HongKong1960

Chapter 4: Cutting His Teeth

I didn't really grasp all the organizational details; my mind was entirely focused on avenging Ah Fung, so I just vaguely agreed.

That night, Ah Yi told me not to go home. He took Ah Ho and me out for late-night snacks and beer to prepare for the mission the next day. After eating and drinking, Ah Yi and Ah Ho told me to meet them at the Chun Fung Hotel in Lei Yue Mun at two in the afternoon, and then we went our separate ways.

I couldn’t sleep a wink that night. I didn’t say a word to my parents.

The next day, on my way to Lei Yue Mun, I passed the Catholic Church in Kwun Chung and couldn't help but go in for a look. The choir’s voices were still soaring, and the priest and worshippers were leading prayers.

Seeing this, I suddenly felt a wave of nausea.

They were praising the world’s truth, devoted to faith and love, yet Ah Fung was disgraced and killed by those punks right here, and not a single one of them dared to step in to save her!

The priest saw the dark look on my face. He came over and sat beside me, offering his condolences.

“Ah Man, take heart. May the Lord be with you.”

I stood up and waved him off. “No. The Lord turned a blind eye to what happened to Ah Fung and me!”

With that, I turned and left for Lei Yue Mun to meet up with Ah Yi and Ah Ho.

The three of us met, handed out the 'tools' wrapped in newspaper, and hurried to the old street north of Lei Yue Mun—that’s where Wong Yuen-Ban’s powder den was located.

The damp, fishy sea breeze blew against us. Ah Ho, Ah Yi, and I hid on a seaside reef near the den, quietly waiting for our chance.

“F**k it, the Boss is overestimating us. That punk has so many men around him, how are the three of us supposed to rush in?” Ah Ho mumbled, cigarette dangling from his mouth.

Not far away, countless pale, weak addicts shuffled into the den, paid for their 'powder,' found a corner, and started chasing the dragon (jui lung) in a haze. Lei Yue Mun was a gathering spot for addicts. Before the fifties, people smoked opium, but by the sixties, opium was out, and "flour" (heroin) was in.

A 'powder den' was basically an abandoned, half-finished building—dark and gloomy inside, with endless messy cubicles. One person per cubicle, smoking their 'flour.' The second floor had luxury suites, even with women to smoke alongside you, exclusively for VIP guests.

Wong Yuen-Ban was raking in cash from these dens. At that moment, he was comfortably sitting in a wicker chair, teasing a bird in a cage, while a couple of pretty girls massaged his legs.

The sight of him filled me with white-hot rage, and I gripped my machete tighter!

But the situation was bad. Wong Yuen-Ban had at least six bodyguards around him, plus maybe seven or eight others guarding the den inside! And it was just the three of us, with three knives.

“Hold on. Wait until it gets dark,” I said through gritted teeth. I didn’t believe this piece of trash would stay surrounded all the time.

“Whatever happens, tonight it’s the three of us, three knives, one life!” I declared to Ah Yi and Ah Ho.

“OK lah. Once we finish this, we’re guaranteed promotion!” Ah Ho replied. He settled back down to wait with me.

It was my first time cutting someone, and I was nervous. Ah Ho and Ah Yi, who joined the gang earlier, tried to reassure me: “Don’t worry, Ah Man. Once you raise the knife and bring it down, you won't be able to stop!”

We smoked two packs of Lucky Strike cigarettes and waited until dusk. As the sky darkened, Wong Yuen-Ban came out, hugging two sexy women in cheongsams (qipao), heading towards his vintage car, ready to go for dinner.

He only took two close-protection guards; the rest stayed inside to watch the place.

“Here’s our chance!” Ah Ho exclaimed excitedly. Ah Yi and I drew our knives at the same time, spat out our cigarettes, and charged down the hillside!

“Hurry, hurry! If we’re slow, that pok gai (i***t) will drive off!” I urged frantically.

The three of us pulled out our machetes, put on black masks, and ran like hell towards the powder den!

Wong Yuen-Ban had just stepped out of the den, and one of his big men was opening his car door. Ah Yi leaped into the air and, in one swift motion, chopped off half that bodyguard's palm!

Wong Yuen-Ban looked stunned, still processing what was happening, only seeing three masked men rushing at him with machetes. He backed away in terror!

Ah Ho followed up, hacking wildly at the other bodyguard, sending "ketchup" (ga zap - blood) flying. The man collapsed onto the car bonnet!

“You son of a b*tch!”

The sight of Wong Yuen-Ban instantly turned all my grief into raging fire. I swung my knife down hard, aiming for his head! He screamed and dodged. I missed, and my knife scraped the car door, sending a shower of sparks!

“Help! They’re trying to cut me!” Wong Yuen-Ban screamed.

I closed in fast, kicked him hard in the back, and followed up with a s***h across his spine, giving him a massive wound! Wong Yuen-Ban cried out and fell to the ground, reaching for the dagger at his waist. I stomped on his hand, raised the knife high, and brought it down towards his face!

“You piece of trash! You dead pok gai!” I roared, hacking wildly at him, knife after knife!

The two women beside Wong Yuen-Ban were terrified, frozen stiff on the spot. I looked down: Wong Yuen-Ban was a bloody mess beneath me, barely breathing from my frantic attack.

“You don’t know who I am, do you? Go kneel before Ah Fung!” I yanked off my mask. Wong Yuen-Ban saw my face, and his eyes dimmed with terror. Before he could scream, I plunged the knife deep into his chest, then pulled it out. Blood splattered all over my face!