Chapter 1

Damn it!

In a bit, once you see who it is, strike swiftly!

Today we must chop off Zhao Pangzi's bald head to avenge Brother Zhang!

Pingzhou, West City District.

A white van sped through the night.

The buildings on both sides of the street were low, and the streetlights were not bright, some even dim yellow.

By this time, the only shops still open on either side were the video hall and the small stall with a sign for rented discs.

Gazing at the street scene that was both familiar and strange, Li Jiaci's expression was somewhat dazed.

I... really... have been reborn?

At this moment, his ears still echoed with the last words of the doctor who had administered his euthanasia: 'Don't be afraid, there's anesthetic inside, you won't feel pain; and if there is a next life, remember to walk the righteous path and be a good person with conscience.'

Thinking of this.

Li Jiaci couldn't help but wryly smile.

In his previous life, he certainly wasn't a good person.

In his youth, relying on his skills and a reckless daring, he made a name for himself on the streets, and later, through someone's recommendation, he joined a gang.

Over ten years, he rose from a lackey to a double-flower enforcer, then to a hall master of a locality, and by his early thirties he became a renowned jianghu big shot.

Another ten years passed, and his life was ended by a cyanide injection.

Brother.

We've arrived!

At this moment, a stocky young man came up beside him and said:

Li Jiaci stared blankly, lifted his head, and his gaze slowly swept over the faces of the few people in the car.

Li Yihu, Liu Jiang, Wang Lan, Zhang Chuqiang, Zhao Chen...

Seeing their faces.

His vision unexpectedly began to blur.

He was an orphan, with no parents, and even his name was given by the orphanage director.

These five people before him shared the same background, having grown up together since childhood, and they had all kowtowed before Lord Guan together.

But in his previous life, these five brothers who had followed him wholeheartedly, sworn to stay with him for life and make their mark together, all died because of him.

Liu Jiang.

After a gunfight ended, he was arrested by Maozi and sentenced to death.

Wang Lan, Zhao Chen.

Likewise, in that gunfight, to buy them time to escape from Maozi's men, they seized Maozi's vehicle, and during the escape collided with a rammed-earth truck, both dying.

Zhang Chuqiang.

He had shared life-and-death with him for many years.

Later, he was seized by the person who competed with Li Jiaci for the hall master position.

The other side forced him to give false testimony to incriminate Li Jiaci; even though his bones were broken in dozens of places and he was tortured beyond recognition.

Li Yihu.

He was the brother who had followed Li Jiaci the longest.

But he was also the most foolish, the brother who caused Li Jiaci the most anguish.

On the eve of Li Jiaci's arrest, he fought desperately to shield Li Jiaci's escape, was shot dead by Maozi, and died before Li Jiaci's eyes.

At this moment, seeing again the lively faces of these brothers, rather than the cold tombstones and black-and-white photos, Li Jiaci's eyes grew moist.

Unable to restrain himself, he reached out and pulled the short, sturdy young man before him into an embrace.

Zhao Chen was startled by his sudden action: "Brother! What... what's wrong with you?"

Li Jiaci wiped his eyes and released Zhao Chen.

"Nothing."

Immediately after.

His gaze also swept over each of the brothers' faces before him.

"Great!"

"They're still alive, the brothers are still alive..."

Li Jiaci felt a hundred emotions churning in his heart.

He wanted to say something to them, but didn't know how to begin.

Just then.

The Liu Jiang beside him suddenly spoke: "Brother, I just inquired—Zhao Pangzi is in private room 207, with only two men and one woman beside him; when should we make our move?"

"Zhao Pangzi..."

Li Jiaci froze for an instant, his face suddenly changed, he grabbed Liu Jiang and asked: "What time is it now?"

"Huh?"

Liu Jiang stared, glanced at his watch, and said: "Nine, nine-thirty."

"That's not what I was asking."

Li Jiaci's expression turned grave: "What year, month, and day is it now?"

"'98 year, September 23."

Liu Jiang's eyes were full of bewilderment: "Brother, what's wrong with you?"

The others also looked at Li Jiaci with puzzled eyes, none understanding what had happened to him.

"September 23, 1998..."

Li Jiaci completely ignored them.

He kept muttering those few words as if possessed.

He would never forget this date.

Because, in his previous life, on that day he led his brothers onto that arduous, sorrowful road of no return.

Also on that day, he almost lost everything.

Just a few days before this time.

The eldest brother who had looked after them since childhood, Zhang Shiqiang, clashed with Zhao Pangzi over territory division and ultimately died at Zhao Pangzi's hands.

Several people, upon learning this, immediately decided to kill Zhao Pangzi to avenge Zhang Shiqiang.

In his previous life, they succeeded, successfully killing Zhao Pangzi.

But someone had already betrayed their plan to kill Zhao Pangzi to Maozi.

Even to this day, he hasn't forgotten that day.

They had just rushed out of the Wildfire Dance Hall when dozens of Maozi blocked the alley.

Liu Jiang was arrested on the spot and sentenced to death.

Wang Lan and Zhao Chen seized a police car to buy them time, but ultimately died under an earth‑rammer truck.

Li Jiaci, Zhang Chuqiang, and Li Yihu managed to escape, but because they were now wanted, they had to flee to the war‑torn Three Sides Slope.

Recalling his brothers' deaths, recalling those hundreds of days and nights when they were forced at gunpoint to chop wood and break stone, Li Jiaci's heart trembled uncontrollably.

No!

No matter what, he must not repeat the same mistakes.

He also never wanted to see any brother die before his eyes again.

Since heaven has given him a chance to start over, he must lead his brothers to carve out a place for themselves, let them live good lives, and he will not let any of the enemies stained with his brothers' blood from his previous life go.

And the urgent task is to get everyone away from this place, long riddled with danger and strife.

Li Jiaci almost blurted out without thinking: "Chu Qiang, turn around ahead, head home!"