Chapter 116: Such Is Human Nature

Although the old madman’s probing moves were merely a trial, Chen Erpao keenly sensed the exquisite techniques and the surging, inexhaustible internal energy behind them. Neither had exerted their true strength, yet the spectacle was profoundly shocking to those watching.

Xie Ding had always been skeptical of the rumors circulating in the underworld about Chen Erpao possessing a martial prowess that could make gods and buddhas retreat, dismissing them as mere exaggerations. However, he had now witnessed and felt it with his own eyes. The two figures were so intertwined that he could only see blurred afterimages; the disparity in their abilities was self-evident.

Chen Erpao replied with genuine pleasure, "It is my honor to treat you to a drink, senior. Liu Huagang and I are brothers who have shared life and death. Since you are his savior, you are mine as well."

"Good, good! It wasn't in vain that I saved that brat back then. I’m starving. Come on, let’s go get some food and drinks!"

The old madman walked straight outside without a care for his disheveled appearance or the strange looks from passersby. Chen Erpao followed behind, shaking his head with a bitter smile, as they had effectively become the old man’s entourage.

They found a restaurant that was relatively upscale for this small district. The old madman led the way inside, but an unpleasant scene immediately unfolded. A plump, middle-aged woman adorned in gold and silver, her face caked with a thick layer of foundation, rushed over and blocked their path, her eyes filled with undisguised disgust.

"Where did this stinking beggar come from? Get out, get out! Don't get in the way of my business!"

The old madman did not get angry, as if he were long accustomed to such treatment. He merely smiled faintly, "I have money. Money is coming to your door—why are you refusing to do business?"

The landlady’s expression remained unchanged. "Get out! I don't want your money. Look at yourself—how dare you think of eating in an establishment like this? You’re scaring away my customers. Go on, get out!"

Just as everyone expected the old man to explode in rage, he remained amiable, wearing a faint smile. He turned his head and uttered a remark that left everyone stunned: "You kids, handle this as you see fit. I’ve taken a liking to this place, and I’m not going anywhere else."

The landlady was incensed. "What did you say, you stinking beggar? You’re really going to be a nuisance, aren't you? Do you believe that I—"

Before she could finish, an object flew from Liu Huagang’s hand like a streak of light, striking her face heavily.

"Ah!" The landlady cried out, clutching her face in pain. Her eyes flashed with fury, but as she looked down, she found a thick stack of banknotes—Chinese yuan—lying at her feet. It was clearly what had just struck her.

Liu Huagang’s voice sounded, cold and detached: "Enough talk. We’ve booked this entire place for today. Bring all your best food and wine for this elder."

The landlady, whose face had been twisted with anger moments before, saw the thick stack of cash and immediately beamed, her pain forgotten as if by a spring breeze. "My apologies! Please, come in, come in!"

The old madman merely glanced at her coldly, seemingly indifferent to the earlier unpleasantness. Chen Erpao and the others were long used to such things; this was simply how society functioned.

The landlady’s conduct was contemptible, and the money Liu Huagang threw would not be a gift. From tomorrow on, this restaurant would be a primary target for the Yi Sect’s "protection fees."

The five men sat in a spacious private room. The old madman ordered nearly twenty dishes and several types of fine wine. Before the food even arrived, he had already begun drinking. Within an hour, they had each finished nearly two bottles of spirits. While everyone except Xie Ding possessed the ability to metabolize the alcohol, they chose not to. Xie Ding was soon passed out on the table, and Chen Erpao and the others were flushed and slightly dizzy. The old madman, however, who had drunk the most, seemed unaffected, save for a slight reddening of his face.

Gently emboldened by the alcohol, Liu Huagang couldn't help but ask, "Senior, how did you end up like this? Ten years ago, even though you let me call you the 'Old Madman,' you weren't mad at all. You were well-dressed and refined. How did you end up..."

This was a question that had also been on Chen Erpao’s mind. Based on Liu Huagang’s account and his own experience, the old man was a terrifyingly powerful martial artist. Why had he fallen into such a disheveled, beggarly state? Furthermore, after teaching Xie Ding the "Eight Steps of Reversing Chaos," he had specifically warned him against using them easily in front of others, as if avoiding something.

The old madman suddenly shed his irreverent demeanor, his expression sinking into the depths of memory. A shadow of grief, nostalgia, and profound pain surfaced. "I once had a family, and our name was renowned. But years ago, I was framed by the Lian family, a rising power on the mainland. I was severely wounded, and my family suffered a catastrophic collapse—some died, others went missing. To seek revenge, I fled everywhere, hiding from pursuers while healing my wounds, eventually arriving in Hong Kong."

"In public, I play the part of a disheveled, unremarkable old man. In the shadows, I have been biding my time. I forbade Xie Ding from using those steps, and I keep my presence here a secret, all to avoid my enemies. I have learned that the Lian family’s second-strongest expert, their Great Elder, has brought a group of elites to Hong Kong. If I were fully healed, I could kill him within fifty moves, but now... with the others he brought, I fear I will have to move again in a few days to avoid implicating Xie Ding."

"Senior, if not for you, I would be nothing but dust today," Liu Huagang said earnestly. "No matter who they are, I won't let them harm you unless they step over my dead body. We have some influence in Tuen Mun now; please move into our sect’s headquarters. I will arrange protection and seek out the finest doctors and herbs so you may recover."

Chen Erpao added, "Senior, you still have a blood debt to settle. Your priority must be to recover your strength in safety."

The old madman pondered for a moment, hesitating, but finally nodded. It was clear to everyone that beneath his playful, eccentric exterior lay a deep, agonizing sorrow and a burning desire for vengeance.

After their meal, they rose to leave. Just as they reached the door, a graceful figure collided with Liu Huagang, sending the lunchboxes she was carrying crashing to the ground.

"Ah, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!" The panicked girl apologized profusely, her hands clenched tightly.

Liu Huagang smiled faintly, unbothered by the grease stains on his clothes. "It's fine, you didn't mean it. Be more careful next time."

"No," the young woman said resolutely, looking up. Everyone saw then that she was a great beauty, with porcelain skin and a delicate, blushing face. She was wearing a restaurant uniform. "Please, take off your jacket. I will wash it and return it to you."

Liu Huagang waved his hand. "Really, it’s not necessary. I can wash it myself."

Despite her shyness, the girl was stubborn. "I can't. Your coat looks so expensive, and I ruined it. It’s only right that I clean it. I'm already grateful you aren't making me pay for it. Please, take it off, or I won't be able to rest easy."

Seeing her persistence, Liu Huagang took off his jacket, left his address and phone number, and couldn't help but linger on her for a moment as they left.

It was a trivial, mundane event that the others paid little mind to—except for Liu Huagang, who was struck by the girl’s simple sincerity.

The following night, after work, Chen Erpao was at the temporary headquarters of the Yi Sect when he noticed a hesitant, fearful figure lingering at the entrance. He didn't pay much attention until ten minutes had passed.

Just as he was about to tell a subordinate to check on the situation, Liu Huagang walked over with a rare, faint glow of happiness on his face. Chen Erpao then realized the person outside was the pretty waitress from the restaurant, holding the freshly cleaned jacket.

He couldn't help but smile. Wang Xing and he had both found their lifelong partners, but Liu Huagang had been alone. He tactfully signaled for the guards to clear the area, leaving the two of them alone.