Hong Kong film: The cop backs down, the ladies beg me to check his license.

"What?"

"Fatty Lai and Tung Sing Yiu Yeung have hooked up."

At first, Liang Kun didn't pay much attention: "It's nothing new for Hung Hing and Tung Sing's underlings to have private dealings. At the level of a gang leader, unless they're mortal enemies, they can sit down and talk, it's all about making money."

Ye Tian chuckled: "Their collusion isn't just for money. Fatty Li is setting a trap for Little B, getting Yao Yang to kill his whole family."

Handsome Kun's eyes widened: "Does Fatty Lai have such a deep grudge against Little B? To wipe out their entire family?"

"He doesn't have a grudge against Little B," Ye Tian shook his head. "He has a grudge against Mr. Jiang."

Liang Kun was even more confused.

"Fatty Li is staring at the dragon head staff," Ye Tian pointed out.

Liang Kun suddenly realized.

Ye Tian continued, "The scheme was set up by Dongxing Yaoyang, and after it was done... they'll pin the blame on you."

Liang Kun was taken aback, but instead of showing anger, a bright, even excited smile slowly spread across his face: "There's... such a good thing?"

Ye Tian laughed too: "That's a good thing. Let's see if you can handle it."

"It's been a long time since the martial arts world has been this lively." Liang Kun rubbed his hands together, his eyes gleaming.

Luo Tianhong was completely baffled, frowning, "Brother Kun, isn't the martial arts world supposed to be full of fighting and killing every day? Why isn't it lively anymore?"

Handsome Kun laughed heartily: "That's how small fry see the martial arts world."

Luo Tianhong's face fell.

Liang Kun looked at him, unusually patient as he explained, "The underworld is stratified. The ultimate goal of joining a gang is to make money. But you're new here, nameless, without connections, how do you get ahead? By risking your life. The boss assigns tasks, you do them, and if you succeed, you rise through the ranks. A gangster's life isn't worth much; only by risking your life can you get what you want. Otherwise, with that meager salary, you can't even afford to eat, let alone buy a car, a house, or live a life of luxury."

He lit a cigarette, took a drag, and the smoke swirled around him: "Of the seventy or eighty people who were assigned to the post with me back then... not a single one is left. Little B, who was assigned a year before me, is still alive. The others? They're all long gone to sell salted duck eggs."

Luo Tianhong was still puzzled: "But I see fights happening in the martial arts world every day."

"Yes, there are." Handsome Kun flicked his cigarette ash. "But if you look closely, those who are fighting are all low-level thugs. Which one of them is a real boss? Once you reach the boss level, you rarely personally get involved in killing people. They have more important things to do."

"What is it?" Luo Tianhong asked.

Instead of answering directly, Liang Kun asked Wu Zhaonan, "Wu, tell me, what's the point of being in this world?"

"Money!" Wu Zhaonan answered crisply and loudly.

"That's right!" Handsome Kun slapped his thigh. "It's all about money! That's the key. At the bottom, you're just a nobody, you can only gamble. But when things get tough, the game changes. Do you know why when Little B took over, Hung Hing didn't make a fuss?"

Luo Tianhong shook her head.

"If Tung Sing dares to retaliate on a large scale, will they still be able to do business?" Handsome Kun sneered. "Not long after Ba Bi died, Mr. Chiang was already having tea with Camel. They settled the terms, and that was the end of it. It's true that Ba Bi was a Tung Sing leader, but compared to the entire triad's business, he was nothing. He's dead, so be it. If the two sides go to war because of Ba Bi, the cops will be watching like flies 24 hours a day, and all their business will be ruined. What will happen to the hundreds of thousands of Hung Hing and Tung Sing members? Other triads won't allow it either; they'll say we broke the rules and dragged the entire underworld down with us."

He looked at Luo Tianhong's pale face: "This is the truth behind Dongxing's silence after Ba Bi's death. Once the big shots above set the tone, even the biggest fire below has to be extinguished."

*Snap.* A piece seemed to shatter a vague image of "brotherhood" and "swift retribution" in Luo Tianhong's mind. He was utterly dejected: "Those brothers at the bottom... they died for nothing? Are lives so cheap?"

"That's how the underworld is." Handsome Kun stubbed out his cigarette. "The strong prey on the weak; it's only natural."

Luo Tianhong lowered his head and remained silent. Liang Kun and Ye Tian didn't disturb him; some things he had to figure out on his own.

After a long while, Luo Tianhong looked up, still puzzled: "But what if Babi has loyal underlings who insist on revenge?"

"That's a different matter," Liang Kun laughed. "The triad won't openly stop it. In fact, once it's done, they'll talk about it a lot and set an example of 'loyalty and righteousness' so that their subordinates can learn from it."

Luo Tianhong smiled bitterly: "So Ba Bi died for nothing? Whether they seek revenge or not, the gang is guaranteed to profit?"

"Smart," praised Liang Kun.

"So now, Uncle Ben and Yaoyang..." Luo Tianhong pointed to the conspiracy Ye Tian had just mentioned, "aren't they afraid of triggering a major war?"

"That's what makes the underworld so interesting." Liang Kun's eyes gleamed. "There are always people who don't want to stay put and want to take advantage of the situation to stir up trouble and climb the social ladder."

Ye Tian added, "At the middle and upper levels, the logic of doing things is similar to other industries. They seek stability and profit. Once there are any unusual movements, it means... someone wants to break the table and redistribute the pie."

Luo Tianhong seemed to understand but not quite: "What exactly is the problem with Dongxing now?"

Ye Tian said mockingly, "The camel is old and can't hold down the people below it anymore. Some people complain about the low position and the low pay, and want to pull it down so they can sit in it themselves."

Ugly Kun continued, "The fighting at the bottom level won't cause any big waves. What can change the landscape of the underworld is always top-down change. Many years ago, when the He Tu disintegrated, Han Bin led his men to Hung Hing, which directly led to the emergence of three new gangs and a major change in the landscape. I wonder what kind of storm this internal strife in Tung Sing will stir up this time."

Luo Tianhong clicked his tongue: "Brother Kun, my boss said that Dongxing is targeting you this time."

Handsome Kun chuckled: "If they can really take care of Little B's whole family and then pin the blame on me... I'll have to thank them properly."

Luo Tianhong was completely baffled. He suddenly realized that there was so much he needed to learn.

When Liang Kun took out the red envelope for Lin Fu, it was another check for one million! Luo Tianhong's eyes lit up instantly. Wu Zhaonan also secretly took a breath.

Luo Tianhong reaffirmed her goal: "I must earn 20 million a month!"

Wu Zhaonan silently prayed to himself, "I need to earn ten million from the boss as soon as possible."

Fortunately, Brother Jiaqian didn't voice his wish, otherwise he would have been ridiculed by the blue-haired kid.

Liang Kun was in a great mood and said to Lin Fu, "Xiao Fu, now that you have a house and your career is stable, take some time to bring your mother over to enjoy her retirement." He knew that Lin Fu was filial, which suited him very well.

Lin Fu beamed, "Yes, Brother Kun, I'll go back to my hometown to pick up my mom later."

Ye Tian said from the side, "If the old lady isn't used to it, don't force her."

Young-kwan asked, puzzled, "Victoria Peak is so nice, how could the old lady not like it?"

"Xiao Fu's hometown is in the north, where the climate and food are completely different from here. The elderly woman is getting on in years and will have difficulty adapting. Besides, Xiao Fu is busy and often away from home. It would be even more troublesome if the old lady got sick from being alone in such a big house." Ye Tian had considered things carefully.

Liang Kun thought for a moment and nodded: "That's true. Let's bring them over for a while, see the scenery, eat some good food, buy some things, and enjoy a peaceful life."

Ye Tian agreed, then, stroking his chin, suddenly posed a question that instantly made the atmosphere awkward:

"Xiao Fu...you must be in your mid-twenties by now, right?"

Handsome Kun's face turned green: "Nonsense! How many years have I been following you, Ah Tian? It can't be less than twenty!"

Ye Tian seemed to be deep in thought: "Every time I visit my godmother, she always mentions one thing..."

"Stop!" Handsome Kun quickly raised his hand. "We were saying we were picking up the old lady, what have we gotten up to!"

Ye Tian looked innocent: "I didn't want to bring it up either, but the old folks keep nagging."

Lin Fu's face turned green: "No way... does my mom also nag... nag you like Kun-ge's mom?"

Ye Tian said leisurely, "Now that you have a house and plenty of money, what is there for the old lady to worry about? She just wants you to settle down so she can have a grandchild."

Lin Fu choked, looking distressed.

Ye Tian nudged Liang Kun with his elbow: "Brother Kun, why don't you set an example for the brothers and settle down and start a family first?"

Liang Kun spat, his face full of resistance, as if he had heard something terrifying. The mere mention of "marriage" had ruined his mood; he stood up grumbling and called to Wu Zhaonan, "Let's go, let's go!"

Watching Liang Kun practically flee in disarray, Ye Tian was overjoyed. Lin Fu also shook his head with a helpless smile.

Luo Tianhong could sense the close friendship between the two and couldn't help but say, "Boss, you and Brother Kun have a really good relationship."

Ye Tian's smile faded, and he looked at Luo Tianhong seriously: "Remember, if Brother Kun needs anything in the future, it's like if I need something. You have to help him with everything you can. Without Brother Kun, I wouldn't be where I am today; I might have already rotted in some gutter."

Luo Tianhong nodded heavily, engraving these words in her heart.

Ye Tian instructed, "Tianhong, you'll stay with Xiaofu for now. Your monthly allowance will be the same as his, 200,000."

"So many!" Luo Tianhong exclaimed in surprise.