290: Chapter 290 We're all cyborgs, so who's afraid of who!

Looking at the dark Face leaning right in front of him, Xu Hao couldn't help but inwardly curse, "Idiot."

Yet on his Face, he squeezed out a smile, and even reached out to heavily pat his trusted underling's shoulder:

"Got it, A-Le. You did a great job. Later, I'll call the Gang leader myself to clear up everything."

Although somewhat annoyed by the clueless underling, he still patiently offered a few words of praise.

Then, to cover up his lies and salvage some Face, Xu Hao cleared his throat and began to boast about how "heroically" he had escaped last night.

"Speaking of which, those bastards from the Dongcheng Association only have those petty, shady tricks. Over a dozen surrounded me alone, hmph, and I still took down half of them!"

"My fists smashed into them like iron hammers, while their fists were as soft as cotton, and they just stood there crying for their moms and dads."

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"In the end, seeing they couldn't win, those bastards had no choice and actually tried to run me over with a car. Damn it, look at my speed!"

He slapped his thigh fiercely, flying spittle:

"When I run, it's practically like flying! My two legs run faster than their beat-up wheels, and they eat dust behind me without even catching the warm breeze, haha, there's no way they can catch up..."

Bragging up to this point, Xu Hao's laughter suddenly paused, as a scene of what he truly experienced last night involuntarily flashed through his mind:

Waking up leisurely inside the speeding car, looking through the rear window at that relentlessly pursuing, inhumanly fast white-faced ghost shadow...

A chill instantly shot from his tailbone up to the back of his head, and Xu Hao couldn't help but shiver.

The muscles around his freshly bandaged wound also twitched, making him hiss in pain.

"Brother Hao, what's wrong? Was I too rough?"

Xiao Qing asked immediately with anxiety.

"It's nothing, nothing!"

Xu Hao quickly covered up, grinned with a chuckle, and forcibly steered the topic back:

"I remembered beating those bastards up so satisfyingly, got a bit excited, and pulled my wound."

After finishing treating his injuries, Xu Hao let out a huge yawn, rubbed his eyes, and waved his hand at everyone:

"Alright, scatter. Go do whatever you need to do. I tossed and turned all night, I'm about exhausted, need to sleep and catch up on rest."

Although the underlings still wanted to say something, seeing the boss's genuinely exhausted look, they didn't dare say more, acknowledged the order, and retreated.

Xiao Qing also turned back three times every step while giving a few instructions before reluctantly leaving, pulling the lounge door shut behind her.

The room finally fell completely quiet.

The deliberately feigned relaxation on Xu Hao's Face instantly faded, replaced by solemnity and poorly concealed irritability.

He leaned back on the sofa, fell silent for a few seconds, then took out his phone, took a deep breath, and dialed the phone number of Chen Chen, the leader of the Red Tiger Gang.

After ringing for a few seconds, the call was answered, and a capable and dignified male voice came through:

"Hello, A-Hao?"

"Brother Chen, it's me."

Xu Hao's tone instantly became much more serious.

"Hmm, I heard you ran into some trouble last night?"

Chen Chen asked casually, with little emotion audible in his voice.

"Yes, Brother Chen."

Xu Hao steadied himself and began telling the fabricated version, though his tone was much more restrained and he didn't dare exaggerate as much as when boasting to his underlings.

"After closing up last night, two tough guys sneaked into the bar, looking like professional assassins. I was caught off guard and knocked out with a stun baton. When I woke up, I had already been taken to a dilapidated house in the suburbs."

He paused and continued fabricating lies;

"Later, finding an opportunity, I broke free from the ropes, had a fight with those two guys, and finally escaped. Although I suffered some superficial injuries, it's nothing major and has already been treated."

As Xu Hao spoke, he grinned and hissed, indicating that he was indeed injured.

He tried his best to make his description sound like a narrow escape, hoping to gloss over the matter and at least prevent the Gang leader from probing deeply.

The other end of the line fell silent for a few seconds before speaking slowly.

"Confirmed who made a move?"

"When I was faking unconsciousness, I heard them talking and they mentioned the names of the Dongcheng Association and Shen Wei."

Xu Hao shifted the blame without hesitation.

"Dongcheng Association..."

Chen Chen's voice suddenly turned cold: "Hmph, old ghost Shen has been acting a bit restless lately. Alright, as long as you're okay."

Hearing this, Xu Hao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed the Gang leader didn't suspect anything for now.

Chen Chen did not grill him further on the details, and his tone immediately softened:

"Sooner or later, we'll settle accounts with the Dongcheng Association and old ghost Shen, but there's no rush for now."

Then his tone shifted, carrying a hint of a reprimand:

"Things are not peaceful in Dongdu right now, the wind is tight, and the police are watching closely. If our two major Gangs really go to all-out war, we'll definitely be made examples of and arrested."

"This time they secretly targeted you, I reckon they mostly want to send you in and get rid of you through the cops' hands. You're a valued talent in the Gang, you mustn't fall for their trick."

"A-Hao, do you understand what I mean? Endure for now, a gentleman takes his revenge ten years later, there will be plenty of chances in the future to get it back with interest."

Chen Chen specifically pacified him with a few words, appearing unusually earnest.

"Understood!"

Xu Hao immediately expressed his stance decisively:

"Rest assured, Brother Chen. Although I'm a newcomer and have shallow qualifications, I also know the rules and will never cause trouble for the Gang!"

Yet in his heart, he desperately hoped this matter would turn the page here; it couldn't be better if Chen Chen stopped asking for details.

"Hmm, as long as you know your limits."

Chen Chen seemed quite satisfied with his attitude, paused for a moment, and then brought it up as if casually:

"Right, keep a low profile yourself lately, control the mouths of those kids under you, and don't let them spout nonsense everywhere."

"I'll help you suppress this matter from last night, lest anyone gossip and it reaches the ears of those guys up top, leaving a bad impression of you."

Xu Hao's heart skipped a beat again.

Before he could figure out the deeper meaning in those words, the other end of the line had already hung up.

He held the beeping phone, sitting blankly on the sofa.

Having just breathed half a sigh of relief in his heart, he instead felt even more irritated.

Was Chen Chen's remark just now truly believing his explanation, or was he reprimanding and probing, deliberately showing goodwill to win him over?

Xu Hao frowned tightly, threw his phone onto the sofa, and massaged his dull-throbbing temples.

Although with his cleverness and a bit of talking, he managed to temporarily fool past the fatal problem.

But everything that happened last night felt like an inescapable nightmare.

The Special Investigation Team, Noah Organization, the white-faced monster, and that bastard investigator surnamed Gao...

Troubles followed one after another, impossible to shake off.

He felt like he had fallen into a huge quagmire, sinking deeper and deeper.

"What the fuck, I just wanted to get ahead in this promising career as a triad member, how did I end up becoming a double agent..."

Xu Hao couldn't help lowering his voice and cursing.

Then he fished out a cigarette case from his pocket, shook out a cigarette, lit it, and took a fierce drag.

Amidst the swirling smoke, his expression flickered between light and shadow.

What Xu Hao truly worried and feared was not Chen Chen the Gang leader himself, but the massive shadow truly controlling everything behind the Red Tiger Gang.

Although he fancied his combat power extraordinary now, facing such an organization, individual strength remained as insignificant as an ant.

Moreover, this superhuman ability of his was precisely bestowed by that organization.

"Forget it, let soldiers come and block, water come and earth cover, I don't believe in this evil!"

Xu Hao cursed as he exhaled a ring of smoke, squinting his eyes to calculate.

For this messy situation right now, he needed to figure out a clue first—

He had to guard against the Special Investigation Team, stabilize the Gang, and also beware of those lunatics from the Noah Organization...

The room was very quiet, with only his own breathing and the slight buzzing of the old air conditioner.

However, right at this moment, a feeling of being watched crept up his spine without warning, making all his muscles tense up instantly.

No!

This room... is a bit too quiet.

Moreover, it seemed... there was an extremely faint yet truly existing breathing sound.

Xu Hao suddenly widened his eyes, his neck stiffly and bit by bit, like a rusted machine, turning towards the darkest corner of the room.

Deep within that shadow, at some unknown point, an extra figure had appeared!

Xu Hao's pupils suddenly contracted, his hairs standing on end.

The opponent was actually A-Le to bypass his proud perceptual ability and silently invade this place.

"You look like you're in trouble."

A calm voice rang out, breaking the dead silence of the room.

That figure simply stood quietly, like a ghost fused with the shadows.

Xu Hao's heart shrank violently, almost jumping off the sofa.

But when he saw the facial contours of the newcomer, especially that pair of eyes still as sharp as a falcon's in the dim light, after strong shock, he instead calmed down.

He recognized the other party.

"It's you..."

Xu Hao subconsciously clenched his fists and asked with forced composure:

"How did you get in?"

Xu Hao clearly remembered the door was locked, and his underlings were guarding outside.

"Wanted to come in, so I came in."

Fang Cheng answered casually, his tone as composed as if discussing the weather outside.

At this moment, Fang Cheng was completely different from the white-masked killing god image of last night.

He wasn't wearing a baseball cap on his head, but had instead changed into a slightly fluffy, short-cropped black wig, covering his striking bald head.

On his body, he wore a brand-new set of gray sportswear and a pair of white running shoes, looking just like an ordinary young man who had just finished exercising.

However, that confidence and aura of a strong person emanating from his bones were still faintly exuding.

Xu Hao looked at him with suspicious and uncertain eyes, not immediately calling the underlings outside.

He was very clear that all those people outside combined probably wouldn't be enough for the person before him to fight with one hand.

Moreover, since the other party could silently sneak in here, they were obviously prepared.

"What did you come to find me for?"

Xu Hao asked in a deep voice, trying to seize the initiative in the conversation.

Fang Cheng did not beat around the bush and cut straight to the topic:

"Last time at the club entrance, you said someone was investigating me in secret. Can you tell me now who exactly it is?"

Hearing this, a trace of imperceptible light flashed in Xu Hao's eyes.

Then he grinned, revealing a row of white teeth, with a somewhat raspy and rogue tone:

"Telling you isn't out of the question. But, still the same words, you have to agree to one condition of mine first."

Fang Cheng's gaze calm and waveless:

"The condition you raised last time was just for me to guide you in martial arts and combat skills; it's probably not that simple, right?"

"Heh, talking to smart people is certainly effortless!"

The smile on Xu Hao's Face deepened, and he immediately straightened his body and nodded saying:

"That's right, guiding your skills is just a facade, my real condition is—"

He paused, his Adam's apple rolling, and deliberately lowered his voice even more:

"I want to know, is there also an organization or faction behind you? Have you found the correct way to solve the side effects after the body breaks through its limits?"

After asking these words, he stared fixedly at Fang Cheng, his eyes filled with a certain desire.

What Xu Hao pursued was obviously not some divine Secret Manual, but a method capable of easing the increasingly severe mental erosion and irritable emotions brought by that power within his body.

Fang Cheng's gaze flickered slightly, then he shook his head, his tone indifferent:

"Sorry to disappoint you, I'm used to acting alone."

"Bullshit!"

Xu Hao slammed the sofa armrest fiercely, obviously not believing it:

"Do you think I don't know your background and am deliberately trying to bluff you with words?"

"I've seen your files. You alone fought dozens of Red Tiger Gang members, emerged unscathed, and even kicked and broke the bones of both their legs."

"That speed, that strength, is simply not something an ordinary person has. Just like me, you definitely participated in human body modification experiments and were enhanced!"

"However, why... why do you look completely fine and A-Le to live like a normal person?!"

His voice trembled slightly due to excitement, unable to help revealing some slip of the tongue.

Hearing what Xu Hao said, Fang Cheng suddenly became enlightened in his heart:

"Is the organization you participated in called Noah?"

Hearing this, Xu Hao's Face instantly showed a trace of surprise, which then turned somewhat dejected:

"Fuck! You knew all along? I still wanted to use this as a bargaining chip..."

He irritably grabbed his hair, feeling that his carefully prepared trump card instantly lost its effect.

Fang Cheng looked at him, the corners of his mouth curving into an arc, his tone still composed:

"Your bargaining chip is indeed useless. Now it's my turn to play mine."

Then his body leaned forward slightly, his gaze piercing toward Xu Hao like a sharp blade:

"You were with people from the Special Investigation Team last night, right?"

"Tell me, if I tell Chen Chen, the leader of the Red Tiger Gang, the news of you colluding in secret with an official organization, what would he think? How would the Red Tiger Gang deal with a turncoat like you?"

The blood on Xu Hao's Face instantly drained away completely, staring at Fang Cheng as if seeing a ghost:

"You... how do you know?!"

Fang Cheng understood in his heart that he had indeed guessed right.

Last night the Special Investigation Team secretly took Xu Hao away, and in the morning secretly released him back, plus Xu Hao had just lied to his underlings and Gang leader.

Wasn't it obvious that there was something fishy going on?

With just a little pondering, one could guess the general idea; both sides must have reached some shady deal.

However, Fang Cheng did not answer, only looking at Xu Hao with an inscrutable gaze.

That gaze seemed to say: I know much more than you can imagine.

Seeing his biggest secret exposed, Xu Hao's gaze instantly turned fierce.

He suddenly grabbed the ashtray on the table and smashed it straight at Fang Cheng's head without thinking.

Ashes splattered out, forming a large cloud of dust in the air, obscuring vision.

At the same time, his entire body sprang from the sofa like a cheetah, his other hand clenching into a fist, carrying a fierce wind directly toward Fang Cheng's Face.

Damn it, strike first to gain the upper hand!

We're all modified humans, who's afraid of whom!

A flash of ruthlessness flickered in Xu Hao's eyes.

However—

Fang Cheng's figure slid backward like a ghost, and the ashes splashed by Xu Hao didn't even touch the corner of his clothes.

Immediately following, the moment Xu Hao's fist was about to touch his Face, a hand reached out like lightning, precisely and powerfully choking his throat!