newbobooks Chapter 549 Tony: Brother Xuan, Tiger has cleared out Tung Sing's territory at the docks.
Chapter 549 Tony: Brother Xuan, Tiger has cleared out Tung Sing's territory at the docks.
The dungeon at Hung Hing headquarters was dark and damp, with moss crawling on the corners of the walls, and a faint smell of mildew and rust in the air.
Ye Haoxuan walked on the stone steps, his leather shoes making a dull sound as they stomped on the ground. Behind him were two henchmen carrying a lantern, the dim light casting his shadow on the mottled wall, flickering in and out.
Jiang Tianyang was locked in the innermost cell, his hands and feet were shackled, his hair was messy, and his face still had bruises from yesterday's beating, but he still stubbornly stuck out his neck.
Seeing Ye Haoxuan enter, a surge of resentment welled up in his eyes, and he let out a few muffled groans. Unlike usual, he didn't shout—he knew that uttering any more threats now would only bring him further humiliation. He was the second son of Jiang Zhen, the founder of Hung Hing, and the younger brother of Jiang Tiansheng, but now he was a prisoner. This disparity was more painful for him than any beating or scolding.
With a clang, the underling pushed open the cell door, and Ye Haoxuan walked in, standing two steps away from Jiang Tianyang, looking down at him without saying a word.
The light from the lantern fell on Jiang Tianyang's face, illuminating clearly the resentment, indignation, and a hint of barely concealed panic in his eyes.
"What? You want to come and laugh at me?" Jiang Tianyang spoke first, his voice hoarse as if it had been sanded, carrying a hint of despair. "Ye Haoxuan, don't be so smug! Hung Hing is an empire built by my father, it's the Jiang family's business! My brother is gone, the position of leader should rightfully be mine, it's not up to an outsider like you to point fingers! There are still many old Hung Hing brothers on the streets of Hong Kong who remember the Jiang family's kindness, they'll bring you down sooner or later!"
Ye Haoxuan squatted down and gently tapped the shackles beside Jiang Tianyang's feet with his fingertips, making a soft "clanging" sound that was particularly jarring in the silent dungeon.
“Jiang Tianyang, you know the rules of the underworld very well, so why are you deceiving yourself?” His tone was calm, but it carried an undeniable certainty. “Mr. Jiang voluntarily relinquished power, he didn’t leave. In order to seize the position of leader, you secretly plotted against the brothers of Hung Hing, and even killed them. You have long lost the hearts of the people. The leader of Hung Hing has never been based on blood ties, but on the recognition of the brothers, and on real skills.”
He paused, withdrew his fingers, and stood up: "I don't expect to secure my position by keeping you locked up—power in the underworld is always earned through ability, not by having the surname Jiang. What you need to do is figure out where you went wrong—you were wrong to kill your own people indiscriminately for the position of leader, and you were wrong to have thoughts of killing me. If you are willing to stay here and reflect on your actions, I will spare your life; if you are still thinking of finding an opportunity to seize power, don't blame me, Ye Haoxuan, for being ruthless."
Jiang Tianyang's face turned deathly pale instantly. His body swayed violently as he struggled to stand up, but the shackles pulled him back down heavily.
"You dare! Hung Hing belongs to the Chiang family! My brother is gone, and I am the sole heir! I'm killing you to reclaim what's rightfully mine! As for those scum who helped you, I'll take care of them one by one sooner or later!"
Ye Haoxuan looked at his hysterical state, his eyes showing no emotion whatsoever: "Whether I have the guts or not, you'll soon find out. You've been plotting for so many years, trying to seize power by killing me, trying to subdue your brothers by blood ties, but in the end, it's all for nothing. Those brothers you killed, that debt should be settled with you."
Jiang Tianyang stared at him, his lips trembling, but he couldn't utter a word. The resentment in his eyes was gradually swallowed by despair.
He knew all too well that Ye Haoxuan was telling the truth—after his indiscriminate killing of his brothers in his quest for power was exposed, the old Hung Hing brothers no longer recognized him, and no one would come to his rescue. He no longer had any leverage to contend with Ye Haoxuan.
"Reflect on your actions here." Ye Haoxuan turned and walked away, but stopped at the prison door without turning back. He said, "Don't think about escaping, and don't think anyone will come to save you. You owe Hung Hing, and you owe those brothers you killed. It's time to pay back."
The cell door closed again, and darkness once more enveloped the cell. Jiang Tianyang slumped to the ground, his shoulders trembling slightly, revealing a vulnerable expression for the first time—he had finally lost, lost to a man younger, more ruthless, and more knowledgeable about the ways of the world.
He thought blood ties could suppress everything, and that he could seize power by killing people. In the end, however, he became a sinner of Hung Hing and a lonely figure.
Ye Haoxuan stepped out of the dungeon. The sunlight outside was a bit dazzling, so he raised his hand to shield his eyes, took a deep breath, and the musty smell in the dungeon was dispelled by the fresh air, making him feel a bit refreshed.
Tony strode over, holding a stack of papers: "Brother Xuan, Ah Hu sent word that the warehouses at Dongxing Wharf and the billiard hall in the West District have been cleared. There was some sporadic resistance, but it was all dealt with, and no one was hurt."
Ye Haoxuan took the message from Ah Hu, glanced at it, and casually handed it to Tony: "Got it. Tell Ah Hu to be steady and not to be too eager for quick success. After clearing the stronghold, have someone guard it to prevent unauthorized personnel from taking it over. Also, remember, if any of the ordinary underlings from Dongxing are willing to stay, assign them to a branch and train them well; if they are unwilling, give them some resettlement allowance and let them go. Don't make things difficult for them."