Chapter 35: Preparations Before Departure

Because Yang Sheng had exhausted himself and the bleeding from his knuckles was difficult to staunch, the members of the Hong Sheng Lian triad opted to leave the venue early rather than watch the subsequent matches.

Once back at the headquarters, Huang Wen called for a doctor to re-bandage Yang Sheng’s wounds. The old physician shook his head and remarked, "It is a blessing that the bones were not damaged. However, you must avoid any physical altercations for the time being and be careful not to get the bandages wet."

Huang Wen frowned, "This is troublesome. What about the final match? If I had known, we never should have agreed to let the Hao Ma Bang force us into another round."

Gui Lao Wen, standing nearby, chuckled, "Relax, Uncle Wen. I made some inquiries after you left, and you would never guess who won the final spot. It is 'Fire Dragon' Zhong Yaozu of the Chao Yi Yong. They have always groomed Lei Gong, intending for him to win the Dragon City Championship and rise to power, but he was taken out by Brother Sheng halfway through. Zhong Yaozu, however, was incredibly lucky; he faced dangerous situations in every round, and in one match, his opponent simply suffered from diarrhea and forfeited, handing him an easy victory. In the final, both Zhong and his opponent were severely injured. It was a test of willpower rather than martial arts. Ultimately, Zhong Yaozu outlasted his opponent, who collapsed unconscious on the ring. Zhong himself fainted immediately after being declared the winner and had to be carried off."

He continued, "The worst part is that after Wu Tianhao was angered by you, Brother Sheng, and the rest of the Chao Yi Yong people left, no one was there to tend to Zhong Yaozu. If Song Changli hadn't brought his disciples to save him, you wouldn't even need to fight the next match—you would have advanced automatically. I hear Zhong is now wrapped up like a rice dumpling. What could he possibly use to fight you in three days?"

Yang Sheng said calmly, "Do not be careless. At the very least, the Chao Yi Yong has secured their spot. If Zhong Yaozu cannot fight, they will send someone else. The main issue is that the rules of the Dragon City Championship have loopholes; hiring outside help is not explicitly forbidden. Just as Tan Baokuan could serve as a mercenary for the Hao Ma Bang, the Chao Yi Yong can bring in someone else."

Gui Lao Wen was quite confident. "Hong Kong is only so big. You can count the true experts on one hand. Even if Wu Tianhao is wealthy, he cannot find anyone else. What is he going to do, hire Bruce Lee to fight you?"

"Stop with the nonsense. Go and arrange for the brothers; don't let them stand guard on empty stomachs."

After sending Gui Lao Wen away, Yang Sheng suddenly turned to Huang Wen. "Uncle Wen, go make arrangements. I intend to promote Gui Lao Wen to a Double-Flower Red Pole."

Huang Wen was stunned. Yang Sheng continued, "Not just Gui Lao Wen; Leopard Head will also be promoted to Red Pole, though without granting him any territory. And Dilu as well." When he mentioned Dilu, Yang Sheng paused for a moment before continuing, "Dilu will be promoted to White Paper Fan, and the other brothers who accompanied me to cut down Luo Rong will all be promoted to Straw Sandals."

"Ah Sheng," Huang Wen cautioned, "when you were promoted to Double-Flower Red Pole, it was through your own fists and feet, a feat so undeniable that even He Wenchang could not suppress you. But Ah Wen and the others are still far behind. Promoting them now will likely lead to resentment."

He was not trying to stop Yang Sheng from promoting his confidants, but he felt Yang Sheng was being far too hasty. Even waiting a few months to gradually clear out the old guard of the Hong Sheng Lian before promoting his own men would have been more prudent.

In truth, Yang Sheng understood all of this. But the time had come, and he was nearing his own departure. Once he won the Dragon City Championship and acquired all the mastery of traditional martial arts, it would be time for him to leave. Otherwise, complications might arise, and he would be vulnerable to an assassin's bullet from the likes of Crippled Hao.

Yet, before he left, Yang Sheng wanted to do something. Coming into this distorted world, he felt both a part of it and a mere passerby. But the people here were real, and the trust shown by Gui Lao Wen and the others, who had fought and bled by his side, was real. When seeking revenge or facing enemies, Yang Sheng could be as cold as steel, but at other times, his heart was not so hardened; he was, in fact, somewhat sentimental. Since he was destined to leave as a transient, he wanted to leave a gift for Gui Lao Wen and the others.

So, Yang Sheng said calmly, "Resentment? Uncle Wen, do you think I still need to win people over? Promoting Ah Wen and the others does not require anyone else's consent; they just need to be there. Besides, I have no desire to move the existing high-ranking members from their positions. Those territories are all garbage, and I have no interest in them. Just take the territory held by the Wo Lian group, along with Di Wei's former territory and a portion of the main hall's holdings, and give it to them."

Huang Wen stared at Yang Sheng in a daze. Was this new leader being too generous? He Wenchang had been a man who squeezed every bit of power into his own pockets, while Yang Sheng seemed eager to give everything away. It was no wonder Gui Lao Wen and the others trusted him so deeply and were willing to fight and die for him. If someone were to betray an boss like this, they would truly be heartless.

"Very well, I will prepare it." Seeing that he could not dissuade Yang Sheng, Huang Wen set out to organize the promotion ceremony. Because of the urgency, the ceremony for Gui Lao Wen and the others was rushed—preparations began on the first day, and the promotions were carried out the next. However, the Hong Sheng Lian still possessed enough heritage that the required procedures were all observed. Gui Lao Wen, Leopard Head, and the others were in a daze throughout the process, barely realizing they had completed the ceremony. They never imagined that after years of being low-level soldiers, they would suddenly become Red Poles.

In reality, while Leopard Head’s promotion might have been inflated, Gui Lao Wen’s was not. In terms of strength, he had already been a formidable fighter, and his ruthless, desperate style gave him an edge. Over time, with the Xingyi Quan manuals Yang Sheng had provided and the battles they had fought together, Gui Lao Wen had reached the level of a Red Pole. It was only because Yang Sheng was always fighting alongside him that his brilliance had been overshadowed.

After the ceremony, Yang Sheng asked Dilu to book a restaurant to celebrate with the brothers. Before they could leave, Dilu came to inform him that Pig Oil Guy was there to see him. When he entered, the expression on Pig Oil Guy’s face was strange, carrying a hint of guilt and embarrassment.

"Ah Sheng, Brother Lok wants to see you."

Yang Sheng turned to Dilu and said, "Go with Ah Wen and make the arrangements. I will be there shortly." After giving his orders, Yang Sheng got into Pig Oil Guy's car and headed to Lei Lok’s villa.

"What does Brother Lok want with me?"

Pig Oil Guy sighed. "It is a good thing, mostly. You will see when you arrive."

After entering the study, Lei Lok greeted him with a warm smile. "Ah Sheng, you're here. Sit."

Once Yang Sheng was seated, Lei Lok tossed a stack of documents onto the table and said with a smile, "Take a look. This is the gift I have prepared for you. These companies were seized from those who didn't know their place. Each one is operating well and can provide a steady cash flow. When the Hong Sheng Lian was in the hands of that old fool He Wenchang, they were too rigid, relying on protection money to scrape by—how much money can you make that way? The times have changed, and the vision of a triad member must change with them. Also, the current territory of the Hong Sheng Lian is too scattered. There were a few small triads in Tsim Sha Tsui that were disobedient, so I sent people to clear them out. Those territories are contiguous; if your Hong Sheng Lian moves in to claim them now, it won't cost you a shred of effort, and no one would dare to challenge you."

Yang Sheng did not look at the documents. After a moment of silence, he asked, "What does Brother Lok need me to do?"

Lei Lok clapped his hands. "I like dealing with smart people! You are a useful blade. That cripple, Wu Tianhao, needs to be taken down a peg. He came to see me earlier, bowed his head, and admitted his faults, offering to give me a share of his Golden Triangle business. The condition is that you must concede in the Dragon City Championship to save face for this 'Underground Emperor'."

When he said the words "Underground Emperor," a trace of mockery played on Lei Lok's lips. What did it matter if he was an Underground Emperor? In the end, he still had to bow to him!