Chapter 134: Two Faces
"I..."
My mind raced with unpleasant thoughts. In that instant, I had actually doubted Rong Ye.
"Yet you just came out. How could you have a knife on you?" Tong Ye took the knife from my hand and examined it closely. "This knife has been carefully honed. Razor sharp, more than enough to kill someone. But that bastard didn't expect you to be so foolish, actually trying to use this knife to kill yourself."
I didn't understand what Tong Ye meant. I only knew he wasn't saying anything good.
He was framing Rong Ye.
"Ah Jin, I have an idea. Let's wipe out that bastard Gambler Rong's debt, once and for all." He waved his hand, dismissing the men who were holding me down.
I straightened up, flexed my muscles, and asked, "What idea?"
"You work for me. I'll give you food to eat."
When he saw that I didn't respond, he continued:
"I can also let you learn boxing. You have a record, so you can never become a pro. But I'll recommend you to the underground fight rings. Anything Gambler Rong could give you, I can give you. From now on, work for me."
I was momentarily stunned.
"Tong Ye... I'm just a piece of trash. Can I really be worth two million?"
"You're no piece of trash." Tong Ye shook his head. "Where else am I going to find a fighter who's both tough and loyal, besides you?"
I started to understand.
So the plane ticket earlier really was Tong Ye's doing.
Not only was he not going to kill me, he actually wanted to recruit me?
"I've greased the wheels for you the past four years in prison." Tong Ye continued smoking, his low voice carrying on. "No one gave you a hard time all these years, right?"
That was true. No one had bothered me for four years.
"Tong Ye..." I bowed deeply to him. "I'm grateful for your favor, but my boss is Rong Ye. As long as he's still around, I cannot pledge allegiance to another."
Tong Ye was silent for a long time after hearing this.
He slowly stood up. He only came up to my shoulder, but there was an imposing aura about him.
"Ah Jin, I feel like I've given you more than enough face."
"Yes." I nodded. "I won't forget your great kindness, Tong Ye. But I've always seen Rong Ye as a father. With something this big happening to him, I can't just stand by and do nothing."
"Good lad. You've got guts." Tong Ye reached out and slapped my face hard twice, stinging my cheeks.
With Rong Ye standing between us, how could I ever accept him as my boss?
Tong Ye lingered beside me for a moment, then turned and walked to the window, looking out at the scenery.
I could never really figure out what this man was thinking.
"Tong Ye... what really happened with that two million?"
Hearing my question, Tong Ye let out an ugly laugh.
"Heh heh... How amusing the people in this underworld are. When they borrow money, they agree to anything. When it's time to pay back, they start crying about their hardships."
Tong Ye took a drag of his cigarette, glanced at the traffic outside the window, then continued in that low voice. "Gambler Rong calls me a demon. Cold-blooded. But that bastard should look at it from another angle. When he was most helpless, when he needed money the most, I was the one who extended a helping hand. When no institution would lend to him, I lent him the money. To him, I'm not a demon. I'm his savior."
I still couldn't quite understand. Rong Ye borrowed money from Tong Ye? Didn't Ah Jiu stop him?
"But how does he treat this savior of his? He runs around crying poor, saying how hard his life is, that the two million he borrowed was conned away from him. And then he curses me, Ah Tong, for being so cold-blooded, trying to use the sympathy of the old-timers in the gang to solve his own problems."
"But when he borrowed the money, we signed a contract. All the interest was clearly explained to him. Now that he can't pay me back, is that my fault?"
The more Tong Ye spoke, the more agitated he became. His whole body seemed to tremble.
"Who does he think I am? Do you think I don't know whether that two million was actually conned away?"
Hearing this, I lowered my head. I didn't know the actual situation, and I didn't dare to judge recklessly.
"Tong Ye... I heard that Jiu Zai left with Rong Ye. Is that true?"
"Yes." Tong Ye nodded. "I heard Gambler Rong wants to train Ah Jiu to be the next White Paper Fan. That bastard sure has ambitions. Keeping a Red Pole and a Paper Fan under him? He really thinks he's the Dragon Head."
"Ah Jiu is my brother." I said to Tong Ye. "I want to go see them. If possible, I'll make Rong Ye pay you back."
Tong Ye was clearly annoyed by this.
"Fine. If you want to leave, then try leaving." Tong Ye nodded, then waved his hand.
The two men behind him slowly stepped forward and stood in front of me.
"Ah Jin, you call yourself a 426 Red Pole. I think you're being modest." Tong Ye stepped back two paces and sat down on the sofa.
"So what does Tong Ye mean...?"
"These two are my Double Flower Red Poles." Tong Ye casually pulled out another cigarette and lit it. "Let's see who's tougher."
I smiled slightly. In a flash, I lifted my left foot and kicked one of them in the knee. He cried out and dropped to his knees. Then I swung my right leg up, driving my knee into his chin.
In the blink of an eye, I threw my right hand, striking the other man in the stomach.
While he was doubled over, I grabbed him by the hair and slammed his head hard against the wall.
A dull thud. Blood splattered across the wall.
Seeing the first man about to get up, I let go, mounted him, and rained down wild punches on his face.
He finally reacted, curling his arms to protect his face. But it was useless against me.
His arms had a limited defensive range. My attacks had no limits.
When he blocked his chin, I hit his temple. When he blocked the sides, I hit his nose.
He kept blocking. I kept hitting. Punch after punch, all flesh and bone.
I was putting in more effort than usual, as if trying to vent all the pent-up frustration of these four years.
The Red Pole I'd slammed into the wall came to his senses and grabbed me from behind.
But he hadn't adjusted his stance in time. If he'd locked my throat immediately, he might have had a chance.
I grabbed his elbow and twisted it in the opposite direction. He had two choices: let go or dislocate.
But a Red Pole is still a Red Pole. If he surrendered to pain, he'd be unworthy of the title.
The man let his joint pop out of socket, but gritted his teeth and wrapped his other arm around my neck.
I knew I couldn't keep forcing it, or I'd ruin his arm.
So I let go of the man on the ground, drove my elbow into the ribs of the man behind me. While he was distracted, I slammed the back of my head into his nose.
His nose had already been broken against the wall. Now hit again by the back of my skull, he was in agony. He finally let go.
I spun around and swept his legs out from under him. Now both of them were down.
While they were still recovering, I dragged them together like stacking dumplings, exposing the left and right sides of their faces, then threw myself on top.
And punched wildly.
Left fist to the left face. Right fist to the right face.
People in this world are just fine, but they insist on having two faces.
You all have one face in public and another in private.
Can you tell me... which one is your true face?
Rong Ye, did you lie to me?
Jiu Zai, did you lie to me too?
"Enough." Tong Ye said coldly.
But I didn't stop. There was too much bitterness inside me.
"I said enough."
I don't know how long I kept going until someone finally stopped me.
I turned around and saw it was Chong Ge. He had come into the room at some point, pulling me back with a bunch of his men.
I looked down. The two Red Poles had been beaten into swollen pigs.
Good thing I hadn't gone for the kill, or they wouldn't have a single tooth left.
"You little bastard. Ruthless enough. Taking down two Double Flower Red Poles by yourself, and you still call yourself a 426?" Tong Ye stood up, his face stern, and walked toward me.
"I'm sorry, Tong Ye." I bowed my head to him, my face full of guilt.
Tong Ye looked at me, his eyes deep and unfathomable. I had no idea what he was thinking.
Finally, he waved his hand and turned his back.
"Ah Chong, get him out of here."
"Yes, Tong Ye."