[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-hong-kong-1984":3,"chapter-hong-kong-1984-hong-kong-1984-entertainment-empire-chapter-21":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Hong Kong 1984",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2223684,4066,"Chapter 21: The Incident Ferments","hong-kong-1984-entertainment-empire-chapter-21",21,"\u003Cp>On a gloomy afternoon, Xiang Qian stepped into a remote knife shop. The interior was dimly lit, shelves crowded with all manner of blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The owner, a middle-aged man with a face full of bulging flesh, looked up to size him up: \"What are you buying?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Qian's gaze swept across the display case before settling on an ancient-looking long blade: \"This one. Has it been sharpened?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The owner grinned broadly: \"Sharpened and ready; razor-sharp.\" He retrieved the knife from beneath the counter, its edge gleaming coldly. \"Want to test it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Qian took the blade, running his fingers lightly along its surface, his expression stern: \"Wrap it up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back at the apartment arranged by Shaw Brothers, Xiang Qian retrieved a set of black training gear from the depths of his wardrobe—a hooded jacket and trousers identical to Zhang Qiling's. He donned them slowly, every movement precise, finally pulling up the hood to obscure half his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the mirror, he silently regarded his own reflection, his eyes sharp as a blade; he understood the principle that one well-placed punch prevents a hundred others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Picking up his phone, he dialed Zhang Guorong's number.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Rong, I have a favor to ask.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other end, Zhang Guorong's voice carried a smile: \"So polite? Speak, what is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please send someone to pick up my parents and Zhou Huimin's parents, and find them a safe place to stay for a few days.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Guorong's laughter cut off abruptly: \"What has happened?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nothing serious, just precautionary measures.\" Xiang Qian's tone remained calm. \"Don't tell Ah Min; I don't want her to worry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Guorong fell silent for a moment: \"Qian-zai, have you gotten yourself into trouble?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Rong, please just do this.\" Xiang Qian offered no direct answer, hanging up immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to the busy signal, Zhang Guorong frowned deeply. He dialed back at once, only to hear the tone indicating the phone was off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Something's wrong...\" he muttered to himself, then immediately called Cheng Long: \"Ah Long, we have a situation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An hour later, at Zhang Guorong's villa, Cheng Long, Mei Yanfang, and Sun Li arrived in haste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What exactly is going on?\" Cheng Long asked urgently upon entering. \"What happened to Qian-zai?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Guorong's expression was grave: \"He just called, asking me to arrange hiding places for his parents and Zhou Huimin's parents, but refused to say why.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Li sighed: \"I know the reason.\" She recounted the matter of Xin Yi'an in detail, \"...now the other party refuses to settle unless...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unless what?\" Mei Yanfang pressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Li shook her head: \"The conditions are too insulting; Qian-zai would never agree to them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Long slammed his fist onto the coffee table: \"Damn those bastards!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Guorong turned to Sun Li: \"What does Shaw Brothers say? Can they intervene to mediate?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Li offered a bitter smile: \"I just came from the company. Management's stance is... Xiang Qian hasn't earned any money for the studio yet, so he isn't worth offending Xin Yi'an over.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Yanfang turned pale with anger: \"What a bunch of snobs!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Long paced back and forth: \"We can't let him face this danger alone. That crowd around Xin Yi'an is ruthless; they're capable of anything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Guorong pondered for a moment: \"I know Sir Chen at the police station; should we...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Li shook her head: \"It's useless. Xin Yi'an has people within the police force too; unless someone dies, they won't interfere in this kind of dispute.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Yanfang suddenly stood up: \"I'm going to find Xiang Qian!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you know where he is?\" Cheng Long asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Yanfang gritted her teeth: \"With his personality, he must have gone straight to settle the score with Xin Yi'an!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Guorong made a swift decision: \"Ah Long, contact the brothers from the stunt team and gather more hands. Ah Mui, come with me to search near Xin Yi'an's territory.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Long nodded: \"I'll make the calls right now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Li grabbed her coat: \"I'll go to Zhou Huimin's place; we can't let her find out about this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As night deepened, Xiang Qian walked alone down a dim street. The long blade on his back felt heavy, yet every step he took was firm.\u003C\u002Fp>",707,"2026-06-17T20:24:38.058Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","1295e1a7773d75993ff48014de10d13f3dfc816d0c294ef1460b37eb3c8d42ad","hong-kong-1984-entertainment-empire-chapter-22","hong-kong-1984-entertainment-empire-chapter-20",152,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhong-kong-1984-cover.jpg"]