As the speaker stepped into the arena, the crowd parted like waves to either side.
This was a young man in his twenties, draped in a leather jacket, tall and slim with a baby face, looking as delicate as a student still buried in his studies.
Floral Shirt Nine leaned back in his seat and said nonchalantly, "Red Ghost, you gave me a fright. What's the deal? Has Old Ghost Wu turned against us, teaming up with those Consecutive Victories folks, so much so that we're being pushed around so aggressively even when we come to Dragon City to watch the fights?"
The young man known as Red Ghost walked over to Floral Shirt Nine, sat down beside him, lit a cigarette, and mumbled through the smoke, "The grudge between Consecutive Victories and Mr. Wu has nothing to do with us who make our living off the Boxing Ring. We keep to our own, like Taisui. But you treating my Boxing Ring like a chicken coop, hopping in and out as you please, isn't that breaking our rules? If anyone coming to watch the fights could just climb up on the stage whenever they want, how are we supposed to handle the betting slips, huh?"
Floral Shirt Nine chuckled and pointed at Li Yan on the Boxing Ring.
"Let's speak frankly. My boy, Little Zhou, has been looking for a Bagua Palm master to spar with for ages, and you've heard as much. It's not that I, Floral Shirt Nine, am stirring up trouble. I'm worried that once we leave this place, your people won't even give us the time of day. After all, Old Ghost Wu and Taisui both work with the Dragon City Committee. They see each other all the time. I understand you don't want to get involved with my mess. Let's be clear: I'm not trying to disrupt Dragon City's order. I just want my guy to have a match with one of your fighters. If you can't even agree to that, then you're just being obstinate."
Red Ghost crossed his arms and shook his head slowly.
"Rules are rules. I don't care about the rest, but today, your guy stepping into the ring is causing trouble in Dragon City."
Floral Shirt Nine laughed bitterly in frustration. "Fine, then there's nothing more to discuss..."
"Brother Nine!" Little Zhou leaped down from the ring and called out to Floral Shirt Nine, then turned to Red Ghost.
"You just said, if I follow the rules and fight in the Boxing Ring, I can spar with him, right?"
Red Ghost drooped his eyelids.
"Then you'll have to start from the very first fight. If the Committee deems your performances comparable and someone is willing to place a heavy bet, then of course there's no problem."
"Alright, then I'll start from the bottom up at the Dragon City Arena."
Red Ghost nodded, his indifferent gaze shifting to Floral Shirt Nine.
"What do you say, Brother Nine?"
Floral Shirt Nine's face darkened ominously, but he said nothing.
Little Zhou approached Floral Shirt Nine, his throat moving slightly. "Brother Nine."
Floral Shirt Nine glanced at him sideways. "When does a boss ever not care for his own men?"
Little Zhou gave an embarrassed smile.
"Brother Nine, I can handle this matter on my own."
Floral Shirt Nine muttered something under his breath, likely cursing.
"Let's go."
Floral Shirt Nine rose from his seat, and with a rustle, about forty or fifty people stood up and headed outside. A few of the Little Ruffians even shot challenging looks at Red Ghost, who remained seated and composed, as if he saw nothing.
Before leaving, Little Zhou walked up to Li Yan.
"Master Li, there aren't many in Nine Dragon City's Boxing Ring who fight with traditional martial arts. I wasn't satisfied today. Once I've secured my footing in the Dragon City's Boxing Ring, we'll have a proper match."
Li Yan nodded and spoke:
"I say, Master Zhou, does that fifty thousand from your Brother Nine still count?"
Little Zhou was taken aback, and after a while, he nodded awkwardly.
"It counts…"
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
…
"You have gained five Yan Fu Points. You have unlocked additional Purchase Authority (0/1) in this Yanfu Incident."
"Your purchasing limit is as follows:
【A Fleeting Glance】
Category: Skill Scroll
Quality: Common
Allows you to obtain personal information about others, with a certain chance of identifying their weaknesses.
You can use this skill directly, with each use costing one Yan Fu Point. Alternatively, you can spend ten Yan Fu Points to purchase this skill. Once purchased, you may use this skill at will.
【ES Hematopoietic Cell Enhancer】
Category: Consumable
Quality: Fine
Origin: Grand Bell Research Institute
Has a potent therapeutic effect on bodily dysfunctions caused by blood and hematopoietic cell disorders. It can also enhance the vitality of the user's blood. Ordinary people have a very small chance of comprehending the skill: Blood Activation.
Message from Tapir: Although it can't cure your illness, it will prevent you from fighting with an injured body.
You can acquire it for ten Yan Fu Points.
【ES Hematopoietic Cell Supplement】
Category: Consumable
Quality: Rare!
Origin: Grand Bell Research Institute
Has an extremely powerful healing effect on blood and cellular disorders, and can enhance the user's blood vitality. A person with normal bodily functions will comprehend the skill: Blood Activation after consumption.
You can acquire it for three hundred Yan Fu Points.
Please note that the additional Purchase Authority bestowed upon you by Tapir can be activated once during each Yanfu Incident, and after three such Incidents, the gift will vanish.
Tapir's message read: "Newcomer, I believe I've been quite generous."
Upon reading this information, Li Yan suddenly felt a sense of clarity wash over him.
ES Hematopoietic Cell Supplement!
That was what the rotund man had promised, the very thing that could cure his illness.
And what he needed to do was to acquire enough Yan Fu Points!
It was only then that Li Yan truly began to contemplate what it meant to secure ownership. After all, this would determine the way he would make money. Indeed, in this world, there were far too many ways to make a quick fortune.
Li Yan sat in the corner, feigning a distant look, while his mind raced with calculations. A figure approached him, looking down as he stood by.
It was Red Ghost.
"You're Li Yan, right? How long have you been in Hong Kong?"
Li Yan looked up, pretending to rub his eyes.
"Just recently."
The youth known as Red Ghost squatted down.
"Stick with me, fight under my command, and I won't shortchange you on money or women. Understand?"
Li Yan nodded coolly.
Red Ghost smiled.
"Come with me."
He turned and began to ascend the stairs. Li Yan rose silently, sizing up the amiable-looking young man who was known as Red Ghost.
Even Li Yan himself didn't realize that as he watched Red Ghost for a brief moment, a ripple of black flickered through his pupils!
"You have acquired some information. Viewing it will cost some Yan Fu Points. Would you like to view it?"
Li Yan weighed his options for a moment but ultimately chose not to view Red Ghost's information, simply following him up the staircase instead.
The two of them ascended to the rooftop, a concrete expanse dotted with a tangle of antennas, leaving little room to tread.
The view was a jumble of buildings, haphazardly erected, shabby, dilapidated, and congested. Yet it was also bustling, magnificent, and alive with the essence of humanity.
"Kowloon Walled City," Red Ghost remarked, "scares people to death just by mention, but it's actually not so bad here. When we get the chance, I'll take you for dog meat hotpot. It'll make your tongue melt."
"Dragon City is a notorious enclave, beyond the reach of law. Malaysia, Macau, Taiwan—every year, countless wanted criminals, with nowhere else to turn, flee here. Some become enforcers for the syndicates, while most end up in Kowloon's boxing rings, just like you."
He paused, then continued:
"Nine out of ten Miss Bais in Hong Kong start here. Half the population of the Walled City has been on drugs. Arms trafficking, smuggling, human trafficking, casinos, brothels—it's a den of iniquity, teeming with the likes of Consecutive Victories, the 14K, the Hong Yian Gang, and a myriad of associations."
He extended a finger.
“But in Dragon City, the Committee won't allow it; no one dares to make trouble. When the Committee speaks, not a single Association dares to utter a word of dissent. Here, even the Hong Kong Governor doesn't hold as much sway as the Committee, you get me?”
Red Ghost didn’t expect Li Yan to respond, continuing on his own.
“In Dragon City, you make your living boxing under Taisui, and Taisui, he's an Executive Member of the Dragon City Executive Committee. All the boxing ring businesses, big and small, in Dragon City, Taisui is the man behind them. I heard about your fight from Fat Bo; quite the ferocity today, huh? Took down Cha Chai with just a couple of exchanges? Even Fat Bo admitted he had misjudged.”
“Just arrived in Hong Kong, the change of environment hit me hard, fell seriously ill. Only recently have I begun to recover.”
Red Ghost nodded noncommittally, not probing further, and lit a cigarette, saying:
“Taisui has a soft spot for youngsters with a sharp punch. You’ve got potential.”
Li Yan eyed the cramped, dilapidated buildings in front of him, seemingly indifferent as he asked.
“Brother Red Ghost. They told me I fought in the Fourth Arena. How much can one earn from the higher-level rings?”
Red Ghost sniffed.
“The Fourth Arena, it’s small, usually just for the workers and shop owners in Dragon City to watch after work. Win a fight, you take home five thousand; lose, and there's still a thousand for you. The Top Five Arenas are open daily, as long as someone bets on you, you stand to earn. The sixth ring doesn’t open every day, fewer fighters, about three or four times a week. A win can net you thirty thousand, a loss, five thousand. There are various types, too. If a High Roller is willing to up the stakes, Iron Cage Fight, Weapons Fight, anything goes. You could make hundreds of thousands in just one night. But often, it’s a matter of life and death.”
Red Ghost spoke casually, but Li Yan could well imagine the scene on the ring: two individuals, weapons in hand, gambling with their lives, blood spilling everywhere, while the crowd in the stands roared with increasing frenzy...
At the thought, a flicker of coldness passed through the corner of Li Yan’s eyes.
**********
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