Chapter Fifty-Four: A Long-Lost Smile

“Come closer, I have something to tell you,” Ghost-face Zhang said, wearing an air of mystery.

Fatty Lin, grinning slyly, leaned in. “What’s up, Third Master? You fancy that girl, don’t you?”

I let out a cold chuckle, already sensing what was about to happen.

Sure enough, Ghost-face Zhang, gathering all his strength, swung a punch at Fatty Lin’s face. The blow landed with a muffled thud, the sound alone enough to strike terror.

“Aagh!”

With a scream, Fatty Lin’s nearly two-hundred-pound body was sent flying, landing heavily on the ground.

A waiter rushed to his side, only to find that Fatty Lin hadn’t lost consciousness. He struggled, coughed a few times, then spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with several teeth.

Ghost-face Zhang abruptly stood up and strode toward Fatty Lin, but at that moment, Lord Dragon quickly moved to block his way.

“Third Brother, there’s no need to go to extremes.”

Ghost-face Zhang glared at Lord Dragon, who took a step back. “What, are you unhappy that I, Ghost-face Zhang, am helping you keep your people in line?”

Lord Dragon was clearly wary of Ghost-face Zhang. He forced a strained smile and shook his head. “Third Brother, your discipline is justified. But Lin Yang has suffered enough from your blow. Please, for my sake, spare his life—his crime doesn’t warrant death.”

Ghost-face Zhang glanced at Fatty Lin, who lay on the ground, terrified and bleeding, then snorted and sat back down. He turned to Iron-crutch Liu, who looked pale as a sheet. “Well? Do you want to try your luck with me too?”

Iron-crutch Liu wiped the cold sweat from his brow and shook his head.

Fatty Lin was carried away by the staff. No one at the table said a word; the meal continued in an unbearable silence. Yet when I stole a glance at Ghost-face Zhang, he looked as calm and unruffled as ever.

That night, Mengya and I stayed in a bedroom on the second floor.

“This Ghost-face Zhang is really something,” Mengya said irritably. “He doesn’t like women, but he won’t let anyone else like them either. What are we supposed to do?”

I smiled. “He was still holding back with that punch. If he’d wanted to kill Fatty Lin, it would have been over in one blow.”

“How can you tell?”

“Think about it. Last night, when he fought the man in the black cloak, he shattered a rock with a single kick. The black cloak snapped a thick branch like it was nothing. For people like them, killing someone wouldn’t take much effort.”

“You’re right.”

Late at night, Ghost-face Zhang sat shirtless on the windowsill, a cigarette dangling from his lips, staring blankly into the distance. Moonlight bathed his face—a face as beautiful as a woman’s and as fearsome as a demon’s. His pale skin glowed in the white light, his depth as inscrutable as mist.

Knock, knock, knock.

Ghost-face Zhang looked coldly at the door, silent.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Who is it?”

“Third Master Zhang, please open the door.” A woman’s sweet voice called from outside.

Ghost-face Zhang hesitated, then leapt down from the windowsill and opened the door.

Standing outside was a beautiful young woman. Her long hair cascaded over a trendy outfit, multiple earrings lined her ears, and her makeup was bold and striking. She was the “internet celebrity face” girl whom Fatty Lin had summoned at dinner.

Ghost-face Zhang was taken aback. “What do you want?”

Instead of being frightened by his terrifying visage, the woman seemed shy, even bashful. She stammered, “Third Master Zhang, I came to thank you. Thank you for earlier, thank you...” She trailed off, at a loss for words.

“Is there anything else?” Ghost-face Zhang asked coolly.

“No...”

Without another word, Ghost-face Zhang moved to close the door.

“Wait, Third Master...”

In her hurry, the woman put her hand in the way and the door sliced her arm, causing blood to flow immediately.

Ghost-face Zhang opened the door again, glancing at her wound. “What else?”

To his surprise, beneath her worldly appearance, she hid a fragile heart. Tears welled up and streamed down her cheeks.

Seeing her cry, Ghost-face Zhang scratched his head and yanked her into the room. “What are you doing? If someone sees you like this, how will I explain myself? I haven’t bullied you—why are you crying?” As he spoke, he tore off a strip of bandage from himself and tied it around her arm.

She looked at him with large, aggrieved eyes.

“Stop crying. Wipe your face. If there’s nothing else, go back.” For the first time, Ghost-face Zhang’s voice softened, as he gently wiped her tears away.

“Third Master Zhang, could you take me away?” she pleaded, her voice soft and beguiling.

“What? Absolutely not!” Ghost-face Zhang was startled and refused her at once.

She begged, “Third Master, I’ll do my best to serve you. If I stay with Fatty Lin, he’ll kill me eventually.”

“What’s going on? Tell me.” Ghost-face Zhang motioned for her to sit on the bed.

The woman hesitated before speaking. “My parents worked for Fatty Lin’s gambling house. Because I was considered attractive, he had my whole family killed. Then he claimed we owed him money, saying my parents had sold me to him before they died.” She began to sob.

“He keeps me here, forcing me to entertain guests like some brothel girl. When I refused, he tortured me in every possible way.” As she spoke, she removed her outer garment.

Ghost-face Zhang was stunned at the sight of her back, which was covered in scars and fresh welts from whippings.

“Fatty Lin did this?” His tone was icy.

She nodded, choking back sobs.

Ghost-face Zhang snorted, clenching his fists. “If I’d known, I should have beaten him harder—killed him.” He looked at her. “Go back. I understand now. I’ll deal with him.”

She shook her head and threw her arms around his bare torso. “Third Master Zhang, please, take me as yours. I really like you—truly. I’ve never fallen in love with anyone at first sight before.”

Ghost-face Zhang was so shocked he was speechless, breaking out in a cold sweat. He had never been so unsettled in all these years. He steadied himself. “Miss, don’t be rash.” He gently pushed the seductive woman away. “Don’t do this. It wouldn’t be good for either of us.” He wiped the sweat from his brow.

Rejected, the woman was embarrassed. “Third Master, I’m not that kind of woman. I truly like you. Please, take me as yours—I’ll serve you well.”

He waved his hands frantically. “No, no, I can’t.”

“Is it because you don’t find me attractive? Or do you dislike something about me?”

Ghost-face Zhang sighed. “It’s not your fault, and it’s not that I dislike you. The fault is mine.”

“Then why?”

“If I did this with you, how would I be any different from Fatty Lin and the others?”

The woman paused, hesitating. “Don’t tell me, Third Master, that you... don’t like women?” Disappointment colored her face.

“Who says that? I’m straight—a perfectly normal man.” Ghost-face Zhang retorted, righteous and indignant.

“Then... why?”

He sighed deeply, looked at her, and waved his hand.

She seemed intrigued and pressed on, “Third Master, you can confide in me if you want.”

Ghost-face Zhang gazed silently out the window, lit a cigarette, took a few drags, then offered her one. “Want one?”

She smiled and nodded, taking the cigarette and lighting it, inhaling twice.

He looked at the woman lying beside him and spoke with grave sincerity, “Let’s not talk about the past.”

“You really are a man with a story, Third Master,” she teased.

He took another drag from his cigarette, and glanced at her. “Tell me, what is it about me that you like?”

She thought for a moment, then smiled and shook her head. “I don’t know. I don’t think it matters. Maybe it was just that first glance—the feeling was right, and I liked you.”

For the first time in a long while, a faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on Ghost-face Zhang’s lips. “You say the same thing as that person did.”

“That person? Could it be... your...”

A look of nostalgia crossed Ghost-face Zhang’s face as he nodded.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Xu Fengxiao.”

He nodded. “Would you like to be my woman?”

Xu Fengxiao smiled sweetly and nodded. “From now on, Third Master, you’re my master.”

Ghost-face Zhang reached out and gently stroked her hair, as if he hadn’t touched a woman in ages, savoring the feeling of having one submit at his side.

“Fengxiao, I’ll consider keeping you by my side.”

Xu Fengxiao beamed, her bold appearance at odds with her pure, gentle demeanor. She smiled and quietly nestled into Ghost-face Zhang’s arms.