Chen Fan nodded numbly, but soon lowered his head again.
He had avenged them, but it wasn't enough. Others were still alive, still feasting and reveling.
The woman's tears flowed again. "Three years. Where have you been? Why haven't you come to see Zhi Gang and the others? You must have forgotten them by now."
"I haven't," Chen Fan said in a low voice.
"You have!" The woman sneered through her tears. "It's because they trusted you that Zhi Gang and the others lost their lives and were buried in this desolate wilderness, forgotten by all."
"People like you are the most cold-hearted. Zhi Gang and the others fought and died for you, trusted you implicitly, and were willing to give you everything. But in your eyes, they were just chess pieces, not worth a second thought."
"You've never visited their graves, never come to see them. You buried them here, and now even their final resting place is to be torn down, their bones exhumed, and no one cares!"
Chen Fan was speechless.
Even with a thousand reasons, he was powerless against such an accusation.
Just then, the roar of an engine could be heard.
The woman's face changed. "They're here!"
Chen Fan looked down the mountain.
Three sedans drove up, followed by three large trucks carrying excavators.
With a rumble, a large group of people descended from the vehicles.
Chen Fan squinted and asked, "Who are they?"
"People from Bogao Group. They're developing this area. They've already taken Zhi Gang's former land. But that's not enough. They want to flatten the graves! To level this small hill and build a resort!"
The woman said angrily and started walking down.
"What are you doing?" Chen Fan asked.
"Stopping them. Zhi Gang is already dead. I will not let them disturb his grave. If they want to move it, they'll have to go through me first." The woman said without looking back.
Chen Fan's expression softened. He strode forward and said, "With me here, they won't be able to touch a single blade of grass or a single tree. This is a man's matter. Don't get involved. Zhi Gang wouldn't want to see you harmed!"
The woman stopped and turned back, a cold smile on her face. "Right. You're here today. Aren't you some Heavenly King, some God of War? If you can stop these scoundrels, then I... at least Zhi Gang and the others won't have died so meaninglessly."
Watching the cars stop on the road and the three excavators begin to disembark, Chen Fan took out his phone, found a number, and dialed.
"It's me!"
"Boss, is that really you?" The voice on the other end was incredibly excited. "You've finally contacted me. Where are you? I... I'll come pick you up right away."
Chen Fan calmly commanded, "Bring a company to Qingyan Town. And make it fast!"
"Okay!"
Without a word or question, the person on the other end agreed.
Chen Fan hung up the phone and walked down the mountain path, standing in front of the excavators.
The excavator driver poked his head out and yelled, "Who the hell are you, punk? Looking for a death wish? Get lost!"
Chen Fan stared coldly, unmoving.
"Damn it!" the driver cursed, shouting towards the back, "Boss, there's some insolent peasant causing trouble."
The seven or eight people who had gotten out of the cars walked around the excavators.
"Who's the peasant daring to ruin our business?"
The leader, wearing a leather jacket and sporting a messy haircut, glared angrily. "Get lost, or we'll flatten you along with this place! No one will ever know you were buried here!"
His companions rolled up their sleeves, looking aggressive.
"You're going to flatten these graves?" Chen Fan's eyes darkened, his expression chilling. "Do you know who is buried here?"
"I don't care who they are!" the leather-jacketed man shouted. "They're just a bunch of lonely ghosts, outsiders. Get out of my way, and stay far away, or we'll flatten you too, and you can keep these dry bones company!"
"Flatten me? Go ahead and try!" Chen Fan's gaze was icy, killing intent surging within him.
"Oh, getting feisty, are we? Haven't you heard of me, Old Man Tong?" The jacketed man sneered, waved his hand, and roared, "Grab him and beat him to a pulp. Damn it, this place has to be leveled tonight, or Young Master Hu will get impatient!"
"Don't worry, Third Master. These graves are unattended, and the deceased aren't locals. No one can stop us!"
Tong Laosan's subordinate chuckled, and a burly man with bulging muscles stepped forward, aiming a slap at Chen Fan's face.
"Be careful, woah..."
The woman who had spoken earlier cried out in alarm.
As the slap was about to connect, Chen Fan tilted his head back, and the hand missed.
The man, having overextended, almost twisted his back.
"Damn it, you dare to dodge?" the man cursed and kicked at Chen Fan.
Without any apparent movement from Chen Fan, the kick also missed.
"Who is Young Master Hu?" Chen Fan asked expressionlessly.
Tong Laosan ignored Chen Fan and grumbled, "Hu Zi, are you useless? Can't even hit a person? It's getting dark, don't waste time, all of you, attack!"
The others surged forward, grabbing for Chen Fan.
The woman's face showed concern as she searched the ground for a weapon, finding a wooden stick.
Seven or eight men lunged at Chen Fan.
Chen Fan's gaze was cold. He grabbed one man's arm and twisted it, a sickening crack echoing.
Then, he lightning-fast kicked Hu Zi away and, in a few swift moves, subdued them all.
Each of them ended up with a broken arm or leg.
The woman, who had just picked up a wooden stick as a weapon, stared in stunned silence as they all fell.
Tong Laosan's jaw dropped in shock.
"I asked you, who is Young Master Hu?"
Chen Fan looked at Tong Laosan, his voice like that of a wrathful god.
Tong Laosan involuntarily stepped back, then stopped himself. He cursed, "So many of you can't beat one person? What a bunch of wimps."
After expressing his dissatisfaction with his subordinates, he sneered at Chen Fan, "Who are you? Do you know what you're doing? Do you know what will happen if you offend Young Master Hu?"
"I don't know," Chen Fan replied coldly. "Call your Young Master Hu and tell him to come here."
Tong Laosan blinked in surprise, then sneered, "You said it. If you want to die, then we'll grant your wish!"
He took out his phone and made a call.
Chen Fan ignored Tong Laosan and turned towards the woman.
She was still somewhat dazed.
Taking the wooden stick from her hand, Chen Fan smiled at her, then turned towards the excavators.
"What are you doing?"
Tong Laosan's eyebrows twitched as he finished his call.
Chen Fan paid him no mind, and without regard for the driver inside the excavator, swung the stick down.