In a fleeting moment, Li Yan wondered if the woman was playing him for a fool.

But her expression was dead serious. Seeing Li Yan silent, she leaned in close, her breath tinged with the scent of alcohol, her eyes narrowed as she patted his shoulder.

"Yes, I'm talking about that Taisui," she confirmed.

"Taisui... a woman?" Li Yan asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Yu Shu chuckled softly. "Even if you're surprised, you should at least introduce yourself first."

"His name is Li Yan, right? Doesn't the Taisui of Kowloon's Fortress Village even recognize his own fighters?"

A voice laced with allure drifted over.

The sound of high heels clicked closer, and the woman approached. She was dressed in a plain white long-sleeve blouse, her beige high heels clicking with each step, and her black capri pants were crisp and form-fitting. The casual gold-rimmed glasses framed her face, giving her the air of a metropolitan beauty.

Judy, beaming with the freshness of spring, gracefully walked up and casually looped her arm through Li Yan's. She asked in a coquettish tone, "Didn't I tell you to wait for me in the stands? What brought you here?"

"There were no seats left, so I came here instead. Judy, do you know each other?" Li Yan inquired.

"Your boss's boss. Didn't Red Ghost introduce you?"

Li Yan looked at the young face that seemed almost his age, hesitating slightly.

"This..."

"People at Fuk Yee Mansion call me Taisui. You can do the same. So you're Red Ghost's new blood. I thought you were just another playboy coming to Kowloon for fun."

Li Yan nodded, "Taisui."

Then, Yu Shu turned to Judy. "It's been a while, Mrs. Deng."

Judy's face stiffened, but she managed a strained smile, "It's been a long time, Taisui. You're still so beautiful. But you know, us women always need to learn how to dress up."

"Mrs. Deng is right, I'll remember that. If you have any suitable cosmetics, do recommend them to me, Mrs. Deng."

"Of course... I have an appointment with Ah Yan, so I must be going."

Yu Shu watched the two leave, calling out just before they were out of earshot, "Take care, Mrs. Deng."

Called Ah Zhen, the Black Swallowtail with a fruit platter in hand, looked around but couldn't find Li Yan.

"Where is he?"

"Looking for something?"

Ah Zhen jumped, turning around only to see Yu Shu's face.

"Too..."

"Shush~"

Yu Shu grabbed an orange segment from the plate and popped it into her mouth, her speech muffled as she asked, "Why aren't you greeting the guests? What are you doing here?"

"Right, I'll go now."

Ah Zhen dashed away quickly, and Yu Shu lifted her gaze to watch Li Yan and Judy step into the private room, methodically chewing and swallowing the fruit in her mouth before shaking her head slowly.

"Foolish woman."

...

"This jerk, she did it on purpose."

Judy, fuming, flung her handbag onto the sofa, her eyes catching sight of Li Yan, who was silently looking down. She tapped his trouser leg gently with her high heel.

"Laughing at me?" she prodded.

Li Yan's eyes curved into crescents as he shook his head. "Sister Judy, even though we haven't known each other for long, it really is my first time seeing you so flustered."

Judy scrutinized Li Yan for a moment before suddenly asking, "Have you never seen Yu Shu before?"

"Never."

Li Yan shook his head. In his imagination, one of the five Executive Members of Kowloon's Fortress Village, known as Taisui, ought to be a man over forty with a gloomy and deep disposition—much like Si Lizheng from the Security Team whom Red Ghost had introduced to him after the incident with He Andong.

Li Yan had already made his calculations about the five Decision-making Bosses of Kowloon's Fortress Village. However, that young woman with the waist-length ponytail, sipping on white liquor, somewhat threw him off his stride.

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"Is she beautiful?"

Li Yan, ever serious, replied, "As my behind-the-scenes boss, of course she's beautiful, but she can't compare to you, Sister Judy."

Judy didn't speak, but the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, clearly pleased.

She tilted her head, sizing up Li Yan, finding him more and more to her liking.

Red Ghost is a fine horse, and if Taisui can make such a steed loyal to the core, I can do the same.

"By the way, do you know how many new bloods have come to Kowloon's Fortress Village recently? Each one is fierce."

"Are you talking about Little Zhou?" Li Yan asked.

"It's more than just him."

Judy gestured with her chin toward the boxing ring.

Li Yan glanced casually just in time to see the end of a match.

A ferocious bald man with scars crisscrossing his face lay motionless on the platform, his neck wound turned outward, blood gushing through the hands he clutched at his throat, spilling over in a desperate rush. The blood quickly stained the entire boxing ring red.

His opponent, not very tall at around 170 centimeters, wore a sinister Blue Devil Mask. The weapon in his hand dripped with blood.

In his hand he held a smoking pipe, its bowl fortified with a steel blade, both ends forged from raw iron, and in between, the mottled Xiangfei Bamboo.

"This is…"

Li Yan's mouth curled with interest.

"The Block-Face Old Man!"

The Block-Face Old Man was a unique weapon of the Northern Stilt-Step Flip-Fist martial arts, deceptively similar to a smoking pipe yet undeniably a lethal instrument.

Judy sat down next to Li Yan and whispered, “He's known in the Boxing Ring as Martial Two Lang; his real name is unknown to all—a true enigma."

"Judy, do you take an interest in such a character? Could it be that you wish to back him?" Li Yan teased.

Judy glanced at him and chuckled, "Are you jealous?"

Li Yan smiled without a word, sometimes letting a woman's imagination wander wasn't such a bad thing.

Judy removed her glasses, her tone turning cold, "The one backing his game, that's He Changhong. I've been irked by that fool for a while. I don't care about winning or losing a bet, but losing to him is unacceptable. Martial Two has been quite the sensation lately. Hey, Yan, give it to me straight—I won't hold it against you. What are your odds against him?"

With a smile that was not quite a smile, Li Yan replied, "If it's about making Judy unhappy, then I'm certain I have a 120% chance of having that flop carried out of the ring."

Judy couldn't help but laugh and playfully punched Li Yan in the chest, "I'm serious. He's got another fight coming up, and I have the videotapes of his usual matches. Take a look."

As she reached for the stack of videotapes on the table, Li Yan's hand pressed down on hers.

His face was close to Judy's, his gaze as icy as floating bergs on the sea.

"Judy, if I say 120%, then it's 120%."

Judy looked at Li Yan, blinked, and then, like a dragonfly skimming the water, she pecked his cheek, leaving Li Yan momentarily stunned.

Judy stepped back and muttered under her breath, "Dream on, you'll never charm me."

Li Yan felt a dryness in his throat and a sudden warmth in his chest, but then a deep, hoarse voice rang in his ear.

"The location of the Ancient Novel Sinker Records has been reported, please stand by to receive!"

Now?

Li Yan first furrowed his brow, then his pupils contracted sharply as he rushed to the glass, looking down at the Boxing Ring.

There, just after removing his Blue Devil Mask and shrouding his features with a cloak, Martial Two Lang suddenly looked up, clutching his chest, his eyes incredulously fixed on the Four-layered Box, behind the glass—Li Yan!

"Hello," Li Yan mouthed with a smile.

In his eyes was the excessively youthful and tender face of the boy known by the ring name Martial Two Lang.

"A Fleeting Glance, activate!"

"A Fleeting Glance, activate!"

Both men were startled at the same time.

"You've found a fellow traveler!"

"You've found a fellow traveler!"

...

"Well done!"

In another private room, a young man in a sharp suit with a twisted expression on his face burst into laughter.

"Uncle Lei, it seems my boxer's skills are superior after all. Looks like you're footing the bill tonight."

Sitting across from him was a middle-aged man with a receding hairline. His complexion wasn't great, but he maintained his composure. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he managed a strained smile and said,

"The new blood on the boxing ring is indeed fierce. Tony was the most favored arena champion among the veteran fighters of the sixth ring. I never imagined he wouldn't last twenty rounds against this kid. You, Young Master He, truly have an eye for talent."

As for Tony, now deceased, he was no longer a concern for the middle-aged man.

The young man's smile was irrepressible. He gestured with a crook of his finger, and a member of the Black Swallowtail approached, bowing before asking, "Young Master He?"

"Give Martial Two two hundred thousand for supper on my behalf."

"Understood, Young Master He."

The Black Swallowtail swiftly exited the private room.

"Uncle Lei, winning or losing in the boxing ring doesn't matter; what's important is to enjoy the game. I, He Changhong, am not a petty man. As for the matter with Dalishang Trading, I'll speak to my father, and it will certainly be no issue."

The middle-aged man's spirits lifted at these words. Compared to a young master like He Changhong, he was much more concerned with the bottom line. After a quick mental calculation, he couldn't help but feel overjoyed.

"Martial Two is so formidable; you must have made a tidy sum recently, Young Master He."

"It's just pocket change. You know, there aren't many fighters willing to take on Martial Two these days. Even if I'm willing to back the bets, there's no one willing to fight."

Meanwhile, the door to the private room suddenly opened, and a sultry woman with a coy voice entered, followed by Martial Two, who had removed his mask.

The woman's looks were above average, and her voluptuous figure, clad in revealing attire, made men's throats go dry.

Surprisingly, Martial Two had a delicate face that, if not for the prominent Adam's apple, could almost be mistaken for that of a pretty female student. However, the youth's lips were thin and long, and the occasional flash of cold light in his eyes was chilling.

"Ah Mei, what brings you here?"

He Changhong lounged on the sofa with his arms spread, speaking in a drawl.

"Master He, Martial Two insisted on coming to thank you personally for the supper money."

The woman smirked flirtatiously.

Martial Two gave a slight nod: "Master He."

"Ah, Martial Two, come and sit."

He Changhong handed the young man a glass of sparkling wine.

"You fought beautifully!"

He Changhong praised the youth, his face glowing with delight.

"Master He." The young man suddenly spoke up.

"What is it?"

He Changhong was slightly annoyed at being interrupted, even by his own prized fighter.

"I've heard that in Kowloon's Fortress Village, there's a notorious Big Water Pipe Judy who doesn't get along with you, Master He..."

In the youth's eyes, there seemed to be deep pools.

**********

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