Alai listened intently, feeling a sense of relief. This trip to the city had been worthwhile, with many revelations. Although he had suspected the truth for some time, Fangfang had been kept in the dark.
Wu, the shop owner, smiled and said, "Let's eat. Don't make a fuss over it. Learn from your mistakes and move on."
At the dining table, Wu curiously asked Wu Tong how he knew Alai. Alai, quick-witted, confidently replied that they had met in the hospital.
Alai nodded in satisfaction. Seeing the sumptuous spread on the table, he felt a bit guilty. After all, he had only given Wu Tong a three-section staff, yet Wu had gone to such trouble and expense. He complimented the intricate craftsmanship of the masks in the shop.
Wu proudly explained that he was a graduate of an art school and had initially started making masks as a hobby to entertain Wu Tong. However, it unexpectedly became profitable, and he became addicted to the craft. At first, the masks were only bought by kids, so business was slow. But as living standards improved and masquerade balls became popular, along with the rise in collectibles, the customer base grew, and business flourished.
When Fangfang brought up industry competition, Wu confidently remarked that nearly all the products in his mask shop were his own creations, making his shop unique in the city.
Alai admired Wu's dedication, and Wu, with a touch of solemnity, said, "It's all for survival. Without a special skill, it's hard to live a quality life."
Fangfang added, "What's so surprising? Darwin's theory of evolution—survival of the fittest. Alai, have you learned this lesson?"
Alai shot Fangfang a look, knowing she was trying to reinforce the importance of studying and getting into a good university.
When Alai inquired about Wu Tong's mother, Wu became awkward, unsure how to respond.
Wu Tong, angry, blurted out, "She's heartless! She ran off with another man and abandoned us!"
Wu rebuked, "Don't talk about your mother like that! No matter what, she's still your mother. It's my fault for not making enough money."
Wu then fell silent, lost in painful memories. He recalled how, after graduating with no steady income, he struggled to make a living with his small mask-making business. One stormy night, after a big argument, his wife left and never returned. One day, she came back in a car, accompanied by a middle-aged man smoking a cigarette. She handed Wu a divorce certificate, and Wu, in a moment of bitter clarity, signed it in pain.
As she and the man walked back to the car, young Wu Tong ran to her, clutching her hand and begging her to stay. The car horn honked, and she coldly pried his small hand away, got into the car, and drove off. Wu Tong chased after them, falling and scraping his face. Wu, watching the car disappear into the distance, pulled his son up and asked, "Wu Tong, are you a man?"
Wu Tong, with eyes full of hatred, shouted, "Yes! Yes!"
From that day on, Wu Tong's young mind became obsessed with training. He vowed to defeat the man who took his mother and bring her back.
Fangfang dared not interrupt.
In the silence, Alai asked, "What does that man do now? Where is he?"
Wu, with fear in his eyes, evaded the question, saying, "As long as Wu Tong's mother is happy, that's all that matters."
"Tell them! What's there to fear? I'll tell you," Wu Tong interjected. "He's Lu Saihu, the man with the full beard. I'm going to kill him myself!"
Wu angrily scolded, "He's got skills, connections, power, and backing. You're just a kid. You think about revenge all day, but what do you have to fight with? You keep sneaking around with that little knife, stalking him. What if you get yourself killed? How am I supposed to live?"
"I can't argue with you, but this grudge will be avenged!" Wu Tong shouted, refusing to listen.
"You want to kill him? You need strength, both in skill and knowledge. At the very least, you need to study hard, get into a good university, and make something of yourself. Then you can achieve your goal," Wu patiently advised.
Alai listened, feeling awkward, as if every word was directed at him.
Fangfang gave Alai a smug look, as if to say, "Everyone understands this, why don't you?"
Wu sighed and explained, "Lu Saihu got tired of her and kicked her out. I don't know where she's run off to now, and I haven't heard from her since."
The group fell into silence.
…
Alai thanked Wu and bid a reluctant farewell to Wu Tong before heading to the bus station. He glanced back at the distant "Xiongfeng Fitness Club," remembering the one-year free training voucher Hu San had given him, feeling that Hu San was indeed sinister.
Meanwhile, Hu San had already returned home.
He had lost his appetite, deep in thought. After the failed attempt to get the relic at Thunder God Cemetery, he hadn't obtained the relic, hadn't captured any hostages, and had even fallen into a trap. As the leader of the operation, he feared punishment from Boss Xiong. If he had succeeded in getting the relic, it would have been worth millions. Who would willingly hand that over?
"If I had gotten it, I'd have taken off and started my own business. Damn it! Who knows who would be afraid of whom by then?" Hu San's scarred face twitched, then broke into a sinister grin.
"The Buddha was clearly struck by Tang Monk's palm, yet the doctor said the wound was an electric shock, not from a person, but from some high-voltage device. What's going on?"
Hu San's mind kept returning to the image of the little monk and the words he had spoken. He had narrowly escaped death at the hands of Tianlai and wondered if there was a connection between the mysterious handprints on the note and the little monk, despite the explanations he had heard.
"I couldn't kill him with a palm strike, he didn't die from electrocution, and he wasn't buried alive—he survived a lightning strike and came back like a demon. This is some freaky stuff!"
The more he thought about it, the more frustrated and aggrieved he felt.
His wife brought over some pork rib soup and, overhearing his muttering, said, "It's been so long. He even spoke on your behalf at the police station, letting you off. Why are you still holding a grudge?"
"Bah! He's just pretending to be kind, like a cat crying over a mouse. You women don't understand anything! Just keep serving me well and stay out of men's business, or you'll be howling in bed tonight!"
His wife, seeing her husband's swollen face, guessed he had suffered some humiliation outside. Fearing another outburst of domestic violence, she quietly set down the soup and left to take care of their child.
Hu San, eating the ribs and drinking the soup, pondered whether to connect the relic to Alai and report it to Boss Xiong.
As he was considering this, his phone rang. He answered.
"Yes, yes, yes."
"Boss, I'm heading to the martial arts school right away. I'll be there soon!"