Minami Kido met a grisly end.

It was also the first time Li Yan had ever taken a life with his own hands.

For someone like Minami Kido, Li Yan found it difficult to muster any feelings of compassion. Yet, he understood all too well that if it were he who lay dead in the boxing ring, the gamblers would cheer just as hysterically.

What he prided himself on was his clarity of mind, not deluding himself with notions of being an agent of divine retribution or that such a man deserved death. After all, Minami Kido's demise on the stage and his own survival had nothing to do with the so-called concepts of good and evil.

"Fierce Tiger now without a ravine..."

Before the mirror, Li Yan washed his hands, muttering to himself.

Floral Shirt Nine, with his string of consecutive victories, Little Zhou, a practitioner of Literary Saint Boxing, his own manager Red Ghost, Big Water Pipe Judy, and the elusive mastermind Taisui...

Li Yan felt he was on the verge of grasping something, three million Hong Kong dollars, the Ancient Novel Sinker Records, and perhaps even more.

Stepping out of the restroom, Li Yan made his way to the lounge to find Red Ghost, drawing the eyes of many a fighter in the process.

The dark-skinned Filipino with a fierce gaze, the menacing Malaysian, the stoic Vietnamese, and even a strong black man with a face marred by scars—each of them exuded a faint or intense red aura.

Over the past few days, Li Yan had come to understand the purpose of this red glow.

It was only when someone harbored hostility towards him that they would emit a red light, the intensity of which corresponded to the level of threat they posed. It seemed to be a special privilege of being the "Yan Fu Wanderer," invisible to others.

Among these men, the one with the deepest red was a Vietnamese in combat attire, meticulously cleaning his dagger. At least in Li Yan's estimation, the red glow around him was no less intense than that of the Literary Saint Boxing expert Little Zhou, perhaps even surpassing it.

As he crossed the lounge, he saw Red Ghost approaching.

"This is for you."

Red Ghost stuffed a wad of bills into the pocket of Li Yan's shirt.

"Open an account later, and I'll deposit the money you've won from the fights."

"And this is?"

Li Yan gestured to his pocket.

With a smirk that wasn't quite a smile, Red Ghost glanced at Li Yan.

"From Mrs. Deng. Buy yourself some nice clothes; she wants to have dinner with you tomorrow."

Li Yan nodded, saying nothing.

"After all that fighting, you must be hungry. Come on, I'll take you out for a late-night meal."

Li Yan's gaze flickered.

"Brother Red Ghost, I've just seen blood, not feeling too well. Perhaps another time."

"After you shed blood, you need to replenish it. Let's go!" Li Yan cracked a smile and didn't insist further.

As he got to know him, this person known as Red Ghost seemed to have a lot more warmth and human touch than Li Yan had originally thought.

Contrary to Li Yan's expectations, Red Ghost didn't take him to any pleasure houses but instead brought him to a smoky hot pot stall, which left Li Yan somewhat disappointed.

The hot pot broth was quickly served, a milky white boiling soup with red chilies rolling in it, whetting one's appetite.

"This dog meat hot pot has the authentic taste. Give it a try," Red Ghost called out and then picked up his chopsticks to place a bite into his mouth.

Both men ate until their noses began to sweat, and only then did Red Ghost casually ask, "By the way, Ah Yan, who did you study boxing under? I saw you practicing Bagua Sect before, but why have you switched to the Minghe style today?"

Li Yan looked at Red Ghost with a smile. "Brother Red Ghost seems to have quite a study of traditional martial arts."

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Red Ghost shook his head: "Not at all. Who would dare to claim expertise in martial arts on Taisui's turf in Dragon City? My little knowledge also comes from Taisui's guidance."

A thought struck Li Yan: "Does Taisui have a deep understanding of traditional martial arts?"

"The Honorary Chairman of the Hong Kong Martial Arts Association, his legs have kicked through countless martial arts schools in Hong Kong. The title of Decision-making Boss of the Dragon City Arena was earned through Taisui's own fists and feet. What do you think?"

Li Yan uttered a sound of acknowledgment and then asked, "So, what martial arts lineage does Taisui come from? Hung Ga? Choi Lee Fut?"

Red Ghost looked at Li Yan with a mix of annoyance and amusement, retorting, "Damn it, am I the one asking you, or are you questioning me?"

Li Yan chuckled and replied, "I once took on a master from the White Crane School in Guangdong, so I guess you could say I carried my craft with me when I sought my teacher," he said, his eyes flashing.

"Lei Hongsheng, I wonder if Brother Red Ghost has heard of him."

Red Ghost thought for a moment and shook his head.

Li Yan nodded without another word. As he lowered his head to focus on his meat, a glance from the corner of his eye caught a familiar figure.

A washed-out white shirt, ill-fitting cloth shoes, and a small orange kitten that occasionally nudged her pant leg with its nose.

The girl from across his door, seemingly named Ah Xiu.

She must be working in the evenings, as living conditions in Dragon City were hardly favorable. But now, the young girl seemed to be in trouble.

"Are you blind? Clumsy oaf!"

A young man with a nose ring and a streak of red in his hair pointed at his wet trousers, cursing viciously.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Ah Xiu stammered, pale-faced and seemingly petrified.

"Sorry to your mother! That was boiling water!"

As he spoke, the young man grabbed a kettle from the table and flung its contents at the girl's face.

Ah Xiu instinctively dodged to the side, and the scalding water spilled onto the floor, creating a cloud of steam.

"You dare dodge?" Nose Ring Man gritted his teeth and swung his hand, delivering a slap that made the girl's cheek swell visibly red at an alarming rate. He grabbed her hair and yanked her towards him.

Tears welled up in the corners of the girl's eyes as she winced in pain, curling up as the little orange kitten circled the man, meowing furiously amidst the chaotic scene.

"Lick it clean."

Just as Nose Ring Man was getting into his stride, a sudden intense pain shot through his wrist, accompanied by a faint 'crack'. Then, as if in a blur, a size 41 leather shoe, carrying a heavy gust of wind, nearly flattened his nose! He was sent flying, overturning tables and benches, and was then drenched by a pot of boiling hotpot broth.

"It's just a splash of boiling water, how about I apologize on behalf of the little sister?" Li Yan said with an easy smile, pulling the girl aside and addressing the fallen Nose Ring Man.

This incident incited a commotion, and over a dozen Four Nine Lads stood up, surrounding Li Yan with their machetes glinting coldly.

"Nobody move!"

The one who spoke was none other than Nose Ring Man.

He shakily stood up, his face contorted with spite and venom.

"Quite the hero, quite the fighter. Which gang are you with?"

Hearing this line straight out of a classic Hong Kong movie, Li Yan almost laughed out loud. He remained silent, simply shaking his head.

"Playing hero must be so thrilling. You dare to strike someone from Shunchang?"

Seeing Li Yan's silence, Nose Ring Man's bravado inflated. He circled Li Yan twice, his crooked nose looking both comical and fierce.

Nose Ring Man snatched a fruit knife from one of his men and slapped it onto the table.

"Hey, since you like playing the hero so much, why not go all the way? Drive this knife through my throat and be done with it, or else I'll kill..."

Before Nose Ring Man could finish his spit-spraying tirade, Li Yan had already pulled the fruit knife from the table and thrust it towards Nose Ring Man's throat!

"Thwack."

The sound of the blade slicing through skin made Nose Ring Man crumble instantly.

He collapsed onto the ground with a thud, gripping the knife handle for dear life, his eyes bulging. A warm fluid trickled from his crotch.

It was only after a while that he noticed a cool sensation on his neck.

The fruit knife had passed in and out of his collar, sending shivers down Nose Ring Man's spine with its icy threat.

"I thought you really weren't afraid to die," Li Yan said from above, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Cut him down!" Nose Ring Man bellowed hysterically.

A fierce glint flashed across Li Yan's face as he tensed to spring into action, but then a voice from the table, exaggerated like a schoolboy's, called out.

"Wow, such ferocity in cutting people down, what a sight for sore eyes."

Nose Ring Man glared viciously in that direction, but upon seeing the sweaty-faced man enjoying his hot pot at the end of the table, his fierce expression instantly deflated.

"Red, Brother Red Ghost—you're here too?"

Red Ghost nodded with a smile, "Good boy, but I don't know you. What are you up to with Shunchang?"

Wiping sweat from his brow, Nose Ring Man's voice trembled, "Just paying respects to the big shot Mountain Knife Peng with 432 Straw Sandals Red-Headed Cai and Shunchang."

"Oh, you mean Four-eyed Peng. I get it now," Red Ghost said, wiping his mouth. "I'm a regular here. The little sister works hard; why make such a fuss? Apologize to her, compensate for the tables and chairs, and then scram."

Nodding with a forced smile, Nose Ring Man hurried over to the young girl.

"Little sister, I'm sorry for my rough words. Please forgive me," he said apologetically.

Ah Xiu shrank behind Li Yan, too frightened to speak.

"Boss!" Red-Headed Cai pulled out Hong Kong dollars and handed them to the Hot Pot Restaurant Owner, patting his chest, unconcerned about the soup stains on his head, "I'll cover all the damages here."

With that, Nose Ring Man turned to Red Ghost.

"Brother Red Ghost, is this okay?"

Red Ghost waved his hand dismissively. Nose Ring Man, with his ragtag gang, beat a hasty retreat from the hot pot stand.

"Don't let it spoil the mood, let's keep eating."

Li Yan pulled Ah Xiu down to sit, replying, "Brother Red Ghost really commands respect."

Red Ghost mumbled through a mouthful of dog meat, his words unclear.

"Mainland's already reforming and opening up. What's the future in playing the gangster?"

Li Yan took a large gulp of baijiu, the alcohol flushing his face, but he remained silent.

Today marked his fifth day in Dragon City Fortress.

**********

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