A life of success begins with being a landlord.

"Brother Nan!"

I laughed heartily and clasped my hands in a fist and palm salute, saying, "If you were to send someone to pick me up, I wouldn't dare accept that. I'll just come here myself. That way, Brother Nan will save face."

"My reputation is all thanks to Brother Zu. Brother Zu gives me face, so I, Anan, have face, right?"

Nan Batian stepped forward and took my hand.

I also held Nan Batian's hand.

Nan Batian slowly increased his strength, the veins on his arms bulging, but his face was still full of smiles.

I also resisted with all my might, trying my best to remain calm and collected.

My hand bones are aching, and I imagine that Nan Batian isn't feeling well either!

The two stubborn men shook hands for two minutes, neither able to gain the upper hand, and finally chuckled and let go.

"Brother Zu is a real man, coming alone to this meeting." Nan Batian nodded and raised his hand: "Come over here first, have a cup of tea."

"I've had my drink, thank you."

I shook my head and looked at Nan Batian: "Brother Nan, you decide what to do next."

"So rushed?"

Nan Batian handed me a cigarette, lit one for himself, and pointed to the north wall.

On the north wall, there are several throwing knife targets, some large and some small, covered with dense knife marks.

I walked to the north wall and carefully examined the target, judging Nan Batian's throwing knife skills by the depth and angle of the knife marks.

Judging from the knife marks, this kid is no weaker than me.

Ah Chao brought over two plates, each containing throwing knives, or rather darts, of the same model.

The dart is narrow, with blades on both sides, seven inches long, and weighs about seven or eight ounces.

There were no signs of impact on the blade or the body, indicating that it was newly made and had not been used yet.

Nan Batian casually picked up a throwing knife and flung it at the target, then turned to me and asked, "Brother Zu, did you bring any weapons?"

I pulled out a two-yuan screwdriver from my waist and weighed it in my hand: "This is all I have."

"A screwdriver?" Nan Batian was stunned.

Ah Chao and the others chuckled and shook their heads repeatedly.

"What are you laughing at?"

I casually tossed the screwdriver away, and it landed next to Nan Batian's dart. I rolled my eyes and said, "I'm poor. I can't afford these custom-made throwing knives. Even playing with a screwdriver makes my wallet hurt."

Actually, I also have a custom-made throwing knife, but it's at my hometown, so I didn't bring it with me.

It's probably rusted by now.

Nan Batian glared at me, silencing A-Chao and the others' murmurs, and pointed at the plate, saying, "Want to try my throwing knife?"

I picked up a throwing knife, weighed it in my hand to find its center of gravity, and then turned and threw it.

Boom!

The throwing knife hit the target and landed right next to Nan Batian's first throwing knife.

"Impressive skills." Nan Batian threw another knife, staring intently at me. "Brother Zu, how do you think we'll compete today?"

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do; Brother Zu has the final say." I am well aware of my own limitations.

I have no say here, so why should I say more?

"Our sparring will only fall into two categories: one is literary, and the other is martial."

Nan Batian walked up to the target, pulled out my screwdriver, and handed it to me: "If you're going to play it safe, we'll practice against the target. Whoever loses has to kowtow three times to the other."

I took the screwdriver: "Wu, where's Wu?"

"If you're going to fight, then let's have real combat."

Nan Batian took two steps back, picked up a throwing knife, and said, "We'll each have seven knives, and we'll shoot at each other simultaneously. Whoever dies will be the unlucky one."

I chuckled and said, "I know that I'm here today because I'm doomed."

Nan Batian frowned: "Why do you say that?"

"Is there even a need to ask?"

I pointed at Ah Chao and the others, emphasizing each word: "If I beat you, they definitely won't let me leave alive. If I lose to you, I'll die too."

Nan Batian was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "Brother Zu, are you afraid of death?"

"I'm afraid, but I can't live; death is the only option."

I pointed a screwdriver at Nan Batian: "If it's a real shooting duel, I absolutely won't hold back. I'm going to die anyway, right?"

"You don't need to hold back!"

Nan Batian suddenly roared, his domineering aura radiating, and shouted at A Chao and the others:

"All of you get out of here. I'm going to have a one-on-one duel with Wang Yaozu. If I die, you're not allowed to make things difficult for Wang Yaozu. Tell Brother Kun not to seek revenge for me; just say it was my order."

Upon hearing this, I was immediately moved. If Nan Batian were to keep his word, he would truly be a hero.

Ah Chao refused to leave, shouting, "Brother Nan, this is Hengjie Street, you can't die. If anyone's going to die, it should be Wang Yaozu."

Another blond-haired man pointed at me, his expression menacing: "Wang Yaozu, kneel down and kowtow three times to Brother Nan, admit defeat, and you might have a way out!"

I didn't say anything, I just watched Nan Batian and saw how he would handle it.

"Get out of here, all of you!" Nan Batian roared again. "If you don't leave, my throwing knives don't have eyes!"

Whoosh!

As he spoke, Nan Batian flicked his wrist and threw a flying knife, which grazed over A-Chao's head and hit the wall.

Ah Chao was taken aback. He reached up and touched the top of his head, then waved to the henchmen present, "Get out of here!"

A dozen or so people followed Ah Chao out and closed the door behind them.

In the huge gym, there was only me and Nan Batian.

I held two screwdrivers in my left hand and one in my right, staring intently at Nan Batian.

I will strike first as soon as he makes a move.

Skilled fighters exchanging throwing knives is just like they exchanging pistol shots.

Once a throwing knife is thrown, it's very difficult to dodge.

Whoever makes the first move gains the upper hand.

In martial arts movies, the idea that a thrown knife can be caught by the opponent is pure nonsense.

Forget about throwing knives, even if someone turns around and throws a piece of food at you, you can't catch it!

"Bro, we haven't even started yet."

Nan Batian was intimidated by my gaze and dropped the throwing knife in his hand: "Let's clarify the rules first before we start fighting."

I nodded and put the screwdriver back into my waistband.

Nan Batian took off his shirt, revealing his bare chest and the dart pouch at his waist. He inserted seven throwing knives into it one by one, then turned to me and said, "You can also use my throwing knives. I won't take advantage of you."

I took off my shirt, leaving myself shirtless, and shook my head: "I'll just use a screwdriver, it's fine."

"You only have five screwdrivers, so I'll return two throwing knives." Nan Batian was quite respectful of the rules, returning the two throwing knives and slowly backing away.

I also slowly backed away, creating some distance.

Nan Batian placed his hands on his waist, gripping the hilt of his sword, and slowly said, "You count to three, and we'll begin, okay?"

"Wait a minute." I pressed down on the screwdriver and asked, "What if we use all five knives and still don't die, and it's a draw?"

"That is a problem..." Nan Batian frowned and pondered:

"If we've used all five knives and none of us are dead, then we'll see who surrenders. Whoever surrenders will kowtow and apologize. If no one surrenders, we'll have another round until a winner is decided!"

They absolutely insist I kowtow, or it'll be a fight to the death!

I chuckled coldly, "Brother Nan, even if I lose, I won't kowtow. So, don't hold back, go all out!"

Nan Batian gritted his teeth: "Count them."

"one two three!"

I counted to three, immediately pulled out a screwdriver, dodged and shook, ready to strike.

Whoosh!

Nan Batian reacted with lightning speed and moved with incredible speed, sending a throwing knife flying towards my lower abdomen.