Knife Hand

"How was it this time, Brother S?" The bathhouse manager bowed slightly, his face wreathed in smiles.

"A bit better than last time..." GS lit a cigarette and said as he walked:

"Also, have someone buy some Pop Rocks. Get the girls to hold them in their mouths..."

"I'll have someone do it right away." The manager beamed. "You really know your stuff, Brother S. Since we started doing what you suggested, business has picked up quite a bit. Profits should go up at least fifty percent this month."

"That's why I say you lot don't use your brains. Do I really have to spell this stuff out? The future belongs to people who use their heads. The old ways won't cut it anymore!" GS tapped his temple.

"That's why you're the boss, Brother S. I'm just tagging along to make a living." The manager smiled.

"I like a man who knows what to say. Stick with me, and I guarantee you won't go hungry." GS smiled and patted the manager's shoulder.

"Then thanks in advance, Brother S!"

Fai Chuen stood leaning against a wall, occasionally glancing at the Golden Jade Hall Bathhouse nearby.

A week earlier, his gang's boss had summoned him and given him a job: kill Hongxing's LS.

If he pulled it off, he would get promoted.

He had joined the gang to make a name for himself and command respect wherever he went. Naturally, he wouldn't let an opportunity like this slip away.

He had spent the past week investigating LS's movements and learned that LS often showed up at two places: the Grand Palace Nightclub and this Golden Jade Hall Bathhouse.

Today, he had finally caught his chance.

Fai Chuen was burning with anticipation. After a long wait, he saw the lackey at the bathhouse entrance lower his head to say something inside, then dash toward the parking lot. Fai Chuen knew his opportunity had arrived.

He gave a signal, slipped a hand inside his jacket, and strode toward the bathhouse.

Men approaching from several other directions did the same.

But amid the stream of pedestrians, they hardly stood out.

After just a few steps, Fai Chuen saw a short-haired man in a blue suit swagger out.

Following him were a towering brute and another short-haired young man.

Fai Chuen had looked into them too. One was called Silly Fook, the other Ah Tung. The latter had even killed Madman Fai.

But right now, he only had eyes for the young man in the blue suit, lighting a cigarette in the wind.

When he got within five or six meters of GS, Fai Chuen whipped a blade out of his jacket and charged.

"Watch out, Brother S!" Ah Tung suddenly shoved GS aside, then leaned sharply backward, dodging Fai Chuen's downward slash.

Having missed, Fai Chuen swung at GS again.

But Silly Fook stepped forward and lashed out with a kick.

Fai Chuen stepped back and slashed Silly Fook across the waist.

Silly Fook was tough, though. He kicked again and shouted, "Get out of here, Brother S!"

"Get out, my fucking ass!" GS caught sight of several men closing in with blades. His eyebrows shot up as he cursed, "You bastards got a death wish? You've got the balls to attack me?"

One attacker slashed at Ah Tung, while another two swung straight at GS.

Yet no one saw where GS drew his blade from. Steel flashed, and one attacker's right hand fell to the ground with his weapon still in it. He clutched his severed wrist and screamed.

GS turned sideways, dodging the other blade, and drove a knee into the man's flank. The man immediately doubled over.

Then GS hammered an elbow down onto his neck.

Those nearby heard the faint crack of breaking bone. The attacker dropped facedown and went still.

A third man had just drawn his blade and charged over when the sight scared him out of his wits.

Was LS really this fierce?

But he had no time to think about anything else and brought his blade down at GS's head.

GS raised his blade to block, twisted it, and sliced through the tendons in the man's wrist. His weapon immediately clattered to the ground.

It was a technique from Filipino Stick Fighting. GS had used the move from his memories instinctively, and it proved quite effective.

GS smashed his left fist into the man's face, sending blood and teeth flying.

Then GS surged forward a few steps and leaped into a flying knee, bringing his elbow down at the same time.

The attacker chasing Ah Tung had his blade raised to strike when GS's knee slammed into his armpit and his elbow struck the top of his head. He too collapsed unconscious without even making a sound.

From cutting off the first attacker's right hand to taking out the man chasing Ah Tung, the whole sequence was a dizzying blur. It was over before the people nearby could even react.

In less than thirty seconds, all four attackers were either clutching severed wrists and howling or lying unconscious on the ground.

GS figured that if his legs hadn't been a little weak and his lower back sore, he could have shaved at least another five seconds off.

Only then did he turn to Fai Chuen. That face looked somewhat familiar.

GS realized almost instantly who he was.

Just a few days ago, he had considered recruiting him. Who would have thought the man would show up with a crew of blade-wielding thugs to hack him apart?

Although Silly Fook had held Fai Chuen up, he had kept an eye on what was happening nearby. At the sight, his pupils shrank to pinpoints and his face went pale. He turned and fled.

"Ah Tung, don't bother chasing him." GS casually handed his blade to Ah Tung, pulled a cigarette pack from his trouser pocket, and lit one.

Strangely enough, GS wasn't angry at all. If anything, he was in a pretty good mood.

I'm short on money, and here it comes.

"Brother S!" Only then did several of his underlings come running over with cleavers, steel pipes, and stools.

The sight of what they were carrying pissed GS off.

"Where the hell were you? Hoping I'd get killed so you could feast at my funeral?" GS slapped each of them across the head.

These punks could clearly have arrived sooner, but they had gone into the nearby shops to find weapons.

If he hadn't been such a badass, he would have been fucking dead by the time these assholes arrived.

Not one of these bastards had any loyalty!

From now on, I'm only taking in underlings like Silly Fook.

"How's the wound?" GS checked Silly Fook's injury. It wasn't particularly deep.

"I'm fine, Brother S." Silly Fook really didn't look very bright, and his smile was a little dopey.

"Are you all right, Brother S?" The parking attendant had only just brought the car around and was startled by the scene.

"Stuff them in the car and take them with us. Two of you go with Silly Fook to the hospital for stitches." Seeing the man with the severed hand trying to crawl up, GS walked over and kicked him in the head. He went still at once.

"Get yourself stitched up first. From now on, you're my right-hand man." GS took out a few thousand dollars, shoved them into Silly Fook's hands, and climbed into the car.

He picked up his mobile phone and called Big-Eyed Hua. A little later, Big-Eyed Hua called back.

"Need something, Brother S?"

"Look into Gentleman Sing and Hung Lok. I want to know everything. You've got tonight. Also, get everyone out there hunting down that bastard Fai Chuen. Dead or alive, the bounty's fifty thousand."

GS didn't think that bastard Fai Chuen was worth even twenty thousand, but he didn't mind being a little generous.

"Got it, Brother S." Big-Eyed Hua knew at once that something had happened and immediately agreed. "Brother S, should I send some men over to you?"

"No need. Just do what I told you." GS casually set the phone beside him.

The other underlings stuffed the attackers into the trunk and back seat.

"Where to, Brother S?" Ah Tung asked after starting the engine.

"Call Mantis and the others. Find somewhere secluded-the kind of place that's good for burying people."