Chapter 77: A Wise Man Adapts to the Times

Having spent many years in the underworld and knowing the black market of Yunhai City like the back of his hand, Tiger was deeply familiar with military supplies. In this country, even buying a handgun was a tremendous challenge, let alone grenades and bombs with such destructive power. Even if someone dared to buy, no one would dare to sell. If caught, it meant immediate execution.

It's much like gang fights—rarely did anyone use firearms; instead, they chose machetes and steel pipes, cold weapons. The reason was simple: getting caught with a gun versus a machete carried vastly different legal consequences.

After a brief consideration, Tiger judged that Ling Tian's grenades and bombs were fake.

"My friend, do you think my intelligence is so low? To try and fool me with children's toys—how utterly laughable," Tiger said, roaring with laughter, dismissing the items in Ling Tian's hands. Of course, even if they were real, he didn't believe Ling Tian would dare to detonate a bomb. Judging by its size, if it exploded, the whole building would likely collapse.

Ling Tian silently fiddled with the grenade, creating a simple binding formation upon it—not for great power, but for visual impact. Then he affixed a previously made thunder talisman onto the grenade. Once finished, Ling Tian suddenly looked up.

"Whether it's a toy or not, you'll know if you try," Ling Tian said with a playful smile.

Damn! Was this something you could just try? If it was real, lives would be lost.

But Tiger truly didn't believe Ling Tian would wander around with a grenade and bomb, so he said, "If you want to prove it, go ahead."

Ling Tian glanced around and asked, "How's the soundproofing in this room? Even at a tenth of its original power, the noise won't be small. I'm worried we might attract the police, which would be a big problem for you."

Tiger answered impatiently, "If you want to try, then hurry up. Don't act so hesitant. Even if the police come, I can send them away. I've been in this game for years—not claiming to control both sides of the law, but dealing with ordinary cops is no problem."

Ling Tian chuckled, suddenly pulled the pin from the grenade, and tossed it.

Under the complex gazes of everyone present, the grenade landed in the corner of the room and did nothing.

Tiger burst out laughing. "I told you it was a toy. And you actually tried to scare people with it."

Ling Tian snorted dismissively. "You idiot. Don't you know grenades have delayed detonation devices?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a flash erupted from the corner, followed by a violent explosion. Fire sprayed everywhere; thunder rolled. It looked no different from a grenade blast in a movie, only the power was much reduced. The debris at the center was flung aside, the powerful shockwave rippling through the room.

It had really exploded. This thing was real! And that was only a tenth of its power—if it were full strength, the whole room would be destroyed.

Tiger instinctively swallowed, staring wide-eyed at the still-smoky corner, a fear swiftly spreading from his heart to his whole body. He was already terrified.

Ling Tian shook his head. "Too weak. Not impressive at all. But my bomb is definitely the real deal, original and full-powered. Want to try it?"

"You're ruthless!" Tiger's gaze toward Ling Tian now held a trace of fear. As the saying goes, the soft fear the hard, the hard fear the wild, the wild fear the reckless, and the reckless fear the mad. Ling Tian, in Tiger's eyes, was a madman—a lunatic playing with grenades and bombs as toys.

Tiger fell silent, lit a cigar to steady himself, and began calculating how to deal with the madman before him.

Standing nearby, Panther leaned over and whispered in Tiger's ear, "Third Hall Master, don't forget, we still have his hostage. If he really detonates that bomb, he won't get out alive either."

Reminded by Panther, Tiger suddenly realized, slapping his thigh. "Right! I'd forgotten."

"This bomb's power must be considerable. If you set it off, you won't leave alive. The grenade was real, but your bomb may not be," Tiger said in a deep voice.

Ling Tian replied, "I've always liked to gamble lives. With so many to accompany me in death, it would be worth it."

Then, under everyone's gaze, Ling Tian flicked his lighter and ignited the bomb's fuse. The fuse, meeting the flame, sparked brightly, hissing as thin smoke rose.

Tiger was stunned, staring at the burning fuse, feeling a chill run through him. Madman—he was absolutely a madman, disregarding his own life and igniting the bomb, intent on mutual destruction. Tiger's first instinct was to run.

He had just moved when Ling Tian grabbed his arm. No matter how hard Tiger struggled, he couldn't break free. At this edge of life and death, unable to escape, Tiger was so anxious he wanted to cry.

Ling Tian smiled. "Don't go. This is specially prepared for you."

"Let's talk—put out the fuse first." Under the threat of death, Tiger lost all composure, thinking only of survival.

Seeing he'd achieved his aim, Ling Tian pinched out the fuse and said, "Release my brother, give me five million, and I'll leave right away—nothing will have happened. Otherwise, what's left of the fuse will burn out in no more than twenty seconds."

Tiger stretched out a trembling hand, wiped the sweat from his brow, and fell silent.

Ling Tian sneered, "This is a game you can't afford to play."

Tiger suddenly looked up and shouted at Ling Tian, "You're a madman—an utterly reckless madman!"

"Release him. Bring the money," Ling Tian said calmly.

Tiger was no longer the fearless, hot-blooded man of years past. Since the Azure Dragon Hall had grown in size, Tiger had tasted the life of luxury and gradually become afraid of death. He'd struggled for decades, all for the sake of enjoying wealth and honor. If this madman really went all out, it would be certain death.

He had suffered enough, but barely enjoyed life—he wasn't ready to die just yet!

"What are you all standing around for? Get the money, release him!" Tiger shouted, keeping a wary eye on Ling Tian's lighter, afraid he would ignite the fuse again.

Ling Tian said, "A wise man knows when to yield."

Soon after, Panther brought in five million in cash and arranged for Wang Yong to be released.