The villa was more than half burned down.
A’Ying, who rushed over upon hearing the news, laughed heartily. He invited Azure Dragon and his family to stay at his place while the villa was being repaired. Azure Dragon readily agreed; Xiao Man followed suit without objection, but Liu Yi was not pleased.
Partly because he had caused the disaster himself, and partly because he did not wish to accept A’Ying’s favor. Ever since the “black-eating-black” incident, he had harbored lingering resentment toward him.
Like a small animal sensing a natural predator, Liu Yi instinctively knew that A’Ying had never truly liked him. Especially in childhood, when he clung to Azure Dragon like sticky rice cake, A’Ying would look at him as though he were a wolf cub encroaching on his territory.
But Azure Dragon was right. No matter how many faults A’Ying had, he had once (while saving Azure Dragon) saved Liu Yi as well. Mischievous as Liu Yi was, he was not willfully spoiled. In front of A’Ying, he behaved properly, addressing him as “Boss Ying”, neither provoking nor causing trouble—giving him the “face” Azure Dragon had instructed him to show.
Yet A’Ying clearly had no intention of returning that courtesy.
In front of Azure Dragon, he treated Liu Yi and Xiao Man like a friendly second brother. Behind his back, however, he subtly and not-so-subtly pressured the siblings.
One night, while Azure Dragon was out entertaining inspectors, A’Ying deliberately brought a group of dubious friends home to make a ruckus. Among them were two spoiled young men addicted to white powder”, along with a few emaciated prostitutes whose arms were covered in needle marks.
Xiao Man, frightened, hid in her room.
Liu Yi, slower to escape, was seized by A’Ying and dragged into the crowd, forced to “have fun” with the women.
He was toyed with among the group. A’Ying and several others forced alcohol down his throat, made him play kissing games, and one of the rich brats even tried to get him to take white powder.
Liu Yi jumped out the window and escaped—but did not dare go far, fearing A’Ying might vent his anger on Xiao Man. He hid below, watching her window closely. Only when he saw Azure Dragon’s car return late at night did he finally leave.
He went to Cui Dong Dong, waking her from sleep and demanding she accompany him to “watch the sunrise at the seaside.”
Cui Dong Dong, in a foul mood from being woken, pinned him to the wall and beat him soundly. “Only beautiful girls are allowed to wake me up—you little punk! Who’s going to watch the sunrise with you, idiot!”
In the end, bruised and battered, he still rode on the back of her motorcycle to the seaside.
On the way, he expressed his desire to stab A’Ying.
Cui Dong Dong dismissed his foolish fantasy and analyzed the situation for him:
Xiao Qi Hall had many elders and complex factions. Azure Dragon, young as he was, could not avoid being constrained by them. A’Ying was a significant force within the gang and shared a life-and-death bond with Azure Dragon—he was the only truly reliable pillar supporting him.
Azure Dragon must not fall out with A’Ying. And Liu Yi absolutely must not attempt to drive a wedge between them.
“You’re useless—bad with words, slow in the head, causing trouble all day. Compared to A’Ying, you’re far inferior. If he bullies you, just endure it. After all, he can help Azure Dragon. What can you do for your precious Eldest?”
Liu Yi remained silent the entire way.
After returning from the sunrise, he asked Cui Dong Dong to teach him numbers and accounting. Then, with utmost respect, he went back to A’Ying and kowtowed, requesting to learn from him.
He admitted his past immaturity, thanked A’Ying for saving his life, and expressed admiration for his combat skills—asking to learn close-combat techniques, especially the so-called ancestral “Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms”.
From then on, if A’Ying told him to go east, he would not go west.
No matter how much alcohol was forced upon him, he drank it all. In the boxing ring, even when A’Ying used training as an excuse to beat him, he neither resisted nor held grudges, addressing him respectfully as “Boss Ying.”
Even knowing A’Ying deliberately withheld or misled him in training, he pretended to study earnestly—and often praised him in front of Azure Dragon.
Only white powder he absolutely refused.
Fortunately, A’Ying still feared Azure Dragon enough not to force him into it.
He continued occasionally visiting brothels with Cui Dong Dong, maintaining the appearance of a normal adolescent boy with desires.
He also distanced himself from Azure Dragon—no longer calling him Eldest with intimacy.
His behavior became disciplined and proper. Outside, he stopped causing trouble, instead learning to be generous, building connections, and gathering followers. Behind him trailed a group of snot-nosed young lackeys—gradually forming the air of a “young boss.”
In just two years, he grew rapidly.
By eighteen, even the elders of the gang began to look at him in a new light.
At his birthday banquet hosted by Azure Dragon, elders Uncle Qiu and Prince Duan remarked:
“Xiao Liu has matured a lot these years—he’s become a man.”
“Remember when you broke your leg and still snuck out? Your Eldest thought you’d been kidnapped and mobilized all of us to search for you in the middle of the night…”
“And that time you shaved that expensive purebred dog bald because it scared Xiao Man? We nearly offended He Sheng Society beyond repair…”
Azure Dragon coughed lightly, signaling them to stop recounting embarrassing stories.
The elders shifted tone:
“Now he’s capable—last month he led men to repel the Sha Family Gang…”
“His betting business with Dong Dong is doing well too…”
“Dong Dong’s a good girl,” Prince Duan added. “Boss Yuan wants her to help with accounting next month.”
While they discussed Dong Dong, Liu Yi slipped away, toasting older brothers one by one.
A’Ying did not attend, claiming to be busy. Liu Yi respectfully asked one of A’Ying’s subordinates to pass along a fine bottle of wine.
As Liu Yi matured, he became meticulous and restrained.
Meanwhile, A’Ying grew increasingly arrogant—abusing his status as Azure Dragon’s closest brother. Within the gang, he became domineering, indulgent, and ruthless, even secretly resuming “black-eating-black” dealings—making enemies for Xiao Qi Hall.
One winter afternoon, cold sea winds blew outside while the villa was warm within.
A’Ying and Azure Dragon had a fierce argument.
Without informing him, A’Ying had burned down an enemy stronghold and tied the leader’s entire family together before throwing them into the sea—no trace of life or death.
Azure Dragon condemned his cruelty—he had not even spared a ten-year-old child.
A’Ying accused him of growing weak and indecisive.
“Do you even understand balancing grace and power? Winning hearts? Do you want every gang in the city against us?!” Azure Dragon shouted.
“I only know this—those who follow me prosper, those who oppose me die!” A’Ying roared.
“You’re doing this for yourself!” Azure Dragon snapped.
A’Ying’s expression froze.
“I do all this for you—and you say it’s for myself?!”
Hidden on the stairs, Liu Yi silently drew his blade—
But A’Ying only tore open his shirt, revealing the eagle tattoo and the scar from the wound he took for Azure Dragon.
“Say it again—to this!”
Azure Dragon closed his eyes, touched the scar, and sighed.
“I’m sorry… I went too far.”
But then added, “You’ve also gone too far.”
He pushed A’Ying away.
“I won’t forgive this. Reflect on yourself.”
A’Ying left.
Liu Yi stepped out.
“Eldest… let me help you.”
Azure Dragon laughed, tapping his forehead.
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
Liu Yi swallowed his words as Azure Dragon left again.
That night, restless, Liu Yi trained alone.
He wanted to grow stronger—faster—good enough to stand beside Azure Dragon.
Late at night, something felt wrong.
Azure Dragon had not returned.
Grabbing his coat and twin blades, Liu Yi slipped out.
He retrieved a hidden motorcycle and rode toward the Walled City.
Through dark alleys, amid curses and foul smells, he searched—
Until he heard distant sounds of fighting.
Blades clashing.
Shouts.
“Kill him—don’t let him escape!”
“…Azure Dragon… reward!”
He threw aside his helmet—
And sped toward the sound.
Futile Devices Scans 
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