Free Web NovelChapter 184: Chapter 125: Gunfight, Brother Hao’s Grudges and Grievances
That day, at dusk.
A black SUV left the academy and headed straight for the cross-river bridge.
From a distant vantage point, eyes followed the black vehicle as it shrank into a tiny black dot.
Inside a building in the inner courtyard, one person sat in a wheelchair, their arm wrapped in gauze and held in a sling, their face contorted with resentment. Another leaned on a crutch, eyes narrowing as a cold glint appeared within them.
"Don’t worry. The Thunder Extreme Martial Arts Hall will handle it for us."
As if sensing their mood, the red-haired Mei Ning turned away, her eyes cold.
"Even if something goes wrong, it would be the perfect opportunity, just as my cousin said."
"When the time comes..."
She sneered, recalling the image of that hick daring to point a gun at her.
The others exchanged glances and understood. They nodded slightly, a gleam of vengeful delight appearing in their eyes.
They knew.
No matter the outcome.
Before long, that person would disappear from this world.
...
VROOOM!!
The streetlights on both sides of the road flew past in a blur. Hover-cars soared through the clouds, their wakes cutting through the evening glow.
Lu Chao sat by the window in the back seat, watching the glass canopies that enveloped the city’s buildings.
Holographic projections of magnetic light floated between the skyscrapers, growing more distant by the second.
He didn’t know when his mind returned to the present. He was back in the Iron Ring District, where he parted ways with Chen Xiao and the others.
’Just a little bit more.’
His eyes shone. He knew he was getting closer and closer to mastering the Rock Martial Skill. He would break through in the next two or three days.
With newfound resolve, Lu Chao quickly left the Patrol Department. He planned to go home and temper his body, continue his training, and achieve his breakthrough as soon as possible.
That way, he could settle some scores sooner rather than later...
BUZZ BUZZ!
However, at that exact moment, his watch suddenly vibrated with an incoming message.
[Song Yuhan]
Frowning, Lu Chao tapped it open without thinking.
The moment he read the contents, his pupils contracted, and a flicker of killing intent flashed in his eyes!
...
VROOOM!!
A black Sharp Light sedan drove through an alley, stopping in front of a concrete building on West Street in the Iron Ring District.
The sign for "Ah Yue’s Card Room" hung on the second-floor wall.
The light of the setting sun mingled with the flashing of intersecting neon signs.
Several young men stood guard at the entrance, cigarettes dangling from their lips. Some squatted, others stood. All of them had tattoos or the glowing lines of cybernetic implants.
"Brother Hao is here."
As soon as they recognized the license plate on the black Sharp Light sedan, the young men at the door flicked away their cigarettes. Those who were squatting scrambled to their feet, and one of them hurried over respectfully to open the car door.
"Brother Hao."
A minor leader from the Hongyi Society called out with a fawning smile.
Chen Junhao stepped out, dressed in a black suit over a black shirt. The soles of his black leather boots met the concrete with deliberate slowness.
"Hn."
He gave a slight nod. Uncharacteristically, he wasn’t smoking a cigarette or holding a pipe.
Instead, he looked up at the card room’s sign.
"Where’s Ah Yue?"
’The deputy Hall Master of the Hongyi Society’s West Street branch. A subordinate he’d personally mentored, more talented than Ah Qiang and already at the professional level.’
"Brother Yue said some guys from the Iron Blood Gang were causing trouble at a hotel nearby. He took some men to go deal with it personally."
The minor leader replied quickly. Chen Junhao just grunted in acknowledgment.
Zhou Qiang had already gotten out of the driver’s seat, closing the door and rounding the front of the car to stand behind him.
"Where’s the Young Master?"
He asked, looking around in confusion.
The minor leader gave an awkward smile and scratched his head. "Brother Qiang, it’s not our place to ask about the Young Master’s affairs."
"But I imagine he should be here soon."
He craned his neck to look down the alley, but there was no sign of anyone.
Amidst the awkward silence, Chen Junhao shot him a look. Without another word, he turned and walked into the card room.
"Brother Hao!"
"Brother Hao."
Respectful greetings rang out one after another. All the Hongyi Society members they passed looked at him with reverence.
Chen Junhao nodded to each of them as he made his way into the main hall.
A dozen square auto-mahjong tables were crammed into the narrow space. A single incandescent bulb hung in the center, supplemented by several light strips on the ceiling. A staircase led up to private rooms on the second and third floors.
Normally at this time of day, the place would be packed, thick with smoke, and filled with the sound of cursing and swearing.
The Iron Ring District never had a shortage of gamblers.
But now, the place was eerily quiet. It had clearly been cleared out and cleaned.
The mahjong tiles on the tables were neatly stacked. The floor, covered in cracked floral tiles, was clear of cigarette butts. Even the ashtrays had been washed.
"Not open for business today?"
Chen Junhao asked as he sat down at the center-most mahjong table, his back to the front door.
The minor leader who had escorted him in smiled and quickly explained, "Brother Yue said that since you and the Young Master would be talking business here, Brother Hao, we were to clear the place out no matter what."
"He also mentioned that back when you were in West Street, you valued cleanliness above all else. You’d have the card room scrubbed spotless every single day..."
He said, trying his best to sound familiar and curry favor.
Chen Junhao froze at his words, a flicker of nostalgia in his eyes.
It was the first flicker of emotion he had shown since entering the card room.
Everyone knew he ran North Street now.
But he had gotten his start here, in West Street. This very card room was the first branch he’d been assigned to after joining the Hongyi Society.
"That Ah Yue... he’s a thoughtful one."
Chen Junhao nodded, a hint of sentimentality in his voice.
Behind him, Zhou Qiang’s expression was also complex, a host of emotions flickering in his eyes.
The atmosphere in the card room gradually grew quiet.
The minor leader, who had been trying to make conversation, had vanished at some point. The few gang members guarding the door had also slipped away.
And so began the patient wait.
