Hong Kong variety show: The mastermind behind the scenes is emerging.

Kowloon Walled City.

Time seems to stand still here. No matter how the outside world changes, how high the Hang Seng Index rises, or how many stories the buildings in Central have been built, the alleyways here remain damp and dark, the electrical wires are still tangled like spider webs, and the air is still filled with that unique smell of roast meat, incense, and musty sewers.

It's a suffocating decadence, but also a reassuring refuge.

The dim light cast a greasy sheen on the old-fashioned tiles of the barbershop. The ceiling fan overhead, which had been spinning for who knows how many years, groaned wearily, as if it might break down at any moment.

Tornado, dressed in his signature gray Tang suit, reclined on a cast-iron barber chair, a half-smoked cigarette between his fingers. His eyes were somewhat vacant amidst the swirling smoke, as if he were looking through the smoke at those bygone days of the martial arts world.

jingle--"

The wind chimes at the door were pushed open, and a tall, slender figure walked in, bringing with him the sunlight and hustle and bustle of the outside world.

Tornado didn't turn around, but habitually flicked his cigarette ash: "No business today, closing time."

"If you're not doing business, will you still provide medical care?"

A familiar voice rang out. The next second, a long, strong hand reached out and snatched the unfinished cigarette from Tornado's fingers without a word.

Tornado was taken aback, turned around, and met Lu Chen's eyes, which seemed to be smiling but not smiling.

Lu Chen stubbed out his cigarette in the glass ashtray on the table without any hesitation. His movements were fluid and graceful, carrying the unique "discipline" connotation of a junior towards an elder.

Lu Chen pulled up a round stool and sat down next to Tornado with a swagger. His tone was teasing, but his eyes were unusually serious. "How big are those tumors inside? Are you upset because they're not growing? If you keep doing this, one day they might set off a huge firework in your chest cavity."

Tornado paused for a moment, looked at his empty fingers, shook his head helplessly, and a bitter smile appeared on his lips.

"Young man, you're really meddling in other people's business."

He coughed twice, his voice a little hoarse, "I can't quit. It's a decades-old habit, it's ingrained in my bones. Besides..."

Tornado leaned back in his chair, his gaze becoming distant, as if looking through the layers of concrete jungle, towards some predetermined destiny.

"Anyway, I don't have many years left to live. Rather than painfully prolonging my life for a few more days, I might as well do whatever makes me comfortable. If you're trapped in this cage for too long in this life, and you can't even smoke a cigarette at the end, that's what's truly suffocating."

Lu Chen fell silent.

As a time traveler, he certainly knew the fate of Tornado. The man in the movie who fought to the last breath to protect Chen Luojun and died here. Lung cancer was his countdown, but what truly took him away was the grudges and feuds of the martial world.

"Comfortable as it may be, we only have one life." Lu Chen pulled a box of throat lozenges from his pocket and tossed it to Tornado. "Eat these when you feel like smoking. I'm counting on you to protect me for a few more years in the walled city."

Tornado took the candy box, peeled one off, and popped it into her mouth. The cool taste slightly suppressed the itchiness in her throat.

"Speak up, you wouldn't come here without a reason."

Tornado looked at Lu Chen with a hint of admiration in her eyes. "I heard you're making quite a splash in Central? Everyone's talking about some mysterious rich kid from Southeast Asia with incredible connections. What, you've got time to come back and see this old codger today?"

"Business is outside, home is here."

Lu Chen smiled, and Long Juanfeng found his words very pleasing.

"Besides, I also came to ask how things are going with the big boss lately?" Lu Chen said seriously, his smile fading.

When the big boss was mentioned, Tornado's originally gentle eyes instantly turned sharp.

"Thanks to you."

Tornado sneered, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest. "After you reminded me last time, I talked to a few old guys in Sai Wan. I didn't say anything specific, just praised Wang Jiu, saying that he's been very powerful lately, recruiting more underlings than the big boss. People in the underworld almost only know Brother Jiu and not the big boss anymore."

"The big boss is inherently suspicious," Lu Chen chimed in, "especially about the mad dogs he keeps around; he needs to both use them and guard against them."

"That's right." Tornado nodded. "The kind of person the Big Boss hates it most when others touch his power. I heard that Wang Jiu was called in for 'tea' by the Big Boss a couple of days ago, and he came out with injuries on his face! Heh... Recently, the Big Boss has been busy cleaning house and suppressing Wang Jiu, so he probably won't have time to keep an eye on our stronghold for a while."

"That's good. Besides, Wang Jiu won't be content with the boss suppressing him. His appetite has been gradually grown by the boss. Now, would he willingly hand over his power and go hungry? Once he gets an opportunity, he will not hesitate to bite back, kill the boss, and take over. So, they'll have a fight."

At this point, Tornado let out a long sigh of relief. "This has indeed given us a chance to catch our breath. The walled city has been much quieter during this time."

"But this is just a temporary measure." Lu Chen raised his head, staring intently at Tornado. "Brother Long, have you thought about this? This is just stretching the fuse of the bomb, not disarming it. In the end, no matter who wins, the walled city will be a piece of fat meat that will be targeted."

Tornado fell silent. He knew Lu Chen was right, but he had always been unwilling to face this cruel reality. He was old and only wanted to live a peaceful life on this small plot of land.

"More importantly..." Lu Chen leaned forward, revealing the reason that made Tornado's heart stop: "The big boss is the only person in the world besides us who might guess Chen Luojun's background. Although he hasn't connected Chen Luojun with Chen Zhan yet, no one dares to gamble..."

Lu Chen paused, his eyes sharpening further: "If the news that Chen Zhan's son isn't dead reaches Qiu Ge and Hu Ge's ears through the big boss, Brother Long, what will you do? Although they are your brothers-in-arms, they hate Chen Zhan even more! Back then, Chen Zhan killed Qiu Ge's entire family and crippled Hu Ge's eye—that's a blood feud! If they find out you're secretly protecting your enemy's son…"

"What will you do if your brothers turn against each other and fight to the death? You'll be caught in the middle."

The barbershop fell into a deathly silence.

Only the ceiling fan overhead was still spinning tirelessly.

After a long while, the gentleness in Long Yuanfeng's eyes gradually faded, replaced by the ruthlessness he had displayed when those two iron hooks swept across the martial world.

"You're right." Tornado's voice was low and hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing against the ground. "I've had a long-standing grudge against the big boss. Whether for Luo Jun's sake or for the sake of the neighborhood, I'll eliminate this menace sooner or later. But..."

He glanced at his slightly trembling hands. "With this body of mine, I need to plan carefully if I want to kill him. I can't fight him head-on; I have to outsmart him."

"No rush, I have a plan," Lu Chen reassured him. "When the time is right, I'll help you. Don't you think I'm right? I'll make sure he dies a gruesome death without implicating the stronghold."

Hearing Lu Chen say this, the murderous intent in Tornado's eyes gradually subsided. He had always trusted Lu Chen's wisdom; this young man thought three steps ahead for every one he took, a natural-born strategist.

"Since we've put the big boss's business aside for now, you must have something else to discuss with me today," Tornado, a perceptive man, asked directly.

Lu Chen nodded, leaning forward slightly.

"Brother Long, I'd like to borrow two people from you."

"Who?"

"Xin Yi, and Chen Luojun."

Upon hearing this, Tornado's brows furrowed instantly. He stopped what he was doing, twirling the throat lozenge in his mouth with a soft pop.

"What would you do with them?" Tornado's tone became wary, like a protective old beast. "Chen, I know you're doing big things out there. But those two... Xin Yi is clever, but he's always been in the walled city and hasn't seen the world. Luo Jun is even more naive; he can't do anything except fight. If you ask them to help you with those financial scams... cough cough, business operations, they're not cut out for it."

"It's not a business operation."

Lu Chen shook his head, his eyes turning deep. "It's a bit... physically demanding. It requires someone skilled, trustworthy, and willing to risk their life."

"No!"

Tornado flatly refused, raising her voice several decibels, "You want to take them to their deaths? Chen, I gave you my ID card. I consider you a friend because I think you're a smart man, capable of guiding Luo Jun and Xin Yi onto the right path. Now you want to take them to their deaths? What's the difference between that and letting them join a gang?"

"The difference is that, by following me, they can take control of their own destiny."

Lu Chen did not back down. Instead, he met the tornado's angry gaze with a calm and firm tone:

"Brother Long, you've protected them for a long time. But can you protect them forever? How many more years can your body hold out? A year? Two years?"

These words were like a sharp knife, precisely piercing the tornado's most vulnerable spot.

Tornado's breathing became rapid; she wanted to refute, but couldn't find the words.

"And this walled city," Lu Chen pointed to the floor beneath his feet, "you know better than I do that the government has wanted to demolish it for a long time. It's just that the time isn't right yet. When 1997 approaches, this place is destined to become ruins. What will happen to Xin Yi then? What will happen to Luo Jun? Will they be sent to deliver food? Or to work as porters at the docks?"

"They are dragons, not worms. If they are always kept in this cage, they will never learn how to fly in a storm."

Lu Chen stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the narrow strip of sky outside.

There's an old saying among fishermen: the bigger the wind and waves, the more expensive the fish.

"This mission is indeed risky. But I, Lu Chen, guarantee with my life that I will not let them go to their deaths. This is an opportunity. If we succeed in this job, they can live a life of comfort and security for the rest of their lives, even without relying on the stronghold, and may even become high-ranking officials."

"Brother Long, fledglings always have to leave the nest. Do you want them to rot under your wings, or do you want them to fight for a future?"

A long silence fell over the barbershop.

Only the wall clock continued to tick.

Tornado closed his eyes, his chest heaving. After a long while, he let out a long sigh, a sigh filled with helplessness, reluctance, and a hint of resolve.

He knew that Lu Chen was right.

He couldn't protect them forever. Xin Yi was talented, and Luo Jun was skilled; what they lacked was an opportunity—a chance to truly experience the cruelty and wonder of the martial world. And Lu Chen might be the one who could lead them out of the city.

"You...can you really guarantee their safety?" Tornado opened her eyes, her gaze fixed on Lu Chen.

"As long as you follow my orders, I'm 90% confident you'll be unharmed," Lu Chen solemnly promised. "And if anything happens, I'll definitely stand in front of them."

Tornado stared at Lu Chen for a full half minute before finally waving his hand. "Go ahead. Go talk to them yourself. If they're unwilling, you can't force them."

"Thank you, Brother Long." Lu Chen smiled. He knew he had passed this hurdle.

……

In the back alley of the walled city, there is an open-air food stall.

Chen Luojun was wearing a faded vest, holding a large bowl of wonton noodles, and eating it heartily. His usually tense and wary face was much softer now. Although his time in the walled city had been tough, he had felt a warmth he had never experienced before. Although the people here were rough, no one treated him as an outsider.

Xin sat opposite him, toying with a butterfly knife in his hand, the blade twirling between his fingers like a silver butterfly. A bottle of Vitasoy sat in front of him, his eyes filled with a listless boredom.

"Hey, Luo Jun, eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you," Xin Yi teased with a smile. "The char siu rice hasn't even arrived yet."

"Hungry?" Chen Luojun mumbled incoherently, revealing a simple and honest smile.

Just then, a shadow fell over the table.

The two looked up at the same time and saw Lu Chen standing in front of them.

"Brother Chen!"

Chen Luojun immediately put down his chopsticks and stood up, his movements somewhat hesitant but full of respect. Although he didn't know exactly what Lu Chen had done, he knew that Lu Chen had played a significant role in enabling him to enter the walled city and be taken in by Tornado. Moreover, Lu Chen had even come to see him last time, bringing him new clothes.

"Sit down, don't be shy." Lu Chen smiled and pressed Chen Luojun's shoulder, then pulled over a plastic stool to sit down.

"Boss Lu, what brings you to eat at a street stall today?" Xin put away his butterfly knife, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Isn't the abalone in Central good enough?"

"Abalone may be delicious, but it can't compare to the warmth and hospitality of wonton noodles in the Walled City." Lu Chen smiled and called out to the owner, "Boss, another bowl of thin wonton noodles!"

While waiting for the noodles, Lu Chen glanced at the two of them and his joking expression disappeared.

"Luo Jun, Xin Yi, I need your help with something."

Without saying a word, Chen Luojun wiped his mouth and said, "Brother Chen, just say it! As long as it's within my power, I'll do anything! You and Tornado saved my life, and I've always wanted to repay that kindness."

This simple young man had nothing but sincerity in his eyes. He didn't know his background, nor did he care about any grand principles; he only knew that he would be completely devoted to whoever was good to him.

Lu Chen felt a warmth in his heart and patted Chen Luojun's arm: "It's not that serious, you won't die. It's just a little dangerous."

Then he looked at Shinichi.

Xin took a sip of Vita Milk, his eyes flashing. "I knew you wouldn't come back with anything good. So, what kind of deal? If it's about fighting for territory, I'll need the boss's permission."

"The boss has already agreed," Lu Chen said calmly.

Xin paused for a moment, then the nonchalant look in his eyes softened somewhat. Since Tornado had agreed, it meant this was no small matter.

"I want to pull off a big heist," Lu Chen said in a low voice, leaning forward so that only the three of them could hear. "After it's done, each of you will get at least this much."

Lu Chen held up five fingers.

"Five hundred thousand?" Shinichi guessed.

Five million.

"puff--!"

Xin Yi sprayed out the Vita Milk he had just drunk, and Chen Luojun's eyes widened as he dropped the wontons he hadn't finished eating back into his bowl.

"How much?!" Xin Yi glared at Lu Chen. "Five million? For each person? Are you going to rob HSBC?"

"Pretty much." Lu Chen smiled mysteriously, "But instead of robbing a bank, we're just hitting on a ride. It's safe and reliable, and most importantly, we're guaranteed not to be traced back to the police, so we don't have to worry about them causing trouble."

"Do you dare to do it?"

Xin Yi fell silent.

five million.

He worked for Tornado in the walled city, collecting debts and guarding the premises, barely saving tens of thousands of dollars a year. Five million would be enough to buy a new batch of generators for the walled city, repair the leaky roofs, and even find the best doctor for the boss…

"Let's do it!" Xin gritted his teeth, a ruthless glint in his eyes. "People die for money, birds die for food. As long as the big boss agrees, I'll go all out with you!"

"I'll go too," Chen Luojun immediately declared. "I don't want any money. If you need me, Brother Chen, I'll go."

"Good brother, but you can keep the money. Don't worry, it's nothing."

Lu Chen reached out, and the three hands clasped tightly together on the food stall table filled with the smell of cooking oil.

……

Half an hour later.

Barbershop.

Looking at the three people who had returned, and seeing the tense yet excited expressions on Xin Yi and Chen Luojun's faces, Long Juanfeng knew that things were settled.

He sighed helplessly and put down the newspaper in his hand.

"Since you've made the decision, don't disgrace the village."

Tornado stood up, walked behind the counter, opened a hidden compartment, took out a heavy black canvas bag, and threw it on the table.

"Here are a few bulletproof vests. They're older models, but they can save your life in a critical moment. Take them."

Lu Chen nodded, indicating that he would accept the letter.

"Is there anything else you need?" Tornado looked at Lu Chen with a complicated expression. "Just say the word, and I'll help you if I can."

Lu Chen looked at the tornado, then at the two young men behind him.

He needed not only courage, but also firepower. Those ruthless bandits had AK-47s and explosives. Relying solely on a machete would be suicide.

Lu Chen smiled slightly, a near-mad calm flashing in his eyes. He straightened his collar, mimicking Keanu Reeves' iconic pose from *The Matrix*, and slowly uttered a sentence:

"I want guns. Lots of guns."