Chapter 144
“What’s going on?” Wan Fu asked in confusion. Xie Wendong’s smile seemed harmless, but his words were the complete opposite of his expression: “The situation is this… You know, no one has ever dared to defy me for so long, but you’re the exception. You’re the one who has cursed me the most among all I’ve met. I can tolerate that, but I really can’t stand your disrespect toward the old master. So today, you’ll be punished according to our family rules!” With that, Xie Wendong grabbed Wan Fu by the back of the neck and pressed him down on the table, then snatched up a chopstick and thrust it forcefully into Wan Fu’s ear. The chopstick was steel, and with such force, it pierced through Wan Fu’s head and sank deep into the table, with the tip sticking out from beneath the surface. Blood flowed down the chopstick as Wan Fu’s head remained pressed against the table, his eyes wide open, his body convulsing irregularly, with gurgling sounds coming from his throat. Xie Wendong’s smile didn’t fade as he took out a handkerchief to wipe his hands, still smiling, he said, “I’m truly sorry for having blood on the table. I’ll punish myself by drinking three cups to apologize to everyone.” After saying that, Dong Xinlei calmly stepped forward to pour wine for Xie Wendong, not even glancing at Wan Fu who was dead on the table, as if he had expected this outcome all along.
Xie Wendong picked up his glass and, ignoring everyone’s stunned expressions, drank three cups in a row. Wiping his mouth, he sighed, “Good wine!” Then he said indifferently, “Drag the body outside. Don’t leave it here to be an eyesore.” Dong Xinlei waved his hand, and several strong men came over. They tried to pull out the chopstick, but it was covered in blood and slippery, making it difficult. So they simply placed Wan Fu’s body on the table and carried it out along with the table. By then, Wan Fu’s men finally recovered from their shock and started shouting. Just as they tried to pull out their guns, more than a dozen strong men from both sides pinned them to the ground. Xie Wendong shook his head and said, “Wan Fu committed treason by daring to rebel. He has already been executed according to our family rules. And at this point, you accomplices still refuse to repent. What’s the point of keeping you around?!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Dong Xinlei pulled out his gun and went behind those men, firing several shots into their backs. At that moment, someone ran in from outside and whispered a few words to Dong Xinlei. Dong Xinlei nodded and said to Xie Wendong, “Brother Dong, all of Wan Fu’s men outside have been dealt with.”
“Very good!” Xie Wendong praised, glanced at the corpse on the ground, and muttered as if to himself or to the people in the hall, sighing, “No matter how strong you are or how much power you have, one must behave properly. Don’t strive for what isn’t yours—otherwise, the consequences will be beyond your bearing.” After saying this, Xie Wendong looked around and raised the corners of his mouth. “Don’t you agree?” The people in the hall gasped in shock. In their eyes, Xie Wendong was no longer just a weak young man; his scheming was deeper, more terrifying, and more ruthless than that of the old master. The members of the Hongmen no longer dared to underestimate him and lowered their heads, avoiding his piercing gaze. Seeing this, Xie Wendong laughed heartily and said, “Let’s not let unpleasant things spoil our mood. Lao Lei, tell the kitchen to serve the food!” Xie Wendong was generous, not skimping on treats for everyone. There was fine wine—Moutai and various imported spirits—and delicious dishes, including rare delicacies, all offering perfect taste, aroma, and appearance. Of course, he was spending the money at the old master’s expense, as it came from Jinpeng. As he ate, Xie Wendong marveled, “The chef is truly skilled—what a delicious meal!” He kept urging everyone to eat. Already filled with fear and the lingering smell of blood in the room, they had no appetite. Even the most delicious food seemed like tough grass to swallow. Yet, for Xie Wendong’s sake, they pretended to enjoy it, praising its taste. Xie Wendong knew exactly what they were thinking and secretly enjoyed this dinner, which brought him both tension and pleasure. He also realized that whether in society or in the martial world, strength always came first, and even high power relied on strength as a backing. On his first day as the leader of the Hongmen, Xie Wendong had killed the powerful Wan Family, establishing his authority within the organization. People treated this always-smiling young leader with great respect, no less than the old master, though with an additional sense of fear. Nie Tianxing also noticed Xie Wendong’s ruthlessness and thought that under this young man’s leadership, it might not be impossible to unify the Hongmen in the north and south. Yet, he felt something was missing in Xie Wendong—though he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. “Zhongshan has dragons coiled among its mountains, and Shicheng has tigers perched in its cities.” Nanjing is also known as Shitoucheng. With undulating mountains, natural waterways, and numerous historical sites, the city boasts stunning scenery and a pleasant atmosphere.
Nanjing is also located at the junction of the Southern and Northern Hongmen factions, with both having influence here. Struggling for complete control, they engage in constant battles. Recently, the Hongmen summit being held here has brought relative peace. But beneath this calm surface lies a raging fire that could erupt at any moment.
Xie Wendong arrived in Nanjing a day early, accompanied by Dong Xinlei, Nie Tianxing, Ren Changfeng and Sha Mu, who are among the top young members of the Northern Hongmen, along with over a dozen skilled fighters. Upon arrival, the group checked into the Hilton Hotel. That evening, Xie Wendong wanted to go to bed early to rest, but the upcoming Hongmen conference kept him restless. The thought of sitting with leaders from Hongmen groups around the world made his blood boil. Tossing and turning in bed, he finally sighed, sat up, got dressed, and decided to go outside for a walk. He tried to keep his voice low so as not to disturb others. Although their rooms were separate, these people had sharp ears and could hear even the slightest noise. His concern was justified—especially Dong Xinlei, who had extremely sensitive hearing. Shortly after Xie Wendong left his room, Dong Xinlei silently followed him.
The nights in Nanjing are beautiful, just like those in other bustling cities. Neon lights dot the city shrouded in darkness, while street lamps along the roads resemble two bright snakes winding through the city. Cars roar by from time to time, their headlights drawing long trails of light in the darkness. Xie Wendong took a car to Nanjing’s snack street. Although it was evening, the place was still bustling with activity. Smoking and unbuttoning the collar of his shirt, he, being from the Northeast, wasn’t used to the hot weather in the south. Walking on the street, various fragrances wafted by, stimulating his appetite. A scent of meat drifted by, and Xie Wendong sniffed it, smiling. It was the smell of grilled lamb skewers—so familiar. Scenes of him sitting by the roadside with Sanyan Li Shuang and others, drinking and eating heartily, came to mind, stirring feelings of homesickness. After all, he was still just a young man in his early twenties.
Suppressing his thoughts, Xie Wendong followed the scent. “Come on, one yuan per skewer—authentic Northeastern grilled meat!” The owner was a middle-aged man in his forties, plump with a prominent beer belly, shouting loudly to passersby. Xie Wendong chose an empty table by the roadside and sat down. Turning to the owner, he asked, “Are you from the Northeast?” “Not exactly,” the owner replied with a smile after glancing at Xie Wendong. “But I spent a few years there and learned my skills from the Northeast—genuine authentic style.”
Xie Wendong nodded and smiled, saying, “Then give me ten skewers, with lots of chili. Thank you.”
“Don’t you want beer?” the chubby boss asked after responding. Xie Wendong shook his head and chuckled, “No.” He rarely drank alcohol and had little interest in it, only having a few drinks in public settings. The world is vast, with five continents and oceans several times larger than them, yet sometimes it seems tiny—people who seem far away can often be encountered by chance. While waiting for the skewers, Xie Wendong glanced around. The restaurant wasn’t very large, with a dozen tables, most of which were occupied. Among them, five people sitting around a table not far from Xie Wendong caught his attention. Or rather, one of those five people. The man was under thirty, maybe even younger, with a rosy complexion, black hair tied back, and unusually bright eyes fixed on him. Perhaps he, too, thought this young man in an open shirt was special. When the latter turned to look at him, the man smiled slightly and nodded. Xie Wendong wasn’t surprised either; he smiled in return. Soon, the boss brought over the cooked skewers on a plate. Xie Wendong took a bite and found it tasty—just like the one at home. He laughed, feeling cheerful, then snapped his fingers and said to the boss, “Sorry, boss. Could you bring me a bottle of beer, something cold?”
Xie Wendong ate the meat while drinking beer. The night breeze was refreshing, and drinking alone was truly enjoyable. But then someone came to disturb him.
A middle-aged man in a suit, in his forties, sat down next to Xie Wendong, scanning him from head to toe while making humming sounds. Anyone would feel uncomfortable being looked at like that, and Xie Wendong was no exception. Frowning slightly, he turned and asked, “What do you want?”
The middle-aged man quickly stopped staring and handed Xie Wendong a business card, smiling and saying, “I’m the manager of XX nightclub. You have a really good build, young man. Are you interested in working at our nightclub?” As he spoke, his gaze swept over Xie Wendong’s bare chest. Seeing no reaction from Xie Wendong, the man leaned in and whispered, “At our place, even a regular waiter can earn two or three thousand per month. If you join us… hehe.”
Sigh! Xie Wendong let out a quiet sigh. Wasn’t this supposed to be a job as a dancer?! He took a sip of his drink and said with a smile, “This wine is really good. But I’m not interested in any of your nightclubs. Besides, my current career has great prospects and fast growth, with a high monthly salary. I don’t plan to change jobs for now. Thanks.”
The middle-aged man didn’t give up. “How much is your monthly salary? With your qualifications, I guarantee I can make you earn twice as much. Think about it!”
Xie Wendong shook his head, too lazy to talk anymore. The man sighed, clearly disappointed. “Sigh, with your qualifications… Anyway, everyone has their own aspirations.” With that, he put away his business card and staggered away. Xie Wendong sneered and continued eating the remaining meat. At that moment, a young man under twenty sat down next to him and leaned in, asking, “Big brother, what did that mysterious guy just say to you?”
Xie Wendong sighed again. Why did people always disturb him when he wanted some quiet time? Helplessly, he replied, “He said he’s the manager of a nightclub and wants to invite me to work there.” “Oh! So it’s a job at a nightclub!” The young man nodded and asked further, “What’s the monthly salary?”
Xie Wendong replied, “A few thousand yuan, I guess.” The young man jumped up excitedly and exclaimed, “Great! I’ve been looking for such a job but couldn’t find one. Now I finally have a chance!” Then he looked around nervously, as if afraid someone would notice, and whispered, “Big brother, which way did that guy go?” Xie Wendong, looking at the excited young man, pointed blankly in the direction the middle-aged man had disappeared. The young man said nothing and rushed off in pursuit.
What the hell is going on? Xie Wendong shook his head. He lost his appetite even for the remaining skewers. He stood up and said, “Boss, let’s settle the bill!” The boss picked up a pen and scribbled for a while before saying, “It’s 105 yuan in total. I’ll charge you 100.”
“What?” Xie Wendong was surprised. “100 yuan? Are you kidding me?” It wasn’t the amount that bothered him; it was being cheated. No matter how little it was, it still hurt his feelings. “I only ate ten skewers and a bottle of beer. You’re charging me 100? Are you taking advantage of the fact that I’m from out of town?”
“What are you talking about?” The boss became annoyed. “You only ate ten skewers, but your friend ate ninety!” “My friend? Who?” “The two people who were talking to you just now!” “I don’t know them.” “Don’t know them? Then why did you talk to them for so long? Who will believe that you don’t know them?!” “Well…”
Xie Wendong was stunned, thinking to himself that he must have encountered a scammer! It seemed the answer was yes. After a while, he waved his hand and said, “Never mind.” Then he took out 100 yuan and gave it to the boss. Turning around, Xie Wendong couldn’t help but burst into laughter, thinking to himself, “It’s not easy at all. Who would have thought that Xie Wendong, who always manipulates others, could also be played by someone else?” With that thought, he laughed again, as if he had encountered the happiest thing in the world. Finally, his stomach hurt so much from laughing that he had to stop.