{Chapter: 23 The surrender of Wang Ergou!}
"Don't move!"
The voice rang sharply in Wang Ergou's ears, cutting through the air like a knife.
In the next moment, an unbearable sensation spread from his neck to his head—sharp and piercing, as though countless needles had lodged themselves under his skin. He felt like a living pincushion.
As a seasoned gangster, Wang Ergou's instincts kicked in despite the sneak attack. He immediately tried to grab the dagger tucked at his waist, intending to slash backward at his attacker. Yet, before his arm could even move, he realized with horror that his entire body had gone numb. He couldn't move a muscle.
"I expected you to resist," came a calm, detached voice.
Wang Ergou felt the dagger being plucked from his waist. A large hand gripped his neck, lifting him effortlessly off the ground.
The sudden lack of air made his face flush red as he struggled against the crushing grip. His vision blurred, but he managed to make out the features of his attacker: a young man with strikingly handsome looks, messy black hair, and piercing, emotionless eyes that seemed to strip him bare. Those eyes were colder than ice, and the chill seeped into Wang Ergou's very core.
It was Lin Yuan.
As Wang Ergou flailed weakly, Lin Yuan flung him into one of the grimy toilet cubicles like he was no heavier than a ragdoll. Without so much as a glance, Lin Yuan stepped inside after him, closing the door behind them with deliberate finality.
If I had known this Wang Ergou would be such an embarrassment, I wouldn't have bothered spending 20 strength points, Lin Yuan mused, his expression unreadable.
After leaving the cake shop earlier, Lin Yuan had come straight to Zunhuang KTV with one goal in mind: to deal with Wang Ergou.
On the way, he had used 2,000 counterattack points to upgrade his strength attribute, ensuring he would have no trouble subduing the infamous "underground prince" of Xiling District. However, Wang Ergou's pathetic display had left Lin Yuan unimpressed. The man hadn't even noticed Lin Yuan's approach, and a few well-placed acupuncture strikes had rendered him completely defenseless.
Lifting him with one hand had been effortless. Lin Yuan almost felt like he'd wasted his strength upgrade.
"Master Gou," Lin Yuan began, his voice steady and devoid of emotion, "real name Wang Ergou, owner of Zunhuang KTV, and the self-proclaimed underground prince of Xiling District. Am I correct?"
"Who are you? What do you want?" Wang Ergou spat, trying to sound defiant despite the tremor in his voice.
"Who I am is irrelevant," Lin Yuan replied, his tone chillingly calm. "What matters is that I'm here to make you do something for me."
"Ridiculous! Do you think I'll just bow down to you? Don't think you can threaten me into submission! I've survived worse than this. I'll never be anyone's dog!" Wang Ergou snarled, his bravado masking the fear gnawing at him.
"Oh? Is that so?" Lin Yuan's tone didn't change, but the faint trace of a smirk played on his lips.
Without warning, a glint of silver appeared in Lin Yuan's hand. Before Wang Ergou could comprehend what was happening, a needle pierced his neck.
"Argh!" Wang Ergou cried out, his scream muffled as Lin Yuan pressed his face against the toilet bowl.
Another needle followed. Then another. Each insertion sent searing pain coursing through his body, pain so intense it felt as though his very soul was being torn apart.
Wang Ergou was no stranger to torture. He had inflicted horrors on others, shoving toothpicks under fingernails, smashing hands against walls, and even dislocating jaws for fun. But this—this was unlike anything he had ever experienced.
Lin Yuan worked with cold precision, his movements deliberate and calculated. His mastery of acupuncture allowed him to manipulate the human body with surgical accuracy. It was a skill that could heal or destroy, depending on his intent. And today, his intent was clear.
Wang Ergou's body convulsed with pain, his muffled cries reverberating through the small cubicle. By the time Lin Yuan had placed dozens of needles, Wang Ergou felt as though his very existence had been torn apart.
When Lin Yuan finally released the hold on his mouth, Wang Ergou didn't scream or curse. His voice, hoarse and trembling, was a pitiful plea for mercy.
"I was wrong! I'll do whatever you want! Just tell me what to do!" Wang Ergou gasped, his face streaked with tears and blood.
But Lin Yuan remained silent. He didn't respond to Wang Ergou's pleas. Instead, he calmly continued inserting needles, each one amplifying the agony.
"I'll do it! I'll do whatever you ask!" Wang Ergou howled. "Please, just stop! Kill me if you want, but end this!"
Lin Yuan finally inserted the last needle and stepped back, watching as Wang Ergou crumbled.
The once-proud gangster was unrecognizable now, his defiant spirit shattered. His eyes, once filled with arrogance, were now hollow and filled with fear.
Lin Yuan began removing the needles, one by one. With each needle withdrawn, Wang Ergou felt his body come back to life, though his spirit remained broken.
When he was finally able to move, Wang Ergou didn't fight back. He didn't call for help. Instead, he dropped to his knees, pressing his forehead to the filthy floor.
"Sir," Wang Ergou whimpered, his voice trembling with desperation, "I swear on my life, I'll do whatever you ask. Just give the order, and I'll obey without question. I'll even die if that's what you want."
Lin Yuan gazed down at the man groveling at his feet, his expression unreadable. He had achieved his goal. Breaking someone's will wasn't about forcing immediate submission; it was about pushing them so far that surrender became their only option.
Wang Ergou was no longer the "underground prince." He was now nothing more than a dog awaiting its master's command.
*****
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