Su Xiong

Tianxin Mansion stood in a bustling part of Hong Kong and Kowloon. Eight stories tall, it had possessed a lofty grandeur that dwarfed everything around it when it was first built.

But as Hong Kong and Kowloon developed, office buildings grew ever taller, and the economic center shifted toward the prosperous streets surrounding the Imperial Consortium. The area around Tianxin Mansion gradually fell into decline.

It was then that Su Xiong and his Dongxing Company moved into Tianxin Mansion.

As a newly risen gang in Hong Kong and Kowloon, Su Xiong's Dongxing Company bore no resemblance to a traditional triad society. Its structure was more like that of a modern corporation.

There were no positions such as dragon head, lodge master, or Numbers Manager. Instead, Su Xiong served as chairman, with fully modern roles in place for professional managers, finance, human resources, and so on.

With one hand on the money and the other managing personnel, Su Xiong's business kept growing. A considerable portion of its main operations had moved away from the brothels, drug dens, and gambling joints occupied by other triad societies.

Instead, it had entered fields such as entertainment, film and television production, and financial leasing.

Of course, on the fringes of Su Xiong's Tung Sing Company were members of other triad societies who had voluntarily joined him—turncoats and defectors like Fire Dragon. They still operated under the old model, merely flying Tung Sing's flag.

Using money to clear the way and blades to establish his authority, Su Xiong had successfully opened channels in both the official world and the underworld of Hong Kong and Kowloon. Because he was willing to share the profits, he had no shortage of supporters within the Police Force.

That was precisely why he thrived in Hong Kong and Kowloon's underground wars.

In the chairman's office on the eighth floor of Tianxin Mansion, Su Xiong was carefully reading a document.

He reclined comfortably in his executive chair, with five smartly dressed professionals standing across the desk.

It was a financial leasing contract. Su Xiong's Dongxing Company would supply the funding and personnel to build a hospital on the Hong Kong and Kowloon peninsula across the sea, with a total investment exceeding thirty million Hong Kong dollars.

Once completed, the land and property would belong to Su Xiong, while the Hong Kong and Kowloon authorities would hold the right to use them. The authorities would pay three million a year in rent over a fifteen-year lease, after which ownership of the land and property would transfer to them.

"Lord Hung, the current annual interest rate is four percent. Compounded over fifteen years, a principal of thirty million would grow to fifty-four million. Based on the authorities' payments, we would lose nine million on this deal."

"Lord Hung, if we outsource the construction, we might be able to drive the building costs down. If we can keep costs to twenty-five million, we'll break even."

"If we bring in a construction company from Lingnan, and they're willing to advance the funds, we can push our costs even lower. With installments based on the construction schedule, the profit margin..."

"All right."

Su Xiong put down the proposal and stood.

He was tall and broad, with sharply defined features, slightly narrow eyes, and a ruthless sharpness about his brows.

"Thank you, everyone. I'm very pleased with your proposal. Contact the authorities and the Lingnan side, and let's push this forward. Building a hospital earns spiritual merit. We also have to consider the broader benefits to the country and the people-the social returns."

He clapped his hands and ushered the group out of his office, then took a cigar from a drawer and sniffed it, his sharp gaze fixed on the three people who remained.

Dressed in a black leather jacket, Sha Wei stood holding his wrist. Beside him were two men with equally gaunt faces.

One was short and thin, with round, black-framed glasses perched on his nose. The other was tall and powerfully built, with a scar at the corner of his eye that sprawled across his face like a centipede.

Sha Wei, Bian Zhi, and Du Ke-Su Xiong's three chief disciples.

"Back when I led you lot around chopping people up, we were happy with a few beers and a hot pot after a win. Now I'm busy running around every day, reading this crap I don't even understand..."

Su Xiong shook his head.

"Ah Wei, that fellow surnamed Lin in the group just now-take some men and cut him down. I pay him all that money, and he still sells me out. Fuck, has he forgotten what I do?"

Sha Wei's hair was grayish white, and he looked listless. He nodded.

"Don't worry, Lord Hung. I'll take care of it tonight."

"Lord Hung, Chen Ying's been making quite a name for himself lately. Word's spreading like wildfire that he beat Mah Yau Wu to death, and Yan Ren pinned the gold shop robbery on Mah Yau Wu..."

"I told you, that kid has powerful backing."

Su Xiong tapped the desk in satisfaction.

"These so-called triad societies are nothing but the cops' guard dogs. And the cops? They're just the foreign devils' guard dogs. The people behind this kid can deal directly with the foreign devils."

"Yan Ren wants to pin the blame on Mah Yau Wu, and he's about to become Inspector of Eastern District Three. With so many bosses backing him, what can Wo On Sing do? If they could do anything, wouldn't they have chopped me into eight or ten pieces long ago?"

"What do they know? All they see is their little patches of turf. Taking a few bars counts as a big deal to them. The foreign devils know what matters. That old woman of the Chen family has been in Hong Kong and Kowloon all this time-would the foreign devils not know?"

At that thought, Su Xiong nodded at Sha Wei in satisfaction.

"Ah Wei, you handled that matter well last time."

As they spoke, the telephone on Su Xiong's desk suddenly rang. He picked up the receiver.

"What? Who wants to see me?"

"All right. Ask him to wait a moment."

Su Xiong put down the phone and paced a few steps around the office.

"Ah Wei, Ah Zhi, Little Du, you three come downstairs with me. We have a guest."

Chen Ying stood in the lobby of Tianxin Mansion, studying the furnishings.

The place was very "clean."

There was no trace of occult arts or sinister entities, not even a hint of the underworld. The lobby was neat and tastefully simple, just like any standard commercial office building.

They were both in the gang business, but a comparison with Wo On Sing's little building made it clear just how far behind the times Wo On Sing was.

The elevator doors opened, and a tall man stepped out and clasped both of Chen Ying's hands tightly.

"Young Master Ying, I've long heard of you. I'm Su Xiong."

"Mr. Su..."

Su Xiong wore a hearty expression.

"Oh, we're all people of the underworld. Never mind 'Mr. Su.' Young Master Ying and I share the same sort of background. I studied under the Maoshan Altar. If you're willing, just call me Senior Brother."

"Young Master Ying, these are my disciples. You've met Sha Wei. These two are Bian Zhi and Du Ke. Apart from Sha Wei, they're the only two disciples of mine who are of much use."

Su Xiong introduced the men behind him.

"Actually, Mr. Su, I came to ask a favor..."

"We can discuss favors later. It's not every day you visit, Young Master Ying. Have some tea first. There's no rush. We can take our time talking."

As he spoke, Su Xiong invited Chen Ying into the elevator, not forgetting to give the receptionist by the entrance an instruction.

"This is Chen Ying, Young Master Ying. If he wants to see me in the future, bring him straight up."

Then he added, "Young Master Ying, the staff downstairs didn't know. Don't hold it against them."

"I won't."

Chen Ying said nothing more.

Su Xiong's warm reception had rather surprised him.

The elevator rose, and Su Xiong led Chen Ying to the reception room on the top floor. He opened his mouth to exchange more pleasantries, but Chen Ying knew time was pressing and dispensed with further courtesies.

"Actually, Mr. Su, I really did come today to ask for your help."

Su Xiong's brow furrowed slightly.

"Come now, little brother. It's rare for you to ask. If there's anything I can do, just say the word."

"The last time I met Brother Sha, I saw a compass in his hand. May I ask what it was?"

Chen Ying's question made Su Xiong fall silent for a moment before he spoke again.

"What exactly are you looking for, little brother?"

Seeing Chen Ying's expression change, he added,

"I don't mean anything by it. It's just that if you tell me what you need, I might have a better solution."

Chen Ying was about to speak again when Su Xiong continued.

"I'm afraid you might take it the wrong way. After all, in our world, nothing is more taboo than speaking too intimately to a casual acquaintance. But since we've come this far, I can't hold anything back from you."

"That compass you're looking for actually has a bit of a problem."

"A problem?"

Chen Ying looked at Su Xiong. The man's face was all openness and honesty, but there was no knowing what he was really thinking.

"I paid Ma Qi for it. You've probably heard of Mr. Ma. He's a master versed in both Eastern and Western learning. He learned their alchemy from the foreign devils."

"Alchemy?"

"The foreign devils' techniques. I don't understand them either. Broadly speaking, they're much like our feng shui and artifact refining. He made this compass in imitation of a very remarkable object belonging to the foreign devils."

Su Xiong looked at Chen Ying with a somewhat inscrutable expression.

"Its effect is very simple. It points toward whatever you want most in your heart."

That was unexpected. Chen Ying had thought the compass was used to point the way to the Wrongful Death Ghost Market, but now it seemed that was not the case.

"And like the vast majority of magical artifacts in this world, using it comes at a price."

"A price?"

"With your family's long tradition of learning, little brother, I naturally don't need to explain much. But I still have to give you the warnings I should."

"Most magical artifacts have side effects of one kind or another when used. But compared with its Western original, this one's price is entirely acceptable."

Su Xiong revealed the answer outright. "First, use a drop of blood to activate the compass, then think about what you want most. It will point you in the right direction on its own. As for the price, your luck merely gets worse. Thirteen days of bad luck, that's all."

"Thirteen days?"

"Yes, thirteen days. The foreign devils think that number is sinister. Of course, that's why Mr. Ma deserves to be called a master. Compared with the original, this thing is much easier to use."

Still eager to elaborate, Su Xiong said, "Although Master Ma's compass can only be used three times before it becomes useless, its side effects are actually minor."

"The original has no limit on the number of uses, but its side effect is simply unacceptable."

As he spoke, Su Xiong instructed Sha Wei, "Go fetch that compass. The original's side effect, heh, is that it can help you find what you want, but the price is that you can never obtain it."

"Tell me, if you find it but can't have it, wouldn't you be better off not finding it at all?"

Su Xiong's generosity took Chen Ying by surprise.

He had thought Su Xiong would impose all sorts of conditions, yet Su Xiong had simply brought the item out.

Sha Wei soon returned, carrying a pitch-black wooden box.

"Divine objects conceal their own radiance, but they also tend to attract sinister entities, so I found a three-hundred-year-old coffin plank and made this box. You can have it too, brother."

Su Xiong placed the wooden box on the table in front of Chen Ying and opened it. A small compass lay inside.

"Since you came to me, little brother, this is yours. Unfortunately, although I bought three from Master Ma at the time, this is the only one left. Sha Wei has used it twice, so it only has one use remaining."

"Senior Brother Su, this is too valuable. I..."

"Now you're treating me like a stranger."

Su Xiong patted Chen Ying on the shoulder. "We both came to Hong Kong and Kowloon to make a living. To tell you the truth, I owe everything I have today to my friends looking out for me. That's why I believe another friend means another path."

"All right."

Chen Ying accepted it. "I've long heard your name, Brother Su. Meeting you today, I see your reputation is well deserved."

"You're too kind, too kind."

Su Xiong laughed heartily.

"Little brother, it's rare for you to come to my door. I wanted to keep you for a drink, but I'm afraid you have urgent business. How about another day?"

"All right. Another day, then."

As he spoke, Chen Ying cupped his fist in salute.

"Senior Brother Su, thank you."

"Haha, Brother Chen, no need to stand on ceremony."

Laughing and joking, Su Xiong escorted Chen Ying all the way downstairs.