Chapter 637
A Woman Seeking Death
That night, Chung Shin-yi celebrated at his own nightclub.
The private room was packed with people. Ah Wu, his face flushed from drinking, was singing karaoke with several girls in his arms, but he was completely off-key.
Luo Tianhong sat in the corner, drinking one glass of wine after another.
Guo Ziheng was playing poker with several mid-level managers, with the stakes being quite high.
Lian Haolong sat in the main seat and rarely showed a smile.
His phone rang. He glanced at it, his expression changed slightly, and he got up and left the private room.
Lian Haodong noticed his elder brother's unusual behavior and followed him out.
At the end of the corridor, Lian Haolong was on the phone, his tone respectful: "Yes, yes, I understand... Thank you, Uncle Zhou, for the opportunity... The goods will definitely be delivered on time..."
After hanging up the phone, Lian Haolong turned around, saw his younger brother, and frowned: "How much did you hear?"
"Is it Uncle Zhou on the phone?" Lian Haodong asked tentatively.
Lian Haolong nodded and rubbed his temples: "He's been pushing for that shipment. He said if we don't do it, he'll expose your debts and let the whole underworld know that the second-in-command of Zhongxinyi is a gambling addict who refuses to pay his debts."
Lian Haodong's face turned pale: "Big brother, I'm sorry..."
“There’s no use talking about this now.” Lian Haolong waved his hand. “The goods must be delivered, and delivered well. I’ve asked Ah Wu to prepare a boat. We’ll set sail from Saigon tomorrow night, travel by sea to the Philippines, and then transfer the goods from there.”
"Isn't this too risky?" Lian Haodong asked worriedly. "The police have been keeping a close eye on things lately."
“That’s why we’re going by water.” Lian Haolong’s eyes sharpened. “There are too many checkpoints on land, water is relatively safe. And…” He lowered his voice, “we have people with the water police.”
Lian Haodong suddenly realized. No wonder his older brother was so confident.
“Come with me.” Lian Haolong led his brother into a private office and took a document from a safe. “This is the complete plan for the New Territories project. If anything happens to me, you must continue to push this project forward.”
"Brother, what unlucky things are you saying!" Lian Haodong exclaimed anxiously.
"In the world of martial arts, who can guarantee a smooth journey?" Lian Haolong patted his younger brother's shoulder. "Adong, it's time for you to grow up. If anything really happens to me, loyalty and integrity will depend on you."
Lian Haodong looked at his elder brother and suddenly noticed that this man, who had always been as sturdy as a mountain, had gray hair at his temples.
-
The police's anti-triad unit was extremely busy at this time.
"Inspector Liao, we've intercepted an encrypted communication from an encrypted channel of Chung Shun Yi," the technician reported excitedly. "Although we can't completely decipher it, it mentions keywords like 'ship,' 'Saigon,' and 'tomorrow night.'"
Liao Zhizhong immediately walked to the map: "Saigon... there are more than a dozen docks there, most of them fishing ports. They need to transport goods by water."
"Should we notify the water police?" the fat man asked.
"Not yet," Liao Zhizhong shook his head. "There are too many people and too many eyes on the water police side; it's hard to guarantee that there aren't any loyal and trustworthy individuals among them. Let's act on our own."
He looked around the office: "This operation is codenamed 'Dragon Hunt.' I'll lead the team. Amin, Fatty, and Meizhen, you'll come with me. The rest of you, stand by."
Lei Meizhen was slightly taken aback when she heard her name called: "Inspector Liao, I'm going too?"
"You're the best sniper in the team, aren't you?" Liao Zhizhong looked at her. "Is there a problem?"
“No,” Lei Meizhen answered, standing at attention.
"Okay, everyone go and get ready. We'll meet at 8 PM tomorrow night."
After everyone left, Lei Meizhen returned to her desk, opened a drawer, and found a yellowed photograph inside.
That was a group photo of the tea restaurant staff. In the corner, the young Lian Haodong made a V-sign at the camera.
She stared at the photo for a long time, then locked it in the deepest part of the drawer.
-
The following evening, at a secluded pier in Saigon.
Night fell, and the sea breeze carried a salty, fishy smell.
A converted fishing boat was quietly moored on the shore, with no lights on its hull.
Ah Wu, along with four of his men, was loading boxes of goods onto the ship.
These boxes were labeled "dried seafood," but their weight and feel were clearly off.
"Hurry up! What are you dawdling for!" Ah Wu hissed. "The boat will depart at nine o'clock sharp."
Police officers were already in position on a small hill not far away.
Liao Zhizhong observed the situation at the dock through night vision binoculars: "There are six people in total, five are moving cargo, and one is keeping watch. There are two people on the boat."
"Inspector Liao, when are we going to make our move?" Ah Ming asked.
"We'll intercept them before they set sail and enter international waters," Liao Zhizhong said. "The marine police are already on standby outside the area."
Lei Meizhen lay prone on the hillside, her sniper rifle scope aimed at the dock.
Her heart was pounding, and her palms were sweating.
Just then, a black sedan drove into the dock.
The car door opened, and the person who stepped out made Lei Meizhen gasp for breath—it was Lian Haodong.
He was wearing a black jacket and carrying a briefcase as he walked towards Ah Wu.
After exchanging a few words, Lian Haodong handed the briefcase to Awu, who opened it, glanced at it, and nodded.
"Brother Dong, what brings you here?" Ah Wu asked.
"My brother was worried, so he sent me to check," Lian Haodong said. "Is everything ready?"
"All done, we'll pack it right away." Ah Wu patted the box. "This time the purity is high, it'll fetch three times the price when it gets to the Philippines."
Lian Haodong nodded, lit a cigarette, and looked out at the dark sea.
Smoke swirled in the night, and his profile appeared particularly cold and stern in the moonlight.
On the hillside, Lei Meizhen's finger rested on the trigger, the crosshairs in the scope aimed at Lian Haodong's chest.
As long as Liao Zhizhong gives the order, she can shoot him in the leg to incapacitate him; this is the operational plan.
"Attention all groups, an important figure has appeared at the target location." Liao Zhizhong's voice came through the earpiece. "On my orders, do not move for the time being. Repeat, do not move for the time being."
Lei Meizhen breathed a sigh of relief.
The cargo has been loaded at the dock.
Ah Wu said to his men, "You all get on the boat, I want to say a few words to Brother Dong."
As his men boarded the ship one after another, Ah Wu pulled Lian Haodong aside and whispered, "Brother Dong, there's something I need to tell you."
"what?"
“This shipment contains more than just heroin.” Ah Wu’s eyes gleamed. “That old bastard Zhou Bo also smuggled in a batch of guns. Things are chaotic in the Philippines lately, and weapons sell even better than drugs.”
Lian Haodong's expression changed drastically: "What did you say? Does Big Brother know?"
"I didn't dare say it," Ah Wu chuckled awkwardly. "Anyway, it's all about luck, so the more luck you have, the more money you'll make."
"Are you fucking crazy!" Lian Haodong grabbed Ah Wu by the collar. "Don't you know what the crime of smuggling weapons is? If we get caught, we're all finished!"
"Brother Dong, Brother Dong, calm down!" Ah Wu struggled. "The ship is about to leave, no one will know. Once the goods are delivered and the money is in hand, we'll retire from this life of crime and do legitimate business with our boss, isn't that good?"
Lian Haodong stared at him, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
Finally, he let go: "This is the first and the last time."
"Don't worry, this is the last time!" Ah Wu said with a smile, then turned and boarded the boat.
The fishing boat slowly sailed away from the dock, the sound of its engine particularly clear on the quiet sea.
Lian Haodong stood on the shore until the boat disappeared completely into the night before turning back to his car.
He didn't leave immediately, but sat in the car and finished his cigarette.
Then I took out my phone, hesitated for a long time, and dialed a number.
“Brother, the goods have been shipped,” Lian Haodong said, pausing for a moment, “but… there are other things on the ship.”
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone: "What is it?"
"gun."
A longer silence.
Lian Haodong could almost hear his older brother's breathing.
"I understand." Lian Haolong said only three words before hanging up the phone.
Lian Haodong threw away his cigarette butt and started the car.
Just as he was about to leave the dock, his headlights illuminated the intersection ahead.
There were several police cars parked there without their lights on.
His heart sank.
On the hillside, Liao Zhizhong watched as Lian Haodong's car drove toward the police roadblock and said into the microphone, "Operation."
In an instant, sirens blared through the night sky, and red and blue lights pierced the darkness.
Several police cars rushed out from all directions, blocking the dock exit. Lian Haodong swerved the steering wheel, trying to turn around, but his back was also blocked by police cars.
He drew his pistol from his waist, but seeing the police surrounding him, he slowly lowered it.
The car door was pulled open, and several guns were pointed at him.
“Lian Haodong, you have been arrested on suspicion of drug smuggling.” Liao Zhizhong’s voice was icy. “You have the right to remain silent, but everything you say will be used against you in court.”
The handcuffs clicked shut. Before being put into the police car, Lian Haodong glanced back at the sea.
There, the lights of the fishing boats had disappeared below the horizon.
What he didn't know was that the ship was intercepted by the marine police as soon as it entered international waters.
Ah Wu and his men were all arrested, and the entire ship full of drugs and weapons became irrefutable evidence.
-
At the headquarters of Chung Hsin Yi, when Lian Haolong received the news, the teacup in his hand fell to the ground and shattered.
"Brother, Dong Ge and A Wu have been arrested, and the goods have been seized," Guo Ziheng reported, his face pale.
Luo Tianhong stood to the side, gripping the hilt of the knife at her waist: "I'll go to the police station and rescue them."
"Stop right there!" Lian Haolong shouted, his voice trembling unusually. "Are you going to your death?"
"What can we do then? Are we just going to watch Dong Ge go to jail?"
Lian Haolong closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
When he opened his eyes again, he had regained his usual composure: "Find the best lawyer. Also, find out how the police knew so much. There must be a mole inside."
Guo Ziheng and Luo Tianhong exchanged a glance, both thinking of the same name.
"Go check."
"Find the mole and punish him according to family rules."
-
"Snapped!"
The lights in the interrogation room were instantly turned on.
Lian Haodong subconsciously closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair.
Liao Zhizhong sat in the interrogation seat with a cold smile, staring at Lian Haodong. "I never thought you would fall into my hands."
Lian Haodong remained silent, his head tilted to the side.
"Don't even think about it. The evidence is all there. You can't escape. We've been watching you for seven years, and we've finally managed to break through your defenses."
Liao Zhizhong was somewhat excited; his original plan was to test Lei Meizhen.
However, just before he was about to set off, he received a tip that Lian Haodong and his group were not bluffing, but had a powerful force at their disposal.
They intercepted it directly and, sure enough, dug out a large one.
Lian Haodong, with his legs crossed, stared at Liao Zhizhong with a smile. "Liao sir, long time no see. I thought you went to West Kowloon. What are you doing here in the New Territories?"
“Lian Haodong, you’re not getting out of here. With so much stuff, even if Hong Kong doesn’t have the death penalty, it’s enough to get you a life sentence.”
Lian Haodong smiled slightly, straightened up and looked at Liao Zhizhong, "Alright, I'll bet you, I'll definitely get out."
Liao Zhizhong frowned.
-
Snapped!
He slapped Ah Wu across the face.
Ah, his body shuddered and he opened his eyes, but instinctively closed them again when he saw the bright light.
"Seriously, sir? Hong Kong has human rights laws. I'm going to sue you for treating me like this."
Lei Meizhen sneered, "You've been caught red-handed, and you still plan to leave? Just these things on the ship, you'll be sitting in jail for the rest of your life."
Ah Wu sniffed. "That's true."
"Go ahead and say it." Lei Meizhen leaned back in her chair, holding her coffee and staring at Awu.
“That’s right, they’re all mine. All these boats are mine. I don’t have any accomplices; my accomplices are Thai.” Ah Wu blew his nose and smiled.
The interrogating officers were all taken aback.
"You took on such a huge shipment, you'll be in jail for three lifetimes and never get out. You'll die of old age in prison."
Ah Wu smiled slightly, "Ah sir, I'm also planning to retire in prison. I heard the food is pretty good."
-
"What? He took all the blame?"
Liao Zhizhong stood up in shock.
“Yes.” Lei Meizhen nodded. “He said all the cargo was his, that he was cooperating with a Thai man, and that Lian Haodong had no idea what was on the ship; it was just a way to get him out of there.”
Liao Zhizhong stared at the wall, never expecting that these worthless gangs actually had any so-called loyalty.
Hong Kong values human rights and a strict chain of evidence.
Lian Haolong hired a good lawyer, and Ah Wu insisted that the shipment belonged to him, even though Lian Haodong himself was not on the ship.
He was arrested by the anti-triad unit at the edge of the beach.
After paying Lian Haodong a sum of money in compensation, Liao Zhizhong could only watch helplessly as Lian Haodong was released.
-
inside the building.
All the leaders of the Zhongxinyi branch of the church gathered together.
Lian Haolong stared at his surroundings with a sinister look in his eyes. "Don't let me find out who tipped you off. There's definitely a mole among you, and that mole is right here among you."
"If I find out, I'll skin him alive."
"Brother Long, what should we do?" Luo Tianhong looked up and asked.
Lian Haolong remained silent for a moment before looking at Lian Haodong.
Lian Haodong, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, looked out the window.
“Ah Wu wouldn’t talk nonsense, otherwise Ah Dong wouldn’t have been released by the police.”
"Susu, go see Ah Wu's girlfriend and see what she wants, give her some."
Su Su nodded. "I understand."
-
The sunlight shone through the glass of the mahjong parlor where afternoon tea was served, creating a soft, reflective glow.
Ah Wu's girlfriend, Triss, dressed in a flamboyant manner, leaned back in her chair and looked at the gang leader's woman.
"Sister Su, Ah Wu took such a big blame for Big Brother this time, it's not just 100,000, right?" Cui Si didn't even look at the 100,000 yuan on the table, and stared at Su Su with her arms crossed.
Su Su fiddled with the three of circles in the mahjong set. "This is for you to use for now. I'll give you some settling-in allowance later."
Cui Si sneered. After so many years in the underworld, how could she not see that Lian Haolong was planning to abandon A Wu?
Besides, she's Ah Wu's girlfriend, not his wife.
In this day and age, girlfriends are like trash on the street; you can replace them anytime.
Lian Haolong didn't take her seriously at all.
Triss lowered her head. "How much exactly?"
Su Su stood up. "You don't need to ask. In short, I won't shortchange you."
Triss also stood up. "That's not how it works, Sister Su. Ah Wu is definitely not getting out this time. What will happen to me and my family if we don't get the money?"
Su Su smiled. "You're just his girlfriend, and..."
Her tone turned cold. "Are you trying to bargain with me?"
"No, we wouldn't dare. It's just that over the years, my wife and I have always been very dissatisfied with Brother Long's behavior. His brother can use whatever he wants, but we have to risk our lives to get even a little bit."
Su Su squinted her eyes, "You're planning to teach Lian Haolong how to be a decent human being?"
"No, Sister Su, if you don't give us a satisfactory price this time, I can't guarantee that Ah Wu won't say anything out of line."
Su Su still looked disdainful. "What did you say? You accused Lian Haolong of being a drug dealer?"
“No, not at all.” Triss sat down again and fiddled with a cookie. “They might tell the police your bank card numbers.”
Upon hearing this, Su Su's face turned deathly pale. (End of Chapter)