Chapter 328

On the second day after the incident, Tan Xiaochun and Wei Ming, unable to wait until everything was ready, raised the banner of vindication and led their followers along with Qi Xiaolong’s men to launch a fierce attack on Xuan Zidan. In their words, they intended to bring Xuan Zidan’s head as an offering before Qi Xiaolong’s “seventh day of mourning.” With high morale and a massive force at their backs, their momentum was unimaginable. Xuan Zidan wasn’t helpless either; over the years, he had cultivated a group of loyal followers, and with the covert support of several leaders, he was able to match Tan and Wei in strength and was not at a disadvantage. With equal forces on both sides, the battle was extremely tough for everyone, and a protracted fight was beyond their endurance—even the police could handle it no longer. The police station received no fewer than ten calls daily reporting large-scale fights in various dance halls, nightclubs, and bars. At first, out of courtesy, they tried to persuade people peacefully, but eventually, the local police chief became frustrated and declared that anyone who dared to cause trouble in the area would be arrested and severely punished.

He said his part, but the internal strife within the Zhongyi Gang continued. Both sides were in a precarious position; a single mistake could lead not only to ruin but also to loss of life and property. Seeing that intimidation was ineffective, the police wanted to take tough action. However, with over a thousand members in the Zhongyi Gang, even if they were all arrested, the detention centers and prisons wouldn’t be able to hold them all. Thus, they had to resort to softer methods. The district chiefs talked to Xuan Zidan and Wei Ming several times, appealing to their emotions and reasoning with them, but the results were limited. At that point, an experienced veteran police officer suggested to the chief to use the underworld against itself. With the underworld in chaos, forceful action was useless and might backfire, making things worse. It would be better to bring in someone powerful and obedient to end the gang conflicts. The district chief, already overwhelmed by the Zhongyi Gang’s troubles, asked, “Using the underworld against itself is a good idea, but the only one with that kind of power is Xiang Wentian. He’s far away in the city. Even if he’s powerful, it’s hard for him to extend his influence that far.” “In today’s Shanghai, Xiang Wentian may not be the strongest in the underworld. There’s another man—not far from us, actually, a neighbor. If he steps in, even the most chaotic situation within the Zhongyi Gang can be calmed down.” “Who is it?” “Xie Wendong, who has a position in the Political Department!” “Ah, him?!” The district chief frowned and asked, “Can he help us?” “More or less, as long as he can gain some benefits.” “I don’t have any money to offer him,” the district chief said with a wry smile. “I think giving him the Zhongyi Gang’s territory would be enough,” the veteran police officer said with a sly grin. “Hmm,” the chief rubbed his chin and said, “Leave this to you. Go talk to Xie Wendong. If his demands aren’t too excessive, I’ll get involved.” “Okay!” The veteran police officer smiled to himself—you really care about your own face! After leaving the chief’s office, he hurried to the stairwell, checked around to ensure no one was there, and quickly pulled out his phone to call Xie Wendong. “Mr. Xie, things are almost settled.”

It turned out that this person had already been bribed by Xie Wendong at the beginning of the chaos within the Zhongyi Gang. He predicted that the conflict wouldn’t end soon, and the prolonged chaos in the underworld would inevitably overwhelm the police, who couldn’t bear such pressure. At that time, the best and most direct solution was to use violence against violence, to exploit the underworld itself. So, he chose a police officer from the local station with long service experience and a close relationship with the chief, asking him to whisper in the deputy chief’s ear. Of course, he also offered a substantial reward—200,000. Yet, the results achieved with that amount were worth a hundred or even a thousand times more. When Xie Wendong received his call and heard what he had to say, he was overjoyed. With a slight smile, he calmly said, “Very good. You can go to the bank and check your account.” “Hehe, thank you very much, sir.” “You help me, I help you; we all benefit.”

The Zhongyi Gang was now not only in chaos but also faced extremely complicated relationships. Xuan Zidan and Tan Wei were locked in a fierce battle. The leaders who had remained neutral saw an opportunity and began to stir, with some even aggressively expanding their territories, causing chaos and disorder in the area. It was under such circumstances that the Beihongmen and Xie Wendong suddenly stepped in without warning. The Zhongyi Gang might have been a powerful gang, but after all this turmoil, it was nothing compared to the Beihongmen—just a group of ants. A nest of rebellious ants trampled upon by someone; the consequences were obvious. Xuan Zidan thought Xie Wendong would be on his side, and Tan Wei shared the same belief. So at first, neither side resisted the Beihongmen’s interference; in fact, they welcomed them. But over time, after Xie Wendong successively eliminated and brought under control several small leaders, his attention shifted to Xuan Zidan and Tan Wei. Ignoring both sides, the Beihongmen, like unrestrained wild horses, quickly spread their influence throughout the Zhongyi Gang’s territory.

In the latter part of the month, the sky over Shanghai was covered in dark clouds, with continuous light rain falling for several days, dampening everyone’s mood. Even if the weather was clear outside, some people’s moods probably wouldn’t have improved much, such as Tan Xiaochun and Wei Ming. Wei Ming walked to the window, looked at the gloomy sky, and cursed, “What a damned weather.” Tan Xiaochun agreed, silently saying, “It’s been raining for four days straight.” “We’ve also lost four strongholds,” Wei Ming said through gritted teeth. Tan Xiaochun helplessly replied, “The Beihongmen are beyond our ability to deal with. Now, you must have realized Xie Wendong’s intentions, right?”

“Damn his intentions!” Wei Ming was upset and said, “Anyway, he’s not on Xuanzi Dan’s side nor ours. He’s like a mad dog, biting anyone it sees. Damn him!” Tan Xiaochun sighed and said, “Actually, what he wants is the entire Zhongyi Gang. That’s even more terrifying than which side he favors. It seems it won’t be long before the Zhongyi Gang is completely wiped out in Shanghai.” “Could it be…” Wei Ming asked reluctantly, “We don’t even have a chance to take over?”
“No, absolutely not,” Tan Xiaochun said bitterly. “No matter what happens to the Nan Hongmen or Xiang Wentian, how many losses have we suffered at Xie Wendong’s hands? We don’t even have the means to compare or compete with them. How can we fight at all?” He let out a long sigh and added, “Xie Wendong is cruel and ruthless, acting without any mercy. If you and I stay in Shanghai, our lives may be at risk, not to mention our families. You must have made quite a bit of money over the years. Just give up.”
“What? Give up?” Wei Ming raised an eyebrow sarcastically. “If you want to run away, go ahead by yourself. Don’t drag me in. If my head gets cut off, it’s just a big scar.” Then, moved, he added, “Lao Tan, if I run away like this, I’ll never be able to hold my head high again in life.” Tan Xiaochun had known Wei Ming for many years and understood his temperament well, so he didn’t insist. Instead, he said softly, “Face is just skin. If you can let it go, it won’t matter. But life is only once. Once lost, nothing else matters.” Wei Ming clenched his fists, looked out the window, and changed the subject. “It’s been over ten years since we met, right?” “Thirteen years.” “Sigh! Everyone has their own ambitions. If you decide to leave, remember to tell me. I’ll see you off…” Wei Ming didn’t ask where he was going or when he would leave. He just stared silently out the window at the light rain.
At that moment, Xie Wendong was also watching the rain, but his state of mind was very different from Wei Ming’s. Since the North Hongmen entered the Zhongyi Gang’s territory, the police had secretly backed them up. Coupled with internal strife within the Zhongyi Gang, which had left it severely weakened and fragmented, it became easy for the North Hongmen to advance swiftly. In just a few days, they had taken control of several major strongholds. For the once-prosperous Zhongyi Gang in the southern suburbs, extinction was only a matter of time. He sat in the rocking chair by the window, sipping tea slowly while gazing into the distance.

There was another person in the room—Xiaofeng, a stunningly beautiful woman who had now taken Wenzi’s place as Xie Wendong’s personal bodyguard. She was a quiet person, quite reserved, and rarely spoke unless prompted. Xie Wendong was like a god within the Wendong Club, exalted above everyone else. Before, she could only watch from afar; now, being so close, she found it hard to adjust. She chose a corner not too far from Xie Wendong and sat silently, motionless, as if blending in with the room’s furnishings. Yet Xie Wendong could sense her presence even without opening his eyes, for the faint scent emanating from her was unique and alluring. Fortunately, he wasn’t someone prone to impulsive actions. Xie Wendong patted his stomach—the scent had faded, and he felt hungry. Just as he was about to get up, the door opened, and heavy footsteps echoed on the floor. From the sound alone, Xie Wendong already knew who had arrived. “Xiaoshuang, how many times have I told you to be polite? You should knock before entering.” Li Shuang scratched his short, flat hair and smiled foolishly, “I’m sorry, Brother Dong. You seemed to say that before, but I forgot again.” What more could you say to someone who was polite yet kept making the same mistakes? Xie Wendong had nothing to say and shook his head helplessly. “What is it, Xiaoshuang? Go on.” “Oh…” Li Shuang glanced at Xiaofeng in the corner, who was also staring at him with expressionless, clear eyes. Li Shuang instinctively turned away, his chubby face turning red. He thought to himself, When did Xue Sha produce such a beautiful girl? How did I not notice before? Seeing Li Shuang’s distracted look, Xie Wendong chuckled and said, “If there’s nothing else, I need to eat.” “There is! There is!” Seeing Xie Wendong about to leave, Li Shuang hurriedly said, “Xuan Zidan called for the fourth time today, hoping to meet Brother Dong.” “Xuan Zidan?” Xie Wendong chewed on those three words slowly before shaking his head. “It’s better not to meet him. If we do, he’ll only suffer more.” Li Shuang asked in confusion, “Why?” Xie Wendong smiled slightly and said, “On my path forward, no obstacles are allowed. Although we once worked together to take down Bo Zhanhui.”

“If he’s smart enough, he should leave on his own.” Before Li Shuang could speak, Jiang Sen arrived, his clothes still damp with drops of blood. “Brother Dong, I’ve taken care of it.” “Mm!” Xie Wendong knew what he meant and nodded in satisfaction, smiling. “It seems our next target will be Tan Xiaochun and Wei Ming.” Jiang Sen wiped his hands on his clothes, filled a cup with tea, drank it in one gulp, and let out a satisfied sigh. “Taking care of those two is a piece of cake. Sigh, after fighting against the Nan Hong Men for so long, switching to the Zhongyi Bang makes me feel like I can’t handle anything anymore—lacking motivation.”

“Amazing—no exaggeration at all,” Li Shuang said sarcastically. Jiang Sen laughed heartily. “The reputation of Blood Killers was also earned through hard work.” At the mention of Blood Killers, Li Shuang immediately lost his enthusiasm. The most famous figure within Xie Wendong’s group was obviously Xie Wendong himself, while the most renowned faction was undoubtedly Blood Killers. With their black notices appearing and bloodshed following, every hero in the world dared not defy them. The name Blood Killers was well-known throughout the Northeastern underworld. Some people even felt chills down their spines just by hearing those words.

“I wonder what Xiang Wentian is doing now?” Xie Wendong mused. “Worrying, probably!” Li Shuang said jokingly. “After we take over the Zhongyi Bang, our territory will expand greatly. Then we can send as many people to Shanghai as we want, without having to worry about housing just a few hundred people like now.” “Yes!” Xie Wendong agreed. “Everyone understands that logic. But what worries me is if Xiang Wentian suddenly gets involved in the Zhongyi Bang matter—it will complicate things. And then there’s the ever-present Soul Group. They’ve been quiet lately, but who knows what tricks they’re planning next.” Jiang Sen thought for a moment. “Brother Dong, you don’t need to worry about Xiang Wentian.” “How so?” “Xiang Wentian is cautious and has fought against us several times recently; he’s not yet recovered. I don’t think he’ll start trouble so soon. The real concern is the Soul Group. They certainly don’t want to see us grow strong in Shanghai—it’s bad for them and gives them fewer opportunities to strike. So…” “So,” Xie Wendong sneered, “they’re likely in secret contact with either Xuan Zidan or one of Wei Ming and Tan Xiaochun right now.” “Mm, if that’s the case, we really need to be careful and not fall for their tricks,” Jiang Sen said worriedly.

“Soul Group, a bunch of scumbags,” Xie Wendong shook his head and said, “We can’t give them this chance. By the way, Xiao Shuang, didn’t you say it’s you who should negotiate with Xuan Zidan? Alright, go set a time with him. As for the location, let him choose.” “Brother Dong, didn’t you just say you didn’t want to meet him?” “I’ve changed my mind now,” Xie Wendong said with a smirk.
“Oh!” Li Shuang replied and rushed out of the room. After he left, Jiang Sen frowned and said, “Brother Dong, it’s not appropriate to let Xuan Zidan decide the location. What if he…”
Xie Wendong waved his hand and laughed, “Don’t worry. First, he doesn’t have the courage. Second, we’re well-prepared, so there’s nothing to fear. If he really has ulterior motives, that would be even better.” “Oh?” Jiang Sen was confused. “After all, we still lack a legitimate reason to get involved with the Loyalty Gang.” “Ah!” Jiang Sen laughed and said, “I understand what you mean, Brother Dong.” Whether Soul Group had indeed been in secret contact with both Xuan Zidan and Wei Mingtan Xiaochun was exactly what Xie Wendong and Jiang Sen guessed—and not just once. Xuan Zidan was smart and highly cunning. He saw that Soul Group wanted to use him to tie down Xie Wendong, but he wasn’t stupid. He had also heard about the grudges between Soul Group and Xie Wendong. If he got involved, neither the Northern Hongmen nor Wen Dong would spare him. Who knew when Soul Group might stab him in the back? Allowing them to ally with him would be playing with fire.