To be honest, I couldn't help but feel a deep respect for the fat man in front of me!
The fat man forcefully stubbed out his cigarette: "Don't think our country doesn't have organized crime! It does! And in terms of historical glory, it's no less powerful than the Yamaguchi-gumi, the Black Dragon Society, or any Mafia family. It's even more formidable! The name 'Qinghong' comes from the Qinghong family. Qinghong is actually an abbreviation for the two major gangs, the Qingbang and the Hongbang. Because these two gangs do share a common origin and have infiltrated each other, they're basically collectively called Qinghong. The Qingbang is actually a canal gang inherited from the Qing Dynasty, controlling the entire north-south canal transport! Isn't that amazing? One of the three major powers in old Shanghai, they even colluded with the government at the time, including Chiang Kai-shek..." To gain entry into Huang Jinrong's inner circle, one needs their support to secure a position! The Hongmen (Triads) are even more so, dating back to their origins as anti-Qing and pro-Ming secret societies. Even Sun Yat-sen joined the Hongmen, and their early anti-Qing revolutions received their support! While the underworld has declined significantly since the wars and national upheavals of modern times, its centuries-old foundation remains! The entire Hong Kong triad society, regardless of its name, is ultimately a branch of the Hongmen. It exists in Hong Kong. You think it doesn't exist on the mainland? Damn it, I'll say you don't know… but you must know about Chen Jinnan's Heaven and Earth Society, right?
The fat man stared at me with wide eyes.
I gave a wry smile: "Damn, I've at least read some martial arts novels... like 'Earthquake on a high hill, a landscape of streams and mountains embroidered for eternity. Facing the sea, the Sanhe River flows for ten thousand years'... Holy crap, I'm the head of the Qingmu Hall! You're making things more and more fantastical."
The fat man laughed: "Those cuts may not be real, but it is true that the Heaven and Earth Society and the Hongmen are indeed of the same ilk."
My heart was pounding: "You mean, Huan-ge is a member of the Hongmen?"
“Qinghong and Honghong were originally one family. They all have historical ties.” The fat man sighed. “That’s why I said you’re really bold! Although Qinghong and Honghong aren’t seen much in the market now, they’ve moved to the high end. They don’t care about fighting and killing anymore; they’re into high-level crimes, power and money transactions… I told you, what is the underworld? It’s when you’ve reached the point where you can’t distinguish between right and wrong, that’s what the underworld is all about.”
My head was spinning, but the fat man sneered at me: "Now you're dumbfounded? Who do you think you've offended?"
I shrugged and rubbed my nose: "Could it be the head of the Green Gang?"
"Pah! Boss? He doesn't deserve the title!" the fat man sneered. "Basically speaking, there isn't a unified boss in the underworld these days. It's all a bunch of old guys who come out to keep things in check. Although they secretly don't respect each other, they basically help each other out. You've offended one of these big bosses! And one with a lot of influence. As for Ye Huan, he's just a leader under that big boss."
I raised my eyebrows: "After all that talk, I thought I had really offended the leader of the Heaven and Earth Society!"
"You're almost the Grand Master, at least a Hall Master or Incense Master. You have no idea how deep the waters run in here! I think you don't even know the meaning of 'death'! If the Green Gang weren't so powerful, would they arrest you as their number one wanted criminal in the entire Southern Underground? This is called the Number One Wanted Order! It's even more powerful than a nationwide wanted notice from the police! If you don't have some skills, you're just waiting to die, kid!"
I suddenly stopped smiling, looked at the fat man quietly for a while, and said in a low voice, "Anyway, thank you."
"Thank me for what?" The fat man glanced at me. "I can't save you. I don't have that kind of ability. Bringing you here is the least I can do. The rest is up to your fate!"
I shook my head: "It's not to thank you for saving me, it's to thank you for saving that girl."
The fat man narrowed his eyes, then suddenly smiled and said, "Hey kid, I've heard a bit about this too. You beat a prince into a cripple for that girl, didn't you? This girl is just passable in appearance, not exactly a beauty that could topple kingdoms. Was it really necessary for you to go to such lengths?"
I said seriously, "It's not what you think... She and I don't have that kind of relationship..." I took a deep breath and said solemnly, "I was entrusted to take care of her. If someone bullies her, am I supposed to investigate whether that person is someone I can mess with?"
The fat man gulped down a mouthful of tea, grinning, "You got into such a mess because of this girl? You're risking your life, aren't you afraid?"
"I'm scared!" I said calmly. "Of course I'm scared. I'm not a revolutionary martyr, why shouldn't I be afraid of death? But at the time, I didn't know the background of what happened, and I just did it... Now, thinking about it makes me feel really frustrated, but I don't regret it... Even if I had known that kid had such a powerful background, I would still have done it! I had to do it even if I was scared! I promised him I would take care of this girl!!"
The fat man sighed: "You're being incredibly reckless."
I shook my head: "I've been entrusted with this task, so I must be loyal to it!"
"Hehe!" the fat man chuckled coldly.
I sensed a complex meaning in his laughter. He looked at me intently for a moment, then suddenly pointed to the room inside: "That girl, don't think I don't know... those eyebrows, that nose, those eyes... Hmph, isn't she Ye Huan's daughter? Ye Huan has a sharp eye!" He looked at me, his face a mixture of admiration and helplessness: "He really chose the right person, entrusting his daughter to you. But this entrustment has cost you your life. Do you think it was worth it?"
I said proudly, "There's no such thing as worth it... In this world, if you ask yourself whether something is worth it before you do it... then you might as well not do anything at all!" I looked coldly at the fat man, my gaze unwavering, staring at his leg, and gritted my teeth as I said in a deep voice, "Let me ask you this boldly, the wound on your leg is from the war, isn't it? When you went to war and got this wound, did you ask yourself whether it was worth it before you charged forward?"
The fat man was speechless for a moment.
He looked at me in silence for a long time, then suddenly stood up, patted my shoulder hard, and looked at me with a strange look in his eyes, as if it were regret or helplessness. He then said in a low voice, "Young man, live well and stay alive! There are too few people like you now. Every one who dies is one less. It's a pity!"
His gaze, as if he were looking at a dead man, made me very uncomfortable. But the fat man didn't say anything more to me, slowly walking out of the room, leaving behind the words, "Stay here and don't go out."
The door was closed, and the room was dimly lit without the lights on.
"Death?" I felt a bitter taste in my mouth, but then I suddenly smiled and took out a measuring device that I always carried with me.
"I'm lucky with my lifespan, I probably won't die." I laughed a few times, but even I could tell that my laughter sounded a bit dry.
I've actually taken out my rings to look at them these past couple of days, but they all have a very high yellow tint.
The yellow index represents "longevity," so it seems I'm not destined for a short life... But I wonder if dying a violent death counts in longevity?
I felt a bit confused, so I leaned back on the sofa and rested for a while.
I've been so busy these past few days, under a lot of stress, and haven't been sleeping well. This fat guy, even though we only had a brief encounter, left me with a strange feeling… he seems trustworthy!
Once I relaxed, I quickly closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
I don't know how much time passed... Perhaps I was too exhausted, because I didn't even have a dream in my sleep, and remained in a drowsy state the whole time.
I don't know when, but suddenly I shuddered and woke up with a start! I felt a chill run through my body, as if every pore on my body stood on end. A sense of alarm rose within me, and as I sprang up from the sofa, I saw someone sitting beside me in the dimly lit room…
It's already dark! It seems I slept for a whole day without even realizing it! In the dark room at night, there were no lights, and the person next to me was sitting there watching me, breathing long and deep. I couldn't see his face clearly, only a silhouette!
I woke up in the middle of the night to find someone watching me! My first thought was... danger!
I sprang up from the sofa and almost immediately slapped him...
Then I saw the person's body flash, and I felt my wrist being grabbed immediately. The other person's fingers gripped me like iron clamps, and then I heard a familiar voice.
"Xiao Wu, this is Jin He."
Part 1: A Man in the Martial World, Helpless by His Own Circumstances - Chapter 119: A Breakup!
I've always been very aware of my own speed. I've trained in kung fu for several years, and my reactions and movements are much faster than the average person. Although I only managed to strike hastily after waking up from my sleep, my wrist was instantly grabbed. Moreover, once Jin He grabbed my wrist, his fingers felt like iron clamps, and I couldn't move an inch. Half of my body went numb...
But then I heard Jinhe's voice, and I finally breathed a sigh of relief and stopped struggling: "It's you?"
Jinhe released my wrist. He remained standing in the darkness, looking down at me. I stood up and asked, "When did you arrive?"
"It's been a while." Jinhe's voice remained indifferent: "I watched you sleep and didn't wake you."
For some reason, I felt a chill. It was so late, yet not a single light was on in the room. Jinhe was just standing in the dark talking to me, which made me feel uneasy.
After thinking for a moment, I asked, "Where's Huan-ge? Is he here too?"
Jinhe didn't speak. I continued, "Duoduo is in the room inside..."
"I've already picked up Duoduo." Jinhe's voice was devoid of any emotion, and somewhat cold.
My heart sank: "You took him?"
"Yes, while you're sleeping," Jinhe replied casually.
This answer made my heart sink!
The meaning behind this is so complex that I can't fully grasp it in my mind right now!
I picked them up while I was asleep? What a joke! Who do you think I am?! Even if I'm asleep, I'll wake up instantly to any noise around me! They just walked in and out of my room and took a living person away! And I didn't even notice!
What does this mean?
Jinhe seemed to sigh, his tone slightly unnatural: "I used some tricks on you to keep you asleep until now. Duoduo should have met her father by now."
I hummed in agreement.
My unease grew stronger. Gazing at the silhouette of the Golden River in the darkness, I remained silent.
Snap...
A flame flickered on the lighter in Jinhe's hand, the flame vanishing in an instant. In the dim light, Jinhe's face, which usually seemed expressionless, now held a complex look as he gazed at me.
He lit a cigarette, but didn't smoke it himself. Instead, he handed it to me. I hesitated for a moment before taking it.
"Xiao Wu, you've had a tough time." His tone suddenly changed: "I know you've suffered these past few days."
I smoked and didn't say anything.
“This matter originally had nothing to do with you.” Jinhe’s tone was unusually calm, as if he were talking to himself, or as if he were stating a very simple fact: “From beginning to end, it was Duoduo’s own ignorance that caused the trouble and got you involved… If we hadn’t entrusted you to take care of the child in the beginning, you wouldn’t have ended up like this today.”
He spoke slowly, his voice as cold as stone.
"Duoduo, she..." I suddenly seemed to understand something, took a deep breath, and slowly asked, "How... is she?"
“Huan will arrange for her to go abroad immediately, and she will never be allowed to return to China in this lifetime.” Jin He said calmly, “We found a girl who looks a lot like Duoduo… We’ve processed her so that she shouldn’t be able to tell the difference, and then we’ll take the body back directly. That should be enough to settle this matter.”
"Hmm... but they'll still keep hunting me down. As long as I'm alive, I can't explain this situation." I felt a bitter taste in my mouth.
Jinhe remained silent for a while, without saying anything.
I suddenly laughed...
Seriously, I laughed!
Suddenly, I realized that this whole thing was a complete joke! A huge joke!!
I laughed so hard I almost couldn't breathe.
Jinhe remained silent, just quietly watching me in the darkness.
After laughing for a while, I felt a surge of grief and indignation, bordering on madness: "So... I have to die, right?"
Jinhe still didn't speak. Instead, he slowly sat down next to me. Then, he slowly took out a cigarette and lit it.
“Xiao Wu…you know what? I’ve always admired you.” Jin He seemed to sigh, and slowly said in the darkness, “You have a good personality, but it’s a pity you shouldn’t have entered this circle…you shouldn’t have! Someone like you entering this circle will die sooner or later! In this circle, it’s either you eat people or people eat you. You’re too kind-hearted, not ruthless enough, and still a bit naive…if someone like you doesn’t die, then this circle wouldn’t be this circle.”
Even though I had already guessed it, hearing Jinhe say those words still sent a chill down my spine and up to the top of my head... Instantly, even my fingertips felt icy cold!
“Huan said… he’s the one who wronged you. So he’s too ashamed to see you again, and asked me to see you off.” Jinhe’s tone was complicated: “Your friend will be safe, and your woman will be fine. This matter ends here… This is the last guarantee Huan can give you.”
I took a deep drag on my cigarette, and the acrid smoke made me cough violently...
The pain in my lungs didn't bother me, but a sudden, sharp, stabbing pain surged through my heart!
It really hurts!
“Brother Huan has no choice… This matter isn’t over until you’re dead. If they can’t catch you, they’ll continue to track you down, and sooner or later they’ll find out it’s Brother Huan… If they find out you were once Brother Huan’s underling, then not only you, Brother Huan, me, and Duoduo, everyone will be finished, we’ll all die.” Jin He said slowly, “Right now, because it’s still early, they’ve only found out you’re from Fang Nan’s company, and haven’t continued investigating your past. But if this matter isn’t resolved quickly, and they still can’t catch you, they might continue to investigate your past, and then they might find out it’s Brother Huan! So you have to die, and resolve this matter as soon as possible before they investigate your background!”
He gently patted my shoulder: "I know this is wrong... You used to have your own life. You had your own woman, a job. You could have lived a good life. It was Huan-ge who made you take care of Duo-duo, and that's why you got into this trouble."
My whole body was trembling uncontrollably...
It wasn't fear, but... it was an emotion I can't describe!
This feeling surged through my heart like a flood, making my whole body tremble! I abruptly threw away my cigarette butt and wiped my eyes.
To hell with that! I actually cried!
I actually shed a tear! Even though it was just one tear, I really cried!
Then I laughed again, gritting my teeth. I felt my lips were bleeding from biting them, and there was a slightly salty taste in my mouth, probably the taste of blood...
“Jinhe… do you know?” I took a deep breath and laughed with endless mockery, “I’ve thought about how I would die in the future… but I never thought that one day I would actually die at the hands of Brother Huan.”
Jinhe was silent for a moment, then shook his head. In the darkness, only the cigarette butt between his fingers shone brightly.
“Actually, I hesitated just now… I could have finished you off while you were sleeping… that way you wouldn’t have suffered at all.” Jinhe sighed, “But I couldn’t do it… I really couldn’t. I felt that you should die knowing why. Otherwise, it would be too unfair to you.”
I laughed so hard I almost cried, pointing at Jinhe and saying, "Haha! Good! Does that mean if I find out now and then die, it won't be a waste?"
Jinhe remained silent.
I tried my best to suppress my emotions, then slowly took two steps back and stared at Jin He: "Alright, now you've said what you wanted to say... Are you ready to make your move?"