Disguise

Renaming it Fuxing is foreshadowing; it'll be explained later in the story—

Inside the bar, the music was still off, everyone was still watching, and the drone was still roaring overhead.

Han Yang smiled as he raised his glass and looked at Zhou Da'an.

The coldness on Zhou Da'an's face gradually melted away, finally turning into a smile. "Haha, Brother Han Yang, you're being too formal. Come, come, sit over here. Today, us brothers will have a proper drink."

Li Hu hurriedly stood up and gave Han Yang his seat. Han Yang said coolly, "Dispose of the trash."

His tone was as if he were giving orders to an underling.

"Yes, yes, yes."

Li Hu seemed to have unknowingly adapted to the change in roles. With his head lowered, he called over a few underlings and had them carry away Black Three's corpse. After wiping up the blood, not a trace remained on the floor.

Only after sharing a drink with Zhou Da'an did Han Yang finally relax, knowing he had made it through today's ordeal.

"Brother, you're a man meant for great things. These little brats are lucky to be following you; at least they've found a good place to land. Don't worry about anything on the official side. Whatever it is, I'll settle it for you."

Zhou Da'an did not care in the slightest that so many people were watching intently as he made this sweeping promise.

Nearby, Li Hu and Black Three's former underlings also breathed a sigh of relief.

Clearly, from this moment on, Han Yang would take Black Three's place as the boss of this group. Now that Zhou Da'an had voiced his support, Han Yang's position was even more secure.

Everyone was just trying to make a living. Who they followed did not really matter. This new boss had a mysterious and powerful background; following him had to be better than following Black Three.

As for loyalty, avenging their former boss, and all that, it was only nonsense meant to fool idiots.

Han Yang clinked glasses with Zhou Da'an. "I'm only taking the boss's seat. Li Hu still needs to handle the actual work."

"I understand, I understand. You're a man who does great things, Brother. Of course you won't waste time on such trivial matters."

Li Hu was overjoyed and immediately pledged himself to Han Yang. "Boss Han, don't worry. Even if it costs me my life, I'll make sure everything you order is done properly."

Han Yang nodded lightly and ignored him after that.

Han Yang saw Li Hu's kind clearly. He was not very bright, liked to make a fuss, and loved playing clever. People like that were the easiest to control. As long as the intimidation was strong enough, they would obey without question.

After having a few drinks with Han Yang and settling several matters, Zhou Da'an immediately took his leave. Han Yang escorted him to the bar entrance, and the drone followed them there. Then Han Yang waved at it, and it immediately flew higher and away, vanishing to some unknown place.

Zhou Da'an watched it all, his heart filled with awe.

Originally, he had thought that even if Han Yang had a powerful background, while he would not provoke him openly, he still needed to investigate him behind the scenes and find out exactly where that background came from. If Han Yang was only putting on an act, then he might have to teach him a lesson.

But since the kid was so sensible and had immediately cut the protection money in half, there was naturally no need for him to play the villain. Not only would he not be the villain, he would support Han Yang instead.

After seeing Zhou Da'an off, Han Yang did not return to the bar. Instead, he called Li Hu over.

"We need a name from now on. We'll be called the Fuxing Gang. Black Three Gambling Den, Tanghuang Bar, and the rest of the gang's businesses will all be renamed Fuxing."

"Yes, yes, yes."

"Tomorrow morning, have all the gang's accounts prepared at the gambling den. I'll go over the books. Call all the brothers over too, so everyone can get acquainted."

"Yes, yes, yes."

Li Hu was like an echo, knowing only how to agree.

"I'm leaving."

Han Yang got up and left directly. Li Hu and the other underlings respectfully saw him off at the bar entrance. Only after Han Yang had gone far away did they dare raise their heads.

"Our new boss... he's really impressive. He can even bring out an Armed Drone. Who knows what kind of background he really has..."

Li Hu slapped him and cursed, "Don't ask what you shouldn't ask, and don't think about what you shouldn't think about. Be careful you end up feeding stray dogs like that dead bastard Black Three!"

"Tiger Bro, from now on, we..."

"Of course we're following Boss Han from now on! Didn't you see how impressive Boss Han was? Isn't that more promising than following Black Three? I'm warning all of you, behave yourselves and don't cause trouble. When the time comes, don't blame Tiger Bro for not saving you!"

"Of course, of course. We'll definitely behave ourselves. But it looks like Boss Han thinks highly of Tiger Bro. We'll have to rely on Tiger Bro to look after us from now on!"

"Come on, Tiger Bro, let me properly toast you."

The group noisily returned to the bar. The main lights were turned off, the flashing lights came on, and music began playing. The bar became lively again, with dancing and drinking continuing as though nothing had happened.

Black Three's death did not cause any stir. That was simply normal in the slums. Han Yang's name, however, had been remembered by everyone in the bar during that brief span of time.

After leaving the bar and turning down a street, Han Yang saw Shen the Butcher ahead, looking at him with a complicated expression.

A smile appeared on Han Yang's face as he walked straight toward Shen the Butcher. "Brother Shen, I handled it myself."

"You even brought out an Armed Drone. What a grand display."

Han Yang had practically grown up under Shen the Butcher's watch. But now, he found Han Yang increasingly impossible to understand.

After thinking for a moment, Shen the Butcher finally asked the question. "How did you get it? What exactly have you been doing lately?"

"Everyone has their own secrets. I have mine too. The only thing I can promise is that I'll always be the Han Yang I used to be. I won't change."

Shen the Butcher sighed. "If you don't want to say, I won't ask. But are you really going to join the underworld from now on? There's no future in it."

Han Yang shook his head. "No. This is only a disguise. I need this disguise."

"A disguise..."

Shen the Butcher's expression was complicated as he turned those two words over in his mind.

When Han Yang returned home, the drone was already parked steadily in the courtyard. After carefully locking the door, Han Yang packed the drone into a box and hid it beneath his bed.

No one could see this drone. If they did, they would immediately suspect it was fake, and then suspect that Han Yang had no background at all.

After putting away the drone, Han Yang lay on his bed and closed his eyes.

He had drunk some alcohol today, and his head felt a little dizzy. He needed to rest early.

But while the human brain could get dizzy, computers could not. During the time Han Yang had been out, the twelve computers and robots had continued working, processing one power-leveling order after another.

The thirteenth computer had not stopped either. Its robot controlled the mouse and keyboard, constantly browsing webpage after webpage and video after video, greedily absorbing knowledge from the internet.

Everything was running simultaneously, without affecting Han Yang in the slightest.

After a night passed, Han Yang woke up refreshed in the morning. He did not cook and went once again to Aunt Wang's food stall.

"Aunt Wang! A large bowl of beef noodles, with one egg and a serving of meat!"