The Development of Hong Kong Movies World

Hong Kong Movies World.

Causeway Bay.

Neon signs lit up one after another in the dusk, turning Nathan Road into a flowing river of color.

The street stalls of Yau Ma Tei carried the scent of curried fish balls, mingling with the salty, damp sea breeze from the docks, yet they could not suppress the faint smell of smoke drifting from the dark alleys at street corners.

Here, every paving stone was steeped in the brassy stench of money, and hid traces of blood not yet dry.

Countless people clutched wrinkled Hong Kong Dollars and fought tooth and nail, hoping to secure a foothold in this land where every inch was worth a fortune.

Yet few remembered that beneath Causeway Bay's prosperity had always been foundations built with violence.

Wealth unsupported by violence was merely a golden bell hanging around a fat sheep's neck, bound to draw hungry wolves sooner or later.

Lin Yao stood on the second-floor terrace of the Causeway Bay branch, the cigarette between his fingers burned down to the filter. Only when the heat made his fingertips tingle did he come back to himself.

The scorching sensation from stacking the power of other worlds twice still lingered in his body. He lowered his gaze to his palm. The old scars around his knuckles had long faded, replaced by solid muscles capable of crushing bricks when he exerted himself.

Now, his endurance was enough to let him run three laps along Victoria Harbour without stopping for breath. Even if his arm were slashed open, the wound would scab over overnight.

This was perhaps a peak that humans in this world had never reached.

Half a year ago, Lin Yao had merely been an insignificant little thug under Leung Kun while working undercover. He followed the branch brothers around night markets collecting protection money. At most, he could fight a little better than ordinary Triad Thugs, and when beaten, he still had to grit his teeth and endure it.

But after connecting with versions of himself from other worlds, everything changed.

The last time Lianhe Hall from Tsim Sha Tsui came to seize territory, he knocked down more than a dozen of their elite men barehanded. He could still clearly recall the dull thuds of his fists striking human bones.

It was precisely that battle that elevated him from a lowly thug to a Red Pole under Leung Kun.

The hierarchy of Hong Kong Island's triads had always been strict. Below the branch leader were four ranks: Red Pole, White Paper Fan, Straw Sandals, and Forty-Nines.

Red Poles were also called "Four-Two-Sixes." They were the branch's pillars of force. Without a few lives on their hands and several brutal battles to back them up, no one could hold that position securely.

Lin Yao had replaced the thickheaded Silly Keung from the original story and become Leung Kun's strongest fighter.

He clearly remembered the day of his promotion. Leung Kun personally tied a red silk sash around him, his Big Gold Tooth gleaming beneath the lights.

"A Yao, from now on, you'll watch over the Causeway Bay establishments for me!"

At the time, Leung Kun had been troubled by a lack of capable men.

As Hung Hing's Causeway Bay branch leader, he seemed capable of summoning wind and rain on the surface, but Silly Keung was his only truly capable fighter. Whenever difficult territorial disputes arose, he still had to grab a machete and take the field himself.

For a branch leader, that was both humiliating and dangerous. Lin Yao's appearance was undoubtedly timely relief for Leung Kun.

The former was bold and fearless. Whenever he encountered tough opponents, he charged at the front when seizing territory.

As a Double Red Pole, Lin Yao had the right to recruit followers. In only half a month, he recruited more than thirty capable Triad Thugs.

He also reclaimed several establishments Leung Kun had previously left scattered outside, his influence sprouting up like bamboo shoots after rain.

Once the time was right, Lin Yao made his move.

He used the information he had tipped Huang Zhicheng in advance: Leung Kun had recently been moving drugs at the docks, and the shipment was enormous.

Huang Zhicheng had long wanted to take down Leung Kun. He had also always treated Lin Yao like a beast of burden he could use at will. After receiving the information, he did not consider Lin Yao's safety or cover at all and immediately led a team to intercept them.

That night, the container yard at the docks was pitch-black, with only a few emergency lights casting faint glimmers.

Leung Kun was conducting a deal inside a container with five core subordinates when Huang Zhicheng and more than twenty officers suddenly stormed in. Flashlight beams swept wildly through the darkness as shouts and gunfire erupted at once.

Boom—

Flames soared into the sky, and the heat wave made even the containers shake.

The next day, every newspaper's headline covered the explosion: "Hung Hing Branch Leader Leung Kun Surrounded While Moving Drugs, Gunfight with Police Triggers Explosion, No Survivors."

"Superintendent Huang Zhicheng Dies in Line of Duty, Police Suffer Heavy Losses."

Lin Yao sat in a cha chaan teng, looking at the black-and-white photographs of Leung Kun and Huang Zhicheng in the newspaper as he slowly scooped up a spoonful of pineapple bun with butter.

The rich, sweet butter melted in his mouth. He had only one thought: That felt good.

One was a drug dealer, and the other had squeezed him dry like a workhorse. Their deaths had just helped him truly establish himself in Causeway Bay.

As he put down the newspaper, two other articles caught his attention.

One was about Officer Chan Ka Kui. This young man in a police uniform, with resolute eyes, had arrested the drug lord Chu Tao. Facing several million Hong Kong Dollars laid out on a table, he had not touched a single bill, and had even pinned Chu Tao to the table on the spot.

The report said Chan Ka Kui was a model for the police force and worthy of emulation by every officer.

The other piece of news was even more interesting. Hong Kong Island tycoon Robinson had secretly hired someone to carry out an assassination because he was dissatisfied with his son-in-law Lau Yiu Cho's behavior.

The assassination had failed, and Robinson had been arrested by the police for attempted murder and sent to Stanley Prison.

Lin Yao lightly tapped the newspaper with his finger, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes.

He clearly remembered that Chan Ka Kui was the protagonist of the Police Story series. Since he had appeared, the other characters from the films must certainly exist as well.

Especially Chai Pa, the major villain from Police Story 3—the ruthless drug lord who was ultimately betrayed by his own wife. All his assets had been transferred to a Swiss Bank, and the account number and password had even been shown in close-up in the film.

He had once been vague about that string of numbers, but ever since the powers of other worlds had stacked, his mental strength had improved and his memory had become astonishing.

Details he had once been unable to remember clearly were now as vivid as though carved into his mind.

He could even recall the scene from the film: Chai Pa's wife held a slip of paper bearing the account number "3386776" and the password "1270wku."

That was a full 330 million USD.

But now was not the right time. The plot of Police Story 1 had only just begun, and there were still several years until the third film. Who knew whether Chai Pa's wife had transferred the money yet?

If he investigated rashly and alerted the enemy, it would only be counterproductive.

Lin Yao suppressed the thought and turned his attention back to Robinson's news.

Compared to the distant 300 million USD, the 300 million Hong Kong Dollars in Bearer Bonds that Robinson had hidden away were far easier to obtain right now.

He remembered clearly that in the original film, Robinson feared Lau Yiu Cho would swallow up his assets, so he had hidden the bonds long ago.

The hiding place was particularly tricky: beneath the sand in the pet lizard's tank at Lau Yiu Cho's Villa.

That night, Lin Yao changed into a black stealth outfit and covered his face with a mask, sweeping over Causeway Bay's rooftops like a shadow.

Lau Yiu Cho's Villa was halfway up the mountain. Its security was not bad, with two guards patrolling at the entrance and surveillance cameras installed in the yard.

But none of that posed any obstacle to Lin Yao.

He avoided the cameras' blind spots, vaulted over the two-meter wall, and landed as lightly as a leaf.

The villa lights were on, and the faint sound of television could be heard from the living room.

Lin Yao stayed close to the wall and silently slipped onto the second-floor terrace, then slid down a drainpipe into the first-floor garden.

The pet room was in a corner of the garden. Only a small lamp was lit inside. He gently pushed open the half-closed door and saw the lizard sleeping atop a mound of sand in its glass tank.

Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Yao put on gloves and carefully brushed aside the sand bit by bit. Before long, his fingers touched something hard—a sealed iron box.

He opened the box. Sure enough, it contained a thick stack of bonds. Each carried a large denomination, and together they totaled exactly 300 million Hong Kong Dollars.

After obtaining the bonds, Lin Yao returned the way he came. The whole process took less than ten minutes, and no one in the villa noticed a thing.

The next day, using the identity of an "Overseas Chinese," he registered an Investment Company on Hong Kong Island, then took the bonds to the bank to cash them.

By the time Jiang Tiansheng and Hung Hing's other branch leaders reacted, Lin Yao had already used the money to quietly gather the chaotic Causeway Bay forces left behind after Leung Kun's death.

Some of the little thugs who had followed Leung Kun were recruited by other branches, while others were beaten down in street brawls.

Lin Yao was different. He offered good treatment. Following him meant food to eat, money to earn, and no random bullying.

Before long, most of Causeway Bay's establishments had fallen into his hands.

Jiang Tiansheng met Lin Yao at Hung Hing Headquarters.

In the office, Jiang Tiansheng sat on a leather sofa, rolling prayer beads in his hand as he scrutinized the young man before him.

He knew the "identity" behind Lin Yao was wealthy, but he could not figure out his background.

How could an Overseas Chinese suddenly gain the strength to control Causeway Bay?

But Lin Yao handled matters properly. He paid every cent of Hung Hing's required share, and even took the initiative to offer to manage Hung Hing's Causeway Bay businesses.

After weighing the matter repeatedly, Jiang Tiansheng finally decided. "A Yao, the Causeway Bay branch leader position is temporarily vacant. You'll serve as Acting Branch Leader for now. We'll see how you perform afterward."

Lin Yao bowed and accepted, though he had already begun planning his next move.

With 300 million Hong Kong Dollars as seed capital, the first thing Lin Yao wanted to do was establish his own armed organization—a security company.

Before long, Lin Yao acquired a security company on the verge of bankruptcy and renamed it "Starry Security."

Then he set his sights on one man—Lung Wei's personal bodyguard, Li Kit.

Li Kit had originally been a demolition expert from the mainland. He was skilled in combat and bomb disposal, but after a mission failure forced him to watch his wife and child die in an explosion, he became disheartened and resigned. He later made his way to Hong Kong Island, becoming celebrity Lung Wei's bodyguard and stunt double.

Lin Yao knew Li Kit had always been searching for The Doctor, the man who had killed his wife and child. That was precisely the bargaining chip he could use to recruit Li Kit.

At Lung Wei's Film Set, Lin Yao met Li Kit for the first time.

Li Kit was wearing a costume at the time, helping Lung Wei complete a stunt involving a jump from a height. He landed as steadily as a tree rooted in the ground.

Lin Yao walked over and offered him a cigarette. "Master Li, I'm Lin Yao from Starry Security. I'd like to hire you."

Li Kit glanced at him but did not take the cigarette. "I already have a job."

"I know you're looking for The Doctor."

Lin Yao's voice was soft, yet it was like a stone thrown into the still waters of Li Kit's heart.

Li Kit's body instantly stiffened. He abruptly turned to Lin Yao, his eyes filled with shock and vigilance. "How do you know?"

"Not only do I know, I can tell you where he is."

Lin Yao smiled.

"As long as you work for me for two years, I guarantee you'll find The Doctor after those two years."

Li Kit remained silent for a long time. His knuckles turned white from clenching his fists. He wanted to strike and test him, only for Lin Yao to pat him on the shoulder.

Feeling the overpowering strength in that hand, Li Kit's expression changed. He understood that the man before him was far stronger than he was.

There was no way he could use force to subdue him and then demand to know where the information came from.

Moreover, he had searched for The Doctor for so many years without ever finding a clue. Now, Lin Yao had given him hope.

In the end, Li Kit nodded. "All right. I agree."

After recruiting Li Kit, Lin Yao gave him his first task: return to the mainland and recruit retired veterans.

Compared with Hong Kong Island's Triad Thugs, veterans who had been on the battlefield possessed greater discipline and were better fighters.

Li Kit had extensive connections in the military and quickly contacted a group of retired veterans.

Lin Yao's terms were generous: a monthly salary of three thousand Hong Kong Dollars, food and lodging included. Those with special skills could earn even more.

That salary was not considered high on Hong Kong Island, but in the mainland of that era, it was a considerable sum.

Many veterans came from difficult family circumstances. Upon hearing the offer, even though some were suspicious, they agreed with almost no hesitation.

In just one month, Li Kit recruited three hundred retired veterans and even advanced them one month's salary so they could settle their families.

When Li Kit brought the three hundred veterans to Hong Kong Island, Lin Yao personally went to Starry Security's training base.

The training base was in the outskirts. It had been converted from an abandoned factory, with cement floors and all sorts of training equipment.

Two hundred veterans in matching camouflage uniforms stood on the Training Ground, their postures as straight as a forest. Even after the long journey, their eyes still carried the sharpness of soldiers.

"Hello, Boss!"

At Li Kit's introduction, the veterans saluted Lin Yao in unison. Their booming voices shook the air itself.

Lin Yao stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over every face. Some bore scars, while others were missing a finger. All were heroes who had fought their way through the battlefield.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Lin Yao's voice carried respect.

"You are all heroes who came back from the battlefield. Every one of you is outstanding. But to make future management easier, I need to select some captains and instructors from among you."

The veterans' eyes immediately lit up with anticipation.

"There are three hundred of you in total. You'll be divided into thirty squads of ten. Thirty captains will be selected, and their monthly pay will double from the original amount."

Lin Yao paused and nodded to several accountants he had recruited behind him.

They immediately brought forward several large suitcases and opened them, revealing piles of Hong Kong Dollars inside.

With the money before them, Lin Yao continued, his words becoming even more powerful in everyone's ears.

"Instructors must either possess strong combat ability or special skills. Besides Instructor Li, six more instructors will be selected, with a monthly salary of ten thousand Hong Kong Dollars."

As soon as he said that, the sight of real cash before them drew a collective gasp from the Training Ground.

It was all real. They had already thought a monthly salary of three thousand Hong Kong Dollars was high, but they had not expected captains and instructors to earn even more.

Never mind ten thousand Hong Kong Dollars—even six thousand a month would be enough for them to build an extremely luxurious house back home.

"The selection rules are simple."

Lin Yao's gaze swept over everyone.

"Those skilled in sniping, demolition, or bomb disposal will compete in technical ability. Everyone else will fight one-on-one. The top six by win rate will become instructors, and those ranked seventh through thirty-sixth will become captains."

The military had always respected strength above all else, and no one objected to this rule.

The selection began quickly, and the Training Ground instantly became lively.

The veterans competing in combat were barehanded, their movements crisp and efficient, without any flashy flourishes. Every punch and kick carried the ruthlessness honed on the battlefield.

Elsewhere, veterans skilled in sniping held Simulation guns and fired at distant targets, hitting almost every shot.

The veterans who understood demolition demonstrated bomb-disposal techniques in a safe area, their hands moving with such skill that they dazzled the eye.

Lin Yao stood to one side, carefully observing every person.

When he spotted two familiar faces, his eyes brightened slightly.

One was Li Fu—Li Kit's younger cousin. He looked seventy percent like Li Kit, especially in the expression around his brows and eyes, as though they had been cast from the same mold.

Only Li Fu had a shallow knife scar on his face, which added several degrees of fierceness.

Lin Yao remembered that Li Fu was the protagonist of The Killer King. He was an excellent fighter and understood assassination techniques as well.

The other was Wong Kin Kwan. He looked strikingly similar to Chang Wei, with a tall frame and muscles as hard as iron. During the sparring, he knocked his opponent to the ground with a single punch, his eyes carrying a ruthless edge.

Lin Yao recognized him as the villain from The Bodyguard from Zhongnanhai. In the original story, he had become an assassin after failing to find work following his retirement from the military. Now that Lin Yao had recruited him early, it could be considered a change in his fate.

More than an hour later, the selection results were announced.

Li Fu and Wong Kin Kwan became two of the six instructors thanks to their outstanding combat skills.

Of the other four instructors, one excelled at sniping, one understood bomb disposal, one had the special skill of using a wrench to suppress an AK, and one could make powerful bombs as long as he had sufficient materials.

Every one of them had a special talent.

At the same time, all thirty captains were selected, each a veteran who had performed exceptionally in the sparring matches.

Lin Yao handed out the money directly. Once the cash was safely in their pockets, smiles spread across their faces.

Looking at the veterans, whose spirits had grown even stronger after receiving the money, Lin Yao calculated his future plans.

With these men, Starry Security had sufficient armed support. It would allow him to avoid exposing too much of his own strength and truly establish a foothold on Hong Kong Island.

He would keep a low profile and develop steadily. With enough manpower, he could also investigate whether Hong Kong Movies World contained things like gods, demons, or supernatural phenomena. Slowly, one step at a time.