Chapter 133: Unexpected Change

Gun You Liang saw I was completely unmoved and became even more frantic.

"Jing Ge! The Bang Li has no place for you anymore. Now, Fei Tong is in charge, and he’s always had a grudge against Rong Ye—he’ll want your life!"

I picked up a bottle of Coke from beside me and opened it.

"Gun You Liang, you should go."

"Go...?"

"What happens next is between me and Tong Ye. If you stay, you’ll just get dragged into it."

I took a sip of the Coke. It was room temperature, not very refreshing.

Gun You Liang was silent for a long time before slowly getting to his feet.

He paid the noodle shop owner, then turned back and bowed to me. "Jing Ge, you helped me before. If you need me in the next life, just say the word..."

"Alright, go on." I waved my hand.

Gun You Liang hesitated for a moment, then pulled a folding knife from his pocket and placed it in front of me. "Jing Ge, for self-defense."

"I never use a knife in fights." I shook my head. "Take it back."

"Keep it, Jing Ge. I don't have anything else to help you with."

Watching him walk out of the noodle shop, glancing back every few steps, my mind remained unsettled.

I was so foolish—what on earth had happened?

The noodle shop owner and I sat quietly together. He washed dishes, I drank Coke, and neither of us said a word.

After twenty minutes, the sound of cars pulling up came from the street outside. A dozen dark vehicles stopped in front of the shop.

A large group of serious-faced people burst in all at once.

I didn't recognize most of them, but the man leading them was familiar.

Chong Ge, the Bai Zhi Shan of the Bang Li.

His face bore a long, narrow scar running from his left forehead to his right jaw, making it very noticeable.

Chong Ge came up to me, slowly sat down, and picked up another bottle of Coke.

"It's room temperature," I said.

"Doesn't matter." He bit off the cap with his teeth and gulped down several big mouthfuls.

He bit his lip, looking like he had something difficult to say.

"Chong Ge, do you really need this big a show of force just to see me?" I glanced at the dozens of people crowding the room, my expression neutral.

"Four years ago, you were the most ferocious Hong Gun, taking down thirty-seven people bare-handed. How could I not bring the backup?"

"So... does Tong Ye have a message for me?"

Chong Ge thought for a moment, then turned to the others and said, "All of you, wait outside on the street. Don't come in without my order."

"Yes, Chong Ge."

Once they had left, Chong Ge let out a deep sigh.

"Ah Jing, why did you have to come back?"

"This is my home. Why can't I come back?"

Chong Ge grabbed my collar, his voice restrained. "Ah Jing! Both Tong Ye and I wanted to let you off, but you came back so openly and even got into fights. How is he supposed to handle this? You're the heart of the traitor!"

I could understand if Chong Ge wanted to let me go—after all, he had looked out for me before. But what reason did Tong Ye have?

"Rong Ye isn't a traitor," I said. "There must be some misunderstanding."

Chong Ge sighed helplessly, released his grip, and pulled out two items from his pocket.

On the left was an airplane ticket, and on the right, a motorcycle key.

"Ah Jing, choose for yourself. Go to Thailand—Tong Ye has a job for you there, enough to keep you fed for the rest of your life. Or take the motorcycle out the back door and never show your face again."

Chong Ge acted like he was meeting me for the first time, actually giving me a choice.

"I don't want either. Chong Ge, I'll ride with you." I stood up and headed for the door.

Chong Ge shook his head, put the items away, and followed me.

As I was about to step out, I remembered something.

"Chong Ge, I don't have any money. Pay for those two bottles of Coke, will you?"

...

The Bang Li hadn't changed much, but the underlings passing through were all Tong Ye's people now.

I knew Tong Ye was unpredictable; he had clashed with Rong Ye for years, and to him, I was undoubtedly the biggest thorn in his side.

"Tong Ye, Ah Jing is here," Chong Ge said, knocking on the door.

"Let him in."

Chong Ge nodded, stood outside, and opened the door. I stepped inside the room.

The room was dimly lit, filled with swirling smoke, and I could faintly hear the sound of Buddhist prayer beads being turned.

"Tong Ye, it's Ah Jing," I said.

"Offer incense to Er Ye first." Tong Ye's low voice came from the shadows.

I nodded, went over to the statue of Guan Er Ye, held three sticks of incense over my forehead, and bowed respectfully three times.

"Come here." Tong Ye gestured from the darkness.

I sat down in front of Tong Ye and said, "Tong Ye."

"Hmm, Ah Jing..." Tong Ye leaned back on the sofa, his belly protruding, fiddling with his prayer beads. "I heard about you when you were working under Gam Gui Rong. You were quite the force to be reckoned with."

"You're too kind, Tong Ye. I'm just Ah Jing, a brute who only knows how to fight."

"Nonsense." Tong Ye coughed weakly. "I heard Gam Gui Rong sent you to learn the most advanced international fighting techniques. If not for those four years in prison, you'd be a professional fighter by now."

"That's right. Rong Ye taught me how to make a living—he's my benefactor, and I'll never forget it."

At those words, Tong Ye paused his bead-fiddling for a moment before continuing. "But Ah Jing, Gam Gui Rong broke the Bang Li rules. How do you think we settle that account?"

I nodded. "I don't believe Rong Ye stole the money. Two million is no small amount—he wouldn't be that careless."

Tong Ye snorted coldly, threw his prayer beads on the table, sat up straight from the shadows, revealing his bloated face.

"Ah Jing, it's not 'stole the money'—it's 'borrowed money.' He asked me for two million and then ran when it was time to pay back." Tong Ye gritted his teeth. "That bastard took my money, not the Bang Li's..."

"What...?"

Tong Ye looked furious. He took several deep breaths to calm down, still grinding his teeth as he asked, "So, how should we settle this?"

"Could my life cover it?" I asked.

Tong Ye didn't respond; he just picked up his prayer beads again and closed his eyes, continuing to turn them.

I waited a few seconds, and since he said nothing, I figured I understood his meaning.

"Thank you, Tong Ye, for allowing this."

I stood up, took the folding knife from my pocket, stepped back two paces, and held it to my neck.

But before I could make the cut, two people rushed from behind and pinned me down on the table.

I hadn't expected there to be others hidden in the room.

"Good kid, you've got guts." Tong Ye nodded, let out a dry laugh, then quickly turned serious again. "Ah Jing... but what's the use of taking your worthless life? What about my money?"

"Tong Ye, I can't come up with two million." I said through gritted teeth, pressed against the table. "How do you want to settle this account? What will it take to let Rong Ye go?"

"Ah Jing... oh, Ah Jing, you're so foolish." Tong Ye reached out, and someone handed him a cigarette to light. "You took four years in prison for Gam Gui Rong, and now you're still shielding him. Why put yourself through this?"

"I told you, Rong Ye showed me kindness."

"But he always used you as a pawn, never caring about your life." Tong Ye took a drag from his cigarette and asked seriously, "That guy called Gun You Liang isn't one of mine or yours—why did he specifically bring you to Wangjiao?"