Logan Reed’s smile remained calm: “For juniors like us, if we could even have the privilege of offending Samuel Moore, it would be an honor even in death!” The implication was that they were just small fry, and someone of Samuel Moore’s stature shouldn’t bother stooping to their level. If he really did, then Simon Moore’s mind would be far too narrow.

Simon Moore suddenly burst out laughing. He nodded, then patted Logan Reed on the shoulder: “Young man, you’ve got guts! Sit!” He pointed to a bench nearby, sat down first himself, and then said, “Everyone else, out!”

All his men left the small chapel. Logan Reed sat down beside Simon Moore.

Blind Jack, perhaps still not fully recovered from the force of Simon Moore’s slap, spun slowly in midair with his bloated body. Though his head was throbbing, his mind was still clear, and he keenly sensed that the tense atmosphere had eased. His small eyes, moving slowly, locked onto Grace Young not far away. Shh! Shh! He successfully drew Grace Young’s attention to himself: “Let me down! Let me dow—” Before he could finish, Grace Young had already turned away, walking alone to the statue of Jesus to pray in silence.

Blind Jack widened his small eyes, feeling that Grace Young was definitely not some kind-hearted, naïve girl. At this moment, he began searching for Logan Reed, his comrade through thick and thin, who hadn’t even glanced his way. Had he been forgotten too?

Although Logan Reed’s expression was calm, he was under immense invisible pressure. The old man sitting beside him was a legendary figure who dominated Huangpu. If he was displeased, it was entirely possible that he and Blind Jack would end up as two floating corpses in the Huangpu River by dawn. Dealing with this man felt like bargaining with a tiger. Logan Reed was certain that Simon Moore hadn’t come to them just to retrieve a lost item—otherwise, he wouldn’t have started with force before turning to courtesy, nor would he have given a young junior the chance to sit as an equal.

Simon Moore picked up the spiral tower-shaped pendant and, in a rare gentle tone, asked, “Young man, do you know what this is?”

Logan Reed shook his head. Ignorance is no crime; the more you know, the more trouble you invite. The wise way to live is to see through things without exposing them.

Simon Moore sighed: “Young man, you’re not being honest enough!” His gaze shifted to Blind Jack, still hanging upside down nearby: “I’ve been working in Huangpu for so many years, witnessed the fall of the Qing dynasty and the rise of the Republic, seen countless ups and downs. To survive until now, to still hold the position of Chinese director in the French Concession at nearly sixty, it’s not something luck alone can achieve.”

Logan Reed seized the opportunity to flatter him: “I’ve always admired and respected Samuel Moore’s heroic deeds!”

Simon Moore acted as if he hadn’t heard, continuing, “I won’t speak for the big things, but nothing that happens in the French Concession escapes me.” He looked up at the distant statue of Jesus. “This little chapel used to have a priest named Guo, right? You’re a distant relative of his. The chubby one is called Derek Andrews, and you’re both from Jiaodong? You attended the Sino-Western Academy together. At thirteen, you were selected to study in America for nine years. Unlike others who studied mechanics, railways, munitions, and ships to strengthen the nation, you first joined a global circus, wandering for five years. After the circus disbanded, you somehow got into a seminary, studied the Bible, preached, and became a pastor. Truly unconventional!”

Logan Reed laughed, shooting a fierce glare at Blind Jack. Although Blind Jack couldn’t see his eyes, he sensed the look through their tacit understanding and shouted, “It wasn’t me! I didn’t say anything!”

Simon Moore said, “If I want to investigate your background, I can find out everything. Derek Andrews is much simpler than you. You were selected to study abroad; he was eliminated. Originally a promising youth, he took a different path. At fourteen, he apprenticed under a master, learned a bit of fortune-telling and feng shui, and claimed to be a ‘Jindian’ successor. Unfortunately, under the banner of ‘Jindian,’ he engaged in ‘Zoushan’ activities.” The ‘Jindian’ and ‘Zoushan’ he mentioned were two of the eight unorthodox trades of the underworld. Outside the traditional 360 trades, there were these eight unique ones, not recognized by mainstream society, but wherever there are people, these eight exist.

The eight trades are: Jindian (fortune-telling), Beggar, Bandit, Thief, Tomb Raider, Zoushan (con artist), Linghuo (sorcery), and Cai Shui (government courtesan). Collectively, they’re also called the “Five Elements and Three Families.” Jindian is for fortune-telling, Bandit for highway robbery, Tomb Raider for grave robbing, Zoushan for trickery, Linghuo for witchcraft, and Cai Shui for official prostitution. Though there seem to be only eight trades, in reality, they encompass almost all the underworld’s unorthodox professions. Nearly every sect in the underworld, from ancient times to now, is connected to them.

As times changed and dynasties shifted, the eight trades evolved as well, but their essence remained. After the fall of the Qing, some trades merged, others split, echoing the saying: “Long divided, must unite; long united, must divide.”

Blind Jack shouted, “San Ye, you’re amazing! Really, we’re all from the same circle. You’re the senior, we’re the juniors. This is just a case of the river flooding the Dragon King’s temple—family not recognizing family. Please, be magnanimous and let me go, just treat me like a fart and let me out!”