Fifteen minutes later, dazzling flames erupted from the silent Canaan, a pillar of fire piercing through heaven and earth as it instantly impaled and engulfed the entire hotel.
Everything vaporized in an instant, leaving only dust fluttering through the gale.
Amid the thunderous roar, all of Canaan seemed to tremble faintly.
Far away, within the maze-like jumble of buildings, an office opened in a corridor stood silent. Only its half-lowered shutter rattled violently in the wind.
Then, the telephone began to ring.
Behind a desk piled high with takeout containers, Bai Gua's brow rose slightly as he picked up his phone.
"Your cousin just ran off."
The voice on the other end spoke. "Don't you have anything to say?"
"Third Master, you understand me."
Bai Gua grinned. "Business is business, family is family. The two can't be mixed together. Since I was doing business with Canaan, naturally I couldn't let family ruin it.
Go ahead without worry. I won't interfere."
Third Master's voice seemed to smile over the phone. "How interesting. Someone from the Lin family wants to talk to me about blood ties?"
"No, what I mean is, feelings cost extra."
Bai Gua took a hard drag from his cigarette, exhaled, and spoke carelessly. "As his older cousin, I already warned him to run. He wouldn't listen and insisted on charging down a dead end. I couldn't exactly tie him up and send him home, could I?
Go ahead, do whatever you want. Whether he lived or died had nothing to do with me."
After a brief pause, he grinned, revealing his teeth. "Of course, if Third Master is willing to spare his life and give him a chance for me to send him home, I'd owe you one. Anything can be discussed."
As he spoke, he glanced at