As the call connected, a barrage of harsh invectives spewed forth.
"You dare to mess with me, Chen Zhenghao? It seems you have a death wish! I have a hundred ways to make you unwelcome in this city. Do you believe it?"
Chen Zhenghao, a notorious bully in Tianhai City, commanded a few hundred subordinates and had allegedly faced multiple murder charges. Living in the same residential area, all the residents avoided him, fearing to incur his wrath.
To establish dominance, Chen Zhenghao adopted a style that imposed severe consequences on anyone who dared to offend him, even in the slightest manner. Therefore, despite Zhang Yi merely mentioning him in the homeowners' group, Chen Zhenghao treated it as a provocation.
On the other end of the phone, he angrily retorted, "Are you seeking death? You're quite the talker. If you have the guts, come out and face me, you little brat! Talking about me behind my back."
Naturally, Zhang Yi wouldn't tolerate such insults. With a cold laugh, he replied, "What kind of insignificant creature are you? Stop pretending here. A societal scum, a useless waste. Know your place!"
Zhang Yi vented his long-suppressed anger towards the man who invaded his home and caused his death in a previous life. Unexpectedly, Chen Zhenghao, taken aback by Zhang Yi's retort, escalated the verbal assault.
Zhang Yi cut him off with disdain, stating, "You're nothing but a useless waste, playing tough with words. Scaring who? Go eat sh*t!" He then ended the call and promptly blocked Chen Zhenghao.
Satisfied with his verbal victory, Zhang Yi approached the surveillance camera and activated it. When the security company designed the safe house, they installed cameras throughout the floor. Now the entire building was under his watchful eye.
Zhang Yi focused on the sixth floor, where Chen Zhenghao resided, and soon witnessed the aggressive opening of their door. Clad in a down jacket, wielding a baseball bat, Chen Zhenghao strode out menacingly. However, the freezing temperature immediately caused him to shiver. In his attempt to show off, he had worn only a thin autumn shirt under the jacket, leaving the zipper open to reveal a tattoo on his chest. The icy chill quickly taught him a lesson.
Ignoring the biting cold, Chen Zhenghao, full of rage, rubbed his hands and rushed towards the elevator. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi, seated on the sofa, calmly retrieved a crossbow from beneath the coffee table.
This hunting crossbow, designed for shooting game, could penetrate a 300-kilogram wild boar with a 20-centimeter arrow. After extensive practice, Zhang Yi had become proficient in its use, ensuring accuracy within 15 meters.
As the elevator ascended, Zhang Yi approached the entrance, where the massive security door had specially designed shooting holes two meters above the ground. Perched on a chair, he opened the shooting hole, accessible only from the inside, and aimed the crossbow at the corridor outside.
For safety, Zhang Yi kept his handgun in his pocket. Even if Chen Zhenghao proved to be resilient, today wouldn't end well for him.
Soon, the elevator sounded its arrival, and Chen Zhenghao, still cursing, emerged. Guided by the homeowners' group information, he easily found Zhang Yi's residence.
Standing at the entrance, he raised his baseball bat, shouting, "Zhang Yi, come out, you son of a b*tch! You acted all tough earlier. Now, show yourself and see how I deal with you!"
Chen Zhenghao's vicious verbal assault continued as he pounded on the door. "X, you dared to mess with me in the group? You're looking for death!"
However, the security door, reinforced with 20 centimeters of thickness and bullet-resistant metal, proved impervious to Chen Zhenghao's baseball bat. Instead, he felt a painful shock in his hands.
While Chen Zhenghao cursed and struck the door, he failed to notice that he had become the target of a crossbow.
Observing Chen Zhenghao's menacing demeanor, Zhang Yi wore a sly smile. With the crossbow aimed at Chen Zhenghao's head, he contemplated the situation. After a moment, he changed his target. A subtle sound of the arrow cutting through the air followed, and the razor-sharp bolt pierced Chen Zhenghao's leg.
This arrow, designed to kill wild boars, had completely penetrated his lower leg, causing a horrific cry from Chen Zhenghao. He collapsed to the ground, cradling his injured leg, which would undoubtedly be rendered useless under the sub-zero temperatures.
Due to the lack of medical treatment, infection was inevitable, and Chen Zhenghao would meet a miserable end, writhing in pain and cold. As Chen Zhenghao suffered, he realized the gravity of his situation. In this apocalyptic world, confronting someone ruthless enough to use a crossbow was truly fearsome.
Chen Zhenghao, scared out of his wits, did not even see where the arrow had come from. However, the intense pain in his leg and the freezing environment left him shivering. As he staggered back to the elevator, his cold sweat quickly froze. Although the low temperature dulled his pain, Chen Zhenghao felt his leg becoming increasingly numb.
Zhang Yi chose not to make another move. His intention was to let Chen Zhenghao live for a while longer. After all, he wasn't a devil. As Chen Zhenghao fled back to the elevator, he was already covered in a layer of frost. However, the coldness in his heart surpassed the frigid air around him.
Realizing the merciless attack he had just experienced, Chen Zhenghao looked at his injured leg, which the arrow had completely pierced. Blood stained half of his pants, freezing into ice. Under these sub-zero conditions, he knew that without prompt medical treatment, his leg would become useless within half an hour.