No. 87 The Lion’s Eyes Gleam
After the barbecue, Xiaodie and Zhang Mingyue decided to explore the newly opened clothing stores on Jingdu Square Pedestrian Street. I, on the other hand, accompanied Liang Tong to the DK Arcade.
The street market outside the arcade was bustling with activity, a sea of motorcycles and bicycles, a stark contrast to the eerie stillness of the abandoned city.
“Yi… Yi Yao…”
As we entered the arcade, Liang Tong’s voice trembled, his gaze darting nervously at the tattooed men and women lounging around, their attire and demeanor radiating a casual menace. “W-what if they… cause trouble?”
“We’ll deal with it,” I said calmly, my hands tucked into the pockets of my denim sundress.
Despite my outward composure, I felt a surge of self-consciousness.
This wasn’t a place for middle school students. While Liang Tong’s casual attire blended in, my cutesy outfit made me stand out, like a character from “Is the Order a Rabbit?” transported into the world of “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.”
“H-how are we going to deal with them? I’m not like you, Yi Yao. I’m not trained. I don’t even exercise…”
His fear was palpable. If not for social conventions, he would probably be clinging to my arm for dear life.
The scene was almost comical—a skinny, nervous boy, barely five foot five, trailing behind a girl in a childish dress, his eyes wide with apprehension.
“Maybe we should go back,” I said, my tone betraying my disappointment in his cowardice.
“It’s not too late to change your mind.”
I remembered a former classmate who had asked me for job recommendations. I had suggested some online graphic design gigs, but he had scoffed, “Come on, I’m not like you, trained and skilled. I can’t do that.”
That explained his lackluster career.
No one was born talented. Success required effort, persistence, and a willingness to learn. The same applied to fighting. It was acceptable to lose, but you couldn’t let fear paralyze you, prevent you from improving.
“We’re already here… It would be a shame to leave now…” he mumbled, sensing my disapproval.
“Let’s give it a try. If it doesn’t work out, we can always leave… By the way, Yi Yao, what does it take to join your gang? What do you do in the Black Dragon Society?”
“I’m just a humble member.”
I led him to the private elevator, swiping the access card Pai Ge had given me and pressing the button for the basement level.
“So fancy…”
He was still trying to mask his fear with nervous chatter.
“Yi Yao, how powerful is your gang? How many gangs are there in Upper Capital City?”
I leaned against the wall, watching the numbers on the display panel, ignoring his incessant questions.
Fear was a natural response.
I was still a target, hunted by the Gathering Hall. As long as Upper Capital City remained unstable, our lives were in danger. I wasn’t sure I could escape from them again.
The elevator reached the basement level, its heavy doors sliding open.
Pai Ge was waiting for us, as promised, accompanied by several unfamiliar faces. The air in the usually serene mahjong room was thick with cigarette smoke.
They were an intimidating group—men and women, mostly in their thirties, their physiques suggesting a life of physical activity.
I was used to Pai Ge hosting gatherings with strange individuals in this basement, so their presence didn’t faze me.
“Hey, Yi Yao.”
But one face in the crowd surprised me.
Lu Yibing.
“Bing insisted on coming. She even bribed me with a suitcase full of cash, threatening to have her father demolish this building if I didn’t bring her along.”
Pai Ge chuckled, his expression a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
I glanced at Lu Yibing, who blushed and avoided my gaze.
She was the daughter of a real estate tycoon, after all. Her methods were… unique.
I sat down beside Pai Ge, my tone firm. “I believe I only mentioned a new recruit joining the Black Dragon Society.”
Why did you bring all these people?
Pai Ge spread a deck of cards on the table. “And I believe you said this recruit wanted to be a gangster.”
“What’s the difference?”
“Being a gangster is different from being in a gang.”
He stood up and gestured towards a man wearing a black mask. “Ah Zhi, this is Yi Yao.”
The masked man studied me with his cold, calculating eyes, then nodded silently.
“Yi Yao, I was going to wait until my uncle returned, but I’ll tell you now. These are the elite members of the Pai family. This is Ah Zhi. You can call him ‘Zero.’ He’ll be responsible for your training.”
This man…
Our gazes met, and a shiver ran down my spine. I sensed a darkness within him, a world apart from anything I had ever known, even in my previous life.
His eyes were the eyes of a killer, honed by countless battles.
Empty, emotionless, devoid of desire.
Standing before him, I felt a surge of helplessness, a fear that surpassed anything I had experienced with the one-armed leader of Fierce.
He was tall, almost six feet, his body concealed beneath a heavy coat. I couldn’t discern his physique or his features, but his presence radiated a chilling aura of danger.
Even the muscular man beside him, who could have been a professional bodybuilder, paled in comparison.
My instincts screamed at me to flee, but I was frozen in place.
After a brief, intense moment, he averted his gaze.
“Well?” Pai Ge asked, his smile not reaching his eyes.
“Her observation skills and courage are impressive for her age, but her physical strength is lacking,” the masked man said, his voice a deep, emotionless baritone.
Was he critiquing me?
“Haha, you’re always so picky, Ah Zhi.” Pai Ge turned to Liang Tong. “Alright, young man, you have a choice. This is a one-way street. If you just want to be part of a gang, you and Yi Yao can simply register with the Black Dragon Society. No need to emphasize the ‘gangster’ part.”
Liang Tong hesitated, then squared his shoulders. “I don’t want to live a cowardly life. I want to join you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Ah Zhi, what do you think?” Pai Ge took a sip of tea. “It’s your day off. I apologize for calling you in…”
The masked man shook his head. “Only a fool would refuse a free meal.”
“So you’re saying…”
“I won’t fight him. He’s even weaker than that Yi Yao girl. I might accidentally kill him.”
Liang Tong’s face flushed crimson.
He was probably imagining the terrifying physique hidden beneath that coat.
“Then… how about Bing?” Pai Ge suggested.
The masked man remained impassive.
“Just so we’re clear, if his father asks, no one mentions this. Understood?”
The masked man shrugged.
“Bing.”
Pai Ge beckoned to Lu Yibing, who was sucking on a lollipop. “Take down Yi Yao’s friend, and she’s all yours for the afternoon.”
What?
Before I could protest, Lu Yibing, dressed in casual attire, her lollipop still clenched between her teeth, charged towards Liang Tong, unleashing a vicious axe kick.
“Look out!”
I barely managed to shout a warning. Liang Tong, to his credit, reacted quickly, dodging the attack with a nimble sidestep.
“Crash!”
Her foot connected with the expensive mahogany mahjong table, splitting it in half with a deafening crack.
Was that really necessary?
Lu Yibing was a member of the Jiangnan Association, a friendly gang, so I hadn’t paid much attention to them. But her strength was terrifying. Wasn’t she just an ordinary girl, like me?
And according to Ah Zhi, she was the weakest one here?
“Wait…”
Liang Tong, stunned, stared at the shattered table. Lu Yibing, however, wasted no time, launching another attack.
“Thud!”
This time, her foot connected with his abdomen, sending him crumpling to his knees, gasping for breath.
“This is the real world, not some childish game,” Pai Ge said calmly, taking another sip of tea. “Girls might get special treatment, but you’re a man. If you don’t have a reason to fight, a desire to become stronger, you won’t survive. You’re better off returning to your comfortable student life.”
His words were meant for me as well.
He was reminding me that I wasn’t strong enough, but as a girl, I didn’t have to be.
“Heh… hehe…”
To my surprise, Liang Tong, the notorious snitch and sycophant, struggled to his feet. “I’m a nobody. I can’t fight for anyone else. Only for myself.”
He looked up, his eyes filled with tears.
Pai Ge smiled, impressed. “Then how far are you willing to go for yourself?”
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