Xia Liu Yi could see nothing, hear nothing clearly. Roaring in fury, he swung the plastic basin wildly in all directions—he did not know whom he struck, whom he frightened away, or who rushed him again. Suddenly—a blade from behind!
He kicked backward with savage force, sending both attacker and weapon flying!
The tearing pain across his back, flesh split open, snapped him out of blind rage. The whistling wind at his ears sharpened with terrifying clarity. He spun—his leg lashed out in a high side kick—another ambusher was struck square in the jaw and sent flying, teeth and blood spraying across the ground!
The remaining men were shaken by his ferocity. They circled him, none daring to step forward for the moment.
Xia Liu Yi wiped the blood from his back, his expression growing colder, more vicious. In that suffocating darkness, the veteran of countless battles became eerily calm. With a sharp crack, he snapped the plastic basin in two against his knee!
One shard in each hand—he bent low, legs apart, assuming the stance of twin blades.
The men recoiled as one.
“Twin-Blade Blood Asura”—this title was no empty boast. Memories surfaced of how he had once single-handedly carved through forty men in a narrow alley. Fear crept into their hearts—some even began to tremble.
Shrimp Skin had never imagined that a blind Xia Liu Yi could still exude such overwhelming pressure. Enraged, he roared:
“What are you afraid of?! He’s blind now!!”
To prove his words, he lunged forward with a paper knife! Xia Liu Yi raised his hand, deflecting the strike, twisting his wrist in a flourish—crack! The weapon flew from Shrimp Skin’s hand!
In the same motion, Xia Liu Yi thrust forward with his “blade”—Shrimp Skin shrieked, stumbling back, a bloody gash already torn across his chest.
But when Shrimp Skin looked down, he realized it wasn’t fatal—the “blade” was only a thin piece of plastic. And Xia Liu Yi had not pursued—blind and surrounded by rushing water that distorted sound, he was cautious.
Shrimp Skin let out a strange laugh, emboldened. Snatching a sharpened toothbrush handle from another man, he charged again! The others, encouraged, surged forward together!
Xia Liu Yi fought like a storm—darting left and right, steps swift and precise, pressing close to his enemies, slashing and stabbing. Cries of pain rang out—but wounds also began to accumulate across his own body.
Six men encircled him tightly. The two he had kicked aside earlier hovered at the edge, eager to rejoin.
Hooking an arm around one man’s neck, Xia Liu Yi slammed him to the ground. Hearing the circle tighten, he roared, spun, and swept outward with both “blades,” forcing them back—then leapt forward, both feet striking—another man was sent flying!
But upon landing—he stepped into a curtain of scalding water!
The hottest stream poured over his shoulder and arm. He grunted, retreating—only for the man he had thrown earlier to stab a blade into his left calf!
A furious howl tore from Xia Liu Yi. His right leg lashed out, kicking the man away. Staggering, barely able to stand, he forced himself back into a defensive stance.
“His right hand is a feint!!” one of the men shouted. “He hasn’t used strength with it!”
At once, they attacked his right side.
Xia Liu Yi spun to counter—but his injured leg failed him.
Thud! He crashed to the ground!
Blades struck his shoulder and back again. Rolling to evade, he tried to rise—only to be kicked viciously at the temple!
A muffled groan—he fell again. His mind reeled, ears ringing violently—he could barely hear anything…
Another man rushed in to strike him again—but Xia Liu Yi grabbed his leg and dragged him down. The rest swarmed forward. Though he raised the broken basin to block, more cuts landed across his arms and legs.
“Kill him!” Shrimp Skin’s roar echoed through the ringing in his ears.
Another brutal kick struck his head.
At last—his consciousness faltered.
He collapsed, half-aware of wind rushing toward him—someone coming for another strike. He raised his hand instinctively—
But from another direction—
A stronger gust—
“Bang!”
Someone kicked the attacker aside. The man fell—and a scream followed as his lower abdomen was crushed underfoot!
Xia Liu Yi knelt on the ground, wavering between clarity and darkness. He heard faint sounds of fierce combat—someone stood before him, fighting off the attackers.
Suddenly, an arm seized him, hauling him upright. Leaning against that person’s shoulder, he gasped.
“Not dead yet?” a cold voice asked.
It was Qin Hao.
“What are you doing here?” Xia Liu Yi rasped.
“This is all you’ve got?” Qin Hao replied bluntly.
“I don’t have a blade!” Xia Liu Yi roared. His left hand suddenly seized Qin Hao’s wrist—guiding the paper knife backward in a stabbing motion behind them! An ambusher screamed as his raised arm was pierced—before Xia Liu Yi followed with a backward kick, sending him flying.
Seeing he could still fight, Qin Hao shoved the knife into his hand. “Take it. Eight of them—I’ll handle six, you take two.”
“Four each!” Xia Liu Yi snapped.
“You can’t see, can’t stand, and your right hand’s useless,” Qin Hao said flatly.
“Shut up!”
With a furious roar, Xia Liu Yi’s killing intent surged once more. Together, they charged into the enemy!
Qin Hao’s kick smashed into Shrimp Skin’s face, sending him reeling. Xia Liu Yi seized another man’s arm, twisted, and slammed him over his shoulder—driving a blade into his abdomen!
Screams erupted again…
…
The darkness filled with the thick scent of blood.
Gradually, the chaotic sounds faded.
Xia Liu Yi heard the last attacker collapse. Groans and cries echoed faintly around them.
Exhausted, he slumped—only to be caught by Qin Hao.
“Shrimp Skin… he’s not dead, right?” Xia Liu Yi forced out.
“No one’s dead,” Qin Hao replied coldly. “I repay your favor. I don’t kill for you.”
Xia Liu Yi had no energy to argue. Swallowing blood, he ordered, “Take me to him.”
Reluctantly, Qin Hao helped him over.
Shrimp Skin lay slumped against the wall, breathing shakily. Xia Liu Yi grabbed his hair and slapped him hard. Shrimp Skin coughed blood.
“Don’t kill me… please…”
Xia Liu Yi leaned against him, too exhausted to stand. “I won’t kill you. Let’s talk.”
“Yes… yes… I’ll tell you everything…”
“Who told you I was scheming against you? My man?”
“N-no… Big Scarhead tried to bribe my lackey. He told me…”
Xia Liu Yi sighed.
Big Scarhead had strength—but too little cunning.
“He’s the one who stabbed Big Scarhead?”
“M-my lackey did it… then stuffed the toothbrush into Big Python’s hand…”
“The guard outside—did you bribe him too? Tie up Limping Sha, stuff sand into the pipes, then ambush me—make it look like we killed each other?”
“Yes…”
“I wanted you dead—not just because you’re blind in prison,” Xia Liu Yi said coldly. “Three years ago, Fat Seven and Xu Ying plotted against Azure Dragon. You were his deputy.”
Shrimp Skin trembled violently. “I—I didn’t know…”
Xia Liu Yi sighed again—then drove his blade into Shrimp Skin’s thigh!
A piercing scream echoed.
“Quiet,” Xia Liu Yi said calmly.
Shrimp Skin bit down on his own hand, sobbing.
“I don’t have time for games. No. 36 Tai Wo Hau Road—that’s where your mother lives?”
Shrimp Skin nodded frantically, then cried out, “Yes! Please—she knows nothing—!”
“Tell the truth, and I won’t touch her. Start from the beginning. What did Xu Ying and Fat Seven plan? What does Inspector Hua have to do with it?”
“Yes… yes…”
He spilled everything.
Xu Ying sought to replace Azure Dragon, offering cooperation and bribes. Fat Seven agreed. They planned to ruin Azure Dragon’s reputation, force him down, confine him.
“Confine?!” Xia Liu Yi snarled. “That’s usurpation!”
“I’m telling the truth! At first, they didn’t want to kill him—but Inspector Hua insisted… said Azure Dragon had to die…”
“Why?!”
“I—I don’t know…”
Xia Liu Yi’s fists clenched, cracking.
“And then?”
“They framed you… Azure Dragon died… you fled… Fat Seven celebrated… then you returned, killed Xu Ying, became leader… Fat Seven wanted you dead too, but Inspector Hua stopped him… said it wasn’t necessary…”
Xia Liu Yi’s face darkened with killing intent.
At last, he spoke coldly:
“Today—this was intentional assault. Qin Hao and I acted in self-defense. If any of you lie in your statements—”
His voice dropped to an icy whisper:
“I’ll personally pay your mothers a visit.”
“Got it! We hear you loud and clear!”
“Qin Hao,” Xia Liu Yi added, tilting his head.
“Mm?”
“In a bit, remind the doctor—clean my eyes first.”
“Alright.”
“And go release Limping Sha. Let him get out and call the officers in.”
Qin Hao did as told. Xia Liu Yi leaned back, resting his head against the wall, lazily patting the leg of Shrimp Skin—the one still pinned with a blade. Shrimp Skin silently held back tears, not daring to struggle in the slightest.
“Relax, I won’t kill you. In fact, I should thank you.” A weary smile tugged at Xia Liu Yi’s lips.
“Now I can apply for medical bail.”
……
Inside the stark white ward, several hospital beds were partitioned off into makeshift cubicles by curtains. On the innermost bed, Xia Liu Yi lay wrapped like a mummy, one leg suspended, his eyes bound in gauze. An IV dripped steadily into his left arm, while his right hand was cuffed to the metal rail of the bed.
A deathly silence filled the air.
After waiting for a long while without hearing so much as a breath, Xia Liu Yi couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong with you? Crying?”
“No.” Seated beside the bed, He Chu San finally spoke, his voice calm.
“How the hell did you sneak in here?” Xia Liu Yi’s medical bail was still under review; he was supposed to be under strict guard, with two officers posted outside.
“……” Dressed in a stolen white coat, ID badge hanging from his neck, He Chu San—disguised as a doctor—fell silent again.
Xia Liu Yi waited, and waited—but the man didn’t utter a single damn word. Irritation flared. “The hell? We finally get to see each other and you’re playing mute? Say something!”
He Chu San took a deep breath. “Don’t feel like talking.”
“What, because I’m about to go blind, Elite He is disgusted with me now?”
“You won’t go blind. The doctor said if recovery goes well, the bandages can come off in a few days.”
“Then why the hell are you acting like a mute? Don’t wanna talk to me? I’m already like this—if you don’t wanna talk then get the hell ou—”
Before he could finish, his mouth was covered by He Chu San’s hand. He could hear the man’s breathing—ragged, restrained. After holding it in for a long moment, He Chu San let go and said in a low voice:
“Brother Liu Yi… I really want to lock you up.”
“…Huh?” Xia Liu Yi didn’t quite catch that.
“I want to cuff you to this bed and never let you go anywhere. If you fight people, I’ll cripple your legs first. If you let someone hurt your eyes, I’ll dig them out myself. If you try to run… I’ll kill you.”
“……”
“I’m done.”
“……”
Xia Liu Yi stared blankly, mouth hanging open for a long time before smacking his lips dryly. “Don’t think I can’t see—you’re not He A’San, are you?”
His mouth was sealed again—this time by a tongue.
Boss Xia was thoroughly kissed for over three solid minutes. By the time he finally broke free, he was gasping for breath, his cuffed hand flailing uselessly. “Cough—alright, alright, I get it. It’s you.”
He Chu San sat back down, lowering his head, falling silent once more.
Xia Liu Yi found him utterly strange today. Probably got shaken seeing how badly he was hurt—must’ve messed with his head a little.
“I’m really fine,” Boss Xia softened his tone, coaxing him gently. “Weapons in prison are all scraps—just got poked a few times. What’s this kind of injury worth? Back then, I—”
“Don’t talk about back then!” He Chu San snapped.
Xia Liu Yi shut his mouth, his expression cooling.
He already had heavy thoughts weighing on him. Add to that his temporary blindness, being stuck in bed, every inch of his body aching—his mood was foul enough as it was. And yet He Chu San had risked everything to sneak into the hospital just to see him. Boss Xia’s heart had just soared to the heavens—only to be yanked down and trampled into the dirt.
Damn it. One cold shoulder after another—no matter how much he doted on He Chu San, this was too much.
Xia Liu Yi stopped talking as well.
The room fell into silence once more—cold, suffocating, almost solid.
“I’m going. I’ll come see you again tomorrow,” He Chu San said, rising to his feet.
“……”
Xia Liu Yi didn’t respond, turning his face away. He listened as the footsteps moved steadily toward the door without hesitation.
Damn your mother! Damn brat!
He couldn’t help raising his IV hand to press against his chest—empty. When his wounds were cleaned, the doctor had taken away his jade Buddha.
Damn brat…
His chest suddenly sank—
He Chu San rushed back, grabbing him into a tight embrace, burying his face deep into the hollow of Xia Liu Yi’s shoulder. His breathing hitched, almost breaking.
Xia Liu Yi’s breath stalled. Feeling the unnatural tremor in his body, his own heart clenched painfully. He struggled to free a hand from between them and rested it atop He Chu San’s head.
“Brother Liu Yi…” He Chu San’s voice trembled with pain at his ear, “Can’t you just stay safe? I only want you safe! Such a small wish—why is it always so damn hard to achieve?!”
Xia Liu Yi sighed, gently stroking his hair. “Sorry.”
“I don’t want to hear ‘sorry’ after you’ve already been hurt! I don’t want to see you lying in a hospital bed like this again! I just want you well!”
“Silly boy… don’t be sad. I’ll get better.”
He Chu San held him so tightly, as if loosening his grip would mean losing him forever. Xia Liu Yi’s heart softened to water. He wanted to wrap both arms around him in return—but his right hand was still cuffed. All he could do was keep stroking his head, over and over, soothing him.
After a long while, He Chu San finally steadied his breathing, still buried against Xia Liu Yi’s shoulder.
“If you get medical bail… you won’t have to go back to prison, right?”
“Mm. That’s right.” Xia Liu Yi only had about a month left on his sentence anyway—he’d recover in the hospital and be done with it.
“Then I’ll come see you every day.”
“Mm. Alright.”
He Chu San straightened and looked at him seriously. “You promised me—you’d go clean.”
Xia Liu Yi stiffened slightly. “…Mm. I promised.”
“I’ll pave the road for your clean exit. Your ‘brothers’—as long as they’re willing to abandon the life of an outlaw, they’ll all get steady jobs, enough to support their families. When the time comes, you’ll have no worries. When you say you’re going clean—you will go clean.”
“…Mm. I will.”
He Chu San leaned down and kissed the stubbled edge of his chin. He seemed completely calm now.
“I should go. If I stay too long, the nurse will notice during rounds.”
“Go on.”
This time, his footsteps were hesitant—one step, one pause; three steps, one stop—reluctant to leave. Xia Liu Yi strained his ears, listening until the sound faded down the corridor, before finally letting out a long, exhausted sigh.
Thinking back on everything—from past to present—Boss Xia came to a rather depressing realization:
He had always been completely wrapped around He Chu San’s finger.
Damn it—other than him, who would dare throw a tantrum in front of the Dragon Head of Xiao Qi Hall? Who would dare spout outrageous nonsense like “lock you up” or “kill you,” then turn around and burrow into the boss’s arms to act spoiled—and even dare to make demands, negotiate terms?!
Xia Liu Yi scratched fiercely at the bed, wishing he could drag He Chu San back and give him a proper spanking.
As he lay there sighing to himself, a voice suddenly rang out from the neighboring bed beyond the curtain—startling Boss Xia so much he nearly rolled off the bed.
“Didn’t expect you really like men. That your lover? That little rabbit’s got quite the personality.”
“Limping Sha?! What are you doing here?!”
“What, I can’t be here? That damn officer stabbed me before tying me up. You bunch of damn bastards fought forever, then talked forever—if you’d released me any later, I’d be dead!”
Xia Liu Yi let out a snort. With that kind of vigor in his voice, if anyone was dying, it sure as hell wouldn’t be him.
“Looks like you got beaten pretty badly, Twin-Blade Xia. So you’ve got a day like this too?”
“Give it a rest, Limping Sha. When I was fighting for my life, you were butt naked showering behind us—got the nerve to laugh at me?”
The two unlucky bosses traded a few barbs through the curtain. When they got too worked up, it tugged at their wounds, and both sucked in cold breaths, suppressing the pain. After enduring it, they sighed in unison—each filled with complicated emotions.
“Hey, Limping Sha, guess we’re brothers in hardship now, huh?”
“More like uncle and nephew—I’m a generation older than you!”
“Tch. Old fossil.”
“You—!” The sound of shackles clanked from the other side before he gave up with a huff. “Xia Xiao Liu, your temper stinks. Too damn arrogant.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
Limping Sha choked on that, left speechless for a moment. After holding it in for a while, he finally said:
“You’re getting out next month?”
“Yeah.”
“Damn lucky bastard.”
“Heh. Not like you, Boss Sha—patch yourself up and then go back to serve another twenty years.”
Limping Sha choked again, then muttered, “Alright, alright. Twin-Blade Xia, cut it out. I don’t ask people for favors lightly—but here I am, lowering myself to talk to you. Give me some face, will you?”
“Oh? You need something from me?”
“I… before I got locked up, I hid a sum of money outside. No one knows about it. After you get out, find it for me—and deliver it to my wife and kids.”
“You’ve got plenty of lackeys. Why not send them?”
“Damn it, I still don’t know which traitorous bastard sold me out back then. I don’t trust any of them.”
“And you trust me?”
Limping Sha sighed. “You’re an asshole—but like Azure Dragon, you still have some sense of honor. If you wanted to screw me over, you could’ve stabbed me in the bathhouse and pinned it on Shrimp Skin. But you didn’t—you even saved me. I owe you my life. From now on, your brothers in prison are my brothers. After you get out, I’ll look after them for you.”
Xia Liu Yi laughed. “Then I’ll be troubling you, Brother Sha.”
“I’m your Uncle Sha!”
Futile Devices Scans 
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