As the calendar pages turned one by one, the reputation of the Xiao Qi Hall crown prince, Azure Dragon, gradually spread throughout the Walled City.
He possessed a maturity and composure far beyond his years. He treated his seniors with respect and his juniors with humility. He did not harm women or children, nor bully the elderly or weak, yet he was decisive in killing and never let grudges go unavenged.
People of the jianghu said he was exactly like his father, Hao Wei—Hao Wei was known for righteousness, famous for his “Three Things Not Done”: no trafficking women, no dealing in white powder, no killing. Yet Azure Dragon was even more adaptable than his father—and more ruthless. At the very least, he dared to kill, and he was good at it.
His number one “mad dog” under him, A’Ying, known in the jianghu as “Old Eagle”, was black-hearted and ruthless, with an unpredictable temper. Fortunately, he was under Azure Dragon’s restraint—otherwise, no one knew what kind of monstrous predator he would become.
The two little cubs he had taken in could eat, drink, run, and jump, and under his care they grew at astonishing speed, as though making up in one breath for all the hunger and hardship of their past.
In four years, Xiao Man had blossomed into a graceful and delicate beauty, while Liu Yi had shot up in height, grown an Adam’s apple, passed through his voice-breaking phase, and even learned to shave—already showing the outline of a fine young man.
Neither of the siblings liked studying.
Liu Yi hated it outright, constantly battling wits with the tutor, climbing walls and skipping lessons in utter chaos. Xiao Man, on the other hand, endured quietly, studying until calluses formed on her fingers—yet still dozing off over her books whenever the teacher stepped away, learning almost nothing.
Azure Dragon could not bear to torment her further, nor watch Liu Yi torment the teacher. The Hao family had never been scholarly to begin with—even he himself could barely read more than a few baskets’ worth of characters. At least he could manage accounts, which was already better than his father.
So he arranged martial arts lessons and vocal training based on their interests, and let the rest be.
Freed from studies, Xiao Man remained gentle and obedient, enjoying cooking, flower arranging, and needlework; while Liu Yi became like an unleashed wild dog, running all over the Walled City, fighting, causing trouble, provoking cats and dogs alike. His body grew taller and leaner, muscles forming along his waist and abdomen.
At night, he sprawled across his folding bed, his long legs sticking out. Azure Dragon would glance at him while reading account books, feeling both amused and a little sorry. But the house had only so many rooms—there was no space for another large bed, nor a spare room for Liu Yi.
Azure Dragon also had no extra money to buy a larger house, because the accounts of Xiao Qi Hall did not grow any brighter despite the expansion of the gang.
Hao Wei’s “Three Things Not Done” meant giving up the two most profitable trades in the Walled City—white powder and brothels. At that time, the Walled City was Asia’s largest distribution hub for drugs and was filled with red-light districts.
On top of that, the gang had no financial steward. Hao Wei had no sense of financial management, and both father and son were generous to their brothers. Money flowed in and out, and by the end of the year, there was barely any surplus.
It was nearing Lunar New Year’s Eve.
Late at night, Azure Dragon still had not slept. Wearing a pair of lightly powered glasses, he read account books under dim lamplight.
Liu Yi snored softly on the small bed beside him. Turning over, his loose pants slipped down, exposing half a buttock.
Azure Dragon’s gaze followed that wheat-colored cheek downward, noticing the boy’s long, thin ankle exposed as well. He sighed inwardly—he had grown taller again, which meant another round of new clothes.
Even a landlord’s household could not afford such an expensive “foolish son.” Young Master Hao rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
A maid knocked softly outside.
Azure Dragon glanced at Liu Yi—still sleeping soundly. Annoyed by the noise, Liu Yi turned over, pressing the exposed butt back down.
“Come in,” Azure Dragon said.
The maid entered quietly. “Young Master, before leaving today, Master said to steam a lobster tonight—he planned to invite Miss Chun Li for dinner. But they never returned, and it’s already this late.”
Azure Dragon knew of Miss Chun Li—a woman in her forties, his father’s intended partner. His father rarely stayed out overnight, and even if he did, he would usually call ahead. Tonight’s silence was unusual.
“Go rest. I’ll make some calls,” Azure Dragon said.
“Yes, Young Master.”
Azure Dragon removed his glasses and went downstairs to call several of his father’s trusted men—Deputy Hall Master Uncle Yuan, Red Poles Uncle Ge and Uncle Qiu, and White Paper Fan Old Duan.
He learned that Uncle Ge, Uncle Qiu, and Old Duan had gone out drinking and had not returned. Only Uncle Yuan, who had long been married with children, was at home. He said he had seen Hao Wei that afternoon—Hao Wei had mentioned taking Miss Chun Li to the Cantonese Opera Theater in Yau Ma Tei to watch a night performance.
It was 1979. Pagers were not yet common, and being unreachable outside was normal. Hao Wei often entertained guests and stayed out late. Informants stationed at key points in the Walled City had reported nothing unusual. Moreover, Hao Wei had three strong bodyguards with him—few would dare provoke such a man.
Everything seemed calm, yet Azure Dragon felt an inexplicable unease.
He returned to his room.
Liu Yi had once again sprawled like a long-legged frog, face down, his backside fully exposed.
Azure Dragon couldn’t bear it. He carefully reached out to pull up the boy’s pants—but even that slight touch startled Liu Yi awake. He sprang up and grabbed a pillow, swinging it at him.
“It’s me.” Azure Dragon took the blow.
Liu Yi clutched both pillow and pants, still shaken. “Eldest?!” he gasped, his voice rough from puberty but still tinged with childishness. “What are you doing? You scared me to death!”
“Your backside was exposed. I didn’t want you catching a cold,” Azure Dragon said helplessly.
Liu Yi quickly pulled up his pants. Seeing Azure Dragon about to return to bed, he didn’t care that he was already nearly 1.7 meters tall—he launched himself like a cannonball into him.
“What are you doing?”
“You scared me. I’m sleeping with you!”
“You’ll crush me. Get down.”
“No! I’ll have nightmares alone.”
Azure Dragon gave up resisting and tucked him in. Liu Yi shamelessly wriggled into a comfortable position beside him, hugging his arm, and soon fell asleep again, snoring softly.
In the dead of night, the telephone in the living room suddenly rang.
The sharp “ringing” echoed eerily through the darkness.
The maid, half-asleep, stepped out to answer—
Her hand, reaching for the receiver, was suddenly severed by a blade.
Blood sprayed, and her scream rose sharply—only to turn into a choking gurgle as blood filled her throat.
Upstairs, Azure Dragon’s eyes snapped open.
He pushed Liu Yi, who was about to speak, and covered his mouth.
There were four attackers. Silent as shadows, they ascended the stairs.
The second floor had only two rooms. They approached the nearest one. The door was unlocked.
In the moonlight, they saw two beds—a large one and a small one—with human-shaped forms beneath the blankets.
The attackers split into two groups and stabbed down.
Puchi—
Only bursts of cotton stuffing came out.
They froze in shock.
At that moment, the wardrobe door burst open.
Azure Dragon lunged out with blades in both hands, driving them into the attackers’ backs.
Two men screamed, clutching the blades protruding from their bodies. Unable to pull his knives free, Azure Dragon shoved them onto the bed, then ducked and rolled to the small bed, flipping it up to block the remaining attackers.
“Take Xiao Man and go!” he shouted.
Liu Yi, who had been hiding in the wardrobe, immediately ran along the wall.
Reaching the hallway, he saw shadowy figures moving below. He quickly knocked on Xiao Man’s door, pulling her out. The siblings ran toward the stairwell—only to see several tall figures climbing up.
He turned and dragged Xiao Man back into her room. They locked the door and pushed the bed against it.
Bang! Bang!
The door shook violently under repeated impacts, accompanied by curses and blows. In the darkness and chaos, the siblings pressed themselves against the door, holding it shut with all their strength.
“Eldest… Eldest…” Xiao Man cried softly.
“I’m going to save him!” Liu Yi shouted, trying to pull the bed away.
“No! No!” Xiao Man clung to him, crying. “A’Hao! Don’t go! You’ll die!”
“I’m not A’Hao—I’m Liu Yi!” he shouted. “They’re going to kill Eldest! I’ll kill them all!”
Xiao Man scrambled around and found a pair of large fabric scissors.
“Fine! We go together!” she cried.
The two children struggled with all their strength to move the bed aside.
The door burst open.
A’Ying stood there, covered in blood.
“Damn it—two troublesome brats! Move!” he snapped, dragging them both out.
The corridor was filled with fallen bodies, the air thick with blood.
Azure Dragon fought ahead, cutting down anyone who tried to block them. A’Ying pulled Xiao Man along, while Xiao Man dragged Liu Yi behind her. The two youths fled with the children out of the building, now turned into a hell on earth, sprinting through narrow, dim alleys.
“What happened?” Azure Dragon shouted as they ran. “How did you get here?”
“Your father is dead! Car accident!”
Azure Dragon stopped abruptly, staring at A’Ying in disbelief.
“It’s true!” A’Ying said urgently. “Those bastards from Lei Family Gang got the news first—they’re trying to wipe out Xiao Qi Hall and take our territory! I was out drinking with Uncle Ge—they were attacked too, don’t know if they’re alive or dead. I slipped away and came to find you. I heard them say—there’s a bounty. Whoever kills you gets two hundred pounds—watch out!”
He lunged forward and shoved Azure Dragon aside—
A blade shot out from the shadows and plunged straight into A’Ying’s body.
His eyes turned fierce as he grabbed the blade, his dagger flashing forward to stab his attacker in the chest.
“A’Ying!!”
Azure Dragon roared and counterattacked.
Four ambushers surrounded them, blades clashing, sparks flying.
Liu Yi picked up a brick and joined the fight—but was quickly knocked down by a grown thug. Even so, he smashed the man’s foot with the brick, making him double over in pain, allowing Azure Dragon to stab him through from behind.
In moments, several more bodies fell to the ground.
Azure Dragon threw aside his blunted blades, hoisted the blood-soaked A’Ying onto his back, and shouted, “Go—take your sister!”
Liu Yi scrambled up and rushed to pull Xiao Man, who had collapsed in terror.
“Don’t hit her! Don’t hit her! You killed Mother!” she screamed, lost in traumatic memories.
“Don’t hit A’Hao! He’s still small! Hit me instead!” she cried hysterically.
“Big Sister, go!” Liu Yi dragged her forward.
A’Ying bled heavily, the blood trailing behind them. Liu Yi stepped in it with every stride, while Xiao Man stumbled behind him, crying and half out of her mind.
The night seemed dyed red with blood.
They fled deeper into the Walled City, hoping the dense buildings and winding alleys would shelter them—but more pursuers closed in, over a dozen men waving machetes and shouting.
They turned into a narrow alley.
Azure Dragon kicked aside obstacles—but tripped over a rope, falling with A’Ying.
“Go!” A’Ying pushed him. “Leave me—”
“Shut up!”
Azure Dragon tried to lift him again—but Liu Yi and Xiao Man were caught.
A man grabbed Xiao Man by the hair, dragging her back. Liu Yi howled and swung his brick desperately.
Azure Dragon seized a shovel from the ground and drove it into the man’s head.
Then he shoved the children toward A’Ying and stood alone, swinging the shovel wildly.
The alley was so narrow only one person could pass—he held it alone, forcing the enemy back.
“Go!” he shouted.
“I won’t!” A’Ying roared. “We swore! Live or die together!”
He struggled to his feet, picked up a hoe, and staggered back beside Azure Dragon.
“Not born on the same day—but die on the same day!”
Azure Dragon gripped the shovel tightly, breathing hard. “Then next life—still brothers?”
A’Ying laughed hoarsely. “Of course.”
Behind them, Liu Yi knelt on the ground, covering Xiao Man’s ears, holding her tightly as she trembled uncontrollably.
He looked toward Azure Dragon and A’Ying—standing side by side against enemies ten times their number.
His heart filled with guilt and grief.
Azure Dragon had saved him, raised him—but he was nothing more than a burden, unable to protect him, unable even to stand beside him.
Suddenly, from behind the enemy ranks came the sounds of another fight.
The thugs at the alley entrance began retreating like a tide.
Azure Dragon wiped the blood from his eyes and looked ahead—
Uncle Yuan and Uncle Ge had arrived with reinforcements.
He let out a long breath.
The shovel slipped from his hand.
Just in time, he caught A’Ying as he collapsed.
Futile Devices Scans 
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