Chapter 0008 Dare to Dance with Death

Mutual benefit was part of the equation. Qin Ruohan could alleviate their immediate hardships. Chen Liuge cared little for himself, but Shen Qingwu's health was another matter. Her lingering ailments from past illnesses required expensive herbal treatments.

At this thought, Chen Liuge's eyes narrowed dangerously. A cold fury flickered in their depths.

*"Yanjing bastards… You think I don't know what you did to Qingwu a year ago? Her sickness, her leg—even rivers of your clan's blood won't wash that clean."* He muttered to the night air. *"Two years left. Let's see how many of you sleep soundly then."*

---

The next morning, after dropping Shen Qingwu at school, Chen Liuge pedaled straight to a construction site. Amidst dust and chaos, he found Huang Millionaire—skinny frame bent under sacks of cement.

"Brother Liu!" Huang abandoned his load, scurrying over with a grin. He wiped grimy hands on filthier pants, producing a crumpled pack of "Da Qianmen" cigarettes. "Cheap stuff. Don't mind."

Chen Liuge accepted one, coughing as harsh smoke clawed his throat. "Where'd you even find these relics?"

Huang shrugged. "Cheap."

Surveying Huang's sunken cheeks, Chen Liuge asked, "You pull 80 a day here? Barely feeds you."

Huang's smile stayed bright. "Got a sister in high school back home. Can't let her starve for books. Brains beat brawn."

"Take the foreman's cuts lying down?"

"Ma always said: *'Swallow bitterness, harvest blessings.'*"

A shout interrupted them. Foreman Liu stormed over. "Huang! Slacking off? Half pay today!"

Huang bowed obsequiously. "Right away, boss!"

Once alone, Chen Liuge remarked, "You'll outshine that worm someday."

"Need me for something, Brother Liu?"

Chen Liuge nodded. "Dangerous job. Might get you killed. Still in?"

"In!" No hesitation.

Chen Liuge handed him a crumpled note. Huang scanned it, burned it, face hardening. "Two days?"

"Two."

"No questions?"

"Whatever Brother Liu needs, Old Huang's your man."

---

Two days passed. Chen Liuge loafed—people-watching, legs-admiring. Qin Ruohan's frantic calls went unanswered.

Huang vanished. No word.

On the third evening, as Chen Liuge and Shen Qingwu dined, a bloodied figure limped into the courtyard.

Huang Millionaire—clothes slashed, face bruised, leg gashed—grinned through pain. He tossed bloodstained photos on the table. "Got 'em."

Ignoring the images, Chen Liuge stitched Huang's wounds sans anesthetic. The courtyard echoed with howls.

Afterward, pale but triumphant, Huang lit a cigarette. "Worth it."

The photos revealed a man—Zhou Yun'ang—entwined with multiple women. Huang jabbed a finger at one. "That's Black Dragon Society boss Zhang Yongfu's mistress. Zhou's banging her *and* Zhang's daughter. Talk about balls!"

Chen Liuge's lips curved. "Now *that's* leverage."