"Sitou Miss, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."Cao Yang rose from his seat, disappointment written all over his face.
"Wait!" Sitou Meixin stopped him. "Cao Yang… what is it you actually want?"
Now that was the right question.Cao Yang flashed a sharp grin.
"What do I want?I want the Han family dead.I want the brothers in prison back home freed.And I want my sister-in-law and my child safe—really safe."
Sitou Meixin pressed her fingers to her forehead."That's… too hard. If your enemies were in the U.S., I could help you. But in China? That's not realistic.The only thing I can promise is that I'll do everything in my power to protect your sister-in-law and the child."
"No need," Cao Yang said with a faint smile. "Just don't cause trouble for them and I'll already be grateful."
"As for the Han family, you can't touch them.But Su Yuanshan—you can help with him, right?"
"You want to go after Su Yuanshan?" she asked.
"Yes."
"But he's not in America."
"You work with him, don't you? Then lure him here."
Sitou Meixin thought for a long moment, then nodded.
"Fine. But first you'll manage this group for me. And you'll wait until our collaboration with Su Yuanshan is finalized.Once the deal is sealed… he can die."
"So you'd sell out a business partner just like that?"
"What nonsense. He's just a commercial collaborator—a spokesperson. Business is business. There is no personal attachment."She paused, then added, "But you're different. You and I are from the same lineage. We're our own people. I'd never betray you."
"Heh… you think I'd believe that?"
"Believe it or not, I'm telling the truth."
Sitou Meixin stood. "Come. I'll take you to meet the group. If they don't obey, just beat them into obedience."
They arrived at Baoguo Martial Arts Hall.The place was large, serving temporarily as a gathering ground.
On the training floor, over seventy men lounged around with fierce, unruly auras.Dragons and tigers tattooed on their arms—pure street energy.
"Sitou Miss is here!"
Everyone immediately stood up.They were rowdy, but their respect for Sitou Meixin was absolute.
"What did Sitou Miss call us for?" someone whispered.
"She said we'd be forming our own sub-branch. Time to carve out territory."
"Right, she mentioned choosing a boss."
"So who's it gonna be?"
"I vote for Hao-ge. He's the best fighter—we all respect him."
"Fight what fight! Can he stop bullets? Get real."
"I say we pick Leopard-ge. He was the gun god of Zhuliangang. Could kill that Hao idiot in seconds!"
"Guns your ass! A boss doesn't need good fists. He needs a brain."
"A brain? What good is that? A brotherhood needs loyalty and guts!"
"I don't care—whoever makes me rich, I follow."
"That's the realest thing said today."
"Ah-Tiger, what are you looking at?"
A man in his twenties—Ah-Tiger—was staring intensely at the figure behind Sitou Meixin.
"Tiger, don't even think about it. Sitou Miss is way out of your league."
"Get lost! I'm not looking at her, I'm looking at the guy behind her."
"Oh? Who's that? Handsome kid. Sitou Miss's boyfriend?"
"Shut up! He'll beat you to death if he hears you!"
"Him? I'll make him kneel and call me daddy—"
"Shut it! He's looking over here!"Ah-Tiger suddenly panicked.
"So what? You know him or something?"
Cao Yang felt the staring and locked eyes with the young man.He didn't know this guy—but the guy definitely recognized him.
Cao Yang walked straight up to him, towering over him.
"You know me?"
"N-no." Ah-Tiger stammered, terrified.
Everyone around froze.This Ah-Tiger had killed a police officer in Hong Kong—why was he scared of this pretty boy?
"Who are you?" Cao Yang asked coldly.
"I… I'm Ah-Tiger."
"Who cares what your name is? I asked if you know me. Where were you mixing before?"
Before Ah-Tiger could answer, someone beside him snapped.
"Who the hell do you think you are, talking like that? Never been beaten?"
The man jabbed a finger at Cao Yang, spewing curses.
"Bao! Don't—"
Too late.
CRACK.A scream tore through the room as the man's finger twisted unnaturally and he was sent flying.
"Holy shit!"The hall exploded with shocked shouts.
But Cao Yang ignored them all, staring only at Ah-Tiger.
Terrified, Ah-Tiger finally blurted, "I-I'm from Hong Kong's Hop Luen Society… my boss was Shi An. I saw you twice."
"The street food stall incident… and the Nam Sang Wai ambush."
"Oh." Cao Yang nodded. "So you're that little punk's underling. That makes us enemies, huh?"
"No! Brother Cao Yang, don't! I don't follow him anymore! I left! I swear!"Ah-Tiger was shaking—both times, Shi An had sent hundreds of men to surround Cao Yang, and both times, they failed and ended up dead or crippled.
"How'd you get to America?"
"I got into trouble—killed a cop. Shi An gave me fifty thousand to run. I'm not with him anymore!"
Sitou Meixin walked over. "What's going on?"
"Nothing. Old acquaintance."Cao Yang patted Ah-Tiger's shoulder. "You follow me from now on."
"Yes! Yes! Absolutely!"Ah-Tiger nodded frantically.
Once Cao Yang left with Sitou Meixin, his gang immediately swarmed him.
"Who the hell was that guy?!"
Ah-Tiger, determined to cling to the thickest thigh in the room, recounted Cao Yang's legendary battles.The story was already terrifying—he exaggerated it into fighting thousands.No one believed him.
"Everyone, everyone!"Sitou Meixin stood on the high platform, microphone in hand.
"I'd like to introduce someone. This gentleman beside me is Cao Yang.He has been recommended by the elders of Hongmen to serve as the Hall Master of our newly founded Loyalty Hall.I hope you'll cooperate with him, follow his command, and help him lead our hall to the top."
"Him? That little brat? He still has baby hair and wants to be boss? I refuse!"
"Must be a connection!"
"Sitou Miss, no disrespect, but if you can't find anyone, then don't create this Loyalty Hall at all.Or better yet—make me the boss!"
The hall burst into mocking laughter.