Capítulo 37: In Hong Kong: The Scenic Peak
Two people entered the bar and looked around. One of them spotted Tang Qing and Murong Feng at the bar, their expression changing slightly. They pulled the person next to them and then turned to leave. This was common in the bar—guests often left if it was too crowded or they didn't like the atmosphere, so no one paid attention.
"They're in this bar, the man and woman sitting at the bar. Watch them, and make your move when they leave!"
"Boss Qian, the owner of this bar is the big boss of the Hung Hing triad. It's best not to cause trouble here. We should wait until they're farther away."
"Fine, also send two more people to the back door. Don't let them slip away!" "Got it, don't worry."
After 2 a.m., "Club 1997" was still bustling. Murong Feng asked curiously, "When does this place close?" Fang Wanyi, looking a bit tired, smiled and said, "It varies. As long as there are guests, we stay open until everyone is satisfied. Since it's the weekend and we're very busy, it looks like we'll be open until 5 or 6 a.m." Business was especially good today, and she was feeling quite exhausted.
Murong Feng was surprised that the bars here stayed open much longer than those in Beijing. Feeling it was time to leave, he turned to Tang Qing and said, "Janney, we have to attend Sisi's concert tomorrow. Let's go back and rest early." Tang Qing, in a great mood from the night and having drunk a few too many cocktails, was slightly tipsy. Her eyes sparkled, and she smiled charmingly at Murong Feng. "Why go back so early? Let's go to Victoria Peak to see the night view!"
Murong Feng frowned slightly, "Janney, you've had too much to drink. Let's go back." Tang Qing, however, was too high-spirited and tipsy to listen. She turned to Fang Wanyi and said, "Little Wolf, give me your car keys. We're going to the Peak to see the night view!" Seeing Tang Qing's charmingly tipsy state, Fang Wanyi shook her head and smiled. She took out a set of car keys from behind the bar and handed them to Murong Feng. "Janney hasn't been this happy in a long time. Why not take her up to the Peak? The night view from the Peak is indeed one of the most beautiful sights in Hong Kong."
Fang Wanyi rarely saw Tang Qing so close with a man, naturally assuming Murong Feng was Tang Qing's romantic interest and wanting to help bring them together.
Hearing this, Murong Feng hesitated for a while. Seeing Tang Qing's slightly drunken but genuinely happy face, different from her usual enchanting demeanor, he couldn't bear to disappoint her. He nodded slightly but said, "But I don't know the way." Fang Wanyi was about to respond when Tang Qing chimed in, "I know the way! I'll drive!" Murong Feng smiled wryly, "You better sit in the passenger seat and guide me." He then turned to Fang Wanyi, "Gigi, could you get me a map of Hong Kong? I can navigate myself with a map." Fang Wanyi laughed and pulled a map from behind the bar, smiling, "Of course, that's a bar essential. Have fun! Oh, and the car is parked out back. Ah Xi, show them to the car."
Tang Qing giggled, her steps unsteady, forcing Murong Feng to support her arm. He felt a headache coming on. Zhong Xi, however, smiled and winked at Murong Feng, saying softly, "Murong, you're quite something. Janney has never gone to the Peak with any other man." Murong Feng paused, suddenly feeling this might not be a good idea. He thought it best to take Tang Qing back to the hotel for a good night's sleep. Tang Qing, still smiling, stumbled forward. As she swayed, Murong Feng quickly steadied her again, just as Zhong Xi pointed to a car, "There's Little Wolf's car."
The alley behind the bar opened up to a wide main road. The streets were lined with parked cars, and Zhong Xi pointed to an old model Hummer H1. Murong Feng looked at the hulking vehicle in astonishment, hesitating, "Is this really Gigi's usual ride?" Zhong Xi, also looking a bit strange, nodded with a wry smile, "Now you understand why Janney calls her a violent beauty..." He patted Murong Feng on the shoulder, "Have fun. The night view from the Peak is absolutely mesmerizing and romantic!"
Murong Feng could only smile wryly. As he opened the car door, he was taken aback by the right-side steering wheel. Tang Qing had already climbed in from the left side, laughing, "Murong, get in! I'll guide you. We're finally going to the Peak to see the night view!" Seeing Tang Qing's joyful expression, Murong Feng could only grit his teeth and get into the driver's seat. Although it felt strange to sit on the right, he was familiar enough with the Hummer's dashboard. Waving goodbye to Zhong Xi, he started the car.
Zhong Xi watched the Hummer hesitantly start and then smoothly drive away. He shook his head with a smile and turned to go back inside when he noticed a car not far away also starting up and quickly following the Hummer. As the car passed him, he heard a faint conversation that made him freeze in shock. "…driving a Hummer…"
Realizing what was happening, Zhong Xi rushed back into the bar and told Fang Wanyi. Upon hearing the news, Fang Wanyi's eyebrows shot up in anger, "How dare some idiots cause trouble on my turf? Get me Ah Bao…wait, I have a better idea. I can finally trick Li Jian into coming out. Haha!" Fang Wanyi's face lit up with a cunning smile as she pulled out her phone to call Li Jian. Zhong Xi could only shake his head and smile wryly. Little Wolf, why aren't you worried about Janney and Murong?
"Mr. Li, why didn't you answer sooner? Were you busy with something important?" Fang Wanyi's words and expression were like a sly fox. "It's 2:30! I was sleeping!" Li Jian really didn't want to take her call but, considering Fang Wanyi was Tang Qing's friend, he had to give her face. He could only hope she wasn't calling for another sparring match.
"Ice Cube came to my bar with a friend tonight. They said they were going to the Peak to see the night view, but it looks like some gang members are following them. You should check it out to prevent any incidents." Fang Wanyi's unexpected words startled Li Jian awake. He gritted his teeth and asked, "Tang Qing is in Hong Kong? What gang members? Don't you, Ms. Fang, know better? Do you really need me to get involved? Haven't you sent someone to protect them?" Fang Wanyi whined, "Mr.Li, I'm just a woman. How could I deal with gang members? You and your team are the city's protectors."
Li Jian had no patience for her nonsense. He knew Fang Wanyi was a boss of one of Hong Kong's largest triads, Hung Hing. But since she was close to Tang Qing, he let it slide. His concern was for Tang Qing, his old commander's beloved sister. If anything happened to her in Hong Kong, he'd have no face to show his commander. He quickly dressed and rushed out of his room, shouting to the guards outside, "Get me First Company's 1st and 2nd squads! We have an emergency!" "Yes, sir!" The guard saluted sharply and went to carry out the order.
Fang Wanyi put down the phone, smiling thoughtfully. She then called over a bartender and said, "Call Ah Nan. Send people to the Peak to protect Tang Qing. She's in my car, so it should be easy to find. Also, call Ah Bao and find out who's causing trouble around Lan Kwai Fong! Some punks are getting too bold!" Her eyes flashed with anger, and the bartender, seeing her expression, nervously complied, wondering who had the audacity to provoke their boss again.
Let's set aside the power plays happening behind the scenes for a moment. Murong Feng was focusing intently on driving, carefully watching the street signs and navigating the way. Although Tang Qing was somewhat drunk, she was still conscious enough to lie back in the passenger seat, giggling and occasionally giving him directions. Murong Feng tried suggesting they go back to the hotel, but Tang Qing, shaking her head with a bright smile, insisted, "No, I want to see the night view from Victoria Peak!" Murong Feng sighed inwardly but continued driving the massive vehicle towards Victoria Peak.
Fortunately, it was late at night, and the empty streets allowed him to safely get accustomed to driving on the right side and handling the Hummer. Before long, he had gotten quite the hang of it.
Finally, they turned onto Island Drive, a coastal road winding around the mountain. The tranquil blue water lay quietly to their left, and Murong Feng felt a sense of peace wash over him, as if the noisy bar from earlier were a distant memory. Tang Qing's giggles had also subsided as she watched the endless, dark blue waves rolling silently.
Murong Feng glanced casually at the rearview mirror and noticed a familiar-looking car that seemed to have been following them for a while. Feeling uneasy, he said, "Janney, it seems like that car has been following us. Could it be Gigi and Zhong Xi?"
Tang Qing straightened up and looked back, then said, "Murong, that's not Little Wolf. Speed up and let's see." Murong Feng nodded, stepped on the gas, and the Hummer roared as it accelerated. The car behind them quickly picked up speed as well. Tang Qing laughed calmly, "Just as I thought, Murong, we're being followed. Don't worry about who it is. Just keep driving. We'll deal with them at the peak before enjoying the night view." Murong Feng, surprised, asked, "Janney, are you sober now?" Tang Qing smiled, "The sea breeze helped a lot." She fell silent again, gazing out at the dark sea and distant lighthouse lights, her mind settling.
While Tang Qing wasn't concerned about the followers, Murong Feng couldn't remain calm. He had never experienced being followed. His heart raced, palms grew sweaty, and he kept glancing at the rearview mirror. This kind of situation was unimaginable in his usually orderly life in Beijing.
As they climbed the mountain road, the car behind them stayed close. Murong Feng, initially nervous, began to feel more at ease. Recalling movies with mountain road chases, he was grateful to be driving a Hummer, which would easily outmatch the small car in a collision. To his own surprise, he found himself almost looking forward to the encounter, and he pressed the gas pedal harder, sending the Hummer speeding through the night.
In the trailing car, the men were cursing. "Damn it, this guy's Hummer is too fast, we can't catch up!" one of them with yellow hair spat out. Another, with a red mohawk, hesitated, "It seems like they're driving Hung Hing's Boss's car. Should we still follow?" A bald, tattooed man slapped him hard, "Scared of a woman? Someday our Dongxing will crush Hung Hing, and I'll take care of that woman myself!" The younger men fell silent, except for Yellow Hair, who flattered, "Ironhead, you're the best! Following you, we'll definitely rise to the top!" Ironhead, pleased with the flattery, stopped fuming and urged them to hurry. "Let's take care of these two lovebirds, get the cash from Qian, so I can go back and find Maggie Cheung to relieve my anger!
The two cars chased each other up to near the peak. Murong Feng noticed the mountain was gradually falling away to the right and said, "Janney, I think we're almost there." Tang Qing, lost in thought, snapped back to reality. She had been gazing at the passing sea and road, reflecting on why she had dragged Murong Feng out to drink and then insisted on coming to Victoria Peak. Her thoughts had become somewhat muddled.
Murong Feng's words brought her back to the present. Her cheeks flushed slightly, though the night concealed it. She looked around and saw the lights of Hong Kong far below. Reaching into the glove compartment, she took out a gun, expertly checked it, and said with a smile, "Little Wolf really likes to keep a gun here."
Her casual handling of the gun startled Murong Feng. The last time he had seen a real gun was when he was a child, handled by his policeman uncle. In China, where gun control was strict, it was rare for ordinary people to encounter real firearms. Yet here was Tang Qing, a stunning beauty he had known for a while, handling a gun as naturally as if it were a makeup brush.
Tang Qing gave him a radiant smile and said, "Murong, park the car and let's deal with these flies so we can enjoy the night view."
Murong Feng silently parked the car. Watching Tang Qing get out, he felt like shouting to the heavens. What a night! Everything felt so off-kilter. Concerned for her safety, he hurried after her. Though nervous about facing mysterious followers, he couldn't let Tang Qing face them alone. Standing beside her, he watched the approaching headlights and asked, "Janney, you can shoot?" Tang Qing's smile was bright. "I've been playing with guns since I was young. I have a proper license. My shooting skills are not inferior to Little Wolf's!" Murong Feng felt reassured hearing this.
As the trailing car approached and saw them waiting, the men were puzzled. Ironhead cursed, "Damn, are these two lovebirds crazy? Why aren't they running?" He ordered Yellow Hair to stop the car, got out, and walked towards them menacingly. Yellow Hair, sensing something was off, quickly called the boss. "Boss, those two stopped at the Lugard Road viewpoint. Something's not right." Their boss, climbing the mountain in another car with Qian Youliang, replied, "Tell Ironhead to be careful, we're almost there." Hanging up, he told Qian, "Qian, we might have stirred up trouble with Hung Hing's Boss. What do you think?"
Qian, though somewhat fearful of Hung Hing, knew the Dongxing group naturally clashed with them. Smiling broadly, he said, "I'm counting on your help, Brother Long. How about I add 50,000 for each brother's hard work and give you an extra 200,000 for drinks? I'm a generous guy!" Brother Long's expression softened, and he patted Qian's shoulder with a laugh. "Qian, you're a big shot. It's only right for us to help out. We're all brothers, right? Haha."
Qian grinned, thinking of how they had ruined his business rivals. The thought of punishing the woman who had offended him and possibly enjoying her that night made his eyes gleam like a wolf's. His previously dignified face turned sinister. Brother Long watched him with both disdain and caution.
Back at the car, Yellow Hair watched Ironhead approach the couple but suddenly freeze as if petrified.
So he sent the red-haired mohawk kid to check, but the boy, sensing danger, stayed put, observing closely.
The red-mohawk kid, holding a foot-long knife, walked up aggressively, shouting, "Damn, you two..." He stopped short upon seeing the smiling beauty in front of him and the gun in her hand. She gestured for him and Ironhead to stand together. Seeing the gun pointed at him, his legs began to tremble, and he dropped the knife. Shaking, he stood next to Ironhead, who, despite his fierce look, didn't dare move.
Tang Qing asked with a smile, "What are you two doing here? Why are you following us?" Ironhead barked, "You two offended someone you shouldn't have. We're here to teach you a lesson." Tang Qing replied casually, "Oh? Who might that be?" Just as Ironhead was about to answer, more headlights appeared on the mountain road, approaching them.
Brother Long, now on foot, had received Yellow Hair's call. "What? They have guns?" He shot Qian a look. Damn, what trouble had Qian stirred up? Still, he had taken the money. He drew his own gun and told the driver, "Drive past them, don't stop." The car drove by without stopping. Tang Qing and Murong Feng, assuming it was a passerby, paid no attention.
Not far ahead, Brother Long got out and sneaked back. Seeing Tang Qing holding a gun on Ironhead and the others, he knew this was serious. Though a ruthless criminal, he knew better than to clash openly with Hung Hing's Boss unless absolutely necessary. He took careful aim, fired, and remarkably hit the gun in Tang Qing's hand, knocking it away. Ironhead and his men saw the gun fly out of her hand and immediately rushed forward, faces lighting up with malice.
Tang Qing felt a sudden shock in her hand, and the gun flew out. Fortunately, her hand was unscathed, but the unexpected situation and her recent drinking caused her reaction to be a bit slow. Watching Ironhead and his men rush at her ferociously, she stood frozen for a moment.
Murong Feng, who had never been in a close-range shootout, didn't react to the gunshot but had been closely monitoring the movements of the men opposite them. In the chaos, he relied on his schoolyard brawling skills and swiftly kicked the red-haired thug in front of him, knocking him down. Ironhead's vicious glare was now just inches away. Thanks to his fencing practice, Murong Feng managed a quick backward leap, pulling Tang Qing with him, and dodged Ironhead's punch.
A sinister voice sounded nearby, "Don't move! Or my gun won't show mercy!" Murong Feng froze immediately, only to be punched in the face by Ironhead, causing him to fall flat on his back. As Ironhead lunged at Tang Qing, she suddenly leaped up and delivered a spinning kick to his face, sending him down as well.
Brother Long walked over with a sneer, pointing his gun at Tang Qing. "Nice moves, miss, but let me warn you again. If you move, my bullets won't discriminate." Tang Qing ignored him and helped Murong Feng up. Seeing the wound on his face, Murong Feng shook his head with a reassuring smile. His mind raced, but he couldn't come up with a solution.
Tang Qing looked at Brother Long calmly, her tone fearless, "Who are you? 14K? Triads? Dongxing? Or Hung Hing? Do you know who I am?" Brother Long's smile faltered. This woman's reaction was unusual. After a moment's thought, he replied, "It doesn't matter who I am. We don't know you. We're just here for the money. But you might recognize him." He pointed behind him, and out of the shadows stepped Qian Youliang, grinning triumphantly. "Miss, we meet again. Now you should recognize me, right?" Qian Youliang said smugly.
Tang Qing looked at him with pity, as if already seeing his miserable fate. Shaking her head, she said, "Although you don't look smart, I thought you had some sense. But now you're courting death..." She couldn't be bothered to finish. Such a person was as easy to squash as an ant. Now she needed to think of a way out.
Murong Feng suddenly nudged her arm. Tang Qing looked at him and saw him signaling towards the right. He had observed that the slope on that side was gentler, with a small grove below that could offer cover. If they were to escape, this was the best direction. Tang Qing's eyes lit up, and she nodded slightly. Facing Brother Long, she said calmly, "Li Jian, the captain of the Special Forces in Hong Kong, is my good friend." Brother Long's face immediately changed color, and as his gun hand involuntarily lowered. Tang Qing saw her chance.
She quickly grabbed Murong Feng, who was already prepared, and they both leaped towards the slope. The others cursed and rushed forward, but they could only watch as the two figures rolled quickly down towards the grove below. It was too late to chase them now, and rolling down a slope for a bit of money didn't seem worth it. They all looked to Brother Long.
Brother Long's face alternated between green and red with fury. Special Forces? Damn, since 1997, they were the most formidable armed group in Hong Kong. Compared to them, the police SWAT team were like kindergarteners. Any of their soldiers could sneak up and kill him in his sleep with ease. He had almost kidnapped a friend of their captain?
Watching the two disappear down the slope, Brother Long thought bitterly, if you hadn't jumped, I wouldn't have dared to touch you after you said that! Unless I silenced you, but with so many witnesses, I'd be found out eventually. Why did you have to jump? His regret was indescribable. Seeing Qian Youliang standing there, dumbfounded, looking in the direction they had jumped, Brother Long felt like slapping him hard. He glared at his men and barked, "What are you looking at? Let's go, damn it!" He kicked a stone in frustration.
Suddenly, lights blazed, and several military jeeps with flashing lights rushed up the mountain path, stopping quickly beside them. A chorus of "Don't move!" and the sound of guns being cocked filled the air. Brother Long was terrified and quickly threw his gun down, raising his hands.
Meanwhile, Tang Qing, still tightly held by Murong Feng, felt dazed as they rolled down the slope, not knowing where they were. She felt branches and leaves scratch and bruise her body, but Murong Feng's arms took most of the impact. Her face was buried in his chest, protected from harm.
When they finally stopped rolling, Murong Feng lay there, feeling as if his whole body was in pain. His bare arms burned from numerous scrapes, but at least Tang Qing was unhurt. Looking up, he saw the distant lights of the viewpoint and wondered what was happening up there.
Tang Qing raised her head and saw Murong Feng's face, dirt-covered and scratched. Her heart ached. Struggling to her feet, she noticed her skirt was torn, and her fair legs bore several scratches. They looked quite disheveled. She then saw Murong Feng's injuries and was horrified.
Murong Feng's body was scraped in several places, and his arms were bleeding badly from deep cuts he had sustained protecting her. Despite the pain, Murong Feng smiled, "It looks like they didn't chase after us!" Tang Qing tore a piece of her skirt to bandage his wounds and said, "They're just hired thugs. Rolling down the slope after us wasn't worth it for them. I should have realized they had another car with guns. If we hadn't stopped, they couldn't have done much to us. Murong, I'm sorry!"
Murong Feng laughed, "No big deal. Tonight was quite thrilling. I've never faced gangsters like that before, with real guns. It was exciting! Haha." He was feeling a primal exhilaration despite the danger, thinking about how he had rolled down the slope to escape. "Janney, you looked amazing handling that gun. You have to teach me sometime!" He suddenly felt a need to become stronger, imagining how he would protect Ye Zi if they ever faced such danger.
Tang Qing, moved by his comforting smile under the starlight, felt her emotions surge. Despite being strong, she was still a woman, and after such an ordeal, she felt a powerful need for warmth and support. Unable to control herself, she suddenly hugged Murong Feng tightly.
"Murong, thank you!" she murmured, not even sure what she was saying. Murong Feng, startled, almost pushed her away but felt her trembling and sighed inwardly. Given the night's events, her reaction was understandable. He gently held her, patting her back and soothing her, "It's okay. We're safe now."
Their light clothing was now torn in several places, and they stood tightly embraced. Tang Qing's soft, warm body pressed against Murong Feng, trembling slightly. The intimate contact in such an unexpected situation created an indescribable feeling.
After a while, Murong Feng smiled and said, "Janney, let's try to find a way back to the road." Tang Qing reluctantly let go, feeling a bit shy. Nodding, they held hands and supported each other as they walked. Neither spoke for a long time.
Both were lost in their thoughts. Murong Feng, feeling the earlier tension subside, wanted to steer the conversation away from their recent close encounter. He pointed to the view and said, "Janney, look, the night view of Hong Kong is beautiful from here. I wonder how it compares to the view from the peak."
Tang Qing, understanding his intent to move past their emotional moment, smiled. "It's probably similar. Anyway, we've seen the night view from Victoria Peak tonight!" They shared a smile, as if nothing unusual had happened.
Standing side by side, they gazed at the sea of lights below. The bustling Central District, Kowloon, and Victoria Harbor were all visible, with the brightly lit skyscrapers of Hong Kong forming a brilliant tapestry against the dark sea. The occasional brightly lit ferry passing through the harbor was like a shooting star across the night sky, adding to the magnificent scene.
Suddenly, a deep voice called out from a few steps behind, "Miss Tang, are you alright? We've apprehended those men." Tang Qing replied calmly, "Thank you, Li Jian. You arrived quickly." She continued standing with Murong Feng, looking down at the beautiful night view of Hong Kong.
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