Chapter 169

Under the brilliant starry sky, in front of the villa lawn east of Aomen, decorations were hung everywhere, and colorful fluorescence made this place shine like paradise on earth.

This place was the newly bought villa of Chen Zheng, covering one mu, with a total value of over ten million in the 1990s. Perhaps to celebrate surviving the great calamity, or perhaps to tell everyone in Aomen that I, Chen Zheng, had adopted a well-behaved foster daughter. The always frugal Chen Zheng couple spared no expense, purchasing this villa from a wealthy merchant, then spending a month on rushed renovation, and finally completing construction during Xiao Shishi's twelfth birthday.

"In the days ahead, where do you plan to go, stay in Aomen? Here every inch of land is precious, with the Eastern Mausoleum's help, you will surely get by." Fan Wuchang held a glass of red wine, stood beside me, gazing at the lively, lovable children in the center of the lawn, his eyes sunk into contemplation.

I stood shoulder to shoulder with him, smiling as I answered his question.

"In Aomen, every inch of land is precious, making money is easy, but dying is also easy. I, however, still want to live a few more years; I don't want to die so young." I answered while taking a small sip of red wine.

Under the brilliant night sky, I and Fan Wuchang quietly stood in the corner of the lawn. The bustling night scene, the extraordinarily lively villa. All of this was utterly out of place for us.

"When do you plan to leave?" Fan Wuchang sighed, a hint of complex emotion flashing in his dark eyes.

I teased him, saying: "What, you're reluctant to part with us?"

Fan Wuchang curled the corner of his mouth, shrugged his shoulders and gave a faint smile, took a deep drag of a cigar, and his hand, very stylish and cool, threw something at me.

I casually caught it and unfolded it, discovering…… that what he threw was a gold coin, an ancient gold coin with collectible value.

"What is this?"

"Hold this gold coin, and I guarantee that even if you rape the daughter of any underworld boss abroad and sleep with his wife, this gold coin will make them treat you with utmost respect, never daring to harm you in the slightest."

"Um..." I looked at the gold coin in my hand, then glanced at Fan Wuchang. Shocked, yet I couldn't help but feel a mix of laughter and tears. Seeing what he said, what does "forcing someone's wife and sleeping with their daughter" mean... I, Hai Sheng, do I look like that kind of person?

"What exactly is the origin of this gold coin? How could it end up in your hands!" I gripped the gold coin, asking in bewilderment.

At that moment, Fan Wuchang's face broke into a proud smile.

"This was passed down to me by my master's grandfather; my master's grandfather...... is a descendant of the founder of the Hong Gate." Fan Wuchang proudly raised his head, and when he spoke of his master's grandfather, his expression could not hide his proud bearing.

"The Hong Gate is the origin of the Big Circle Gang, the Chaozhou Gang, and the local underworld of Gangao; the Triad Society and the Eastern Mausoleum all split from the Hong Gate." Fan Wuchang raised his head, saying proudly: "People think only the Mafia and the Yamaguchi Group are international underworlds. They don't know that the Hong Gate's footprint has already spread to every corner of the world. Every country, every region, has traces of the Chinese Hong Gate. Whether it's Paris or the Chinatowns of the United States, you can find traces of the Hong Gate."

Fan Wuchang straightened his body, feeling no shame for being an underworld member; instead, he was deeply proud. Of course, Fan Wuchang spoke the truth. The Hong Gate is undoubtedly a top-tier gang internationally. However, what Fan Wuchang referred to was the former Hong Gate.

The former Hong Gate indeed covered every corner of the world. At that time, the Hong Gate spoke of loyalty, filial piety, trustworthiness, and righteousness, saying it served the country and the people. They were a civilian organization spontaneously formed by anti-Qing loyalists. Even after developing into the Republican era, the Hong Gate had contributed much to the anti-Japanese resistance. After liberation, as nations moved toward increasing prosperity, they naturally could not tolerate the two words "underworld gang".

Thus, the disciples of the Hong Gate scattered far and wide, spreading across Gangao and abroad. Even so, the Hong Gate at that time remained an organization worthy of admiration. The scattered disciples spontaneously banded together, resisting foreign local underworlds, and gave a fierce vent of anger for overseas Chinese who suffered oppression abroad.

But, unknown when it started, the two words "Hong Gate" changed their nature completely from head to toe. Perhaps as a certain great person said. What truly corrupts the heart is piles of gold and silver stacked like mountains. Sometimes, maggots do not invade from outside; greedy desire often spreads from within.

The vast Hong Gate began to split in the long river of time, giving rise to the Triad Society, the Eastern Mausoleum, and countless other big and small factions. To contend for territory, they spared no fratricide, fighting until heads were broken and blood flowed. For money, for power, to satisfy the desires sprouting deep within, they sold drugs, trafficked arms, forced the good into prostitution, and committed every evil imaginable.

Eventually, the factions split from the Hong Gate became genuine underworld gangs without qualification, or put another way, only then did the Hong Gate truly become forever bound to the word "underworld".

Therefore, I do not agree with Fan Wuchang's pride. At least, he only remembers the Hong Gate's glory, overlooking the harm this organization later inflicted on the populace.

"I've accepted this gold coin, but I only remember that it was a gift from my friend! I don't know what kind of nature it has or where it comes from, and I don't want to know." Gripping the gold coin, I stared at Fan Wuchang with a burning gaze and said.

My answer was Fan Wuchang's faint smile. He turned around inexplicably like that, then left me a suave back view.

"I still owe you a life; if I get the chance, I will surely repay you. Farewell, the martial world!" As he gradually walked away, he waved his hand, his feigned suave tone unable to hide the sorrow and loneliness. Until he vanished into the dark night, he never came to his senses to glance at me once.

Perhaps deep down he wanted to turn back and give me a fierce bear hug. But at the same time, hidden within this sincere righteousness was deep guilt.

I know. Fan Wuchang actually wanted to pass this gold coin to Pangzi more. But he simply could not open up and have a sincere, thorough chat with Pangzi.

That night, on the rooftop of Chen Mo's building, he ordered his subordinates to surround Pangzi, to surround his own lifesaver. He raised the knife in his hand, and when he ruthlessly stabbed toward us, his heart was dripping blood. This scene might become an eternal nightmare he can never free himself from.

Standing long in the wind, watching his fading silhouette, I ultimately sighed helplessly, gripped the gold coin, and walked into the splendid villa.

Inside the villa, Shishi and a group of kids were happily playing, while Hong Nainai lovingly guarded her on the side. Seeing me enter, she seemed to recall me as well, and gave me a sweet smile.

Looking straight in from the entrance, a gradually rusting silver short sword hung on the wall of the main hall. This sword was precisely the flying blade that had several times tried to assassinate us, leaving us with no way out. Its owner, employed by Xia Shanhu, was finally killed by me in a magic duel. Chen Zheng retrieved this sword and hung it in the main hall.

Three days earlier, Chen Zheng knelt before me and Pangzi in front of everyone from the Eastern Mausoleum. Undeterred by opposition, he resolutely accepted the Eastern Mausoleum's punishment of the "Righteousness" character: thirty-six blows, each strike breaking his body. Seventy-two wine bottles, each shattering his skull.

This is Chen Zheng's repentance for his own actions; no one can stop his resolve to break ties. Moreover, Chen Zheng hung this silver short sword in his own home, and even engraved our names and Pangzi's on the blade.

In Chen Zheng's words, this is the mistake he made; he once unforgivably attacked his own lifesaver. He wants to forever remember this lesson. He wants future generations to forever remember this kindness. Forever remember, his and Dong Yumin's lives were given by two Daoists.

Compared to Fan Wuchang's avoidance and weakness, Chen Zheng instead showed more courage to act and take responsibility.

Night, the curtain gradually fell. Pangzi and Yuan Qiu drank until dead drunk, calling anyone they met brothers and shouting "buddies".

Pangzi was crazy all night, spouting nonsense, sometimes lewd, sometimes like a gentleman. In short, Pangzi had a great time tonight, seemingly forgetting Fan Wuchang's existence.

Pangzi's carefree exterior aside, I actually know that his round head hides the wisdom of appearing foolish while being wise. He understands Fan Wuchang and has seen through Fan Wuchang's true inner thoughts.

Whenever he saw Fan Wuchang, Pangzi would always make two cutting remarks. Or, he would make two nonsensical, lewd jokes that left everyone speechless while nearly making Fan Wuchang explode. He wasn't like this by nature; he did it on purpose.

When two people are unhappy, someone must pretend to be unserious; otherwise, the repressed feelings would leak out, and how could this sorrow dissipate?

But tonight, all pretense was in vain; parting is always sorrowful, and when sorrowful, people always hold back their unhappiness.

Pangzi really wanted to tell Fan Wuchang: "Actually, I don't even remember that stab of yours. Those few tomatoes and rotten eggs that surrounded my attack, I also know you got them because you were afraid I'd be bored, to give me practice."

But even though he is naturally open-minded, Fan Wuchang would not think that way. Fan Wuchang may be cold, but he values righteousness, and his nature also has a pedantic quality that does not match his outward appearance.

No one knows how much pain Fan Wuchang's heart felt that night, nor how clear it is that his pedantic nature caused him to suffer multiple torments.

Sometimes, people are like this. Even if they know the root of the problem, they are powerless to untie this knot. Because this fluctuating world of mortals has given rise to all kinds of personalities. Thus, all seemingly perfect methods…… lose their luster in this extreme-leaning human nature..