Chapter 530: Heaven’s Eye Brother Cornered
Under a relatively secluded bridge by the South City river.
A few green-haired youths huddled around a campfire, staring longingly at the charred little fish, swallowing their saliva.
They were the Heaven’s Eye Gang, hunted for days on end by Vulture Master’s men.
These green-haired punks who once boasted about making it big now looked utterly defeated. With unwashed hair clumping into greasy strands, their dyed green locks made them look like wilted leeks rolled in mud.
Liu Hao, the gang leader known as Heaven’s Eye Brother, cursed under his breath while turning the burnt fish: “Fuck, that old bastard Vulture Master has gone too far, chasing us from East District to West District, driving us from the arcade to this godforsaken hole! Back in the day, even when I fought that demoness from Wanlong Society, I wasn’t this pathetic! Ah, when will we make our comeback?”
“Boss, the situation’s against us!”
“Our gang’s down to just five able-bodied men including you, boss. The rest have scattered. Should we just surrender…” a follower said.
“Shut up! Surrender? Surrender my ass! After what they did to me? No fucking way!”
“Don’t lose heart, brothers. Victory and defeat are part of the game. A real man knows when to bend and when to crouch. Our Heaven’s Eye Gang lives by one principle: no backing down! We’ll fight to the bitter end!”
No sooner had Liu Hao finished speaking than his stomach let out a rebellious growl.
His stomach’s growl triggered a chain reaction, and the others’ bellies joined the chorus.
The youngest follower beside him burst into tears.
“Boss… I wanna go home to my mom… Her braised pork belly is so good… sob…”
“Stop crying! Have some dignity!”
Liu Hao smacked the back of his head, nearly sending him face-first into the fire.
“Remember, we’re the Heaven’s Eye Gang! Even if we die, we die gloriously! Crying like a sissy—where’s your pride?!”
“But… chicks are tough these days!”
“Yeah, being a chick doesn’t seem so bad. That demoness you always talk about is a chick, and she’s badass—rides in fancy cars, countless minions, the whole package… Look at us…”
This interruption made Liu Hao suddenly recall Liu Yutong’s entourage—the most impressive, most badass display he’d ever seen.
If I could be that powerful, maybe kicking the bucket wouldn’t be so bad…
“Pfft pfft pfft! What the hell are you guys saying? Real men can make it big too!”
“Let’s eat!”
Liu Hao carefully removed the grilled fish from its skewer, blew on it, and once it cooled slightly, began dividing their first meal in three days.
“Here, brothers, let me divide the fish. Once we’re fed, we’ll figure out how to get back at those bastards!”
The moment he spoke, the four green heads crowded in. Their eyes locked on the little fish—less than half a pound—that they’d stolen from an angler by the river who’d gone three days without a single bite.
“I’m always fair.”
Liu Hao placed the fish on a plastic sheet on the ground and began the division: “Listen up. As the core, the center of our Heaven’s Eye Gang, I get the body.”
He tore off the fish body and set it before him, then continued with the rest.
“Little Ge, you’re always scheming. Eat the head to nourish your brain.”
“Ah Ju, you snatched the fish from that angler, a great contribution. You get the tail.”
“Mushroom Head… you get the skewer. Suck the flavor off it.”
“As for Little Green… you’re the newest and youngest recruit, still growing. Just smell it.”
Ah Ju: “…”
Little Green: (ಥ﹏ಥ)!
“Boss, the smell doesn’t fill you up!”
Division complete, Liu Hao began his most sumptuous meal in three days with solemn resolve. As he ate, he surveyed the well-equipped, neatly lined-up army of anglers along the riverbank and delivered his assessment.
“Who knew the river’s fish stocks were this depleted? Dozens of people squatting here like it’s their job, fishing for three days straight, and not even a single goddamn fish! Looks like we need a fishing ban for a decade or more!”
Liu Hao had barely finished complaining when hurried footsteps echoed from the slope above.
“There! Under the bridge! Those green-haired punks are down there!”
Liu Hao looked up to see the angler they’d robbed at dusk, leading over twenty thugs armed with steel pipes and clubs down the slope.
They split into two groups, flanking Liu Hao and his men from both sides.
Liu Hao’s face changed instantly. He swallowed the remaining fish in one gulp and pointed at the fisherman: “You son of a bitch, we just took one lousy fish, and you fucking snitched! I would’ve paid you back!”
The angler wasn’t having it and shouted back: “It’s not about the fish! That was my dignity I spent three days and nights fishing for! You bastards snatched it the moment I caught it! Do you know how that feels? You’re giving me an explanation today!”
“Big brothers, teach these criminal green-haired turtles a lesson!”
“Got it, piss off!”
“You got it!”
The fisherman left happily.
The thugs’ leader, Brother Jun, stepped up to Liu Hao and his crew: “Run out of steam? That fisherman said some fluorescent-haired punks stole his fish. We knew it had to be you. Didn’t think we’d actually find you!”
The five Heaven’s Eye Gang members turned pale.
Liu Hao cursed that fisherman’s ancestors to the eighteenth generation. How could someone be so petty as to snitch over a single fish?
Though he knew he was probably done for, he couldn’t show weakness or lose face!
“Don’t think numbers make you invincible. Well, they do, but consider yourselves warned. Scram now, or when my reinforcements arrive, I’ll wipe you all out!”
His only hope was that the messenger he’d sent for help would come through.
After all, I’d helped that demoness out of a jam once. Shouldn’t she return the favor?
Honestly, he had no confidence. That demoness had no scruples in his experience.
Like that time in Wushui County. Street business stays on the streets. Real gangsters don’t call the cops when they fight.
But that demoness fought dirty. She teamed up with the cops to take revenge and turned my own men against me. Absolutely shameless!
Plus, they had bad blood between them.
He’d never ask that demoness for help unless he was truly desperate.
Of course, to sweeten the deal, he’d had his messenger mention he might have something Vulture Master would want.
Though he had no clue what that key he’d swiped was actually for.
Seeing his followers panic, Liu Hao gave them another pep talk.
“Brothers, don’t be afraid! Reinforcements will come!”
Hearing this, his followers forced themselves to appear calm and addressed the thugs:
“N-no…没错! Our boss has powerful connections. Y-you’d better watch out!”
“Yeah! Our boss knows countless brothers. He can summon hundreds with a snap of his fingers!”
“D-don’t come any closer! I… I’ll call my mom! She can curse for three hours straight without repeating herself!”
“…”
The thugs burst into laughter at these bedraggled punks trying to threaten them.
“These guys must be delirious, huh?”
“Reinforcements? Calling your mom? What are you, a momma’s boy? Hahahaha… Hilarious!”
“Get them!”
The moment he spoke, the whole group charged.
Liu Hao and his crew panicked completely.
“D-don’t come closer! I’ll warn you! When I go crazy, I’ll even hit myself!”
“You’re forcing my hand! I’m really calling for help!”
He grabbed a burning piece of wood from the fire and held it high.
“One signal flare brings a thousand troops… Ow, ow… it hurts! I’m done for!”
In the blink of an eye, Liu Hao and his four remaining followers were subdued, restrained, and bound hand and foot.
Brother Jun, the leader, made a phone call.
“We’ve got them.”
“Good. Get the item, and I’ll make sure they never talk.”
Hearing this, Liu Hao’s heart sank.
Was he really going to die today?
Brother Jun hung up and crouched before Liu Hao, who lay squirming on the ground.
“Where is it? Hand it over!”
Liu Hao struggled to lift his head: “I’ll give you the item, but can I make a call to let someone know I’m okay?”
Brother Jun thought about it and pulled out his phone: “Give me the number. No tricks.”
Liu Hao nodded and recited a number. When it connected, he took a deep breath. His tone turned unusually serious, filled with a sincerity he’d never shown in his life on the streets.
“Hello? Ah Zhen? It’s your Hao-ge.”
“All these years, I’ve wanted to tell you something. Actually… I’m really into you!”
A brief silence, then an ominously dark voice replied: “This isn’t Ah Zhen. This is Qiangzi!!!”
“Ah? Sorry, Qiangzi. Could you pass along what I just said to your wife? Thanks!”
“You motherf—”
click… dial tone…
Liu Hao hung up decisively and looked back at Brother Jun with a fierce expression: “My last wish is fulfilled. You want the item? Tough shit. You want my crappy life? It’s yours!”