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

Xie Wanying came out from the inner room.

She walked over to Ruan Xiong.

"Brother Xiong, don't be angry."

Ruan Xiong did not speak.

Xie Wanying continued, "If it doesn't work this time, there's always next time. We'll think of another way."

Ruan Xiong turned around.

Look at her.

Those eyes flashed with complex emotions.

"The one who's escorting the goods,"

He asked, "Who is it?"

Xie Wanying thought for a moment.

"I don't know. But the person sent to escort this kind of cargo must be one of that North Korean's confidants."

Ruan Xiong nodded.

"A trusted confidant..."

he murmured.

Xie Wanying looked at him.

"Brother Xiong, what do you want to do?"

Ruan Xiong remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he spoke.

"Send people to Hong Kong Island. Find out who the person escorting the goods is."

Xie Wanying nodded.

"Yes."

Ruan Xiong walked to the sofa and sat down.

He picked up the wine bottle on the table and poured himself a glass.

I downed it in one gulp.

Xie Wanying walked over and sat down next to him.

"Brother Xiong,"

She said softly, "Don't worry. That Yankee won't get away."

Ruan Xiong looked at her.

"You're quite optimistic."

Xie Wanying smiled.

The smile was brief, fleeting in the light.

"I just know,"

She said, "You can't rush this kind of person."

Ruan Xiong remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he reached out and put his arm around her waist.

He pulled her into his arms.

Xie Wanying leaned against him, motionless.

Ruan Xiong looked out the window at the night sky.

"Jiabu Village..."

he murmured.

-

Jiabu Village.

The sun rose from behind the dense forest and shone on the sentry post at the village entrance.

Several soldiers carrying guns yawned, relieving their comrades who had been on guard all night.

The village began to bustle with activity: women started fires to cook, men cleaned guns and chatted, and children chased and played in the mud.

On the second floor of the wooden building, A-Gui opened his eyes.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the bamboo blinds, casting dappled shadows on the bed.

He lay down for a while, then slowly sat up.

The young woman next to me was still asleep, her smooth shoulders exposed, her breathing even.

A-Gui glanced at her.

This is the fourth one Naimi has given him.

Two on the first day, one on the second day, and another one last night.

They were all young, beautiful, and had excellent customer service skills.

A-Gui got out of bed, walked to the window, and pulled open the bamboo curtain a crack.

Looking at the village outside.

Smoke curls from chimneys, and the air is filled with the sounds of people, just like any ordinary morning.

But A-Gui knew this was no ordinary matter.

He has been staying here for five days.

He ate and drank well every day, and was accompanied by beautiful women. Naimi even personally drank and chatted with him.

Life here is much more comfortable than on Hong Kong Island.

On Hong Kong Island, he lived in a storage room in the basement of a nightclub, doing repairs every day and occasionally having to be mindful of other people's attitudes.

Here, he was a guest of honor at Naimi.

Naimi told him several times to stay.

As the team leader, I was in charge of over a hundred people.

Money, women, guns—you name it, they have it.

Ah Gui admitted that he was tempted.

Who doesn't want a good life?

His life was full of ups and downs, from the mainland to Hong Kong Island, from carrying heavy loads at the docks to running errands for others, and he never enjoyed a few days of happiness.

Now, someone has come to bring him good fortune.

Why didn't he answer?

But every time he thought about that question, he would think of those eyes.

Those deep, still, empty eyes.

Big Steel Bro.

Will that person let him go?

If he stays and doesn't return to Hong Kong Island.

What will Big Steel do?

Send someone to arrest him?

Or just go straight to the point—

Ah Gui shivered.

He dared not think any further.

A rustling sound came from behind.

The woman woke up.

"Brother Gui, why are you up so early?"

She sat up, covered her chest with the blanket, and smiled.

Ah Gui turned around and looked at her.

"I can't sleep."

The woman smiled.

"Then I'll go get you some water to wash your face."

She got out of bed, got dressed, and went outside.

Ah Gui stood by the window, continuing to look outside.

He didn't know what to do.

Stay and live a good life.

But he might not live long.

Go back and continue working for others.

But at least it's safe.

At least that person still needs him now.

The door was pushed open.

Naimi walked in.

He was wearing a clean camouflage uniform and had a smile on his face.

"Brother Gui, up so early?"

Ah Gui turned around.

"General Naimi."

Naimi waved her hand.

"I've told you so many times, just call me Naimi."

He walked to the table and sat down.

Ah Gui also went over and sat down opposite him.

Naimi looked at him.

"Brother Gui, have you made up your mind?"

Ah Gui was silent for a second.

"General Naimi, I..."

Naimi raised her hand to interrupt him.

"Brother Gui, listen to me first."

He paused.

"I know what you're worried about. That guy from the North is really something. He's no ordinary person to have carved out a territory in Kowloon."

He looked at A-Gui.

"But this isn't Kowloon. This is Ka Pui. My territory. No matter how powerful he is, can he send people over here? Can they defeat my hundreds of men?"

Ah Gui didn't say anything.

Naimi continued, "You stay here with me. I guarantee your safety. If he dares to send anyone, I'll kill one, and if two come, I'll kill them both."

He leaned back in his chair.

"Brother Gui, you're a capable man. You can put your talents to good use here. On Hong Kong Island, you'll only be able to run errands for others. The choice is yours."

Ah Gui remained silent for a long time.

He looked at Naimi, at that sincere face.

He remembered those five days.

Delicious food and drinks.

Beautiful women serve you.

Nobody gave him a hard time.

Nobody made him do any dirty or strenuous work.

All he had to do was drink and chat with Naimi, and occasionally show off his marksmanship.

This life is so comfortable.

He spoke.

"General Naimi, give me two more days."

Naimi smiled.

"Okay. Two days."

He stood up.

"Enjoy yourself. If you need anything, feel free to contact me."

He patted A-Gui on the shoulder and strode out.

Ah Gui sat there, watching his figure disappear through the doorway.

He was very confused.

-

Rubber plantation, small Western-style buildings.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting bright patches of light on the bedroom floor.

On the bed, Xie Wanying slowly opened her eyes.

She slept very soundly last night.

Ruan Xiong was beside her, still unconscious.

She sat up gently and looked at him.

This man was much stronger than Ruan Biao, with a body full of fat, and the scar on his face didn't look so fierce when he was asleep.

She looked at it for a few seconds.

Then she got out of bed and went to the window.

Pull back the curtains.

Outside stretched an endless rubber plantation.

Row upon row, neat and orderly, stretching into the unseen distance.

The sunlight shone on her, making her feel warm.

She remembered what Ruan Xiong had said last night.

"Without weapons, we'd just be eaten in this place."

She understands.

Ruan Xiong had more than two thousand men under his command, and they needed to eat and fight every day.

Without guns and bullets, what can we use to fight?

It will be swallowed up by other forces sooner or later.

That's why he was so eager to get weapons.

That's why they're in such a hurry to deal with that northerner.

There was a noise behind me.