The guards and armed thugs on the platform immediately raised their guns at Chen Wan and the others.
Chen Wan tightened her grip on the rope around Xiang Jiawei's neck and coldly addressed everyone, "Back off.
Without Xiang Jiawei, do you really think you'll still enjoy the same privileges? Put your guns down—or I'll kill him right now.
After all, he's nothing but useless trash to me."
She tightened the rope again, showing no hesitation.
Xiang Jiawei struggled weakly, his face turning pale as he gasped for breath. Panic overtook him as he quickly gestured for the others to lower their weapons.
Zhou Hua hesitated.
He understood how hostage situations worked—but he also knew that if Xiang Jiawei died here, their current status and benefits would vanish instantly. They would be reduced back to low-level thugs in Zones C and D.
He couldn't take that risk.
After a brief internal struggle, Zhou Hua finally dropped his rifle to the ground first.
Only then did Chen Wan slightly loosen her grip, allowing Xiang Jiawei to breathe again.
The moment he could move his hands, Xiang Jiawei quietly reached for something at his waist.
A dagger.
Chen Wan had already noticed.
She watched calmly, waiting to see what he would do.
In the next instant, Xiang Jiawei suddenly swung the dagger toward her in a desperate attempt.
Chen Wan reacted instantly, gripping his wrist like a steel clamp and stopping the attack mid-motion.
A sharp crack echoed.
Xiang Jiawei let out a scream as his wrist bent unnaturally.
Before he could recover, Chen Wan twisted his arm again, dislocating it completely and forcing the dagger from his grasp.
Zhou Hua panicked and reached for a weapon on the ground.
Chen Wan immediately tightened her hold on the rope with one hand while pressing her other hand against Xiang Jiawei's neck.
She looked at Zhou Hua coldly. "Don't move.
I've only disabled one of his arms. If you touch that gun, I'll kill him—and we'll all go down together."
Without waiting, she drove the dagger into Xiang Jiawei's chest.
It wasn't a fatal wound, but it was enough to make him scream in pain.
"Zhou Hua! Don't move!" Xiang Jiawei shouted in panic. "She's insane!"
The dagger was still lodged in his chest. Any deeper, and it would be fatal.
Zhou Hua froze immediately.
Xiang Jiawei, breathing heavily and enduring the pain, forced himself to speak, his voice trembling.
"I didn't realize… You were this capable. Name your terms. I'll give you anything—just spare my life. Don't push it further. I can still be useful as a hostage."
Behind him, Chen Wan let out a quiet, cold laugh.
The entire platform fell into silence.
In the next moment, she pulled the dagger out.
Blood splattered.
Xiang Jiawei nearly collapsed from fear and pain, his voice breaking as he begged, "Please… I'll give you whatever you want. You can even take control here—just don't kill me."
Chen Wan stabbed him again, this time in a different spot.
"Stop talking nonsense," she said coldly. "Only fools believe empty promises. From now on, you speak only when I allow it. Otherwise, I won't mind seeing how many more stabs you can endure."
Xiang Jiawei trembled uncontrollably.
Pain from his chest and wrist overwhelmed him, and fear took over completely. He no longer dared to speak without permission.
The other so-called "young masters" on the platform stood frozen in fear. None of them dared intervene.
Compared to their usual arrogance, survival mattered far more now.
They silently hoped Chen Wan wouldn't notice them.
Chen Wan casually played with the dagger, her expression calm, almost indifferent, as if deciding where to strike next.
"Kick your guns forward—five to six steps away," she ordered. "Move."
Zhou Hua complied first, urging the others, "Do it. Now. Or none of us walk out of here alive."
His authority and threat forced the others to obey.
One by one, weapons were kicked away from their owners and scattered across the platform.
Meanwhile, Qin Ke picked up a rifle from the ground, checked it, and returned to Chen Wan's side.
Chen Wan then grabbed a microphone and handed it to Xiang Jiawei.
"Now it's your turn," she said. "Tell your people below to throw their guns into the pool. Quickly.
You already know my temper. When I lose patience, my aim isn't always precise."
Her tone remained calm, but the threat was unmistakable.
Xiang Jiawei, pale and sweating, had no choice.
Enduring the pain, he took the microphone.
"Turn off the music," he ordered weakly.
The heavy metal music stopped immediately, plunging the area into eerie silence.
Those in the pool slowly realized something was wrong and began looking toward the platform.
Xiang Jiawei continued, his voice strained, "Everyone below—throw your weapons into the pool. Immediately. Anyone who hesitates will be executed."
The crowd below hesitated, unsure whether the order was genuine.
But Xiang Jiawei, still being held hostage, had no intention of sacrificing his own life.
He truly wanted to survive.
And now, for the first time—
He realized just how dangerous Chen Wan really was.