SA 20.1

Chen Chen paused for a moment, then slowly straightened up, his voice calm but sharp. “You’ve been watching the whole time, haven’t you? Ah Sheng—”

From the shadows, Ye Jingsheng stepped out, his figure emerging into the dim light as he stood face-to-face with Chen Chen.

“His life is mine,” Ye Jingsheng said coldly. “If you’re going to kill him, at least give him a quick and painless death.”

Chen Chen’s thoughts: Foolish man! At a time like this, he still talks about honor and vengeance. He must hate him as much as I do, and yet…

Chen Chen suddenly burst into laughter, his voice echoing in the blood-soaked silence. “Ye Jingsheng, you’re truly stupid. You had plenty of chances to kill me earlier, but now, you’ll never get another.”

“Really?” As the words fell, both men raised their guns simultaneously.

The air froze. Even the faint light of dawn seemed to pause.

“Do you think you can kill me as you are now?” Chen Chen mocked, glancing at Ye Jingsheng’s police uniform, “If you’ve turned to him, why didn’t you wait for him to take up your cause?”

Ye Jingsheng spoke deliberately, “Avenging Xiao Jie is my own matter. Avenging honor and loyalty is even more a task for me alone!”

“Ah Sheng, you’re still the same, never turning back until you hit the wall.”

“Perhaps. That’s why I deserve to be foolishly exploited by you all!”

“We?” Chen Chen’s eyes flickered, and he let out a slight cold laugh. So this was what they called “love” and “trust” between them.

“Ye Jingsheng, I truly hoped that when we met again, we wouldn’t be pointing guns at each other.”

“That’s impossible. Between us, only one can live.”

Chen Chen laughed, “…So inflexible. Don’t you know that even if you kill me, you can’t escape Hong Kong? How about we play a game?”

Ye Jingsheng watched the man coldly. Chen Chen continued, “Both our revolvers have six chambers. Let’s leave one bullet in each, put the guns to our temples, and pull the trigger. We’ll each have an equal chance. It’s a bet on our lives, to see whose life is tougher.”

This was a death game only a madman would play!

But Chen Chen was mad, and so was Ye Jingsheng.

Without a word, he snapped open the cylinder of the “King Cobra,” removed five bullets, and dropped them onto the ground with a clatter. Chen Chen did the same, and they each pressed the barrel against their temples.

“I’ll go first.” Chen Chen flicked his wrist, and a click sounded—a dry fire. The cylinder rotated one chamber, empty.

Ye Jingsheng’s finger pulled the trigger, resulting in a slight dry click. “Do you remember what we said when we first met?”

Chen Chen paused.

He had been trying to drown himself in the swimming pool at Yi Garden, and this fool had jumped into the water and dragged him out, shouting at him, “Transcend life and death? Who can transcend it? We’re not damn monks or nuns meditating and fasting! If you want to train your will, it’s better to learn how to swim rather than jumping into the water every day to be saved! Life and death are understood only when you truly face the battlefield, not through self-deception!”

He had spent his life performing, but he couldn’t forget the look in Ye Jingsheng’s eyes at that moment. He remembered laughing and saying, “Right! You make sense. I was being pedantic—Ye Jingsheng, well-deserved reputation.”

“I remember,” a slight ripple of emotion briefly disturbed the perpetual falsity in his smile, “Click—” another empty chamber.

“Why did you deceive me? Tell me the truth.” Ye Jingsheng pulled the trigger again, still no bullet.

“Out of my control, do you believe that?” Chen Chen coldly said, “There’s no why, this is just the way of the underworld.”

You and Fang Yang, you’re both too naive! Naively to the point of disgust!

Four consecutive shots, all blanks.

That meant the last two chambers definitely contained a live round, and whoever ended up with it would undoubtedly die.

Ye Jingsheng slowly raised his wrist, a bead of sweat sliding down his forehead. Playing this game, anyone would be nervous.

Chen Chen held his breath, watching as Ye Jingsheng’s fingers gently caressed the trigger. No, something was wrong. Ye Jingsheng’s expression—was there really a bullet in the chamber?

Before he could think further, Chen Chen reacted. His hand shot up, knocking the “King Cobra” from Ye Jingsheng’s grip. The gun fired into the air before clattering to the ground.

Both men froze, but it was Chen Chen who spoke first with a cold expression, “You lost, that shot had a real bullet.”

“But I’m not dead—”

“Whether you die or not is for me to decide!” Chen Chen shouted, “Get out of Hong Kong now, and never come back!”

Ye Jingsheng silently walked over, picked up the gun, and ran his fingers over it for a moment before speaking. “Chen Chen, this gun is ranked first because it reloads faster than any other. If we shot at the same time, only I would die. But my revolver doesn’t just hold six bullets.”

Before he even finished speaking, Ye Jingsheng suddenly leapt up, swinging the gun and firing. Chen Chen reacted quickly, dodging to the side, but the bullet still struck his left shoulder, sending him flying back several meters.

“Chen Chen, you’re not the only one who can act.” Ye Jingsheng stepped toward him, gun in hand. “The ‘King Cobra’s’ cylinder always has one final bullet reserved for the critical moment. You were too careless.”

Chen Chen breathed heavily, blood pouring from his shoulder. His voice was weak but filled with resolve. “Ye Jingsheng, what kind of person are you? Cold one moment, cunning the next, and sometimes even simple… If I must die by your hand, so be it.”

As Ye Jingsheng slowly reloaded the bullet and raised his hand to aim, memories of Xiao Jie flooded his mind.

He saw Xiao Jie teasing him, “Who am I to you, just a sidekick?” Then came Xiao Jie’s scolding face, full of frustration, saying, “Are you dead or what?” Finally, that night flashed before his eyes—Xiao Jie taking seven bullets for him, collapsing in his arms, blood spilling from his lips.

Gritting his teeth, his finger tightened on the trigger—

“Stop!” The security door on the rooftop burst open, and a tall figure appeared before him.

Ye Jingsheng squinted, never expecting to reunite with that person under such circumstances.

Fang Yang stepped over the bodies scattered on the ground and positioned himself in front of Chen Chen.

“How… how did you get out!” Chen Chen strained to speak, his voice heavy with disbelief. His eyes shifted to Liao Qiu, who stood behind Fang Yang, and realization struck like a blow. His teeth clenched in rage as his voice rose. “You… traitor!”

Liao Qiu, a grown man, fell to his knees, his body trembling as tears streamed down his face. “Chen ge, please, spare them. Yang ge was barely holding on. He would have died at the hands of the men you sent to guard him.”

Chen Chen’s breath hitched as his gaze moved to Fang Yang. Only then did he notice the countless wounds marring his body, the dried blood staining his clothes, and the weariness in his stance. Fang Yang had endured all of this, fighting through unbearable pain and risking his life, just to save Ye Jingsheng.

A piercing pain gripped Chen Chen’s heart, far sharper than the gunshot wound in his shoulder.

“You still came.” Ye Jingsheng sneered, “In your heart, he’s always the most important, even worth sacrificing me!”

“Is that what you think?” Fang Yang turned, his voice deep, “Ye Jingsheng, look into my eyes and tell me again what you think of me!”

“What difference does it make if I say it again! From the beginning, you used me to eliminate Zachis and then Zhong Qinglin, didn’t you?! What’s left between us besides deception and exploitation? This is the underworld! You using people until they are no longer useful is not wrong, and neither is my quest for blood for blood! Step aside!”

“You can’t kill him. I owe him my life. Thirteen years ago, he saved my life!” Fang Yang spread his arms, “Even if I have repaid him, I will not stand by and watch you kill him!”

“His life is a life, and Xiao Jie’s life is not? Do you think I won’t do it?! Move!” Ye Jingsheng shouted with red eyes.

Fang Yang shook his head and slowly advanced towards Ye Jingsheng.

Ah Sheng, have you ever thought about staying in Hongyun forever?

What for?

To be with me.

Bullshit!!!