Chapter 28: Forsaken by All

It was past one in the morning, yet He Wenchang remained wide awake.

Part of it was his age; falling asleep had become an increasingly difficult task. The other part was his growing sense of unease. The threats Wu Tianhao had made earlier that day were still vivid in his mind. Standing before Wu Tianhao—a man his junior—he hadn't even dared to utter a word of protest or inquiry.

The underworld was no longer the one He Wenchang had once known. Back then, it was mostly just brawling and collecting protection money. But today? Wu Tianhao held a monopoly on the Golden Triangle supply, Luo Rong was dabbling in fraudulent financial schemes, and He Yixing was reportedly planning to branch into the film industry. Every single one of these ventures was something He Wenchang wouldn't have even dared to imagine.

He had told Di Wei that he was close to retirement, but that was just a bluff. Now, however, the thought of actually retiring and living out his days as a gentleman of leisure in England felt increasingly appealing. Yet, the problem of how to handle the Hongshenglian remained. He had to ensure he sold the organization for a good price before he bowed out.

And then there was Yang Sheng.

At the mere thought of Yang Sheng, He Wenchang’s brows furrowed. Although Yang Sheng had agreed during the day to forfeit the Dragon City Championship, anyone with eyes could see his resentment. He Wenchang had managed to keep Di Wei under his thumb for ten years, but after only a few days, he felt he was already losing his grip on Yang Sheng. If he wanted to resolve the Hongshenglian matter, Yang Sheng would undoubtedly be an obstacle. He would have to strike first and deal with him.

A flicker of lethal intent crossed He Wenchang’s eyes.

Just then, the sound of intense shouting and clashing erupted outside the headquarters, making He Wenchang flinch.

"A-Jiu! A-Long! Protect me!"

Two gunmen immediately entered from the outer room, standing guard in front of him with vigilant expressions. Strictly speaking, they weren't really members of the Hongshenglian; they were gunmen He Wenchang had spent a fortune to cultivate, loyal only to him.

Outside the hall, the two guards at the gate had been subdued by Ghost Wen and his large group of followers in an instant. It wasn't that they were slow to react, but they had never expected Yang Sheng to actually dare to storm the headquarters, so they were incapacitated before they could even draw their guns.

As Yang Sheng led his men deep into the compound, the guards stationed inside finally realized what was happening and rushed out to intercept them.

"Yang Sheng, what do you think you’re doing!? Mutiny?"

A middle-aged man wielding a machete charged out, pointing at Yang Sheng and shouting furiously. He was He Linjiu, a grass-sandal of the Hongshenglian and a distant nephew of He Wenchang, which was why he had been placed in charge of guarding the headquarters.

Yang Sheng looked at He Linjiu with a smile. "Brother Jiu, is that even a question? Isn't it obvious enough?"

"You..." He Linjiu was left speechless.

Yang Sheng spoke calmly. "Brother Jiu, that old man He Wenchang might be your uncle, but he only treats you like a dog. The other grass-sandals have their own territories and their own men, but you? You're nominally in charge of the headquarters, but what do you actually have? Nothing! The hall belongs to him, and the men belong to him. You're just a watchdog he keeps to guard the house. It’s not worth dying for that old man. Step aside, and I’ll owe you a favor."

He Linjiu slowly lowered the hand holding his blade, his face etched with hesitation and struggle. He knew Yang Sheng was right; He Wenchang had never truly trusted him. But his position was still a gift from He Wenchang. What would it make him if he defected now?

Just then, a lackey roared and swung his blade at Yang Sheng. "Brother Jiu, what are you hesitating for!? Yang Sheng is a traitor! He wants to overthrow the boss!"

Yang Sheng shifted his waist and pivoted, his leg whipping out like a lash. With a fierce gust of wind, he sent the lackey's machete flying and delivered a crushing kick to his chest. *Chuo Jiao* style! The Heart-Piercing Kick!

The lackey was sent flying over ten meters, his chest caved in, and a thick spray of blood pouring from his mouth.

Yang Sheng sneered, "Brother Jiu, you see? Some of your own men are more loyal to He Wenchang than they are to you. You haven't even made a decision, and already they’ve made one for you."

He Linjiu smiled bitterly and tossed his blade to the ground. He recognized the man; he was someone who frequented He Wenchang's private quarters. He had suspected the man was a plant, but he hadn't dared to say anything. More importantly, Yang Sheng’s kick reminded them all of who stood before them. This was the man who had dared to execute Luo Rong and kill Yao Hui with only six men, the man who had swept through the He Lian gang with unstoppable force, the fierce dragon Yang Sheng, undefeated in the Dragon City Championship!

He was nothing like the decrepit thugs in their dying organization. Even if they had a hundred men, they lacked the courage to strike. Not to mention that the men behind Yang Sheng were the elite who had participated in the purge of the He Lian gang—young, hot-blooded, and lethal. What could they possibly do to stop him?

He Linjiu dropped his weapon and stepped aside. The other men in the hall, seeing the reality of the situation, followed suit.

The doors to the inner room were kicked open, revealing two dark, hollow gun barrels. But in the next moment, Ghost Wen and Dilu raised their own weapons, aiming them right at the two gunmen.

He Wenchang stared at Yang Sheng with a dark, furious expression. "The biggest mistake of my life was listening to your sweet talk and not dealing with you right away! It was me who gave you the opportunities to get where you are today, and this is how you repay me?"

Yang Sheng laughed softly. "Boss, do you think I’m some idiot like Di Wei? Those opportunities weren't given by you; I fought for them every step of the way. Your time as the head of the Hongshenglian is over. Surrender now, and I’ll let you go with some dignity."

Cowering behind his two gunmen, He Wenchang sneered, "Dignity? Yang Sheng, do you really think I’ve spent all these years running the Hongshenglian just sitting around? If the news of this reaches the others, do you think they’ll accept you? And don't think that just because your fists are sharp, you’re invincible. The fastest way to kill someone will always be a gun!"

Yang Sheng grinned. "Why don't you two brothers test that? Let's see if my hands are faster than your guns within seven steps. You have two guns, we have two guns. But if you pull those triggers, do you really think you’ll walk out of this room alive?"

Yang Sheng took a step forward, a smile on his face, and his men followed in lockstep. The overwhelming pressure caused cold sweat to bead on the gunmen's foreheads, their hands trembling on their weapons. They were hired guns, not fanatics. If they dared to fire, they would likely be hacked to death. Most importantly, as professional gunmen, they knew that in front of a true martial arts master, a gun might be fast, but the person holding it might not be. They had heard the stories of how Luo Rong couldn't stop Yang Sheng even with a gun in his hand.

Weighing the pros and cons, both men slowly lowered their arms.

He Wenchang panicked completely. "Traitors! I’ve spent hundreds of thousands over the years keeping you, and this is how you repay me?"

A mocking smirk tugged at the corner of Yang Sheng’s mouth. "You were willing to spend hundreds of thousands on two gunmen, but you wouldn't even let your brothers have a square meal. Who do you think they’re going to side with?"

Why were the men outside willing to follow Yang Sheng in this mutiny? It was because even though Yang Sheng lived in a humble attic in Kwun Tong, he would treat his men to feasts costing hundreds of dollars. It was because when he swept through the He Lian gang, he split the majority of the profits among his brothers. No one was an idiot. Everything He Wenchang had done over the years had alienated his followers; in a moment like this, almost no one remained loyal to him.

Yang Sheng stepped forward, took a triangular bayonet from Dilu, and hoisted He Wenchang up. He whispered into his ear, "Boss, you really are old. Are you still thinking about how to strike first and get rid of me? If you really wanted to strike first, you shouldn't have told me about Wu Tianhao wanting me to forfeit; you should have done it in the shadows. Rest in peace. Under my command, the name of the Hongshenglian will be even louder than before."

A look of terror flashed in He Wenchang’s eyes. He tried to beg, but in the next second, the bayonet plunged into his chest.

Dilu walked up behind Yang Sheng and said quietly, "Brother Sheng, my men have 'invited' Uncle Wen and Uncle Qiang here."

"Bring them in."

Huang Wen and Fisherman Qiang, still in his pajamas, were brought in. They stared at the scene in stunned silence, unable to utter a word.

"From this day forward, I am in charge of the Hongshenglian. Do you two have any objections?" Yang Sheng looked at them with a calm expression.