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A hush fell upon the crowd.

Not only was Temple Street under the watchful protection of a powerful gang, but they were also exempt from paying protection fees?

It was inconceivable to everyone. In present-day Hong Kong, which street wasn't under the jurisdiction of some gang? And which street wasn't subjected to collecting protection money?

If one refused to pay, they'd be plagued with trouble daily by the hooligans.

They couldn't earn a living without being beaten up in the process.

The vendors had long been grumbling, believing calamity was imminent. Little did they expect that misfortune would bring fortune.

And it was all due to Chu Ji's Desserts.

"Brother Qiu, but it seems some people in Temple Street aren't too fond of this place," Sister Fatty cautiously commented.

Qiu Hao, being the leader of a major gang, could easily discern the hidden meaning in her words. He promptly instructed the Fourteen Gang members to assist in resolving the issue.

Swiftly, the coconut juice vendor and the fruit stall owner who often criticized Chu Ji were asked to leave the temple street with their remaining stall rent.

The commotion came to an end.

Chu Yuening decided to head home early to cook dinner. She straightened the cart, brushing off dust from the cushion.

Qiu Hao approached, first glancing at Lin Jiahua before retracting his gaze with a smile. "As Master said, the debt of 200,000 for the Lin family is wiped clean. The Fourteen Gang won't trouble them anymore."

Chu Yuening replied with a smile. "Thank you."

Relieved that he no longer had to live in fear, Lin Jiahua heaved a sigh of relief and then offered a suggestion after some contemplation.

"Brother Qiu, actually, you didn't need to involve me in the 200,000 matter, but you could've involved the Lin family."

Qiu Hao was taken aback. "Why?"

"It's for the Lin family's own good," Lin Jiahua explained. "It's 200,000 this time, but it might be more next time. They should face the consequences of their mistakes."

Including stealing him from his birth mother and making her believe that the child who died was him.

The Lin family's misdeeds went far beyond these.

When one makes mistakes, they must pay. The wrong path always exacts its toll.

"Respect your opinion," Chu Yuening looked at Qiu Hao and then extended her hand, smiling slightly. "Thank you, two thousand for the consultation and talismans combined."

"Hahaha." Qiu Hao laughed heartily and promptly handed over two thousand dollars. "Actually, my limbs are worth much more than that."

Chu Yuening put the money away, pretending to be troubled. "Then what should I do? I can only accept this amount."

Qiu Hao replied with a smile, "The Fourteen Gang will be at Master Chu's disposal from now on."

This meant that whatever Chu Yuening instructed the Fourteen Gang to do in the future, they would do it.

The commitment of the head of one of Hong Kong's top criminal organizations was of great significance.

The weight of this promise far exceeded hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"Oh," Chu Yuening didn't seem too concerned.

After all... real wealth is of utmost importance.

Sigh, there's still a younger sister at home to support.

Bewildered and troubled.

Seeing Chu Yuening preparing to leave, Qiu Hao hastily asked, "Oh right, Master Chu, I'd like to inquire about my fate with Cong Ling..."

Chu Yuening replied, "You've already averted your misfortune. You shouldn't have your fortune told for a while. If you want a reading, let Cong Ling come instead. I can also divine her romantic prospects."

Ask Cong Ling to come for a fortune reading.

The gangster with the pierced eyebrow, an unusual shade of red on his face, felt a stab of embarrassment.

He... hadn't confessed yet.

As Chu Yuening pushed her cart away, Qiu Hao snapped back to reality and promptly chided, "Can't you see? Hurry and send Master Chu home!"

Her minions, awakened from their stupor, rushed to assist in pushing the cart.

Chu Yuening found the situation both amusing and exasperating; the small cart was now being propelled by over twenty people. As she passed by Fei Yu, he set down his chopping knife against the concrete, bowing deeply.

His standing within the Fourteen Gang had undoubtedly risen alongside this gesture.

This honor should have been reserved for the Master.

The cart hadn't gone far when a panicked cry echoed through the air.

Someone shouted, "Mountain Cat was just hit by a truck after leaving Temple Street!"

"Oh, how tragic! Brain matter splattered everywhere."

Qiu Hao extinguished his cigar, his scarred eyes fixated on the horizon.

A dozen toughs pushed their carts, with the girl walking right in the middle. Her upright figure seemed to blend seamlessly with the heavens and earth, exuding an innate grace and presence.

She didn't turn back.

As if she wasn't the least bit surprised by the news.

Qiu Hao smiled in relief.

He was immensely grateful for his decision to befriend her.

Otherwise...

The fate of Snow Leopard would have been a stark reminder before his eyes.

Zeng Fangxin had also learned of Snow Leopard's tragic end. Clutching her camera tightly, she recalled Chu Yuening's words earlier and shivered, shaking her head constantly.

"It can't be..."

"It can't be that accurate..."

Chapter 49

Outside the Kowloon Police Station, uniformed officers were exiting while plainclothes detectives were entering. The two streams of people merged and then separated.

It was rush hour.

Carrying a bag of takeout, Shi Boren weaved through the crowd and entered the D Unit office with a bite of bread in his mouth.

As soon as he opened the door, a cloud of dust greeted him.

Shi Boren waved his hand to clear the air and looked around the office, noticing that all the drawers had been rifled through.

"Wow, what's going on? Did a thief hit D Unit and crack the safe? It's chaos here."

The D Unit team was busy rummaging through everything. Gan Yizu took an archive folder from Uncle Zhong, wiped the dust off the leather cover with a cloth, and stacked it with the other neatly arranged files, muttering to himself.

"This file is from 1978, this one's from 1986..."

After finishing his recital, Gan Yizu found time to add, "Orders from above – old cases are back on the investigation track."

"Oh, I see."

Just as Shi Boren returned from his errands, he couldn't resist sharing some gossip. "Have you heard? Something big happened in Temple Street."