Courtyard House: First, kill the hypocrites, leave none alive.

It's almost dawn.

In a shack deep within Kowloon Walled City, Xie Wanying was awakened by a series of urgent knocks on the door.

She opened her eyes. The dog beside her was still asleep, snoring, with an arm pressing down on her.

The knocking continues.

"Mad Dog Bro! Mad Dog Bro!"

It was one of Sang Gou's underlings; his voice was urgent and panicked.

The dog woke up.

He sat up abruptly, his hand already reaching for the knife under his pillow.

"What is it?"

"Fat Brother is dead!"

The dog was stunned.

Xie Wanying was also stunned.

The two looked at each other and saw shock in each other's eyes.

"What?"

The dog threw off the covers, jumped out of bed, ran barefoot to the door, and opened it.

One of the henchmen stood outside, his face ashen and his whole body trembling.

"Mad Dog Bro, Fatty Bro is dead! Last night, someone broke into the place and killed everyone on the third floor! Fatty Bro too...too..."

He couldn't continue.

The dog grabbed him by the collar.

"Who did this?!"

"No... I don't know. Everyone's dead, seven or eight brothers, and Fatty... all dead. Only Ah Xiang survived, hiding under the table, and saw a figure holding a submachine gun..."

Submachine gun.

The dog loosened its grip.

He knew who it was.

In the entire Kowloon, there is only one person who can use a submachine gun to destroy an entire venue.

That northerner.

Uncle Quan's men.

The dog took a step back and leaned against the door frame.

His mind was buzzing.

Fat Bo is dead.

The man who had followed him for twenty years died.

He died at the hands of that Northman.

He died at the hands of Uncle Quan.

What about himself?

He was Fat Po's right-hand man.

He has just taken over those new stalls on Temple Street.

He has just taken the first step.

Now that Fatbo is dead, what will he do?

"Mad Dog Bro".

Xie Wanying's voice came from behind.

The stray dog ​​turned back.

She was already dressed and standing by the bed, looking at him.

Her face was calm, so calm that it sent chills down my spine.

"You should go and apologize to Uncle Quan right away."

The dog was stunned.

"Admit your mistake?"

"right."

Xie Wanying walked over, stood in front of him, and looked at him. "Otherwise it will be too late."

The dog looked at her, its eyes full of confusion.

"What mistake do I have to make? I didn't do anything!"

Xie Wanying shook her head.

"Mad Dog Bro,"

She said, "You didn't do anything, but who are you?"

The dog opened its mouth but didn't speak.

Xie Wanying spoke for him.

"You were Fat Bo's right-hand man. You followed him for twenty years. He just died, and you're still alive. What will Uncle Quan think? He'll wonder if this guy will avenge Fat Bo? Will he cause trouble behind the scenes?"

She paused.

"He won't give you a chance. You'll be next to die."

The dog's expression changed.

Xie Wanying continued, "Go now, admit your mistakes, and pledge your loyalty. Tell Uncle Quan that you're willing to follow him. You'll manage Fei Bo's territory for him. You'll take care of Fei Bo's men for him. You're Fei Bo's henchman; who in the stronghold doesn't know you? You're useful."

She looked at him, her eyes bright.

"Mad Dog Bro, if you're useful, he won't kill you."

The dog remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he nodded.

"you're right."

He started getting dressed quickly, his hands trembling slightly.

Xie Wanying helped him button up his clothes and straighten his collar.

"remember,"

She said, "When you see Uncle Quan, you must kneel down. You must bow your head. You must make him feel that you are afraid of him and obey him. You must make him feel that you are useful to him and will not rebel against him."

The dog nodded.

"I've got it."

He got dressed and went to the door.

He glanced back at Xie Wanying.

She stood in the dim light, looking at him.

His eyes were calm, so calm that they put people at ease.

"Go ahead," she said.

The dog pushed open the door and rushed into the dim morning light.

-

Yau Ma Tei, Golden Princess Ballroom.

At seven o'clock in the morning, the dance hall was not yet open.

Two men in black short jackets were standing at the door; they were Uncle Quan's men.

The dog jumped off a rickshaw and walked quickly over.

The two men saw him and their hands were already reaching for their waists.

"Stop! What are you doing?"

The dog raised its hands.

"I'm looking for Uncle Quan."

He said in a hoarse voice, "I'm a slacker. Fat Bo's leader."

The two men exchanged a glance.

One of them turned around and ran inside to report.

The other stood still, his hand on the hilt of his knife, staring at the zombie dog.

The dog stood there, motionless.

A cool morning breeze blew by, but his forehead was covered in sweat.

A few minutes later, the person who ran in came out.

"Uncle Quan is on the third floor. He'll let you go up."

The dog took a deep breath, strode inside.

The lobby on the first floor was empty, with only a few cleaners mopping the floor.

When they saw the slain dog, they all stopped what they were doing, their eyes filled with curiosity and wariness.

The dog ignored them and went straight up the stairs.

Second floor, third floor.

The door was open.

The dog went inside.

Uncle Quan sat behind his desk, a cigar between his fingers, slowly smoking.

There was a person standing in front of him.

a woman.

She wore a moon-white fitted cheongsam, her hair was pulled up high, revealing her slender neck.

Her face was adorned with exquisite makeup, and her eyes held just the right amount of sadness—and something else that was hard to define.

Mei Mei.

Fat Bo's mistress.

The dog was stunned for a moment.

Meimei also saw him.

Something flashed in her eyes, but it was only for a moment before she regained her composure.

Uncle Quan looked up at the mongrel.

His gaze was indifferent, as if he were looking at a piece of newly delivered goods.

"Dead dog".

He spoke slowly, "You've come."

The dog took a step forward.

Then he knelt down.

His knees hit the floor with a dull thud.

"Uncle Quan".

He kept his head down, his voice hoarse.

Uncle Quan looked at him without saying a word.

The room was quiet for a few seconds.

The dog knelt on the ground, its forehead pressed against the floor, motionless.

His back was covered in sweat.

Uncle Quan took a puff of his cigar and slowly exhaled.

Smoke rises in the morning light.

"Fat Bo is dead," he said.

The dog didn't look up.

"I know."

"Do you know who killed him?"

The dog remained silent for a second.

"Know."

Uncle Quan nodded.

"Then what are you doing here?"

The dog raised its head.

He looked at Uncle Quan with fear and pleading in his eyes.

"Uncle Quan, I've come to admit my mistake."

Uncle Quan's eyebrows twitched.

"Admit your mistake? What did you do wrong?"

The dog gritted its teeth.

"I'm Fatbo's man. I've followed him for twenty years. He's dead, and I should avenge him. But I don't want to die."

He paused.

"Uncle Quan, I'm willing to follow you. I'll manage Fei Bo's territory for you. I'll take care of Fei Bo's men for you. Who in the stronghold doesn't know me? I'm useful."

Uncle Quan looked at him without saying a word.

Sang Gou continued, "Uncle Quan, if you don't trust me, you can kill me. But if you kill me, the stronghold will be in chaos. Fat Bo just died, and those people are panicking. You need someone who can keep them in check."

He looked up at Uncle Quan.

"That person is me."

Uncle Quan remained silent for a long time.

He smoked his cigar, looking at the kneeling dog, at his sweat-drenched face, at his eyes filled with fear and pleading.

Then he laughed.

The smile was brief, carrying a somewhat ambiguous meaning.

"A pathetic dog,"

He said, "You're smarter than your boss."

The dog lowered its head.

"Uncle Quan, you flatter me."

Uncle Quan stood up and walked up to him.

He looked down at the mongrel dog and the man kneeling on the ground.

"OK."

He said, "From today onwards, you will be in charge of the Walled City area for me."

The dog's heart skipped a beat.

He looked up at Uncle Quan.

"Thank you, Uncle Quan."

Uncle Quan nodded.

Get up.

The leper dog stood up.

He stood there, head down, waiting.

Uncle Quan walked back to his desk and sat down again.

He glanced at Meimei standing beside him.

"she,"

He said, "You know him, right?"

The dog nodded.

"I know her. She's Fatty's woman."

Uncle Quan smiled.

The smile was brief, but the dog saw it.

"From now on,"

Uncle Quan said, "She works at Golden Princess."

The dog was stunned for a moment.

He looked at Meimei.

Mei Mei stood there, meeting his gaze, her face expressionless.

But something was gleaming in her eyes.

That was the relief of surviving.

That was the determination to start over.

The dog withdrew its gaze.

"I understand," he said.

Uncle Quan waved his hand.

"Go ahead. Stabilize the situation at the fortified city as soon as possible. If anything happens, come find me."

The dog nodded and turned to leave.

"etc."

Uncle Quan called out to him.

The stray dog ​​turned back.

Uncle Quan looked at him with deep, unfathomable eyes.

"A pathetic dog,"

He said, "Remember today. Remember what you said while kneeling here. If one day you forget—"

He didn't finish speaking.

But the dog understood.

He lowered his head.

"Don't worry, Uncle Quan."

He pushed open the door and went out.

The sound of footsteps gradually faded away in the corridor.

The office fell silent again.

Uncle Quan leaned back in his chair, smoking a cigar.

He glanced at Mei Mei.

She was still standing there, motionless.

"What's wrong?"

He asked, "Is there anything else?"

Mei Mei shook her head.

"no."

She said softly, "Thank you, Uncle Quan, for sparing my life."

Uncle Quan smiled.

"I won't kill you."

He said, "It's not that I pity you. It's that you're useful."

Mei Mei lowered her head.

"I know."

Uncle Quan nodded.

"Go downstairs. Someone will take care of you."

Meimei turned around and walked towards the door.

She paused when she reached the door.

She turned around and glanced at Uncle Quan.

That look in his eyes was complex—it contained fear, gratitude, and something else he couldn't quite put his finger on.

Uncle Quan looked into that gaze and his heart stirred slightly.

This woman is no ordinary person.

He's much smarter than that dead Fat Bo.

Meimei pushed open the door and went out.

The door closed behind me.

Uncle Quan sat alone in his office, smoking a cigar.

Outside the window, the sunlight grew brighter and brighter.

A new day begins.

The walled city has changed hands.

Fat Bo is dead.

The monstrous dog has descended.

Princess Jin has arrived.

Everything has changed.

But nothing has changed.

The city's gears are still turning, faster than ever before.

Uncle Quan exhaled a puff of smoke.

He looked out the window at the increasingly bright sky, a smile playing on his lips.

The smile was brief, fleeting in the morning light.