Chapter Sixty: An Uninvited Guest (Weekend Five-Chapter Marathon, Third Chapter Delivered)

Yue Leiting had no idea why, ever since that night at the casino, I had shadowed him constantly, never leaving his side, and even asked Liu Hao to assign extra men for protection, with Xiao Lianshan personally in charge of Yue Leiting’s safety.

Yue Leiting understood I meant well. After all, there’d been a death at the casino, and on top of that, Shen Xiang’s hand was broken. He knew I worried about revenge. Yet, Yue Leiting seemed utterly unconcerned, as if the entire matter barely registered in his mind.

Xiao Lianshan once asked why I was suddenly so anxious. Yue Leiting was always surrounded by bodyguards, and for those who lived by the underworld’s code, violence was nothing unusual. If everyone acted as cautiously as I did, perhaps we’d best not be in this line of work at all.

My answer was brief: “A shadowed bridge of the nose and a darkened forehead herald a visit from the King of Hell. A face pale as painted powder, lacking luster, foretells mourning.”

I told Xiao Lianshan that Yue Leiting’s features showed ominous signs—he was destined for calamity, and to preside over mourning, meaning someone close to him would die. Of course, Xiao Lianshan saw no such signs no matter how many times he looked, never finding the dark haze I described. But since I insisted, he had no doubt and remained at Yue Leiting’s side without question.

Business at the casino did not seem to suffer from the recent death. Today was the monthly settlement day, when by custom Yue Leiting would visit. Huo Qian was responsible for reporting the finances, though it was mostly a formality. The staff were always pleased—on this day, Yue Leiting would reward them according to the month’s profits.

Yue Leiting had just sat down when Liu Hao burst in, leaned close, and whispered, “Boss, there’s someone outside asking for you by name.”

“For me?” Yue Leiting tilted his head toward Liu Hao. “Who is it?”

“He looks about your age. Says his name is Shen Jiangchuan.”

I looked up sharply, tension written all over my face. “Shen Jiangchuan?! Did he bring anyone?”

“Just himself, carrying a case.”

Yue Leiting lounged back on the sofa, thinking for a moment before smiling carelessly. “Shen Jiangchuan at least knows the rules—coming to my turf alone. I’ve been waiting for him for days. Sooner or later, this was bound to happen. Since he’s here, treat him as a guest and show him in.”

I walked to the window, surveying the whole casino from the second floor, my face grave and thoughts churning.

“Yan Hui, you’ve been distracted these days,” Yue Leiting said with a smile.

“Ting, I’ve always meant to ask—what exactly does this Shen Jiangchuan do?” I sat back down on the sofa.

Shen Jiangchuan, in terms of seniority, is about the same as me. He used to be in the underworld too, started young, ruthless and fierce, and quickly carved out his own territory. Gambling, prostitution, drugs—he touched them all. Yet Shen Jiangchuan has a sharp business mind. The money he made on the streets he invested in legitimate businesses, and he’s slick, generous, and well-connected on both sides of the law. After running things for so many years, he’s built a vast web of protection—so much so that even the government turns a blind eye.” Huo Qian explained.

“Who cares who he is? As long as he’s on my turf, he can’t stir up any trouble. Even a dragon can’t best the local snake, and I’m no mere snake,” Yue Leiting said lightly, unconcerned.

Before entering, guests were always searched thoroughly. Yue Leiting stood up, all smiles, waving his hand. “We’re old friends, there’s no need for that. Jiangchuan, it’s been years, come in and have a seat.”

“Rules are rules. This is your domain, Boss Yue. I’m here to pay my respects; I should behave accordingly,” Shen Jiangchuan replied as he unbuttoned his coat.

The men at the door watched him with wary, hostile eyes, but Shen Jiangchuan wore a calm, steady smile. Yue Leiting clapped him on the shoulder and led him in.

In my imagination, a man once so powerful in the underworld should be broad-shouldered, fierce-featured, perhaps with a few prominent scars—or at least exude the natural authority Yue Leiting possessed. But when Shen Jiangchuan entered, I realized how far he differed from what I had pictured—so much so that I doubted if this was truly him.

Humble smile, clean and neat clothes, not a hair out of place, and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses—this fifty-something man looked nothing like the infamous kingpin.

“Jiangchuan, word is you’ve turned things around and gone straight. Honestly, I could learn a thing or two from you,” Yue Leiting said as he sat, friendly as ever.

“You flatter me, Boss Yue. I only left because I couldn’t keep up anymore. If I still had your energy, I’d never have quit,” Shen Jiangchuan replied with a smile.

While Yue Leiting poured him tea, I observed Shen Jiangchuan. His manner was cultured, his behavior refined, nothing like the ruthless man the rumors described.

“Not this,” Shen Jiangchuan said, setting aside the cup and taking out a packet of tea. “Drink this! I couldn’t come empty-handed on a visit. We’re both getting on in years; our health is all we have left. To be honest, I haven’t learned much these years, except for tea. Now that we’re reunited, let me brew a pot for you.”

“Great! I love tea, though I don’t know all the rituals,” Yue Leiting said, clearly interested, and ordered a tea set.

Shen Jiangchuan took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves, his movements calm and skilled. I watched him closely—his smile never faltered, yet I couldn’t help but feel that, beneath that composure, something else was hidden.

“Please, have some tea! The finest Phoenix Dancong from Chaozhou. I’m getting old now, plagued by high cholesterol and high blood pressure—just missing high blood sugar—and my doctor says this tea is good for my heart. Boss Yue, you know what I used to do. I spent half my life fighting, doing all kinds of things—too many sins to count. Some years ago, a master at Mount Emei told me I was born under a solitary star, destined to do much evil but also to gain great wealth. Yet, after fifty, retribution would come—ruin and family destroyed, doomed to a bitter end.”

I looked up, intrigued. “So you believe in karmic retribution and the Buddhist cycle of cause and effect?”

“I do! Today is my fiftieth birthday. The master said my fate would harm my dearest kin. I didn’t believe it at first, but it seems he was right,” Shen Jiangchuan said, casually sipping his tea.

“Jiangchuan, you weren’t like this before. In your youth, your reputation was built with your own fists. How did you come to believe in all this?” Yue Leiting took a sip, his eyes lighting up. “Strange, this tea really is something special.”

“The master also said I was a stray dog beaten to death in a past life. The resentment was so strong that, reincarnated, I came back to collect debts. My temper is fierce, and to resolve it I must cultivate virtue and do good deeds,” Shen Jiangchuan said, sincerely pouring Yue Leiting more tea. “Now, whenever I have time, I recite the Zhun Ti mantra or the Vajrasattva Heart Mantra. The master says it helps me atone.”

“You’ve achieved a calm and serene demeanor, Jiangchuan. In that, I’m truly no match for you,” Yue Leiting replied with a smile.

Shen Jiangchuan waved his hand, then leaned in to whisper mysteriously by Yue Leiting’s ear, “I’m just putting on a show, honestly. Whether it works or not, I don’t care. Once you’ve chosen this life, living on the edge every day, who has time to worry about retribution? I just want a clear conscience.”

Yue Leiting set down his teacup, looked seriously at Shen Jiangchuan, and said, “You didn’t come all this way just to drink tea with me. If there’s something, Jiangchuan, just say it.”

“You’re as direct as ever, Boss Yue, so I’ll get straight to the point.

“I’m here today to apologize. As a father, I failed to teach my son properly. I heard that Shen Xiang got out of line on your turf not long ago. He’s my only son, and I haven’t paid him enough attention. Now he’s caused a mess. You did me a great favor by sparing his life.”

Yue Leiting had guessed that Shen Jiangchuan was here for Shen Xiang’s sake. Waving it off, he smiled, “Forget it, let’s not mention the past. But honestly, Shen Xiang’s attitude will get him in trouble someday. Keep a close eye on him. If he falls into my hands, I’ll teach him a lesson, but if it’s someone else, who knows what will happen.”

“Thank you for your mercy, Boss Yue. Otherwise, I’d be sending my son to his grave.” As he spoke, Shen Jiangchuan pushed the case he’d brought forward. “Here’s the money he lost at your place—five hundred thousand, not a cent short. Please check it.”

Without even looking, Yue Leiting pushed the case back. “I said let it go. Take the money back. I’ve already taught Shen Xiang a lesson—consider it his medical bill.”

“That’s not right. Business is business. I’ve been in this world too—I know the rules. A gambler pays his debts,” Shen Jiangchuan insisted, smiling apologetically. “Boss Yue, I brought Shen Xiang with me today. I never had the chance to teach him a real lesson, so I want him to remember this. He’s waiting outside to apologize to you himself.”