Chapter 39: Changing Allegiance

A person's expression can be faked, and with enough deliberation, one can put on a mask. But their eyes cannot lie; after all, the eyes are the windows to the soul.

In Dajun’s eyes, the murderous intent was as sharp as a blade.

Xiao Ziguang knew clearly that Dajun was not joking; he had truly formed the intent to kill. That cold, glinting dagger could slice open his throat at any moment.

"Don't be impulsive, please, don't be impulsive. Brother Jun, I know you kill without blinking! I also know that I have a worthless life." Xiao Ziguang pointed his hand out the car window. "But it wouldn't be quite right to make you pay for my life with yours!"

Outside the car window sat a yellow van, extremely dilapidated, its glass covered in dust.

Of course, none of that mattered. A gun barrel protruded from the passenger side of the van, aimed steadily at Dajun’s head.

Zhou Huajian’s grip on the gun was rock-steady, his finger resting on the trigger, ready to fire at any second. His eyes were also filled with grim, murderous intent, revealing an unprecedented level of resolve.

Dajun looked at Zhou Huajian, then back at Xiao Ziguang. "I really underestimated you. Where did you dig up this killer?"

Xiao Ziguang smiled without answering, reaching out to push the dagger away from his neck. "Zhou Huajian, an anti-drug hero of Tianhai City, a recipient of the Golden Shield Medal, and a poor soul whose family was destroyed by drug traffickers."

"We have now formed an Avengers Alliance, swearing to wipe out the dark, evil forces of Tianhai City!"

"Brother Jun, will you join us?"

As Xiao Ziguang spoke, he extended his hand, signaling for a handshake.

A faint smile appeared on Dajun’s usually poker-faced, stoic expression. "Just the two of you want to wipe out the dark forces of Tianhai? Are you joking, or are you dreaming?"

"Not two of us, but three!" Xiao Ziguang held up three fingers. "And we are no longer bound by conventional forms—we will fight evil with evil, and violence with violence!"

Dajun scrutinized Xiao Ziguang intently. "Are you an undercover cop? No! An undercover agent wouldn't have such a lack of bottom lines. What exactly do you want to do?"

"I want to become a man above men, and I want to send some people to hell." Xiao Ziguang decided to be blunt. "Why should the wicked be high and mighty while the good are bullied by the bad? Since the world is unjust and the ghosts of the wicked run rampant, I am willing to fall into hell to devour those ghouls."

Dajun lit a cigarette and took a deep drag. "I’ll bet on you! I hope you won't disappoint me."

The two hands finally clasped together, and the corners of Xiao Ziguang’s mouth curled up, as radiant as the sun.

***

The greatest cheat code for someone reborn is that the future, which appears obscure, difficult, or even unknown to others, lies before Xiao Ziguang’s eyes like an open-book exam.

Who is a friend, who is an enemy—it was all as clear as day!

While others were still fumbling in the dark, exploring the unknown, Xiao Ziguang had already taken off, sprinting toward the future!

...

Happiness Street was a somewhat remote street in Tianhai City. Being near the outskirts, it was relatively underdeveloped. Today, the entire street was draped in white flowers, and two black-and-white lions were bowing with every step to the sound of funeral music, seeing Old Ghost off on his final journey.

Old Ghost’s surname was Wang, and his given name was Wang Dong. He never managed to make it big in this life, but in his previous life, he had become one of the more powerful underground godfathers of Tianhai City, revered as Brother Dong. Those who disliked him behind his back liked to call him Ghost King Dong.

But in this life, with Xiao Ziguang, the tiny butterfly, flapping its wings, Old Ghost never got the chance to rise; he was hacked into three pieces by someone.

Wang Xi had originally intended to avenge his brother, but he hadn't expected the accident to happen—Kong Ersheng was dead!

Since the enemy was already dead, regardless of how it happened, the vengeance could be considered served. All Wang Xi could do was give his brother a grand burial.

A black Mercedes stopped at the entrance of the British-style nightclub. Dajun opened the car door and stood respectfully behind Xiao Ziguang.

Zhou Huajian’s van did not stop but pulled up a bit further. He remained clutching his gun, calmly observing the surroundings.

Zhou Huajian understood Dajun’s background; when he had first retired from the military, Dajun was a person of interest—an extremely dangerous individual. Now that Dajun had become an ally, Zhou Huajian felt the probability of finding the true culprit increasing.

Xiao Ziguang stepped inside. The nightclub lobby had been converted into a mourning hall. The stitched-up body of Old Ghost lay in a crystal coffin, and the younger brother, Wang Xi, knelt to the side, returning bows to the mourners.

The funeral was not spectacular; in fact, it was quite bleak. This was because Xiong Yaohui had already put out the word that Old Ghost’s subordinates were no longer under his jurisdiction and were to be transferred to others.

An underground force without a backer, yet holding so many businesses—in the eyes of those with designs, it was a piece of fat meat. The fact that these people hadn't swarmed in during the funeral showed great restraint!

Looking at Old Ghost in the casket, Xiao Ziguang lit incense and bowed three times; Wang Xi hurriedly helped return the gesture.

There was a twelve-year age gap between Wang Dong and Wang Xi. By the time Wang Xi was in elementary school, Wang Dong had already started running the streets. Because their parents died early, Wang Xi was raised by Wang Dong, and their bond was deep!

Xiao Ziguang took Wang Xi’s hand. "My condolences. Although Kong Ersheng is dead, Kong Dasheng is still alive. And the mastermind of the bombing case, Qian Hao, is still at large. You cannot let them go."

"Are you... Xiao Ziguang?" Wang Xi looked him up and down, then lowered his voice. "Why are you the only one here? Where are the people from the Xue family?"

Xiao Ziguang frowned slightly. "What do you mean? Is my representation of the Xue family not enough to show you respect?"

Wang Xi said with disdain, "Of course not! You are just a live-in son-in-law of the Xue family, with no status, no better than a beast of burden. If you want to join the Xue family, you need sincerity..."

Xiao Ziguang was speechless; he hadn't expected Wang Xi to be so dense as to dare to discriminate against him!

Dajun walked over quickly, reached out, grabbed Wang Xi by the throat, and lifted him up.

The sudden turn of events stunned everyone. Then, the crowd gathered around, each of them holding steel pipes and iron chains.

Xiao Ziguang took a gun from his pocket and shoved it directly into Wang Xi’s mouth. "I don’t know if you did that intentionally or by accident, but you dare to insult me!"

"Since you have now transferred over to the Xue family and are under my leadership, logically, I should give you some face."

"But I don't think it's necessary, because in my eyes, you are nothing but trash. Or to be more precise, in my eyes, everyone present here is trash!"

Wang Xi struggled desperately, and those around him glared with fury, wanting to teach Xiao Ziguang a lesson.

Xiao Ziguang didn't care at all, pointing to the hall behind him. "You are all a bunch of losers, a bunch of garbage! Watching your boss get hacked to death in the lobby, cut into three pieces!"

"Why didn't you take revenge then? Were you not angry? Or were you happy? Or perhaps you couldn't find a suitable weapon?"

"Now you actually have the face to hold a funeral for Old Ghost? Aren't you afraid he’ll flip open his coffin lid and drag you losers down to hell with him?"

Such heart-piercing words left everyone stunned and frozen in place. After all, some dark thoughts cannot bear the light; once exposed, everyone felt the awkwardness!

Xiao Ziguang was doing it on purpose—he wanted to give this group a show of force. After all, respect is mutual; since they didn't know how to accept courtesy, Xiao Ziguang didn't mind giving them a harsh slap in the face.