Hong Kong film: The cop backs down, the ladies beg me to check his license.

"Old Lin! It's me, Huang Bingyao! Something terrible has happened! Those bastards from the Chung Ching Society have angered everyone, and almost every major triad is going to take them down tonight! Yes, a full-scale attack! Get your people moving quickly, clear the area around the Chung Ching Society headquarters, and isolate the civilians! We absolutely cannot allow any chaos!"

"Old Ren! It's me! Emergency! A major triad storm is brewing, and the Chung Ching Society is the target! Do you have any of their hideouts in your area? Yes? Immediately! Send people over to control the situation, don't let the fighting spread to the streets!"

One call after another was made, waking the entire police force's top brass in the dead of night. Finally, he called his direct subordinate.

"Chan Yan Kin! I, Wong Bing Yiu! Listen up, Chung Ching Society is finished! Hung Hing, Tung Sing, Sun Luen Shing... take them all! Order all uniformed officers and PTU personnel to their posts! The mission is simple: separate the gangsters from ordinary citizens! Create a combat zone, allowing entry but not exit! Let them fight to the death inside! But outside, I want absolute quiet and peace! Even if the sky falls, not a single civilian can be harmed! Understand?!"

At his command, the massive police equipment began to roar into action. Police lights silently illuminated the night as officers hastily assembled and rushed to potential battlegrounds. They set up police tape, dispersed onlookers, and persuaded some still-open shops to evacuate. A tense and oppressive atmosphere permeated the night in certain areas of Hong Kong. Many citizens were awakened by the faint noise, peeking through their curtains to see only flashing police lights and rapidly moving figures on the street, before retreating back in confusion, wondering what was happening.

At that moment, a car quietly stopped in front of the Chung Ching Society headquarters.

Ye Tian pushed open the car door, his leather shoes making a soft sound as they landed on the slightly rough cement floor. The night breeze, carrying the salty, damp scent unique to the harbor, blew in, gently ruffling the hair on his forehead.

Big Head strode out of the shadows, his face tense with the satisfaction of completing a mission and respectful to the big boss: "Brother Tian."

Luo Tianhong stood to Ye Tian's side and slightly behind. His blue hair wasn't very noticeable in the dim light. He added, "Brother Tian, ​​Da Tou is very reliable. He's been keeping an eye on things here the whole time."

Ye Tian glanced at Da Tou and smiled slightly: "No need for your introduction, I've known Da Tou for a long time."

Big Head gave a slightly embarrassed twitch of his lips, revealing what could be called a smile. A few years ago, before the internal relations of Hung Hing were so strained, he, Yip Tin, and Chan Ho Nam's gang had all hung out together, fought, and gotten beaten up together.

Ye Tian stepped forward and patted Da Tou's shoulder, the pressure neither too light nor too heavy. "I'm not Brother B," he said, his voice not loud, but clear in the quiet night. "I said a long time ago that you're better than Chan Ho Nam."

The original Ye Tian may or may not have said these words. But the way Ye Tian said them now carried an undeniable certainty.

He pulled a roll of HK$1,000 notes, tied with a rubber band, from his pocket and stuffed it into Big Head's hand. Big Head was stunned, and as if burned, he quickly refused, "Brother Tian, ​​this... I can't accept it..."

"Take it." Ye Tian's tone was calm, but brooked no refusal. "You took the blame for Brother B and went to jail. When you come out, you should be promoted. But Brother B only cares about his few godsons. You'll have to start from the bottom again... Many brothers in Hung Hing have seen this."

Big Head's hand froze, his face flushed slightly, from embarrassment and the awkwardness of having his secret exposed.

"There are rules for working with me," Ye Tian continued, his gaze sweeping across his face. "There are rewards for merit and punishments for demerit. When you saw Tao Tao being tied up, you didn't rush in to your death on a whim, but immediately notified Tian Hong and then stayed here to keep watch. That's merit. Merit deserves a reward."

He pushed the money forward again: "You're out of money, aren't you? Don't try to be brave."

Big Head's throat tightened, but he finally didn't refuse and took the roll of money. The crisp edge of the banknote brushed against his palm, feeling a firm texture. A surge of warmth welled up inside him, mixed with a long-lost feeling of being recognized.

"From now on, follow Tianhong." Ye Tian withdrew his hand. "Do a good job, and you'll get what you deserve."

"Yes, Brother Tian!" Da Tou straightened his back, his voice trembling with excitement.

Ye Tian turned to the brightly lit building: "Did Ding Xiaoxie and his gang get in from here?"

"Yes!" Big Head nodded immediately, his speech quickening. "They've been taking Brother Tao and that young lady upstairs for about forty minutes. I've been watching the front and back doors the whole time, but I haven't seen anyone come out."

Ye Tian nodded, satisfied with Da Tou's meticulousness. "You've done a great job. Just wait here; our people will be here soon. Give them directions and tell them what's inside."

Big Head hurriedly asked, "What about you that day, Brother?"

Ye Tian glanced up at a window of the building, where figures were moving about. "Me?" A cold smile curved his lips. "Of course, I'm going in to take my people home."

"Brother Tian, ​​I'll go with you!" Big Head stepped forward.

Ye Tian waved his hand: "It's not that I'm complaining about you. The situation inside is unclear, and your skills aren't up to par for now. Staying here to provide backup is equally important." He pointed to two people: "Jianguo, you stay with Datou and wait. Jianjun, Tianhong, come with me."

Having said that, he didn't linger and strode towards the building entrance. His steps were slow but steady, his shoulders and back straight. Wang Jianjun and Luo Tianhong exchanged a glance, said nothing, and immediately followed. The three of them formed a simple triangle and quickly disappeared into the shadows of the building.

---

The atmosphere was completely different in the top-floor office of the Chung Ching Society headquarters.

Fang Ting's hands were bound behind her back with rough hemp rope, making her wrists ache. She kept trying to twist her ankles—which were also bound, but slightly looser—wanting to kick off her high heels, or at least get the blood circulating a little better. Across from her, Chen Taotao was in worse shape, his face bruised and swollen, his mouth cracked and bleeding, his expensive suit covered in dust and footprints.

Ding Xiaoxie stood before them, his chest heaving violently with anger. His once handsome face was now contorted, and his eyes were bloodshot.

"Ding Xiaoxie! You're insane! Do you know what you're doing?!" Fang Ting's voice was shrill with anger and fear. "Release Tao Tao right now! This is kidnapping! It's a crime!"

"Tao Tao? You're calling me that so affectionately." Ding Xiaoxie's voice was hoarse, laced with sarcasm, but even more so with barely suppressed anger. "You're my woman! And you're flirting with another man, having dinner together? Huh?!"

Fang Ting trembled with rage: "Ding Xiaoxie! I've already made it clear to you! We're over! We have nothing to do with each other anymore! Tao Tao is my friend, he's a manager at Yum! If you dare kidnap him, the police won't let you get away with it!"

"Police?" Ding Xiaoxie laughed as if he'd heard the funniest joke in the world. His laughter was dry and grating. "I'm afraid of the police? If I, Ding Xiaoxie, were afraid of the police, I wouldn't have 'invited' you all over the street today!"

He emphasized the word "please" and his face was full of sullenness.

Fang Ting forced herself to calm down, trying to persuade him with the stakes: "Ding Xiaoxie, wake up! Tao Tao just beat Chen Wanxian in the stock market, and all the media in Hong Kong are watching him! If he disappears, the police will stop at nothing to solve the case! At that time, no matter who you are or what your background is, you won't be able to escape!"