Guo Jia fled Hong Kong in abject terror, riding straight through the night back to the capital, only to slink back to the apartment he shared with Xiao Wan. He was simmering with banked fury, and only Xiao Wan’s body offered a release for the intense heat building inside him.

The moment Guo Jia saw Xiao Wan, he began ripping at her clothes with a frantic intensity. Under her bewildered gaze, he shoved her onto the ** bed and pounced like a ravenous wolf. Just as he was about to mount her, he suddenly remembered that he could no longer treat AIDS. He violently halted the advance, snatched a condom from the bedside drawer, applied it, and lunged forward once more.

Xiao Wan fawned over Guo Jia as always. Upon her delicate, yielding body, Guo Jia raged like a ** beast. His only regret was the distinct dissatisfaction of wearing the condom. After a wave of involuntary tremors subsided, a portion of Guo Jia’s rage was finally vented.

Spent and utterly drained, Guo Jia lay limp on the ** staring vacantly at the ceiling, his gaze unfocused. He didn't even bother with a post-coital smoke, wanting nothing but silence.

Noticing something deeply unsettling about Guo Jia, Xiao Wan asked with concern, "Darling, what is it? You seem completely off."

Guo Jia was suddenly desperate to confide in her. He spoke with deep sorrow, "Things have blown up. Liu Hui tricked me; he gave me a faulty prescription. The Han Tang Hospital can no longer treat AIDS patients."

A flicker of realization crossed Xiao Wan’s mind. "How could that happen? Didn't you always say there were no issues?"

"I still can't figure out the exact mechanism, nor how Liu Hui pulled it off. But there are two high-status patients at the hospital who haven't been cured, and they are about to cause a massive scene. News media will know about the Han Tang situation soon enough. In short, the Han Tang Hospital is finished, utterly ruined." Guo Jia stated gloomily.

"You never used to tell me anything about the Han Tang Hospital. Why start now?" Xiao Wan asked, confused.

"I kept silent before because it needed absolute secrecy. Now... there are no secrets left to protect. Within days, the whole world will know Han Tang has problems. You’re just hearing it slightly ahead of everyone else," Guo Jia said with a bitter laugh.

"So, what are your plans?" Xiao Wan inquired.

"What plans? We wait for the Old Master to handle it. Liu Hui's power is immense now; I'm useless against him," Guo Jia admitted helplessly.

Hearing this, Xiao Wan’s eyes darted, recalling an old agreement, and she began formulating different ideas, though Guo Jia, lost in his turmoil, failed to notice her subtle shift.

Suddenly, Guo Jia’s phone rang. He checked the caller ID—it was his Old Master. He immediately motioned for Xiao Wan to be silent and answered the call.

"Since you’re back, why haven’t you come to see me?" A voice heavy with authority boomed from the receiver.

"I was preparing to report the situation. I’ll be right over," Guo Jia responded cautiously, subdued by the Old Master's palpable dominance.

Guo Jia hung up, hastily bid Xiao Wan farewell, and drove toward the sprawling Guo family estate. It was the dead of night; he had intended to sleep first, calm his nerves, and formulate a strategy for the Old Master’s inevitable questioning. He hadn't anticipated the Old Master already knowing of his return and summoning him immediately.

Driving, Guo Jia frantically tried to construct a defense, his mind too distracted. He failed to notice a woman on an electric bicycle at a dark street corner and struck her.

The fallen woman struggled briefly before painfully turning over. Blood trickled from her lip. She twisted her head, fixing her eyes on Guo Jia’s license plate, clearly intending to memorize it.

Guo Jia was at the peak of his anxiety, and only a fraction of the rage from earlier had been expelled with Xiao Wan. Seeing this woman actively trying to record his plate number ignited a fresh wave of fury. His blood surged uncontrollably. He snatched a knife from the car, stepped out, and lunged toward the prone woman.

Guo Jia was familiar with the sight of martial arts masters sparring, so he had an idea of how to strike for a killing blow. However, his body lacked the precision of a true master. The first stab missed the vital spot, lodging instead in the arm the woman had raised to defend herself. Guo Jia decided to commit fully. Ignoring her screams and thrashing, he plunged the knife into her body seven or eight more times until she lay still, at which point he satisfiedly withdrew.

A gust of night air hit him, instantly clearing the haze of violent impulse from Guo Jia’s mind. Seeing the woman collapsed in a pool of her own blood, a chill of fear finally set in. He had ordered many deaths before, but never executed one himself. This firsthand killing unnerved him. He scrambled back into the car and sped away from the dark street.

For killing a random passerby, Guo Jia felt only a sliver of fear, utterly devoid of guilt. Furthermore, given his status, he had no real fear of the police; they likely wouldn't dare touch him. In the car, he hastily changed his clothes, tucking the bloody garments under the seat. He continued driving, eventually arriving at the Guo estate, where he nervously approached the Old Master’s study.

The moment Guo Jia entered, he saw the Old Master seated in his chair, radiating anger while studying a stack of documents. Hearing the door open, the Old Master snapped his head up.

"I—" Guo Jia began, but before he could finish, the Old Master shot to his feet, flung the papers aside, and hurled a heavy, iron desk weight directly at him.

Guo Jia reacted too slowly. The iron weight struck his forehead, tearing a deep wound that immediately began gushing blood, quickly covering his face.

"You absolute failure, you’ve disgraced the Guo family this time! Did you think I wouldn't know what filth you spewed in Hong Kong just because you didn't report it? The Li family is currently broadcasting your shame everywhere! Treacherous, overreaching, exposed in your ugliness—even the formidable Master Wu was killed by the enemy!" Old Master Guo roared in fury.

Guo Jia dared not speak, not even daring to wipe the blood from his face, standing rigidly to receive the reprimand.

"That Liu Hui is merely a nobody, a mere commoner. You command the thunderous power of our family, yet you were nearly wiped out by this minor civilian! Do you feel no shame? Old Wu was a super-expert attached to the Central Authority, and you allowed him to fall in Hong Kong! Are you so useless that you are no longer a descendant of the Guo family?" the Old Master demanded wrathfully.

Guo Jia remained silent, only listening. Internally, however, he was ecstatic. As long as the Old Master was angry with him, his own situation wasn't critical. He feared the Old Master’s calm indifference most; that would signal the true end of his prospects.

"Hmph, those Li and Luo families dare to rise up against us now. Do they think the Guo family has withered? I will make them pay dearly for this." After venting his initial rage, the Old Master felt slightly better. Seeing Guo Jia standing there, drenched in blood and looking pitiful, the Old Master’s fury softened. He redirected his focus toward the Li and Luo families.

"Sit down, and tell me everything that happened in Hong Kong today. Do not omit a single detail." The Old Master’s tone had significantly cooled.

Guo Jia felt an immense sense of reprieve. He sat down carefully, daring not to exaggerate, and recounted the events in Hong Kong in precise detail.

"Heh. Liu Hui, just a commoner. No matter how much money he accumulates, he is nothing more than a fat sheep we keep penned up. We decide when to slaughter him; he has no right to refuse. Compare him to Shen Wansan of the Ming Dynasty. Now he openly opposes the Guo family? It seems his massive wealth has addled his brains. Does he truly believe his influence can rival ours?" Old Master Guo sneered.

"As for that Li fellow, does he truly believe that because he's far away in Hong Kong, we are powerless? Perhaps we have been too lenient with them in the past. I must immediately push forward stricter oversight of Hong Kong's wealthy elite, lest they truly believe money can dictate government decisions. Remember, this is the People's Nation, not the capitalists’ playground," the Old Master continued.

Guo Jia breathed a huge sigh of relief. He knew he had successfully diverted the Old Master’s attention toward Liu Hui and the Li family in Hong Kong. The Old Master possessed an iron grip of control and could not tolerate opposition or defiance. While he couldn't afford a complete break with the Luo family—situated within the Central Hub—the distant Liu Hui and the Li family served as the perfect targets to absorb the Old Master’s wrath.

"How are you? Are you hurt?" The Old Master had calmed down and noticed Guo Jia’s blood-soaked face. Guo Jia was, after all, the Guo family’s most promising junior, having rendered significant services over the years; a momentary inquiry was necessary.

"A bit dizzy, but I’m fine. I await your guidance, Old Master," Guo Jia replied intelligently.

The Old Master was pleased with Guo Jia’s demeanor. Despite the despicable actions in Hong Kong, the Old Master held them in little regard. The Guo family was entrenched in power; they could elevate a dog to high office, so holding a minor transgression against Guo Jia—whose cunning and strategy were undeniable assets to the family—was out of the question.

The Old Master picked up the phone and summoned their family physician. When the doctor arrived, the Old Master instructed him to immediately stop the bleeding and bandage the wound. After the Old Master retrieved the iron desk weight, he noticed it was slightly rusted and wondered if any of that rust had entered Guo Jia’s wound.

Thus, the Old Master told the doctor, "Run a thorough, full-body examination on him right away. Do not let that wound become infected."

The doctor quickly agreed. Guo Jia was inwardly ecstatic. He had successfully weaponized the wound to elicit the Old Master’s sympathy, ensuring his future prospects would likely remain unaffected by this incident. In good spirits, he allowed the doctor to help him leave the Old Master’s study.

After a quick dressing of the wound, the doctor escorted Guo Jia to a medical center for the comprehensive physical. By the time the examination concluded, dawn had broken. Having neutralized his immediate threat, Guo Jia felt remarkably refreshed. He happily returned to the apartment he shared with Xiao Wan, eager to celebrate.

When Guo Jia arrived home, he found Xiao Wan gone. He felt puzzled and quickly called her mobile, only to find it switched off. He initially assumed she had just stepped out briefly, but days passed without any sign of her. Xiao Wan seemed to have vanished from his life. As Guo Jia prepared to search for her, he realized he didn't have her home address—nothing but that phone number. Her disappearance left Guo Jia, who had developed genuine feelings for her, profoundly unsettled. Xiao Wan was unlike any of his previous women; she had, at least, given him a sense of what it was like to be in love.

Setting aside Guo Jia’s misery, Liu Hui had been emotionally unstable since that night, struggling to find motivation for anything. All matters concerning the Starry Sky Group were delegated to Hu Xian’er, who had served as his secretary for a time and was intimately familiar with all operational procedures. She managed everything flawlessly.

Liu Hui’s parents, worried by his low spirits, frequently invited Hu Xian’er to their home for chats—partly for their own reasons. Hu Xian’er even showcased her superb cooking skills, leaving Liu Hui’s parents delighted, and prompting Liu Hui himself to eat more. Yet, his inner gloom remained stubbornly unresolved.

One day, Wu Yuanjia found Liu Hui and informed him that the underground fighting tournament between the Red Star Society and the Zhonglian Gang was scheduled for that evening, asking if he wanted to attend.

Liu Hui, deep in a slump, found the prospect of a black-market fight appealing as a diversion. He agreed to go.

That evening, Wu Yuanjia drove Liu Hui, protected by several escort cars, to an oil tanker docked at the Hong Kong pier—the venue for the night’s matches.

Since recovering in the biological healing tank, Liu Hui had instructed Zhou Tengyun to maintain a low profile. Exposure might reveal that his injuries had fully healed, leading astute observers to deduce Liu Hui possessed the means for rapid, severe trauma recovery—a fact that would invite unwanted trouble. This was why Zhou Tengyun was absent from Liu Hui’s side tonight.

Hu Qingyang waited for Liu Hui personally at the pier, with Hu Xian’er standing beside him. Upon seeing Liu Hui arrive, they greeted him warmly, merged their party, and boarded the oil tanker.

The vessel was vast. In the center of the main hall, a space had been cleared to serve as the ring for the combatants. Members of the Red Star Society and the Zhonglian Gang occupied the seating arranged on either side of the fighting area, with a row of empty seats positioned between the two factions.

Hu Qingyang led Liu Hui and Wu Yuanjia directly to the center seats reserved for the Red Star Society. Hu Xian’er did not sit; she stood behind Liu Hui. High-ranking Red Star officials were seated beside Hu Qingyang and Liu Hui, but Hu Qingyang offered no introductions. Liu Hui understood the decision, recognizing that Hu Qingyang wished to avoid too close an association between him and the gang members, thus protecting Liu Hui’s reputation.

Opposite them, influential figures from the Zhonglian Gang were also seated. The second-in-command whose legs Liu Hui had broken last time was present, his leg encased in plaster. Seeing Liu Hui enter, he shot a look of hatred across the divide, then whispered something urgently to a hulking man beside him. That man then turned his gaze toward Liu Hui. Liu Hui offered a cold sneer and ignored him.

"Boss Liu, this brute is Sang Biao, the leader of the Zhonglian Gang," Hu Qingyang introduced quietly.

Liu Hui listened to the introduction but remained silent. Sang Biao then strode over, standing above Liu Hui, and spoke condescendingly, "You're that Liu Hui from the mainland? You don't look like you have three heads or six arms. How dare you cross the Zhonglian Gang? Don't you want to run your businesses peacefully?"

Liu Hui frowned slightly. "Your name is ill-chosen. It contains the character for 'death' (sāng). I suspect you will soon meet an untimely end."

"You..." Sang Biao had intended to intimidate. In his experience, every businessman craved peace to conduct his affairs. Crossing the triads always brought hidden troubles that even the police couldn't resolve. He was unprepared for Liu Hui to completely shrug off the threat and instead adopt an expression suggesting he was about to issue a severe rebuke.

"Sang Biao, our grievances are best settled in the ring. Talking too much wastes saliva," Hu Qingyang interjected.

"Heh, we’ll settle it in the ring, then we’ll see what else you have to say. But Boss Liu, we really must thank you. Thank you for helping us cultivate such a formidable expert as Wang Liu," Sang Biao sneered before retreating. He murmured instructions to one of his followers, who immediately left the tanker.

Liu Hui turned to Wu Yuanjia. "Tonight, who are you sending to fight Wang Liu?"

～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～ Update resumes today. Qian Yu Chu Hai sincerely apologizes for the previous break and for any inconvenience caused to all esteemed readers. Thank you to reader lip96347 for the monthly ticket, to Xi Ai Xi Xi for the 200-coin reward, and to reader 100311184241096 for the 100-coin reward. Thank you all V.