Chapter 36: The Return of the "Dirty Cops"...

Since entering the smoky, dimly lit disco, Zhang Jinrong’s expression had not softened once. Years ago, it was here at "Marilyn’s" that he first met Lily. The woman on stage, with her swaying posture, sweet voice, and black lace mask, seemed to transcend time, her image gradually overlapping with the present.

But that woman was now a corpse, and he had transformed from a brilliant, promising detective in Wanchai into a sergeant in the Major Crimes Unit.

The club manager, seeing the five men approaching with an aggressive air, wanted no trouble and promptly revealed the number of the private room where Bearded Yong was staying.

Lin Tiansheng led his men forward, drawing the attention of the bouncers at the door. Those who followed a triad boss were all trusted enforcers and formidable fighters. The leader, a hulking man over six feet tall with bulging muscles, frowned in annoyance at the sight of Lin and his men and stepped into their path.

Zhang Jinrong lunged forward, darting past his boss, and drove his elbow into the big man. The giant looked surprised but raised his arms to block, his reaction surprisingly swift and precise.

The five enforcers from the Yi Syndicate drew folding knives from their waists, ready to swarm, but Lin Tiansheng and Ma Delong already had their .38 revolvers leveled, pinning the men in their tracks.

Seeing the giant hesitate to strike, Zhang Jinrong threw a punch at his left jaw, landing it squarely. He then shook his hand, feeling the sting in his knuckles, and cursed, "Damn you, you big oaf, you’re a tough nut to crack."

"Brother Kun!" two of the enforcers called out, their voices laced with anxious concern.

Gao Zicong and Liu Yida stood with their hands on their holstered guns, guarding the hallway. Ma Delong kicked the door to the private room wide open, burst in with his gun raised, and shouted, "Major Crimes Unit! Hands in the air!"

Bearded Yong, who had been discussing liquor business with two nightclub owners, looked up in confusion. "Are you guys crazy?" he asked, unable to fathom the situation.

Contrary to popular belief, a triad boss rarely handled business like drugs or smuggling personally. Discussing supply and distribution with legitimate business owners in his territory was his real work. Occasionally, he even played the role of a chamber of commerce, settling disputes over unfair competition among rivals. As long as the protective umbrellas in his jurisdiction remained intact, police rarely bothered them.

Dressed in a suit and tie with his hair slicked back, Bearded Yong genuinely thought the cops had lost their minds. However, the two business owners and the line of hostesses sitting on the sofa had already stood up, eager to distance themselves.

Lin Tiansheng turned on the room’s lights, flashed his badge, and gestured for them to leave. The bystanders didn't ask a single question; they simply bowed their heads and scurried out without looking back.

Watching them leave, Bearded Yong’s face darkened. He clapped his hands and said with a scowl, "Officer, if you don't explain yourself, I’m going to file a complaint against you."

Lin Tiansheng’s lips curled into a mysterious smile. He turned around, walked out, and pulled the door shut behind him. "You have five minutes."

Zhang Jinrong let out a breath, handed his service weapon to Old Ma, and loosened his shoulders. "Much obliged."

The man in that room had stolen his livelihood and violated his wife, all while bragging about it openly. Any man with a shred of pride could never forget such things. Today, dragging Bearded Yong into this wasn't mere coincidence. He and his brothers were going to take down everyone who had wronged them, one by one. They were going to reclaim every ounce of the dignity they had lost.

As the door locked, a sense of impending doom washed over Bearded Yong. He silently grabbed a glass bottle and clutched it, squinting his eyes as a realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. "It’s you!"

Although he and Zhang Jinrong had never met face-to-face, he had seen Zhang’s photograph in his old home. Connecting it to his mistress's death, he understood everything in an instant. A murderous glint appeared in his eyes as he snarled, "You’ve got guts. You’re throwing your life away just for revenge."

Back in the old Criminal Investigation Department, a single phone call from a detective could have stripped him bare. Why had he dared to seize another man’s wealth and woman? Because he believed the Criminal Investigation Department had lost its power. All that dirty money was evidence of Zhang’s own corruption, and he assumed the dirty cops wouldn't dare open their mouths. He never imagined they would one day return for blood.

If he had known, he would have paid more attention to Lily; perhaps he could have gotten wind of this sooner. He had even been happy the "stinking bitch" had disappeared, saving him from her constant nagging. Now, he feared these men were done being cops and planned to flee to Hong Kong by tomorrow.

What was infuriating was that he hadn't brought a gun to a business meeting, and now he was trapped. In truth, unless it was an emergency or there were rumors on the street, no triad boss carried a gun to dinner. Nobody wanted to be sent to Stanley Prison for "illegal possession of firearms" just after closing a deal.

A protective umbrella was far better at stopping bullets than a bulletproof vest. For safety, however, Ma Delong stepped forward and frisked Bearded Yong’s waistband.

Bearded Yong was a tough character; the moment Ma Delong stepped back into the corner, he hurled the glass bottle in his hand. Zhang Jinrong tilted his head slightly; *bang*—the bottle shattered against the wall behind him, shards of glass grazing his ear.

Zhang Jinrong picked up a square chair and swung it with all his might, slamming it into Bearded Yong’s midsection as he lunged over the table.

*CRASH.*

Struck by the impact, Bearded Yong tumbled to the floor and rolled toward the table. Gritting his teeth, he grabbed an ashtray, and despite his suit, managed to kip up with surprising agility. But he immediately clutched his ribs, his features contorted in agony as he staggered back two steps.

Years ago, Bearded Yong had been a famous "Red Pole" of the 14K triad, having studied martial arts under "Master Li" Chen Qinghua. He was a peer of Chen Huimin, and in 1975, he had made a name for himself by single-handedly fighting off a dozen members of the Big Circle Gang at a mahjong parlor in Mong Kok.

Years of debauchery had left his physical conditioning intact, but his combat skills were a shadow of what they once were. Zhang Jinrong, however, had been bottling up three years of rage and released it all at once. Ignoring all form, he hoisted the chair and swung it down again.

Hampered by the presence of the corrupt cop standing guard, Bearded Yong could only defend himself. He raised his arms to block, was hammered to the floor, and ended up covered in blood.

"If you've got the guts... let's fight one-on-one..." Bearded Yong gasped, his consciousness fading.

Zhang Jinrong grabbed him by the hair and roared, "Isn't that what I'm doing, you bastard?!"

"Damn it," Bearded Yong spat out a mouthful of blood, a self-deprecating smile on his face.

Lin Tiansheng finished timing them, lowered his Citizen watch, and pushed the door open. "How was it? Did you have your fun?"

Zhang Jinrong and Ma Delong dragged Bearded Yong out of the room, causing the enforcers to stir with agitation. Zhang Jinrong pointed at the battered Bearded Yong and mocked, "Brother Sheng, this man resisted arrest and even tried to challenge a police officer to a one-on-one fight."

Lin Tiansheng glanced at Bearded Yong and shook his head slightly. "We generally don't reason with criminals. Let’s go, back to the station for interrogation."

The big man whom the gangsters called "Brother Kun" lunged forward, only to be tackled by Gao Zicong and Liu Yida. He glared fixedly at Lin Tiansheng and Zhang Jinrong.

As a policeman, one had to get used to that kind of gaze. Lin Tiansheng even had the leisure to offer a faint smile before leading Bearded Yong out of the disco and back to the West Kowloon Police Station.

Shi Zhanpeng was leaning against the window with a cigarette hanging from his lips. "Lin, sir, Chui Xi is in Room One."

"Take Bearded Yong to Room Two," Lin Tiansheng instructed Zhang Jinrong. Seeing the lights of the Major Crimes Unit blazing and his colleagues eating instant noodles, he felt a pang of guilt. "We'll continue the interrogation in the morning. You guys have worked hard for me tonight. Let’s get some late-night snacks—how about the cart noodles downstairs? Cong, go buy them."