Chapter 455: Hon Ban's Favor
"When I first started out in Hap Tu, I was young and reckless and offended some people."
"Thanks to Brother Cao, who spoke up for me, I was spared."
"From then on, I also connected with Brother Cao and started a smuggling business."
"In the beginning, if it weren't for Brother Cao, I wouldn't have been able to grow smoothly."
"When you're out in the Triad, making money is the priority."
"But the brotherhood that should be upheld, I, Hon Ban, am not lacking in the slightest."
"Ah Feng, I rarely ask for favors. How about you help me out this time?"
Hon Ban's voice was particularly low.
Lin Feng nodded slightly:
"A debt of gratitude is the hardest to repay."
"However, we are brothers, so I will help you repay this debt of gratitude."
Hon Ban immediately relaxed:
"I knew you'd have a way."
"Brother, I'll treat you to a drink later."
Lin Feng teased:
"You need to control yourself. You're one of Hung Hing's Laang Zai, after all. Don't get greasy at such a young age."
"If that happens, your girlfriend might fall for someone else."
Hon Ban snorted:
"As long as a man can make money and support his family, that's enough. We're not male escorts, so why bother with looks?"
"…Does my girlfriend really dislike 'greasy' men?"
Lin Feng burst out laughing:
"You, oh, you!"
Hon Ban grinned and also laughed:
"My girlfriend is an extraordinary woman; how could she have the same thoughts as ordinary young women?"
Lin Feng smiled and shook his head:
"No matter how extraordinary a woman is, she is still a woman."
"Back then, Tung Sing's Coke was an absolute Laang Zai."
Hon Ban pursed his lips. To be fair, Coke's fighting skills were one thing, but his looks… calling him a Laang Zai was an understatement.
"Alright, alright, I'll go to the gym later."
Lin Feng said disdainfully:
"What's the point of training all those dead muscles at the gym?"
"There are so many martial arts schools in Yangcheng—oh, they're not called martial arts schools now—so many martial artists. Wouldn't it be better to find a renowned master and practice properly than that?"
"But I'm telling you, even a renowned martial artist, if he doesn't control his mouth and gives up his martial arts, will still get fat and greasy."
Hon Ban waved his hand, not caring that Lin Feng couldn't see him.
"Alright, I got it."
Lin Feng hung up the phone and picked up a cigar.
Great kindness doesn't need words of thanks; friends just keep it in their hearts.
Perhaps they were just superficial friends before, but with the Hung Hing platform and their shared ventures, they were long bound together.
Their feelings were naturally different.
When Hon Ban came to him for help, he naturally helped.
Li Fu said, losing color:
"Brother Feng, Cao Ya is dead?!"
Lin Feng nodded:
"Dead. He was ambushed and shot."
"Everyone in the car, including the bodyguards, died, leaving only a driver whose whereabouts are unknown."
Li Fu didn't understand:
"You've been saying these past two days that Yi Group, run by Cao Ya, is a new type of Triad, almost the most advanced."
"Why was Cao Ya attacked and killed?"
Lin Feng shook his head:
"Cao Ya's Triad is indeed the most advanced."
"This advancement is reflected in its security."
"It's almost impossible for the police to penetrate from the outside."
"Even if the entire Yi Group is caught, it won't have any impact on Cao Ya."
Li Fu was stunned:
"I'm confused."
"If it's so stable, Cao Ya should be safe, so why did he lose his life?"
Lin Feng said calmly:
"It's very simple."
"Yi Group's model is to defend against outsiders, not insiders."
Li Fu's eyes widened instantly:
"An inside man?!"
Lin Feng explained:
"A fortress is always breached from within."
"According to Yi Group's model, it's almost impossible to bring Cao Ya to justice."
"Cao Ya is separated from the people doing the work by who knows how many firewalls."
"The police have no way of dealing with him."
"But to be fair, just because the police have no way doesn't mean others don't."
Li Fu pondered:
"Others? Yi Group's enemies?"
Lin Feng laughed heartily:
"Cao Ya is a figure from Lui Lok's era. Having been in the game until now, even if he had enemies back then, they would have long since died out."
"The Triad's reincarnation rate is ridiculously high; there are not many Triads like Wo Luen Shing, a den of old foxes."
Li Fu raised an objection:
"Brother Feng, I remember Yi Group had a boat stolen two days ago."
Lin Feng nodded:
"Yes."
"But about that matter, you should know the truth."
"After our Hung Hing transformed, and with my orders, those Triad members' lives are not easy."
"Thunder Security's deterrence is there."
"Brother Hua, the arms dealer, in order to expand his market, could only go to Southeast Asia to sell goods."
"That boat was sailed to Siam."
"Unfortunately, they encountered an unscrupulous merchant and a fight broke out."
"The local Siamese gang was no match for Brother Hua, left a few bodies, and fled."
"Otherwise, Brother Hua would have returned the boat long ago, and it wouldn't have been discovered."
"Now he's in trouble; he's become one of the suspects."
Li Fu said in surprise:
"It wasn't Brother Hua who did it?"
Lin Feng shook his head:
"Brother Hua is an arms dealer; he has the courage, but not the capability."
Li Fu frowned:
"Didn't you say Cao Ya's driver went missing?"
"Could Brother Hua have bribed Cao Ya's driver?"
Lin Feng asked:
"Can anyone in Hong Kong bribe Wang Jianguo?"
Li Fu immediately said:
"Impossible."
"Wang Jianguo is your trusted subordinate."
Lin Feng nodded:
"That driver is also Cao Ya's trusted subordinate."
"Most of the time, he is with Cao Ya."
"Much more time than he spends with his family."
"How much would it cost to bribe him?"
Li Fu suddenly realized.
That's right.
Any boss's driver must be a trusted subordinate among trusted subordinates.
The person must be honest and reliable, and their mouth must be sealed.
They also hold a considerable position within the organization.
Just like Li Jie by Liang Kun's side, or Wang Jianguo by Lin Feng's side.
Their identities might not be prominent, but their positions are definitely not ordinary.
To bribe them, not to mention the immense cost, just getting them to meet is a huge problem.
Li Fu made a judgment:
"An inside man did it!"
"Someone who can bribe the driver cannot be an outsider; it must be an inside man."
Lin Feng shrugged:
"It's obvious."
"According to the information I received, Cao Ya had long intended to truly retire."
"Not a public retirement, but a genuine one."
"However, for some unknown reason, the succession issue remained unresolved and had not been decided."
"This is like ancient dynasties."
"The old emperor is about to pass away, and the position of crown prince has not been settled, so some people are starting to stir."
Li Fu said calmly:
"In a Triad like Yi Group, the position of the boss is not much different from an ancient emperor."
"To decide life and death with a single word is a concrete reality."
Lin Feng nodded slightly in agreement.
In ordinary Triads, two people bickering is very common, and even shouting about fighting is fine.
Young and Dangerous, right? How can you be Young and Dangerous without fighting?
Even Brother Gui from Yuen Long would say he has tough bones, right?
Fighting is fighting, but there is absolutely no drawing knives and guns at the slightest disagreement.
Real gangs are different.
As long as two people have a conflict, they genuinely dare to kill you.
This is not a joke.
When a Dragon Head in a Triad says he wants someone's life, countless people are ready to fight for him.
Li Fu frowned:
"I heard that in Yi Group, Cao and Ma are inseparable, and Ma and Cao are inseparable."
"With Cao Ya dead, Ma Wu would be the boss."
"Could it be him?"
Lin Feng shook his head:
"No."
"Ma Wu is old; he is from the same period as Cao Ya."
"The two are almost inseparable, having long become an indivisible whole."
"Together, they are Cao Ma; without either, their influence would drop a level."
"Cao Ya wants to retire, and Ma Wu wants to even more."
"It wasn't him."
"Their relationship is like mine with Brother Kun."
Hiss.
Li Fu gasped:
"You have such a high opinion of them?"
Lin Feng said calmly:
"It's not that I have a high opinion of them; the dangers these kinds of gangsters face are far greater than what Brother Kun and I face."
"The enemies they face genuinely want their lives."
"Over all these years, they naturally developed a deep brotherhood."
Li Fu nodded slightly.
Lin Feng snorted:
"If it wasn't Ma Wu, the scope of suspects for Cao Ya's killer becomes much smaller."
Li Fu's eyes widened:
"You have a lead?"
Lin Feng smiled:
"As long as I want to know, there are very few messages that can be hidden from me."
Li Fu nodded solemnly:
"That's right!"
Having followed Lin Feng for so long, the one who best understood Lin Feng's strange and unusual news was not Liang Kun, but Li Fu.
Over the past three years, Li Fu has witnessed all sorts of incredible things from Lin Feng.
Although Liang Kun raised Lin Feng from a young age, three years ago, Lin Feng was already working independently of Liang Kun, so it was naturally impossible for him to understand Lin Feng's various incredible abilities.
Otherwise, he would not have been able to buy a building with clean money only this year.
Li Fu, on the other hand, missed none of Lin Feng's hardships but was present for every one of his ascensions.
Nowadays, if they were to compare net worth, the gap between Liang Kun and Li Fu is not significant.
One must know that Liang Kun has the title of Chairman of Hung Hing Group to his name.
What is the market value of Hung Hing Group?!
That is an astronomical figure.
Even so, Li Fu's net worth, when compared to Liang Kun's, can still see the latter's back.
Li Fu has truly earned too much by following Lin Feng.
"Hon Ban is our brother; we will repay his favor for him."
"I'll leave this matter for you to investigate."
Li Fu asked for instructions:
"How should I start?"
Lin Feng said indifferently:
"You call Jian Jun and Tin Hung."
"The three of you are enough."
Li Fu was startled:
"You have a suspect in mind?"
Lin Feng said bluntly:
"Cao Ya was clearly killed by an inside man."
"Other than an inside man, I really don't know who could bribe Cao Ya's driver."
"And there's actually only one person who could bribe him."
Li Fu's eyes widened:
"What?"
Lin Feng explained:
"Actually, the best candidate to bribe that driver is Ma Wu, but Ma Wu and Cao Ya have a life-and-death friendship, so it definitely wasn't him."
"So, what's left are Cao Ya's three disciples."
"Chan Tai, Li Xiu, and Jiang Wei."
"Jiang Wei, due to his girlfriend's matter, has left Yi Group after running away from America and is now making a living by fishing."
"Li Xiu is the least valued among Cao Ya's three disciples."
"He has been outside the Yi Group Triad for many years."
"His style is like a lone wolf."
"What's left is Chan Tai; he is Cao Ya's eldest disciple, in charge of Cao Ya's action team, and holds considerable prestige within the action team."
"You try to guess, who killed Cao Ya?"
Li Fu frowned:
"It can't be Jiang Wei; he left the underworld, and even if he killed Cao Ya, he wouldn't be able to rise to power."
"The people below him wouldn't respect him."
"It can't be Li Xiu either."
"To control a Triad, one cannot be detached from it."
"A Big Boss without the support of his subordinates is a lone commander."
"Killing Cao Ya wouldn't allow him to take that position either."
"Then... there's only one person left — Chan Tai!"
However, Li Fu couldn't understand,
"Cao Ya is about to retire, why didn't Chan Tai wait?"
Lin Feng said indifferently:
"Yes, why didn't Chan Tai wait?"
"Actually, Chan Tai couldn't wait."
Li Fu was extremely puzzled:
"Why?"
Lin Feng whispered:
"Cao Ya had a will; he once publicly informed everyone that he had already chosen his successor."
Li Fu's mouth fell open:
"Cao Ya knew someone wanted to harm him?"
Lin Feng shook his head:
"No, that's not it. How can one always be in the underworld without getting hurt?"
"A figure like Cao Ya had long foreseen that he might not die peacefully, so taking precautions is normal."
"He was afraid that if he suddenly encountered an accident, Yi Group would be left without a leader."
"So he had a will drawn up early, witnessed by the Triad's Lawyer Cao."
"If he could retire smoothly, then everything would be fine."
"Once something went wrong, the will could be brought out to speak for itself."
"This way, Yi Group would not be without a leader, no matter what, due to Cao Ya's death."
Li Fu said in surprise:
"Could it be that the Dragon Head in Cao Ya's will is not Chan Tai?"
Lin Feng smiled and shook his head:
"It's not Chan Tai."
"Why don't you guess who it is?"
Li Fu said with a bitter smile:
"How can I guess that?"
Lin Feng shrugged:
"Take a guess."
Li Fu knew that Lin Feng was testing him, and this was a test of whether he could stand on his own.
Hung Hing wants to spread its business across Asia and even globally, and Li Fu is naturally one of its mainstays; he can't possibly stay by Lin Feng's side for too long.
Clearly, he was going to be sent out.
Li Fu pondered, then looked at Lin Feng in disbelief:
"It's Jiang Wei!!"
"What on earth was Cao Ya thinking?"
Lin Feng said amusedly:
"Why Jiang Wei?"
Li Fu explained:
"It can't be Li Xiu."
"Li Xiu is that kind of lone wolf."
"Even if he is very loyal, he has a natural disadvantage... he can't blend in with his subordinates."
Lin Feng smiled:
"Ma Wu supports him."
Li Fu shook his head:
"Yi Group is not a Triad where the son succeeds the father or the younger brother succeeds the elder; although Cao Ya's prestige is great, after he dies, his words will no longer count."
There are countless examples of people being forgotten once they leave, let alone when they die!
"Most importantly, Cao Ya's eldest disciple, Chan Tai, has always been in charge of the action team."
"This is the most unstable factor."
"If Li Xiu takes the stage, Chan Tai could play him to death."
"A lone wolf might be skilled, or he might be exceptionally loyal."
"But..."
"He doesn't fit in."
Lin Feng shrugged:
"Li Xiu isn't unsociable; he has a very good relationship with Jiang Wei and Chan Tai."
"If these two have any problems, he will definitely lend a hand."
Li Fu sighed:
"Then the problem is even bigger; Li Xiu is too arrogant."
"He only respects his sworn brothers and looks down on the people in the action team."
Lin Feng smiled and nodded:
"That's right."
Li Fu said indifferently:
"Even in an ordinary factory, being unconventional will lead to ostracism, let alone in a gang."
"Everyone is risking their lives; if you are so arrogant, why should others humor you?"
"If I were an ordinary member of Yi Group, I wouldn't respect Li Xiu."
Lin Feng clapped his hands:
"Excellent!"
Li Fu frowned:
"It's not Li Xiu, it's not Chan Tai, so naturally, it's Jiang Wei."
"But Jiang Wei retired from the underworld... How much did Cao Ya admire Jiang Wei to entrust Yi Group to him?"
"Brother Feng, why did Jiang Wei retire back then?"
Lin Feng exhaled a puff of smoke and smiled:
"I actually know about this."
"It was about three years ago, sometime before I met you, I heard that Jiang Wei retired."
"I'm a rather curious person, so I really did ask around."
"Yi Group had a traitor at that time; Jiang Wei went to do something, then ran away to America to avoid the limelight."
Li Fu was even more confused:
"Jiang Wei is Cao Ya's favorite disciple; running away is quite common, isn't it?"
"Besides, he rendered meritorious service to the Triad; wouldn't it be better to come back and continue as a Big Boss?"
Lin Feng explained:
"When Jiang Wei ran away, he entrusted his girlfriend, Xing Hui, to Chan Tai, asking him to take care of Xing Hui."
Li Fu suddenly had a feeling of melodrama:
"Could it be...?"
Lin Feng shrugged:
"When Jiang Wei returned, he found that Xing Hui was already with Chan Tai."
"He couldn't bear the blow, so he left the underworld and started fishing in Sai Kung for a living."
Li Fu was stunned:
"Just for a woman?"
Lin Feng smiled:
"Otherwise?"
"Jiang Wei is a guy who doesn't love money or power; he is loyal and only lives for one woman."
"One is the Big Brother he most admired, and the other is the woman he cherished most."
"These two, to some extent, betrayed him; wasn't that blow heavy enough?"
Li Fu was speechless.
People live in this world always with some pursuits.
A person of the underworld, when he doesn't love money or power, naturally pursues loyalty and righteousness.
On the surface, Jiang Wei suffered emotional wounds, but in reality, he was betrayed by "loyalty and righteousness," which was a major upheaval that overturned his worldview.
He had lost his purpose, and in his despair, he naturally only withdrew from the underworld to live a peaceful life.
Li Fu was thoughtful:
"No wonder Cao Ya chose Jiang Wei."
"This guy... perfectly fit Cao Ya's needs."
Loyalty and love first, and also able to blend in with his subordinates, he was definitely the best candidate for the Big Boss of Yi Group.
Cao Ya, after retiring, only worried about one thing — whether his successor would respect him enough.
With Jiang Wei's personality, he would practically worship Cao Ya.
He could take care of both the Triad and personal matters.
What a pity, Cao Ya didn't expect Jiang Wei to retire from the Triad because of that incident, so the matter of the successor was dragged on and on, and then disaster struck.
+++
Chapter 456: Hung Hing's Gift
Li Fu received the order and immediately called Wang Jianjun and Lok Tin-hung:
"Brother Feng wants us to do something."
So, half an hour later, the three gathered at Li Fu's villa.
Qi Qi made tea for the three, then greeted them and ran off to Chow Chiu-Sin's villa next door to find Cui Miaoxiang.
Lok Tin-hung was filled with envy:
"Brother Fu, Sister-in-law is really sensible."
Li Fu said, speechless:
"That's not being sensible, that's having high emotional intelligence."
"...What do you mean? Is Sai Sai Lap not sensible?"
"I'll tell her later that you were badmouthing her."
Lok Tin-hung said, speechless:
"Brother Fu, you're one of my big brothers, how can you badmouth someone behind their back?"
Li Fu said nonchalantly:
"Who said I was going to do it behind your back? I'm saying it right to your face."
Lok Tin-hung was startled:
"Brother, we don't play like that."
"I'll make sure you get played to death."
Wang Jianjun asked, puzzled:
"Sai Sai Lap seems perfectly fine to me?"
Lok Tin-hung said, looking troubled:
"Fine, my foot!"
"Every time I go out, she squeezes me dry. I can't live like this anymore."
Li Fu and Wang Jianjun exchanged glances, their eyes burning with the fires of gossip:
"Why is that?"
Lok Tin-hung sighed:
"It's all because our big brother, Brother Feng, has become Hong Kongs richest man. We, as his subordinates, naturally rise with him."
"Sai Sai Lap is worried I'll go out and attract other women, so she squeezes me as hard as she can."
Li Fu was dumbfounded:
"You're overthinking it, Sai Sai Lap loves you."
Wang Jianjun echoed:
"Exactly, Sai Sai Lap is a little rich woman now, you should be secretly happy."
Lok Tin-hung pouted,
"What!"
"If she really thought that, it would be great."
"The problem is, she's scared."
"Sai Sai Lap's background isn't as good as Sister-in-law's."
Li Fu shook his head:
"You all know my father-in-law, he's just a small-time hoodlum."
"I often say, it was a miracle that his ancestors' graves produced Qi Qi."
"Qi Qi didn't have a very good childhood."
Lok Tin-hung sighed:
"Sister-in-law is a top student from the University of Hong Kong."
"Now she's a well-known big lawyer."
"She belongs to the upper class of society."
"Sai Sai Lap feels very insecure."
Li Fu was dismissive:
"In Hong Kong, as long as you can make money, your social status is high."
"Sai Sai Lap is a small boss, no matter what."
"She lacks none of the social status she should have..."
Wang Jianjun said bluntly:
"What's there to say? Tin Hung simply doesn't give Sai Sai Lap enough sense of security, otherwise, she wouldn't be so anxious."
Lok Tin-hung was wronged:
"I do everything she wants!"
"That woman wants it six times a night, and I even give her one extra."
"She manages almost all of our household finances."
"What else can I do?"
Wang Jianjun looked him up and down, then suddenly understood:
"Seven times a night?"
"No wonder your kung fu hasn't improved much."
Lok Tin-hung's face turned red:
"Who said my kung fu hasn't improved much?"
"Just you wait, I'll definitely surpass you."
Wang Jianjun sneered:
"Brother Feng said long ago that you are a martial arts genius, and as long as you don't fall midway, your kung fu will eventually surpass ours."
"Only a genius who has grown up is a genius."
"One who hasn't grown up is nothing."
Lok Tin-hung was so angry he yelled.
Wang Jianjun was too hateful.
Li Fu sided with Wang Jianjun:
"Tin Hung, you can't indulge yourself. One drop of essence is ten drops of blood, and lust is a knife to the head."
"Occasional yin and yang intercourse is beneficial to the body."
"But to purely pursue that momentary pleasure... that won't do."
"Not only will your kung fu not improve, but your whole person will become decadent."
Lok Tin-hung was unconvinced.
Li Fu added fuel to the fire:
"It's just that Bu Tonglin isn't here, otherwise, Brother Feng would train you every day."
Lok Tin-hung's expression changed drastically.
Bu Tonglin and Lok Tin-hung are roughly the same age; even if he's a year or two older, they are considered peers.
Lin Feng is a Grandmaster-level figure, long treated as an elder generation.
Bu Tonglin is truly a contemporary of Lok Tin-hung.
Lok Tin-hung has always had one goal: to become the strongest in the world.
This goal has never changed.
However, Lin Feng was simply too powerful, suppressing Lok Tin-hung to the point where he couldn't breathe.
Fortunately, the little blue-haired guy had a personality that grew stronger with challenges, firmly believing that he would definitely catch up to Lin Feng; it was only a matter of time.
He truly possesses incredibly strong talent in martial arts.
In this short time, his kung fu has improved rapidly.
Although he still cannot defeat Li Fu and the others, the gap between him and them is visibly shrinking.
Lok Tin-hung is, after all, a young man, and he inevitably became complacent and indulged himself.
However, even so, his kung fu was improving day and night.
It's just that Li Fu and the others were also nearing their peak, which is why he couldn't defeat them yet.
Lok Tin-hung felt no pressure until Bu Tonglin appeared.
Bu Tonglin is the same age as Lin Feng.
Having one Lin Feng was already enough, but then another Bu Tonglin appeared. What was going on?
Lok Tin-hung's pressure was immense.
Losing to Lin Feng was understandable.
Now, it is almost universally acknowledged in the jianghu that Lin Feng is the strongest in Hong Kong.
But Bu Tonglin... what was he?
Ultimately, Hong Kong is too small.
If Lok Tin-hung were to travel around the mainland, his horizons would surely broaden considerably.
However, in the small area of Hong Kong, there is only that one group of martial artists, which led Lok Tin-hung to misjudge the situation, believing that his kung fu was truly the best among the younger generation.
Bu Tonglin's appearance suddenly awakened him.
What 'number one among the younger generation'?
If Lok Tin-hung was number one, what was Bu Tonglin?
Lin Feng himself had said that Bu Tonglin was a match for a hundred men!
The last person with such a title was Lin Ho-tung!!
The strongest in the jianghu before Lin Feng.
Lok Tin-hung suddenly felt a sense of crisis, and he gritted his teeth and said to the two:
"Don't worry, only I can defeat the big brother."
"Starting today, I'm quitting alcohol!"
Pfft!
Li Fu and Wang Jianjun both shook their heads.
The little blue-haired guy even said Sai Sai Lap disturbed his Dao heart, but it was clear this guy was a pervert!
However, the big brothers from the Mong Kok lineage all seem to be perverts.
First Liang Kun, Lin Feng, then Lok Tin-hung, Chicken... truly a good tradition.
Wang Jianjun asked:
"Brother Fu, what does Brother Feng want us to do?"
Lok Tin-hung immediately composed himself:
"It's been a long time since the big brother gave us private work..."
Li Fu said, speechless:
"We were on a mission together just last month."
Lok Tin-hung nodded:
"Yeah, it's already been a month."
Li Fu ignored the little blue-haired guy and said to the two:
"Brother Feng's mission is to repay Benny's favor."
Lok Tin-hung was stunned:
"Repaying a favor requires the three of us?"
"Is this really just a favor?"
The three of them have top-tier combat power. What kind of favor would require the three of them to repay it?
Wang Jianjun frowned:
"Whose favor are we repaying?"
Li Fu said in a deep voice:
"Cao Ya of the Yi Group!"
Wang Jianjun was silent for a while, then sighed:
"Is this to avenge Cao Ya?"
Lok Tin-hung asked curiously:
"Didn't Cao Ya die?"
"How do you repay that kind of favor?"
Cao Ya's death was a major event that shook the jianghu.
Outwardly, he had virtually no connection to the jianghu, yet everyone knew that the Dragon Head of the Yi Group was Cao Ya.
The police, of course, knew.
Knowing was one thing, but they had no evidence to arrest them.
They could only stare helplessly.
Lok Tin-hung suddenly realized:
"Are we going to avenge Cao Ya?"
Li Fu shook his head:
"We may not need to avenge him."
"Tomorrow morning, we'll go to the Yi Group."
"And meet Ma Wu."
Lok Tin-hung frowned:
"Even if it's to repay Cao Ya's favor, for the three of us to go together, isn't that too grand a display?"
This wasn't Lok Tin-hung speaking nonsense.
Hung Hing's transformation into Hong Kong's largest conglomerate elevated the status of the three of them as well.
Even without Hung Hing, Thunder Security was already the leading enterprise in Hong Kong's security industry.
These three are all members of high society.
With the added backing of being Lin Feng's trusted confidants, their status was even higher.
Even when Cao Ya was alive, any one of them going to see him would be considered a sign of respect, let alone after Cao Ya's death, with only Ma Wu remaining.
Chan Tai and Li Xiu, though renowned in the jianghu, already had a clear gap between them and Li Fu's trio.
Li Fu sighed:
"Benny owes him a favor, and you know, favors are the hardest things to repay."
"Benny is handling business in the mainland and can't come back. He entrusted Brother Feng to help him repay the favor."
"So, should we repay it or not?"
Lok Tin-hung said without hesitation:
"Repay it!"
The Mong Kok lineage is most famous in the jianghu not for being lecherous, but for their unparalleled loyalty and righteousness!
With Liang Kun and Lin Feng setting an example, their underlings, whether willing or not, all behaved in this manner.
This was a rule, and even more, a shackle.
If you dared to disobey, you wouldn't need Liang Kun and Lin Feng to act; other Triad figures could make your life difficult.
Of course, this was also their brand.
All Triad members knew that if they were fortunate enough to befriend someone from the Mong Kok lineage, they wouldn't have to worry about them betraying their trust.
This was their reputation!
This was their brand!
Wang Jianjun asked:
"To what extent do we need to go?"
Li Fu said calmly:
"If we're going to give a gift, we must give the best."
"The name of the branch must not be broken in our hands."
"We need to repay Benny's favor beautifully."
Wang Jianjun and Lok Tin-hung nodded in unison.
"Brother Fu, just tell us what to do."
Li Fu pulled out a miniature camera, only half the size of a palm:
"An Anglo-Saxon military-grade spy camera."
"George provided this."
"Tonight, the two of you need to go to a certain place. There's a person hidden in its basement."
Lok Tin-hung excitedly asked:
"Are we going to kill this person?"
Li Fu said, exasperated:
"Don't always think about fighting and killing."
"We're not killing the person; just taking pictures of their movements will suffice."
Lok Tin-hung immediately lost interest. He was a martial arts fanatic, who loved fighting the most.
He wasn't willing to do anything outside of fighting.
Wang Jianjun pondered:
"Cao Ya being shot dead by gunmen was a big deal. I heard everyone in the car died, but one person survived."
"Brother Feng, are you looking for A-Biao, Cao Ya's driver?"
Li Fu nodded solemnly:
"Exactly."
"The person you need to photograph is him."
Wang Jianjun immediately said:
"Leave it to me."
Li Fu thought for a moment:
"I'll go with the two of you."
Lok Tin-hung objected:
"Brother Fu, it's just photographing a driver. The two of us are enough. Why trouble you?"
Li Fu smiled bitterly:
"This place is very special."
Lok Tin-hung was dismissive:
"Brother Jun and I together can go anywhere, even a dragon's den or a tiger's lair."
"Is that place even more dangerous than a dragon's den or a tiger's lair?"
Li Fu shrugged:
"It's not that exaggerated, but that place has a lot of guns."
Lok Tin-hung frowned:
"Whose villa is this?"
Li Fu said calmly:
"Chan Tai's, one of Cao Ya's three adopted sons."
Lok Tin-hung gasped:
"Did he kill Cao Ya?"
Li Fu raised the camera in his hand:
"Whether he orchestrated the killing or not, depends on whether we can find evidence tonight."
The next day, everyone in the Yi Group was in a somber mood.
Ma Wu met with various leaders at the company headquarters, some from the company, some from the Triad.
Generally speaking, it was almost impossible for Triad members to meet Ma Wu. At most, Lawyer Huang would make an appearance, which was already a super high standard.
Usually, Cao Ya's adopted sons, Chan Tai or Li Xiu, would handle such matters.
Ma Wu shook hands with everyone individually:
"Mr. Xu, Mr. Liu, you've come too. Thank you for your concern regarding Lord Cao's matter."
Everyone quickly stood up:
"Lord Ma, please accept our condolences."
Ma Wu's face was filled with sorrow:
"Lord Cao would also be happy to know that you all came to send him off."
Mr. Xu asked:
"Lord Ma, who did Lord Cao designate as the next Dragon Head?"
Ma Wu's expression was solemn:
"The only priority now is Lord Cao's funeral. Company matters can be discussed naturally after Lord Cao's funeral is over."
Everyone repeatedly agreed.
Ma Wu met with very few people; given his status, he didn't need to meet many.
Lawyer Huang was already waiting for him in the office:
"Lord Cao instructed that if anything happened to him, his will should be made public."
"We are currently without a leader, so it's best to announce the will as soon as possible."
Ma Wu opened the will and read it, a bitter smile spreading across his face:
"How can it be him?"
Lawyer Huang asked:
"Should we announce the will now?"
Ma Wu suddenly closed the will and said seriously:
"Old Huang, let me decide on Lord Cao's successor this one time..."
Lawyer Huang was very hesitant:
"But Lord Cao's will... this goes against my professional ethics."
Ma Wu angrily said:
"At a time like this, you're still sticking to your professional ethics."
"To hell with professional ethics."
"You must listen to me regarding Lord Cao's successor."
Lawyer Huang frowned:
"Can you give me a reason?"
Ma Wu looked around and whispered:
"I suspect Lord Cao's death was an inside job."
Lawyer Huang's hand trembled. After a moment of thought, he gritted his teeth and said:
"Alright, I'll listen to you!"
"However, doing something like this goes against my professional ethics. I won't be able to account for it to God, and I'll probably go to hell after I die."
Ma Wu scoffed:
"To hell with your God."
"Given the things you've done before, you should have been in hell long ago."
Lawyer Huang thought about it and realized he was right.
Ma Wu was about to speak when someone excitedly walked in:
"Lord Ma, the Hung Hing representatives are here."
Ma Wu and Lawyer Huang both stood up, asking in unison:
"Who?"
The person replied:
"The Hung Hing representatives."
"Li Fu, Wang Jianjun, and Lok Tin-hung, confidantes of Mr. Lin, Hong Kongs richest man."
Ma Wu quickly said:
"Please, invite them in!"
Lawyer Huang said in disbelief:
"Mr. Lin is now the number one figure in the Triad, and his confidantes are also important people. Why would they come here?"
"Did Lord Cao have a past connection with Hung Hing?"
Ma Wu shook his head:
"How is that possible?"
"Even if Lord Cao had a past connection with Hung Hing, it would have been from Chiang Chen's generation."
"It's impossible for Li Fu and the other two to come."
Lawyer Huang couldn't figure it out. He said:
"Hung Hing coming to pay respects to Lord Cao is a statement; we can breathe a sigh of relief."
Ma Wu nodded repeatedly:
"That's right."
Both felt relieved.
Generally speaking, who a Triad sends has significance.
If it's a Triad with no connection, any Straw Sandal would do.
If it's a Triad with a special connection, then a powerful branch master or the Dragon Head himself attending is common.
Li Fu was a direct confidant of Lin Feng, Hong Kongs richest man. His position in Hung Hing, like Lin Feng's, was a Straw Sandal.
His arrival represented Hung Hing's attitude—friendliness!
Ma Wu was Cao Ya's assistant, and he really couldn't remember when the Yi Group had such a close relationship with Hung Hing.
Regardless, at a time when the Yi Group was weak, Hung Hing sending people to attend Cao Ya's funeral clearly signaled to the Triad world that Hung Hing's relationship with the Yi Group was extraordinary.
Anyone who wanted to target the Yi Group had to think twice.
Li Fu walked in with Wang Jianjun and Lok Tin-hung, shaking Ma Wu's hands and repeatedly saying:
"Lord Ma, please accept our condolences."
Ma Wu thanked them repeatedly and casually asked:
"I wonder which Hung Hing branch master had a past connection with my Yi Group?"
Lawyer Huang watched from behind, anxious.
Why ask?
Hung Hing's arrival was simply out of respect for Lord Cao.
Couldn't they just keep it mysterious?
However, Ma Wu had his own considerations. For other Triads, the Yi Group could bluff, but this was Hung Hing!
It was the Hung Hing where Lin Feng, Hong Kongs richest man, resided!
With Cao Ya dead, the Yi Group merely lost its leader; there were still many others to choose from.
If they offended Hung Hing, the Yi Group might cease to exist!
Ma Wu saw things very clearly.
Li Fu said seriously:
"I am here representing Mr. Li, Mr. Lin, and Mr. Han of Hung Hing."
Ma Wu's mouth dropped open.
Mr. Li of Hung Hing was Dragon Head Liang Kun, Mr. Lin was Lin Feng, and that Mr. Han, without a doubt, was Hon Ban!
When did Cao Ya get involved with Hung Hing?
"In the past, when Mr. Han was with Hap Tu, Lord Cao showed him kindness."
"However, Lord Cao never used that kindness to seek favors, and Mr. Han silently remembered it."
"Upon hearing of Lord Cao's misfortune, Mr. Han was very saddened, but being in the mainland, he entrusted us to come and offer condolences."
Ma Wu suddenly understood; it was Hon Ban!
He was somewhat dazed, never expecting that the small favor Cao Ya showed Hon Ban back then would be remembered until now.
This was... too good.
Li Fu pulled out a stack of photos:
"The principle of Hung Hing, from top to bottom, is to repay a drop of kindness with a gushing spring."
"Lord Cao met with misfortune, and we originally wanted to capture the murderer to offer as a sacrifice to Lord Cao."
"However, this murderer is special, so we'll leave it to you, Lord Ma, to decide."
Ma Wu's pupils suddenly constricted:
"You know who the murderer is?"
Li Fu reached back, and Wang Jianjun immediately handed him an envelope. The former then passed it to Ma Wu:
"Lord Ma, the murderer met Liu Biao last night, and Liu Biao is currently living at the murderer's house."
"This is an internal matter for your Yi Group. If there's a need, my Hung Hing will not hesitate to help."