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

He Xingsheng General Hall.

It's still that old-fashioned tenement building deep in Yau Ma Tei, and it's still that council chamber on the third floor.

But the atmosphere today is more tense than ever before.

The long table was full of people.

Uncle Wen sat on the left at the head of the table, his thin body sunken into the chair, holding a cup of tea in his hand, but not drinking it.

His face was so gloomy it looked like it could drip water.

Snake King Can sat opposite him, half-lying down, half-leaning, his eyes half-closed, like a snake basking in the sun.

But the occasional glint in his narrow eyes was something no one dared to underestimate.

Below them sat several junior leaders—all of whom were in charge of various districts of Hesheng, some old and some young. At this moment, they were all silent, their eyes darting back and forth between Uncle Quan, Uncle Wen, and Snake King Can.

At the very bottom, stood a young man.

He was in his early thirties, strong and muscular, with a face full of scars. He wore a black short jacket with his chest open, revealing a knife scar underneath.

Fat Dragon.

Tyrannosaurus Rex's sworn brother.

The Tyrannosaurus Rex is dead. He's here today to speak on its behalf.

Uncle Quan sat at the head of the table.

Today he was wearing a dark Zhongshan suit, his hair was neatly combed, and he had a faint smile on his face.

But anyone could tell that the smile was forced.

The room remained quiet for a long time.

Uncle Wen spoke first.

"Uncle Quan,"

He said, his voice hoarse and filled with suppressed anger, "What do you mean?"

Uncle Quan looked at him.

"Uncle Wen, what makes you say that?"

Uncle Wen slammed his teacup down on the table.

"Where to begin?"

He said, "You're giving away the Tyrannosaurus Rex's territory to outsiders?"

Uncle Quan's smile froze for a moment.

It was just a fleeting moment.

Then he returned to normal.

"Uncle Wen,"

He said, "There's nothing I can do about this."

"no way?"

Snake King Can spoke, his voice slow and leisurely, like a snake crawling.

"Uncle Quan, you have no choice but to hand over the territory to outsiders? To a Northwesterner who killed dozens of people?"

Uncle Quan looked at him.

"Snake King Can,"

He said, "Do you know who that person is?"

Snake King Can remained silent.

Uncle Quan continued, "Last night, Tyrannosaurus Rex brought fifteen men to find him, and all fifteen died. Tyrannosaurus Rex died too. Shrimp died too. Not a single survivor was left."

He paused.

"That man, all alone, with just a knife, killed fifteen people."

The room fell silent.

The expressions on the faces of those junior hall masters all changed.

Fei Long's expression changed slightly, but he quickly recovered.

"Uncle Quan!"

He spoke, his voice so loud it made the room buzz.

"Tyrannosaurus Brother's territory is ours! Not that North bastard's! What right does he have to take it?"

Uncle Quan looked at him.

"Fat Dragon,"

He said, "What are you trying to say?"

Fat Dragon took a step forward.

"I want to say,"

He glared at Uncle Quan, "Brother Tyrannosaurus is dead! His territory should be taken over by us brothers! Why should it be given to outsiders?"

The junior leaders all nodded in agreement.

"right!"

"Fat Dragon is right!"

"We can't give this territory to outsiders!"

Uncle Quan's face darkened.

He looked at Fei Long, and at the few junior leaders who echoed him.

"Do you think you can hold out?"

Fatty Dragon was stunned for a moment.

Uncle Quan continued, "That Northman killed fifteen of Tyrannosaurus Rex's men. Fifteen men! Who among you has that kind of ability?"

Fei Long opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.

Uncle Quan looked at him.

"Fat Dragon, are you sure you can do it?"

Fei Long's face turned red.

But he didn't dare say "okay".

He knew he couldn't do it.

Everyone knows they can't do it.

That Northerner is terrifying.

Uncle Wen put down his teacup.

"Uncle Quan,"

He said, "Is that Yankee really that good?"

Uncle Quan nodded.

"Uncle Wen, I've seen him with my own eyes."

He paused.

"When he killed someone, there was no expression on his face. It was like...like killing a chicken."

Uncle Wen fell silent.

Snake King Can also fell silent.

The room was eerily quiet.

Fei Long stood there, his face showing a mixture of anger and resentment.

But he dared not speak again.

Uncle Quan looked at them.

He knew these people were afraid.

I'm afraid of that northerner.

I'm afraid of that knife.

I'm afraid of those fifteen corpses.

"Everyone,"

He spoke, lowering his voice slightly, "I know everyone's uncomfortable about giving up territory to outsiders. But we can't afford to mess with that person."

He paused.

"I also spoke with Master Yan. His idea is to stabilize the situation first."

Uncle Wen raised his head.

"What did Master Yan say?"

Uncle Quan looked at him.

"Master Yan said he'll handle this matter with the higher-ups. But we can't afford to have any more problems."

Uncle Wen remained silent for a few seconds.

He nodded slowly.

"Master Yan is right."

Snake King Can also nodded.

Those junior hall masters also lowered their heads.

Only Fatty Dragon was still standing.

He looked at Uncle Quan, his eyes filled with anger and resentment.

Uncle Quan looked at him.

"Fat Dragon,"

He said, "Do you have something to say?"

Fei Long gritted his teeth.

"Uncle Quan,"

He said, "Tyrannosaurus was my godbrother. He's dead, and his territory is gone. As his younger brother, I got nothing. What will the other brothers think of me?"

Uncle Quan remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he laughed.

The smile was brief, carrying a somewhat ambiguous meaning.

"Fat Dragon," he said, "how about this."

He stood up.

He walked up to Fatty Dragon.

He patted him on the shoulder.

"It's my treat today. Princess Jin, do whatever you want. Pick any girl you like. Drink as much as you want."

Fatty Dragon was stunned.

Uncle Quan looked at him.

"How is it?"

Fatty Dragon opened his mouth.

"Uncle Quan, this..."

Uncle Quan interrupted him.

"Fat Dragon,"

He said, "I know you're not happy about this. But there's no room for negotiation. We can't afford to mess with that northern guy. Boss Yan is keeping an eye on things too. If you want to stay in the gang, you'll have to listen to me."

He paused.

"Have fun today. Tomorrow, let's pretend nothing happened."

Fat Dragon remained silent for a long time.

He lowered his head.

"Yes, Uncle Quan."

Uncle Quan nodded.

He turned around and walked back to his seat.

Looking at the people inside the room.

"Everyone,"

He said, "That's all for today. The Tyrannosaurus Rex's territory has been given to that North Korean. There's nothing we can do about it. But we and Xingsheng are still here. The business is still here. The money is still here."

He paused.

"As long as a person is alive, there is a chance."

No one spoke.

Uncle Wen slowly stood up.

He glanced at Uncle Quan.

That look in his eyes was complex—it contained helplessness, disappointment, and a hint of understanding.

He turned and walked towards the door.

Snake King Can also stood up.

He walked up to Uncle Quan and stopped.

"Uncle Quan,"

He said in a low voice, "That Yankee, are you planning to keep supporting him forever?"

Uncle Quan looked at him.

"Snake King Can,"

He said, "Do you have a better way?"

Snake King Can remained silent.

He turned and left.

The other minor leaders also stood up and followed them out.

Only Uncle Quan and Fei Long remained in the room.

Uncle Quan looked at Fei Long.

"Fat Dragon,"

He said, "Let's go to Golden Princess. It'll be a lot of fun."

Fatty Dragon nodded.

He turned and walked towards the door.

He stopped when he reached the door.

She turned around and glanced at Uncle Quan.

There was something in those eyes.

Uncle Quan saw it.

But he didn't care.

The door closed.

Uncle Quan was the only one left in the house.

He slowly sat back down in his chair.

Looking at the empty council chamber, at the long table, at the cold tea.

He recalled the expressions on those people's faces just now.

Uncle Wen's helplessness.

Snake King Can's indifference.

The fear of those minor leaders.

And there's Fei Long's resentment.

He knew that these people were resentful.

But no way.

That Northerner is terrifying.

He stood up.

I walked to the window.

Looking out the window at the street scene of Yau Ma Tei.

The afternoon sun was very bright.

He squinted.

"Three days..." he murmured.

Three days later, that person came to take over the territory.

He didn't know what would happen in three days.

But he knew this matter was not over yet.