At a welfare home in Tuen Mun, Shen Dong handed over twenty thousand Hong Kong dollars to Granny Li, saying, "Granny Li, use this to buy some new clothes for the kids, get them more nutritious food, and make sure they eat well."

Granny Li, her face filled with gratitude, replied, "Mr. Shen, this is too much. I can't accept it."

"Granny Li, please don't be modest. I grew up in a welfare home too," Shen Dong responded.

With that, he placed the money on the table and walked out of the welfare home with a confident stride.

As he got into a taxi, Shen Dong silently called out, "Merit Exchange System."

Instantly, a status panel appeared before his eyes.

Name: Shen Dong

Merit Points: 500

Physique: 15

Average: 10

Strength: 14

Average: 10

Speed: 14

Average: 10

Mental Power: 14

Average: 10

Skills: Master-level Xingyiquan, Advanced Marksmanship, Intermediate Driving

...

After a busy day and donating twenty thousand Hong Kong dollars, he had only earned two hundred and fifty merit points. This left Shen Dong feeling quite frustrated.

Shen Dong, once a detective in his previous life, had been thrust into the body of Shen Dong, a prominent enforcer for the Hung Hing gang in Tuen Mun, following a car accident a month ago. From the memories of his new host, he learned that he was now in mid-1980s Hong Kong, a city teeming with rival gangs.

The gangs were constantly at war, vying for territory, and almost every day, numerous thugs met their end. Hung Hing was one of the top-tier gangs in Hong Kong, standing shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Tung Sing, Triad, Hung Tai, Numbers Gang, and Wo Hop To.

Shen Dong was thrilled to discover that these gangs and their leaders were almost entirely lifted from the movies he had watched in his past life. This gave him a significant advantage—he could foresee the major trends and seize opportunities that others might miss.

Moreover, he had the Virtue Exchange System. As the name suggested, this system allowed him to exchange virtue points for anything in the world, including enhancing his own attributes. However, earning virtue points was a tricky business. After a week of trying, Shen Dong still hadn’t quite figured it out. The only thing he knew for sure was that doing good deeds would earn him points.

Fortunately, the system’s starter pack was incredibly generous. Not only did he receive twenty free attribute points, but he also gained mastery in Xingyiquan and advanced marksmanship. With his current skills, Shen Dong was more than capable of going toe-to-toe with the top enforcers of any gang.

Just then, his mobile phone rang with a sharp "ding-a-ling."

"Hello, Uncle Bo, what's up?" Shen Dong's voice was steady, but his eyes gleamed with anticipation.

"Ah Dong, come to the teahouse. I have something important to announce," Uncle Bo's voice carried a weight of authority.

"Got it, Uncle Bo," Shen Dong replied promptly, hanging up the phone. His eyes narrowed slightly, a sharp glint reflecting his inner thoughts.

Uncle Bo, the respected leader of the Hung Hing gang in Tuen Mun, Hong Kong Island, was in his fifties and contemplating retirement. The question of who would succeed him was the talk of the town. The two main contenders were Shen Dong and Dinosaur.

Their strengths and weaknesses were starkly contrasted. Shen Dong was known for his formidable combat skills, commanding a loyal following of over two hundred men. He had been instrumental in securing many territories in Tuen Mun. However, his Achilles' heel was his lack of political savvy and networking skills.

Dinosaur, on the other hand, was also a fierce fighter, though not as physically imposing as Shen Dong. His real edge lay in his strategic mind. Moreover, his elder brother, Han Bin, was the influential leader of the Kwai Tsing district, giving Dinosaur a significant advantage in the succession race.

It seemed that Dinosaur was the more likely candidate to take over Tuen Mun. But Shen Dong was no longer the naive and straightforward man he once was. Whether Dinosaur would ascend to the position depended largely on Shen Dong's willingness to step aside.

Half an hour later, Shen Dong stepped into the Serenity Teahouse.

It was Uncle Bo's establishment, not exactly a money-maker, but it had its charm in being quiet and peaceful.

Dinosaur chuckled, his voice dripping with mockery, "Ah Dong, you came alone? How... modest of you."

"Uncle Bo," Shen Dong greeted the man seated at the head of the table with a respectful nod before taking his seat. He turned to Dinosaur with a sly grin, "Brother Dinosaur, I couldn’t help but notice you brought a dozen of your boys with you. Just here to have tea with Uncle Bo, huh? Bringing so many people—are you doubting Uncle Bo’s integrity, or are you just scared for your own skin?"

Dinosaur slammed his hand on the table, his face flushing with anger. "Watch your mouth!"

Shen Dong chuckled lightly, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Just a joke, no need to get so worked up. Right, Uncle Bo?"

Uncle Bo poured a cup of tea for Shen Dong, his eyes studying him carefully. "Ah Dong, I’ve noticed you’ve changed quite a bit recently."

Shen Dong tapped his temple with a finger, a wry smile playing on his lips. "Took a hit to the head a while back. Guess it knocked some sense into me."

Uncle Bo let out a soft laugh. "Well, it seems luck was on your side."

Dinosaur, growing impatient, cut in, "Uncle Bo, why did you call us here? What’s this about?"

In Tuen Mun, while Uncle Bo was the nominal leader, both Dinosaur and Shen Dong had long surpassed him in terms of power. However, Uncle Bo’s seniority within the Hung Hing triad and his claim to moral authority kept him in his position. Neither of them had moved against him, allowing him to hold onto the busiest streets in Tuen Mun.

In the past, Shen Dong had been just as dismissive of Uncle Bo as Dinosaur was. But now, Shen Dong wasn’t about to make the same mistake.

Shen Dong spoke with utmost seriousness, "Uncle Bo, ever since I joined Hung Hing, I've been under your wing. Whatever you need, if it's within my power, I won't hesitate to help."

A gratified smile spread across Uncle Bo's aged face. "Ah Dong, hearing you say that makes me very happy."

"Today, I came to inform both of you that in a week's time, I will be stepping down."

"At the upcoming Hung Hing assembly, I will recommend both of you."

"As for who will win the favor of Mr. Chiang and the other leaders, that will depend on your own capabilities."

Dinosaur glanced at Shen Dong and said, "Ah Dong, I joined four years before you. You wouldn't want to compete with me, would you?"

Shen Dong took a sip of tea and replied leisurely, "Brother Dinosaur, joining early doesn't mean much; it's all about ability. In my five years, I've fought tooth and nail with my brothers to secure four streets. In terms of both ability and strength, I'm not inferior to you. Why shouldn't I vie for the position of leader?"

Dinosaur smirked, "Then let's compete."

With that, Dinosaur stood up and left without another word.

Uncle Bo was visibly displeased with Dinosaur's disregard for him and remarked coolly, "Dinosaur is almost thirty and still so brash. He really lacks maturity."

Shen Dong chuckled, "Well, he has a formidable older brother. That gives him the right to be arrogant."

Uncle Bo patted Shen Dong on the shoulder, "Benny the Tiger is indeed a man of both brains and brawn. Precisely because of that, not many would want Dinosaur to rise, including Mr. Chiang. Ah Dong, do you understand?"

Among the twelve leaders, Benny the Tiger had the most money and the strongest influence. Coupled with his low profile and adeptness at staying under the radar, he maintained good relations with the other leaders. Naturally, as the boss, Mr. Chiang was wary of him.

If his younger brother were to rise as well, Mr. Chiang would probably lose sleep over it.

Shen Dong said, "Uncle Bo, I've also read 'The Romance of the Three Kingdoms.'"

Uncle Bo burst into laughter, "You've really become quite sharp, haven't you?"