Chapter 248

The sky grew light, as if what happened yesterday didn't exist at all.

Whether Kowloon City or Tsim Sha Tsui, everything had returned to calm.

Only the bloodstains in the corners could prove what had happened here yesterday, the remnants after the gunfight!

The earliest sanitation workers to come out could still sweep up a few scattered fingers in some corners.

They were used to it; this was just a daily item of the Gangdao underworld—if a day ever passed without the smell of blood.

They still weren't used to it!

Kowloon City.

That morning, in every tea restaurant, the underworld folks talked most about yesterday's gunfight; whether they'd seen it or not, they all had to chime in a couple of sentences!

Otherwise they'd have nothing to talk about with anyone!

Those who could get up at this time were all the old-timers from each gang; the youngsters were still snoring away at home!

A man in his thirties, an old '49er, spat out exaggeratedly: "Hey! Yesterday's big battle was really exciting!"

"Dragon City Helix Xin Yi, leading several thousand people out of the walled city, directly wiped out the triad—this really set the walled city ablaze!"

"Otherwise, how could Dragon City Helix spark such a big fire? It seems the walled city still has strength—not just many desperadoes, but plenty of fighters too, taking down the triad in a single night."

The old '49er stopped there, sipping his free tea, and said no more.

Someone who knew him rolled his eyes and shouted to the restaurant staff: "Put Strong Brother's tab on mine!"

Then he said to Strong Brother: "Hey! Hurry up and continue—you're just this pathetic each time, always the same."

Strong Brother grinned, clasped his hands, and said: "Thanks! Then I'll continue—yesterday's most prominent were Dragon City Third Young Master, Dragon City Helix deputy leader Xin Yi, the Twelfth Young Master of the Hall of Might, and a masked A-four."

Someone interjected: "No way! Isn't the Twelfth Young Master following Prosperity Immortal Trust, Brother Xin? How can he still be counted as part of the Hall of Might?"

Strong Brother raised a middle finger at him and snapped: "You still wanna listen or not? If you don't know the facts, just shut your damn mouth!"

"This morning's news: the Twelfth Young Master took over the Hall of Might, purging it from top to bottom."

"Rumor has it that the Hall of Might boss Tiger Brother retired straight from the jianghu and handed the Hall over to the Twelfth Young Master."

"Who the hell would quit being a boss to become a lackey for Immortal Trust?"

"Isn't that sick in the head?"

The person being yelled at didn't retort, furrowed his brow and asked: "Aside from the Ding Ye of the walled city's underground boxing ring, isn't it just Xin Yi and the Twelfth Young Master calling the shots? That's way too young!"

Strong Brother glanced at him, his eyes looking like he was staring at an idiot!

He spoke up to explain: "Besides those fighters, what else is left in the walled city's underground boxing ring? And do those fighters even listen to Ding Ye?"

"They just do it for money!"

"From now on, the walled city will be run by Dragon City Helix and the Hall of Might; Ding Ye no longer has any ambition."

"If he doesn't pull out soon, even hoping to retire in peace is a fantasy—what does he have to compare with those two?"

"Seniority?"

"Cut it out!"

"Nobody talks about that anymore! If Tornado and Tiger Brother were still around, they could give Ding Ye some face."

"But Xin Yi and the Twelfth Young Master aren't so easy to say! Besides, they've got people backing them behind the scenes—Ding Ye can't match that!"

Someone asked: "Who are the people behind them?"

Strong Brother tapped the table, and the savvy one immediately said: "Strong Brother's afternoon tea is on me—hurry up and spill it!"

Strong Brother then nodded satisfactorily; he had stayed overnight in the walled city yesterday, never daring to come out, yet he'd paid for the room.

Today he had to get something back!!

He then continued: "I heard that yesterday, the Sword King of Causeway Bay, Hong, brought his men to help Dragon City Helix fight the triad—isn't that obvious?"

"Immortal Trust?"

Hearing someone guess that, Strong Brother then replied: "Besides Immortal Trust, who else could command the Sword King Hong?"

"It's not some gang war—Jiang Tian Sheng has no need to meddle, so the answer is already obvious!"

Strong Brother was still putting on airs, feeling like he was a big shot.

The back of his head was slapped hard, smashing him onto the table, his nose bleeding profusely.

One look and you could tell it was a heavy hand!

Sandpaper had been busy all night with his crew before finally finding a place to eat breakfast.

Just as he walked in, he heard someone badmouthing the Old Top—could he even tolerate that?

If so, he wouldn't need to be out here hustling!

Strong Brother wiped his nose blood, stood up, and stared at Sandpaper.

He let loose: "Damn it! Are you sick? If you've got guts, show off your font size!"

Sandpaper, possibly from hanging out with Tian Hong too long, had picked up some habits—he raised his fist and struck, without any nonsense.

The little brothers who followed Sandpaper saw him strike, so they didn't hold back—hit first, talk later!

Those who had just been close to Strong Brother, seeing him get beaten, immediately scattered far away, fearing collateral damage.

Sandpaper punched for a while, seeing this loser's nose and mouth gushing blood, then he stopped.

He squatted in front of him and said: "Fuck your mother! You wanted me to show off my font size—listen up."

"My name is Sandpaper, I mix in Causeway Bay; the Old Top is Brother Xin, the Big Brother is Tian Hong."

"You can come find me anytime; if I hear you badmouthing my Old Top again, next time I'll kill you—you got that?"

Strong Brother clutched his head and wailed: "Sandpaper Brother! I'll never dare again! I was just trying to make a living, that's why I didn't watch my step—I absolutely won't dare next time!"

Seeing his state, Sandpaper couldn't be bothered with him, spat a mouthful of saliva on his face, then kicked him.

He said: "Whether you dare or not is none of my business—just don't let me find out, otherwise prepare your coffin! Loser!"

Sandpaper plopped down in Strong Brother's seat and told the staff: "Give me steamed noodles and xiaolongbao, plus a few pots of good tea."

Qiang Ge saw they had stopped fighting, so he quickly got up and ran out of the tea restaurant.

Stepping outside, he spat angrily toward the inside.

He muttered a curse: "Damn it! Can't even mention Immortal Trust anymore?"

Cannot!

This unlucky guy just happened to run into Xi Yan coming out to have breakfast!

Another good beating—after Qiang Ge waited for Xi Yan to leave, he crawled up several times before finally managing to get to his feet, staggering.

This time, there was no resentment on his face, only fear.

From then on, whether anyone was around or not, he dared not utter those three words 'Immortal Trust' again—getting beaten really hurts!

Sha Zhi was still waiting for breakfast; seeing Xi Yan arrive, he hurriedly got up.

He greeted with a smile: "Brother Xi Yan! You haven't eaten either? Let's eat together!"

Xi Yan sat beside Sha Zhi and asked: "You haven't gone back to Copper Gong Bay? Isn't it already settled?"

Sha Zhi explained: "Brother Xi Yan, Big Brother's order to me is to wait until things calm down before returning; if something goes wrong, I wouldn't be able to explain myself even if I went back."

Xi Yan laughed and scolded: "With me in Nine Dragon City, what do you have to be afraid of?"

Sha Zhi shook his head: "No way! The task Big Brother gave me must be done properly, otherwise Big Brother could break my leg!"

Such strict upbringing!

Xi Yan nodded silently.

(A Biao's upbringing is also strict; whenever he finishes urging updates and free electricity, he says: "Thank you!")