The night was alive with the flurry of hidden birds taking flight, danger surging and ceaselessly intertwining everywhere; of course, the common folk noticed nothing, sensed nothing, since such matters held no concern for them.
But when the morning broke, the news was already in a furious uproar, as the beautiful anchorwoman on the screen was spitting out words with palpable fury.
“Attention citizens, this is the Macau Broadcasting Station. The following is an announcement explaining the government’s decision to lock down the three major transport hubs…”
“Damn it, explain my ass! They ruined my New Year romance, screw your ancestors.” A young man stared fixedly at the woman on the television, annoyance etched across his face, a prominent bulge straining the fabric of his shorts, which he deliberately thrust forward twice toward the beauty on screen, as if expressing an extreme, personal rage against the transportation blockade.
In truth, it was understandable; even you would feel the same. Losing a sweetheart right at the New Year, and over travel restrictions preventing a planned vacation or engagement—it was maddening. If this young man were a thug, he’d probably be storming the Supreme People’s Court with a broadsword.
“Boss, Boss, terrible news, absolutely terrible news!” Liu Xinbei gasped, his footsteps heavy with panic.
“What is it, Old Liu? What has you so rattled?” Qing Long asked, his expression grim.
“Boss, this time it’s truly awful. The Dragon Gang… the Dragon Gang is finished.” Liu Xinbei spoke with evident apprehension, his heart clenching as he watched the subtle shift in Qing Long’s face, then softly called out, “Boss, Boss!”
Slap! Qing Long slammed one hand down onto the desk, then sank into his office chair as if all the air had suddenly been let out of him. He tilted his head back and murmured, “The Dragon Gang is finished, the Dragon Gang has crumbled, haha, haha!”
“Boss!” Liu Xinbei cried out with worry; he knew exactly what the collapse of the Dragon Gang signified.
“You don’t need me to tell you what to do next, do you?” A chilling glint flashed in Qing Long’s eyes.
Hearing this, Liu Xinbei jumped as if struck by electricity and replied, “It’s already arranged. The moment I received the news, I dispatched men. Even though all major access points are blocked, our people managed to slip through.”
“Good. That’s good! Long Tian was, after all, a figure of some standing. Let him rest easy this time.”
“Understood!”
“You may go now. Arrange whatever needs arranging, and leave me to my thoughts.” Qing Long waved his hand dismissively.
“Yes!” Liu Xinbei spared Qing Long one last glance before moving toward the door.
Following the events of the previous night, the Dragon Gang had indeed fallen, utterly and completely routed. Once Yang Yi breached the Dragon Gang headquarters, everything became inevitable.
Macau’s major casinos were now entirely occupied by the Black God Clan. Those Dragon Gang members who engaged in fighting at the casinos last night were either dead or wounded. Long Tian’s greatest oversight was neglecting the Dragon Gang headquarters and the main forces across the twenty-one cities of Guangdong; within a single night, the Black God Clan had completely seized control.
Only Long Tian and his contingent of about a thousand men remained to confront Yang Yi. Yet, in the end, for reasons unknown, Long Tian abruptly abandoned everything, completely transferring control of the Dragon Gang to the Black God Clan, while he and Li Yun vanished from Macau that very same night.
“Young Master, the forces in Macau are fully secured. Almost everyone has been replaced by our people, and we are systematically re-educating the surrendering Dragon Gang members.”
Feng Shi materialized behind Yang Yi. She observed him now, noting an air of deep dejection. She had expected that after eliminating the Dragon Gang, he might finally recover somewhat, but for some reason, she, Feng Shi, always felt that every action Yang Yi took remained tied to the underworld, his melancholy and icy aura merging to influence how he made others feel.
“Mm! Just ensure the arrangements are proper. Has the situation in the twenty-one cities of Guangdong been sorted out as well?” Yang Yi took a deep breath, and the gloom that had settled on his face instantly vanished.
“It’s all handled. Since we sent the message to Long Tian, the majority of the Dragon Gang’s power structure has been absorbed by us.” Feng Shi hesitated, clearly wanting to say more, as even she couldn't grasp why Long Tian had suddenly seemed like a different person last night.
“That’s good. Now only the thirty-two cities of Guangxi remain. The collapse of the Green Gang is only a matter of time. Let’s go. Pack up; we are heading to Hainan.” Yang Yi turned, a chilling coldness radiating from his brow that seemed to repel approach.
“Young Master!” Feng Shi called out instinctively, seeing this expression on Yang Yi for the first time.
“Mm, have people been sent for protection?”
“Yes, Fatty has already taken a few men over there!” Feng Shi confirmed, then added, “Young Master, I still don’t understand why Long Tian would…?”
Hearing this, Yang Yi paused, glanced at her, and sighed heavily, “Alas, the faster things progress, the more disadvantageous it is for us. That Long Tian was undoubtedly a hegemon; in that final moment, he managed to preserve the dignity of a leader. This is not something any of you could easily comprehend.”
Indeed, some men, even after slaying a thousand or ten thousand others, did it solely for the last vestige of their honor. Some who had committed heinous crimes, in the end, chose suicide rather than face incarceration, also to preserve that final sliver of dignity. For those steeped in the dark world, dignity was paramount.
Perhaps some people couldn't relate to this, perhaps they considered such men fools, but these types rarely cared for popular opinion, and they would never regret the decisions they made in the end.
On a train, a young man rested his chin on his hand, watching the scenery blur past the window. He seemed to relish the sensation, maintaining the pose for over half an hour.
“Tian!” Li Yun spoke to the young man sitting beside him—the former Dragon Gang leader, Long Tian.
“Hmm? What is it?” Long Tian turned his head to look at his fiancée, smiling. “It’s fine, I’m alright. Seeing your worried expression makes it seem like you have something on your mind!”
“Are you truly planning to just give up like this?” Li Yun still seemed unable to fully accept Long Tian’s decision.
“Sigh, Little Yun, isn't this better now? Never again having to live through constant scheming, worrying today if that person will die, and tomorrow trying to save my own skin. I’ve long tired of that life.”
Hearing Long Tian’s words, Li Yun fell silent; she understood perfectly that for men in the underworld, today was about survival, and tomorrow was about living better. The chance of death each day was measured in percentages; who could ever predict they wouldn't die today?
“There, now we are unburdened. Isn’t this much better?” Long Tian embraced Li Yun and said with a smile, “In the future, we’ll buy a small house in a village somewhere, and you can give me five or six children. We’ll be busy every day for them. What a wonderfully peaceful life that would be!”
“Five or six?” Li Yun felt a flicker of Long Tian’s mischievous side for the first time. Five or six? Good heavens, did he think she was a pig, capable of bearing so many so easily?
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, who said I’d bear you five or six?” Li Yun retorted, her face flushing as she scolded him playfully.
However, following her soft rebuke, a sharp cold light pierced the air, startling Long Tian. His eyes widened, and he quickly dove to shield Li Yun.
“Watch out!”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“Ah!” A wave of screams erupted in the train carriage.
Suddenly, several figures materialized. Leading them was a somewhat sunny and pleasantly plump man. As three cold streaks flashed—swoosh! swoosh! swoosh!—three throwing knives appeared, and three figures immediately dropped.
But a few others seemed to be with the attackers. Seeing who had arrived, they immediately said in low voices, “We’ve been spotted! Retreat quickly!”
“Damn your ancestors, daring to strike first in front of me! Get them!”
“Yes!” Four or five dark-suited thugs, each gripping a pistol, quickly pursued into the next carriage.
“Are you two alright?”
“We’re fine… wait, is that you?” Long Tian pushed himself up and stared in confusion at the newcomer—it was Lin Fatty.
“Heh heh, good that you’re unharmed. Brother Yi said that since you, Long Tian, have gone this far, we would ensure your safety as well. Relax!”
“It seems the ones who just shot at us were from the Green Gang,” Long Tian thought bitterly.
“Mm, whether it’s the Green Gang or not, I only know I have to complete the mission Brother Yi gave me.” Just as Lin Fatty finished speaking, a Black Guard ran up.
“Report: All hostiles have been eliminated.”
“Mm, very good!” Lin Fatty nodded, waving to the Black Guard, who seemed to understand and handed Long Tian and Li Yun two handguns.
“What is this?”
“Heh heh, don’t misunderstand. This was instructed by our Brother Yi. We hope these can help you; the Green Gang might try to hunt you down in the near future.” Lin Fatty smiled wryly.
“Sigh!” Long Tian sighed, accepting the two pistols. He looked at Lin Fatty and said, “Go back and tell your Dragon Lord this: I, Long Tian, accept this debt of gratitude. I cannot repay it in this life, perhaps in the next, we can have a true, fair confrontation then.”
“Brother Yi, the matter is settled. That is all Long Tian had to say to you.”
“Good. You all take care and head directly to Hainan. I am already on the train now.”
“Alright, we’ll set off immediately.”
“Mm!” Yang Yi hung up the phone and told Feng Shi, “Drive. First, we’re going to the Shidu Grand Hotel!”
“Yes!”…………