Chapter Eleven: Inciting the Emperor’s Wrath

Finally, Yang Sheng caught a clue about the main mission, and he breathed a slight sigh of relief. Although before entering the cycle of realms, Yang Sheng had already adopted the mindset of earning one more day by living one more day, no one truly wishes to die if they can survive. He was prepared to risk his life, but he did not want to die in vain.

Hearing Chai Jiu mention the Qi Family Blade, Yang Sheng calmly asked, “The Qi Family Blade? What is that?”

Chai Jiu raised an eyebrow. “You don’t even know the heirloom treasure of the Hongsheng Union you belong to?”

Yang Sheng gave a wry smile. “I’ve only been with Hongsheng Union for a few months.”

Chai Jiu shook his head lightly. “It’s not something very valuable, but it’s an antique with great significance to our Hongmen lineage and the Hongsheng Union. That blade is a Qi Family Blade from the Ming Dynasty’s Qi Family Army. It was passed down as a token of a Hongmen branch during the late Ming and early Qing periods. Back when Hongmen was at its peak, there were many such tokens.

Hongsheng Union has always been a direct descendant of Hongmen, so possessing such an item is no surprise—it also proves Hongsheng Union’s legitimate status within Hongmen. Every disciple of Hongsheng Union values it highly, with annual ceremonies held for it, and it is only brought out on important occasions.

If you ever want to establish your own hall and take a position, you must swear a blood oath before this Qi Family Blade.”

At this, Chai Jiu looked at Yang Sheng intently and said, “Kid, you’re a talent, not a mere musclehead thug. It’s a pity for you to stay in Hongsheng Union. Those three old geezers, He Wenchang and the others, will never open a hall for you or give you a chance to rise.

In the past ten years, Hongsheng Union has only produced one prominent red pole, Di Wei. As long as they’re around, you won’t get your chance.

If you want to switch over to the British Union, you can pick any of the halls in Yau Tsim Mong, and I’ll open a fragrant hall immediately and make you a double-flower red pole!

Don’t worry, I’ll talk to He Wenchang myself, and I guarantee he won’t dare say no.”

Had this been earlier, Yang Sheng would have agreed to switch to the British Union. The three old geezers in Hongsheng Union were unreliable and weak; joining a large society would better allow him to leverage their power to find clues.

But now, knowing the main mission’s Qi Family Blade was in Hongsheng Union, he naturally refused.

After all, this world was just a transient stop for him; he had no intention of spending a lifetime as a gangster here.

“Sorry, Brother Chai Jiu. When I first came to Hong Kong, I was so poor I could barely eat. It was Hongsheng Union that took me in so I wouldn’t starve on the streets.

I don’t know if Uncle Chang and the others suppress me, but if I were to switch to the British Union just like that, it would be too ungrateful.

Today, I’m willing to switch for a double-flower red pole position for you, Brother Chai Jiu, but in the future, I might switch to other societies for other reasons.

If I agreed to you so easily today, how could you trust me? Aren’t you afraid I might be the next Luo Rong?”

Chai Jiu shook his head with a bitter smile. “Honestly, I can’t trust you; it’s a real dilemma.

Alright, kid, good luck then.

If you want to rise in Hongsheng Union, you have to watch out not only for those three old geezers but also for Di Wei.”

“Thanks for the warning, Brother Chai Jiu.”

After bidding farewell to Chai Jiu, as soon as Yang Sheng stepped out of the Rongsheng Restaurant, an overwhelming fatigue surged through his body and mind.

Though he had only been in this world for a little over ten hours, Yang Sheng had experienced two fierce fights, a perilous deathmatch, and had to outwit these old foxes one after another, leaving his nerves stretched to the limit.

Now that the immediate crisis had passed, that exhaustion welled up inside him.

But it was not yet time to fully relax.

In his backpack were various items looted from Luo Rong, which he had no intention of handing over to Hongsheng Union.

Though these riches couldn’t be taken out of the cycle of realms, they would grant him greater autonomy while in this world.

So instead of immediately reporting back to Hongsheng Union, Yang Sheng first went to a small loft he had rented in Kwun Tong, stashing the money there before returning.

Inside Hongsheng Union, the three elders and Di Wei sat silently in the main hall, their expressions a mixture of shock and disbelief.

The foreigners and others had already returned early, bringing news of Yang Sheng’s slaying of Luo Rong.

Nobody had expected that Yang Sheng and his group, with just six people, could kill Luo Rong, the British Union’s strongest enforcer.

Even though Uncle Chang had given Yang Sheng three hundred thousand earlier, he never truly trusted him; he was only persuaded because Yang Sheng refused to blindly walk into Luo Rong’s trap.

Reluctantly, Uncle Chang agreed to Yang Sheng’s plan—after all, losing three hundred thousand and a few men was preferable to provoking Luo Rong or sacrificing their own men and reputation.

Who would have thought that this seemingly impossible feat was actually accomplished by Yang Sheng.

At this moment, Di Wei suddenly said, “Don’t think too highly of this. Everyone would be happy if Yang Sheng died, but he killed Luo Rong. This might bring even bigger trouble.

In one night, two of the British Union’s three tigers fell to Yang Sheng’s hand, including Luo Rong. How could the British Union let this go quietly?”

Uncle Chang and the other two elders showed subtle changes in their expressions, evidently considering this possibility.

Just then, a subordinate reported that Yang Sheng had returned. Uncle Chang hurriedly said, “Quick, bring him in.”

Yang Sheng strode into the hall and said solemnly, “Boss, I’ve lived up to your trust.

From today onward, no one outside will dare call Hongsheng Union a sunset society again!”

Uncle Chang immediately asked, “You met with Chai Jiu? What did he say?”

Yang Sheng sneered inwardly. Hongsheng Union was on the verge of making a name in the underworld, yet He Wenchang’s concern was whether Chai Jiu had forgiven them—hopeless.

Hongsheng Union was never a sunset society; the ones truly past their prime were those few old men in power.

Though disdainful, Yang Sheng respectfully said, “I’ve already seen Brother Chai Jiu at Rongsheng Restaurant.

Brother Chai Jiu had long been dissatisfied with Luo Rong; even without my intervention, he would have challenged Luo Rong at the Longcheng Competition. My actions actually saved him time.

Moreover, Brother Chai Jiu said our ancestors had ties to his father, so naturally, he won’t pursue this matter.

You can call Brother Chai Jiu now to confirm.”

If this were any other society leader, they certainly wouldn’t call Chai Jiu now. Even if pretending, they’d feign magnanimity.

Perhaps because He Wenchang didn’t fully trust Yang Sheng or still felt uncertain, he actually called Chai Jiu, speaking very deferentially.

Though He Wenchang and Chai Jiu were peers, He Wenchang was more than twenty years older, yet he spoke cautiously to Chai Jiu.

At Rongsheng Restaurant, Chai Jiu smiled disdainfully when he saw the call but answered with amusement, “Brother Chang, Yang Sheng already came by. Don’t worry; this won’t implicate Hongsheng Union.

No worries, we’re all direct descendants of Hongmen, and the older generation is on friendly terms. Let’s all have tea together someday.”

After hanging up, Chai Jiu’s smile turned mocking.

“This old man is really regressing as he ages. Hongsheng Union will eventually fall under his hand.

Yang Sheng is a fierce tiger. How could those three old geezers possibly suppress such a tiger?”

...

Inside Hongsheng Union’s hall, Uncle Chang hung up the phone, a relieved smile breaking through his face—a smile of survival after a disaster.

Yet seeing Yang Sheng standing there, he felt troubled, unsure how to proceed.

By merit, Yang Sheng had slain two of the British Union’s three double-flower red poles and killed Luo Rong, making a name for himself and raising Hongsheng Union’s prestige.

Killing two double-flower red poles would normally warrant opening a hall and promoting him to double-flower red pole.

But now, the three elders did not want any newcomer to rise, especially one they knew nothing about like Yang Sheng.

Thus, rewarding him was a thorny issue.

After a brief awkward silence, Huang Wen suddenly smiled and said, “Talents emerge in every generation. The underworld belongs to you young people now. Maybe us old folks should retire?”

Lowering his head, Yang Sheng replied respectfully, “Hongsheng Union stands firm in all Hong Kong’s societies because of you three old veterans, Uncle Chang, Uncle Wen, and Uncle Qiang.

I’m just a thug; whoever you ask me to eliminate, I’ll go do it. I don’t understand the messy internal affairs.

If you old bosses retire, then Hongsheng Union will truly fall apart.”

Upon hearing this, the three elders all breathed easier, their eyes showing satisfaction.

Though Huang Wen’s words sounded like praise, they were really a test.

If Yang Sheng truly thought he could swagger around after killing Luo Rong and disregard these elders, then even if they praised him on the surface, they would secretly find a way to get rid of him.

They may be poor at external fights, but internal power struggles were their specialty.

At that moment, a commotion came from outside.

A subordinate hurried in, “Boss! The cops are here to arrest someone!”

Before he finished, several police officers pushed in a dozen men. Leading them was Le Zi, one of Inspector Chen’s men.

Hong Kong’s societies didn’t fear the police much—after all, there were too many gangsters, and the prisons couldn’t hold them all.

But they dared not openly assault officers, especially with a boss like Uncle Chang.

The police couldn’t arrest all the gangsters, but targeting a society was doable, so bosses warned their men not to act rashly before the police.

Le Zi flashed his badge before Uncle Chang. “Organized Crime Squad. Sorry to disturb your rest, Uncle Chang.

But we received a tip that your men Yang Sheng, Liang Ziwen, Huang Dilu, Chen Along, Lin Ke’an, and Wang Guomin are suspects in a murder case at Fulong Building. Please come with us.”

Facing the police, Uncle Chang showed the demeanor of a society boss.

“You’re just going to the station temporarily. Don’t worry, I’ll get a lawyer to bail you out.

Don’t say anything at the station until the lawyer arrives.

The British Union doesn’t break the rules. Anyone who dares to talk nonsense will be dealt with by Chai Jiu.”

Yang Sheng nodded and let Le Zi cuff him.

He understood what Uncle Chang meant—the police’s arrival was suspicious.

Normally, the British Union wouldn’t tip off the police.

After all, society struggles didn’t involve the authorities—that was an unspoken rule.

If anyone in the British Union broke the rules, Chai Jiu would be the first to punish them.

But if it wasn’t someone from the British Union, who could leak information so quickly to the police and immediately zero in on them?

Yang Sheng and the foreigners were pushed into the police car. Just as Gui Laowen was about to say something, he saw Yang Sheng leaning back in his seat, dozing off.

Gui Laowen immediately gave him a thumbs up.

To be able to sleep so soundly in a police car—that’s impressive!