Chapter 298

The good mood between the two of them vanished after this incident. Xie Wendong sighed and said helplessly, “It’s getting late. I’ll take you home.” Hearing this, Jiang Lin laughed like a silver bell, shook the car keys in her hand, and said seriously, “Comrade, it should be me who takes you home.” Xie Wendong rolled his eyes and regretted, “I really should have learned to drive on my own.” Seeing his unwillingness, Jiang Lin laughed even more. When the two returned to the Flower Hotel, it was already 10 p.m., and San Yan and the others were still awake, sitting in the lobby chatting loudly about something. When they saw Xie Wendong return, they all stood up. Xie Wendong waved his hand, signaling that they could go back to rest. However, his gaze casually drifted toward Liu Bo. The latter, the leader of the covert team specialized in gathering intelligence, was extremely observant. He understood Xie Wendong’s meaning and silently left the hotel, taking out a cigarette and lighting it slowly. After two cigarettes, he returned to the lobby, which was now empty except for one person.

Xie Wendong sat alone on the sofa next to the front desk, sipping tea leisurely. Liu Bo quietly approached, lowered his voice, and asked, “Brother Dong, did you call for me?”
Xie Wendong nodded and smiled, placed his teacup on the coffee table, and said, “Liu, I want you to help me investigate someone.” “Who?” Liu Bo asked doubtfully. Xie Wendong replied, “Boli.”
“Boli? I’ve never heard of that name. Why do you want to investigate him, Brother Dong?” Liu Bo was puzzled. Xie Wendong rubbed his hands and recounted in detail what had happened when he and Jiang Lin went out for a stroll, then said, “Maybe I’m overthinking it, but I just feel something’s off. As for what exactly, I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

After hearing this, Liu Bo thought it over carefully and still saw no problem with it. However, he couldn’t argue against what Xie Wendong asked him to do, so he nodded and said, “Okay, Brother Dong. I’ll get that person’s information to you as soon as possible.” “As soon as possible? Tomorrow or the day after?” Xie Wendong raised an eyebrow and asked. Liu Bo replied with a sigh, “Brother Dong, I’m not very familiar with the situation in Shanghai either. It’s nowhere near as straightforward as back home. I’m not sure exactly when.” Xie Wendong understood his situation. He stood up, patted him on the shoulder, and said, “This is a tough time. We’ve just arrived in Shanghai, and having access to information is crucial. So, Old Liu, you’ll have to work hard during this period to build up our network of informants. If you need any help, just ask.” Liu Bo perked up and said, “Don’t worry, Brother Dong. I know what needs to be done.”

Xie Wendong said kindly, “It seems the Loyalty Gang hasn’t shown any reaction lately.” Liu Bo nodded. “That’s right.” Xie Wendong raised an eyebrow and smiled. “So many of their members have been killed or injured by us, yet there’s still no reaction. If you were the leader of the Loyalty Gang, could you stay calm?” “It would be hard,” Liu Bo replied honestly. “But even if they wanted to do something, they’d have to act according to their capabilities. After all, the Loyalty Gang is just a local gang; its strength isn’t enough to pose a threat.” “Keep an eye on them!” Xie Wendong rubbed his forehead and narrowed his eyes. “Local gangs aren’t necessarily easy to deal with. What if they turn on us from behind? That would be annoying.” Liu Bo thought for a moment and asked, “So, what do you mean, Brother Dong…?” Xie Wendong replied coldly, word by word, “Since the feud has already been formed, whether they’ve done anything harmful to us or not, we should get rid of them early to avoid future problems.”

“Understood, Brother Dong!” Liu Bo agreed readily, but inwardly he didn’t agree. He thought to himself that a small, unknown gang couldn’t do much, so it made little difference whether to keep it or get rid of it.

Taking advantage of Xie Wendong’s coma and hospitalization, the South Hongmen attempted to attack the North Hongmen but failed, suffering heavy losses in men and casualties, causing a major uproar in Shanghai’s underworld. Large-scale gang battles had not occurred in Shanghai for decades, so it was unexpected that the North Hongmen, having just arrived in Shanghai, would stir up turmoil in what seemed otherwise calm waters. People gained a new understanding of the North Hongmen’s strength, and many gangs adopted a wait-and-see attitude. After all, the South Hongmen had dominated the local underworld for a long time; the sudden emergence of a rival gang that could match them meant it was better to sit back and watch the fight as long as it didn’t threaten their own interests. However, some weaker gangs began to stir, frequently provoking neighboring gangs, seeing this as an opportunity to take advantage of the conflict between the North and South Hongmen, when the South Hongmen were preoccupied and unable to focus on others. There were also individual gangs that straddled both sides, maintaining close ties with everyone while staying neutral, as slick as loaches in mud. The Bai family was one such group, with Bai Ziyi seemingly proud of his constant busyness.

After a fierce battle between the North and South Hongmen, both sides settled down for a while. It was true that the South Hongmen suffered heavy losses, but they were not weakened—only demoralized. Their members had never experienced such a crushing defeat and now felt a vague fear of the North Hongmen and Xie Wendong. Learning this from Xiang Wentian, he decided not to launch another attack but instead trained his subordinates, preparing to launch a full-scale assault at the right moment, when he would not give Xie Wendong another chance. During this time, Xie Wendong was also busy; members of the North Hongmen kept arriving from cities like T City and Nanjing. If it weren’t for Xie Wendong’s earlier claim that he only had elite fighters, the number of people gathered by the North Hongmen would likely have filled more than ten Fresh Flower Hotels combined. Even so, Dong Xinlei had to spend a lot of money to rent out the third and fourth floors of Fresh Flower Building, with some members staying in nearby hotels. As the number of members grew, Liu Bo, wielding a large sword while holding cash, also began to build an intelligence network. While Xiang Wentian wasn’t ready to attack, Xie Wendong was determined to take the initiative and strike first.

That day, just as Xie Wendong got up and got dressed, before even having time to eat, a subordinate reported that Bai Ziyi had arrived and was waiting in the bar. Xie Wendong didn’t have a good impression of him, finding him slick and untrustworthy. Briefly stunned, he thought to himself, What does this guy want? As he fastened his clothes, he said, “Okay, tell him to wait a moment. I’ll be there right away.”

More than half an hour had passed by the time Xie Wendong finished washing up slowly and walked downstairs with steady steps. Bai Ziyi was sitting at the bar, laughing as he drank and smoked, showing no sign of urgency. Xie Wendong approached with a smile, spreading his arms and saying, “I’m truly sorry for making Brother Bai wait so long.”

Bai Ziyi wasn’t bothered at all. He quickly stood up and said, “What are you saying, Younger Brother Xie? We’re family—there’s no need for formalities.” Xie Wendong frowned slightly. Looking at the polite and cheerful Mr. Bai, he thought that this guy’s behavior really didn’t match his good looks—how could he be so shameless? When had they become family?! Though he thought this in his heart, he showed no sign of disapproval on his face. Instead, he smiled, put his arm around Bai Ziyi, and sat down beside him. After exchanging a few polite words, he asked, “Brother Bai, you must have come here for a reason, right?” Bai Ziyi hesitated for a moment, opened his mouth as if to speak but couldn’t say anything. Xie Wendong was very smart; seeing his reaction, he had already guessed most of it. Smiling, he said, “Brother Bai, since you just said we’re all family, what’s there that can’t be easily spoken?”

“Oh…” Bai Ziyi stamped his foot, looking apologetic, and said, “Younger Brother Xie, I came here mainly to apologize.” “Apologize?” Xie Wendong pretended to be clueless, looking puzzled, and asked, “Brother Bai, for what exactly should you apologize?” “It’s all because of the trouble caused by my sister Bai Yan!” Bai Ziyi sighed. “If it weren’t for her, you wouldn’t have fainted and ended up in the hospital last time, nor would you have been attacked by the Nan Hongmen. So I…” “Ah!” Xie Wendong waved his hand to interrupt him and said seriously, “I’ve long forgotten about that incident. Why bring it up again, Brother Bai? Besides, Bai Yan is still young, and it’s normal for a young lady to have a temper. Strictly speaking, it was my fault first. Talking too much will only hurt feelings. Let’s just forget this matter. Since I don’t care about it, why should you keep dwelling on it?!” He said Bai Yan was young, but in fact, she was two or three years older than Xie Wendong. Yet, given the natural authority and maturity in his tone, no one found it funny. Bai Ziyi let out a long sigh and praised, “Younger Brother Xie is truly magnanimous. With your words, I’m relieved.”

Xie Wendong shook his head and said politely, “It’s Brother Bai who’s being too worried.” Bai Ziyi seemed to suddenly remember something. He slapped his head and laughed, “Oh right, the day after tomorrow is my birthday. I hope Younger Brother Xie can grace me with your presence.” “Oh?” Xie Wendong was surprised for a moment before laughing loudly, “Of course! Even if you didn’t mention it, I would still go to celebrate with you!”

Bai Ziyi gave him enough face, and he was greatly pleased, laughing repeatedly. After a while, he finally spoke seriously, “Brother Xie, there’s something I must mention in advance.”
Xie Wendong said, “Brother Bai, please go ahead.” Bai Ziyi lowered his head and remained silent for a while before slowly saying, “The day after tomorrow, Xiang Wentian might also show up.” Upon hearing this, Xie Wendong’s expression changed; his eyes narrowed, glowing with intensity and an ominous aura. Bai Ziyi was startled and quickly added, “Grudges and favors between gangs are ultimately matters between gangs. Personally, you, Brother Xie, and Xiang Wentian have nothing to do with each other. Why make things so deadly? I hope that the day after tomorrow, Brother Xie won’t turn my birthday party into a battlefield.”
Xie Wendong’s expression returned to normal as he said helplessly, “I can hold back, but I’m afraid some people won’t be able to tolerate me!” Bai Ziyi patted his chest and said, “Don’t worry about that. With me here, Xiang Wentian won’t quarrel with you. He still has to give me face.” Xie Wendong’s eyes moved rapidly as he nodded and smiled slightly, “With Brother Bai’s words, I’m relieved.”
Seeing his strange smile, Bai Ziyi instinctively shuddered, wondering if he had chosen the wrong person. “Brother Xie, you…” Before he could finish, Xie Wendong already knew what he was going to say. He said seriously, “Brother Bai, don’t worry. Since I said I won’t use force, I definitely won’t. I’m someone who always keeps his word.”
“Brother Xie, you misunderstood. That’s not what I meant,” Bai Ziyi said, shaking his hand repeatedly and forcing a smile to hide his guilt. After saying what he needed to say, the two chatted a bit more before Bai Ziyi got up to leave. After seeing him go, Sanyan came out from behind the door. He had heard everything clearly and asked, “Brother Dong, are you really going?” Xie Wendong walked a few steps in the hall with his head down and said, “It depends on the situation.” “What do you mean, Brother Dong?” Sanyan asked in confusion.
Xie Wendong replied, “First, let’s find out who Bai Ziyi has invited. If he’s invited any notable figures from Shanghai’s underworld, then I definitely have to go. But if only me and Xiang Wentian are on his list, then…” “Then what?” Xie Wendong narrowed his eyes and said, “I still have to go. Only, I’ll change his birthday gift to weapons!”

After hearing this, Sanyan pondered for a while before suddenly nodding and saying, “Dongge is absolutely right!” He understood Xie Wendong’s meaning: if all the major gangs in Shanghai were invited, it clearly meant Bai Ziyi’s birthday party was real and there were no malicious intentions; otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to justify it morally or in terms of face. If only Xie Wendong and Xiang Wentian were invited, it might be a trick by one of them to use Bai Ziyi to get rid of the other, and since Xie Wendong was the one invited, the most likely scenario was that Xiang Wentian and Bai Ziyi were working together against him. So, Xie Wendong needed to decide based on the situation—whether to bring weapons or gifts. With his hands behind his back, Xie Wendong paced back and forth in the bar, his brows furrowing and relaxing alternately, his expression shifting between joy and gloom. Sanyan knew he was thinking and didn’t dare disturb him, but he also couldn’t leave, so he slowly sat down and waited quietly.

It was unclear how much time passed before Xie Wendong stopped, took out his phone from his pocket, and called Liu Bo. As soon as the call connected, he asked directly, “Lao Liu, how’s the investigation you were tasked with?” “I’ve got the results.” “Good, come back right away!” “No problem, Dongge.” After hanging up, Xie Wendong turned to Sanyan and said, “Zhangge, call Lao Lei and the others here to the bar—let’s hold a meeting.” Sanyan’s expression brightened; knowing there would be work to do again, he nodded silently and ran off.

Liu Bo returned quickly and found Xie Wendong. The two whispered privately for a while, with the latter looking pleased and praising, “Well done.” “What’s well done?” At that moment, Sanyan, Dong Xinlei, and others came in, asking in confusion. Xie Wendong gestured toward the door and smiled, saying, “Close the door—I have something to discuss with everyone.”

Xie Wendong gathered his subordinates for a meeting, and the same went for Xiang Wentian. He had also been invited by Bai Ziyi, who had mentioned that Xie Wendong would be at her birthday party. Upon hearing this, Xiao Fang asked Xiang Wentian, “Tiange, are you going?” “Mm!” Xiang Wentian nodded. Given his relationship with Bai Ziyi, it seemed there was no reason not to go.

Xiao Fang reminded, “But recently, the Bai family and Xie Wendong have become quite close.” Upon hearing this, Xiang Wentian smiled and said, “We know very well what kind of person Bai Ziyi is—he’s smooth-talking and never offends anyone. Even if he wants to deal with someone, he doesn’t act directly but uses others instead. Xie Wendong is the leader of the Northern Hongmen; it’s only natural for Bai Ziyi to want to get close to him.” “But…” Xiao Fang pursed his lips, hesitating to speak further. Seeing this, Xiang Wentian waved his hand and said with a smile, “Don’t worry. Even if he had ten times more courage, he wouldn’t dare harm me. Even without me, the Hongmen still has enough strength to kill him a hundred times—he should be well aware of that.” After hearing this, Xiao Fang nodded. The Southern Hongmen had many skilled fighters, so killing Bai Ziyi wasn’t really difficult. With a quick thought, he added, “Brother Tian, since Xie Wendong is going too, maybe we can take the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on his base. He’s been very active lately; I heard he’s taken over the upper two floors of that Fresh Flower Hotel. If this continues, the Northern bandits’ strength will grow even more, making it harder for us to contain them.”