Hua Muying was visibly stunned. Hearing Gou Dan’s terrified shout, his mind buzzed, and a scene flashed before his eyes.
"Run! Hurry!" It was a girl’s voice, choked with sobs, screaming desperately.
At that time, he had been completely consumed by fear, with only one thought left—to run.
But he hadn’t succeeded. After being caught by the human traffickers, terrified of having his legs broken, he did the most regrettable thing of his life. In a daze, he picked up a steel rod and shattered that girl’s legs himself.
From then on, nightmares haunted him every night, filled with the girl’s despairing screams.
Yet, it was precisely because of that ruthless act that the traffickers spared him. Instead, they saw potential in him—a cold-hearted, merciless tool they could mold into a weapon for their darker deeds.
Later, the girl was sold off, vanishing without a trace.
For children like her, there were usually only two fates:
The lucky ones might be adopted by decent families, living ordinary lives.
The unlucky ones? Sold as child brides or trafficked overseas, reduced to commodities at the mercy of others.
"Kill this little traitor first!" Baldie roared, ready to cripple the boy right then.
A surge of fury rushed to Hua Muying’s head. With a shout, he charged forward.
But one man was no match for so many.
Within moments, he was beaten to the ground, his head slamming against the pavement. Blood gushed, staining his vision red and blurring his sight.
Yet, gritting his teeth, he mustered his last ounce of strength to throw himself over Gou Dan, shielding the boy with his own body. Blood trickled from his lips, soaking his expensive clothes.
"You… ruined my clothes, damn it." Then, darkness swallowed him whole.
Seeing Hua Muying unconscious, Baldie waved a hand, ordering his men to haul him away for interrogation—to uncover any possible accomplices.
The trembling boy was dragged off with them.
Meanwhile.
The moment Scarface Brother stepped into the train station district, his mood lifted.
This was his kingdom!
Everyone knew the train station was prime territory for making money.
From the surrounding hostels, internet cafés, nightclubs, to underground dens—cash flowed everywhere.
The station’s lodging options were the city’s most abundant, a chaotic melting pot where anything went.
Pickpockets, beggars, and gangs thrived here, defying all crackdowns.
In short, chaos reigned supreme—always escalating, never tamed.
Still, compared to a decade ago, things had improved slightly.
Though spitting in public would still earn you a scolding—and a five-yuan fine—from the red-armband-wearing elderly enforcers.
Scarface Brother had once been caught by a stealthy granny in the crowd. Even as a gangster, he’d meekly coughed up the fine.
Back then, he was just a small-time thug.
But now?
Striding to the edge of the station square, Scarface Brother planted his hands on his hips, swaggering like he owned the place—and promptly hocked a loogie.
"Hck—ptui!"
The crowd: "…"
Flanked by thirty uniformed enforcers, Scarface Brother felt invincible, itching to provoke the elderly patrols.
Yet he underestimated their grit.
Despite his entourage, one granny strapped on her armband, blocked his path, and barked, "Five yuan!"
"Granny, you blind? See my crew? You dare ask me for money?" Scarface Brother glowered.
Unfazed, the granny shot back, "Boy, don’t threaten me. Take a look behind me."
Scarface Brother glanced over her shoulder—and froze. Several cops were approaching.
Instant surrender.
He slapped five yuan into her hand and scurried off, his gang in tow.
The station might be lawless, but thirty uniformed thugs were too conspicuous. The cops would investigate.
Luckily, they escaped in time.
Gao Min trailed behind, watching the farce with disbelief.
Is this undercover mission even worth it?
The others shared her exasperation.
Noticing their expressions, Scarface Brother cleared his throat awkwardly.
Erkun, ever the smooth talker, stepped in: "Our Scarface Brother respects his elders! Just like our code—no bullying the weak! This ain’t cowardice, it’s honor, got it?"
Scarface Brother nodded vigorously, saving face. "Damn right! Remember this—we’re gangsters, but no harming kids or grannies! That’s our principle! Break it, and you’re out!"
"Even thieves have standards!"
"Uh, Boss, that saying’s for pickpockets…"
"Same difference! Rules are rules!"
"Y-yes, Boss!" The lackeys chorused.
With the new recruits pacified, Scarface Brother exhaled inwardly. Thank gods for Erkun. Without him, that embarrassment would’ve stuck.
Determined to prove himself, he vowed to pull off something big—or risk losing his crew for good.
"Move out! We’re scoping the hostel strip!" Scarface Brother led the charge toward the station’s eastern alleyways.
True to its name, the strip was a maze of cramped lodgings—cheap, ID-free, and packed with drifters.
The gang strutted down the street like kings.
The usual hostel touts, spotting their swagger, scattered like rats. No one dared approach.
Scarface Brother’s confidence returned. Chest puffed, he bragged to Erkun: "I’m tellin’ ya, my punches are legendary. That hulk from the next block? One straight hit, and he begged for mercy!"
To demonstrate, he threw a textbook straight punch—complete with sound effects.
"Pow!"
"Goddammit—augh!"
His fist collided perfectly with a bald head emerging from an alley.
Scarface Brother froze mid-punch, utterly stunned.
Er Kun and his lackeys reacted swiftly, stepping back three paces in unison, their movements so synchronized it looked rehearsed.
Baldie clutched his nose as blood gushed out, the pain making him grimace. It took him a good while to recover before he slowly straightened up, pointing at Scarface Brother and cursing, "You motherfucker, where the hell are you swinging? You looking to die?!"
No sooner had he spoken than a dozen burly men surged out of the alley, lining up behind Baldie and blocking the path completely. Seeing their boss with a bloody nose, they were furious.
"You blind or what?!"
"You got a death wish?!"
"Get the fuck down on your knees, apologize, and pay up, or we’ll beat you to death!"
At the very back of the crowd, a few men were dragging along a bloodied young man, while another limp boy was slung over a man’s shoulder—whether dead or unconscious was unclear.
Scarface Brother knew he’d run into real trouble. Instinctively, he prepared to pull off his signature move—bare-handed blade-catching—and pleaded, "Boss, spare me! I didn’t mean to—"
But just as he was about to drop to his knees, it suddenly hit him.
"Wait a damn minute… don’t I have more guys than them?!"
"Why the hell should I be scared?!"
"I’m the future leader of the Xuanwu Hall! A few nobodies like this—I can beat ‘em down if I want!"
With that thought, Scarface Brother’s spine stiffened, and he glared down at the group before him.
"The fuck you telling to kneel and pay?!"
"Who gave you dogs the balls to talk to me like that?!"
