Chapter 54: Officer Sam Turns Coat - Drawing the Life-or-Death Lot for the Hit

Early the next morning, exactly forty-two hours later.

The iron door of the detention cell swung open, and Bone-Stripper Tung, Old Tung, and the others walked out, stretching their wrists and ankles.

"Old Tung, Shark Kun is dead, but that doesn't mean the matter is over," Billy Wong said in a deep voice.

"I know. We'll hand someone over," Mo Sai-tung snorted and replied.

"Keep your men in line. Don't cause any more trouble, or everyone will lose face."

Mo Sai-tung remained silent.

Just as everyone was about to leave, Officer Sam suddenly grabbed Billy Wong's hand. "I want to surrender. I want to report a crime. I demand witness protection."

Bone-Stripper Tung whipped his head around, his gaze piercing Officer Sam like a knife. "You're asking to die!"

"Bah! Bone-Stripper Tung, damn your mother! If you want me dead, then nobody survives!" Officer Sam's bloodshot eyes were filled with madness.

"Hahaha, brilliant, simply brilliant," Mo Sai-tung burst into laughter. Serving you right for being so arrogant, you stinking bastard. Damn it, now that his own men are wearing red shoes, Wo Shing Yee is going to have a fantastic show to watch.

"Officer Sam, you're seeking your own death. Don't you care about your family?" Bone-Stripper Tung said through clenched teeth.

Billy Wong stepped forward to block Bone-Stripper Tung. "This is a police station! Haven't you had enough of staying in a cell?"

"Inspector Wong, you saw it yourself—he threatened me. If anything happens to my family, it's definitely their doing. The police must protect my family," Officer Sam shouted loudly.

Pointing a finger at Officer Sam, Bone-Stripper Tung took a deep breath and turned to walk away.

"Bone-Stripper Tung, are you still going to open the mountain gate? Hahaha, just make sure the cops don't wipe you all out in one sweep," Mo Sai-tung quickened his pace to follow right behind, shouting taunts mockingly.

"The business between Wo Shing Yee and me is none of Tung Luen Shing's concern. You'd better figure out how to deal with the other triads out there," Bone-Stripper Tung tossed back over his shoulder.

Mo Sai-tung let out a cold snort, the smile vanishing from his face. Damn that Shark Kun—the moment he got out, he'd scatter his ashes to the winds!

Watching the leaders of the two triads tear at each other like stray dogs, Billy Wong smiled.

Indeed, happiness does not simply vanish; it merely transfers.

...

The two factions lined up distinctly on either side of the police station entrance: one side led by Wo Shing Yee members, and the other by Powder Ming leading the Tung Luen Shing crew.

"Sitting Boss."

"Dragon Head."

"Sitting Boss!"

"Dragon Head!"

"Sitting Boss—"

"Dragon Head—"

Both sides shouted back and forth, each trying to outdo the other in sheer volume.

"Get in the cars, we're leaving." Bone-Stripper Tung was in a foul mood. After completing the customary ritual to cleanse themselves of bad luck, he waved his hand and said, "Ah-yiu, get in my car."

Wang Yaotang nodded at Mo Sai-tung before climbing into the vehicle. As a newly minted Double-Flower Red Pole, this man was also half a boss to him.

Once inside the car, Wang Yaotang remained silent. After a long while, Bone-Stripper Tung finally spoke: "Officer Sam is going to cooperate with the police."

"Does he have any dirt on you?"

Wang Yaotang had known something was terribly wrong the moment he saw Officer Sam hadn't emerged from the station. He narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment. "I'm clean here, but Ah-Kit and Ah-Jik might run into some trouble."

"As long as you're fine," Bone-Stripper Tung breathed a slight sigh of relief before slamming his fist against the seat. "That bastard!"

"Officer Sam has betrayed the oath and must die, but right now we can't convene the disciplinary hall."

"The triad certainly still has connections within the police force, so getting someone into Officer Sam's cell isn't a problem, but they won't be able to smuggle weapons in. Plus, we only get one shot at this, so it has to be a top-tier enforcer."

Bone-Stripper Tung glanced at Wang Yaotang. "You know I back you up. That's why I used that stinking bastard Old Tung's slander against the triad as an opportunity to promote you. But when all is said and done, you haven't really made any major contributions to the triad yet, so it's inevitable people will talk."

"Now that you've been promoted to Double-Flower Red Pole and are a flag-bearer for the triad, the organization will definitely put up the money to support your newly opened branch, so..."

"I know you have deep brotherly bonds with Ah-Jik and Ah-Kit, but..."

"Don't worry, Uncle, I know what needs to be done. I won't mess up the triad's affairs," Wang Yaotang nodded.

"As long as you understand," Bone-Stripper Tung nodded in approval.

Neither of them spoke another word as the car drove silently toward Tsuen Wan.

However, in the Hong Kong society of 1980, the lower strata were controlled by triads, the middle strata by powerful syndicates and moguls, and the upper strata by top tycoons and the British. To do business in peace, one needed either immense wealth or ruthless power.

Did those at the bottom want to rise up?

Jimmy: "I was just a street vendor being bullied, that's why I joined the triad to find protection!"

In *Young and Dangerous 5*, Big Head tries to make an honest living after prison to no avail, prompting Chan Ho-nam to remark: "To be honest, every single industry is connected to the triad."

It was fine for the working class to scrape together a comfortable middle-class life, but striking genuine, massive wealth was entirely out of the question!

As for Mo Sai-tung's attempts to recruit him—that declaration of "In Tung Luen Shing, I am the Dragon Head, and no one can oppose my word"—completely dispelled any notion Wang Yaotang had of switching allegiances.

Axe-Chun failed to win the election for Sitting Boss in Wo Shing and angrily defected to Sun Yee On out of spite. But what was the result? After fighting tooth and nail and venturing alone into the Golden Triangle, Sun Yee On rose to prominence once again, but the Dragon Head remained a member of the Heung family, and Chun had only managed to stroke the outer edges of power until the day he died.

If he hadn't defected back then and simply waited for another term or run for dual-chairmanship... forty years later, Wo Shing would have four chairmen, and their terms extended from two years to three...

With Wo Shing Yee, with a bit of effort over the next few years, he could take absolute control. Old Tung was indeed a man of exceptional talent, but Wang Yaotang didn't want to waste his time playing endless wits-and-strategy games against him.

The convoy drove all the way to the ancestral hall in Tsuen Wan.

Tseung Kwan O branch: Red Pole Big Niu, Paper Fan Big Smoke Wah, Straw Sandals Puppy Hing.

Tsuen Wan branch: Red Pole Boxing King Hoi, Paper Fan Opiate Wing, Straw Sandals Rat Fai.

Shatin branch: Red Pole Skinny Dragon, Paper Fan Little Pig Ming, Straw Sandals Big Mouth Man.

They were all waiting in front of the small building. When Bone-Stripper Tung and the group of veteran uncles stepped out of the cars, everyone crowded around to greet them, though their scrutinizing gazes all fell upon Wang Yaotang, the newly promoted Double-Flower Red Pole from the police station.

"Alright, let's head upstairs and open the ancestral hall," Bone-Stripper Tung waved his hand.

Seeing that Bone-Stripper Tung was in a foul mood, the men exchanged glances and followed closely behind. Wang Yaotang walked at the very rear alongside Fatty Por and Groom Wing.

On the second floor, the entourage took their seats. Bone-Stripper Tung glanced around the room before introducing: "Ah-yiu, everyone get acquainted. The official promotion ceremony will be held later. Number Four, explain the situation regarding Officer Sam to everyone."

Uncle Four, the triad's Second-Road Marshal, gave a light cough and explained how Officer Sam had colluded with Shark Kun in an act of betrayal, and how, after being discovered, he had turned to the police to escape triad disciplinary punishment. This immediately provoked a torrent of curses from everyone present.

"Officer Sam has to die," Bone-Stripper Tung said, his low voice leaking a biting chill. "Every branch leader is here today. We'll draw life-and-death lots to handle this."

When he finished speaking, the room fell into a dead silence. The big bosses of the Tseung Kwan O, Tsuen Wan, and Shatin branches all frowned and kept their mouths shut. Going into a police station to commit murder without even being able to bring weapons—a task like that was virtually impossible unless you were a top-tier martial expert.

If you succeeded, your branch would lose a veteran, elite enforcer you'd spent years cultivating.

If you failed, not only would you lose men, but you'd also face punishment from the triad.

In the triad world, everyone scrambled for profitable tasks, but shirked away from thankless ones.

"Uncle Tung, Officer Sam belongs to the Tsim Sha Tsui branch, and this whole mess started because of Ah-yiu. It's not that we don't want to pitch in for the triad, but doing this wouldn't it seem a bit unfair to the younger brothers working under us?" As he spoke, Tseung Kwan O Red Pole Big Niu cast a sidelong glance at Wang Yaotang.

"That's right, Uncle Tung. Drawing life-and-death lots? At least make the younger brothers willing to do the job," Opiate Wing sneered with a sarcastic inflection.

"Ah-yiu, when trouble happens, you make the triad send men to handle it—what will the lower-tier soldiers think of Wo Shing Yee's Double-Flower Red Pole?" Skinny Dragon chuckled as he looked at Wang Yaotang. "Ah-yiu, your subordinate Fire Dragon Ah-Kit is so prominent; surely it's his turn rather than anyone else's."

Wang Yaotang stood up, a half-smile playing in his eyes as he swept his gaze across the bosses of the other three branches. "Uncle Tung, this matter was brought about by the faction of my sworn master. There's no need to trouble the brothers of other branches with the task of cleaning house. I'll take this job."

"Good! Ah-yiu has guts!" Opiate Wing clapped with a smile, and the rest of the triad grassroots followed suit.

Wang Yaotang's sudden leap to a Double-Flower Red Pole placed his status above theirs overnight, which naturally left them feeling disgruntled. And when men of the underworld were unhappy, they naturally tried to undermine each other face-to-face.

"Good. Since Ah-yiu has taken it on, then that's how it'll be settled. Once Officer Sam is dealt with, the triad will open up a brand-new Tsim Sha Tsui East branch exclusively for you. We can't let outsiders look down on the triad's flag-bearer," Bone-Stripper Tung made the final decision on the spot.

*Damn it,* Big Niu, Opiate Wing, Skinny Dragon, and the others cursed inwardly. This had obviously been pre-arranged; the two of them had put on a double act to shut everyone else up.

Damn it, pushing this hard to back him—was he Bone-Stripper Tung's biological son or something?

With the matter settled, Bone-Stripper Tung dismissed the gathering, keeping only Wang Yaotang behind as there were still things to discuss.