A golden token, bearing the grand character "Ling" for command, remained visible despite the ravages of time.
This was the number one command that had commanded respect and subservience throughout Hong Kong sixty years ago.
Many elders, reminiscing about that era, would smack their lips and give a thumbs up, "The God of Slaughter, he was the real boss. All by himself, he took on hundreds of establishments in Hong Kong. That was true invincibility!"
Yuan Tianci felt this authority.
Not just the people of the underworld, but even the tycoons of Hong Kong, those rich young masters, looked on with fear.
Gao Yao, beaming with red light, personally welcomed him.
Yuan Tianci nodded proudly; he no longer put even Gao Yao in his eyes.
Touching the King of Heaven Token in his hand, Yuan Tianci sat in the grand chair and surveyed the assembly, "From now on, in Hong Kong matters, I, Yuan Tianci, call the shots! Anyone who disagrees, come forward and face this King of Heaven Token!"
From within the crowd, a hoarse cough was heard.
Eight-Faced Buddha slowly emerged.
Yuan Tianci forced a cupped-hand salute, "Eighth Master, your presence here gives me, Yuan Tianci, great face. Thank you, thank you."
"Don't play these games with me!" Eight-Faced Buddha said coldly, "Who knows if this token is real? Also, you need to explain where you got it from."
Yuan Tianci chuckled. He raised the token in his hand and flicked his finger, producing a clear, melodious sound.
Like the chime of a grand bell, the sound echoed incessantly.
Several elder figures from the underworld on the ship stood up in shock, "That's right, that's the sound. We won't forget it."
Yuan Tianci burst into laughter, "This token was personally given to me by the God of Slaughter himself, who appointed me to wield it. Who among you still dares to disobey?"
Eight-Faced Buddha snorted, "The God of Slaughter personally gave it to you? I think you're out of your mind. Hallucinating, perhaps?"
Yuan Tianci's expression turned grim, "You all know the God of Slaughter has recently appeared in Hong Kong wearing a mask. I happened to encounter him at sea, earned his favor, and was accepted as his disciple on the spot!"
"Stop right there!" Eight-Faced Buddha stroked his beard, torn between amusement and disbelief, "His esteemed self? Do you even know what the God of Slaughter looks like?"
At this moment, everyone on the ship strained their ears.
The appearance of the man behind the black mask had been a sixty-year mystery.
However, Yuan Tianci was full of confidence, "The God of Slaughter is over a hundred years old this year. I know some of you don't believe it. Very well, I tell you, the God of Slaughter will personally appear here in one hour. Though I, Yuan Tianci, have killed countless people, I have never lied."
Eight-Faced Buddha grunted, looking at Yuan Tianci intently.
Could this fellow also have been deceived by an impostor?
Eight-Faced Buddha knew very well that Qin Yexuan had met with the Four Great Clan Leaders at the hotel not long ago.
Who was this person Yuan Tianci met at sea?
With this thought, Eight-Faced Buddha put his hands behind his back and quietly moved to the left.
Yuan Tianci sneered, "Eighth Master, a word of advice: when the God of Slaughter arrives, you'll be the first to die here. You're an old man, why be so stubborn?"
Eight-Faced Buddha scoffed, "I'll wait for the God of Slaughter to arrive then."
With a grin, this influential figure of the Green Society, who had roamed the underworld for years, leisurely sat down.
Zhu Xiaoren, who could no longer hold back, hesitantly walked over. Before he could speak, he received a resounding slap across the face.
Eight-Faced Buddha pointed at his chest, "You are already a dead man. Betraying Mr. Qin, and you would do such a thing? Regret it."
Zhu Xiaoren, clutching his face, felt anger surge, "Old man, I'm with Yuan Tianci now and will soon join the God of Slaughter's sect. Then, the Green Society and the Red Society will be nothing but trash, and Hong Kong will be ours."
Eight-Faced Buddha didn't even spare him a glance, "As I said, you are already a dead man."
Meanwhile, Yuan Tianci was discussing his most pressing concern with Gao Yao, "Where is that little girl, Xu Xiayuan? Tonight, I shall rule Hong Kong, and perhaps consummate our marriage. Don't disappoint me!"
Gao Yao bowed obsequiously, "Master Yuan, please don't be anxious. Xu Xiayuan has no relation to my Gao family anymore. I'll have the Xu family send her over immediately, all dolled up."
Just as they were speaking, a crisp sound of footsteps approached from outside the hall.
"No need to trouble yourselves, I've come on my own!"
As the words fell, Xu Xiayuan, dressed in a black suit and with her hair in a ponytail, walked in with a commanding presence.
She looked coldly at the entire assembly, "The Xu family of the past no longer exists. The Xu family of Hong Kong now answers to me, Xu Xiayuan!"
What?
How had the once submissive Xu Xiayuan, who had been heartlessly sold to the Gao family by her own clan and endured humiliation without resistance, become so formidable?
"What happened to the Xu family?" Gao Yao exclaimed, a mixture of shock and anger.
Xu Xiayuan said calmly, "They didn't treat me as family, so I had to resort to extreme measures. My Big Brother Qin was right, destiny is in one's own hands."
Those members of the Xu family who had betrayed Xu Xiayuan were now all in Black Harbor Prison.
In a surprisingly short time, with the help of a mysterious force, Xu Xiayuan had successfully taken control of the family.
Gao Yao felt a chill down his spine; things had not unfolded as he had imagined.
Yuan Tianci, however, remained supremely confident, believing himself to be invincible with the King of Heaven Token in his grasp.
Therefore, after issuing a fierce order, Yuan Tianci's subordinates surrounded Eight-Faced Buddha and Xu Xiayuan.
The hall was clearly divided: Yuan Tianci and the Gao family faction stood on the right, while the opposing forces against the King of Heaven Token were on the left.
Eight-Faced Buddha and his group appeared outnumbered and trapped in a desperate situation.
"It would be great if Qin Yexuan were here right now," Gao Yao exclaimed, slapping his thigh. "I'd tear that idiot limb from limb."
As Gao Yao finished speaking, a clear voice inquired, "Oh, Mr. Gao, are you referring to me?"
Ah!
Everyone turned their heads towards a corner of the hall.
In the cruise ship's grand hall, seated at a small table by the window, was a handsome and mature man.
Qin Yexuan was sipping a cup of clear tea, appearing calm and leisurely. Sudanonovel.com
He had, in fact, been present for a very, very long time.