As the first leaves of autumn drifted down at dawn, a symphony of voices rose, blending with the tumultuous stream of students pouring out from the campus gates.
Emerging from the edifice, each student seamlessly transitioned into their respective cars, heading towards the mysteries of home and lives unrevealed.
In the midst of the dispersing crowd stood a lone silhouette—Jin Hao. His eyes traversed the sea of departing students, and a contemplative thought surfaced: "Why the hasty departure? Why is there no lingering until my absence is noted?"
Jin Hao's inquiry echoed into the indifferent air, receiving scant acknowledgment from the passersby.
Jin Hao strode beyond the school gates, traversing the road toward his apartment building. A persistent notion lingered in his mind: There must be some kind of trouble of chaos brewing inside those school walls, hidden beneath the appearance of normalcy.
As Jin Hao continued his walk, thoughts of how he'd spend his upcoming weekend filled his mind. The weather, growing colder with each passing day, hinted at the imminent arrival of snowfall, heralding the onset of winter – Jin Hao's favorite season. However, his contemplation was abruptly interrupted as he felt a force pushing him downward, akin to a descending boulder.
Looking up, Jin Hao found himself face to face with a familiar figure. A voice from above inquired, 'Huh, who is this kid?'
In his attempt to regain footing, Jin Hao gazed upwards to see a tall silhouette before him. To his surprise, it was none other than Yi Cunyong. As Jin Hao's eyes scanned the scene, he noticed another person hanging onto Yi Cunyong's shoulder – none other than Liu Yemui."
Jin Hao's initial confusion swiftly transformed into a surge of anger and irritation, directed squarely at Liu Yemui.
"It's him, that boy – the one who caused chaos in our school," Jin Hao muttered the sentence repeatedly in his mind until he could no longer contain his frustration.
Finally, he confronted Liu Yemui with a piercing look and demanded, "What do you want? Did you come here to pick a fight?"
Jin Hao's initial confusion morphed into irritation, a sentiment not shared by Liu Yemui, who maintained an air of tranquility.
Meanwhile, Yi Cunyong, seemingly amused by the unfolding scenario, clarified, "Our visit isn't aimed at stirring trouble. It's a matter of convenience," his words delivered with nonchalance.
Liu Yemui, her gaze still directed downward, responded in a subdued tone, "I understand."
Shifting his attention to Jin Hao, Yi Cunyong continued in a matter-of-fact manner, "Do you recall my name? I'm Yi Cunyong, and you're Jin Hao."
Jin Hao's jaw hung open in disbelief. 'Yi Cunyong?'
However, as Yi Cunyong introduced himself and shared snippets of their shared history, Jin Hao's emotional landscape underwent a swift transformation. Anger and frustration, once palpable, dissipated like smoke in the wind.
"So, what brings you strolling down this path, Jin Hao? Is it fate or mere coincidence?" Yi Cunyong inquired.
Shaking his head, Jin Hao quickly responded, "No, no, no. It's not by design. I just ran into you guys. This is my usual route residence."
"Oh, then." Yi Cunyong's smile radiated warmth at Jin Hao's response.
Amused by the situation, Jin Hao, finding humor, quipped, "It would've been quite a plot twist if you guys planned to run into me."
Yi Cunyong burst into laughter,"No conspiracy here. We're not troublemakers." Grinning, he added,"And we aren't here to cause trouble either, But speaking of which, I could use your help. Interested?"
"Uh, no problem."
"Great," Yi Cunyong said with a friendly nod as he grabbed hold of Jin Hao, and they started walking. Jin Hao couldn't help but inquire, "Hold on, though. If you guys were gearing up for a brawl or something, I'm not your guy. I'm not exactly a fighter."
Yi Cunyong continued to chuckle, "No worries. We weren't planning a showdown."
In the dimly lit warehouse, encircled by distinct crews like The White Sharks and The Wolf's Wrath, tension hung in the air as they convened to discuss a significant event—the upcoming meeting with the boss of this particular territory. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation as each member eyed one another, aware of the power dynamics at play.
As they reached a unanimous decision to unite forces and reclaim what rightfully belonged to them, the tension in the warehouse escalated.
"We can't take down the entire individual at once; that school is crawling with thugs and gangsters," one of them asserted. His voice cut through the air with determination. "Our best move is to hit him where it hurts the most—his home turf!" His hands shot up in the air, emphasizing the aggression in his tone. "Let him realize who he's messing with! It's time to showcase our strength once again!"
His words resonated with the majority of the members, garnering nods of approval. However, one man stood up after absorbing those comments. Elton, a seasoned member who had been working on the docks since his parole ended five years ago, voiced his dissent. Despite the initial challenges, he managed to get himself established within this group of individuals.
In the tight-knit community that had become a surrogate family, everyone watched each other's backs – well, almost everyone.
As the discussion unfolded, Elton, renowned as the voice of reason among the group, couldn't stay silent any longer. "I have reservations about going along with your plan," he voiced his concerns. "It feels like a surefire way to end up six feet under."
Known for stepping in whenever reckless ideas surfaced, Elton had a knack for halting potential disasters before they unfolded. Yet, beyond this circle of friends, his past life remained a mystery to most.
This close-knit camaraderie formed a backdrop where friendships thrived, and Elton's sensible interventions were the glue that held them together.
Despite his reservations about their actions, Elton held enough respect for his comrades not to outright condemn their seemingly foolish plan.
"Think about it. Why bother plotting their downfall when we could simply gather intel on them, ensuring a smooth transaction for our money?" The figure known as Kang Lee, leader of The Wolf's Wrath, expressed his frustration. "Why the opposition to my plans? Join us if you genuinely want to contribute!"
"You don't throw around insults like that without discussing matters first," Elton retorted defiantly.
Kang Lee, feeling the sting of being called out, became even more agitated. "Don't challenge me, you fool!" In a sudden burst of anger, Kang seized Elton by the collar, forcefully bringing their faces inches apart.
"Enough, both of you. The bosses are on their way," intervened a voice filled with fear – Tae Ho Lee, the second director of The White Sharks, tried to restore order.
Kang Lee, in a derogatory tone, responded, "You mean that piece of shit head." He released his grip on Elton and turned away dismissively, but Elton stood his ground, locking eyes with Kang.
Refusing to let the disrespect slide, Elton, regardless of his status, was determined to make sure Kang understood the consequences of his actions.
In Elton's mind, a lesson in respect was long overdue, not just for Kang Lee but for the entire group.
He had only stepped into this predicament with the belief that he could bring about positive change for these individuals.
"Pfft, bunch of morons. Why not face them head-on, give 'em a good beating? That'll show 'em not to mess with us," taunted another member, Big Mac, a notorious name within the group.
Big Mac, a product of a rough neighborhood steeped in gangs and crime, had his fair share of experiences before turning to the discipline of a boxing gym, where he honed his skills to become remarkably proficient.
At age seventeen, he won a national championship and went pro soon thereafter. After retiring from professional competition, he made his living as a bouncer and bodyguard, earning a decent wage. Now, he was back on the streets, ready to settle scores.
The fact that he wasn't a fan of authority didn't stop him from respecting those who earned it. He knew that the boss, whom he referred to as Bossman, had a reputation of running things smoothly.
"Are you aiming to start a full-blown brawl, you idiot?" Elton admonished, his frustration evident. "We don't have someone who can discreetly infiltrate without causing a major disturbance."
As the group leaned towards abandoning their plan, a sudden voice cut through the tension, echoing in the atmosphere. "We do have someone who fits the bill."
All eyes turned toward a single figure, and with a swift motion, the door slammed open. It was none other than Yi Cunyong, the leader of The White Shark's Pride.