Chapter Summaries

Liao Donggui feared that Tan Jingwei had set him up and would seize his business, so he ordered Chen Liang to secure their home and prepare an escape to Taiwan. He remained unsure whether Song Tianyao or Tan Jingwei would prevail and wondered who was backing Tan.

• Yu Shiting stopped Song Tianyao from leaving in a bedraggled state, ordered Uncle Shui to take him to wash and change, and called him his future son-in-law.
• After Chen Liang recounted the events at the Harp Restaurant, Liao Donggui cursed Tan Jingwei and concluded that he had been targeted for his wealth and livelihood.
• Chen Liang suggested seeking help from Liao Donggui's Taiwanese connections or Yu Shiting, but Liao Donggui rejected both options.
• Liao Donggui ordered Chen Liang to mobilize their men and guard the house while they waited for a chance to flee to Taiwan.
• Liao Donggui wondered who Tan Jingwei had found to help him, since Song Tianyao had joined forces with Yu Shiting.

Song Tianyao watched Lou Fengyun leave Hong Kong after the gang bosses were handed over to the British, while Huang Liu teased him about sending her away. The chapter ended with Song warning Huang Liu not to insult women, joking that even his kung fu would not save him from a furious woman.

• Tan Jingwei told Sai Charoenwang that the Thai fighters had completed Tam's orders and that the Number Gang could take over Hong Kong's gangs.
• Sai Charoenwang accepted Tan Jingwei's offer of exclusive rights to sell goods in Hong Kong and pledged his people to serve the Party-State.
• Tan Jingwei ordered Sheng Zhaozhong to tell General Li to take the Thai men's money but withhold the opium, leaving them free to act against the Japanese collaborators.
• Tan Jingwei revealed that the Thai men had worked with Kondo Kohei and angrily condemned their ties to the Japanese.
• Song Tianyao arrived at daybreak to see Lou Fengyun leave Hong Kong, and Huang Liu teased him about sending her away.
• Song Tianyao joked that Huang Liu would be the first to suffer if women heard him calling them petty.

Song Tianyao explained to Huang Liu why Lou Fengyun had left without an emotional farewell and predicted that Hong Kong’s gangs were waiting for the right moment to move against him. As Lou Fengyun sailed to Macau under the protection of two Chiu Chow Gang fighters, Huang Liu hinted that he had troubling news to tell Song Tianyao.

• Song Tianyao told Huang Liu that Lou Fengyun had chosen a clean parting because she knew an emotional farewell would only distract him, and insisted he would never abandon her or his family.
• Huang Liu complained that no gang members had appeared at the docks, while Song Tianyao explained that they were waiting for orders and that a larger conflict would be decided by money rather than fists.
• Song Tianyao warned that Hong Kong’s gang leaders might appoint an unlikely figure as their leader and scapegoat, then Huang Liu said he had something to tell him.
• Lou Fengyun traveled by boat toward Macau with Baldhead Cai and Hard-Luck Phoenix guarding her, and she reflected on Song Tianyao’s care for her.

At Xu Pingsheng’s home, Tan Jingwei visited after Xu Enbo returned safely, while the Xu family rebuffed him and warned him against abusing his power. Tan Jingwei answered with a veiled threat that Xu Enbo should stay home while Hong Kong remained dangerous.

• Tan Jingwei stood silently as Xu Pingsheng and Xu Enbo ignored him while preparing tea.
• Xu Enbo snapped at Tan Jingwei, who claimed he had come to check on him after hearing he had been kidnapped.
• Xu Enbo denied being kidnapped and told Tan Jingwei to leave, but Xu Pingsheng scolded him and invited Tan to sit for tea.
• Xu Pingsheng invoked the routed Kuomintang soldiers and warned Tan that Hong Kong’s powerful families were watching his actions.
• Tan Jingwei urged Xu Pingsheng to keep his ships in port and Xu Enbo at home, hinting that violence could have harmed him.

Tan Jingwei warned Xu Pingsheng and Xu Enbo that Song Tianyao and Yu Shiting threatened their interests, then revealed he wanted to switch sides and work with them. He presented Zeng Chunsheng’s assets and business documents as proof of his sincerity.

• Tan Jingwei warned Xu Pingsheng that Song Tianyao’s alliance with Yu Shiting could threaten the Xu Family’s shipping business.
• Xu Enbo challenged Tan Jingwei’s motives, and Tan Jingwei admitted that he wanted to work with the Hong Kong side.
• Tan Jingwei explained that he represented the Party-State, not the Shanghainese businessmen, and said he wanted a new partner.
• Tan Jingwei offered a gift, and Xu Pingsheng ordered Ah Quan to inspect the box before bringing it over.
• Tan Jingwei told Xu Pingsheng that the box contained Zeng Chunsheng’s deposits, stocks, property deeds, shipping licenses, and other assets, which now belonged to him.

Tan Jingwei offered Xu Pingsheng Zeng Chunsheng’s ships, property, and money, but Xu initially refused, wary of being tied to the murder and theft. Tan proposed that Xu turn the wealth into a charity fund for families of sailors killed at sea, leaving Xu silent as he considered the fame and influence it could bring.

• Xu Pingsheng was shaken by Tan Jingwei’s offer of Zeng Chunsheng’s assets but questioned why Tan was giving them to him.
• Tan claimed Zeng had donated his wealth to the Free China Relief Association before his accident and offered evidence to protect Xu from suspicion.
• Xu Enbo angrily rejected the gift, and Tan mocked him before Xu Pingsheng ordered his son to leave.
• Xu Pingsheng explained that he valued his reputation more than money and said he could not accept the gift.
• Tan suggested Xu establish a fund to support the families of sailors who died in shipwrecks, promising public gratitude and protection from accusations.
• Xu Pingsheng fell silent as Tan’s proposal appealed to his ambition for fame and influence.

Tan Jingwei persuaded Xu Pingsheng to consider managing a relief fund and proposed uniting Hong Kong’s merchants, while Xu suspected he was pursuing a larger political goal. After Tan left, Xu explained to Xu Enbo that Tan wanted to control Hong Kong’s business community and cut off trade with the Mainland.

• Tan Jingwei offered Xu Pingsheng the chance to manage a charitable fund using Zeng Chunsheng’s money, and Xu agreed to discuss the details.
• Tan Jingwei said he would visit the Five Counties and Chiu Chow chambers of commerce to persuade Hong Kong merchants to form an alliance.
• Xu Enbo asked Xu Pingsheng why Tan Jingwei had killed Zeng Chunsheng’s family and then offered their money to the Xu family.
• Xu Pingsheng told Xu Enbo that Tan Jingwei aimed to control Hong Kong’s merchants and make them stop trading with the Mainland.
• Xu Enbo recalled how Taiwan’s violence had failed to stop smuggling and realized that a united merchant alliance might close the trade channel.

Xu Pingsheng explained to Xu Enbo how Tan Jingwei planned to use Zeng Chunsheng’s fortune to build an alliance and seize influence, then demanded to know what Xu Enbo had done the previous night. Tan Jingwei suspected the Xu Family was involved in smuggling aircraft engines and planned to pressure them into joining his campaign against the Shanghai people, while Sheng Zhaozhong asked how Chu Yaozong fit into the plan.

• Xu Pingsheng told Xu Enbo that Tan Jingwei was using Zeng Chunsheng’s fortune to draw powerful families into an alliance and position himself as its leader.
• Xu Enbo realized that Tan Jingwei intended to use the proposed charity fund to distribute money and gain power, while Xu Pingsheng warned him not to mistake Tan’s ambition for loyalty.
• Xu Pingsheng accused Xu Enbo of hiding what he had done the previous night and demanded that he explain the trouble he had caused.
• Tan Jingwei ordered Sheng Zhaozhong to have men watch the Xu Family’s ships and stop any that might be carrying the aircraft engines.
• Tan Jingwei said he would use evidence against the Xu Family to make them help fight the Shanghai people, promising merchants British support and business benefits.
• Sheng Zhaozhong asked Tan Jingwei how he would handle Chu Yaozong, who backed Song Tianyao.

Song Tianyao visited the injured Gui Zai Fang in the hospital and mourned A-Tai’s death, while vowing revenge on those responsible. As Tan Jingwei plotted his next moves, Song rejected killing Handkerchief Qing and turned his attention toward the larger forces behind the conflict.

• Tan Jingwei dismissed the Chu family as a threat and focused on Song Tianyao as his only worthy opponent.
• Song Tianyao visited Gui Zai Fang, who had been stabbed protecting Song Wenwen, and urged him to recover.
• Huang Liu reassured Song Tianyao that Gui Zai Fang was unlikely to be targeted and reminded him that A-Tai had chosen his own path.
• Song Tianyao accepted that A-Tai’s death was his own doing but vowed to avenge him by striking back ruthlessly.
• Huang Liu offered to visit Handkerchief Qing, but Song Tianyao refused, calling him a useless tool and saying the societies would collapse on their own.

Song Tianyao anticipated Tan Jingwei’s attack on Hong Kong’s chambers of commerce and went to meet Lu Yuanchun, while Sai Chalongwang secured a favorable deal with Kondo Kohei for counterfeit money. The chapter ended with Sheng Zhaozhong aboard a fishing boat in Shau Kei Wan, watching Hanging Neck Ridge with a sharp gaze.

• Song Tianyao said Tan Jingwei would move against the Shanghuan and Hong Kong Chambers of Commerce, and he avoided warning Young Master Shun to keep him out of trouble.
• Song Tianyao headed to the Peninsula Hotel to meet Lu Yuanchun.
• Sai Chalongwang told Kondo Kohei he could seize much of the local market and distribute counterfeit money with police cooperation.
• Sai Chalongwang demanded a thirty percent discount, and Kondo agreed to provide the first five million in counterfeit bills and weekly shipments afterward.
• Kondo offered Sai Chalongwang another way to make money.
• Sheng Zhaozhong traveled by fishing boat through Shau Kei Wan and looked toward Hanging Neck Ridge.

After Han Chongshan’s death, Sheng Zhaozhong returned alone to Hanging Neck Ridge to find another gunman. Meanwhile, Nai Khun revealed that Song Tianyao’s family had left for Macau, leaving his plan to approach Song’s sister stalled.

• Sheng Zhaozhong paid a fisherman to bring him back to shore and arranged for him to alert Tan Jingwei if he did not return by eight that night.
• Sheng Zhaozhong climbed alone toward Hanging Neck Ridge to find another gunman.
• At Kondo Kohei’s clinic, Paitoon warned Nai Khun against provoking Song Tianyao while the Thais were trying to establish themselves in Hong Kong.
• Nai Khun admitted that he had sent Cai Bao and others to investigate Song Tianyao’s family, but they had already left Hong Kong for Macau.
• Paitoon relaxed when he learned Song Tianyao’s family was gone and teased Nai Khun about his failed plan to become Song’s brother-in-law.

Kondo Kohei used a tea ritual and a candid proposal to persuade Sai Charoenwang to join forces in Hong Kong’s opium market. Sai considered Kondo’s plan to use his soldiers to overcome the local triads, but the chapter ended before he answered.

• Sai Charoenwang was startled when Kondo Kohei revealed the opportunity he had overlooked in their discussions about counterfeit money and opium.
• Kondo Kohei brewed tea with a reproduced Tang- and Song-style tea set and explained his belief that a perfect tea required all Five Elements.
• Sai Charoenwang realized Kondo wanted him to serve as the stove and asked whether he had found a suitable partner before.
• Kondo Kohei recalled that his previous ally had been killed after pursuing control of Hong Kong’s triads, prompting him to shift toward counterfeiting.
• Kondo Kohei argued that Sai’s soldiers could help him establish an opium foothold despite opposition from Hong Kong’s triads and police, and Sai weighed the proposal.

Sai Charoenwang agreed to work with Kondo Kohei to distribute goods in exchange for a ten percent share of the profits, then left Paitoon to discuss the counterfeit-bill operation. Kondo invited Paitoon to eat before they discussed the details, while Paitoon remained distracted after Sai Charoenwang and Nai Khun departed.

• Sai Charoenwang negotiated a ten percent share of the profits with Kondo Kohei, who agreed immediately.
• Sai Charoenwang asked Kondo Kohei about a previous recipient of his technical support, and Kondo named Li Caifa, a China person.
• Sai Charoenwang instructed Paitoon to discuss circulating counterfeit bills with Kondo Kohei and treat Kondo's word as his own.
• Sai Charoenwang and Nai Khun left in the elevator while Paitoon watched them descend.
• Kondo Kohei invited the distracted Paitoon to eat Thai food before discussing their cooperation.

Lu Yuanchun spoke with Song Tianyao by telephone and summoned Chen Shengnan after taking notes on his instructions. The chapter ended with Lu Rongfang insulting Chen Shengnan as she entered the room.

• Lu Yuanchun took notes while speaking with Song Tianyao, and Lu Rongkang and Lu Rongfang listened nearby.
• Song Tianyao asked Lu Yuanchun to help him for free, and she promptly hung up.
• Lu Rongfang asked what Song Tianyao had said, while Lu Rongkang watched Lu Yuanchun for an answer.
• Lu Yuanchun called for her secretary, Chen Shengnan, who entered the room.
• Lu Rongfang looked Chen Shengnan over and called her a “man-woman.”

Lu Yuanchun called on Chen Shengnan to help with an unspecified plan involving Guangyi Bank, alarming Lu Rongkang and Lu Rongfang. In the Peninsula Hotel, Song Tianyao weighed his possible allies and concluded that Chu Yaozong may have used the bounty against him to shield the Chu Family.

• Lu Rongfang teased Lu Rongkang about Chen Shengnan’s masculine appearance as the chapter recounted how the Lu Family had supported her rise to become Guangyi Bank’s capable general manager.
• Lu Yuanchun asked Chen Shengnan how much money Guangyi had on its books, prompting Lu Rongfang to accuse her of risking everything by backing Song Tianyao.
• Song Tianyao asked Huang Liu who else they could call, and Huang Liu suggested Chu Xiaoxin despite the Chu Family’s public bounty against Song Tianyao.
• Song Tianyao reasoned that Chu Yaozong, rather than Chu Xiaozhong, might have raised the bounty to distance the Chu Family from the conflict.
• Huang Liu asked whether Lu Yuanchun had agreed to help, and Song Tianyao claimed his personal approach had secured her support.
• Huang Liu joked about Song Tianyao’s many romantic interests, then said he was going to speak with Uncle Xiao and the others.

Di Zhen confronted Sheng Zhaozhong on Hanging Neck Ridge and accused him of causing Brother Shan’s death. Sheng Zhaozhong warned that killing him would bring British soldiers to the ridge, leaving Di Zhen poised to decide whether to pull the trigger.

• Di Zhen disarmed Sheng Zhaozhong and recognized him as an outsider who had come with Tan Jingwei.
• One of Di Zhen’s men identified Sheng Zhaozhong as the man responsible for Brother Shan’s death.
• Di Zhen raised his gun to Sheng Zhaozhong’s forehead and vowed to avenge Brother Shan and the others.
• Sheng Zhaozhong warned Di Zhen that if he failed to report back that night, British soldiers would surround Hanging Neck Ridge the next morning.

Di Zhen hesitated to kill Sheng Zhaozhong after Sheng threatened consequences for the surviving soldiers and their families. Sheng then claimed Gui Xiu Wen had betrayed Han Chongshan, leaving Di Zhen furious after learning Gui Xiu Wen’s wife and child had gone missing.

• Di Zhen held back from shooting Sheng Zhaozhong when Sheng warned that Taiwan and the British authorities could retaliate against Di Zhen and his men.
• Di Zhen fired the rest of his bullets beside Sheng’s head and ordered him to leave, but Sheng refused, saying Mr. Tam had sent him to recruit Di Zhen.
• Sheng persuaded Di Zhen to lower his gun and suggested that a traitor among Di Zhen’s men had exposed Han Chongshan’s plans.
• Sheng accused Gui Xiu Wen of taking money from Song Tianyao and arranging for his wife and child to go to Malaya.
• Di Zhen learned that Sister Fen and Liuzi had left the ridge and cursed Gui Xiu Wen for betraying them.

Tan Jingwei waited at the Central Hotel, reassuring his clerical subordinates that Sheng Zhaozhong was safe while concealing Taiwan’s lack of power in Hong Kong. Sheng arrived with Di Zhen and his men, who entered the hotel uneasily and drew amused stares from the other guests.

• Tan Jingwei told his worried subordinates that Sheng Zhaozhong would return safely and claimed Taiwan could protect its officials in Hong Kong.
• Tan Jingwei privately knew the British authorities would not risk offending Hong Kong’s wealthy Chinese over a Taiwan official.
• Sheng Zhaozhong arrived at the Central Hotel with Di Zhen and his companions, paying the doormen to let them pass.
• Tan Jingwei spotted Sheng and waved him over to the table piled with food.
• Di Zhen and his men felt uncomfortable as the hotel guests stared at their disheveled clothes.

Di Zhen and his men met Tan Jingwei in Central and agreed to work for him, while Tan and Sheng Zhaozhong privately regarded them as expendable pawns despite respecting their loyalty. Later, Song Tianyao woke before dawn to find Ah Si watching over him and Ah Gen guarding the door.

• Di Zhen introduced himself to Tan Jingwei and offered the service of his brothers, who had once served under Han Chongshan.
• Tan Jingwei promised to arrange lodging and assured Di Zhen that the Party-State would reward their service, though he and Sheng Zhaozhong knew the promise of taking them to Taiwan was unlikely to be fulfilled.
• Di Zhen and his hungry men eagerly ate the food Tan Jingwei had laid out for them.
• Song Tianyao woke at four-thirty in the morning after sleeping for ten hours and found Ah Si keeping watch in his room.
• Song Tianyao thanked Ah Si and headed for the door, where Ah Gen was standing guard.

Song Tianyao sent Ah Gen to fetch Hong Lai-sau and his wife, then scolded Huang Liu for disappearing overnight. Huang Liu returned with Hong Lai-sau and Xu Minjun, leaving Song to face the couple and Hong’s bitter complaint that he had dragged them into trouble.

• Song Tianyao asked Ah Gen to bring Hong Lai-sau and Xu Minjun to him safely.
• Song Tianyao went inside to wash while Ah Si kept watch in the room.
• Huang Liu returned and said he had been away on proper business, prompting Song to worry he might have attacked their enemies.
• Huang Liu brought Hong Lai-sau and Xu Minjun into the room, and Song greeted them.
• Hong Lai-sau told Song Tianyao that he had really screwed him over.