Chapter Seven: Scaring Away Bai Xiaohang!

That slap was astonishingly sharp!

It didn’t just hit Long Wu’s face—it stunned everyone inside the nightclub.

From Ma Xun’s perspective, it was a slap to the entire Hong Kong circle’s face!

Long Wu was a renowned figure in Hong Kong. He was both a triad boss and a major publicly listed company owner. Both the underworld and the legitimate world showed him respect. Yet here in Beijing, he was slapped by a mere thug!

Of course, this Bai Xiaohang wasn’t just any thug. He had backing, was famous in Beijing for his fighting skills, and had influential connections. Ma Xun even remembered how the incident unfolded afterward: Bai Xiaohang not only assaulted someone but also wrecked the venue. Though he was briefly detained, he was soon released. Meanwhile, Long Wu and his wife scurried back to Hong Kong in defeat.

In reality, they were nothing!

“You can be so mighty in Hong Kong, but what about here? Where do you think you’re causing trouble? In front of a real man, you’d better behave!” Bai Xiaohang spat these words after slapping Long Wu, his arrogance overwhelming.

The meaning was clear: “I know who you are. I don’t even consider you worth my attention!”

Long Wu could not misunderstand. Humiliated, his fierce face had turned a deep purplish hue, yet he remained silent, unable to retaliate.

At that moment, Ninth Brother arrived.

“Sir, let’s talk reasonably. Why resort to violence?” he tried to play peacemaker.

But unexpectedly—smack! Bai Xiaohang slapped Ninth Brother’s face too!

“What are you? Mind your place!” Ninth Brother staggered, then straightened up with blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Watching this turn of events, Ma Xun couldn’t help but admire Ninth Brother. Although he was a friend of Fifth Brother and couldn’t just hide, facing Bai Xiaohang—known as the ‘Haiding War God’—was daunting. Bai Xiaohang was over six feet tall, broad-shouldered, and notoriously fierce. For Ninth Brother to confront him was commendable courage.

Suddenly, Fifth Brother’s wife did something unexpected.

“Call the police!” she said, pulling out a mobile phone to dial 110.

A triad boss calling the police—this would be laughable in a Hong Kong movie!

Yet it revealed how cornered Long Wu’s couple felt in Beijing.

Bai Xiaohang merely laughed. “Call then! If you won’t, I’ll do it for you!”

Fifth Brother’s wife was trembling, her hand shaking as she held the phone.

Curiously, though, she never dialed, and Bai Xiaohang made no further moves. It was as if he was saying: “If you call the police, I’ll act. If you don’t, I won’t.”

Some might see this as a stalemate, but in truth, it was a cat-and-mouse game.

As tensions neared a breaking point, Ma Xun quietly pulled Sun Donghai aside.

“You’ll need to step up soon,” he whispered.

“Huh?” Sun Donghai only nodded, not fully understanding Ma Xun’s plan.

He did know one thing, though: Bai Xiaohang was tough and ruthless—he was known for his Sanda training and his fight reputation stretched far and wide.

Besides, he was spoiled by connections.

Unexpectedly—

“Bai Xiaohang!” Ma Xun’s voice boomed, full of power and clarity, silencing everyone present.

Long Wu and his wife were stunned: Who was this man? So fierce!

Bai Xiaohang was taken aback: Where did this bold fool come from?

Ninth Brother was also shocked: Isn’t he our cameraman?

Director Feng was confused: What is he trying to do?

Chen Hong’s eyes widened: How powerful is Ma Xun’s background?

Ma Xun strode forward with Sun Donghai trailing behind. They stood between Bai Xiaohang and Long Wu’s couple.

Both sides instinctively stepped back.

But Bai Xiaohang, true to his reputation as a stubborn fool, snarled, “Who the hell are you?”

In Beijing, this was basically a challenge to fight.

Ma Xun replied calmly, “Cut the act. This is Fourth-Ninth City! Just because you’re Bai Xiaohang doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want. Did you ask my big brother, Sun Donghai?”

At this name, Bai Xiaohang paused. He hadn’t heard of this figure.

Sun Donghai himself was startled, a chill running down his spine.

Brother, you’re sending me straight to the slaughter!

Could he really take on Bai Xiaohang?

The ‘Haiding War God’ was famous for fighting in Beijing. Tall, over six feet, always in a suit and tie, and quite handsome.

Sun Donghai was shorter than Ma Xun and looked rather ordinary, even somewhat sleazy.

Three Sun Donghais wouldn’t stand a chance against Bai Xiaohang.

It was even hard to tell who was the hero or villain here.

Yet now—

“I am Sun Donghai!” he declared, remembering Ma Xun’s words: stand tall!

Surprisingly, Bai Xiaohang was momentarily cowed.

“Where are you from?” he asked, his tone less aggressive than before.

Sun Donghai, eyes wide, said, “Bai Xiaohang! Go ask around Yuetan Park who Sun Donghai really is!”

Yuetan Park?

Bai Xiaohang instantly understood.

“Oh, so you’re from one of the big compounds,” he sneered, though his tone was far less hostile.

Ma Xun caught the subtle shift and quickly added, “Bai Xiaohang, we know you’re a top figure in Haiding. But you have to play fair. These Hong Kong folks opened a store here, bringing money and many Hong Kong and Taiwan celebrities. They enrich Beijing’s cultural life and boost the local economy. What you just did—is that how men in Beijing treat guests? Besides, this year is ’96. Next year, the handover will happen! If you make a big fuss now, how will the Hong Kong compatriots feel?”

Ma Xun’s words were reasonable but carried a peculiar bureaucratic tone—though not exactly from within the system.

After his speech, Bai Xiaohang was silent, seemingly pondering.

In any case, the atmosphere eased considerably.

Long Wu and his wife noticed this and felt puzzled.

Ninth Brother was also somewhat stunned.

In truth, Ma Xun’s words carried many unspoken messages:

“You, Bai Xiaohang, come from a big compound. We do too. You can ignore these Hong Kong people, but don’t forget, the handover is coming. If you stir trouble now, those who protect you may no longer do so.”

Fifth Brother and Ninth Brother probably didn’t understand this.

But Bai Xiaohang, though a stubborn fool, surely did.

After some thought, he snorted coldly and left with his men.

Just like that? The ordeal ended?

It was unexpected but also a relief!

“Brother, you’re amazing!” Sun Donghai was full of admiration for Ma Xun, his heart pounding in disbelief that Bai Xiaohang had been scared off so easily.

Ma Xun smiled and replied, “Just blowing off some steam.”

Sun Donghai didn’t mind Ma Xun’s bravado and was delighted.

But one thing puzzled him, and he whispered, “How did you know Bai Xiaohang would back down?”

“He’s got backing, and you’re from a big compound too. Who’s afraid of whom?” Ma Xun said, giving Sun Donghai face.

Indeed, Sun Donghai was pleased.

“Right! Who’s scared of him?”

From a strength perspective, it made sense. Bai Xiaohang could easily handle Long Wu and his wife. But if Ma Xun and Sun Donghai—both compound kids in Bai Xiaohang’s eyes—were involved, he had to think twice.

Ma Xun also emphasized the crucial timing: the handover was the biggest issue right now.

Thus, the matter was settled.

Ma Xun couldn’t help but recall how things unfolded in the original timeline—it was all because Sun Donghai hadn’t been coaxed into confronting Bai Xiaohang head-on. So persuasion was key!

“Thank you, thank you…”

“Our cameraman…”

“Ma Xun, right? Thanks, brother,” Long Wu, Director Feng, and others approached.

And Ninth Brother? Hm? Was Hu the supermodel wiping the corner of his mouth? Quite the sight.

Ma Xun laughed, switching between Cantonese and English: “That was just a little act with this big shot. Mr. Sun Donghai here is a well-known businessman.”

Introducing Sun Donghai to Fifth Brother and Ninth Brother had been planned.

Yet Ma Xun was fully aware: he was doing all this for himself.

‘Businessman Sun’—this title pleased Sun Donghai, though he was still unsure.

“What kind of business should we do?” he whispered.

Ma Xun wanted to curse him. “You haven’t thought it through?”

“Heh…” Sun Donghai scratched his head, playing dumb.

Well, Sun Donghai’s head was full of ideas!

Having been in the entertainment industry, Ma Xun knew exactly what business was best with the Hong Kong circle nowadays.

“Tell them you want to bring Hong Kong films into the mainland—get the distribution rights,” he advised.

Sun Donghai was puzzled—the mainland film market was poor—but nodded.

Ma Xun had a way to make big money. For now, he had to keep it quiet and needed to leverage Sun Donghai.

While Sun Donghai went to discuss matters with Fifth and Ninth Brothers, Ma Xun felt a pair of eyes watching him.

Ye Quan, perhaps?