Chapter 36: Who Is the Mole?

The grand promises Yang Sheng had made to Lei Luo were initially just a ruse, but through a strange twist of fate, they had actually managed to fool Wu Tianhao.

Lei Luo’s decision to side with Yang Sheng and intervene in the Dragon City Tournament had certainly infuriated Wu Tianhao, but it had also finally jolted him into reality. The Chao Yi Yong was his true power base; without it, not only would his dreams of unifying all the syndicates in Hong Kong be shattered, but his current standing would be impossible to maintain.

However, Wu Tianhao had been far too arrogant. His behavior had not only offended other syndicates but had also provoked Lei Luo to the point where the latter began grooming Yang Sheng to oppose him. During the last Dragon City Tournament, Wu Tianhao’s pathetic display of impotent rage had been witnessed by nearly every syndicate leader, severely diminishing his reputation as the "Underground Emperor." With Lei Luo now leading the charge, there was a real risk that the other syndicates would turn on him like a collapsing wall, potentially leading to the total annihilation of the Chao Yi Yong.

Awakened by this threat, Wu Tianhao immediately sought out Lei Luo to concede, hoping to preserve his syndicate’s status. He reasoned that as long as Lei Luo stayed out of it, minor groups like He Yi Xing and the Number Gang were of no concern.

Lei Luo had long coveted the profits from Wu Tianhao’s Golden Triangle operations, but Wu had kept them tightly under wraps, offering little more than standard protection money. When Wu Tianhao arrived in person to apologize, shedding his usual arrogance, Lei Luo was immensely satisfied. Even better, Wu agreed to hand over thirty percent of his Golden Triangle business to Lei Luo from that day forward—a literal money tree with unimaginable profits. Despite his usual hubris, once Wu Tianhao was thinking rationally, he was capable of grand gestures, offering terms that Lei Luo simply could not refuse.

Yang Sheng sat in silence for a moment before asking, "Brother Luo, Wu Tianhao is paying such a high price just to get me to concede in the Dragon City Tournament? Could there be a trap?"

Lei Luo shook his head. "No. Wu Tianhao, when he isn't being arrogant, has a very clear head. The last tournament dealt a massive blow to his prestige. Because I was backing you, a mere newcomer was able to disregard him, even going so far as to kill his top lieutenant. The other syndicates were just watching the show, leaving him exposed and disgraced. If you formally concede in the next final and let the Chao Yi Yong take first place, the other syndicates will see that I have reconciled with him and won't dare to act rashly. Besides, according to the rules of the tournament, the winner gets a larger share of the benefits. So, Ah Sheng, I’m afraid you’ll have to suffer this slight. But rest assured, with my support, it won’t be long before your Hong Sheng Lian rises to become one of the top ten syndicates in all of Hong Kong."

Yang Sheng lowered his head. A moment later, he looked up with a bright smile. "No problem at all, Brother Luo."

Lei Luo stood up and patted Yang Sheng on the shoulder. "Ah Sheng, you’re young and sharp; you have a bright future ahead of you. Don't worry about a single win or loss; you need to keep your eyes on the long game. Pig Oil, take Ah Sheng back."

On the way back, Pig Oil spoke with a hint of apology. "The price Wu Tianhao paid was too high for Brother Luo to refuse, which is why he asked you to concede. But Brother Luo treats his men well; at least your Hong Sheng Lian won't come out at a loss."

Pig Oil had looked into Yang Sheng’s background and knew he possessed a certain obsession regarding the tournament. When Di Wei asked him to concede, he killed Di Wei, along with One-Eyed Leopard and Rotten Luck Qiang. When He Wenchang asked him to concede, he took him out and became the leader. Even when Wu Tianhao tried to force his hand, Yang Sheng had fought to the bitter end. Now that Lei Luo was making the request, Pig Oil knew Yang Sheng couldn't possibly be happy about it.

Yang Sheng didn't respond to the pleasantries. Instead, he asked, "If Brother Luo ever needed to sell you out for his own interests, would you do it willingly?"

Pig Oil was stunned for a moment, then replied firmly, "Even if Brother Luo wanted my life, I wouldn't say a word."

Yang Sheng opened the car door and patted Pig Oil on the shoulder. "You’re a loyal man."

Back at the headquarters, Yang Sheng sat in deep thought for a long time before ordering someone to fetch Di Lu. Di Lu had been promoted to the position of "White Paper Fan" and was deeply involved in the daily affairs of the Hong Sheng Lian, keeping him very busy. He wasn't particularly skilled at combat—his strength was decent, but he couldn't compare to Ghost Man Wen or the naturally gifted Leopard Head. However, he was sharp and followed the rules, making him well-suited for his role.

When Di Lu entered, he didn't stand on ceremony, grabbing Yang Sheng’s teacup and downing the tea before wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Brother Sheng, what do you need?"

Yang Sheng looked at him calmly, his gaze different from usual, which made Di Lu’s heart skip a beat. "Di Lu, how is your father doing these days?"

Di Lu rubbed his head and chuckled, attempting a joke. "Brother Sheng, you must be mistaken. My old man has been dead for years. I have to wait until Qingming Festival to burn paper for him to see how he's doing down there."

Yang Sheng shook his head. "I’m not asking about your biological father. I’m talking about your boss, O-Unit Senior Inspector Chen Wenyao. You lot usually call him 'Old Man,' and he certainly treats you like a father, never keeping anything from you."

As the words left Yang Sheng’s lips, fresh sweat beaded on Di Lu’s forehead. "Hahaha, Brother Sheng, what are you talking about? If I were a cop, why would I come to a dying syndicate like the Hong Sheng Lian to be a low-level thug?"

Yang Sheng looked at him steadily. "Di Lu, you know my character. I wouldn't bring this up unless I was certain. You’ve been with me this whole time—do you really intend to keep lying to me?"

Though Yang Sheng’s tone and expression remained calm, the pressure he exerted was immense. After a long silence, a bitter smile spread across Di Lu’s face. "Brother Sheng, how did you find out? I swear to heaven, even though I was sent by the Inspector, I’ve never done anything to harm the syndicate or you. Even with the Luo Rong incident, I knew beforehand that was their target, and I made sure no one would be in real trouble once we reached the station."

Yang Sheng shook his head gently. "Nothing stays hidden forever. Undercover work is a dangerous profession. It’s fortunate you were in a dying syndicate like the Hong Sheng Lian; otherwise, you would have died a hundred times over. When we went to hack Luo Rong, I found the police response suspicious, as if they knew we were coming. When they arrested us, they locked onto the six of us with incredible speed—someone had leaked the info. I asked Ghost Man Wen, and out of the six of us, only one person left mid-task to 'find a weapon' for me. That was you. Of course, that’s not enough evidence on its own. But after I saved Pig Oil, Chen Wenyao approached me the very same day to tell me to stay away from Lei Luo. That was very interesting."

"But I wasn't the only one who saw you save Pig Oil," Di Lu countered.

Yang Sheng smiled. "True, but who else could it be? Ghost Man Wen? Leopard Head? Chen Wenyao wouldn't be crazy enough to use them. And the police wouldn't put someone as conspicuous as Leopard Head undercover. Furthermore, the way you walk and even how you fight reveals you’ve had strict training—not the traditional martial arts, but something else. Your records say you were an orphan who joined the syndicate because you were starving, so how do you explain those training marks? One clue is a coincidence, two is a fluke, but three or four together, and the conclusion is obvious."

Di Lu looked utterly defeated. He never imagined his seemingly flawless cover had been full of holes in Yang Sheng’s eyes. In the underworld, nothing was hated more than an undercover cop; the consequences were well known. Chen Wenyao had warned him of this before sending him in.

Yet, Yang Sheng patted his shoulder. "Don't look so miserable. You’ve been with me for a long time and have helped me quite a bit. I’m not a cruel man; why would I turn on you now?"

Di Lu froze. It was true. Yang Sheng had suspected him for a while; if he had wanted him dead, he would have done it long ago.

"I’m telling you this now because I want to invite your 'Old Man,' Inspector Chen, out for a meal. Don't worry, it’s not bad news. In fact, it’s a promotion and a raise for him."