The evening air over Yedong City carried the salt of the sea and the low growl of cargo ships docking in the industrial haze of the Black Gold Island harbor. The sky was a bruised purple, clouds rolling in from the east where the Korean Peninsula lay invisible beyond the horizon. The pier was alive with the clatter of forklifts and the shouts of dockworkers unloading crates stamped with both Chinese and Korean characters, but at the far end of Wharf Seven, a small crowd of men in dark suits stood in a tight formation, their eyes scanning the approaching vessel with practiced vigilance.
Piao Dagen stood at the head of his men, his squat frame planted firmly on the concrete like a bulldog ready to charge. He was only one hundred fifty-five centimeters tall, barely reaching the shoulders of the men beside him, but his body was a block of dense muscle honed by years of street fights and labor on the docks before his father had promoted him to leadership. His face was plain, almost ugly, with a broad nose and thick eyebrows that gave him a permanent scowl, but his eyes held a desperate fire tonight. The Big Gate Gang had been his father's life's work, a small-time Korean outfit that had scraped by on local protection rackets and a few smuggling routes, and now that the Bamboo Organization had poisoned the old man and left him bedridden, the weight of the entire gang's survival rested on Dagen's shoulders.
The ship eased into the berth, a modest cargo vessel with rust along its hull and a Chinese flag fluttering at the stern. Dagen watched as the gangplank lowered, and two figures emerged from the shadows of the bridge, stepping into the glow of the harbor lights.
The woman was impossible to ignore. Yimeier, the eldest daughter of the Dark Dragon Gang's boss, moved with an unhurried grace that made the dockworkers pause mid-task. Her wavy chestnut hair caught the wind, cascading over her shoulders, and her height of one hundred seventy-five centimeters was accentuated by the fitted black dress she wore, a subtle thing that did nothing to hide the full swell of her breasts or the generous curve of her hips. Her legs were long, bare, and toned, carrying her with the confidence of someone who had never needed to prove her worth through violence. But it was her face that held Dagen's attention—a soft, maternal beauty with large eyes that seemed to hold warmth even when she was assessing a stranger. She was the kind of woman who could smile at an enemy and make them forget why they were angry.
Beside her, Liqing was a stark contrast. The eldest son of the Black Tortoise Gang's boss stood at one hundred seventy centimeters, lean to the point of frailty, with narrow shoulders and a boyish face that made him look younger than his thirty years. He wore a simple gray jacket over a white shirt, his hands tucked into his pockets as he walked with a casual, unhurried step. There was no menace in him, no swagger. He looked like a university lecturer who had accidentally wandered into a criminal negotiation, but the tattoo crawling up his neck—a coiled tortoise in black ink—marked him as one of the most protected men in the underworld.
Dagen stepped forward as they reached the dock, his men parting to let him through. He bowed slightly at the waist, his hands pressed together in a respectful greeting. "Miss Yimeier, Master Liqing, welcome to Yedong City. I have arranged a seaside inn for your stay. Please, allow me to escort you."
Yimeier returned the bow with a graceful nod. "Thank you, Boss Piao. We appreciate your hospitality."
"Please, call me Dagen. We are all brothers here," he said, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. He gestured toward a black sedan idling at the edge of the pier, its engine humming low. "The car is ready. We can talk on the way."
Liqing yawned, covering his mouth with the back of his hand. "Long trip. The sea air makes me sleepy."
They walked to the sedan, and Dagen held the door open for Yimeier, who slid into the back seat with a fluid motion. Liqing followed, sitting close to her, and Dagen took the front passenger seat, his driver—a thick-necked Korean man named Min—pulling smoothly away from the docks.
The streets of Yedong City unfolded through the tinted windows. It was a strange place, this island metropolis, a hybrid of Chinese and Korean influences that had grown organically over decades of smuggling, trade, and uneasy alliances. The main boulevard was lined with neon signs in both languages, restaurants serving kimchi jjigae alongside xiaolongbao, and convenience stores selling soju and baijiu from the same refrigerated shelf. The upper levels of the city were clean, orderly, policed by municipal authorities who turned a blind eye to the real power structures beneath the surface. But the lower levels—the alleys, the basements, the underground markets—were the domain of the gangs.
Dagen cleared his throat, twisting in his seat to face his guests. "I will be direct, if you don't mind. My father is dying. The Bamboo Organization sent a man to his office last month, pretending to negotiate a partnership. They poisoned his tea. He survived, but barely. He cannot speak, cannot move. I am the acting boss now, and I am telling you both plainly: the Bamboo Organization has plans for this island. They want to take control of all underground operations. They have already approached my distributors, my informants, even my own lieutenants. They offer better terms, but the terms are always a trap. Once they have you, they own you."
Yimeier listened without interrupting, her hands folded in her lap. She was calm, her expression unreadable. "We have heard similar reports from our own contacts on the island. The Bamboo Organization has been aggressive lately, expanding into territory that belongs to other families. But the Dark Dragon Gang has been allies with the Black Tortoise Gang for three generations. We do not make decisions lightly."
"I am not asking for a decision tonight," Dagen said, his voice earnest, almost pleading. "I am asking you to consider. The Big Gate Gang has survived here for forty years because we know the island. We know the Koreans on the streets, the fishermen in the ports, the merchants in the markets. If the three of us stand together, the Bamboo Organization cannot compete. They are outsiders here. We are not."
Liqing leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Brother Dagen, I understand your urgency. But the Dark Dragon Gang is still the largest force on this island. The Bamboo Organization is ambitious, but they are not stupid. They will not move against us directly until they are sure they can win. That gives us time. Time to investigate, time to plan, and time to enjoy this city we have never properly visited." He smiled, a relaxed, almost lazy expression. "I say we take a few days. See the sights. Eat the food. Let the Big Gate Gang show us what this island has to offer. Business can wait until our stomachs are full."
Dagen hesitated, then nodded slowly. "You are right, of course. It is my anxiety speaking. My father... he always told me that patience is a weapon. I forget that sometimes." He turned back to face the road. "I will take you to your gang's island headquarters first. The local captains have been informed of your arrival. After that, I have a seaside inn reserved. It is not the Glass Hotel—that is unfortunately closed for renovations—but it is comfortable and private."
"That sounds perfect," Yimeier said, her voice gentle. "Thank you, Brother Dagen."
The car drove through the winding streets of the commercial district, past a row of karaoke bars and massage parlors, until it reached a nondescript building on a side street. A small plaque beside the door bore the emblem of a coiled dragon in gold. Yimeier and Liqing spent a brief hour inside, meeting with the local Dark Dragon and Black Tortoise operatives, reviewing reports and confirming that their respective operations were stable. Dagen waited outside, smoking a cigarette and watching the street, his mind churning with possibilities and fears.
When they emerged, the sun had fully set, and the city's neon glow painted the night in red and blue. Dagen drove them to the edge of the coast, where a row of cliffside inns overlooked the dark water. The inn he had chosen was modest—a two-story building with a wooden deck and paper lanterns hanging from the eaves. The sound of waves lapped against the rocks below.
"This is the place," Dagen said, pulling into the gravel lot. He turned off the engine and faced them. "I am sorry I cannot offer you the luxury of the Glass Hotel. When it reopens, I will be the first to welcome you back as my honored guests."
Yimeier smiled. "This is lovely. The sea is beautiful at night."
Dagen nodded, then stepped out of the car. He watched as a porter from the inn escorted them inside, carrying their luggage. He lingered for a moment, his hands in his pockets, then climbed back into the sedan. "Drive," he said to Min. "We have work to do."
The inn room was simple but clean. A large bed with white linens faced a window that opened onto a small balcony, where the sound of the waves was a constant, soothing rhythm. The walls were paneled in light wood, and a single lamp cast a warm glow over the room.
Liqing flopped onto the bed, his body sinking into the mattress with a sigh. "Finally. Solid ground. I was starting to get seasick on that boat, but I didn't want to say anything in front of the crew."
Yimeier laughed softly, setting her small bag on the dresser. "You should have said something. We could have stopped at a port."
"And miss the chance to look strong in front of Brother Dagen? Never." He reached for the television remote, clicking through channels until he found a nature documentary about deep-sea fish. "This is nice. Quiet. No bodyguards, no meetings, no one asking us to make decisions."
Yimeier disappeared into the bathroom, and soon the sound of running water joined the waves outside. Liqing watched the television absently, his eyelids growing heavy, until the bathroom door opened and he forgot how to breathe.
She stood in the doorway, wearing a black lace bodysuit that left little to the imagination. The fabric was sheer, hugging the curves of her breasts and the dip of her waist before flaring at her hips. Her skin was still damp from the shower, and her wet hair clung to her shoulders, dark as ink against her pale skin. She smiled at him, a soft, intimate expression that belonged only to the two of them.
"You look comfortable," she said, walking toward the bed with a sway that was both teasing and affectionate.
Liqing set the remote aside, his mouth suddenly dry. "I was. Now I'm not sure what I am."
She laughed, a sound like warm honey, and climbed onto the bed beside him. She stretched out, arching her back like a cat, her body pressing against the sheets as she let out a contented sigh. "The trip was long. I missed you, even though you were right there on the boat with me."
"I was always right there," he said, his voice husky.
"I know." She rolled onto her side, propping her head on her hand, and looked at him with those large, gentle eyes. "But now we're alone. No business. No alliances. Just us."
She reached down, her fingers trailing over his stomach, then lower, finding the soft bundle of flesh between his legs. She stroked him gently, feeling him stir, growing firm in her hand until he reached his full length—eight centimeters, as it always was, no more, no less. She had never known any other man, had never wanted to know. This was Liqing. This was the boy she had played with as a child in the gardens of her father's compound, the boy who had held her hand when she was scared of the dark, the boy she had promised to marry when they were both too young to understand what that meant.
She lowered her head, her lips brushing against his skin, and took him into her mouth. She was
(本章内容较长,当前页面已截取部分内容)