Chapter 34: Mastering Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry

On the outskirts of Tianhai City, Xiao Ziguang stood atop a small pickup truck, scanning the distant warehouses through a pair of binoculars. As Tianhai City began its rapid development, the outskirts had become dotted with factories and storage facilities.

Kong Ersheng was hiding in one of these warehouses—a large structure with blue corrugated steel walls. While his exact position was unknown, the motorcycles parked out front made it clear that the majority of the Xiling Gang was holed up inside.

Xiao Ziguang pulled out his phone, dialed a number, and spoke in a low voice once connected: "Kong Ersheng, do you know I’m coming to kill you?"

An arrogant voice crackled from the receiver: "You’re the big-talking little brat who wants to kill me? Where are you? Give me a location, and I’ll come find you right now. If I don’t chop you into seventeen or eighteen pieces, I’ll take your last name..."

Xiao Ziguang cut him off: "Stop barking. I hear you’re hiding in a warehouse on the outskirts. I’ll be there in ten minutes. You’d better wash your neck..."

"Fine, fine, fine! I’ll be waiting for you in the warehouse. If you don’t show up, you’re my grandson."

Xiao Ziguang hung up and pulled back the tarp on the truck bed. Beneath it lay a long, black iron pipe. He propped the pipe up, wedging it firmly against the truck’s cab.

After confirming the alignment with the warehouse, Xiao Ziguang used his thumb to take measurements, then pulled out a tissue to test the wind direction.

In the truck bed sat three modified gas canisters. Each was packed with fertilizer, and the tail ends had been fitted with stabilizer fins welded from steel piping and other scrap. The canisters were sized perfectly to slide into the long iron pipe.

Zhou Huajian watched as Xiao Ziguang shoved bricks under the truck’s tires and placed two more on the ground as markers. Unable to contain his curiosity, he asked, "Ziguang, what are you doing?"

"Calculating the trajectory. Once I fire the first canister, as soon as you hear the blast, push the truck forward to the second brick and jam the tires immediately!"

"Then, when you hear the second blast, push it forward again and repeat the process for the third brick..."

Following Xiao Ziguang's description, the scene played out in Zhou Huajian’s mind.

Kong Ersheng and his men were waiting for Xiao Ziguang to walk through the front door, only to be met by three canisters raining down on a straight line at ten-second intervals. Even if someone were lucky enough to survive the shockwave of the first explosion, they wouldn’t escape the second or third.

Zhou Huajian began to mourn for Kong Ersheng. Why, of all people, did he have to provoke Xiao Ziguang? This demeanor didn’t look like that of a regular soldier who had retired; it felt more like special forces—the kind that carried out secret missions overseas.

Zhou Huajian asked curiously, "The plan is great, but can you be sure this thing will really fly the way you calculated?"

The three canisters on the truck looked incredibly crude. Zhou Huajian was terrified that they might malfunction upon launch or even detonate inside the pipe.

Xiao Ziguang was confident. "The chemical configuration is precise to the gram. The weight variance between the three canisters is under 500 grams. I scavenged the fins from model toys; they’re all standardized stamped parts."

"Even the welds—I polished every single one of them myself. Even if there’s a margin of error in the landing, it won’t exceed three meters."

"A target as large as that warehouse is impossible to miss. Besides, once the explosions stop, we’ll go in to finish the job. Not a single person will be left breathing."

"So, as far as my work goes, you can rest easy!"

In his previous life, Xiao Ziguang had been disabled. Boredom led him to binge-watch countless videos, where he not only studied military theory but also crammed mathematics, physics, and chemistry. He had even built small gas canister toys to experiment with grenade launchers.

Confined to a wheelchair with endless time on his hands, he had naturally researched all sorts of strange things. He had once used a grenade launcher to hit thirteen cola bottles in a row from thirty meters away.

Now, at a distance of three hundred meters, hitting a warehouse covering over a thousand square meters was a walk in the park.

Reborn, Xiao Ziguang felt like a sledgehammer. He had no time, no patience, and no mood to waste energy on small-fry like Kong Ersheng.

Since Xiong Yaohui wanted to make things difficult for him, and since Xue Ao wanted a "tribute" to prove his worth, he would give them a earth-shattering surprise—a bloody piece of leverage.

Xiao Ziguang believed that as long as they understood he was a madman capable of tearing the sky down, they would naturally drop their arrogant attitudes and be willing to communicate with him on equal footing.

To have a conversation among equals, you must demonstrate equal power. Who would dare mess with a guy who would launch a gas canister cannon at the drop of a hat?

Xiao Ziguang understood a simple truth: once you start flipping the table, everyone who accused you, cursed you, or even hated you would regain their rationality. Once they realized they couldn't afford to provoke you, they would hide or even fear you.

Inside the warehouse, Kong Ersheng and his men had formed a semicircle. Each held a two-foot-long watermelon knife, their eyes fixed intently on the warehouse entrance.

Kong Ersheng clutched a shotgun with a sawed-off barrel. Both barrels were packed with gunpowder and steel shot; one pull of the trigger would unleash hundreds of pellets.

Due to his nerves, the muscles on Kong Ersheng’s cheek twitched uncontrollably, brushing against a burn scar from a cigarette butt. He spat in frustration.

Since Xiao Ziguang said he was coming, they would clash. They would settle it with their hands. Today, he would definitely chop Xiao Ziguang into seventeen or eighteen pieces.

Just as the tension reached its peak, a side door in the corner of the warehouse groaned open. Everyone instinctively turned to look.

Qian Hao walked in, his face dark. He scolded Kong Ersheng irritably, "Did you leave your brains in bed when you woke up? Why are you all standing here blocking the way?"

Kong Ersheng quickly explained, "Xiao Ziguang called just now. He said he’s coming to the warehouse..."

Qian Hao looked at Kong Ersheng as if he were an idiot. "Is there a screw loose in your head? I’ve seen that kid, Xiao Ziguang. He’s sharp-minded, not some reckless brute!"

"He called you to pull a feint! If you were him, knowing the other side was prepared, would you dare to come knocking alone?"

The logic was sound. Anyone with a normal IQ wouldn't just charge in.

Thinking it over, Xiao Ziguang’s "attack" sounded more like empty threats.

Kong Ersheng’s already angry face became even more furious. "Break it up! Everyone, break it up! We’ll find a way to make Xiao Ziguang pay once it gets dark."

Qian Hao opened a side door. "Ersheng, I’m heading out to take care of some business. You and the boys keep watch over the warehouse."

Kong Ersheng waved a hand, shoved a mouthful of peanuts into his mouth, and was just about to lift his wine bowl when he heard a strange sound.

*Whoosh... Thump...*

A bizarre black shadow suddenly appeared above the warehouse, punching a massive hole through the flimsy roof...