Chapter 1: The Entanglement of Fate and Enmity, Haicheng's Solitude

  Old convenience, the Northeast's stubborn child gave a nickname to the police who didn't wear uniforms. Li Huqiu thought that the middle-aged man was not an ordinary old convenience. He didn't want to say much about Song Yujia's affairs, right or wrong, the Jianghu had its own rules. If it wasn't necessary, it was better for Jianghu people to have less contact with officials. After Li Huqiu replied "I know as much as you do", he stopped talking to the middle-aged man and focused on eating his meal in silence. After finishing three or five mouthfuls, he got up, paid the bill, and left. At the entrance of the restaurant, a Peugeot car was parked, with the license plate reading "Jing AXXXXX". Li Huqiu let out a faint sigh and hastily departed.

  In the restaurant, a middle-aged man watched Li Huqiu's back as he left, seemingly lost in thought. The young man asked: "Just let him go like that?" The middle-aged man replied: "Someone has invited Tanmu Ye to personally take action and capture him, our target is not him."

  Located in the west of the city, the Immigration Alley is a wealthy area of Harbin. Many Russian small rich people who made their fortunes during the reform of the Russian political system came to settle here, and many of Harbin's prominent politicians and business elites also live in this area. Li Huqiu stood in front of Song San's luxurious mansion, his heart filled with emotions. Song San had done him a great favor, but now he was in trouble. The country wanted to arrest him, and there were also people on the Jianghu road who wanted to take revenge on him, Gu Kai Ze taking in Ye Xiao Dao was a signal. Li Huqiu arrived at the door, without even pressing the doorbell, the door was pushed open from inside. Song San's old face with a hundred years of vicissitudes poked out from inside, smiling: "I saw you coming, come in quickly."

  Walking through the foyer to a spacious and luxurious living room, Song Yu Jia warmly greeted Li Hu Qiu with cigarettes and water. After some small talk, Li Hu Qiu got straight to the point: "Third Brother, I came today because there are a few things I want to say to you." Song Yu Jia furrowed his brow, probably guessing what Li Hu Qiu wanted to say, he fell silent for a moment before saying: "Go ahead, Big Brother is listening."

  Li Huqiu said in a stern voice, "Do you still remember the Jianghu rules I taught you?" Song Yujia nodded. Li Huqiu continued, "Of all evils, lust is the worst, and of all virtues, filial piety comes first. What you've done is far more than just one evil deed. Now go out and ask the people of Haicheng what they think of you? Let's not talk about right or wrong for now. Even a rabbit doesn't eat the grass near its own nest. Haicheng is your foundation, and now when you walk down the street, do you hear anyone say anything good about you?"

  The words were unexpectedly heavy, and Song Yu Jia listened with a frown and cold smile: "Do I still need them to say a good word for me now?" He also said: "You came here today just to tell me these things?" Song San's teapot fell heavily on the table, and Li Guangming immediately poked his head out of the adjacent room.

  People don't know the meaning of death, and gods and ghosts can't save them. Although there is a deep abyss ahead, even if thousands of people block the way, they still move forward in reverse. Li Huqiu never intended to save him, he came today because of past favors, not wanting to declare war on Song Yujia without warning. Even if he wanted to get rid of evil for the sake of the Jianghu, he would have to cut off his robe and break his oath before cutting off his grudges. Li Huqiu ignored Li Guangming, his momentum not falling behind at all, saying: "I came today to tell you something, this time the government's special operation to crack down on evil is not just a loud thunder but small raindrops, it's not just catching a few small fish and shrimp. You've already been targeted, outside there are many old men collecting evidence of your crimes, just now I met one."

  "What did you tell me this for? Aren't you also dissatisfied with me? Don't you want me to die?" Song Yu Jia finally stopped looking at him, sat down on the sofa, lit a cigarette and took a long drag, asking calmly.

  Li Huqiu said loudly: "I hope you die, and even hope you die at my hands, rather than kneeling in the mud, dying humiliated under the gun, and after death being spat on by the whole world, although your actions are worthy of such a death!"

  Song Yu Jia suddenly became extremely agitated, grabbing the teacup on the table and shattering it to pieces. He bellowed: "Do you think I enjoy living like this? Do you think I'm afraid of death? Let me tell you, I'm not afraid. This life is enough for me, but I'll die with those few bastards as my backing. They're all clean and spotless, while I'm the only dirty one, deserving to be hacked to pieces a thousand times!" Song Yu Jia leaned in close to Li Hu Qiu, his voice suddenly dropping low: "This world has no justice, all those principles I told you about before are just nonsense! If you want to kill me, now's your chance!" His tone was laced with an unspeakable sense of despair and exhaustion.

  Li Guangming walked out of the inner room, looking at Li Huqiu with tension and said: "Third brother, you..."

  "Go ahead, Guanming, go far away. Our good days are over. I'm glad Li Huqiu could come today. He and you are the only ones who have been sincere to me, Song Yujia. Even if I offend everyone in the world, at least there were you two who were true to me. Although Li Huqiu now hates me too, I don't blame him. He's different from you; he has a sense of justice and knows how to be grateful. But his biggest difference from you is that he still has principles, which can't accommodate my own principles, ironically taught by me.

  Song Yujia let out a self-mocking laugh: "The old cripple taught him skills, raised him up, but in the end, he indirectly died at his hands. Many people on the road know about this matter, yet no one says he's unrighteous. Why? Isn't it because the old cripple's actions were against heaven and reason, violating the heavenly way? I'm the same... Li Huqiu..."

  Song San couldn't continue speaking as Li Huqiu had already stood up to leave."

  Li Huqiu walked to the entrance hall, turned around and said: "From today on, you and I will cut off all ties of friendship and righteousness. Next time we meet, just let your subordinates deal with me, because I have decided to take care of you personally."

  Song San said loudly before he left: "Youngster, you can come at me with all your might, I, your third brother, am not yet too old to move, but you'd better hurry up, or else you'll be too late."

  As he walked out of Song Sanjia's house, Li Huqiu looked up at the sky. The sky was gray and gloomy, with a fierce chill, brewing the first snow of winter.

  Li Huqiu felt a sense of desperation, the autumn rain was coming and he felt more lost than ever. From the Great Bandit King Competition where all the big bandits were caught to the current anti-crime campaign, he felt his space for survival was being compressed. What should he do? What could he do? He immediately thought of Little Swallow, thought of his own life story, no matter for whom, he must survive! The world is so big, there must be a place for him to stand. With this thought, his heart gradually firmed up.

  In the late afternoon, snowflakes were floating in the sky, and there were almost no pedestrians on the street. Li Huqiu appeared in front of his own gate. Just as he was about to open the door and enter the house, his hand touched the lock head, and suddenly he had a movement in his heart. He quietly withdrew his hand, turned around, and walked to the side of the courtyard, lightly jumping over the low wall. Crouching down, he stealthily approached the window of his own home. There were people talking inside the house, two male voices. One was rough and the other was shrill.

  "Isn't he just a young whippersnapper who hasn't even shed his baby hair yet? What's the need for Second Brother to come over personally, I can take care of him myself."

  "Second Brother's sharp voice rang out: "Less nonsense, when has Big Brother ever been wrong? This kid can take down both Hao and Daqi at the same time, he's definitely not an ordinary little brat. They say in Ha City's thief world that he's the number one hard hand, I heard from someone surnamed Huang that this Thief King Competition is a fishing competition set up by the Public Security Department, all the Southern and Northern Thief Kings fell into the net, but this kid not only didn't fall for it, he even played a trick of snatching chestnuts from the fire and stole the title of Huaxia Thief King, is this an ordinary little thief?"

  The voice was loud and clear. 'Second Brother' said, "Big Brother received news that the government is going to take real action this time. Song San, the leader of the group, will definitely not survive. The new municipal party secretary, Li, is not a kind person. Not only is he the son of a central government big shot, but it's also said that he's a battle hero from the old mountain front line, with a black heart and ruthless hands. This time, all the people handling the case in Ha City are from Liaoning Province and Beijing Public Security. Big Brother means that Huang has a wide network and deep roots, so we should help him out to leave a way out for the future. So this matter must be handled well today, do you understand?"

  A rough and loud voice said: "Second brother rest assured, I guarantee that things will be handled properly."

  Li Huqiu picked up a small stone and threw it at the gate, making a loud slapping sound. The house immediately fell silent. Li Huqiu hid behind the door, motionless, and after a while, a sharp voice called out: "Old Six, go take a look." Then another instruction followed: "Load the bullets."

  Li Huqiu's hand shook slightly, and a slender, snake-like object slipped out of his sleeve. The door was pushed open, and a large man walked out from inside, holding a gun in his hand. Li Huqiu flicked his wrist, and the object flew out to wrap around the big man's neck. The big man was initially startled, but quickly reacted by raising his gun to shoot. Li Huqiu flipped his wrist again, and the object accurately hooked onto the gun barrel. With a burst of strength, Li Huqiu turned the gun barrel towards the big man himself. Then, he kicked the big man back into the house. The "Second Brother" inside heard the commotion and came out with a gun, but Li Huqiu threw a flying knife that hit him right on the wrist.