The plot begins

"Back then, Camel from Tung Sing sent someone to ask me to be their Chief Instructor. A hundred grand a month, and I still didn't agree." Even after getting into the car, Shark Yan sounded disgruntled.

"Fifty grand a month. Take it or I'll beat you to death." Gu Sheng's attitude was blunt.

Shark Yan grunted twice and fell silent. The brat beside him really was a bastard. He should have accepted Camel's offer back then.

"But I guarantee you'll be making a few million a year down the line," Gu Sheng added, patting him.

"Even dogs turn their noses up at Yuen Long, and you're talking about millions..." Shark Yan scoffed.

"Who said I was only going to operate in Yuen Long? Relax. There'll be plenty of places for you later."

"I could say I'll be governor of Hong Kong someday, too!"

"Soon enough. You'll see in a few months," Gu Sheng said lazily.

Shark Yan fell quiet after hearing that. It seemed the brat had something up his sleeve.

A few months wasn't long. He could wait and see.

"By the way, have you ever met Lian Ho-lung?" Gu Sheng suddenly remembered someone.

Lian Ho-lung from Fatal Move also operated in Tsim Sha Tsui.

"Met him once. Why?"

"Is he really that good in a fight?" Gu Sheng asked.

Honestly, Gu Sheng didn't quite believe it.

He knew he couldn't pull it off himself.

One man fighting a hundred? Even a hundred pigs would wear him to death.

"Without weapons, he might not be able to beat me. With blades, though, he's a little better. As for the stories going around, they're just stories... He only beat a dozen or so, and the rest didn't dare come forward," Shark Yan said frankly.

"Thought so." Gu Sheng nodded. That made sense.

Lian Ho-lung was pretty capable, and he also had another expert under him: Luo Tin-hung, the Eight-Faced Han Sword, who was a formidable fighter himself.

Back in Yuen Long, Gu Sheng rented a place for Shark Yan to live and handed the boxing gym over to him.

He also had Shui Dong send over a sedan, which finally eased some of Shark Yan's resentment.

"Come on. Let's give it a try." Gu Sheng took off his suit jacket, jumped into the ring, and beckoned to Shark Yan.

"Didn't you say you weren't fighting?" Shark Yan gave him a sidelong look.

"Who settles things in the underworld these days by trading punches and kicks to see whose kung fu is better? But this is training. That's different." Gu Sheng rolled his neck, making his joints crack.

"You just don't play by the rules," Shark Yan grumbled before jumping into the ring himself.

A few minutes later, Shark Yan lay in the ring with blood all over his face, gasping for breath. Gu Sheng's elbow had split his forehead open, and a spinning elbow had caught his shoulder, which was now badly swollen.

Against an ordinary person, that elbow could have cracked bone.

Gu Sheng was slightly better off, though his face was a little swollen.

"Even with just fists, you're no match for me." Gu Sheng leaned against a corner post, chuckling smugly.

But if he had to choose again, he would definitely still draw a gun.

The Bajiquan training verse:

First, train raw strength like a raging demon. Second, train softness, sealing, closing, and uprooting. Third, train inch-close contact, grabs, advances, and retreats. Fourth, train free-flowing stances, like a lazy dragon reclining.

Fifth, train to circulate qi through the five organs. Sixth, train sinews, bones, skin, and flesh as one. Seventh, respect your teacher and honor the way. Eighth, show restraint when crossing hands with others.

Gu Sheng had only learned the first six.

He had never heard of the other two.

"Fuck!" Shark Yan raised his middle finger.

I've really let myself slack off these past two years. Back in the day, I might not have lost.

Gu Sheng, meanwhile, was in an excellent mood.

With Shark Yan on board, he finally had someone under him who could fight. He wouldn't have to handle everything personally anymore.

Two days later, Gu Sheng headed to Causeway Bay first thing in the morning. Today was the Flagship Store's grand opening.

He had already asked Uncle Hing to send his men to help, using the same approach as in Yuen Long: tear down all the rental notices posted outside, then send people from Yuen Long to contact the landlords one by one.

They would find tenants and take them to view the properties. No matter how long the lease was, they would only charge a single fee.

It saved the landlords trouble, so most agreed.

Those who didn't want to agree swallowed their objections and agreed anyway.

The method was crude, but highly effective.

After a few days, there wasn't a single rental notice left anywhere in Causeway Bay.

Gu Sheng had high hopes for the Flagship Store.

Causeway Bay was a jewel of Hong Kong Island, Asia's largest shopping district. It also had plenty of attractions and entertainment venues everywhere, with tourist numbers second only to Tsim Sha Tsui.

Hongxing only controlled three streets in Causeway Bay, but those three streets brought in several times more than Yuen Long.

That was why Gu Sheng had spent several million to secure the position of Causeway Bay Boss.

Otherwise, killing Big B and becoming the boss of Yuen Long would have been simpler.

He wouldn't even have had to do it himself. Teem-Kwan was bound to kill Big B.

A little later, on a bustling street in Causeway Bay.

Gu Sheng stood outside the entrance with Kong Sang, Ah Tung, and several others, along with dozens of employees transferred from the other branches. To make a proper showing, they naturally needed a crowd.

Whether he was hacking people up or doing business, Gu Sheng's approach was always that simple and blunt.

Flower baskets lined both sides of the entrance.

"Handsome Sheng, quite a turnout you've got here." Uncle Hing exchanged a hug with Gu Sheng, showing no trace of their earlier friction.

"Fat Lai has agreed too. Remember to send the money over. There's a meeting at headquarters tonight. Are you coming? Young Mr. Jiang might bring this up."

"Big B hasn't even invited me. What would I go for? Go with you? That wouldn't follow the rules.

"If it comes up, just put in a word for me. Brother Kei and Fat Lai don't even need to speak. Mr. Jiang and Big B probably have their own ideas about this."

Hearing Uncle Hing's words, Gu Sheng guessed the plot was about to begin.

Chan Ho-nam had almost recovered from his injuries. Chiang Tin-sang and Big B were about to send him to Macau.

"You said it. If someone else takes that seat, I won't be able to help you," Uncle Hing said.

"They'd have to manage to sit in it first." Gu Sheng spoke with a broad smile. It was a grand opening, after all. He ought to look cheerful.

"How's my son doing?"

"Relax, he's doing great. Eating, drinking, whoring, gambling, getting high..."

Uncle Hing's expression instantly turned ugly.

"None of that. He plays video games and does his homework every day, and someone plays ball with him too. He doesn't even want to go home."

Uncle Hing wanted nothing more than to have someone beat the bastard to death.

They chatted off to one side for a while, then saw two cars pull up. Teem-Kwan got out with several men.

"Brother Kwan, you're really honoring me, coming in person!"

"I've got high hopes for you, after all. I'm Teem-Kwan, you're Handsome Sheng, and everyone in the underworld says we're brothers now. Of course I've got to back you," Teem-Kwan said in his raspy voice.

"Uncle Hing, you're here too? Handsome Sheng, if you're unhappy working for Big B, come work for me!" Thinking Gu Sheng was about to move over to Uncle Hing's crew, Teem-Kwan immediately tried to recruit him.

"If that day ever comes." Gu Sheng laughed.

"Brother Kwan, if something comes up, don't forget to back me." Gu Sheng pulled Teem-Kwan aside.

"How am I supposed to back you when you won't even tell me what it is?" Teem-Kwan narrowed his eyes.

"You'll know when the time comes, Brother Kwan. You'll definitely be willing." Gu Sheng smiled.

"Fuck, so damn mysterious." Teem-Kwan raised his middle finger.

A little later, firecrackers went off, Gu Sheng cut the ribbon, and everyone posed for a group photo.

"Your own boss didn't even show up. That's really out of line!" Seeing this, Teem-Kwan was now certain that Gu Sheng and Big B truly were at odds.

After all, Gu Sheng's strength had already caught up with Big B's. How could Big B not have concerns?

That evening, a meeting was held at headquarters.

Chiang Tin-sang got straight to the point. "Uncle Hing wants to retire, so Causeway Bay needs a new boss."

Teem-Kwan immediately narrowed his eyes at those words.

Remembering how GS and Uncle Hing had been huddled together that morning, he instantly understood.

Fuck, that kid really does have a few tricks up his sleeve, Teem-Kwan thought.

"As it happens, something's come up in Macau recently. Funeral Biu has suddenly muscled in on our gambling tables there and demanded a thirty-percent cut.

"So I've decided that whoever resolves this matter will become the Causeway Bay Boss.

"Do any of you have someone suitable in mind?" Chiang Tin-sang asked, smiling at everyone.

"My man Chan Ho-nam. He's been with me for ten years, he's loyal, and he's got good skills. Send him, and he'll definitely get it done," Big B said immediately.

Chiang Tin-sang nodded slightly, but before he could speak, Teem-Kwan suddenly cut in. "How come I heard Chan Ho-nam got kicked into the hospital?"

Big B's face immediately darkened.

"LS under Big B has been making quite a name for himself lately. He led his men to take Tin Shui Wai, drove Hung Lok out completely, and has even more men than Big B. If you ask me, he's a good choice."

"Isn't he better than Chan Ho-nam? Why didn't Big B mention him?"

"Teem-Kwan, you don't get a say in which of my men I choose," Big B snorted.

"But we're choosing someone to get a job done here. We need someone capable, not one of your favorites. Mr. Jiang asked everyone to suggest candidates. Are you above Mr. Jiang now? Why don't we just let you decide everything, Big B?"

Teem-Kwan's voice dripped with sarcasm.

Big B had known perfectly well that Ba Bi was his sworn brother, yet he had still sent Chan Ho-nam to kill him.

Now he had no one to collect his twenty million from. That made him even angrier than if his own blood brother had been killed.

Ever since then, Teem-Kwan and Big B had become bitter enemies, and Teem-Kwan had caused him plenty of trouble lately.

So the moment Chiang Tin-sang and Big B spoke, he understood the whole thing.

As long as he could make Big B unhappy, he was happy.

Even if he didn't bring it up, Uncle Hing would, so he might as well do it himself.

As for Chiang Tin-sang... he had plenty of grievances with him now too. Who didn't know how loyal Big B was to Chiang Tin-sang?

It was hard to say whether Chiang Tin-sang had ordered that killing.

"Teem-Kwan, cut the bullshit!" Big B slammed the table and stood up, his face blazing with anger.