A different kind of Jianghu

　　A different kind of legend

　　A different kind of emotion

　　A different kind of life

　　A rascal from Beijing,

　　Stirs up an unprecedented underworld storm among the gangs of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan.

　　The legendary story of a hero begins here...

Part One: Planting the Red Flag in Taiwan

Chapter One: [Blending in Beijing]

　　"Dayu! Qi San and Tiedan got into trouble at Jiejie!" Brian Cooper shouted at the top of his lungs at the door with his hoarse voice.

　　"Dammit! Can’t a guy get some sleep?" William Carter rubbed his sleepy eyes, got dressed at lightning speed, and rushed out the door.

　　Brian Cooper had already started up his Kawasaki 500 motorcycle, its exhaust spewing a long trail of white smoke into the cold air. As soon as William Carter sat behind him, the motorcycle shot off like a rocket.

　　"Liangzi, what happened?" William Carter asked loudly, wrapping his army coat tighter around himself.

　　"Damn! We were just supposed to go home after drinking, but those three idiots insisted on going clubbing. Fine, but then they had to hit on some girls, and who knew they’d stir up a hornet’s nest? Suddenly, twenty or thirty punks surrounded them. If I’d gone with them, I’d probably be getting beaten up too!" Brian Cooper sounded shaken. "Those two called for help! And you, why the hell did you turn off your phone?"

　　William Carter couldn’t help but curse: "All you’re good for is running away fast. If you’ve got guts, go stand with Qi San and the others! Total coward!" Brian Cooper shrank his neck: "I call it knowing when to pick my battles. Even if I went, it wouldn’t help. Besides, aren’t you a sixth-degree black belt in Taekwondo? I called you so you could show off. Otherwise, how would people know how badass you are, Dayu?"

　　"Let’s hope we’re not too late to save those two idiots!"

　　Jiejie Disco was still ablaze with lights, men and women coming and going as usual. Seeing no police cars around, the two of them relaxed a bit—it seemed nothing major had happened.

　　Brian Cooper parked the motorcycle and pulled an iron rod from the back, hiding it in his jacket. William Carter patted his shoulder: "Liangzi, don’t go in. Call a cab and wait at the door. Be ready to get the hell out of here." Brian Cooper thought about it and agreed, handing the iron rod to William Carter: "Take it for protection!"

　　William Carter smiled: "Those guys want to talk, not fight to the death. What do I need this for?" Brian Cooper shook his head: "Fine! Guess I’m just being extra. If you’ve got guts, they’re waiting in the Wanzai Room!"

　　William Carter took off his army coat and tossed it to Brian Cooper: "Watch this for me. It was passed down from my grandpa." Brian Cooper couldn’t help but laugh: "Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it like it’s your grandpa himself..."

　　Inside the club, the lights flickered on and off, men and women twisting wildly on the dance floor. William Carter squinted, searching for the private room. He didn’t like this place—he’d only been dragged here once by Qi San, and that was after drinking, so he barely remembered what it looked like.

　　On the central stage, two girls in short skirts were dancing seductively around a cold, shiny steel pole. William Carter watched with interest for a moment, then remembered his real purpose. He grabbed a waiter and asked for directions to the Wanzai Room.

　　William Carter pushed open the door, and a wave of pungent smoke and alcohol hit him. In this small dance room of less than forty square meters, more than twenty people were sitting around. Qi San and Tiedan had been beaten to a pulp, wearing only briefs, awkwardly swaying to the music. When they saw William Carter come in, they stopped dancing.

　　"Motherfucker, who told you to stop?" A beer bottle smashed on the floor next to them, shattering and sending glass shards cutting into their skin.

　　William Carter looked toward the voice. The speaker was Edward Harris, a local thug known for fighting and violence—everyone called him Fifth Brother. It looked like things wouldn’t be easy tonight.

　　Edward Harris glanced sideways at William Carter: "You their boss?" William Carter smiled: "We’re classmates and buddies, no boss or anything." "You sure talk a lot. Where you from?" Edward Harris habitually rolled up his sleeve, revealing a dragon tattoo coiling around his left arm.

　　"Fifth Brother, we’re students, not gangsters!" William Carter said with a smile plastered on his face.

　　Edward Harris looked William Carter up and down, a bit surprised: "You know me?" William Carter nodded: "Everyone who hangs out here knows you." Edward Harris laughed: "You’re kind of interesting." He waved his hand, and his men turned off the music and turned on the lights. Qi San and Tiedan still didn’t dare stop, continuing to dance, their feet cut by the glass on the floor.

　　Edward Harris pointed to the seat beside him, signaling William Carter to sit. William Carter said: "Fifth Brother, my two buddies were out of line and offended you. I apologize for them..." Edward Harris cut him off, pulling out a bottle of Red Star Erguotou from behind and slamming it on the table: "Those two idiots had no eyes and dared to hit on my sister. If word gets out, how the hell am I, Edward Harris, supposed to survive in the underworld?"