yesterday,” Ah Hu said calmly. “Huo Feng and her team were completely wiped out.”

Zhao Lei’s face turned deathly pale.

The guards behind him also grew restless.

“Sister Feng is dead?”

“How is that possible…”

“Then what do we do?”

Ah Hu raised a hand, signaling for everyone to be quiet.

“Now, on behalf of Fragrant Hills International, I’m giving you two choices.”

His voice was very clear.

“First, join Fragrant Hills International. We provide food, shelter, and safety.”

“Second, fend for yourselves. But we will be taking all the supplies in this stronghold.”

A flicker of struggle crossed Zhao Lei’s face.

But before he could speak, the guards behind him erupted.

“On what grounds?”

“This is our territory!”

“Even if Sister Feng is dead, it’s not your place to boss us around!”

Ah Hu said nothing.

He simply raised his hand and made a gesture.

The twenty team members behind him raised their standard-issue rifles in unison.

The dark muzzles were aimed at the shopping mall’s entrance.

The guards fell silent instantly.

The steel pipes and crossbows in their hands looked like laughable toys in front of these firearms.

Zhao Lei swallowed hard.

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He knew the other party wasn’t joking.

“I… I need to discuss this with everyone,” he said, his voice trembling slightly.

“Fine.” Ah Hu nodded. “I’ll give you ten minutes.”

Just then.

The roar of engines sounded from a distance.

Everyone turned their heads.

A convoy of vehicles was heading toward the shopping mall.

Five pickup trucks, with several burly men standing in the back of each one.

The convoy stopped at the entrance of the shopping mall.

The doors opened.

A figure leaped down from the first truck.

It was a giant of a man, over two meters tall.

His skin had an unnatural grayish-black hue, and his knotted muscles looked as if they were forged from steel.

His arms were exceptionally thick, and his fists were larger than an average person’s head.

Behind him followed more than thirty burly men.

A few of them were even carrying guns.

The giant walked to the shopping mall entrance, his gaze sweeping over Ah Hu’s group before finally landing on Zhao Lei.

“Where’s Huo Feng?”

His voice was deep, like muffled thunder.

Zhao Lei’s face grew even paler.

“Iron… Iron Fist?”

Iron Fist.

The boss of the East City Steel Mill.

A strength-type Evolved being.

It was said his punch could shatter a steel plate.

“I asked you, where is Huo Feng?” Iron Fist’s voice grew louder. “She burned three of my brothers last time. I’m here today to settle the score.”

Zhao Lei opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.

Ah Hu took a step forward.

“Huo Feng is already dead.”

Iron Fist turned his head to look at Ah Hu.

“Who are you?”

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“Fragrant Hills International, Ah Hu.”

“Fragrant Hills International?” Iron Fist frowned. “Never heard of it.”

He suddenly laughed.

The sound made the very air tremble.

“Huo Feng is dead? Hahaha! Excellent!”

His laughter was filled with ecstasy.

“That bitch is finally dead!”

He turned to look at his men behind him.

“Brothers! Huo Feng is dead! This stronghold is ours now!”

His men erupted in a cheer.

Iron Fist turned back to face Zhao Lei.

“From now on, I’m in charge here.”

His voice was filled with an authority that allowed no argument.

“You have two choices.”

“First, surrender and work for me.”

“Second, die.”

Zhao Lei’s expression shifted again and again.

He gritted his teeth and suddenly stood up straight.

“Iron Fist, this is Huo Feng’s territory. Even if she’s dead, it’s not your place to—”

He didn’t get to finish.

Iron Fist moved.

His figure instantly appeared in front of Zhao Lei.

One punch.

Bang!

Zhao Lei’s body flew backward like a cannonball, slamming into the shopping mall wall.

He spat out a mouthful of blood and his body slid limply to the ground.

The guards, scared out of their wits, all backed away.

Iron Fist clapped his hands and turned to look at the trembling survivors inside the shopping mall.

“Anyone else object?”

No one dared to speak.

Iron Fist nodded in satisfaction.

“Very good.”

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He turned around and looked at Ah Hu.

“You heard me. This place is my territory now.”

“If you know what’s good for you, get lost.”

Ah Hu’s face darkened.

“This stronghold has already been taken over by Fragrant Hills International.”

“You have no right to interfere.”

Iron Fist paused for a moment, then laughed.

“Are you kidding me?”

He looked at the team members behind Ah Hu holding rifles.

“Just with these guns?”

He patted his own chest.

“Let me tell you, I’m not afraid of guns anymore.”

His men behind him started to jeer as well.

“Boss Iron Fist is invulnerable to blades and bullets!”

“You losers should just get lost!”

Ah Hu’s eyes turned cold.

He knew this situation would not be resolved easily today.

He turned his head and looked at Zhou Ming.

“Zhou Ming.”

“Here.”

“Drive back immediately,” Ah Hu said quickly. “Call for reinforcements from Lei-jie.”

Zhou Ming was taken aback.

“But Brother Ah Hu, you…”

“That’s an order!” Ah Hu roared. “Go now!”

Zhou Ming gritted his teeth, turned, and rushed toward the car.

“Trying to run?”

One of Iron Fist’s men raised his gun and aimed at Zhou Ming.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Gunshots rang out.

Bullets kicked up clouds of dust on the ground behind Zhou Ming.

Zhou Ming slammed his foot on the gas, and the off-road vehicle roared to life, speeding away.