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

Yau Ma Tei, Golden Princess Ballroom.

The night was deep, but the neon lights outside the window continued to flash tirelessly, casting red and green light into the room time and time again.

The antique clock on the wall points to eleven o'clock, its pendulum swinging silently.

Uncle Quan sat behind his desk, a cigar between his fingers, but he didn't light it.

Ah Qiang was standing in front of him.

Ah Qiang's clothes still carried the chill of the night, and there were fine beads of sweat on his forehead.

He had just run back from outside and was still out of breath when he stood in front of Uncle Quan.

"Uncle Quan,"

He spoke, his voice slightly strained, "It's all been found out."

Uncle Quan looked at him.

His gaze was calm, so calm it sent chills down your spine.

"explain."

Ah Qiang took a deep breath.

"It's Ruan Biao."

Uncle Quan narrowed his eyes.

Just for a moment.

Then he regained his composure.

"Ruan Biao".

He repeated the name slowly, his voice devoid of any emotion.

Ah Qiang nodded.

"Yes. The shipment of Mad Dog's was given to him by Ruan Biao. The first batch arrived yesterday, and Mad Dog's powder stall is packed today. The price is half the price of ours, and the quality is even better."

Uncle Quan didn't say anything.

He put the cigar in his mouth, picked up a lighter, and lit it.

I took a sip.

Slowly expel it.

Smoke rose in the dim light, blurring his face.

"This guy,"

He spoke, his voice as cold as ice, "Looks like you want to change partners."

Ah Qiang looked at him and waited a few seconds.

Then he continued, "Uncle Quan, I found out that he's been in contact with more than just rabid dogs."

Uncle Quan's eyebrows twitched.

"Who else?"

"The other members of the club."

Ah Qiang said, "Someone saw Ruan Biao's men go to Tyrannosaurus Rex's place. There are also messages coming from Uncle Wen. As for Snake King Can—there's no news yet, but it's not necessarily clean."

Uncle Quan's hands clenched slightly.

Just for a moment.

Then he let go.

"Did they meet with Ruan Biao?"

"I've met you."

Ah-Qiang said, "But we don't know what they talked about yet."

Uncle Quan remained silent for a long time.

The office was extremely quiet; so quiet that you could hear the ticking of the wall clock, the distant car horns outside the window, and the sound of your own heartbeat.

He remembered the look in Ruan Biao's eyes when he looked at him in the warehouse that day.

Those small eyes stared at him like snakes.

He said, "I believe you."

He doesn't believe a damn thing.

He never believed it from the beginning.

He's just waiting, waiting to find a better job.

He has found it now.

Mad dog.

Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Uncle Wen.

Those who have always been dissatisfied with him.

Those who outwardly call him "Uncle Quan" but secretly wish him dead.

Now they have a common backer.

Uncle Quan stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray.

He stood up and walked to the window.

With his back to Ah Qiang.

Looking out the window at the flashing neon lights.

"Ah Qiang," he said.

Ah Qiang stepped forward.

"Uncle Quan?"

"Go and kill the mad dog."

Ah Qiang was stunned for a moment.

"Now?"

"Now."

Uncle Quan said, "Tonight. Right now."

Ah Qiang nodded.

"clear."

He turned to leave.

"etc."

Ah Qiang stopped in his tracks.

Uncle Quan turned around and looked at him.

"What about Ruan Biao?"

He said, "He won't be affected."

Ah Qiang looked at him and waited.

Uncle Quan continued, "A mad dog isn't worth turning against me. What he wants are weapons, not heroin. Can a mad dog give him weapons? No. A mad dog can't even get a few guns, what could he possibly give him?"

He paused.

"Ruan Biao is a smart man. He knows who is useful and who is not. Is Mad Dog useful? Somewhat useful, but not important. If he dies, Ruan Biao can just find another one. He won't completely turn against me for a Mad Dog he just met."

Ah Qiang nodded.

"Understood."

Uncle Quan waved his hand.

Ah Qiang walked out quickly.

The door closed behind me.

The office fell silent again.

Uncle Quan stood by the window, looking at the lights outside.

He thought of Fat Bo.

I remember the night Fatbo died, he sat in his office, smoking a cigar, waiting for news.

Now it's his turn.

Now it was his turn to wait for news of the mad dog's death.

The gears of this city are turning really fast.

It was so fast it took my breath away.

-

Kowloon Walled City, the mad dog's residence.

It was late at night, and Xie Wanying was already asleep.

Mad Dog was still sitting in the living room, smoking and thinking about what had happened during the day.

The noodle stall was packed.

Money poured in like water.

He had never seen so much money in his life.

But he also knew that Uncle Quan would find out soon.

They will come to find him soon.

He took a drag of his cigarette and slowly exhaled.

Smoke rose in the dim light.

A slight noise came from outside the door.

The mad dog raised its head.

He pricked up his ears and listened carefully.

There was nothing there.

Maybe it's the wind.

Maybe it's a stray cat.

Perhaps it is—

The door was kicked open.

With a loud bang, the door flew in and crashed to the ground.

Several figures rushed in.

The leader was Ah Qiang.

He held a knife in his hand, the blade gleaming coldly under the light.

He was followed by four thugs, all of whom were Uncle Quan's men. They were strong, capable fighters, and each of them was carrying a weapon.

The mad dog suddenly stood up, his hand already reaching for his lower back.

But his gun was in the bedroom.

It's not on my person.

"Mad dog."

Ah Qiang stood at the door, looking at him.

"Uncle Quan asked me to pass on a message."

The mad dog's back was covered in sweat.

But he didn't run away.

He knew he couldn't escape.

"What did you say?"

Ah Qiang looked at him with a hint of pity in his eyes.

That pity is more painful than a knife.

"You're asking for it."

He rushed forward as soon as he finished speaking.

A flash of light.

Mad Dog dodged to the side, but not completely; the blade sliced ​​across his arm, and blood gushed out.

He took a step back and knocked over the chair.

The four thugs swarmed forward.

The mad dog fought desperately.

He grabbed one of the men's wrists, snatched the knife, and stabbed him in the back.

The man screamed and collapsed.

But three other people had already surrounded them.

The knife slashed his back.

The knife pierced his ribs.

The knife sliced ​​across his thigh.

The rabid dog lay on the ground, blood gushing from several wounds and pooling in a small puddle.

He struggled to get up.

But he couldn't get up.

Ah Qiang walked over and squatted down in front of him.

"Mad dog,"

He said, "You're stupid."

The mad dog stared at him, its eyes wide open and its mouth full of blood.

Ah Qiang shook his head.

"Uncle Quan gave you a way out, but you didn't take it. You insisted on courting death."

The mad dog's lips moved.

He wanted to speak.

I want to swear.

He wanted to shout for Xie Wanying to run.

But he couldn't say anything.

Ah Qiang stood up.

He glanced down at the mad dog.

Then he waved.

Three thugs stepped forward, their knives flashing and falling.

The rabid dog's body twitched a few times.

Then it stopped moving.

Ah-Qiang stood there, looking at the corpse on the ground.

The room was extremely quiet.

Only the blood was still flowing, making a soft dripping sound.

"Search," he said.

The three thugs dispersed and ransacked the place.

Xie Wanying was awake in the bedroom.

She heard the noise outside.

I heard the sound of the door being kicked open.

I heard the sounds of fighting.

I heard screams.

She lay curled up on the bed, motionless.

He was clutching the pair of scissors in his hand.

That was the only thing she could use to defend herself.

The footsteps grew closer.

The bedroom door was pushed open.

Ah Qiang stood at the door.

He looked at the woman on the bed, at the scissors in her hand, and at her bright eyes.

"Xie Wanying," he said.

Xie Wanying remained silent.

She just stared at him, her hand gripping the scissors tightly.

Ah Qiang stared at her for a few seconds.

Then he turned around.

"Let's go," he said.

Three thugs followed him out of the house.

The footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

Xie Wanying sat on the bed, motionless.

A long time passed.

It went on for so long that her legs went numb, and her hands clenched until they turned white.

She slowly stood up.

I walked into the living room.

The mad dog lay on the ground, its blood drained, its eyes still open, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Xie Wanying stood there, looking at the corpse.

His face was expressionless.

She remembered what the mad dog had said before he went to sleep.

"I'll go find Ruan Biao tomorrow and get another batch of goods."

He said this with a smile on his face.

That was the proudest smile he had ever given in his life.

He's dead now.

Just like Fatbo.

Anyone who opposes Uncle Quan must die.

Xie Wanying squatted down.

She reached out and closed the mad dog's eyes.

Then she stood up.

Enter the bedroom.

She picked up the pale white floral print blouse and put it on.

Pick up the hidden money and stuff it into your pocket.

Push open the door.

Step into the night.

She didn't turn around.

-

Yau Ma Tei, Golden Princess Ballroom.

Ah-Qiang pushed open the door and walked into the office.

Uncle Quan was still standing by the window, his back to the door.

"Uncle Quan," Ah Qiang said, "it's all taken care of."

Uncle Quan didn't turn around.

"Is the mad dog dead?"

"He's dead."

"Where is that woman?"

Ah Qiang was silent for a second.

They ran away.

Uncle Quan turned around and looked at him.

"They ran away?"

Ah Qiang nodded.

"She was hiding in the bedroom, and I didn't touch her."

Uncle Quan looked at him for a few seconds.

Then he laughed.

The smile was brief, carrying a somewhat ambiguous meaning.

"Ah Qiang,"

He said, "You've softened your heart."

Ah Qiang lowered his head.

"Uncle Quan, she's just a woman. She can't cause any trouble."

Uncle Quan shook his head.

"Ah Qiang,"

He said, "Remember this. In this world, women can create more waves than men."

Ah Qiang didn't say anything.

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

He picked up a cigar and lit it.

I took a sip.

Slowly expel it.

"Send someone to look for it."

He said, "Find her and get rid of her."

Ah Qiang nodded.

"clear."

He turned and walked out.

Uncle Quan sat in a chair, smoking a cigar.

He looked out the window at the flashing neon lights and thought of the woman named Xie Wanying.

Fat Bo's woman.

A mad dog-like woman.

The woman who ran away now.

She won't live long.

In this city, a woman without support won't live long.

Uncle Quan withdrew his gaze.

He looked at the account book on the table, at the numbers, and thought about tomorrow.

Ruan Biao.

Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Uncle Wen.

Those restless people.

He will clean them up one by one.

One by one.

It's like dealing with a mad dog.

Outside the window, the night was still deep.

The gears of this city keep turning.