Hong Kong variety show: The mastermind behind the scenes is emerging.

By the end of September, the weather on Hong Kong Island was finally no longer so hot.

The wind blowing from Victoria Harbour carries a hint of early autumn dryness, passing over the buildings of the Kowloon Peninsula.

Kowloon, the headquarters of the winery, the training ground on the second basement level.

The open space was brightly lit, with a dark, thick rubber mat on the ground. Sandbags and weapon racks hung on the four walls, and the air was filled with the smell of sweat and rubber.

In the center of the arena, two figures were locked in a fierce battle, moving so fast they almost left afterimages.

One of them is Feng Yuxiu.

He was wearing a black, tight-fitting vest today, which showed off his well-defined muscles.

His fighting style is fierce and direct. His hands are like iron clamps, specializing in close-range grappling—wrist grabs, elbow entanglements, throat locks, joint locks. Every move is aimed at the vulnerable joints of the human body. Once he gets on your side, it's a continuous, thunderous suppression.

The young man opposite him, however, had a completely different style of movement.

The young man moved with ease, using the footwork of Baguazhang.

His body kept circling around Feng Yuxiu, avoiding the strong and attacking the weak—when Feng Yuxiu's iron claws grabbed at him, he slumped his shoulders, turned his body with his steps, and deftly deflected them; when Feng Yuxiu locked his wrist with a backhand, he flipped his wrist, and the silk-reeling force of Tai Chi followed the opponent's force, using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds.

One is primarily offensive, the other primarily defensive; one is fierce, the other is gentle and adaptable.

The two had already fought hundreds of rounds, and were still evenly matched, with no clear winner.

Feng Yuxiu's grappling became increasingly ruthless and intense, while the young man opposite him maintained a steady footwork and his breathing remained perfectly calm. His eyes were serene, like a deep pool of water. Wherever Feng Yuxiu attacked, he yielded. When he could yield no more, he used a wild horse mane to deflect the opponent's attack to the side.

Soon, another round of fighting ensued. Feng Yuxiu lunged forward, his right hand flashing like lightning, attempting to seize the young man's wrist. Instead of retreating, the young man advanced, taking a step forward and using Tai Chi Cloud Hands to guide Feng Yuxiu's wrist in an arc, his entire body now pressed against Feng Yuxiu's side, his elbow lightly resting against his ribs.

Finally, the two of them stopped at the same time.

Feng Yuxiu looked down at his elbow, which was pressed against his ribs, then looked up at the young man in front of him with a complicated expression.

"You're very good," Feng Yuxiu rarely praised.

In the stands, Lu Chen sat in a chair, a cup of tea in his hand, and nodded with satisfaction. He turned his head and asked Tian Yangsheng, who was standing next to him, "How's A-Jin's ability?"

Tian Yangsheng's gaze fell on the young figure in the center of the arena, his tone calm and objective: "Even within the winery, this is definitely top-tier. Feng Yuxiu's grappling techniques are something even I would have to take seriously. The fact that A Jin could fight him to a draw is enough to demonstrate his strength."

He paused, then added, "Most importantly, he's still young. Given time, he'll surely achieve great things."

Lu Chen nodded and didn't say anything more.

That's right, the young man in the center of the field is none other than Gao Jin, who disappeared seven years ago.

Seven years ago, after Lu Chen rescued Gao Jin from Hong Wenbiao, he sent him to the High Table Club to receive comprehensive training.

Over the past seven years, Gao Jin has undergone hellish training that can be described as purgatory—combat, shooting, etiquette, current affairs, economics... he learned everything he could.

Everyone thought that this ten-year-old boy wouldn't be able to handle it and would be eliminated sooner or later. Unexpectedly, Gao Jin gritted his teeth and persevered.

Today's Gao Jin is no longer the boy cowering in the cage. Compared to his original self in "SPL 2: A Time for Consequences," he has been comprehensively enhanced—his combat power is off the charts, he is proficient in various skills, and he is a one-man team.

Lu Chen put down his teacup, stood up, and called out to the center of the area, "Ah Jin."

Gao Jin turned his head and saw Lu Chen walking down from the stands, and immediately stood up straight.

He was wearing a well-tailored dark suit, his leather shoes were shiny, and his hair was combed like an adult's. Although his young face still had a bit of immaturity, you could already see the calmness and sharpness he would have in the future between his brows.

However, the moment his gaze fell upon Lu Chen, all his coldness vanished instantly, replaced by an almost religious fervor and reverence.

Lu Chen walked up to him, looked at this young man who even wore a suit while fighting, smiled, and patted him on the shoulder.

"Come on," he said, "I'll take you somewhere."

……

The afternoon sun slanted across the north side of the former Kowloon Walled City site.

After nearly two years, the demolition project of Kowloon Walled City, which shocked Hong Kong, has finally come to a successful conclusion. That gray concrete maze that once housed 30,000 people has now completely disappeared.

Currently, the site has been re-enclosed by tall fences, which are printed with grand plans and slogans for the "Kowloon Memorial Park." The roar of pile drivers can be heard incessantly, highlighting that this land is about to be reborn.

However, a hotel to its north was built even before the memorial park.

Lu Chen stood across the street, looking up at the building that had just been completed.

The world's first hotel on the mainland.

As the core hub of the High Table Society's rule over the underworld, Lu Chen had strictly defined its soul from the very beginning of the design—every Mainland Hotel must perfectly integrate into the local customs and culture. And this Mainland Hotel, rooted in Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, naturally embodies the unique Chinese style of Huamao.

The hotel is twelve stories high, with dark gray brick walls throughout, the brick joints are neatly and finely drawn, and it gleams with a calm luster in the sunlight.

The roof is in the traditional Chinese style, with upturned eaves and a row of small copper bells hanging from the eaves. When the wind blows, the clear, tinkling sound drifts through the streets and alleys.

There are no ostentatious signs above the main entrance, only an ebony plaque in the center with four large gilded characters: Continental Hotel.

Below the plaque are two heavy black lacquered doors with brass corner protectors. The door knockers are two bronze lion heads. The stone lions crouching on either side of the threshold are as tall as a person, with deeply carved eyes that are half-lit and half-shadowed in the afternoon light.

"Ah Jin," Lu Chen admired the magnificent building, nodded in satisfaction, and then asked the person behind him, "Did you notice anything?"

"Boss, I can't quite put my finger on it..." Gao Jin stepped forward and stood behind Lu Chen, replying respectfully, "I just feel like it's not a hotel, but more like a fortress."

Lu Chen smiled, offered no comment, and instead stepped across the street, personally pushing open the ebony door.

Gao Jin immediately followed Lu Chen into the lobby.

The lobby has a double-height ceiling, with a floor paved with dark gray marble whose texture resembles ink wash painting. In the center stands a round white marble reception desk, its surface so smooth it reflects light. Behind it is a wall made entirely of black walnut wood, inlaid with a huge ink wash landscape painting—cut directly from a single piece of naturally textured marble, its patterns resembling splashed ink mountains, perfectly natural.

The chandelier is made of copper with a simple and unadorned design. The light hanging down is gathered into warm yellow circles by the carved lampshade. The columns on both sides are covered with dark wood veneer, and copper cloud patterns are inlaid at the corners, which gleam with a warm color under the light. In one corner of the hall, a half-person-high Taihu stone stands in a blue stone basin, with the sound of water gurgling and meandering down the cracks in the stone.

At this moment, the hotel's hard decoration is completely completed, and the furnishing and soft decoration are proceeding in an orderly manner.

Workers were moving furniture, hanging paintings, and arranging potted plants. Several service staff in dark uniforms were receiving training. When they saw Lu Chen enter, they stopped what they were doing and bowed slightly.

Lu Chen nodded in acknowledgment, and without stopping, led Gao Jin through the lobby and along the corridor—the banquet hall, tea room, guest room area, and conference hall, each exuding understated Chinese luxury.

Lu Chen stopped in the backyard and pointed to the construction site outside the wall: "That will be Kowloon Memorial Park in the future."

Gao Jin followed his hand and looked over, nodding thoughtfully.

"Ah Jin," Lu Chen turned around and looked at him, "Do you know why I built the Mainland Hotel here?"

Gao Jin thought for a moment: "The fortress is gone, but the martial arts world here still exists."

"Insightful," Lu Chen smiled approvingly, "It seems the High Table has indeed nurtured you very well over the past seven years."

He walked to the edge of the corridor, rested his hand on the railing, and looked at the construction site: "The fortress is demolished, but those intricate relationships, connections, and intelligence won't just disappear into thin air. They will disperse, they will regroup, and they will need a new place to settle down."

"The Continental Hotel, that's the place."

Gao Jin didn't speak, but his posture became even straighter.

"The Continental Hotel is the most important move for the winery in the next decade," Lu Chen said. "On the surface, it provides top-notch food and lodging services, but the real business is intelligence exchange, mission acceptance, and security protection."

"My goal is to make every hotel on the mainland the heart of the local underworld—whoever wants information comes here; whoever wants to get things done comes here; whoever wants an absolutely safe place to stay also comes here."

"The hotel's facade is white; the business downstairs is black... and between black and white lies our territory."

The wind blew from the direction of the old city walled city, stirring up dust from the construction site.

Standing behind Lu Chen, Gao Jin felt a surge of heat rise in his chest as he listened to these words. He had trained for seven years, learning combat, firearms, intelligence, infiltration, etiquette—everything he could learn—yet he still didn't know why he was learning all of this.

Now he knows.

"Gao Jin," Lu Chen turned around, looked at him, and said calmly, "I want you to be the manager of this first mainland hotel."

Upon hearing this, Gao Jin's heart skipped a beat. He took a deep breath, his eyes instantly hardening with determination, and then solemnly knelt on one knee before Lu Chen, bowing his head:

"It's my pleasure."

The afternoon sun shone on the gray-blue building, making the four gilded characters "Continental Hotel" shine. The sound of pile driving from the construction site still echoed in the distance, as if something new was brewing on this land.