Chapter 111: Ding Li and A Qi

Under the cloak of night in Guangzhou, at the end of a dark, narrow alley, lay three men with their heads covered by sacks. Except for one who was still faintly moving and making low groaning sounds, the other two were completely still.

This was already the second time Wang De and Gouzi’s group of four had struck. Looking at the spoils before them, they had long forgotten the earlier failed ambush against six men, which had allowed two to escape. There was no trace of anxiety—only the lingering comfort following the release of pent-up fury.

“Brother, there are already seven of them. Let’s head back. Didn’t Brother Li tell us to return first?” Wang Huan was the first to suggest retreat, glancing at the three on the ground and then, by the moonlight, at his companions’ faces. He quietly reminded his elder brother Wang De.

“Hm, that’s about enough! Everyone’s had their revenge! It’s time to go back,” Wang De nodded, spat contemptuously onto the ground, then suddenly stepped forward and swung the iron rod he held, striking the writhing body mercilessly.

“Bang! Bang…”

After several blows, the body finally ceased moving. Wang De stopped, wiped the sweat from his brow, and said confidently to Gouzi and the others, “Now, these guys won’t be able to get out of bed for at least two or three months! Let’s go back.”

“Hey! Brother De, wait!” Gouzi suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Wang De’s arm, still reluctant to leave. He glanced back at the scene with a sheepish smile before saying, “Look, now there are seven of them. Four of us—if we divide the credit, it won’t be even. How about we find one more to make it eight? That way, it’s two heads per person.”

“Right, right! Gouzi’s got a point!” Xiao Li, who was usually the one taking the brunt of the beatings, finally had a chance to vent. Though still trembling slightly and unaccustomed to this life, he swallowed his excitement and stepped forward to support the idea. “Brother De, it’s too late to go back now. Let’s find one more. If Brother Li asks later, at least we have a reason.”

“No chance!” Before Wang De could make a decision, a chilling voice cut in from the alley’s entrance, startling them all. The temperature seemed to drop several degrees. Looking toward the sound, they saw not just one person but a whole group.

Indeed, with the lead speaker’s footsteps, an endless stream of people poured in behind him. Within moments, more than twenty had entered the alley, and the crowd at the entrance continued swelling rapidly.

“Meteor Mace Ah Qi?” The older Wang De Yi stepped forward to shield Gouzi and the others. His gaze fixed on the newcomers revealed the leader to be Ah Qi, the top enforcer under Liu San-ye of the Chaozhou gang. Yet tonight, Ah Qi carried no sign of his usual prized meteor mace, as if Wang De’s group were not yet worthy of his full attention.

Despite this, Wang De shuddered involuntarily. Even if Ah Qi stood alone, without the dozens of gangsters behind him, Wang De did not believe the four of them could escape unharmed. Still, he forced calm, cleared his throat, and spoke coldly, “Ah Qi! We have no quarrel between us. What is the meaning of this? Are you trying to spark a fight between our sides?”

“Hahaha!” Ah Qi suddenly stopped and threw back his head, laughing loudly. He raised a hand to halt his men. After more than ten seconds of laughter, as Wang De and the others grew more uncertain, Ah Qi ceased laughing, stood tall, and glared sharply. With a cold snort, he cursed, “You shameless dogs! Less than half an hour ago, you ambushed some of my brothers. And now you dare claim we have no enmity? I want to ask you—what is your true intention? To stir up a war between us?”

Wang De and his companions were dumbfounded. They never imagined their earlier mistake would lead to such severe consequences. The timid Wang Huan immediately panicked, tugging on Gouzi’s sleeve and anxiously asking, “Brother Gouzi, what do we do now? There are so many of them…”

“Quiet! What’s there to fear? If worst comes to worst, we fight!” Gouzi impatiently shrugged off Wang Huan’s trembling hand and glared at him. Seeing him still shaking, Gouzi’s expression turned scornful. Then, coldly, he said, “If you’re afraid, climb the wall and run off in the chaos! Just don’t make things worse here.”

At this, Xiao Li nudged Gouzi and gave him a meaningful look toward Wang De. Gouzi understood perfectly but was annoyed by Wang Huan’s cowardice. Suppressing his anger, he shoved Wang Huan behind himself without another word, making his intentions clear.

“Gouzi, Xiao Li, take Wang Huan and leave first! I’ll cover the rear!” Wang De, knowing there was no longer room for argument, whispered a command. As Ah Qi and his men closed in, Wang De tightened his grip on the iron rod and turned to face them.

“Stop whispering! Tonight, not one of you will leave!” Ah Qi, though unable to hear Wang De’s words, could read their gestures clearly. He smiled faintly, his tone calm but carrying an invisible force, like a mountain descending from the sky to crush them.

“Ah Qi!” Suddenly, when the distance between them was only about twenty paces, a voice shot out. Everyone looked toward the alley wall, where a figure was crouched. Though initially unclear, the next words stunned both sides: “I’m with the Nanhai gang. Do you think I’ll let you stay just because you say so? If you want to see tomorrow’s sun, don’t take another step forward! That goes for the men behind you too!”

“Brother Li! It’s Brother Li!” Wang Huan was the first to recognize Ding Li on the wall. His keen senses in danger allowed him to identify the man immediately. Excited, he pointed and urged Gouzi and the others forward.

“Nanhai gang’s Ding Li!” Ah Qi had also seen Ding Li before, and knew of his seemingly unbeatable skills. He stopped and looked up at Ding Li. But seeing he was alone, Ah Qi inhaled deeply and said seriously, “Brother Li, your bravado is premature. I’m no match for you in skill, but you should consider the situation more carefully.”

He gestured behind him proudly, “I have nearly a hundred brothers backing me. Do you think you alone can hold them off?”

“Hold them off, maybe not. But to take away a few of them? That won’t be difficult,” Ding Li shook his head, his confident tone unmistakable. He gestured toward Wang De and his group, then pointed to Ah Qi’s side again, sneering, “Besides, doubling your numbers won’t make much difference.”

“Brother Li, you do love jokes!” Ah Qi forced back his anger and smiled, shaking his head. “If you’re so confident, why don’t we just settle this now?”

“Suit yourself. But think carefully about whether you’ll keep your life,” Ding Li stood slowly, indifferent, shrugging. His relaxed arm swung slightly to the side, but within this casual motion lay profound intent.

“Bang!”

“Ding!”

Two sharp sounds rang out. Just as Ah Qi was about to step forward, a flash of light streaked before him, followed by a clear metallic clang. In the moonlight, Ah Qi’s wide eyes caught sight of a finely crafted iron crossbow bolt lying at his feet. Though motionless, it emitted a chilling gleam that sent a shiver down his spine.

“Want to try again?” Ding Li stood on the wall, arms folded, smiling faintly. His calm tone held a veiled threat: “This was just a warning. After all, you’re now a deputy commander in the militia, a ninth-rank military officer under the empire. Wouldn’t you regret dying tonight like this?”

Ding Li’s last words were a courtesy, meant to prevent a reckless fight to the death.

“But what about my injured brothers? Do you think we can just end it like this?” Ah Qi, given some room to retreat, refused to completely sever ties. Though the bolt was a clear warning, he was still unwilling to yield. Gritting his teeth, he stared resolutely at Ding Li and demanded, “They’re hurt, but not dead! If there’s no explanation, how do I justify this to my brothers?”

“Dead?” Ding Li replied with a question, as if it were no big deal.

“No, but the injuries are serious!” Ah Qi glared fiercely at Wang De and the others at the alley’s end, grinding his teeth. “If we don’t settle this, how can I answer to my men?”

“Since they’re not dead, then it’s a matter of money,” Ding Li scoffed, his lips curling with contempt as he glanced at Ah Qi. “Ah Qi, don’t forget the trouble at the docks earlier today. Many of my brothers were hurt too. If we tally up the costs, neither of us will come out ahead. Or maybe your Chaozhou gang is so broke just to claim this militia title that you can’t even afford your brothers’ medicine?”

“Hmph! Didn’t expect Brother Li’s tongue to be so sharp!” Ah Qi was a little deflated talking about the dock incident, but this gave him a way out. Though still dissatisfied, he shot a few angry looks at Wang De’s group, snorted coldly, and waved his men back. Slowly, the group retreated and soon vanished from sight, leaving the alley empty as if nothing had happened.

“Enough talk. We’ll settle accounts with you later,” Ding Li said, glaring at Wang De’s group. He lightly jumped down from the wall. Suddenly, a figure in black appeared, and Blackie hurried up, grabbing Ding Li’s arm. Under the pale moonlight, Ding Li’s hand was stained with deep crimson blood.

“Brother Li!” Wang De and the others rushed forward anxiously, ignoring who Blackie was, eager to check Ding Li’s wound. But Ding Li pushed them away, frowned, shook his head at the alley’s entrance, and strode off in silence.