Among the existing underground forces in Shangjing, apart from the Qing Gang, there are three emerging factions: the Qingniao, Huangbao, and Xi Gang. These three forces are roughly equal in strength and, when united, can barely hold their own against the entire Qing Gang, making them prominent players in Shangjing’s underworld. The man with the gold chain is Chibiao, the eldest son of the Huangbao Gang.
Chibiao, now thirty-five, has been inseparable from debauchery since he was young. In the Huangbao Gang, he’s infamous as the "King of Lust." His days revolve around drinking, flirting, and visiting brothels with a punctuality and enthusiasm that rivals any office worker. His greatest passion in life is women.
Recently, however, his passion has taken a severe hit.
First, Shangjing’s authorities launched a sweeping crackdown on illicit activities. Places on the outskirts, once overlooked, were now shut down entirely. Then, the downfall of Erye, Shangjing’s largest operator of the sex trade, led to over 40% of related businesses being sealed off.
Watching familiar haunts close one by one, Chibiao felt himself slowly losing his mind. Without his usual spots and companions, each day grew more unbearable, his frustration mounting.
Today, in particular, his patience snapped when even a random old man dared to lecture him. Chibiao felt like every nobody in Shangjing was now stepping on him. Fortunately, he encountered a technician whose figure and looks were exceptional.
Staring at the beauty before him, Chibiao’s long-suppressed desires surged. Though he knew this was a legitimate establishment, he didn’t care.
“Hey, beauty, how about I take you out for some fun after your shift?” Chibiao grinned, eyeing the woman in the qipao.
She kept her head down, focused on washing his feet, not daring to respond.
Unfazed, Chibiao continued staring at her with a lecherous gaze.
A few minutes later, the woman pulled over a low stool, wrapped Chibiao’s feet in a towel, and began wiping them. To reach his calves, she had to bend forward, stretching her body.
Chibiao’s eyes lit up. Unable to restrain himself, he used his foot to touch the woman’s private areas.
“Ah!” Startled, the woman jumped back, the towel flying from her hands and landing on Chibiao’s face.
His smug grin vanished, replaced by a scowl. Cursing, he lunged forward, grabbed her hair, and threw her onto a chair as she panicked.
“You filthy b*tch, what are you playing at? Think I can’t pay you?” Chibiao roared, reaching to undo his belt.
The woman screamed, and the staff outside rushed in, trying to intervene. This only fueled Chibiao’s rage.
As the eldest son of Huangbao, Chibiao never lacked for lackeys. With one phone call, over a dozen men stormed in, pinning down three male staff members and beating them. The qipao-clad woman cowered in a corner, too terrified to speak.
The shop’s owner arrived, but upon recognizing the notorious “Young Master Huang,” he immediately apologized.
“So it’s the Young Master! My staff didn’t serve you properly. Please, show some mercy.”
Before he could finish, Chibiao slapped him hard across the face.
“You know who I am? What, you gonna call the cops now?”
“No, no, just a small misunderstanding!” the owner stammered, burning with anger but too afraid to show it. He knew Huangbao’s influence in the area was untouchable, operating with impunity in both the underworld and legitimate circles. In Shangjing, where they kept a low profile, crossing them was a recipe for disaster—especially for an ordinary small-time businessman like him.
Meanwhile, Li Zhonglou, following surveillance leads from Zhang Yu’s company, arrived at the foot massage parlor. By chance, the parlor was just across the street from the edge of the area he was responsible for.
Unaware of Huangbao or the other factions—since no one had briefed him—Li Zhonglou went straight upstairs.
Upon entering, he noticed several staff members cautiously peeking into a private room, from which a woman’s cries echoed.
“No!”
Inside, Chibiao was tearing at the qipao woman’s clothes. Despite her desperate resistance, she was cornered with no escape. The three male staff members lay bloodied on the floor, beaten unconscious. The owner, blocked at the door, could only listen to the chaos unfolding inside.
Clenching his teeth, the owner finally spoke, “Young Master, I’ll pay whatever you want. Please don’t hurt my staff.”
Chibiao’s expression darkened. He slapped the woman hard, sending her already tattered body crashing into the wall. She collapsed, unconscious.
“Didn’t I tell you to shut up?” Chibiao snarled.
As one of his lackeys raised a hand to strike the owner, a large hand suddenly grabbed it mid-air. The lackey froze, staring at the cold-eyed man before him, a chill running down his spine.
Li Zhonglou instantly recognized Chibiao, the gold-chain-wearing thug.
Chibiao, oblivious, was still admiring his “prey.”
“Passed out? Even better. I’ll make you wake up screaming.”
Before he could finish, screams came from behind him. Turning, he was suddenly seized by a powerful hand that slammed his head into the floor.
With a loud *thud*, Chibiao’s nose crumpled, his front teeth shattered, and blood sprayed across the floor. Dazed, his head lolled as he was lifted like a ragdoll.
“Boss!” His lackeys snapped out of their shock, having only seen a blur before their leader was reduced to a bloody mess.
They rushed to save him, but Li Zhonglou dispatched them in seconds. The entire ordeal lasted less than thirty seconds, leaving the owner dumbfounded.
Half an hour later, Li Zhonglou left the parlor. He hadn’t intended to go so hard, but seeing Chibiao’s actions ignited his fury. From the owner, he learned that this scum was the son of a major faction’s leader.
“Shangjing… is this what it’s like?” Li Zhonglou muttered, momentarily stunned. After all, Shangjing was supposed to be the most tightly controlled city in the country.