Chapter 37: Demanding Fairness!

In a tea house in Mong Kok, Yang Sheng was wolfing down beef chow fun, shrimp dumplings, char siu bao, and siu mai, the table laden with an array of dim sum.

Though Yang Sheng hailed from Liaodong, he was not a picky eater. He had grown accustomed to the Cantonese morning tea and found it quite delicious, though he felt the portions were a bit small.

A moment later, the door to the private room opened, and Chen Wenyao walked in, accompanied by Dilu.

Yang Sheng gestured to the dim sum before him. "Sit, Inspector Chen. Dilu, don't just stand there; pour your old man some tea."

Chen Wenyao looked at the nervous Dilu and chuckled. "Don't worry. Your boss is sharp; he wouldn't suddenly snap and kill me in a place like this."

Dilu gave a bitter smile. He knew Yang Sheng’s strength; if he truly decided to attack, a hundred men wouldn't be able to stop him.

Yang Sheng smiled as well. "There aren't many Chinese inspectors in Hong Kong. If I were to kill your father, I’d be on the front page by tomorrow."

Chen Wenyao picked up a pineapple bun, tore it open, and stuffed it into his mouth. "Speak up, why did you want to see me? You’re the talk of the town now, Yang Sheng—the leader of the Hong Sheng Lian and the protégé of Chief Inspector Lui Lok. To beat his right-hand man, Lei Gong, to death right in front of Crippled Ho and walk away unscathed—you won't find anyone more formidable in all of Hong Kong."

There was a hint of sarcasm in Chen Wenyao's tone. Last time, when he had advised Yang Sheng to stay away from Lui Lok, Yang Sheng had asked how a small fry like himself could ever get involved with someone like Lui Lok. Yet, soon after, Yang Sheng had hitched his wagon to the man, becoming the hottest newcomer under his command.

Yang Sheng shook his head. "Inspector Chen, please, don't mock me. A small pawn like me, caught between so many titans, must maneuver in the shadows just to survive. I have no interest in the power struggle between Lui Lok and Crippled Ho, nor do I care about the losses or gains of the various syndicates across Hong Kong. I just want to finish the Dragon City Tournament smoothly. But, alas, even a simple underground fighting ring can't be fair, and that makes me sad. The one thing I hate most in this life is unfairness!"

Chen Wenyao frowned, sensing something off about Yang Sheng's tone. "Why did you call me here today? What exactly do you want to do?"

Yang Sheng grinned. "It's simple: I just want fairness! Lui Lok and Crippled Ho have reached a secret agreement for me to throw the match in the ring, but I’m not willing. Since he is the Chief Chinese Inspector with power over both the underworld and the police, and I can't fight him head-on, I have to think of other ways. Inspector Chen, you’ve been tailing Lui Lok for a long time, haven't you? Those British officials must have reached the limit of their patience with him. The Independent Commission Against Corruption must be in preparation right now, or perhaps it has already been established?"

Chen Wenyao put down his pineapple bun, his gaze deepening, his tone grave. "Who exactly are you, Yang Sheng? How do you know the ICAC is about to be established?"

Yang Sheng shrugged. "I guessed."

Chen Wenyao sneered, clearly not believing him. In reality, Yang Sheng *was* guessing. While some things in this world didn't align with history, the trajectory was traceable. Lui Lok had been at the peak of his power for over twenty years, and it was time for his decline. When Chen Wenyao had warned him previously, he mentioned that the British had reached their limit; from that alone, Yang Sheng inferred that Lui Lok’s downfall was near. As one of the few Chinese inspectors with the requisite skill and standing, Chen Wenyao was highly likely to be involved in the establishment of the anti-corruption agency.

Chen Wenyao took a deep breath. "So, you’re really planning to move against Lui Lok?"

"Of course!" Yang Sheng replied. "You’ve been watching him for so long; you must be looking for a chance to take him down in one stroke. Lui Lok will come to the Kowloon Walled City for the finals. I’ll have Dilu let you know when he enters. You can use the opportunity to raid his home and collect evidence. Outside, he’s surrounded by his henchmen, but inside the Walled City, although he’ll have guards, the difficulty of arresting him will undoubtedly be lower."

Chen Wenyao folded his arms, lost in thought. As Yang Sheng said, he had been watching Lui Lok for a long time without finding a clean opening. The man was a Chief Inspector, and to take him down, there could be no room for error; one couldn't afford to give him a second chance. If Lui Lok escaped, it would be a disaster. Following Yang Sheng’s plan, the Walled City was indeed a good opportunity, but was Yang Sheng truly trustworthy?

After a long silence, Chen Wenyao exhaled. "The Walled City isn't home turf for Lui Lok, but it isn't for us either. You said Crippled Ho and Lui Lok have reached an understanding, meaning they are working together. How can you be sure Ho won't intervene?"

"Of course Ho won't just sit by! But he has bigger problems of his own!" Yang Sheng sneered. "Ho fancies himself the underground emperor, and the expansion of his Chao Yi Yong syndicate has made many others nervous. They just lacked the guts or the right opportunity to stand up. Now is the time when his reputation is at its lowest and his power is weakest—a golden opportunity. I have the means to unite the Ying Lian She, He Yi Xing, and the Number Gang to take down Chao Yi Yong and Crippled Ho! Don't worry, Inspector, they won't have the chance to cause you any trouble."

"You can persuade so many major syndicates to work together?"

Yang Sheng shook his head. "I’m no master diplomat. But I believe the likes of Chai Jiu, Huang Juekun, and Yin Tiancheng aren't idiots. They know this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Inspector, there is no such thing as a foolproof success in this world; it all depends on whether you dare to take the gamble."

Collaborating with gangsters to take down a powerful, corrupt inspector was a bizarre notion, but it was exactly the kind of thing Chen Wenyao might agree to—which was why Yang Sheng had come to him. Moreover, he believed Chen Wenyao’s instincts would tell him this was a fleeting opportunity that might never come again.

After a while, Chen Wenyao sighed. "Working with you always feels like dealing with a tiger. I don't know if agreeing to this is right or wrong, but whether I can retire safely and smoothly depends on this. Dilu will stay by your side to pass messages, but once this is over, I will pull him out."

Yang Sheng suddenly asked, "When did I say Dilu was leaving?"

Chen Wenyao and Dilu were both taken aback. Dilu’s identity as an undercover agent was exposed; would the Hong Sheng Lian really keep a mole?

Yang Sheng said calmly, "Inspector, you were a mole yourself; you know how miserable their ends can be. Once Dilu’s identity is confirmed, it won't just be the Hong Sheng Lian—other Hongmen syndicates will hunt him to the death. Those who are as lucky and capable as you are few and far between. Dilu is sharp, but he’s not in your league. When you planted him in a declining syndicate like the Hong Sheng Lian, you didn't expect him to do anything major, right? Just keep him in a low-profile place to gather intelligence. Since that’s the case, why not let him stay? He can keep gathering intel. And while he’s at it, he can keep an eye on the Hong Sheng Lian to make sure they don't do anything unforgivable. Even though they’re all syndicates, the Hong Sheng Lian is a direct descendant of the Hongmen; they still need to respect their ancestors."

With that, Yang Sheng turned and walked away.

Chen Wenyao and Dilu looked at each other, both completely baffled. A syndicate boss who actively invited them to keep a mole in his organization? Most importantly, why did Yang Sheng’s words sound like he was leaving and asking Chen Wenyao to look after the syndicate for him?

"You've been with Yang Sheng for a while now. Is he usually like this?"

Dilu looked equally confused. "Boss Sheng was perfectly normal before. Today is the first time he’s talked like this."

Just then, a waiter knocked and entered, looking timid. "The gentleman who was just here said you would be paying the bill."

Chen Wenyao froze, then cursed, "That little punk!"