Waste Not

Song Ren quietly listened to Chen Sheng finish speaking, and things became somewhat clear to him.

As the other man had said, death-row inmates usually carried a special label—

Permanent deprivation of political rights.

Because of that, death-row inmates might intimidate most prisoners inside prison.

But outside, especially in places where the radiance of the law could not reach, death-row inmates stood at the very bottom of the chain of contempt.

Because even if they died, their deaths would mean nothing.

Song Ren was not actually a death-row inmate, but he had entered in place of one.

Only the warden and a very small number of people knew this.

Chen Sheng raised his hand and glanced at the quartz watch on his wrist before arching a brow. "Are you coming back to the villa with me first to meet the Boss who chose to back you, or are you waiting a little longer for the other two?"

Song Ren said, "Let's wait and see first?"

Chen Sheng said, "Then we may have to wait a while longer."

"Not everyone can walk out of this barren mountain as cleanly and decisively as you did."

He paused, then said, "Right, I haven't asked yet. With skills as sharp as yours, did you come from a martial arts school?"

Song Ren lied without hesitation. "I suppose so. I studied at a martial arts school for several years, then traveled north and south to visit a few old masters. I should count as having achieved something."

Chen Sheng nodded. "No wonder. Three pit bulls—even I would probably have ended up crippled, if not dead, relying on nothing but a Claw Knife."

"So I really can't imagine how you managed it, but I'm guessing your skills must be pretty outrageous."

"If we get the chance, we might as well spar sometime."

Song Ren nodded in agreement.

Chen Sheng pulled a cigarette case from his pocket, lit one for himself, then offered one to Song Ren.

"I quit a while ago." Song Ren shook his head and pointed to his own head. "This needs to stay in peak condition."

Chen Sheng gave him a thumbs-up and began puffing away. After a while, he spoke again. "Brother, would it be convenient to tell me how you ended up inside?"

Song Ren merely gave him a polite smile and did not answer.

Seeing this, Chen Sheng said nothing. He simply stopped trying to converse with Song Ren too much.

After waiting another twenty-odd minutes, until several more cigarette butts had accumulated on the ground, Du Youbang finally emerged from the barren mountain, looking somewhat disheveled.

His prison uniform was torn in several places, faintly revealing bloody marks on his body.

However, there were no bite wounds. His hands were stained with quite a bit of blood, while the Claw Knife had already been taken back by the guards at the exit.

The moment he came out, he saw Song Ren and Chen Sheng waiting nearby.

A trace of surprise inevitably surfaced in Du Youbang's eyes. His gaze lingered on Song Ren for a moment, and he immediately cursed inwardly—

Damn, not even a scratch?!

Three pit bulls—those weren't pet dogs meant to be cute.

Two adult attack dogs had already left him looking somewhat disheveled. Yet this guy's prison uniform did not even have a tear in it.

Apart from a few places splashed with blood, there was nothing else different about him from head to toe.

Then Du Youbang noticed the cigarette butts beneath the driver's feet, and his heart sank even further.

How had this guy managed it?

Chen Sheng stood up at the right moment and took the initiative to greet Du Youbang.

Du Youbang was equally surprised by Chen Sheng's identity. "You're Wo Kee's Double Flower Red Stick?"

Chen Sheng said, "I only rose to the position last year."

Du Youbang suddenly understood. No wonder Chen Sheng looked so unfamiliar.

He had already gone to prison when Chen Sheng rose through the ranks.

Du Youbang said a few simple words, then looked back toward the barren mountain. "How much longer do we have to wait here?"

Chen Sheng was just about to reply.

Song Ren suddenly stood up. "He's here."

On the barren mountain, a staggering figure limped down.

Only after he passed through the gate in the guardrail did the others finally see Lu Zhengyang's condition clearly in the moonlight.

It was miserable.

He had multiple claw marks across his body. His prison uniform had become strips of tattered cloth, barely hanging from him.

His calf was dyed red with blood, with a little flesh faintly turned outward. It had been hastily bandaged with scraps of cloth.

Compared to Du Youbang, his condition was far more wretched.

The result was utterly mismatched with his seemingly explosive physique.

After Lu Zhengyang came out, his gaze, like Du Youbang's, swept first over the other two who had come with them. His expression immediately turned awkward.

Du Youbang had only a few claw marks, while Song Ren was even more outrageous...

Lu Zhengyang limped over and gave a miserable laugh, mocking himself. "I didn't expect to be the weakest one among us."

"Looking at this, did I embarrass Stanley...?"

Chen Sheng smiled. "You've already done very well. Those attack dogs were selected and specially trained."

"The fact that you can still joke about yourself means the wounds probably haven't affected your muscles or bones. Hang a few IVs and rest for a while, and you'll be fine."

"Getting this admission ticket has already proven yourself. Don't doubt yourself."

Lu Zhengyang neither agreed nor disagreed.

Without anything to compare himself to, he might genuinely have felt a little proud. After all, they had been two attack dogs, specially trained from excellent breeds.

But then he looked at the other two who had come with him.

One had only three or five claw marks, while the other...

Forget it. There was no point comparing.

Lu Zhengyang felt somewhat depressed.

Even though he had witnessed Song Ren's skills before—especially the scene of him beating a man to death in a thrilling, unrestrained display—he still remembered it vividly.

But there had been three pit bull fighting dogs on that barren mountain!

And now Song Ren was standing before him without a single injury. In terms of timing, he was probably the first one out as well!

How could he compare with that?

Chen Sheng asked, "How is it? Can you still walk?"

"How about we go meet those big money men who have been waiting for a long time? They'll be your backers from now on."

"With them supporting you from behind, you'll be able to establish yourselves in the top-tier fighting rings."

Lu Zhengyang gritted his teeth and nodded. "Let's go."

The group once again walked along the footpath. After a long while, Lu Zhengyang's face grew increasingly pale from the constant walking.

Only then did they finally see the main entrance of the villa not far ahead.

By then, the main entrance had already been opened from the inside.

A black sedan with a little golden statue mounted on its hood shot out of the villa's entrance and sped away.

As it brushed past the group, a pair of sinister eyes inside swept over Song Ren through a narrow gap in the rear window.

Song Ren noticed it. He turned back and asked Chen Sheng, "That was the one I offended... Mr. Guo?"

Chen Sheng nodded. "Yes. That car is indeed his."

Song Ren said nothing more. He silently memorized the car's license plate.

After the Rolls-Royce drove away, a black BMW followed close behind.

But as it passed Song Ren's group, it suddenly slowed and lowered its window.

The two brothers, Zheng Qizhi and Zheng Qixiong, were revealed sitting in the front seats.

Zheng Qizhi looked Song Ren up and down and frowned. "Looks like you're pretty lucky."

Zheng Qixiong gripped the steering wheel and said calmly, "Don't die in the ring."

"Since you offended Mr. Guo, you'll have to pay some price."

"You don't look so good now."

Song Ren raised a brow. Looking at the two arrogant men, he suddenly broke into a smile. "If you really can't stand the sight of me, why not come find me in the ring?"

"Mr. Guo happens to be short one slot, doesn't he? I can give it to you two. That would count as putting trash to good use."

Zheng Qizhi and Zheng Qixiong's expressions abruptly changed. They both turned sharply toward Song Ren.

At last, they spat out a few vicious words, terse as gold—

"Wait for us. We'll get in the ring and beat you to death!"