Futile Devices Scans

Xia Liuyi’s godfather—according to Qinglong’s introduction back in the day—had once been a subordinate of the Golden Triangle drug lord Kun Zhang, More than a decade ago, during a war with the Burmese government, he was left paralyzed in the lower body. Thereafter, he assumed the alias “Golden Maitreya”, living in seclusion in Thailand while acting as Kun Zhang’s proxy in handling the Southeast Asian drug trade.

Qinglong’s father, during his youth in exile in the Golden Triangle, had once saved this man amid a period of turmoil. The two became sworn brothers, and thus Qinglong was considered his nephew. When Xia Liuyi was twenty, Qinglong brought him to Thailand. Seeing that he was quick-witted and sharp—and strongly recommended by Qinglong—Golden Maitreya accepted him as a godson.

Aside from Xia Liuyi, Golden Maitreya had four other godsons by his side, collectively known as the “Four Great Bodhisattvas”. Thailand traditionally follows Theravada Buddhism, revering only Sakyamuni and not speaking of Bodhisattvas. Yet Golden Maitreya, being half-Chinese, adhered to Mahayana Buddhism. Not only did he put on a show of charity by donating to build several Chinese temples, he also feigned benevolence by adopting four orphans—raising them into savage beasts who abetted his tyranny, and bestowing upon them Bodhisattva titles as aliases: Ksitigarbha, Samantabhadra, Manjusri, and Jade Guanyin.

Among them, the youngest—“Jade Guanyin”—was the most favored. Golden Maitreya’s identity was shrouded in secrecy, elusive as a divine dragon. Those who usually acted on his behalf and conveyed his will were Jade Guanyin. Only someone of Xia Liuyi’s standing could be guided by her through twists and turns to gain an audience with the old master himself.

Golden Maitreya was cautious and meticulous. Though he once claimed to trust Xia Liuyi as he did Qinglong, and even took him as a godson, when Qinglong suddenly passed away two years prior, he immediately suspected Xia Liuyi of fratricide to seize power. He dispatched men to Hong Kong to investigate; only after confirming that Xu Ying was behind the incident did he resume dealings with Xia Liuyi.

Xia Liuyi understood that the man still harbored reservations toward him. In his dealings, he too remained guarded, maintaining a posture of humility—lowering his brows and submitting compliantly.

This time, Xia Liuyi’s requested shipment had increased significantly, and the transaction method had also changed. Golden Maitreya grew wary, inevitably probing him with extra questions. Moreover, as they had not met for over a year, he also extended the expected paternal concern of an elder. After this back-and-forth of negotiation and courtesy, Xia Liuyi remained in the reception room for over half an hour before emerging.

Jade Guanyin’s cheeks were flushed; a large portion of her skirt had been torn open by someone, leaving her bare legs exposed as she lounged on the sofa outside, holding up a mirror to reapply lipstick. Seeing Xia Liuyi emerge calmly, she let out a soft coo and drifted over to him.

“Ordinary people come out drenched in sweat from nerves,” she murmured coquettishly, playing with his hair. “How is it that you come out as if nothing happened after meeting godfather?”

“Godfather told you to go in,” Xia Liuyi replied flatly.

“Give me a kiss first.”

With no other choice, Xia Liuyi cupped her powdered face and planted a quick kiss on her forehead. “Go on.”

“You’re so good to me!” Jade Guanyin beamed with childlike delight and leaned in to return the favor, but Xia Liuyi tilted his head away, so her kiss landed only on his chin. Still dissatisfied, she hummed as she entered the room, her drawn-out, syrupy voice audible from outside: “God—fa—ther—”

Frowning, Xia Liuyi wiped at his chin as he walked away, unsure how much lipstick he had gotten on him. At the entrance to the hall, he spotted Xiao Ma waiting with the other bodyguards—frantically wiping lipstick off his own mouth! His clothes were in disarray; his shirt had been torn open beneath his suit jacket, his belt was missing, and he was clutching his trousers with one hand in a miserable state.

Xia Liuyi understood instantly, veins bulging. “Xiao Ma—!”

“Boss! It wasn’t me!” Xiao Ma wailed. “She—she came out just now, looked us all over, then grabbed me and kept kissing me, tore my clothes, pulled my pants—ask the brothers if you don’t believe me, they all saw…”

“And so you tore her skirt?!” Xia Liuyi snapped in a low voice.

“She tore it herself…” Xiao Ma cried harder. “She even climbed on top of me, trying to force herself on me in public… but I—I saw that she had that thing down there, and I went limp from fright… she cursed me for being useless, kicked me, and left…”

“Went limp? You were hard in the first place?!” Xia Liuyi smacked him across the head!

Clutching the swelling on his scalp, Xiao Ma whimpered, “I’ve never seen such perfect breasts… they felt so good… ah! Boss, don’t—don’t hit me! I was wrong, I won’t provoke her again!”

Xia Liuyi’s temples throbbed with fury. He ordered the bodyguards to throw this disgrace back into the car, while he sat alone on the hall sofa, slowly steadying his breathing.

—Though he had emerged without breaking into a sweat, he had to admit that even someone as bold and unrestrained as himself still felt a measure of tension and caution toward Golden Maitreya.

Seven years ago, when he first arrived here, he had already witnessed the man’s methods. Golden Maitreya bore a benevolent appearance, yet his cruelty far surpassed even Jade Guanyin’s. One of the initiation rites for becoming his godson was to execute two captured traitors. Xia Liuyi knew that even if he refused, the men would not live. Without blinking, he shot one dead. The other somehow broke free and lunged at Jade Guanyin, mistaking her for the only “woman” present and attempting to seize her as a hostage.

At that time, unaware of her true nature, Xia Liuyi intervened to save her. What followed allowed him the “honor” of witnessing how Golden Maitreya and Jade Guanyin dealt with the escapee—an experience that left even the younger Xia Liuyi drenched in cold sweat.

After leaving Thailand, he once secretly asked Qinglong why he associated with such sinister figures. Qinglong replied, “He can guarantee your safety and prosperity—why not? Remember this: you are one of his own. Unless absolutely necessary, do not defy him.”

Just now, in the reception room, Golden Maitreya’s words had all been layered with hidden meanings. Fortunately, Xia Liuyi’s conduct had been aboveboard, leaving no cause for suspicion. Once reassured, Golden Maitreya did treat him as one of his own, offering favorable terms for the goods.

Before long, Jade Guanyin emerged with instructions: Xia Liuyi was to remain in Thailand for a few more days, as godfather “wished to take him to tour the factory.”

Xia Liuyi understood. Golden Maitreya, seeing his rising influence in Hong Kong and his boundless prospects, wished to draw him closer and expand his own reach there. Accepting with due humility, Xia Liuyi arranged to meet Jade Guanyin again the next day before being escorted to his hotel.

After Jade Guanyin’s entourage departed, Xia Liuyi dragged Xiao Ma into the bathroom and unleashed a torrent of abuse. Jade Guanyin was unpredictable and dangerous—aside from Golden Maitreya, no one could restrain her. She was not someone to be provoked.

Once his anger subsided, Xia Liuyi lay on the bed, smoking and reflecting. Xiao Ma, in the end, could only manage petty cleverness—he was unfit for such high-stakes situations. For future trips to Thailand, Cui Dongdong would be the better choice. Yet if she left Hong Kong, there would be no one capable of holding down the fort.

After much thought, it was clear—he lacked a truly capable subordinate.

—He Chusan, on the other hand, was intelligent and composed… unfortunately, his combat skills were lacking.

The thought struck him suddenly, and he immediately shuddered, slapping himself sharply across the face.

The bodyguard at the door reacted at once. “Boss?”

“It’s nothing,” Xia Liuyi said. “Get me a new mobile.”

Soon one was brought in.

“From Jade Guanyin?”

“Yes.”

Wary of tampering, Xia Liuyi discarded it unused, instructing the guard to carry it and destroy it upon returning to Hong Kong. He then requested Xiao Ma’s phone instead.

However, as he dialed, a thought occurred. While listening to the connection tone, he pried open the battery cover—revealing and removing an extra small component hidden inside.

—While He Chusan sat on his bed staring blankly at his unreachable phone, Xia Liuyi was once again thrashing Xiao Ma: Useless trash! Worthless idiot! Someone tampered with your phone and you didn’t even notice! All you cared about was feeling her breasts—feeling her breasts! I ought to turn you into a ladyboy so you can fondle yourself all day!

Xia Liuyi did not know Jade Guanyin’s purpose in eavesdropping—whether it was on Golden Maitreya’s orders or her own scheme. Either way, out of caution, he chose not to involve He Chusan. Thus, during his stay in Thailand, he made no further contact.

With no news from him, He Chusan grew increasingly anxious, restless day and night. Asking Cui Dongdong yielded only reassurances: He’s fine. Asking for a new number was refused—the police are watching closely; your phone might be tapped too. Don’t cause trouble.

In short, he was left in constant worry, tossing and turning without rest.

Seeing his son verge on lovesickness, He’s father finally relented, saying the “future daughter-in-law” could come visit. Instantly, He Chusan imagined the chaos that would ensue if that “daughter-in-law” stepped through the door—utterly unthinkable. He weakly pulled the blanket over his head and continued pretending to be dead.

Xia Liuyi had said he would return before Christmas—but even by Christmas Eve, there was still no news. The He family did not truly celebrate Western holidays; they merely prepared a good meal and invited a widow from downstairs and her teenage daughter to join them.

The widow, surnamed Wu, was an old neighbor from Jiaolong Walled City. Her husband had died years ago, leaving her without work; she made a living through sewing and mending. After Mr. He opened a grocery shop, he ostensibly hired her to help, but in truth it was to provide support for the mother and daughter. Over time, the two households grew close.

Having been away from home for so long, He Chusan watched the tacit understanding between Auntie Wu and his father at the dinner table—and felt that something good might soon come of it.

He knew Auntie Wu to be kind and attentive, and he was genuinely happy for his father. In fact, he even had the intention of vigorously matchmaking this late-life romance. Only, Auntie Wu’s daughter was in the throes of adolescence—rebellious and uncooperative in both word and deed. Auntie Wu, being soft-natured and poor at discipline, could not rein her in no matter how she tried. After a few more nagging words, the girl actually slammed the door and stormed out.

Sighing, Auntie Wu apologized to the He father and son, explaining that the girl had recently gotten herself a “triad punk” boyfriend. Having been persuaded against it, she was now full of resentment and was in the midst of a cold war with her.

Listening to their domestic chatter, He Chusan grew drowsier by the moment. He guessed it was due to the bowl of herbal medicine he had drunk after dinner. Leaning on his crutches, he returned to his small room cluttered with goods to rest. Half-asleep, he could still hear the two elders chatting beyond the thin door panel… and just like that, he drifted off.

In his dream, he followed Xia Liuyi to that mysterious and unfamiliar foreign land—a realm of a thousand Buddhas, where temples stood in dense clusters. Xia Liuyi’s figure disappeared behind ancient, crumbling stone walls. He tried to chase after him, but the curling incense smoke blurred his vision. Within the drifting haze, faint chants of devout men and women echoed.

A meditating monk, bowing before the Buddha, asked him: You are obstinate and unrepentant, mired deep in the mire—will you not turn back?

Yet he replied: To offer one’s body in charity, to cut flesh to feed the eagle—are these not teachings of the Buddha?

The monk said: You cannot distinguish good from evil, aiding tyranny—is this your path of charity?

And he answered: If one does not rise from the mire, how can one behold the white lotus? If I do not enter hell, how can I save him from it?

Knock, knock!

Two light sounds shattered He Chusan’s youthful, reckless ambitions! Startled, his heart pounded violently, almost beyond control. Gasping, he turned toward the window—

—and saw, looming outside, a massive shadow like a ghost! He nearly fainted on the spot from fright!

With superhuman will, He Chusan steadied himself and looked again—

Xia Liuyi was clinging to his windowsill, knocking with a dark expression!

His heart thundered. He hurriedly scrambled off the bed, hopping on one leg to the window, and let Xia Liuyi in.

“B-Brother Liuyi, you… you…” He Chusan was so stunned by this “gift from the heavens” that his speech turned clumsy again.

“Why was it your dad who answered your phone?” Xia Liuyi asked in a low voice, frowning. As he spoke, he looked around in disdain at the cramped little room packed with goods, brushing dust from himself.

He Chusan froze—damn it. During dinner, he had left his phone on the table and forgotten to bring it back.

Xia Liuyi had flown back to Hong Kong that afternoon and immediately presided over the Christmas Eve year-end assembly, distributing red packets to elders and brothers alike. The gathering of demons and freaks had reveled deep into the night before he found a chance to slip out of his nightclub. The first thing he did was call He Chusan—only to be caught red-handed by Mr. He answering the phone!

On the surface, Mr.!He greeted the boss, but in truth subjected him to a thorough interrogation. Though he had not yet suspected Xia Liuyi to be the “daughter-in-law,” he was convinced that He Chusan was working for Boss Xia—and that the broken leg had something to do with him!

Not knowing what lies He Chusan had spun, Xia Liuyi dared not say too much for fear of exposing the truth. He muddled through the exchange and hung up under the pretense of poor signal. Realizing that this rascal had slipped back home while he was away, anger surged through him—and he came straight over to catch him.

Hearing this, He Chusan let out a muffled laugh, shoulders shaking as he lowered his head.

—If it were truly “catching” someone, he could have simply come in through the front door tomorrow while Dad was out. Sneaking over in the dead of night and climbing through the window like this—this wasn’t catching someone, it was clearly stealing someone.

Seeing his expression, Xia Liuyi grew annoyed. “What are you laughing at, you bastard!”

“N-nothing… not laughing…” He Chusan said, unable to hide the smile. Then, limping forward, he suddenly leaned in and kissed him.

Caught off guard, Xia Liuyi was pressed back against the window frame, half his body hanging out. The moment their lips met, his legs instinctively weakened. To avoid the two of them tumbling out together, he forced himself steady, wrapped an arm around He Chusan’s waist, and flipped them around—pinning him against a stack of crates and biting down without restraint.

In biting, He Chusan was no match for him. Laughing as he was nipped, he dodged, “Gently… gently, Brother Liuyi…”

“Tch…” Xia Liuyi grunted impatiently, kissing him as they fumbled and knocked into things—

Crash!

In their confusion, they knocked over a large crate—

Bang!

“A-San?!” He’s father called out, awakened.

From inside came He Chusan’s voice, “Dad, it’s fine—just a box from the top fell.”

“Are you alright? Stay put, I’ll come clean it up.” His father had already reached the door.

“N-no, no need! The box is blocking the door—it won’t open. I’ll handle it myself. Go back to sleep!” His voice was clearly flustered.

“Really nothing wrong?” his father asked suspiciously.

“Really, really nothing.”

Still doubtful, Mr. He pressed his ear to the door, then tried to push it open—only to find it firmly blocked (Xia Liuyi bracing it from behind with his backside). Muttering uneasily, he returned to bed. Only after listening carefully for a while did Xia Liuyi move away, stepping lightly back to the bed and sitting beside He Chusan.

The two sat there in stunned silence for a long while—then suddenly burst into muffled laughter together.

“Damn it, He A-San, aren’t you supposed to be an award-winning actor?” Xia Liuyi cursed softly between laughs. “That performance just now was terrible!”

“How am I supposed to act in front of my dad?” He Chusan retorted matter-of-factly. His father had raised him for decades—he could tell what he was up to at a glance. Besides, he had been so frightened just now that he was drenched in sweat—how could he possibly act?

“……”

Xia Liuyi had no ground to mock him—his own palms had been sweating too.

—This is downright humiliating! The mighty Dragon Head boss, sneaking over walls in the middle of the night just to see his lover—and getting thoroughly intimidated by the other man’s father! Golden Maitreya wasn’t even half as terrifying as Mr. He!

“Damn it, how embarrassing!”

“It’s fine, no one saw,” He Chusan soothed him—and leaned in for another kiss.

“You’re not a person?” Xia Liuyi murmured as they brushed against each other.

“I’m your person.”

“Disgusting. Get lost.”

“Heh.”

On that narrow, worn little bed, the two of them clung together, lingering in quiet intimacy for quite some time. Feeling the dirt smeared through Xia Liuyi’s hair, neck, and chest, He Chusan asked, puzzled, “How did you even get up here?”

“Climbed,” Xia Liuyi replied impatiently.

“Isn’t your right hand still…” unable to exert strength?

“Tch. You think that’s difficult for your Brother Liuyi? Martial arts master, scaling walls and leaping roofs—easy.”

He certainly wasn’t about to admit he had hooked his tie onto pipes along the way and climbed up using his teeth… In truth, if not for He Chusan’s injured leg, he would have simply thrown a stone at the window and made him climb down instead.

One injured, one impaired—the two lay entwined on the bed. Carefully, He Chusan wiped Xia Liuyi’s face clean with a cloth and said softly, “You’re not leaving tonight, right? Stay here.”

He couldn’t bear to watch Xia Liuyi climb back down again—it would give him a heart attack. But letting him leave through the front door and waking his father would cause an even bigger disaster.

“Too cramped,” Xia Liuyi muttered in disdain.

“It’s warmer this way. It’s gotten colder these days—my injured leg aches in the cold.”

Xia Liuyi clicked his tongue in even greater disdain—yet held him tighter, wrapping his legs around him to warm his feet. “Alright. Sleep.”

Silence settled in the room for a long while.

“Brother Liuyi… did you lock the door just now?”

“……No.”

“Go quickly. Dad might try to open it in the morning.”

“……”

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