Chapter 464: Are you Mr. Xu?

More than a decade had passed. He had since settled down in Binhai, with a good wife and a dutiful son, a house, and a car.

He was perfectly content with this life—no more fighting and killing, just hanging around the docks to collect a paycheck.

However, he’d been hearing whispers lately that the Huang Family was headed for trouble.

But that wasn’t really his problem.

‘If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. Who was he to worry about it? It wasn’t his place.’

Early that morning, Zhao Zhiyong headed to the docks with two of his trusted men. The moment they arrived, however, a large group of Patrol officers stormed in.

Before Zhao Zhiyong could even react, an investigation warrant was shoved into his hand.

It stated that by order of the Binhai Governor, all Huang Family operations were to be suspended, and the docks were being temporarily seized for investigation.

His men were a bunch of hotheads. Without a second thought, they pulled out blades and clubs, ready to start a fight. But Zhao Zhiyong was past that age. He had a gut feeling that something was wrong and quickly stopped his men.

“Officer, what’s going on? Third Master is still the Inspector General, you can’t…”

“Huang Xiangyu has been temporarily suspended. This is an order from the Governor. Now take your men and leave. Don’t get in our way.”

The Patrol officer in charge said bluntly.

Completely dumbfounded, Zhao Zhiyong led his men away from the docks. He immediately tried to call his direct superior.

Unfortunately, the line just rang and rang until it disconnected. No one picked up.

One of his hotheaded underlings still looked indignant:

“Brother Yong, why’d you stop us? They’re just a bunch of Patrol officers. We should’ve just taken them…”

SMACK!

Zhao Zhiyong smacked the underling across the head. His brow furrowed, his eyes darting about as he tried to process the sudden turn of events.

“Let’s head back to the hall first. Don’t say another word.”

‘His men were new to the game, clueless. But he was different.’

‘After all his years in this life, he knew exactly who you could mess with and who you couldn’t.’

‘Start a fight with the Patrol?’

‘Start a fight at 9:00 AM, and they’d all be locked up by 9:15!’

‘Did they really think those Black Star pistols on their belts were just for show?’

As the underworld arm cultivated by the Huang Family, every Steward had a designated base in the city, and all these bases were managed by Xin Chengkun.

The protection fees collected from these bases alone brought the Huang Family a hefty sum each year.

Zhao Zhiyong’s base was a bar near the city center. Although the place wasn’t large, business was quite good because there was a university town nearby.

After returning to the Night Bar, Zhao Zhiyong called several of Master Xin’s top lieutenants one after another. The last call finally connected.

“Lord Hu, the docks were seized by the Patrol. Is something going on with…”

Before Zhao Zhiyong could finish, Lord White Tiger, one of Xin Chengkun’s Four Heavenly Kings, cut in with a rushed order:

“Forget the docks for now. Guard your turf. The Liu Family might send people to hit your place… Things are crazy right now. Wait for further notice!”

Lord Hu hung up as soon as he finished.

Zhao Zhiyong was stunned.

‘The Liu Family?’

‘The Liu Family in Binhai?’

‘The Liu Family was another top-tier family, but he was backed by the Huang Family. Would they really dare to make a move?’

Though his head was spinning, Zhao Zhiyong still ordered his men to stand guard outside.

But his man had barely stepped outside when a commotion erupted.

“Cao Nima! Where’s the Steward? Zhao Zhiyong, get the fuck out here!”

In his office, Zhao Zhiyong’s brow tightened. For a moment, he didn’t know whether he should go out.

He had a feeling a storm was brewing…

…

Chen Erbao sat in the passenger seat, watching the noticeably lighter traffic outside. ‘So this upheaval in Binhai is finally affecting ordinary people,’ he thought.

The car radio crackled to life with a news report:

“On September 28th, the Binhai Municipal Headquarters ordered a sweeping anti-gang operation. The following areas are temporarily subject to traffic control: Pujiang District…”

“Dongfang Ming certainly is decisive, hitting both sides at once!”

Chen Erbao remarked, fiddling with an exquisite lighter in his hand before casually lighting a cigarette.

He’d swiped the lighter from Huang Sanlang the last time they’d met.

Uncle Xu drove in silence.

As the car neared the university town in Pujiang District, Uncle Xu pulled over.

“Mr. Chen, let’s switch vehicles. This one is too conspicuous.”

Chen Erbao followed him out and got into a plain Jinbei van, which then continued toward the university town.

Soon, the two of them arrived in front of a bar.

“Night Bar…”

Chen Erbao stepped out of the van, flicked away the butt of his cigarette, and glanced up at the sign above the bar.

The bar obviously wouldn’t be open at this hour, but through the half-open doors, Chen Erbao could hear a series of CRASHES and BANGS from within.

Uncle Xu parked the van and, with a steady gait, walked ahead to push the bar’s doors wide open. Chen Erbao followed him inside.

The bar was in complete chaos.

Shattered bottles littered the floor. Tables and chairs were overturned. The place was a wreck.

Two groups of young punks, their hair dyed in flashy reds and greens, were locked in a tense standoff. Baseball bats and steel pipes were strewn about, and Chen Erbao even spotted a few gleaming machetes.

Seven or eight people lay on the floor around them, motionless in pools of their own blood.

The arrival of Chen Erbao and Uncle Xu immediately drew everyone’s gaze.

The leader of the group on the left, a bald man whose left cheek was badly swollen, glared at them menacingly.

“We’re closed. Get lost!”

He bellowed, but the two intruders acted as if they hadn’t heard him and kept walking toward the crowd.

“Motherfuckers, are you deaf? I told you to get lost!”

The bald man flew into a rage. Someone had smacked him hard across the face during the earlier brawl, and he was still seething.

Seeing the bald man approach him with a machete, Chen Erbao glanced at Uncle Xu and stuck his hands in his pockets, showing no intention of getting involved.

Uncle Xu’s expression remained placid. As the bald man drew near, the hand Uncle Xu had held behind his back whipped out. A single slap sent the man flying several meters, crashing into tables and glasses with a tremendous CLATTER.

Everyone was stunned for a moment. The bald man’s underlings were the first to react, grabbing their weapons and preparing to charge.

“Where is Zhao Zhiyong?”

Uncle Xu straightened his sleeve. His voice wasn’t loud, but it cut through the tension and was heard by everyone.

The bald man hadn’t passed out, but his head was ringing. Hearing Uncle Xu’s question, he struggled to his feet, his eyes burning with rage.

“Old bastard, don’t you know the rules? Dealing with Zhao Zhiyong is our Liu Family’s business. Who the hell are you to just show up and start swinging?”

If he hadn’t been so unsure of Uncle Xu’s background, he would have already ordered his men to attack.

Uncle Xu didn’t even spare him a glance, instead turning his gaze to the group on the right. He recognized one of them as one of Zhao Zhiyong’s men.

The man seemed to recognize him too, but it had been a long time, and he wasn’t quite sure:

“You… Are you Mr. Xu?”