The setting sun slanted low, and evening clouds drifted north.
A charcoal stove stood on the filthy rooftop, with a clay pot set over it. Broth boiled inside, giving off a rich, unusual aroma of meat. Dog meat.
"I never knew you had this skill, Zhu Wu."
Squatting with chopsticks in hand, Lian Youming kept picking cooked chunks of meat out of the broth and putting them into his mouth.
He had no idea how this stuff had been prepared, but it smelled incredible.
As he ate, he looked north.
According to Yang Qing, the entire Walled City had now been divided in two. The northern district belonged to Gan Xuantong, those other bosses, Zhao Laojiu, and their people. The southern district belonged to Boss Chen and several gangs, including the Green Gang. The two sides were already irreconcilable.
And they had reached a stalemate.
A stalemate was no good thing.
Yang Qing sat nearby too, but what she said was rather extraordinary. "Boss Chen is probably close to losing her power. Gan Xuantong and his people are stalling right now. The longer they drag this out, the better their chances, which is why they haven't dared make a move."
Lian Youming asked in confusion, "Then if this keeps up, won't our chances disappear?"
Yang Qing lit a cigarette, her single eye gleaming, and made a startling statement. "No. Do you know the champion of the Three Armies Grand Tournament? That person's surname is Chen too." Lian Youming's eyes widened. Eating his meat, he clicked his tongue in wonder. "So that's it. That's the powerful reinforcement, then. But I heard that person seemed to be up north."
Yang Qing lowered her voice again and said softly, "I suspect that person has already reached the Walled City. The story about the