Chapter Fifty-Nine: The Flight of Xiong Xinxing

Yang City.

This city is one of the twin giants of southern China.

Pipa Island is an exceptionally upscale area.

Here, housing prices have soared to forty or fifty thousand per square meter.

And in Wangjiang District, the average price is as high as sixty thousand.

Wangjiang doesn’t build small apartments; it specializes in large, open units of two or three hundred square meters.

At this moment, on the sixteenth floor of Building Six in Wangjiang District.

Xiong Xinxing was smoking.

He didn’t usually smoke much.

But now, he lit cigarette after cigarette, piling butts high in the ashtray.

He was waiting for news.

Chopsticks Demon and the notorious villain Lu the Beggar—who would win, who would survive?

“Ding!” His phone rang.

Xiong Xinxing answered. As he listened, his face grew darker and gloomier. After hanging up, he immediately called his trusted subordinate, his voice nearly a roar: “Book me a flight to America, right now. The sooner the better. I want to leave immediately. Even Montana will do.”

America has fifty states; one of them is Montana. It’s not known for technology or industry, but for its vast grasslands, countless ranches, and an abundance of cattle.

Montana is often described like this: “The air there is thick with the smell of cow dung.”

Few Chinese visit Montana.

He was afraid, of course—he had incited Lu the Beggar to confront the Chopsticks Demon.

His subordinate was momentarily stunned, but he understood well: the boss was running from the Chopsticks Demon. Yet such a flight, if short, might not matter; if prolonged, he feared losing control of N County.

Xiong Xinxing took a heavy drag and inhaled deeply: “Chopsticks Demon, you’re ruthless. Even someone as wicked as Lu the Beggar couldn’t defeat you. But don’t think you’ve really won. N County is just a small place; behind Lu the Beggar stands the vast Beggars’ Sect. Sooner or later, they’ll come for you. They’ll kill you.”

He squinted, gazing into the darkness outside the window.

…

That night was far from peaceful.

For example, the Wolf King among the Southern Horse, Northern Deer, Eastern Bear, and Western Wolf, was in the penthouse of Donghao Casino.

This brooding man played with several mahjong tiles in his hand.

His eyes narrowed.

Just then, he received a call.

“Chopsticks Demon has acted again, targeting those two infamous young criminals?” After hearing the news, the Wolf King felt as if his seat was burning. The Chopsticks Demon was killing all kinds of crime lords; sooner or later, he’d come for him.

The Wolf King thought long and hard, but couldn’t find a way to deal with the Chopsticks Demon.

Suddenly, inspiration struck.

He picked up his phone and dialed Xiong Xinxing. After a moment, the call connected.

“Old Xiong, it’s Wolf King.” Wolf King spoke more politely to this peer.

“Oh, Old Wolf.” Xiong Xinxing responded, “Why are you calling so late?”

Wolf King didn’t beat around the bush: “Old Xiong, back in the day, the Southern Horse, Northern Deer, Eastern Bear, and Western Wolf were formidable. Now, only the Eastern Bear and Western Wolf remain. I just received word—the Chopsticks Demon has struck again, taking out those two notorious young criminals. I feel his blade is coming for us; there’s a chill in the air.”

On the other side, Xiong Xinxing was silent.

But Wolf King knew he was listening, and continued: “How about it, Old Xiong? Let’s gather every ally we can, pool all our resources—take down the Chopsticks Demon. Otherwise, his knife will soon be at our throats.”

“I’m in Yang City now,” Xiong Xinxing finally spoke.

“You’re in Yang City?” Wolf King was surprised. “You’re planning to hide there and control N County from afar? Yang City isn’t too close, but not too far either. Smart move. I’ll go to Yang City too, oversee things remotely. How about we meet, discuss how to deal with Chopsticks Demon? With him around, no one dares to work with us; they’re all seeking honest business now.”

Xiong Xinxing spoke again: “No need for a meeting. I’m heading to America. My ticket is booked.”

Wolf King was stunned—stunned for a full two minutes before he spoke: “Honestly, Old Xiong, you’ve dominated N County for decades. You’re a big name. Now, not only are you scared into Yang City, you’re fleeing to America. That’s not like you.”

Xiong Xinxing’s voice was steady: “Out of respect for our shared profession, I’ll warn you. I’ve been around longer than you, so I know more. Recently, I used some connections to find the notorious villain. I wanted him to eliminate the Chopsticks Demon. But whether from age or some other reason, tonight, he died at the hands of the Chopsticks Demon.”

“My scheme failed. Chopsticks Demon will seek revenge—he’ll come for me first.”

“Notorious villain? He really exists?” Wolf King was a bit shocked. He was a latecomer to N County, and had heard rumors, but never believed them.

But now, Xiong Xinxing confirmed it.

“And the Chopsticks Demon killed him. In all N County, he’s now the most powerful. So I must flee,” Xiong Xinxing said gravely.

After hanging up, Wolf King’s mind was in turmoil.

He made his decision: “Start the car. We’re going to Yang City.”

His men began preparations.

Controlling N County from America would be risky; Xiong Xinxing’s departure was akin to abandoning his empire for exile.

Wolf King was only in his thirties, shrewd and capable; he couldn’t bear to give up his foundation. So he chose a compromise—oversee N County from Yang City.

He also warned his men: “From now on, keep everything quiet in N County. Low profile, always. If the Chopsticks Demon comes for us, I won’t survive, and neither will you.”

Wolf King sat in the back of a BMW X7, deep in thought.

As the car left N County, darkness enveloped both sides; gone were the festive lights. Wolf King sighed heavily.

The Southern Horse, Northern Deer, Eastern Bear, and Western Wolf—such glorious days.

But now, Southern Horse Ma Guosheng is dead, Northern Deer Lu Youwei is dead, Eastern Bear Xiong Xinxing has fled to America, not daring to stay in the country. He, the Western Wolf King, only dared to flee as far as Yang City, not America.

All because the Chopsticks Demon has run amok!

Damn Chopsticks Demon!

But, Chopsticks Demon, you’re so arrogant—one day, a true master will deal with you. That will be your end.

That night, in N County, fireworks filled the sky. Though May’s heat pressed down, for some, the cold was bone-deep.