Chapter Twenty-One: The Old Fox at the Victory Banquet

It was late at night, and with nothing better to do, members of several gangs were closely monitoring the aftermath of the conflict between Wang Yaotang and Datou Sheng.

Datou Sheng’s henchmen had recently been seen running out, cut and bloodied, but Datou Sheng himself was nowhere to be found—it was clear he had been cornered inside. As the finale approached, every eye was fixed on the stairwell.

Without making them wait long, Wang Yaotang emerged. His white shirt and jeans were immaculate, and his hands were tucked casually into his pockets. There were low gasps, hushed discussions, and pointing fingers, but when Wang Yaotang looked their way, he was met with mostly friendly smiles. This was the privilege of a victor. Behind him, his men carried out a comatose Datou Sheng. They didn't dump him in the street like trash; instead, they propped him up against a wall in a seated position.

Wang Yaotang cupped his hands in a traditional salute to those around him. "He Sheng Yi, Wang Yaotang, greetings to you all. Just a minor misunderstanding, sorry to have disturbed you. My apologies, my apologies."

"Well done!"
"Brother Yao, you’re a legend!"
"Brother Yao, you’re incredible!"

"Thank you, thank you." Wang Yaotang smiled and returned the salutes, his old-school gangster flair drawing a chorus of cheers. In the 1980s, before the influence of modern trends and the internet, Hong Kong and Macau society—especially within the triads—still held fast to old habits and traditions. After all, it had only been nine years since the abolition of the old concubinage laws.

Datou Sheng cracked his eyes open just enough to see Wang Yaotang basking in the spotlight. He cursed under his breath, *What a show-off.* Acting all refined with his fancy salutes—a lowly street thug pretending to be an intellectual! *If anyone can play that game, I can too!* Seeing Wang Yaotang saunter off with his men, Datou Sheng scrambled to his feet and left; he knew he had lost today. His priority was getting to a clinic. His previous stitches had burst, and he was covered in blood like a burst gourd; if he waited any longer, he would bleed to death. There was no going back for a rematch. He had lost the duel, and to challenge him again would violate the rules of the underworld. He Sheng Yi could issue a hit warrant, and even the Tong Xin He gang wouldn't be able to protect him.

...

On the way back, Wang Yaotang checked his system panel.

【You have achieved a glorious victory in battle.】
【In recognition of your valiant performance, your reputation has spread locally. Prestige +60.】
【Current Prestige: 375/675 (Rising Star)】

Not bad. Since it was a surprise counter-attack, sixty points was a solid reward.

He was truly looking forward to his assets. He checked his personal panel:

Name: Wang Yaotang
Height: 175cm
Prestige: 375/675 (Rising Star)
Affiliation: He Sheng Yi
Rank: Four-Nine Member
Skills: Driving (LV1), Sanda (LV1), Muay Thai (LV1), Art (LV1)
Assets: Lingerie Stalls (x4), Adult Goods Store (x1)

Wang Yaotang frowned slightly. There was no change to his assets. It seemed that even though Datou Sheng had agreed to the terms, things might still get complicated. *Troublesome.*

Datou Sheng hadn't deployed many men at the Youlian Building, so Ah Ji had handled them easily. The two groups merged—over twenty men in total, armed with clubs and machetes. Though they looked a bit ragged, the victory had bolstered their morale, giving them a certain air of authority. Wang Yaotang offered a few words of praise, sending his men into a frenzy of excitement. Three years ago, when he and his brothers first left Choi Hung Estate, they had been just like this.

He smiled and shook his head, taking a leather bag from Four-Eyes and pulling out a stack of cash for Ah Wei. "Take your guys to get some late-night snacks, find yourselves some girls, and head to the sauna to relax."

"Thank you, Brother Yao!"
"Long live Brother Yao!"

After a street fight, what they enjoyed most wasn't actually the girls, but drinking and bragging. As the rowdy group left, Wang Yaotang walked slowly with Ah Ji and Ah Jie, while Four-Eyes followed in a van. Wang Yaotang didn't want to talk right now; he wanted a moment of peace before meeting that old fossil, Guanzai Sen.

...

Hong Fu Ji Restaurant.

It was a business owned by the gang, a decades-old establishment where He Sheng Yi usually held its meetings. The tea in front of Guanzai Sen had already gone cold, but he hadn't taken a single sip; he was entirely preoccupied. Since Zhu Bitong had proven useless, he had immediately sent others to gather information. When he finally heard the hurried footsteps and the report from his subordinate, his vision went black. He nearly crushed his teacup in frustration. The "Daoyou Ming" gambit was a total failure.

Wait—it wasn't just a failure. If Daoyou Ming was still foolish enough to implicate Wang Yaotang, Ah Ji, and Ah Jie, Wang Yaotang would never let it slide. Once Daoyou Ming fell into his hands, the only defense would be to claim that a drug-addled fool’s words couldn't be trusted—that it was all just a desperate attempt to drag others down with him. But the syndicate wasn't a court of law... what the others believed was what mattered most.

*Damn it, how did things end up like this?*

Guanzai Sen was truly panicked. He stood up to call Zhu Bitong and order him to deal with Daoyou Ming before that bastard could talk. But just as he moved toward the phone, he heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Before the person appeared, a voice rang out: "Guanzai Sen, congratulations! Ah Yao is so impressive, you must be feeling pretty proud."

Guanzai Sen stiffened but quickly stood up, laughing loudly. "Brother Bo, Brother Rong, you’ve arrived so quickly! Hahaha, come, come."

Interrupted, Guanzai Sen had to suppress his anxiety and welcome the two guests. The three big bosses sat at one table, laughing and chatting, while Niu Tou and Ah Hao accompanied them. The other members sat at a separate table.

As they spoke, the sound of rhythmic footsteps came from the stairs. They turned to see Wang Yaotang—his hair cropped, looking clean and tidy, wearing a polite smile—slowly walking up to the second floor. "Boss, I’ve returned. I have fulfilled my mission!"

"Good!" Guanzai Sen slapped the table, his face full of excitement. "First you took down Datou Sheng head-on, then you pulled a brilliant counter-attack, seizing the flag! How impressive!"

He walked over and gripped Wang Yaotang’s shoulder, looking him up and down. "Hahaha, Ah Yao, I didn't misjudge you. You’ve got a sharp mind. In this generation of He Sheng Yi, you are bound to be a leader!"

"Next time we hold a ceremony, I will insist the head of the syndicate promotes you!"

"Brother Bo, Brother Rong, what do you think?" Guanzai Sen draped an arm around Wang Yaotang, his face beaming.

"Ah Yao has indeed done well lately," said Fatty Bo with a smile. "He’s suppressed Fu Yi Xing, dealt with the Ying Lian She, and distributed goods to every establishment on Knutsford Terrace. He’s really made a name for himself."

Niu Tou lowered his head, his expression sour. Ah Hao glanced at him, the two exchanging a look and curling their lips in disdain. *When the fighting started, where the hell was he? What kind of 'Fire Chicken Yao'—more like 'Rat Yao'.*

"Indeed, he’s excellent," added Ma Fu Rong with a grin. "In the last few months, Ah Yao has brought in many new customers for the branch. Business is up by half."

"Taking those two locations from Tong Xin He—once we plant our flag there, he’ll definitely be qualified for a promotion," Fatty Bo added.

"Thank you, Boss. Thank you, Uncle Bo, Uncle Rong. It was just a minor squabble among us youngsters; I’m too embarrassed to receive such praise," Wang Yaotang said with a shy smile. "Without you bosses backing me, I would have been chopped into pieces long ago. The other gangs are only giving me face because of you three."

"Don't tease me, Bosses."

"What do you think?" Guanzai Sen asked, looking triumphant.

"Not bad at all."
"He has a bright future."

Fatty Bo and Ma Fu Rong praised him with smiles. At that moment, Wang Yaotang couldn't tell if Guanzai Sen was being genuine or if he was deliberately raising his profile to make him a target for others.

*Damn, what an old fox.*