Born Killer, Dinner's on Me

The crowd had yet to disperse, and its clamor drifted over on the river breeze.

"A Born Killer?"

Xia Jingyi covered her mouth and cried out in surprise. "Master, what's a Born Killer? Does killing lots of people make someone one?"

Zhou Yonghe did not answer at once.

He leaned against the handcart, his gaze so intent it seemed he could see right through the young man in the distance.

At length, he slowly let out a heavy breath. His fingers tapped against his kneecap with a steady tok, tok.

"It's fate. It's something in the bones."

Zhou Yonghe lowered his voice. "In our line of martial arts, what makes someone a Born Killer is what we call 'Dragon Tendon and Tiger Bone.'"

"Dragon Tendon and Tiger Bone?"

Xia Jingyi blinked. The words alone sounded formidable.

"That's right."

Zhou Yonghe nodded, unable to hide a trace of envy in his eyes. It was the helpless awe of a man watching heaven hand someone a livelihood. "Ordinary people train their flesh and toughen their strength. But a handful of people are born different."

"Some have tendons like dragons, taut and springing with power. When they exert themselves, they're like mighty bows and heavy crossbows. Their explosive strength is astonishing, and they hardly seem to tire. That's Dragon Tendon."

"Others have bones heavy as iron, with extraordinary density. They may look loose-limbed, but their frames are broad enough to bear tremendous weight. Blows barely hurt them, and their own blows can send a man flying. That's Tiger Bone."

Zhou Yonghe paused. His gaze settled on Qin Geng again, as though he could see through the coarse jacket to the great dragon of a spine rising and falling beneath it.

"Possess either Dragon Tendon or Tiger Bone, and you're a Born Killer."

"People like that learn martial arts at astonishing speed. Three years of Stance Training for someone else might take them three months to master. A way of generating force that others can't grasp in a lifetime, they can figure out in a single fight."

"Unless Qin Geng has a twin... your master misjudged him last time."

Zhou Yonghe gave a self-mocking smile. "When I felt his bones, I thought the boy had decent potential and could endure hardship. Who would have guessed? 'Decent' hardly covers it. He's a piece of hundred-times-refined steel that hasn't yet been given an edge."

Xia Jingyi listened, enthralled, and could not help asking, "Then... what if someone has both? Dragon Tendon and Tiger Bone?"

At that, Zhou Yonghe's expression turned solemn.

He sat up straight and looked toward the sky, as if recalling something.

"Someone with both has an unusual Fate Pattern. They're born to accomplish great things."

Zhou Yonghe said, "Such people are truly dragons and phoenixes among men, one in ten thousand. The Daoist and Buddhist orders of our Great Xin Dynasty, even those within the imperial palace, send specialists across the land carrying incense ash, Compasses, and Turtle Shells."

"What are they looking for? People born with unusual Fate Patterns."

"An unusual Fate Pattern doesn't necessarily mean Dragon Tendon and Tiger Bone. But anyone with both is certain to have an unusual Fate Pattern, destined to stir wind and clouds in these troubled times."

Xia Jingyi nodded thoughtfully.

"So that's how it is..."

She murmured, "Master, will you take him as your disciple? It would be a shame if someone else snapped up such a promising talent."

Zhou Yonghe shook his head, closed his eyes again, and settled back into his languid manner.

"Taking a disciple depends on fate. You can't force it."

"Besides, he's already begun training and found his own opportunity. The way he generates force follows our Hebei Form-Intention style, but I didn't teach him hand in hand. He worked it out himself from the manual. If I rush to take him as my disciple now, it'll look opportunistic and spoil our chance."

"We'll see when he next comes to visit his aunt. If the bond between master and disciple is there, so be it. If it isn't, keeping him by force would only damage his fortune."

"..."

Xia Jingyi pursed her lips and nodded.

She herself was a living example.

Through chance meetings and strange experiences, she had somehow become Zhou Yonghe's disciple. Fate had decided it; there was no other way to put it.

"Enough looking."

Zhou Yonghe waved a lazy hand. "The show's over. Time to get to work."

"Get pulling."

"I won't be watching you after noon, and I won't give you money for food. Whatever you want for dinner today, you'll have to earn with that cart. If you can't earn anything, you'll go hungry. That's training too."

At his words, the hopeful look on Xia Jingyi's face collapsed into misery.

"Master, that's too harsh..."

Complaints aside, she obediently took hold of the cart shafts and left the wharf, looking back every few steps.

The wind still blew across the wharf, and the smell of blood had yet to fade.

Qin Geng stood by the river, staring at the body at his feet as it began to cool. He felt dazed himself.

He had not expected one punch to kill the man outright.

Dead. Truly, completely dead.

In that instant, he had not been thinking much at all. He had seen Chen Sanpi's fist coming, and his body had reacted on instinct.

His spine sprang, his strength surged forward, and his fist shot out.

It felt nothing like the time he had struck Shopkeeper Zheng.

He had put all his strength into that punch too, but it had been like hitting a thick mass of cotton, like a clay ox sinking into the sea. However much force he used, it vanished into Shopkeeper Zheng's seemingly soft palms without raising so much as a ripple.

This time, the blow had been clean and utterly satisfying!

His force had slammed squarely into the iron ball against Chen Sanpi's chest, passed through it to break bone, and finally driven into the flesh beneath.

The force of the impact traveled back through his fist. It did not hurt. Instead, it let him feel exactly how destructive his punch had been.

All his strength had poured out.

It was as though a long-swollen flood had finally found an outlet. The release made every pore on his body open up.

Maybe this is the feel for releasing force, for driving power, that the killing techniques talk about?

Qin Geng clenched his fist, thoughtful.

No fancy moves, no wasted motion. Just strength and speed brought together to cause the greatest damage in the shortest time.

That was martial arts.

For killing, not performing.

By then, the people around him had finally recovered from their shock, and a stir broke out.

"He really is dead..."

"That punch was vicious."

On the Xu Jin's Shanty side, Uncle Jin and Ma Laifu forced themselves to their feet and came over.

Uncle Jin held his chest. His face was deathly pale, but he could not hide the excitement in his eyes.

He glanced at Chen Sanpi on the ground and spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva.

"Pah! That bastard finally got what was coming to him!"

Ma Laifu crouched and searched the corpse.

By the rules of the streets, death wiped out all debts.

But whatever the dead man carried was a prize for the victor.

Before long, Ma Laifu pulled two bloodstained silver dollars and a few copper coins from the pocket of Chen Sanpi's filthy, bloody jacket.

Unbothered by the grime, he wiped the money on his clothes, walked over, and pressed it into Qin Geng's hand.

"Take it. Your winnings."

Ma Laifu's voice was hoarse, but it held a hard edge.

Search the man you killed. That was how things worked.

Qin Geng did not refuse. He slipped the money into his pocket.

Two silver dollars were enough to buy two doses of Bone-Strengthening Powder.

In these times, "a life for a life" was something officials said.

On the streets of Tianjin, the strongest fist made the rules.

Chen Sanpi had tried to kill him first. He had been outmatched and killed instead. No one in their world could fault Qin Geng for that.

"Uncle Xu, Uncle Ma, sink him in the river."

Qin Geng spoke calmly.

"Right!"

Xu Chun and several sturdy Carriage Drivers answered. Without worrying about the ill omen, they lifted Chen Sanpi's body, called out together, and heaved it into the river like a sack of rubbish.

"One, two, three—heave!"

Splash!

Water sprayed high into the air.

The river churned, then quickly washed away the trace of blood.

In these troubled times, a life could disappear into the Xun River without so much as a bubble.

Within half an hour, the strange fish in the river would gnaw him down to bare bones.

Once the body was dealt with, Uncle Jin caught Qin Geng's eye and jerked his chin.

The meaning was obvious: Xiao Wu, you won this ground. Say something and stake your claim.

Qin Geng understood.

He could not show weakness now.

If he did not use this moment to establish the rules, the black dogs from the Patrol Office, Chen Sanpi's cronies, and every thug eyeing the territory would soon come knocking.

The more confident and brazen he seemed, the less anyone could gauge his limits—and the fewer problems he would have.

If he backed down, those people would suck the marrow from his bones.

Qin Geng took a deep breath and stepped forward.

At that one movement, the onlookers and Carriage Drivers from the other shanties instinctively retreated a step.

"You all saw what happened."

Qin Geng did not speak loudly, but his voice had the steady resonance of a great bronze bell, carrying across the open wharf.

He stood straight as a pine, his gaze flashing like lightning as he surveyed the crowd.

At last, Qin Geng cupped his hands toward everyone around him.

"From this day forward, the only Carriage Drivers from South City working Xun River Wharf will be our people."

"This territory is ours."

"If anyone else wants a bite of it..."

Qin Geng slowly raised the right hand that had just crushed a man's breastbone. He made a fist and swung it once through the air.

"They can ask my fist first."

His words rang out with finality.

He said nothing of his grievance with Chen Sanpi, as though killing a thug notorious for his brutality had been too small a matter to mention.

The Carriage Drivers from the north, west, and east of town all felt a chill.

They made their living on the streets. They knew how to read people.

What martial artist did not have a master behind him?

Even a fool like Chen Sanpi could invoke the Grain Transport Gang's River-Turning Hand. Though he had been expelled, the old ties remained, and no one dared test whether River-Turning Hand might protect him one more time.

Qin Geng was so young, yet he struck so ruthlessly and with such power. Afterward, he remained calm enough to draw a line in public.

For all they knew, the boy's master was some powerful figure with influence everywhere. One life lost would mean nothing to someone like that.

We mustn't offend him.

The same thought rose in every mind.

"Of course, of course. Brother Wu calls the shots."

Someone in the crowd called out, and a chorus of agreement followed.

Experts saw the skill; everyone else saw the spectacle.

But whether they understood martial arts or not, they all understood one thing: someone formidable had emerged from South City.

Xiao Wu—no, Brother Wu now—not only had a hard fist, but a harder heart.

"We'll follow Brother Wu!"

The crowd soon dispersed, full of stories to tell and awe for the man they had seen.

The Carriage Drivers went to find passengers, and the passersby moved on now that the show was over.

From that day on, Ping'an County Town's Carriage Drivers no longer knew Qin Xiao Wu as the quiet man who pulled his cart with his head down. They knew Brother Qin Wu, who could shatter a chest with one punch and strike fear into anyone who heard his name.

Xu Jin's Shanty.

The sun slanted west, casting a dusky glow over the dilapidated shanties and gilding the edges of the slum.

Usually, the Carriage Drivers would be racing about for fares at this hour, hoping to earn a few more copper coins before dark.

Today, though, Xu Jin's Shanty was as lively as a New Year celebration.

Qin Geng had been pressed down onto the stone stool at the center of a table with one corner missing.

People surrounded him three rows deep.

Ma Laifu, Li Gou, Uncle Jin, Xu Chun, and the seven or eight Carriage Drivers from Ma Village Shack and Xu Jin's Shanty who had been there earlier crowded around Qin Geng. It looked like a tribunal.

But instead of a court's grim air, there was warmth in the gathering.

Qin Geng looked at all those eyes, curious, excited, and a little unfamiliar, and did not know whether to laugh or sigh.

These people were his family, neighbors, and childhood friends.

The uncles at Xu Jin's Shanty had watched him grow up. If they had not helped him after his father died, Qin Geng would have starved on the streets long ago.

Ma Laifu and the others were neighbors from the next shanty. They borrowed fire, salt, and food from one another, and helped one another through hard times.

As for Li Gou, Qin Geng could truly call him a childhood friend.

For now, no one said a word. They simply stared at Qin Geng, occasionally clicking their tongues in amazement, as though he were some rare curiosity.

Li Gou was the boldest. He squeezed to the front, reached out with his callused hand, and curiously poked Qin Geng's shoulder. Then he squeezed an arm as hard as stone.

"Damn..."

Li Gou's eyes widened. "Xiao Wu, how did you train your muscles? They're hard as a lump of iron. Are you even made of flesh?"

The poking tickled. Qin Geng helplessly brushed Li Gou's hand away.

"Uncles, and Gouzi too, this is when the fares come rolling in. Why aren't you out taking jobs? What are you all doing here staring at me?"

Qin Geng asked with a grin. He picked up a big bowl of tea from the table and took a gulp. "Have I got flowers on my face? Or do you not recognize me anymore?"

"Hahaha!"

Uncle Jin was the first to laugh.

He strode forward, hooked an arm around Qin Geng's neck, and excitedly squeezed his back with a hand as broad as a palm-leaf fan.

"That's real muscle, all right!"

Uncle Jin's voice caught in his throat. He was relieved to have escaped disaster, but prouder still to see a boy he considered his own grow into someone capable. "Xiao Wu, we owe you today. You picked up your uncle's old life and handed it back to him. Otherwise, I'd probably be meeting the King of Hell by now, and the brothers would all be in a world of trouble."

"That's right, Xiao Wu. You were something else!"

Xu Chun came over too, his face full of pride. "My heart went cold back there. I thought Old Jin was done for. Who'd have thought you'd shoot out with a whoosh, like a firecracker going off!"

"Where'd you learn to do that?!"

Ma Laifu was curious. "You only showed your hand today? One punch, and you killed that menace Chen Sanpi. He claimed to have practiced the River-Turning Hand. Even if he'd only half learned it, he could still throw his weight around anywhere in our patch."

"Yeah! The way I saw it, Chen Sanpi flew off like a kite with its string cut."

"No wonder you've been eating so much lately. Last time, I saw you put away two pounds of braised offal by yourself and still want more."

Everyone talked over one another, their words brimming with curiosity.

"Uncles."

Qin Geng had prepared an explanation. His expression turned serious. "You all know I have an aunt in the city."

Everyone nodded.

"A while back, I went to see her and happened to meet the head House Guard of the family she serves."

Qin Geng gave them a story that was half true and half false. "That House Guard of the Su Family thought I had decent bones, so he showed me a couple of moves and gave me a handwritten booklet to practice from."

"And I've really been putting my back into pulling the rickshaw lately. Once I got stronger, I managed to beat Chen Sanpi."

Borrow someone else's might.

Master Zhu Xin had taught him that too.

Since everyone already thought that was what had happened, he might as well let them.

The bigger the tiger skin he could drape over himself, the safer his family in the shantytown would be.

"The Su Family's head House Guard? Now there's a master!"

After all, everyone in the shantytown knew Qin Geng could read and had an aunt who was the seventh concubine of a wealthy household in the city.

That bit of standing was largely why they had been willing to call the half-grown boy "Brother Xiao Wu" before.

Now that his fighting skills had an explanation, their doubts melted away. All that remained was envy and pride.

"No wonder, no wonder!"

"Xiao Wu's met someone who can help him get ahead!"

"..."

While everyone was still marveling, hurried footsteps sounded outside the shanty.

A young rickshaw puller jogged up to the entrance with his rickshaw. As soon as it stopped, a little old man hopped out.

It was Master Zhu Xin.

The old man usually walked with steady, measured steps, but today he was panting from running. Even his beard had been blown into disarray.

"Oh, Master Zhu Xin!"

Sharp-eyed Qin Geng hurried over to greet him and gave him a hand.

"Xiao Wu..."

Master Zhu Xin gripped Qin Geng's arm and looked him up and down. Only when he saw Qin Geng was all in one piece, without so much as a scrape, did he breathe a sigh of relief.

"You're all right. That's what matters."

Master Zhu Xin patted his chest to catch his breath as he drew Qin Geng into an empty corner. His cloudy old eyes gleamed.

"You really move fast, kid!"

Master Zhu Xin gave a rueful laugh. "These old bones of mine nearly fell apart. I rushed to Xun River Wharf in a panic, only to find blood on the ground and nobody there. Then I asked around and learned you'd already come back victorious. So I hurried here, and what do I find? You've already started the victory party."

"Thank you for bringing the warning, Master Zhu Xin."

Qin Geng's smile faded. He cupped his hands to Master Zhu Xin with a solemn expression. "If you hadn't come in time, something terrible might really have happened to Uncle Jin today. I, Qin Geng, will never forget what you did for us. Just wait. I'll find a way to thank you properly."

"Oh, enough of that."

Master Zhu Xin waved a hand and stroked his beard with a smile. "I've spent my whole life in the jianghu. What storms haven't I weathered? I don't need a damn reward from you. I just happen to like you, kid."

Then Master Zhu Xin's expression turned grave.

He lowered his voice and leaned close to Qin Geng's ear.

"Xiao Wu, I made a point of asking around on my way here."

"Word of that punch of yours has spread everywhere. Damn impressive!"

"The people at Yi He Shantytown are scared out of their wits. They certainly won't dare bother you for a while."

"But..."

Master Zhu Xin's tone grew heavy. "Chen Sanpi used to run with the Grain Transport Gang. They kicked him out, but he still had connections all over the area. He was a local snake. Some of those foxes and dogs he called friends might be dangerous men."

"They say a man's death snuffs out everything like a lamp, and by the rules of the jianghu, this should be settled. But watch yourself. Don't let anyone club you from behind."

"An open spear is easy to dodge; a hidden arrow is hard to guard against."

Qin Geng nodded.

"Don't worry, Master Xin. I understand."

He did understand.

In the jianghu, cutting weeds down to their roots was the hardest thing of all.

If he died, would Uncle Jin and the others really say a man's death was like a lamp going out and leave him unavenged?

They would probably hide for a while. But as long as they lived, Uncle Jin and the others would find a way to avenge him, even if it meant a club from behind or a trap underfoot.

And if Uncle Jin died, Qin Geng would be more willing still to strike from the shadows. He had the ability to do it, too.

In Tianjin, there were plenty of people who would sell their lives for a meal. Who cared how someone treated outsiders?

Feed me once, and I'd dare kill your whole family for you!

Chen Sanpi had been around for years. There was no telling whether he had friends like that, perhaps even friends as capable as Qin Geng.

When you lived in the jianghu, caution kept your boat sailing for ten thousand years.

"You know what you're doing, so I won't keep nagging."

Seeing that Qin Geng had taken his warning to heart, Master Zhu Xin nodded in satisfaction.

"There's one more thing."

"You made a public declaration at the wharf and took both the people from Xu Jin's Shanty and those from Ma Village Shack under your wing. That makes you their leader now."

"You need to treat them to dinner tonight."

Qin Geng paused. "Treat them?"

"That's right."

Master Zhu Xin held nothing back, counting the points off on his fingers. "If you hadn't spoken up, I'd have told you to play deaf and dumb, maybe even hide out for a couple of days. No sense being the tallest tree when the wind starts blowing."

"But you did speak up. You said you'd protect this patch, so now you have to win their loyalty."

"Call the meal a victory feast or a drink to settle their nerves."

"First, it'll help everyone get over today's fright. Second, once the wine's flowing, you can make that bond real. When everyone's thinking as one and pulling together, your position at the wharf will be secure."

"Otherwise, even if your whole body were made of iron, how many nails could you hammer in with one pair of fists?"

Qin Geng nodded again and again.

Old ginger really did have the sharper bite.

Master Zhu Xin had been around Tianjin for years and seemed to know everything. He had a firm grasp of how to handle people.

Qin Geng might be strong, but when it came to leading a group and navigating the jianghu, he was still green.

Xun River Wharf was a fat prize, and from now on, Qin Geng would have the final say there. If this whole group pulled together behind him, even Boss Lin would have to think twice before trying to take that prize for himself.

"Got it, Master Xin."

Qin Geng answered readily. "I'll book a few tables at Nine Harmony Restaurant tonight! You have to come sit at the main table, Master Xin. Help me put on a good show!"

"Haha, I won't intrude on your fun."

Master Zhu Xin shook his head and walked toward the door with his hands behind his back. "You young fellows will be drinking and boasting. If an old man like me turns up, nobody will loosen up. I'll be happier with my usual bowl of braised offal."

"Remember what I said. Keep the people with you, and watch out for hidden arrows."

Without waiting for Qin Geng to press him, Master Zhu Xin turned and left, humming a cheerful tune.

Watching Master Zhu Xin go, Qin Geng felt warmth well up inside him.

When it mattered, the old man truly had looked after him like a junior of his own.

Qin Geng drew his gaze back and returned to the middle of the shanty.

He clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.

"Uncles!"

Qin Geng raised his voice. "Today put an obstacle in our path, and we got past it!"

"From now on, Xun River Wharf is our patch. As long as we stick together and keep our footing, we can live off this fat prize for at least three to five years!"

"So let's celebrate, and let's wash away today's bad luck."

"Tonight, Nine Harmony Restaurant, on me! We're eating well, and nobody leaves sober!"

"Good!"

Xu Chun was the first to catch Qin Geng's meaning. He slapped his thigh with excitement, each smack ringing out.

"Xiao Wu, that's generous!"

"I'm having pork knuckle tonight!"

"All I want is a drink of their Burning Knife!"

Everyone cheered. The oppressive mood left by their narrow escape vanished, replaced by anticipation of the feast that night.

For people who scraped by like them, a meal at Nine Harmony Restaurant was enough to make them happier than New Year.

The lamps were just coming on.

Nine Harmony Restaurant.

The restaurant stood in a bustling part of South City. It occupied a three-story building, with several large red lanterns hanging outside and lighting up the entrance.

In this part of Tianjin's South City, it was no top-tier establishment. It could not compare with Tower of Ascending Immortals or Grand Guesthouse, which entertained officials and other important guests.

But to ordinary people in South City, it was still a name to be reckoned with.

Its prices sat right on the dividing line: small traders with a little spare cash could come here and splurge with dignity, while poor folk who had saved for ages could occasionally afford a feast.

Over time, it had become a gathering place for Tianjin's Three Teachings and Nine Schools and the people on the bottom rungs of the jianghu.

The truly rich and powerful looked down on the place, finding it too rowdy.

The "wealthy" diners who came here were mostly merchants newly arrived from elsewhere. Unfamiliar with the city, they chose it for convenience.

By now, the restaurant's main hall was already packed and roaring with voices.

Every walk of life was represented there.

It was the lively bustle of ordinary streets.

Rickshaw pullers who had finished work and changed into clean jackets shoveled down noodles in great mouthfuls;

bare-chested "trick performers" with red sashes tucked at their waists played drinking games, swallowing blades and breathing fire for a living—the sort people commonly called sham martial artists;

members of a little theater troupe that had never made a name for itself were still warming up their voices;

and in a corner sat a few impoverished old scholars in long gowns, drinking in silence over a plate of peanuts.

Waiters carrying trays darted through the crowd like butterflies among flowers, calling out dishes at the tops of their lungs.

"One order of tripe—!"

"Stir-fried pork intestines coming through! Make way, it's hot!"

The air was thick with tobacco, wine, and the aromas of rich, salty dishes. This was the bustle of Tianjin's South City.

Qin Geng strode in with Uncle Jin, Li Gou, and the others in a great crowd.

He had changed into a clean blue-cloth long gown picked up at a secondhand clothing shop. The fabric was nothing special, but on his increasingly imposing frame, it gave him a lean, capable air.

As soon as they reached the entrance, the sharp-eyed door attendant came forward.

The attendant had a keen eye. Greeting guests day in and day out had made him excellent at recognizing faces.

If anything happened in South City, he knew about it.

Out of habit, he first glanced over Qin Geng's clothes and was about to offer him a casual greeting.

But when he saw Qin Geng's face clearly, his expression changed at once. He bent a little lower at the waist and broke into a broad smile.

"Well! Isn't this Brother Qin Wu?"

The attendant's voice rose several octaves. He sounded warmly familiar, though there was a trace of fear beneath it.

His call was like a thunderclap on level ground.

The noisy hall went quiet for an instant.

Quite a few diners near the entrance stopped eating and drinking and craned their necks to look.

"Brother Qin Wu? Which Brother Qin Wu?"

"Who else? The one who killed Chen Sanpi with a single punch at Xun River Wharf today!"

"Whoa! That's him? He looks so young and refined. Doesn't look like a killer."

"What do you know? You can't judge a man by his face. I saw it clear as day. When that punch landed, it shattered the iron ball Chen Sanpi had against his chest. Sounded crisp as beans popping in a pan!"

"Really? He shattered an iron ball?"

"If I'm lying, I'm your grandson!"

Their hushed talk reached Qin Geng's ears.

His expression remained calm. With a faint, gentle smile, he nodded to the attendant.

"Brother Qin Wu" sounded rather better than "Xiao Wu."

That was standing in the jianghu.

He had won it with his fists and built it on a man's life.

"Dinner's on me."

As Qin Geng spoke, he casually pulled two silver dollars he had taken off Chen Sanpi from inside his coat and tossed them to the doorman.

"Get me a large private room. Somewhere quiet."

"A dozen or so of my brothers will be along shortly. Bring out your best, heartiest food and drink, and plenty of meat. Don't forget the Burning Knife and braised pork knuckles."

The doorman fumbled to catch the two heavy, bloodstained silver dollars. His eyes went wide.

Now that was spending big!

"Yes, sir! Don't you worry. I'll see to everything!"

He tucked the coins into his coat and hollered upstairs:

"Honored guest, coming through—!"

"See to him in the Elegant Room on the third floor—!"

"Brother Qin, this way, please. Mind the steps!"

That shout all but confirmed Qin Geng's standing in South City's underworld.

Qin Geng headed upstairs with steady strides, Uncle Jin, Li Gou, and the others following behind him with their heads held high.

With every step, Qin Geng could feel himself climbing another rung in Tianjin's underworld.

Step by step, he would rise from a penniless nobody, make a name for himself, and climb all the way to the top!