Chapter Summaries

Zhou Quan visited Cho Tat-wah and found Chow Sing Sing struggling with the homework required for his undercover assignment at Edinburgh College. After funding the operation and explaining that he and Cho Tat-wah would report to him, Zhou Quan helped Chow Sing Sing finish his homework and left him to find a tutor for the next day.

• Zhou Quan saw the memorial tablets for Cho Tat-wah's nine former partners and paid his respects.
• Chow Sing Sing called out from the garden, overwhelmed by his Edinburgh College homework, and asked Zhou Quan to teach him.
• Zhou Quan gave Cho Tat-wah operating funds and told him and Chow Sing Sing that they would report directly to him for a broader undercover assignment.
• Cho Tat-wah went to buy dinner while Zhou Quan worked out Chow Sing Sing's homework and explained the answers for him to copy.
• Zhou Quan told Chow Sing Sing to find a tutor and said he would have to handle the next day's homework on his own.

Zhou Quan told Chow Sing Sing and Cao Tat Wah that Edinburgh College might be targeted by terrorists, then learned that Cao Tat Wah’s investigation had uncovered a possible link between the terrorists and arms dealer Tai Fei. The three focused on the connection between Tai Fei’s weapons and the planned school bombing.

• After dinner, Chow Sing Sing and Cao Tat Wah bickered until Zhou Quan stopped them and said they would report directly to him.
• Zhou Quan explained that terrorists might bomb Edinburgh College to force the release of their arrested leader, and assigned the undercover team to monitor the school.
• Cao Tat Wah told Zhou Quan that the suspects in the missing-gun case were students led by Johnny, whose boss Tai Fei had obtained machine guns to sell to terrorists.
• Zhou Quan confirmed that Tai Fei led the Mau Lei faction and was indebted to Dongguan Chai, who had financed the weapons purchase.

Cho Tat-wah told Zhou Quan that Tai Fei’s weapons were hidden in a truck at Mau Lee Car Park, and Zhou Quan organized an armed police operation to seize them. Zhou Quan and his teams headed for the car park, with orders to capture Tai Fei alive.

• Cho Tat-wah reported that Tai Fei’s arms were hidden in a truck at his car park, though he did not know which truck.
• Zhou Quan ordered Chow Sing Sing and Cho Tat-wah to prepare, then called Lau Bo-keung to assemble the Anti-Triad Unit and bring extra equipment.
• Lau Bo-keung and the officers arrived, and Zhou Quan issued equipment to Chow Sing Sing and Cho Tat-wah.
• Zhou Quan divided the officers into five teams and ordered them to secure the suspects at Mau Lee Car Park, allowing them to use firearms if necessary but requiring them to take Tai Fei alive.
• Zhou Quan gave the command to move out and led the teams toward King's Park Back Hill.

Zhou Quan raided Tai Fei’s base at Mau Lee Car Park and found Tai Fei absent. After coercing Tai Fei’s right-hand man into revealing the location of the arms, Zhou Quan sent Chow Sing Sing to search the truck where they were hidden.

• Zhou Quan led five teams in a surprise raid that captured the Gou Hok Jai at Mau Lee Car Park without a shot being fired.
• Zhou Quan realized Tai Fei was missing and reflected that recent success had made him arrogant and complacent.
• Zhou Quan and He Wenzhan staged a gun-snatching threat that forced Tai Fei’s right-hand man to explain that Tai Fei would not return until late that night.
• Tai Fei’s right-hand man revealed that the arms were hidden in the cargo compartment of truck DN9852.
• Zhou Quan ordered Chow Sing Sing to find the truck and told the other officers to lock up the Gou Hok Jai.

Zhou Quan planned an ambush at Mau Lee Car Park to arrest Tai Fei without alerting the foreigners connected to his weapons smuggling. When Tai Fei arrived with his men and two foreign associates, Zhou ordered the officers to attack and disable their cars.

• Chow Sing Sing reported that the officers had found the hidden weapons and Wong Bing Yiu’s Kindly Gun.
• Zhou Quan ordered teams to guard the detained Gou Hok Jai, surveil Tai Fei, and ambush him at the car park entrance so they could take him alive.
• He Wenzhan located Tai Fei at the Big Rich Nightclub and later reported that he was heading uphill with seven others in two cars.
• Tai Fei arrived at the car park and sent his men to open the gate, while his two foreign companions reached for their pistols before the interpreter reassured them.
• Zhou Quan ordered the officers to act, and Chow Sing Sing and Lau Bo-keung shot out the tires on one side of each car.

Zhou Quan captured Tai Fei’s gang and identified two armed foreigners as likely connected to terrorists. He began an unauthorized interrogation of one foreigner, leaving him restrained to a chair as the man demanded to see a superior.

• Zhou Quan’s officers arrested Tai Fei, his gangsters, and the two foreigners after disabling their vehicles.
• Lau Bo-keung found Beretta M92 pistols on the foreigners, and Zhou Quan ordered the suspects detained with the foreigners kept apart.
• After the arrests, Zhou Quan took He Wenzhan, Lau Bo-keung, and Chow Sing Sing to question the foreigner in a floral shirt.
• Zhou Quan ordered He Wenzhan to bring water and a towel and had Lau Bo-keung and Chow Sing Sing cuff the foreigner’s hands and feet to a chair.
• The foreigner struggled and shouted that he was a British subject, demanding to see a superior.

Zhou Quan and his officers tortured a foreigner with water to force him to cooperate. After the foreigner asked what they wanted to know, Zhou Quan had him lifted so he could assess his answers by his expressions.

• Lau Bo-keung and Chow Sing Sing pinned down the foreigner as he demanded a lawyer and Zhou Quan's superior.
• Zhou Quan slapped the foreigner, insulted him in English, and ground his foot into the man's foot until he stopped making demands.
• He Wenzhan and Chow Sing Sing brought water jugs, and Zhou Quan ordered them to prepare for water torture.
• He Wenzhan poured water over a towel covering the foreigner's face while Lau Bo-keung and Chow Sing Sing held him down, until Zhou Quan told him to stop.
• The foreigner recovered enough to ask what Zhou Quan wanted him to say, and Zhou Quan ordered Lau Bo-keung and Chow Sing Sing to lift him so he could judge his expressions.

Zhou Quan tortured a captured foreigner until he confessed that he belonged to the Irish Republican Army and was plotting to bomb Edinburgh College. John revealed that twelve terrorists had entered Hong Kong Island and that the others were hiding at Zhonggang Warehouse No. 7.

• Zhou Quan rejected John's claim that he only planned to rob a jewelry store and used water torture to force him to cooperate.
• John identified himself as a member of the Irish Republican Army and revealed the group's plan to bomb Edinburgh College to pressure politicians into securing a leader's release.
• Zhou Quan and Chow Sing Sing confirmed that John was one of the terrorists they were seeking, while He Wenzhan and Lau Bo-keung realized the case could bring them major credit.
• Zhou Quan questioned John about the group's entry, numbers, weapons, and location.
• John said the twelve-member squad had entered through an arms dealer, carried two M16s and three MP5s besides their handguns, and was hiding at Zhonggang Warehouse No. 7.

After John confessed, Zhou Quan arranged to question Alec and secured John before calling Wong Bing Yiu for support. Wong sent an SDU team to Zhonggang Warehouse No. 7, and Zhou Quan planned to bring his men along so they could share in the operation’s credit.

• Zhou Quan accepted John’s confession but sent He Wenzhan, Lau Bo-keung, and Chow Sing Sing to question Alec as well.
• Zhou Quan suspended John from the window bars, then called Wong Bing Yiu and reported that they had recovered his Kindly Gun.
• Zhou Quan told Wong Bing Yiu that terrorists were hiding in Zhonggang Warehouse No. 7 and that arrested arms dealers were at Mau Lee Car Park.
• Wong Bing Yiu promised SDU support within fifteen minutes, then called Lam Ke-shing to request a larger force.
• Zhou Quan decided to take his men to the operation so they could earn promotions and pay raises.

Zhou Quan coordinated the escort of the suspects and prepared a major operation against the terrorists, bringing in uniformed officers and the Flying Tigers. As six helicopters arrived, he ordered the one carrying Chow Sing Sing’s equipment to land while the rest hovered overhead.

• Zhou Quan ordered Luk Koon-wah and Cho Tat-wah to escort the suspects with uniformed officers and keep them inaccessible to anyone but Big Sir until he returned.
• Zhou Quan led the remaining officers to the foot of Number Nine Estate, where Law Kai arrived with a command vehicle and six Riot Vans.
• Zhou Quan established a new communications channel, checked the team's communications, and asked the SDU about its reinforcements.
• Ling Jing and Gao Wenshan reported that sniper team A and assault team B would arrive within five minutes, while assault team C reported that Chow Sing Sing was already with Zhou Quan.
• Six helicopters arrived, and Zhou Quan ordered the helicopter carrying Chow Sing Sing’s equipment to descend while the others hovered.

Zhou Quan led Operation Thunderous Sweep against terrorists hiding in Zhonggang Warehouse No. 7, using Flying Tigers teams and the Anti-Triad Unit to surround and assault the site. The five-minute attack wiped out the terrorists, and Zhou ordered his officers to secure the scene and notify the police station and ambulances.

• Wong Bing Yiu arranged helicopter support from three Flying Tigers SDU teams while keeping Zhou Quan in overall command.
• Zhou Quan briefed the officers on the terrorists' weapons and ordered them to prioritize eliminating enemy personnel.
• The Flying Tigers helicopters and Anti-Triad Unit surrounded Zhonggang Warehouse No. 7, and the assault teams stormed inside.
• The Flying Tigers killed or wounded the terrorists, ending the operation after five minutes.
• Zhou Quan ordered the officers to keep clearing the scene and had the communications officer notify the police station and call ambulances.

After Zhou Quan’s successful Operation Thunderous Sweep, Wong Bing Yiu gained a major advantage in the race for Assistant Commissioner, drawing envy from senior officers. When Zhou Quan returned to work, a Superintendent from the Political Department confronted the Anti-Triad Unit and demanded to see him.

• Police reinforcements arrived at Zhonggang Warehouse No. 7, where Zhou Quan’s operation was wrapped up and the captured weapons and terrorists’ bodies were taken away.
• Wong Bing Yiu’s role in the operation strengthened his prospects for promotion and provoked jealousy among senior officers, including resentment directed at Zhou Quan’s uncle, Lee Man-bun.
• Foreign senior officers took notice of Zhou Quan after the operation and began using underhanded tactics against him.
• A mustached plainclothes officer barged into the Anti-Triad Unit’s office and arrogantly demanded to see Zhou Quan.
• He Wenzhan, Lau Bo-keung, and Luk Koon-wah blocked the man, and He Wenzhan identified him as a Superintendent from the Political Department.

Superintendent Pete of the SB Political Department tried to take Zhou Quan in for questioning without official paperwork, but Zhou Quan refused and Wong Bing Yiu intervened. Wong Bing Yiu kicked Pete and ordered him to call Richard, leaving the dispute poised to reach the Political Department's leadership.

• Pete demanded that Zhou Quan come with him to the Political Department, but Zhou Quan asked to see the official investigation paperwork.
• Zhou Quan called out Pete for having no paperwork, and Pete claimed the Political Department needed none to investigate.
• Wong Bing Yiu arrived with senior Chinese Police Officers from Yau Tsim District and accused Pete of entering his turf without notice or documents.
• Wong Bing Yiu knocked Pete down with his Deadly Scissor Kick and moved to attack him further, but Zhou Quan stopped his uncle.
• Wong Bing Yiu ordered Pete to call Richard so he could demand an explanation.

Wong Bing Yiu confronted Political Department commander Richard after Pete tried to take Zhou Quan in for questioning. Richard made Pete apologize, but Zhou Quan hinted that he had powerful backing beyond the Lee Family, leaving Richard facing an implied threat.

• Wong Bing Yiu forced Pete to call his superior and ordered him and the Political Department officers to wait for Richard at the station.
• Wong Bing Yiu and Zhou Quan waited over tea until Richard arrived, then confronted him in the Anti-Triad Unit Conference Room.
• Richard claimed the Political Department had received a complaint about Zhou Quan and said Pete had mishandled the investigation.
• Richard ordered Pete to apologize, and Pete apologized to Zhou Quan for his breach of regulations.
• Zhou Quan asked Richard whether he came from an aristocratic family in Oxford City, hinting that he had another powerful backer.

Zhou Quan used his knowledge of Richard’s background and his own overseas connections to deter the Political Department chief from acting against him. Richard backed down and offered to recommend Zhou for a Senior Inspector promotion, leaving the two men to maintain a wary truce.

• Zhou Quan considered Richard’s career and family background, while Richard praised Zhou and weighed the possibility of recruiting him.
• Zhou quoted the principle that they would not attack unless attacked, freezing Richard’s friendly expression and provoking his anger.
• Zhou showed Richard his phone and claimed his Oxford contacts included senior judges, members of parliament, and heirs to the Earl of Oxford.
• Richard reconsidered the threat and offered to recommend Zhou for the Senior Inspector promotion assessment next month.
• Zhou agreed that they should stay out of each other’s way and took back his phone.

Zhou Quan's successful operation brought promotions and new positions for his men, while Richard promised him an early Senior Inspector assessment. On the last workday before the 1992 Spring Festival, Zhou Quan arrived for his promotion interview before a panel led by Wong Bing Yiu.

• Zhou Quan used the conflict with the SB Political Department to secure Richard's promise of a Senior Inspector promotion assessment the following month.
• Wong Bing Yiu promoted He Wenzhan, Lau Bo-keung, and Luk Koon-wah, assigning them new roles in the Anti-Triad Unit.
• Wong Bing Yiu transferred Chow Sing Sing to the Yau Tsim District Anti-Triad Unit and recommended Cho Tat-wah for Probationary Inspector training.
• Zhou Quan earned A+ marks in every written subject and attended his Senior Inspector interview assessment before Wong Bing Yiu, Yu Suqiu, and Superintendent Liu.
• Wong Bing Yiu welcomed Zhou Quan into the conference room as Superintendent Liu called for him to enter.

Zhou Quan passed his promotion interview and was promoted to Senior Inspector, with Lau Kit-fai, Wong Bing Yiu, and Yu Suqiu approving his assessment. At the moment of his promotion, he received the achievement reward Eyes as Sharp as a Torch, which enhanced his eyesight and expertise in forensic investigation.

• Zhou Quan arrived in uniform for his promotion interview and greeted Lau Kit-fai, Wong Bing Yiu, and Yu Suqiu.
• Lau Kit-fai praised Zhou Quan's record, signed his assessment, and recommended that he pass without asking questions.
• Wong Bing Yiu signed Zhou Quan's assessment, while Yu Suqiu followed Lau Kit-fai's lead.
• Lau Kit-fai congratulated Zhou Quan on becoming Senior Inspector, and Wong Bing Yiu and Yu Suqiu applauded him.
• Zhou Quan received the Eyes as Sharp as a Torch achievement reward, gaining exceptional eyesight and expertise in trace evidence analysis and forensic medicine.

Zhou Quan joined the Lee family for Lunar New Year as his police career advanced and Lee Man-bun was promoted to head O Division. The festivities culminated in a grand Lee Garden reception attended by senior police officials, legal figures, and political and business connections.

• Zhou Quan wore his new rank epaulettes as a Senior Inspector and returned to Lee Garden with Wong Bing Yiu for the Lunar New Year.
• The Lee family celebrated Zhou Quan’s rise in the police and Wong Bing Yiu’s forthcoming appointment as Assistant Commissioner.
• Lee Man-bun took over as head of O Division after its foreign commander transferred away, earning promotion to Senior Superintendent.
• The Lee family celebrated the new year together, and the elders gave New Year’s money to Zhou Quan, Huang Xiyue, and Lee Family Ka-chun.
• Old Master Lee Shu-tong hosted a major reception at Lee Garden, where Zhou Quan helped welcome senior guests, including Assistant Commissioners Choi Yuen-kei and Tsang Heung-wing.
• Zhou Quan invited barrister Oswald and Director of Public Prosecutions Lai Wing-lim as honored guests.

Lee Man-bun and Wong Bing Yiu welcomed Oswald and Lai Wing-lim to Lee Garden, where Oswald tried to bring Zhou Quan and Au Wing-yan closer. Zhou Quan agreed to spend time with her after the reception, but was spared his uncles’ questions when the Guan couple arrived.

• Lee Man-bun and Wong Bing Yiu warmly greeted Oswald and Lai Wing-lim when they arrived at Lee Garden.
• Oswald asked Lee Man-bun to let Zhou Quan show Au Wing-yan around, but Lee explained that Zhou had to greet the faction’s guests first.
• Oswald teased Zhou Quan about not disappointing Bella, and Zhou promised to give him that chance as Au Wing-yan blushed.
• Oswald and Lai Wing-lim led Au Wing-yan into Lee Garden, while Lee Man-bun and Wong Bing Yiu prepared to question Zhou Quan.
• Sergeant Guan and Mrs. Guan arrived, and Lee Man-bun and Wong Bing Yiu called Zhou Quan over to welcome them.

Zhou Quan met Senior Superintendent Guan Zhibang, his wife, and their son Guan Zu at the Lee Family reception, and recognized the resentment behind Guan Zu’s wooden manner. He considered trying to steer the talented teenager away from the criminal path he would later take, but the chapter ended with Guan Zhibang publicly ordering and striking Guan Zu as he greeted the hosts.

• Zhou Quan identified Guan Zhibang as a powerful Police Force officer backed by the Lui Family and recognized Guan Zu as his exceptionally capable but troubled son.
• Zhou Quan resolved to help Guan Zu choose a better path if he could, while considering the ties Guan Zu could bring through his father and maternal grandfather.
• Guan Zhibang reunited warmly with Wong Bing Yiu and Lee Man-bun, who teased him about trying to recruit Zhou Quan before the New Year.
• Guan Zhibang struck Guan Zu on the back of the head and ordered him to greet Wong Bing Yiu and Lee Man-bun.
• Guan Zu mechanically bowed to the two men while Mrs. Guan showed quiet heartache.