Chapter 184

Xie Wendong was recuperating in Kunming for a month. During that time, Kunming remained unusually peaceful. Xie Wendong needed time to heal, and Ma Feng was also recovering. The Soul Group suffered heavy losses and hid away, nursing their painful wounds. Things were temporarily calm here, but the war between the Southern and Northern Hongmen finally broke out on a large scale. It’s hard to say who started it first—the outbreak of war is always sudden. Although this wasn’t a full-scale war, it was still a tremendous upheaval in the underworld, a confrontation between the two largest factions.

People in the underworld were extremely concerned about this conflict, as its outcome could determine the future direction of the criminal world. Whether the South won or the North, the landscape of China’s underworld would inevitably undergo drastic changes. People favored the Southern Hongmen. Although the Northern Hongmen had a much larger territory, the Southern Hongmen were located in China’s most developed areas. War relies on money; without it, no matter how large one’s base or how many people one has, the god of victory won’t be on your side.

The underworld belongs to the jianghu, and really, what’s the difference between the jianghu and the underworld? The jianghu values loyalty, and so does the underworld. People in the underworld are cunning, but how many in the jianghu are true heroes?

Xie Wendong wasn’t a hero—far from it. That’s why he was still alive, and living well, better than most people. Xie Wendong hoped to use the power of the Golden Triangle to track down Ma Feng, but Ma Feng seemed to have vanished without a trace. Lao Gui searched for him for three days with no success. This made him feel embarrassed in front of Xie Wendong. He often boasted about how powerful his influence in Yunnan was, but when it came to actually helping, he was of no use at all. Finally, with a red face, he said helplessly to Xie Wendong, “It seems Ma Feng must have left Yunnan Province. Otherwise, even if he were just a wasp, I could have found him!”

Not being able to find Ma Feng, Xie Wendong felt it was a hidden threat that could erupt at the worst possible moment. But he didn’t want to say much, after all, Lao Gui had already done his best and was helping him. Shaking his head with a bitter smile, he said, “I thought I could get those five million in secret funds.” Lao Gui laughed and said, “Would you care about that amount of money?”

He didn’t care about the money, but he cared deeply about Ma Feng. He didn’t say this out loud. Since he couldn’t find the person he was looking for, staying in Kunming was just a waste of time. Moreover, according to Jiang Sen in T City, there was a conflict between the Northern and Southern Hongmen—not a minor dispute, but large-scale battles taking place in several cities simultaneously. This shocked Xie Wendong, who thought to himself that with the Northern Hongmen leaderless, the situation must be dire. His guess was correct—the situation for the Northern Hongmen was indeed grim. Five branches, including one in Nanjing, had been attacked. The Southern Hongmen’s attacking power was terrifying, with waves of assaults coming one after another without pause, leaving no chance to recover. The Northern Hongmen had been prepared in advance, quite thoroughly, but the problem was that they were indeed retreating, with their bases being crushed one after another.

As a representative of the younger elite forces within the Northern Hongmen, Dong Xinlei naturally rushed to the front lines. He rushed to Nanjing overnight, the most important city at the intersection of the Northern and Southern Hongmen. If this city fell, the Southern Hongmen could advance deep into the Northern Hongmen’s territory. Conversely, if the Southern Hongmen were driven out of Nanjing, it would be a devastating nightmare for them as well. Both sides knew the importance of this place, so they sent heavy troops there.

The head of the Northern Hongmen’s branch in Nanjing was Hong Yun, in his early thirties, tall and strong, with dark, shiny skin. Anyone who saw him would assume he was a formidable fighter. While his combat skills were indeed impressive, the reason the elder leader entrusted such an important city to him was his exceptional intelligence.

He was indeed very smart, smarter than usual. After the old master was assassinated and hospitalized, he kept an eye on the situation in City T. When he heard that Xie Wendong had taken over as the new leader, he was skeptical, thinking that a young kid couldn’t achieve much—the old master’s decision had been too hasty. Later, when Xie Wendong attended the Hongmen summit, Hong Yun saw this legendary figure for the first time. Upon meeting him, he was deeply impressed—Xie Wendong’s eyes were the brightest and most expressive he had ever seen. When looked at by him, one felt completely transparent; his sharp gaze was like two knives piercing deep into your heart, seemingly capable of uncovering all your secrets. Only then did he understand why the old master trusted such a young person so much. Later, Xie Wendong’s performance in the casino left him even more astonished. He had originally thought the old master was the best person in the world, but when someone even better and younger appeared, it filled him with admiration and excitement. After Xie Wendong left Nanjing, he had people investigate his past. The information wasn’t entirely accurate—most of it were rumors—but it was an undeniable fact that Xie Wendong had established the Wendong Society, a force so powerful that its presence could shake the entire Northeast. From then on, he often told his subordinates, “With this new leader, I will surely achieve even greater things in the future!” Yet he was troubled by the fact that the Hongmen was full of talented people—how could Xie Wendong notice him?! He had a capable assistant and best friend named Sheng Yunfei. Hong Yun shared all his concerns with him, and this time was no exception—he poured out his thoughts. Sheng Yunfei could be considered his advisor, often offering suggestions. After hearing them, he laughed and said, “What’s difficult about that? As long as Brother Hong achieves a great feat, it will be hard for the new leader not to notice you!” Hearing this, Hong Yun felt inspired and murmured, “Achieve a great feat!” After pondering for a moment, he quickly asked, “How should I achieve such a feat?”

Sheng Yunfei smiled and said, “Right now, relations between the Northern and Southern Hongmen are tense, and war is only a matter of time. I’ve also thoroughly investigated the past of the new leader. Given his style, it’s not long before he strikes at the Southern Hongmen. Nanjing can be seen as a key stronghold; whoever secures it gains a strategic advantage. If Brother Hong can drive out the Southern Hongmen’s forces from Nanjing, wouldn’t that be a great achievement?” Hong Yun pondered and said, “It’s indeed a great achievement, but we’ve been in open and secret conflicts with the Southern Hongmen in Nanjing for years. Both sides have had their wins and losses. It’s not easy to drive them out!”

Sheng Yunfei grinned triumphantly and said, “What if He Cheng, the leader of the Southern Hongmen in Nanjing, suddenly died? Wouldn’t that make things much easier?!”

Hong Yun was stunned and frowned. “He Cheng would die suddenly?” Then he narrowed his eyes and asked, “Yunfei, are you suggesting we…?” He made a gesture across his throat. Sheng Yunfei nodded. “Exactly! It’s He Cheng’s birthday, so he’ll definitely come out to celebrate. One of his subordinates used to be my neighbor when I was young. We got along well back then. I just found out that this guy has become He Cheng’s subordinate. He said He Cheng will hold a grand banquet at the ‘Tianshui’ Hotel the day after tomorrow. This is a rare opportunity. If we prepare well in advance, He Cheng’s birthday banquet will turn into his funeral!”

Hong Yun’s eyes lit up, but he was still worried and couldn’t help asking, “Is your friend reliable?”

Sheng Yunfei replied seriously, “Absolutely reliable. I can vouch for him with my life. Brother Hong, this is our chance. If we don’t act now, when will we? Once He Cheng dies, the Southern Hongmen’s forces in Nanjing will surely be in turmoil. If we seize this opportunity, they’ll be defeated without a doubt. By then, Brother Hong, your reputation within the Hongmen will soar. How could the new leader not rely on you?”

Hong Yun closed his eyes in thought. This wasn’t a trivial matter. Whether it succeeded or failed, it might spark chaos. If it succeeded, he would become a hero within the Hongmen. If it failed, he would become its sinner—a burden he couldn’t bear. He hesitated, his already dark face clouded even more, looking even more terrifying. Sheng Yunfei sighed, “To achieve great things, one must take risks. Every action the new leader has taken so far was achieved through risk. Only by overcoming difficulties can we win completely. Brother Hong, let’s do this once! If we succeed, we’ll rise to fame instantly. Even if we fail, we can start over.”

Hong Yun gritted his teeth, made up his mind, and asked again, “Is your friend really reliable?”
Sheng Yunfei’s face turned red, then blue, and finally purple from anxiety; he couldn’t even describe the color anymore. He said urgently, “I’m even willing to risk my life—don’t you trust me, Brother Hong?”
“Alright!” Hong Yun waved his hand, resolved himself, and said, “Let’s take this risk!”
Many of the things Xie Wendong did indeed involved risk, but it was Xie Wendong who took the risks—no one else could compare. Luck also played a crucial role. Hong Yun was smart, but not as smart as Xie Wendong; his luck wasn’t as good either.
Hong Yun made meticulous preparations inside and outside the ‘Tianshui’ Hotel. First, he sent two of his most trusted and skilled subordinates to infiltrate the hotel disguised as waiters. If they got the chance, they would assassinate He Cheng directly; if not, they could at least provide backup. He didn’t dare send too many people in, as too many unfamiliar faces might arouse He Cheng’s suspicion. Meanwhile, he and Sheng Yunfei split up to block the front and back doors of the hotel, planning to storm in from both sides at the same time. Still not satisfied, he ordered his reliable subordinates to position a third group outside, ready to kill He Cheng if he somehow managed to escape. He also arranged a fourth group at the street entrance in front of the hotel, to ensure that if He Cheng really ran out, someone would definitely kill him. His plans were flawless—not even a fly could get out of ‘Tianshui’, let alone a living person.
He didn’t reveal this operation to anyone, nor did he report it back to City T, fearing that the timid elders would interfere or that people from City T would come to claim credit for himself. He wanted to surprise Xie Wendong, showing off his own talent even more. He thought of everything—after all, he was a smart man!
On He Cheng’s birthday, he indeed arrived at the Tianshui Hotel, accompanied by over a dozen cars. Hong Yun, who had been hiding in hiding earlier, saw it all clearly. He was both nervous and excited; his dark face turned red and then purple. He nodded at Sheng Yunfei beside him and whispered, “He really came. We’ll act according to the plan in a moment.”
Sheng Yunfei smiled proudly and said, “I told you—my friend is absolutely trustworthy! He even called me just now, saying He Cheng has reserved the third floor.”

Ge Yun nodded, showed a smile, and said, “Tell your friend to come out early so he won’t get hurt by accident.” Sheng Yunfei nodded and replied, “Don’t worry, Hong Ge. I’ve already informed him.” As they talked, He Cheng’s car had already stopped at the hotel entrance. He got out of the car with a cheerful expression and entered the main gate surrounded by dozens of people.

Ge Yun watched clearly and said, “Inform the guys below to be ready to act at any moment!” Without delay, Sheng Yunfei took out his phone and gave orders. Time passed by minute by minute. Hong Yun held his phone tightly, having sent two of his men in to call him back no matter whether they had a chance to act or succeeded or not. But half an hour passed with no sign of activity. Hong Yun checked his watch, felt uneasy, and glanced suspiciously at Sheng Yunfei. Sheng Yunfei was also puzzled and said, “Maybe they don’t have a chance to call! There are quite a few of He Cheng’s men here; it must be full of his people. It won’t be easy to find an opening.”

“Hmm!” Hong Yun nodded. What Sheng Yunfei said made sense. He put his phone back in his pocket and said, “Let’s not wait! There’s plenty of time. Let’s storm in!”

The two of them each took three of their elite men and headed inside through the front and back doors. Hong Yun entered through the front door and further into the main hall. Seeing so many people come in, a waiter hurried over and asked, “Sir, do you guys need a private room?” Hong Yun sneered and said, “We’re here to celebrate He Cheng’s birthday.” Without waiting for the waiter’s reaction, he strode inside. The waiter quickly tried to block his way and said, “Then please show me the invitation.”

Ge Yun pushed him away forcefully and said coldly, “This isn’t your concern. Get out of the way!” He led his men up the stairs straight to the third floor. After they left, the once timid waiter instantly changed his expression, his eyes gleaming with coldness as he sneered.