Chapter 23: Fifth Master Hou
Fifth Master Hou resided in a grand single-family villa in the West City District. His estate was significantly larger than Zhou Wan Cheng’s villa, with security guards stationed outside and bodyguards patrolling the inside. Every man on duty was one of Fifth Master Hou’s people.
At around two in the morning, Chen Xue Wen roared up to the villa on his motorcycle. The engine’s rumble shattered the night’s silence, rousing the guards from their light slumber.
A security guard, visibly irritated, shouted through the window, “Who the hell are you? You know this is private property? Get the f**k out of here before I come out and break your leg! See if you can still ride your damn bike after that!”
Chen Xue Wen stepped closer to the window and said calmly, “Big brother, I have some urgent business. I need to see Fifth Master Hou.”
The guard hesitated, eyeing Chen Xue Wen with suspicion. “You got a f**king death wish? It’s past two in the morning, and you think Fifth Master Hou doesn’t need to sleep?”
“Apologies, but this matter can’t wait. I must see him immediately,” Chen Xue Wen insisted.
The guard’s patience snapped. “F**k off! Fifth Master Hou is asleep. Whatever you have to say, come back in the morning!”
As the guard moved to close the window, Chen Xue Wen narrowed his eyes. “I truly have urgent business,” he muttered. “Maybe you should take a look at this before deciding whether or not to inform him.”
With that, he hoisted a bag and pushed it through the window.
The guard scowled. “What the hell is this? Smells f**king awful!”
His curiosity got the better of him, and he opened the bag—only for a severed head, bloodied and grotesque, to roll out.
“Aaaah!” The guard shrieked, stumbling back in horror. His panicked cries alarmed the bodyguards inside.
Within moments, several of Fifth Master Hou’s men rushed outside, demanding to know what had happened. The guard, still trembling, pointed to the severed head on the ground.
The men exchanged nervous glances before one of them mustered the courage to ask, “What the f**k do you think you’re doing?! You trying to scare us with this sh*t?”
Chen Xue Wen remained calm. “That’s Zhou Wan Cheng’s head. I know he had dealings with Fifth Master Hou. That’s why I’m here—to talk.”
His words sent ripples of shock through the guards. They knew Zhou Wan Cheng was protected by Fifth Master Hou. Killing him wasn’t a trivial matter.
One of the bodyguards turned and sprinted inside to inform Fifth Master Hou. Meanwhile, the remaining guards surrounded Chen Xue Wen, making it clear that he wouldn’t be allowed to leave.
Chen Xue Wen stood his ground, unfazed. He had anticipated this reaction. Bringing Zhou Wan Cheng’s head ensured that Fifth Master Hou would see him.
Sure enough, lights flickered on inside the villa. Minutes later, a guard stepped out. “Fifth Master Hou says let him in. But he gets searched first.”
Several men seized Chen Xue Wen, patting him down thoroughly. He had expected this and came unarmed. He knew better than to bring weapons into the den of a crime lord.
Once the search was done, the guards led him inside.
The villa’s grand hall was already filled with a dozen bodyguards. At the center sat Fifth Master Hou, an elderly man with graying hair, dressed in pajamas. A voluptuous woman, pale-skinned and stunning, knelt beside him, delicately serving tea.
As Chen Xue Wen approached, a few bodyguards moved to block his path. Fifth Master Hou took a slow sip of tea before finally speaking.
“So, you must be Chen Xue Wen?”
Chen Xue Wen met his gaze. “You know me?”
Fifth Master Hou shook his head. “Not personally. But Zhou Wan Cheng borrowed some of my men to deal with you. And now you show up here with his head. No need to guess who you are.”
Chen Xue Wen inhaled deeply. “Fifth Master Hou, you’re as sharp as they say.”
Without a word, Fifth Master Hou accepted the lit pipe from the woman at his side and took a deep drag. Smoke coiled around his face as he exhaled slowly, watching Chen Xue Wen.
“So, what do you want?”
Chen Xue Wen straightened his posture. “I want to live. And I need Fifth Master Hou to give me a way out.”
His words drew stares from everyone in the room. Even the woman beside Fifth Master Hou gave him a surprised glance.
Fifth Master Hou exhaled another puff of smoke before bursting into laughter. “Kid, did I hear you right? You kill my friend, bring me his head, and now you expect me to let you live? You think I’m an idiot, or do you just have a death wish?”
Chen Xue Wen’s expression remained unshaken. “Fifth Master Hou, was Zhou Wan Cheng truly your friend? If so, you can kill me now, and I won’t say another word. But if he wasn’t, then perhaps we still have something to discuss.”
A sharp gleam flickered in Fifth Master Hou’s eyes as he studied Chen Xue Wen, as if weighing his worth. The silence stretched, thick with tension.
Then, after a long pause, Fifth Master Hou chuckled. “You’re an interesting one. No wonder you broke out of Peaceful City Prison, turned the entire Law Enforcement Team against you, and still had the guts to bring Zhou Wan Cheng’s head to my doorstep.”
He leaned back, his grin widening. “Alright. I’ll hear you out. You want to live? Give me a reason not to kill you.”
Chen Xue Wen let out a slow breath. He had won the first gamble.
Fifth Master Hou never truly considered Zhou Wan Cheng a friend. That meant there was still a chance.
Reaching into his pocket, Chen Xue Wen pulled out half a notebook. “I offer this as a trade. Is it enough?”
One of the guards took the notebook and handed it to Fifth Master Hou. He flipped through the pages, his eyes flashing with intrigue.
After a moment, Fifth Master Hou smirked. “Kid, has no one ever taught you that in a negotiation, you never show all your cards too soon?”
He set the notebook aside. “Now that I have these documents, what do you have left to bargain with?”
Chen Xue Wen chuckled. “Who said that was everything? If I’m making a deal, why would I put all my chips on the table at once?”
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation