Chapter 328

September 20, 1983.

Kai Tak Airport.

Kai Tak Airport is located within Gangdao city area, on the southern shore of the Kowloon Peninsula, along the Victoria Harbour.

Outside the airport grounds is the bustling Kowloon City, surrounded on three sides by mountains.

The mountains about 10 kilometers to the north and northeast reach a height of 2000 feet (600 meters), while the mountains to the east are even closer to the runway, only 5 kilometers away.

To the south of the airport is Victoria Harbour, and within less than 10 kilometers beyond the harbor lie the highlands of Hong Kong Island, around 1700 feet (520 meters) in elevation.

Only to the west of the airport, and directly opposite the runway to the southeast at Lei Yue Mun Gap, are there no mountains blocking the way.

Kai Tak Airport has only one runway that extends into Victoria Harbour, built on reclaimed land in Kowloon Bay.

The takeoff and landing directions are 136° and 316°, hence Runway 13 and Runway 31. The 13/31 runway has been lengthened several times, giving the airport a length of 3390 meters.

Between the runway and eastern Kwun Tong lies a narrow water channel, and at the runway's end are mountains and residential areas.

When landing, pilots see the giant checkerboard on Mount Parker and must turn the aircraft to prepare for touchdown.

Due to geographical constraints, landing and taking off at Kai Tak is quite challenging; moreover, wind shear frequently occurs near the airport because of the surrounding mountains, earning Kai Tak the reputation of being one of the world's ten most dangerous airports.

However, for the same reason, airlines usually assign only experienced pilots to flights to Gangdao, so since its operation there have been very few major air accidents.

Li Xin and Jiang Tian Sheng were waiting at the airport gate to greet Eight-Finger Uncle.

Jiang Tian Sheng laughed and asked, "A Xin, did you just take the Yihai Canglong plaque into Hongfa Mountain like that?"

Li Xin deliberately changed into a more formal outfit today.

He wore a treasure-blue shirt, western trousers, and black leather shoes.

Hearing Jiang Tian Sheng's question, he laughed and said, "Mr. Jiang, this really isn't much to do with me; it's all because Chai Uncle wanted to step down and didn't want the Yihai Canglong plaque to gather dust, so those few old fellows brought the plaque over."

"Originally I meant to just take in those few old men, nothing else."

"Haha!"

Jiang Tian Sheng rubbed the corner of his eye, laughing and scolding, "You little brat, you're really something—others look for beautiful women and hire tough underlings, but you go around recruiting old men."

Nowadays, Xi Gong in the jianghu has become a golden signboard for retirement; those elders who wish to retire peacefully all want to go to Xi Gong.

Li Xin shamelessly laughed, "Look, everyone knows I, A Xin, respect the elderly and honor the virtuous, so that's why they want to come to Xi Gong."

"At least they can have a stable living environment, not be wiped out by others—I can still guarantee that."

"Um, Lei Gong and Er Ma might have something to say, but they can't get it out yet."

Jiang Tian Sheng nodded, "Indeed, only a fool with a screw loose would dare cause trouble in Xi Gong."

A Xin's prestige in Xi Gong makes Jiang Tian Sheng envy him to the point of drooling!

Anyone who dares speak ill of him in Xi Gong can be beaten to death by the locals there.

While the two were chatting idly, Tianhong followed behind Eight-Finger Uncle and Han Bin, and had already arrived beside them.

"Mr. Jiang, Big Brother!"

Mr. Jiang laughed and said, "Tianhong, thank you for your thought!"

"That's only proper."

Li Xin patted Tianhong on the shoulder, then bowed his hands to Eight-Finger Uncle.

"Eight-Finger Uncle, I'm Li Xin; thanks to your help earlier, things went smoothly; otherwise they wouldn't have."

"Never mind that—it's only proper."

After exchanging pleasantries, Eight-Finger Uncle bowed and said, "Liu Yunhai, Red Stick of Hongfa Mountain, I have paid my respects to the Mountain Chief."

Li Xin quickly helped him up, saying, "We're all brothers; don't shorten my life over this. You're an elder of the Thus line: Prosperity—no need for such formalities."

Eight-Finger Uncle shook his head, "Mountain Chief, I've heard a lot about your deeds; you may be informal, but I must observe the rules."

After they finished their greetings, Jiang Tian Sheng stepped forward to chat with Eight-Finger Uncle.

This is the rule: no matter who comes to Gangdao, they must wait until Li Xin, the Mountain Chief of Hongfa Mountain, finishes speaking before it's their turn.

Jiang Tian Sheng gripped Eight-Finger Uncle's hand and even patted the place where his fingers were missing.

"Eight-Finger Uncle, you've worked hard!"

Eight-Finger Uncle chuckled, "A Sheng, what's there to work hard about?"

"Seeing you where you are today makes me genuinely happy; it hasn't been easy for you to get here, so keep going strong."

"I will."

After Jiang Tian Sheng finished, he told Tianhong and A Bin, "Tianhong, A Bin, you came along; once we finish up, let's go together to the main hall for a meeting."

Thereafter, the convoy headed for Chikiu; Tianhong and Han Bin rode in the same vehicle as Li Xin.

Tianhong voluntarily took the front passenger seat, leaving the back seat for Han Bin.

Li Xin put his arm around Han Bin's shoulder and laughed, "Brother Bin, between us brothers there's no need for thanks—it'd be awkward!"

"Cut it out; Tianhong is now the head of the Thus line: Prosperity, and I, as the Thus line: Leader, am just running errands for him—isn't that proper?"

Tianhong turned his head and said, "Big Brother, seriously, don't say that—Bin really does have clout overseas; wherever he goes, things go smoothly."

Han Bin waved his hand, "Tianhong, we're all our own people; no need to praise me like that—I just know a few more people."

"If something big really happens, they might not help; no matter when, it's still our own brothers we can rely on."

At the gate of Chikiu Prison.

The assassin Xiong saw Li Xin's car stop, hurried over a few steps, and opened the car door for him.

"Mr. Li, everything's ready; follow me."

After Jiang Tian Sheng and Eight-Finger Uncle got out of the car, they followed Li Xin to the prison visiting room.

The lame tyrant Da Ma Golden Blade sat on the sofa, a cigar clamped in his hand.

Seeing several people enter, he smiled and asked Eight-Finger Uncle, "Ah Hai, long time no see."

Eight-Finger Uncle bowed his hands and said, "Big Brother Ha, I just got off the plane—I came to see you."

After pointing at Li Xin and the others, he introduced: "Hao Ge, this is Prosperity Development Mountain Mountain Chief Li Xin, the dragon head of Thus line: Prosperity, Luo Tianhong."

"A Sheng doesn't need introduction, you know him, this is Kwai Green Thus line: Leader Han Bin."

Li Xin clasped his hands and said: "Hao Ge, I am Li Xin, I have long admired your great name!"

Ba Hao stood up, returned the salute, saying: "Li Mountain Chief, you flatter me, what great name! Now I'm merely a prisoner."

After the pleasantries were exchanged, they then sat on the sofa and got down to business.

Li Xin sat beside Ba Hao: "Hao Ge, this time I came over just to make amends; Yu Lan Chan passed through the territory of Thus line: Prosperity, we must greet you, otherwise others will say our Thus line: Prosperity lacks sense."

Ba Hao waved his hand, gave a bitter smile, and said: "Li Mountain Chief!"

"Just call me A Xin."

Hearing Li Xin say that, Ba Hao nodded and said: "Then I'll take the liberty, A Xin, you've gone to such trouble to come here, that's already giving me face!"