The city never truly slept.
Even at three in the morning, the streets outside Golden Phoenix Nightclub were alive with flashing neon lights, rumbling engines, and the muffled laughter of drunk businessmen stumbling out of bars.
Inside the nightclub office, stacks of cash covered the table.
Chen Guoqiang sat quietly in his chair, flipping through a small notebook while one of his men counted the night's earnings.
Across the room, Zhang Qiang leaned against the wall smoking.
"Business is good tonight," Zhang Qiang said.
Chen nodded slightly.
"Weekends usually are."
He closed the notebook.
"What about Huang?"
Zhang Qiang grinned.
"Scared half to death."
Chen raised an eyebrow.
"Did he pay?"
"Not yet," Zhang Qiang replied. "But he will."
Chen looked toward the door.
"And Li Wei?"
As if on cue, the door opened.
Li Wei stepped inside.
He looked different from the exhausted man who had stumbled into the alley only days ago. His clothes were still simple, but his posture had changed. His shoulders were straighter. His gaze calmer.
Chen studied him carefully.
"Sit," Chen said.
Li Wei took a seat across from him.
Chen poured two glasses of whiskey.
"You handled yesterday well," Chen said.
Li Wei accepted the drink.
"I did what you asked."
Chen smiled faintly.
"That's exactly why I like you."
He leaned back in his chair.
"Many men hesitate when they first enter this world."
"But hesitation is dangerous in the underworld."
Zhang Qiang flicked ash from his cigarette.
"Boss, you should've seen him yesterday," Zhang said. "The fat man almost wet himself."
Chen chuckled softly.
Then he turned serious again.
"Tonight, you'll do something different."
Li Wei listened carefully.
Chen slid a small envelope across the table.
Inside were several photographs.
Men standing outside a warehouse.
Trucks parked nearby.
"This warehouse belongs to a man named Liu Jian," Chen explained.
"He used to work with us."
Li Wei looked up.
"Used to?"
Chen's voice turned colder.
"He decided to start doing business on his own."
"Without paying us our share."
Li Wei understood immediately.
Protection money.
In this city, even independence had a price.
"What do you want me to do?" Li Wei asked.
Chen looked directly at him.
"Send a message."
An hour later, Li Wei and Zhang Qiang stood across the street from the warehouse.
The building was large and poorly lit.
A few men smoked near the entrance while a truck unloaded boxes inside.
Zhang Qiang stretched his arms lazily.
"First week in the city," he said.
"And you're already doing this kind of work."
Li Wei kept his eyes on the warehouse.
"You said this city is a jungle."
Zhang grinned.
"Good. You're learning fast."
He handed Li Wei a metal pipe.
"Ready?"
Li Wei took it.
The cold weight of the metal felt strangely natural in his hands.
They crossed the street together.
The guards noticed them immediately.
"Hey," one of them shouted. "What do you want?"
Zhang Qiang didn't slow down.
"We're here for Liu Jian."
The guards exchanged looks.
One of them laughed.
"Boss Liu isn't interested in talking."
Zhang Qiang sighed.
"Pity."
Then everything happened quickly.
Zhang Qiang punched the nearest guard in the face.
The man collapsed instantly.
The other two rushed forward.
Li Wei swung the metal pipe.
It struck one of them across the ribs with a loud crack.
The man screamed and fell to the ground.
The third guard hesitated.
Just long enough for Zhang Qiang to grab him by the collar and slam him against the truck.
"Call Liu Jian," Zhang growled.
Moments later, the warehouse door burst open.
A tall man in a black jacket stormed outside.
Liu Jian.
His eyes burned with anger.
"Chen Guoqiang thinks he can scare me?" Liu Jian shouted.
Zhang Qiang smirked.
"No."
He pointed toward Li Wei.
"He just wants you to meet the new guy."
Liu Jian looked at Li Wei with disbelief.
"This farmer?"
Li Wei stepped forward calmly.
"I'm here to remind you," he said quietly.
"That Boss Chen doesn't like being ignored."
Liu Jian laughed loudly.
Then he suddenly pulled out a knife.
The guards behind him froze.
But Li Wei didn't step back.
The moment Liu Jian lunged—
Li Wei moved.
He swung the metal pipe with all his strength.
The pipe struck Liu Jian's wrist.
The knife clattered onto the ground.
Before Liu Jian could react again, Li Wei grabbed him and slammed him against the truck.
The impact shook the entire vehicle.
Liu Jian gasped in pain.
Li Wei leaned close to him.
His voice was calm.
"Next time you forget who runs this district…"
"…we won't come to talk."
He released him.
Liu Jian slid down the truck, clutching his arm.
Zhang Qiang laughed.
"Good message."
They walked away as the guards helped Liu Jian up.
None of them dared to follow.
Later that night, Chen Guoqiang listened quietly as Zhang Qiang told the story.
Chen's lips slowly curved into a satisfied smile.
"So," Chen said.
"The farmer can fight."
Zhang nodded.
"More than that."
He glanced toward Li Wei, who stood quietly near the window.
"He's not afraid."
Chen stood and walked toward Li Wei.
The city lights glittered outside the glass.
Chen spoke softly.
"In the underworld, fear is weakness."
He placed a hand on Li Wei's shoulder.
"But a man without fear…"
"…can become very powerful."
Li Wei said nothing.
But that night, something important began to spread through the district.
A rumor.
About a new man working for Chen Guoqiang.
A quiet man.
A dangerous man.
A man named Li Wei.
And in the city's dark corners, people were already starting to remember his name.