Chapter Twenty-Two: Wu the Cannon

"What are you panicking for!" Long Xiaoman slammed her wine glass heavily onto the table and snapped at the man, "Hurry up and notify Limping Li, tell him to handle this!"

The man, face drawn and miserable, replied, "Sister Long, we've all been played. Wu Cannon and Limping Li are in cahoots. Now both of their gangs are storming in—there's no way they're letting us live!"

"What!" Long Xiaoman's willow-like brows shot up, and she leapt to her feet. "So, Limping Li, you dare to play tricks on me? Today, I'll make sure both your legs are useless!"

Without another word, she whipped a gleaming machete from behind the chair, strode to the door, and tossed a look back at Yang Jiekai, "You, get out the back door. Now!"

Yang Jiekai nodded vigorously. "Okay, where is the back door?"

Long Xiaoman shot him a glare full of contempt, then barked at the man beside her, "Take him out!"

Yang Jiekai's earlier reaction had disappointed Long Xiaoman greatly. She had hoped for a hero, but he had proven to be just another coward.

The Dragon Palace Bar had been won at great risk by Long Xiaoman. Though she and her gang dabbled in petty crimes and scams, their main income came from her monthly share as the bar’s protector.

Limping Li and Wu Cannon were each heads of other rogue gangs in Anhai City. Limping Li was especially notorious for his treachery—just recently, he’d formed an alliance with Long Xiaoman, only to turn on her with Wu Cannon to smash up her territory.

"Limping Li, you bastard! Do you think you won’t be cursed with a son born without an asshole for this betrayal?"

Long Xiaoman stood, machete in hand, her presence undiminished by any man. The brawl in the bar froze at her commanding stance.

Limping Li, small and withered, his leg crippled years ago in a street fight, sneered at her. "People climb up, water runs down. Besides, I’m forty-something and still unmarried. If you’d marry me, I wouldn’t care what kind of son I had."

"Spare me your crap! You should look in the mirror before you even dream of having a chance with me in your next life!" Long Xiaoman snapped.

Wu Cannon, standing at Li’s side, laughed. "Don’t be fooled by his limp—his other leg works just fine. Marry him and you’ll be begging for more, over and over."

"Enough! You have one minute to get out, or don’t blame me for what happens next!" Long Xiaoman had roamed the underworld since her youth. She was never daunted by numbers.

"I think that line should come from me," Wu Cannon said, stroking his shiny bald head and eyeing her with malice. "You’re the one who should leave the Dragon Palace. Take my advice: pack up and leave Anhai, find yourself a farmer and settle down. This world isn’t for women—unless, of course, you want a real thrill and pick us both, ha!"

"Get them! Hack these fools to pieces!" Long Xiaoman’s face flushed with fury as she charged, machete swinging.

The gangs clashed again, but this time Wu Cannon and Limping Li were prepared, arriving with overwhelming numbers and blocking every exit. Their intention was clear: they would not rest until the Dragon Palace was theirs.

Though Long Xiaoman fought valiantly, her street-learned skills and wild, unorthodox style making her a match for several men at once, this time her enemies were too many. Within minutes, her side was beaten down and the bar lay in ruins.

"Long Xiaoman, don’t blame me. This is how things work. I was going to settle old and new scores, break your arm, and toss you onto the street. But since you’re a woman, just leave now and I’ll let you be," Limping Li said, wiping blood from his face, his small eyes cold as ice.

"If you want me to leave the Dragon Palace, you’ll have to kill me first!" Long Xiaoman panted, but her gaze was fearless. This wasn’t bravado—she meant every word. She had fought hard for this place; if she gave up now, she and her brothers would be back to scraping by day to day. She’d sooner die.

Just then, a cool voice came from the side. "I think the bald one’s right. Live to fight another day."

"Who said that!" Wu Cannon roared. He hated being called bald, and his receding hairline made him look even older than Limping Li.

A slightly thin, pale young man had somehow appeared, sitting calmly in a booth, peeling a banana.

"Didn’t I tell you to leave? Why are you back?" Long Xiaoman’s heart clenched at the sight of Yang Jiekai, but at the same time she felt a warmth—at least this man hadn’t abandoned her.

"I don’t have many hobbies, but I do enjoy a good show. Watching you all fight was too entertaining, and I wanted to eat a banana," Yang Jiekai replied as if nothing around him concerned him. He tore off a banana, walked unhurriedly to Long Xiaoman, and offered it to her. "Want a banana? Nice and big."

Long Xiaoman was near tears. She knew Yang Jiekai could fight, but the enemy had come with over a hundred men; coming back was suicide.

"Who are you with, kid?" Wu Cannon, a veteran of the streets, sensed something off about this calm young man and decided to probe before striking.

Yang Jiekai ignored him and handed the banana to Long Xiaoman, grinning. "Finish the phrase: 'Shoot the horse first...'"

Long Xiaoman blinked. "'Catch the king first,' right?"

Yang Jiekai nodded. "You eat the banana; I’ll go fetch two kings, and we’ll play cards." With that, his figure blurred.

Bang!

He struck Wu Cannon’s neck with a knife-hand chop, dropping the burly man instantly. Limping Li was less fortunate—Yang Jiekai’s fist sank into his gut, and then a knee drove into his face with a crunch, shattering his nose.

"Anyone who wants to live, get out now!" Yang Jiekai roared. The thugs shuddered—no one had even seen him move, and already their bosses were down.

Yang Jiekai picked up a machete from the floor. "I’ll start counting. For every count, I’ll give your boss a cut. Don’t worry; I won’t kill him. But when he wakes up, he’ll know who to blame. One!"

With that, he slashed Wu Cannon’s back, cutting through skin, flesh, and fabric.

"Wait!" At last, one of the underlings, sweating profusely, shouted. "Stop! We’ll go!"

He was terrified—not just by the violence, but by Yang Jiekai’s words. If anything happened to the bosses tonight, they’d be the first to pay.

When the mob finally scrambled out, Long Xiaoman stood there, still holding the big banana, stunned.

"I’ve solved two big problems for you—so, how will you thank me?" Yang Jiekai said playfully, eyeing her as she clutched the banana.

Suddenly coming to her senses, Long Xiaoman gazed at Yang Jiekai with stars in her eyes, as if meeting her idol. She ordered her men to clean up the mess, then dragged Yang Jiekai straight to a hotel.

"Hold on, you’re not really going to thank me with your body, are you?" Yang Jiekai joked.

"That’s exactly what I mean," Long Xiaoman replied bluntly. "I already told you, I like you. From now on, you’re my man."

Without giving him a chance to protest, she pulled him into a hotel room, closed her eyes, and whispered softly, "No matter how many women you have out there, right now, I’m yours."

Long Xiaoman’s figure was flawless, her seductive charm undeniable. Yang Jiekai was no saint; faced with such a direct invitation, there was no need to play the gentleman—he wasn’t one anyway.

"You’re the one who started this," he said, and kissed her deeply. Soon, they tumbled onto the bed together.

After their passionate encounter, Long Xiaoman lay naked in Yang Jiekai’s arms, soft as a kitten. "Jiekai, from now on, you’re the boss of the Dragon Hall."

"Don’t," Yang Jiekai said, lighting a cigarette as he leaned against the headboard. "I have no interest in the underworld. Besides, I told you—I have a wife waiting for me at home."

"I don’t care," Long Xiaoman replied, gazing up at him with tender eyes. "You can have as many women as you want, but I’m sincere. It doesn’t bother me."

"But it bothers me." Yang Jiekai stubbed out his cigarette and dressed quickly. "I have to go—my wife’s waiting for me."

He half-meant what he said. He and Han Ning were only married by contract, with no real feelings between them. He didn’t see this as a betrayal, but he had no intention of getting further involved with a woman like Long Xiaoman.

He’d been with many women before; it was always consensual, with no promises after a night or two.

Seeing Yang Jiekai dressing so casually, Long Xiaoman was furious. She grabbed the ashtray and hurled it at him. "Yang Jiekai, do you think I’m dirty? That I’m not a virgin? That I’m just some easy woman?"