Chang Kailai has reached the age of thirty, having been involved with the affairs of Consecutive Victories for over a decade. Yet, his father, Chang Shen, still wields an unparalleled influence over the establishment's halls.

Speak the name Chang Kailai, and few in the Triad would recognize it. They only know him as Prince Le.

Chang Shen cultivated Chang Kailai for thirty years—his intellect, his resolve, Chang Kailai was by no means lacking. This awkward predicament should have changed overnight. Yes, it should have.

In the Jianghu, talent emerges with each generation. Prince Le's surprise attack on Nine Dragons City toppled Hong Kong's largest drug dealer, prompting Chang Shen to conveniently retire and, as if by natural progression, Chang Kailai was to take his place at the helm. But alas.

Regrettably, the fierce counterattack from Wu Haoxi's men, coupled with Prince Le being detained in the Nine Dragons Boxing Ring, diminished these plans.

Chang Kailai can't forget the woman in Fuk Yee Mansion with brows sharp as knives.

Upon his return, Chang Shen said nothing. He didn't even mention the matter of succession, which before, he had assured Chang Kailai with a firm pat on the shoulder, was his to inherit...

"Here's what you wanted." Prince Le's eyes were bloodshot, his voice hoarse. Opposite him sat Li Yan, with several of Consecutive Victories' bodyguards behind him. Floral Shirt Nine, leaning on his cane, sat beside him.

Beneath his palm lay a sheet of paper embossed with gold patterns.

Li Yan glanced down to see a strange beast with eighteen wings, lengths interconnecting, and nine ferocious, bizarre heads—one neck dripping with fresh blood...

He took a deep breath, reached out to take it, but Prince Le's left hand, hidden beneath the table, suddenly lifted, and a paper cutter stabbed down towards the gaps between Li Yan's fingers on the table.

Even though he knew he wouldn't be hurt, Li Yan instinctively clenched his fingers, his wrist trembling slightly as he pulled to the side, causing Prince Le to wince in pain and the paper cutter to clatter onto the table.

Instantly, the room filled with the sound of fuses being pulled. Li Yan's eyes flashed with intensity as his right hand snatched up the paper cutter, slashing towards Prince Le's throat!

"Cease fire!"

The paper cutter halted at the pale neck of Prince Le, while Li Yan himself was met with the dark muzzles of several guns.

"Put the guns down," the prince commanded.

The men of Consecutive Victories lowered their arms one by one, and Li Yan slowly withdrew his hand.

"Brother Le, such jokes are in poor taste."

Li Yan's expression was ambiguously smirking.

"The item you requested—I've found it. Now, I ask, and you answer," Prince Le stated icily.

With an air of indifference, Li Yan leaned back nonchalantly.

"A mere scrap of paper. I merely wanted to test Brother Le's sincerity. Is the information that Taisui is colluding with other Triad leaders not worth the admission price?" he quipped.

Li Yan was aware that a Fragmented Manuscript had fallen into the hands of the Committee. Ordinarily, only Wu Haoxi, the president of the Committee, resided there. Considering the recent arrival of Consecutive Victories in the city, it was highly probable that the Fragmented Manuscript was now in their possession.

He wasn't in a rush; after all, to these men, this object was indeed no different from a piece of scrap paper.

"You expect me to take your word for it? Do you think I'm a fool?"

Li Yan's gaze fixed upon Prince Le's face, his smile vanishing in an instant: "Chang Kailai, I'm risking being thrown into the sea by Taisui's henchmen to negotiate with you. Do you think I'm here to chat? You say you don't believe me, so why are you even sitting here wasting time?"

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Chang Kailai, faced with the increasingly irate Li Yan, felt his suspicions wane slightly. He chuckled, slid the Fragmented Manuscript across to Li Yan, and tossed him a cigar.

"The whole of Nine Dragons City knows you're Yama, Taisui's most favored newcomer. If you suddenly spill your boss's secrets, anyone would need time to think it over."

Li Yan snorted disdainfully, pocketing the Fragmented Manuscript. "So, do you believe me now or not?"

"You claim Taisui has ties with the Triad Association. Where's your proof?"

"Proof? Does it count that right after you and Consecutive Victories had a gang firefight, Taisui shot at you from behind? Or when your old man went to negotiate peace with the Triad elders, and their opening demand was profit? Or how when Consecutive Victories made concessions, Taisui, with no benefit to himself, released them immediately?"

Li Yan's words pierced Prince Le's heart like a rapier. When Prince Le was born, Consecutive Victories was already a renowned name in Kowloon and Hong Kong. As the heir apparent to Consecutive Victories, he had never experienced the brutal, blood-soaked struggles of the lowest echelons. In his view, when you're in the game, it's about money, manpower, and brains. Concepts like loyalty, face, and even rules should be worthless in the face of naked self-interest.

The title of Taisui in Nine Dragons City might sound intimidating, but as someone who controlled the underground boxing business, he was the least noticeable among the five commissioners of Fortress Village. With financial and manpower resources that couldn't compare to Consecutive Victories, whose influence spread across all of Hong Kong, how could he compete? It's true that my men caused a stir in your territory, but we could have talked it out. After exchanging a few words with you, I was off to deal with Wu Haoxi. With all the cards in my hand, how could this Mad Woman just flip the table like that?

But if she was prepared all along, everything made sense.

At that thought, Chang Kailai was fuming with rage. Anyone who had lost most of their men, only to have the spoils picked up by someone else, who then slapped you in the face for good measure, would not be in high spirits.

Recalling the barely concealed mockery from the old-timers in the society and his father's silent, ambiguous stance, Chang Kailai gritted his teeth. His expression unchanged, he asked, "Why are you telling me all this? Hasn't Taisui been good to you?"

It was time to showcase some real skill...

Li Yan pursed his lips, striving to keep his facial muscles under control.

"Good? He's been too good to me," Li Yan said, locking eyes with Prince Le. "Does Brother Le know who backs me in the Nine Dragons Boxing Ring?"

"I do. It's Judy from Hang Seng Shipping," Chang Kailai replied resentfully. For people like them, who were not even on the same level as the big capitalists like the Hos and Hang Seng, Consecutive Victories' rise to power was undoubtedly backed by capital. But even so, compared to Judy, a tycoon with a net worth in the billions and the title of a gentlewoman, whose influence spanned both the political and business realms, they were worlds apart.

Li Yan's association with such a woman was like ascending to the heavens in one step. Yet, Chang Kailai didn't really look down on Li Yan. Living off a woman's wealth wasn't something just anyone could manage. If one could bring that bowl to the table, they must possess their own set of skills.

"Taisui... he told me to break up with Judy..."

"Why?" Chang Kailai was taken aback. Judy was a high roller at the Nine Dragons Boxing Ring, a name to be reckoned with. Why would Taisui refuse to make money off her?

Li Yan shot him a sidelong glance, "When a woman demands a man to break up with another woman, what do you think that's about?"

Chang Kailai's thoughts spun, and he couldn't help but gasp.

"You..."

Li Yan's face turned ugly, his teeth clenched with fury. "It was all just a game at first, but who knew this woman couldn't keep her place after getting into bed? She pressured me to come clean with Judy, picking at that star. You, a Hysterical Woman from the Nine Dragons City stronghold, flat-chested as a washboard, how do you compare to her? If it weren't for her, I'd be sipping foreign liquor on Judy's yacht by now, not fighting for my life in the boxing ring."

Floral Shirt Nine was also taken aback. Chen Minhong, known as Red Ghost, had been Taisui's loyal hound for many years, a fact well-known throughout the Nine Dragons City stronghold. For such a tough guy to be so devoted to a woman, it was clear he was smitten. But with Li Yan's words, Floral Shirt Nine suddenly saw the Bloodied Fists, the man who could knock down and elbow-strike seven or eight Red Sticks to consecutive victories, as wearing a glaringly green hat...

Chang Kailai mulled over Li Yan's words again and again, recalling that formidable woman with the sharp, knife-like brows, draped in a jacket. Then he looked at the man before him, disgruntled, dressed in clothes not worth more than two hundred, and although it was hard to accept, on closer consideration, it seemed there was nothing amiss.

"As long as Taisui stands, I'll never have peace. If she confronts Judy, my life's second half..."

Li Yan licked his lips, leaving the sentence hanging with an obvious but unspoken implication.

"What do you have in mind?"

Chang Kailai couldn't help but ask.

Li Yan's expression bordered on madness.

"Five million, give me a month, and I'll take out Taisui for you. We'll work together from the inside out, driving out and annihilating everyone from the Fuk Yee Mansion."

Chang Kailai was shocked, but his eyes gleamed with excitement, while a murderous Li Yan sneered secretly.

"In a month, I'll be long gone, sleeping soundly at home. Collaborate with you, a rotten banana..."

**********

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