The next morning, on the bustling streets of Causeway Bay, Xiao Luo skipped ahead in high spirits. Dressed in a short skirt and carrying a charming little handbag, she peered curiously into every shop window she passed, her wide eyes sparkling with innocent delight. She looked every bit the carefree young maiden, lively and unburdened.
Trailing behind her was Cui Dong Dong, clad in a sharp, form-fitting suit. With her hands tucked into her pockets and a cigarette dangling lazily from her lips, she strolled along at an unhurried pace, exuding the idle swagger of a street-hardened rogue.
Crushing her cigarette into a roadside bin, Cui Dong Dong looked up—only to see that Xiao Luo had already darted into a nearby boutique. Her expression immediately soured. Clutching her chest in exaggerated agony, she groaned inwardly at the sight.
Half an hour later, Xiao Luo was twirling lightly inside the store, moving as if she were dancing. She carried herself like a wealthy regular who could empty out entire racks of new arrivals without a second thought. As she pointed at various items, she casually instructed the attendant behind her, dismissing several pieces in succession—only to abruptly change her mind.
Turning to glance at Cui Dong Dong, who sat on the sofa looking as though she were facing a great calamity, Xiao Luo smiled mischievously and declared that she wanted none of them—only the shawl she had tried on at the beginning.
Laughing, she skipped back to Cui Dong Dong and looped her arm through hers, teasing her for being so easily frightened.
Though Cui Dong Dong was thick-skinned, she would never lose face. Straightening up, she made a grand declaration that Xiao Luo could buy whatever she pleased—even to the extent of purchasing the entire store for her.
Delighted, Xiao Luo planted a playful kiss on her cheek and praised her sweet talk. Then, with a grin, she demanded another handbag as a reward for her “good behavior.”
Cui Dong Dong boldly promised her two more—yet inside, she was quietly weeping.
In truth, Xiao Qi Hall had recently undergone sweeping changes. Most of its businesses had been temporarily shut down for restructuring, while a large number of its members were undergoing retraining. At present, only a few restaurants, several small entertainment venues, and a newly established investment company under He Chu San were sustaining the organization. With Xia Liu Yi himself leading efforts to cut costs, Cui Dong Dong, as Deputy Hall Master, was forced to tighten her own spending as well.
Accustomed to a lavish lifestyle, she found the situation increasingly unbearable. At this rate, she might have to start selling off her stocks next month—but He Chu San had repeatedly warned her not to touch them until he gave the word.
The more she thought about it, the more she felt she had fallen into He Chu San’s scheme. “Wealth-Gathering Prodigy”? What nonsense. Ever since that brat had kowtowed his way into the gang, instead of bringing in wealth, he had nearly drained her dry.
Just then, her phone rang. After answering briefly, she hung up and looked at Xiao Luo with a trace of guilt.
When Xiao Luo asked what was wrong, Cui Dong Dong hesitated before explaining that Xia Liu Yi had summoned her for an urgent matter.
Xiao Luo waved her off generously, telling her to go ahead and handle business, adding with a playful smile that she would continue shopping on her own—especially since she still had Cui Dong Dong’s credit card.
Despite her reluctance, Cui Dong Dong could only agree. She stepped outside with Xiao Luo, pulled her into a quick embrace, and kissed her before digging into her wallet. Keeping only a couple of bills for herself, she stuffed the rest into Xiao Luo’s handbag.
Xiao Luo stood by the roadside, smiling as she watched Cui Dong Dong hurry off toward her car. But once her figure disappeared around the corner, the smile faded from her face, leaving behind a faint trace of loneliness.
Cui Dong Dong sped all the way to the company. Entering the CEO’s office, she shut the door and locked it behind her.
After confirming that no one else was present besides Xia Liu Yi, she stepped forward and spoke in a low voice, asking whether Master Qiao had replied and whether he had made contact with the Old Shopkeeper.
Xia Liu Yi lowered his gaze, idly toying with a photograph of Hao Wei, Golden Maitreya, and Xie Ying Jie. His expression was cold and unreadable.
He revealed that the Old Shopkeeper had indeed taken interest in what he possessed. Through Master Qiao, the message had come: a meeting was possible—but only if Xia Liu Yi first “cleaned house.”
Lifting his eyes, his gaze turned icy as he delivered the crucial revelation—
Within Xiao Qi Hall, there was a gang leader who was an undercover agent.
At present, the hall had over a dozen such leaders. Excluding the minor ones without access to sensitive matters, suspicion naturally fell upon five mid-level figures: Qin Hao, Black Chicken, Hornet, Big Crab, and Snake Sister.
Cui Dong Dong was shocked. She insisted it was impossible—she had personally vetted each of them. There should be no traitors among them.
Xia Liu Yi explained that even the Old Shopkeeper might not know the identity. Undercover agents typically operated in strict isolation, reporting only to a single superior.
When Cui Dong Dong suggested re-investigating everyone, Xia Liu Yi shook his head. If the agent had gone undetected this long, their identity must be expertly forged—ordinary investigation would yield nothing.
Instead, he proposed a plan.
They would set a trap.
Cui Dong Dong was to travel to Thailand, bring back a few locals, and prepare warehouses, docks, and ships. Meanwhile, they would compile a list of suspects and involve each of them separately in the preparations, making them believe a new source of goods had been secured for “trade.”
Each suspect would be given a different transaction time. Whichever time encountered trouble would reveal the traitor.
Cui Dong Dong agreed at once.
Before she left, Xia Liu Yi added another instruction: while in Thailand, she was to hire guides and retrieve Xiao Ma’s body from the forest beneath a cliff. He did not want the man left alone in such a place—and his family deserved closure.
After leaving the office, Cui Dong Dong paused. Something felt off.
Glancing around the main office, she noticed a striking change—employees who had once been lax and unruly were now diligently at work, brimming with motivation. A strange sense of harmony filled the air.
Yet to her, it felt like the calm before a storm.
She headed straight into He Chu San’s office without knocking.
Inside, He Chu San was discussing documents with a subordinate. Turning around, he looked surprised at her sudden entrance.
She gestured toward the subordinate, asking who he was.
The man introduced himself as Kevin, a manager under Hornet, reporting on training matters. He mentioned having previously met her through Qin Hao.
After a brief exchange, Cui Dong Dong gave him a measured look and nodded.
When He Chu San asked if she needed anything, she brushed it off, saying she had only come to take a look. Declining his invitation to lunch, she left just as abruptly as she had arrived.
Once she was gone, He Chu San and Kevin exchanged a glance. Listening to her footsteps fade, He Chu San calmly produced a hidden earpiece. As they shifted slightly, a concealed surveillance device was revealed behind them.
In a low voice, He Chu San instructed Kevin to prepare a cardboard box—something that could quickly conceal the equipment if needed.
When Kevin asked who he thought the undercover agent might be, He Chu San simply countered with a question of his own.
Kevin admitted he saw nothing suspicious in Qin Hao. Hornet was too impulsive to fit the role. As for the others, he could not say.
He Chu San returned to his desk and reactivated the listening device. Voices from Xia Liu Yi’s office flowed once more through the earpiece.
Calmly, he remarked that no matter who the agent was, their existence could be turned to advantage.
Following their earlier clash, He Chu San had not only reconciled with Xia Liu Yi but had further embedded himself within the workings of Xiao Qi Hall, Under the title of “consultant,” he exercised the authority of a true shopkeeper, using the opportunity of restructuring to overhaul the organization’s operations, promote his own people, and distribute favors widely.
Gradually, he began forming subtle alliances within the Hall.
All of this only deepened Cui Dong Dong’s suspicions.
By nature perceptive, she could not shake the feeling that He Chu San was fundamentally different from them. Though not malicious, he harbored ambitions of his own. His intentions, she believed, went far beyond merely legitimizing the organization.
And yet—she could not bring herself to suspect him as the undercover agent. The very idea seemed absurd. What kind of spy would fall hopelessly in love with a crime boss back in their school days and pursue him so relentlessly?
Still, doubts remained.
But duty came first. A few days later, she departed overseas for Thailand as ordered, leaving Xia Liu Yi behind—alone within He Chu San’s carefully woven web.
Seizing the opportunity, He Chu San acted decisively. He intensified his surveillance over Xia Liu Yi and extended his reach throughout the entire organization.
Within a nightclub filled with music and revelry, Qin Hao moved through the crowd with his collar raised, head lowered.
He slipped into a restroom near the back exit, locked the door, and was soon joined by Xie Jia Hua, who emerged from a stall. After confirming they were alone, the two began speaking in hushed tones.
Qin Hao reported new developments—Cui Dong Dong had gone to Thailand, likely to establish contact with a new upstream connection.
Xie Jia Hua found this suspicious. Thailand had always been personally handled by Xia Liu Yi—why send someone else?
Qin Hao speculated that with Xiao Qi Hall undergoing aggressive “legitimization,” unrest had begun brewing among members accustomed to their old ways. Xia Liu Yi likely remained behind to stabilize the situation.
Xie Jia Hua then asked the question that still lingered—
Had Qin Hao discovered the true reason behind Xia Liu Yi’s falling-out with Golden Maitreya?
“Not yet. Back then, Xia Liu Yi spoke with Golden Maitreya inside the teahouse. I couldn’t hear clearly from outside, but I could tell he was extremely agitated. Soon after, the two of them started fighting. When Xia Liu Yi returned, he refused to speak of it at all. In fact, aside from a few of us, no one in the gang even knows he went to Thailand.
“There’s another matter. Not long after Xia Liu Yi came back to Hong Kong, Elder Yuan—suddenly ‘committed suicide’ by jumping into the sea over gambling debts. I suspect that was Xia Liu Yi’s doing.”
Xie Jia Hua found this deeply perplexing. Xia Liu Yi and Golden Maitreya had cooperated for many years—what could possibly have driven them to such a complete falling-out? If Xia Liu Yi killed Golden Maitreya to “go clean” and sever ties with his upstream handler, then why send Cui Dong Dong to Thailand now to establish a new connection, repeating the same path? And Uncle Yuan had long since retired from the jianghu—what reason was there to eliminate him?
—Could it be that Xia Liu Yi had learned something from Golden Maitreya?
He voiced his doubts to Qin Hao. The two discussed in hushed tones for a while before Qin Hao added, “He Chu San has now taken up residence in the headquarters. He’s practically half a shopkeeper of Xiao Qi Hall.”
Xie Jia Hua frowned. “Is he using his financial expertise to help Xia Liu Yi launder money?”
Qin Hao shook his head. “I considered that too. But from what I’ve found, he’s only restructuring business operations and overseeing personnel training. As for the underworld dealings, Xia Liu Yi would rather entrust them to me and the other gang leaders than let He Chu San get involved. The finances are still managed by Cui Dong Dong.”
Lowering his voice, he continued, “I’ve discovered there’s a ‘finance room’ within Xiao Qi Hall—where Cui Dong Dong handles the accounts of the gang’s underground dealings. It likely contains records of their illegal transactions and money laundering over the years. But I haven’t located it yet.”
“Good. Proceed carefully. Find that evidence before Xiao Qi Hall completely transfers and erases its criminal assets.”
“Yes.”
After delivering his report, Qin Hao turned to unlock the door, but Xie Jia Hua stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. “You were injured in Thailand? Is it serious?”
Qin Hao paused, then turned back. “Nothing major. Just a graze from a bullet.”
“Will there be lasting effects?” Xie Jia Hua asked, noticing the slight stiffness in his gait.
“Shouldn’t be.”
Xie Jia Hua looked him straight in the eyes and said earnestly, “Xiao Hao, be careful in everything. A man’s life outweighs all else. Whether the mission succeeds or fails, your safety comes first.”
Qin Hao smiled. “I understand. And… thank you, Jia Hua-ge.”
“For what?” Xie Jia Hua asked, puzzled.
Qin Hao only smiled again without answering, then pushed the door open and left, waving casually as he went.
To avoid crossing paths with Qin Hao, Xie Jia Hua lingered in the restroom. He lit a cigarette but did not smoke it, leaving it on the sink until it burned out before stepping out.
As he exited, he nearly collided with someone entering.
“Sorry,” the man said casually.
Xie Jia Hua gave him a quick glance. The man wore a business suit, yet sported dyed blond hair. Though his words were polite, his tone was careless, his bearing somewhere between a white-collar professional and a street tough—an odd, mismatched presence.
Out of habit and caution, Xie Jia Hua swiftly ran through his mental catalogue of faces and confirmed he had never seen this man before. Without pause, he pushed the door open and left.
Kevin turned to glance at Xie Jia Hua’s departing figure before stepping toward the sink. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the cigarette butt left behind. Picking it up, he squeezed the filter—finding no trace of saliva. He wrapped it in tissue and slipped it into his pocket.
Splashing water onto his face, he studied his reflection. His appearance still felt out of place. He adjusted his shirt and tie carefully, even loosening his fringe in an attempt to soften his look—but his sharper features could not replicate He Chu San’s gentle composure, nor did he possess the aura of a refined business elite.
With a resigned sigh, he gave up, pocketed his “findings,” and hurried off to report back to He Chu San.
Late that night, Qin Hao stepped out of a taxi and arrived at his residence.
He now lived in the general manager’s suite above a restaurant, occupying an entire floor. The space was expansive and well-lit, outfitted with a full set of audiovisual equipment. The rooftop terrace above had been furnished with a sunshade, barbecue grills, and sofas, and was always open to the gang’s members.
In his spare time, the brothers would gather there freely—singing, drinking, grilling, and boasting late into the night. Combined with his current favor in the eyes of Xia Liu Yi and the “big sister” Cui Dong Dong, as well as his generous spending, the place had quickly become a lively hub. In no time, he had forged strong bonds of camaraderie with many of them, presenting himself as open and sincere.
Upon entering, he found the living room in disarray. Several servants were cleaning up and reported that Hornet and Black Chicken were still upstairs.
Grabbing a bottle of red wine, Qin Hao headed to the rooftop terrace.
Hornet and Black Chicken sat at opposite ends of a sofa, chatting idly. The others had already been dismissed. Hornet was thoroughly drunk—his once imposing face now flushed bright red. Seeing Qin Hao, he shouted loudly, demanding to know where he had gone halfway through their singing.
Qin Hao replied calmly that he had gone to handle a small matter and offered him a drink.
Hornet waved him off, declaring he would vomit if he drank any more.
Black Chicken laughed, recounting how Hornet had just thrown up all over a girl in his arms—and even blamed her for shaking her hips too much and making him dizzy.
Hornet roared with laughter, clearly amused.
Qin Hao smiled faintly along with them but said little. He had always been reserved, and the others were used to it. Black Chicken shook his glass, and Qin Hao poured him some wine as they discussed the training of their subordinates.
Hornet suddenly cursed, complaining that his men had been sent into training and had yet to return—worse than being thrown into prison.
“Shut up,” Black Chicken warned. “Watch your mouth in front of the Boss. He Chu San isn’t someone you can offend.”
He cast a seemingly casual glance at Qin Hao. “Right, A’Hao?”
Hornet continued drunkenly, bringing up rumors about He Chu San and asking Qin Hao about his background.
Qin Hao remained composed. “When I was training at the Boss’s house, I never saw him come or go.”
“That’s what I thought!” Hornet shouted. “Brother Xiao Ma said the Boss is upright as a pine—he wouldn’t mess with that kind of nonsense. That He fellow is just a sycophant…”
Qin Hao cut him off calmly, suggesting he should rest.
Black Chicken immediately slapped Hornet’s mouth and dragged him to his feet, cursing him for his loose tongue and warning that such talk could cost him dearly.
The two stumbled off together, still bickering, as Black Chicken bid Qin Hao farewell.
Left alone, Qin Hao leaned against the terrace railing, lit a cigarette, and gazed down at the street below, his expression cold as he exhaled smoke into the night. Only after he saw the two men leave in a car did he stub out the cigarette and return inside.
Inside the moving car, Black Chicken kicked Hornet. “Get up.”
Hornet kicked back, sitting upright and rubbing his numbed mouth. He remarked that Qin Hao was good at putting on an act and asked if Black Chicken had noticed anything.
Black Chicken frowned thoughtfully. “He doesn’t seem close to He Chu San. If anything, he’s wary of him.”
Hornet grumbled that Xia Liu Yi’s thoughts were impossible to read. He missed the days when Brother Xiao Ma was still around—at least then they could probe for information.
Now, both He Chu San and Qin Hao were formidable in their own ways.
Black Chicken speculated that He Chu San genuinely possessed skill and education—no need for underhanded means to rise. Qin Hao, however, seemed more suspicious. His connection to Xia Liu Yi, his rapid rise to Red Pole, and even his resemblance to Azure Dragon all raised questions.
The two exchanged uneasy glances.
Hornet shivered. “Don’t tell me… the Boss had feelings for Azure Dragon?”
“Enough,” Black Chicken snapped. “Don’t joke about that. I don’t want Azure Dragon haunting me tonight.”
They burst into laughter, jostling each other playfully.
Meanwhile, Qin Hao received an overseas call from Cui Dong Dong in Thailand. She deliberately spoke vaguely, assigning him a few trivial tasks and saying she would discuss something important with him in person upon her return.
After the call, Qin Hao dismissed all the servants and stepped naked into the shower. Amid the rushing water, he sank into deep thought.
His earlier thanks to Xie Jia Hua were sincere—gratitude for giving him the will to live, enabling him to survive that bloody escape in Thailand and claw his way back from death’s door. It was also gratitude for instilling in him a belief in justice.
Though Xia Liu Yi had treated him well—sharing life-and-death trials and supporting each other—he could not ignore the truth. They stood on opposite sides. No amount of loyalty or brotherhood could erase the crimes of a man steeped in the underworld. Every sin demanded its price.
At times, he found himself wondering—if the one who had saved him back then had been another Azure Dragon instead of Xie Jia Hua, would he have become another Xia Liu Yi, walking a completely different path?
After bathing, he examined the scar on his shoulder from the bullet wound, then massaged his leg, which had also been grazed. Though healed, it still affected his movement.
He knew he was not in peak condition for a life-and-death struggle. Yet with Xiao Qi Hall rapidly transforming and attempting to bury all traces of its past crimes, this might be his final chance to bring them to justice.
Still, Xie Jia Hua’s doubts lingered in his mind.
If Xia Liu Yi truly intended to withdraw from the underworld, why keep one foot mired in its filth? During their time in Thailand, Qin Hao had seen that He Chu San was not a wicked man—and that his devotion to Xia Liu Yi was genuine. Likewise, Xia Liu Yi had revealed his own attachment during their desperate flight through storm and forest.
With such deep ties between them, if Xia Liu Yi retained even a shred of conscience, how could he return to the old path behind He Chu San’s back?
And yet, Cui Dong Dong’s recent movements—and that cryptic phone call—
Too many contradictions clouded his thoughts.
Exhausted from the tangle of uncertainties, he performed a brief round of stretches, then collapsed onto his bed. For now, he would wait and observe—until Cui Dong Dong returned.
Futile Devices Scans 
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