Chapter Fifty: The First Shot Unleashes a Double Blossom!
“Ha ha,” Huang Kai raised three fingers, bluffing without hesitation. “I didn’t get to fight that day, but if I had, I’d have taken him down in three moves!”
“Very very good!” Peter’s eyes sparkled as he gave him a thumbs-up. “Dear Brother Kai, you are truly the successor of Bruce Lee—I’ve always believed that.”
“All right, I’m off now.” Huang Kai patted his pants and stood up. “I brought you some wife cakes from Saigon—you like them.”
“Brother Kai, we firmly believe you will always be Her Majesty the Queen’s most loyal friend.” Peter raised his glass and took a long sip, his smile growing wider.
“To our friendship,” Huang Kai smiled as he lifted his own glass of red wine and downed it like water.
Tch! He nearly spat it out... What a shitty taste, yet they treated it like a treasure. This was far inferior to Maotai.
After Huang Kai left, Peter quickly locked the door behind him, expertly opened the pastry box, and his eyes lit up at the sight of bundles of bright orange treats inside.
---
Yuen Long, the Two Emperors’ Temple.
Also known as the Guan Di Temple, it stands at the end of Cheung Shing Street in Yuen Long’s Old Market. The exact year it was built is unknown, but it likely dates back to the 18th century. The temple enshrines the Dark Heavenly Emperor and Guan Yu, bustling with worshippers.
Luxury cars of unknown makes filled the entrance.
Dragons adorned the outer walls, lions stood guard before the temple gates, and the beating of gongs and drums was so lively it could stir even the most sluggish spirits.
Today,
all manner of demons and spirits had gathered.
The main figure was a young man dressed in a bright red opera robe, his head wrapped in a red scarf, his face twisted in a grimace, trailing behind me.
At this moment, his mind was flooded with the images he had seen in the incense hall of the basement.
That was when he first arrived in Hong Kong.
The memories alone were enough to fill him with shame.
Heh,
he never expected today would be his turn...
---
He followed me into the Guan Di Temple. Looking up, he realized I had guessed right???
---
Inside the Guan Di Temple,
many elderly men wearing traditional gowns and opera costumes sat sipping tea, their expressions varied as they looked at him.
Leading them was Luo Bingrun, the current incense master of the Dongsheng Society.
“Liu Haizhu!”
I suddenly shouted with the force of thunder, making Liu Haizhu flinch.
He squinted, glaring at me. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Smack!”
I struck his shoulder sharply with a ruler, then whispered a warning: “Stay focused!”
“Oh!”
Liu Haizhu closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
When he opened them again, his face was all solemn.
An act? Who doesn’t know how to put on a show?
Watching him, I was quite pleased—this donkey can be taught.
---
“Liu Haizhu, by the grace of Guan Di, today you swear allegiance to Luo Bingrun, the third incense master of the Dongsheng Society. Do you accept?”
The kid yelled out, “I do!”
My expression changed; I raised the ruler, ready to strike, but saw Luo Bingrun give me a slight shake of the head.
I was completely exasperated: these two, old and young, are really too much... I couldn’t help but laugh in frustration.
Calming myself, I asked again, “Liu Haizhu, with Guan Di as witness, today incense master Luo bestows upon you the double-flower red stick. Do you accept?”
“I...” The kid was about to babble when he caught sight of the raised ruler in my hand and quickly changed course: “I do! I do!”
“Swish!”
Luo Bingrun’s arm flashed like lightning as he grabbed a knife and stood up with a flourish!
Such speed...
Liu Haizhu’s eyebrows shot up in shock!
“Swish!”
Luo Bingrun swung the knife down sharply!
On the table,
a golden, glistening roast suckling pig was sliced open in one swift cut!
The aroma, a blend of spices and rich meat, filled the air as if one were inside a butcher’s shop. Especially for Agang, who drooled onto the floor.
I solemnly declared, “The ceremony is complete!”
Liu Haizhu was stunned... just that? Is this a joke?
The ceremony? So it just means calling me over and chopping up a pig, and not just any pig—a fragrant roast suckling pig?
His eyes locked on the steaming chunk of meat on the table.
Such quality—how many meat sandwiches could this make?!
---
What followed was simple. Under the witness of various representatives,
Luo Bingrun led the Dongsheng elders, the Four Tigers, and gang leaders such as Huang Di, Cola, He Yong, Huo Shi, Lao Gou Ming, and others in offering incense and prayers to the Two Emperors, the Dark Heavenly Emperor and Guan Yu.
Of course, the newly initiated double-flower red stick bearer, Liu Haizhu, was among them.
---
His position was delicate—just after the Four Tigers, but before the gang leaders, near the front.
Afterward,
the group moved to the inner hall to offer incense to the previous two incense masters, informing them accordingly.
When everything concluded, they exited the Guan Di Temple.
---
Outside the Two Emperors’ Temple,
Luo Bingrun smiled at one of the elder figures with a notable reputation in the underworld and called out, “Thanks for gracing us with your presence, friends from the Jianghu. Let’s head to the Backbone Tavern!”
“Congratulations...”
“Congratulations!”
“Ha ha!”
Finally free from the oppressive atmosphere,
Agang stepped forward with a broad grin and clapped him on the shoulder. “Congrats! Your first shot, and you got the double flowers!”
Liu Haizhu glared at him. “Easy, damn it, easy! That hurts.”
Ding Zhiwei also stepped up, laughing: “Ride with me. I’ve got new clothes ready for you to change into. This outfit is way too festive.”
“Deal!” Liu Haizhu grinned widely but kept scanning the crowd for someone.
Ding Zhiwei stifled a laugh. “Stop looking. No women allowed at this event. She’s at home.”
“All right then!” The kid turned to Agang. “By the way, how’s Da Song’s injury? Did you give him the money?”
“He’s tough, even tougher than me. He’s lively now, guarding the young lady.”
Liu Haizhu smiled. “Good!”
Agang suddenly seemed to remember something and grew a bit anxious. “Hey, Haizhu, what about your own Tuen Mun? You have me guarding it every day, right?”
Ding Zhiwei chuckled, waiting to see what would come next.
---
This kid’s reputation is booming now.
If he wanted to rally support, Dongsheng has plenty of grassroots brothers looking for opportunities in the muck who would follow him.
But lately, the kid has been steady as a rock, making no moves.
Even with his cunning, I couldn’t figure out why.
In my view, the only explanation might be that this kid plans to bring brothers over from the mainland to help him.
As the saying goes, dragons have their own paths, and rats have theirs!
If that’s true, all the better.
Speaking of which, there are too many undercover agents here in Hong Kong!
Every gang is filled with talented spies... and these undercover agents are all handsome and cold like movie stars, making them impossible to guard against.
Bringing people from the mainland is great—clean and reliable!
Plus, with this kid’s skills, his brothers elsewhere can hardly be bad!