However, the result disappointed them both.
I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in Ye Huan's territory... not even a little bit.
Moreover, Ye Huan had already emptied all the businesses before this! All that was left was a mess, a mess with not a single penny left!
The Human Division's frantic territorial grabbing yielded no results. Meanwhile, the Heaven and Earth Divisions finally realized what was happening!
Ye Huan really left them nothing!
The Heaven and Earth characters originally planned to sit back and watch the tigers fight, and to see the Human character and me clash. In the end, their plan to reap the benefits also failed.
Because... I didn't take a single penny of the fortune Ye Huan left behind! I returned that money to the "Human" group!
Yes, that's right, it's the gang leader who has a grudge against me and whose son I once crippled!
I used that old fox Joe as an intermediary to return the account and password for the money. Officially, I did it under the guise of "returning the treasure intact," but in reality…
The people with the "Heaven" and "Earth" radicals learned that I had returned the money to the person with the "Human" radical, thanks to Old Fox Qiao's help in spreading the word.
What happened after that was basically none of my business. Whether it was Ouyang from the "Earth" branch or Sun, the leader of the "Heaven" branch, in this situation, if they wanted to gain any advantage, they would have to swallow up the "Human" branch.
"I won't get involved in your affairs. Your battles are none of my business. I don't like being used as a pawn. I also don't like falling out with friends. So... it's best if we all go our separate ways from now on." Through Qiao Qiao's father's connections, I met with Ouyang and said these words to him face-to-face: "Your two families have been trying to take over the Renzi Group for a long time. But don't expect to use me as a vanguard. I won't do it! I didn't take a single penny of the money Ye Huan left behind. I helped you deal with Ye Huan, and I didn't even get a single cent in return! Is this how Qinghong treats its friends?"
These words made Ouyang a little embarrassed: "What do you want?"
"Ye Huan's daughter," I said calmly. "Ye Huan is dead. He handed over all his money. His daughter is just an insignificant little girl. She has no conflict of interest with you. I have a past with this girl, and I will protect her life. Just don't let Qing Hong cause her any more trouble in the future."
That concludes the matter of Qinghong. As for the Renzitou... that big boss whose only son I crippled, actually... fundamentally speaking, I don't really have any real grudge against him.
Because I crippled his only son. He harbored a grudge against me. But I didn't have any grudge against him.
I believe that with the combined efforts of the Heaven and Earth factions, they will soon devour him.
To borrow a cliché: the ending was already predetermined.
Objectively speaking, the day Ye Huan rebelled, his grave had already been dug.
Three days later, I welcomed a special guest to my office.
When Shi Tou walked into my office, I could clearly see a hint of fatigue on his face. This elite figure in the industry, a guy who usually exudes a powerful aura, now looked like someone who hadn't slept for three days and three nights; his eyes were bloodshot.
“I’m here to demand retribution from the Big Circle.” Stone stood in front of me: “You can now fulfill the conditions you promised.”
After saying that, he placed the box he had brought on my table, opened it a crack, and I peeked inside... a human head!
"When did you die?" I asked calmly.
“The day before yesterday,” Stone sighed, “there was a fierce fight the night before last. More than forty of my brothers died, all of them old comrades. Lei Hu prepared a speedboat to escape, but I shot him dead with a sniper rifle.”
I smiled and said, "So, you've done a great service?"
Stone's expression was somewhat unnatural: "Killing your own fellow disciples, what kind of bullshit achievement is that?"
"So now? Between Luo Kaishan and Wang Shanhu, who's the boss? Have they reached an agreement?" I pursed my lips.
"Of course not." Shi Tou spoke of the two men with a disdainful tone: "Both of them are eyeing the boss's position. It's just that neither of them is willing to submit to the other right now. Generally speaking, Wang Shanhu's power is superior, but some of his supporters are people who were originally neutral. If our people don't support him, then Luo Kaishan will have the upper hand. In any case... they are all very concerned about when the drug trade can return to normal."
“The drug trade can resume at any time.” I put down the pen I was playing with and glanced at Stone: “There’s something I need to say… You’re a smart man, you should understand that… there will be another bloodbath between Luo Kaishan and Wang Shanhu! Although Lei Hu is dead, the internal strife in the Big Circle is not over yet.”
"……I know."
“Very good. And what I want to say is that they haven’t made a move yet because they’re waiting for me to resume the drug business. As soon as the drug business resumes, they’ll start fighting! Seizing the top position and running the drug business will bring huge profits! So… I can promise you now that the business will resume tomorrow, but the day after tomorrow, they will start fighting! Do you understand?”
Stone's expression was somewhat helpless: "In that case, I actually hope you don't resume the drug business... It's our big circle that's dying!"
After staring at the stone for a long time, I suddenly spoke up: "Come and help me."
"……What?"
“I said, ‘Come help me.’” I smiled at the guy. “We’re old acquaintances and have worked with me before. You should know what kind of person I am, Xiao Wu. I think I’m a better boss than those good-for-nothings like Luo Kaishan or Wang Shanhu, right? Unless you want to continue working for them.”
I could tell that Shi Tou was tempted. He thought about it carefully and said, "I have some brothers under my command..."
"So what? I'll take it all." I laughed heartily. "My business in Canada needs manpower, you know. I've expanded quite a bit, and I also have a diamond business. Even if things don't work out, with your skills, going to Hollywood as action directors is better than struggling in the big circle. Are you planning to fight until you're old and die? If you do this, what about your brothers? Don't you want to one day die peacefully in your bed? That's better than being shot dead in the jungle or at sea."
Stone walked around twice, then turned back and stared at me: "Are you really willing to take this on? My brothers don't want to be used as pawns or cannon fodder anymore!"
I said coldly, "When have you ever seen me, Chen Yang, use my men as cannon fodder?"
Stone was convinced. He gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! Wait for my news!"
I chuckled: "Aren't you afraid that Luo Kaishan or Wang Shanhu won't release him?"
"Wang Shanhu can't interfere in my affairs! As for Luo Kaishan, he'd love for my men to leave Wang Shanhu!"
After he finished speaking, I called out to him, "Wait!" I pointed to the box containing human heads on the table, "Take it out."
"Huh? You want his life..."
I sneered, "What I wanted was his life. Now that he's dead, what use is this dead man's head to me? Take it out and find somewhere to throw it away."
After seeing Shi Tou off, I casually fiddled with the pen in my hand, then sighed, "I've fooled another bunch of good subordinates... Sigh. Da Quan really should come to an end."
Just then, Yang Wei walked into my room, also carrying a leather suitcase.
I laughed: "What day is it today? Why do people keep coming over to give me things?"
Yang Wei's expression was very serious. She placed the box on the table and said solemnly, "Xiao Wu, this is important."
I knew Yang Wei never joked about work, so I couldn't help but stop smiling when I heard this: "What's wrong?"
“…It was Thorin.” Yang Wei sighed. “I just received the news that Thorin had a relapse last night and passed away despite all efforts to save him.”
Snap!
The pen in my hand fell onto the table and rolled quite a distance.
I frowned, remained silent for a moment, then sighed, "The princess has ascended to the throne?"
"Yes, the princess has ascended to the throne," Yang Wei said calmly.
I pointed to the leather suitcase Yang Wei had brought: "What's this?"
Yang Wei's expression turned strange: "It's strange, just before I came in, my subordinates brought this over, saying it was mailed to you from Canada..." Yang Wei held up a slip of paper and said in a low voice, "Judging from the mailing date, it was the day before Thorin died!"
"What?!" I stood up, grabbed the suitcase, and opened it...
Inside the suitcase was a pair of leather shoes!
Huh? Why did old Thorin mail me a pair of leather shoes before he died?
I paused for a moment, then suddenly a thought struck me, and I looked at it more closely...
This suitcase, and these shoes... they're both made of crocodile skin!!
Crocodile skin!
For some reason, the image of old Thorin's aged face flashed into my mind. I sighed, shook my head with a smile, then sat down and began toying with the leather shoes in my hands…
Well, it was just a angry outburst when I was annoyed: "Let's use the crocodile skin to make leather shoes!"
I never expected this old guy... heh heh, he pulled this trick on me before he died. Was he trying to move me with emotion? Heh heh!
Yang Wei was unaware of this, and when she saw the leather shoes I took out of the box, she was also taken aback: "This is..."
I smiled and then said very seriously, "This is a gift from a dying old man to his friend, as a way of fulfilling his last promise... At the same time, it is also a reminder to his friend: do not forget the promises and vows we made."
This old Thorin, in this way, announced his departure.
Of course, I won't break my promise to old Thorin. I will gradually help her ascend to the throne and with the business in Canada. Moreover, I will also gradually involve the Hells Angels in the smuggling business.
However, I still felt a little sad when I heard the news of old Thorin's passing.
Am I friends with this old guy?
Yeah, I guess so.
That day, I didn't have Yang Wei accompany me, but went to the charity hall alone.
I arranged for Jinhe to stay here; he's lost a leg and can only use a wheelchair. After things ended that day, I arranged for him to receive treatment here, and I also came to see him once. But we didn't talk or communicate at all.
When I arrived at the charity hall, I didn't disturb many people. Someone simply led me directly to Jinhe's room. Unfortunately, just as we reached the door, a nurse rushed out, looking extremely anxious, and almost bumped into me.
"What's wrong? What's the panic!" One of the managers in the charity hall frowned and scolded, probably feeling that his subordinates had embarrassed him in front of me, the boss, and was very unhappy.
"The patient...the patient is gone!" the nurse exclaimed.
My face immediately darkened, and I pushed through the crowd, rushing into the room first...
The ward was empty; no one was in bed. Only on the bedside table, with something used to scribble a few large, crooked characters on the wall:
Take care of yourself, farewell forever!
Jinhe... is gone!
Despite losing a leg, Jin He, with his exceptional skills, managed to leave quietly. Where he went remains unknown.
Jinhe and I developed a tacit understanding that night.
Jin He didn't react strongly to Ye Huan's death. He didn't even try to fight me or seek revenge, as I had imagined… He was quiet. Quiet to the point of… almost numbness!
To outsiders, it was strange that Jin He, who had always been loyal to Ye Huan, was so indifferent after Ye Huan's death.
But only Jinhe and I, with a tacit understanding between men, learned the truth!
I know, and Jinhe knows too, that Jinhe cannot seek revenge on me. Because... only I can take care of Duoduo!
This, perhaps, is the reason why Jinhe left.
Never again... um...
Then... goodbye forever!
I waved my hand to reassure the people from the charity hall following behind me, and said calmly, "Alright, nothing strange. My friend is gone... Hmm, take me to see Miss Ni."
I walked along a lush path, my footsteps rustling over the fallen leaves.
Two of my men were guarding the entrance to this small courtyard. When they saw me coming, they immediately stepped aside.
"How about it?"
“Miss Ni is very quiet… Fifth Brother, don’t worry, no one is disturbing her,” one of my subordinates replied.
I nodded: "Thank you for your hard work."
Then I went into the courtyard alone.
It was just a small courtyard, but it was very clean and tastefully furnished. I arranged for Ni Duoduo to recuperate here. Aside from professional caregivers and daily doctor checkups, I didn't allow anything else to disturb the girl.