The two men stepped forward from the car and, to Lucas’s surprise, knelt before Lion and Tiger, asking for forgiveness. These were the same men Lucas had encountered at the Chess Palace.
Confused by the scene, Lucas turned to Tiger and asked, “Why are you on guard? What’s going on?”
Tiger pursed his lips before pointing at the two men. “Those two,” he said, “are the traitors responsible for many of our brothers in the gang being imprisoned and killed.”
Lion elaborated, “They became police assets and set up our gang after a widespread killing. They sold out the entire gang and betrayed our leader and our brothers.”
One of the kneeling men spoke up, “Brother Lion, you know the situation back then. The police forced us because they needed someone to answer to the public.”
Tiger, his voice filled with anger, shouted, “Stop it, Leo! Many of our brothers were innocent! You know the gang was on the right path and never committed crimes or broke the law!”
Lion interjected, “If it weren’t for your negligence, Leo and Henas, our brothers wouldn’t have been harmed, and the group wouldn’t have fallen apart!”
Lucas observed the deep history between them, finding the unfolding drama intriguing.
Henas, the other man beside Leo, spoke, “We had no choice. We didn’t want to suffer in prison.”
The conversation continued, with Lion and Tiger relentlessly blaming Leo and Henas for their betrayal. Leo and Henas denied the accusations, insisting that if they hadn’t been caught by the authorities, none of this would have happened.
Tiger’s anger flared again. “How were you caught when the group always kept a low profile? We never even participated in activities with other gangs.”
Despite the tension, Leo and Henas remained calm, respectfully addressing Lion and Tiger as “Brother.”
Lion, however, was unyielding. “I have no brothers who would betray their own for personal freedom,” he declared, his voice filled with disdain.
Lucas sensed something was amiss, so he looked at Lion and Tiger before nodding, signaling them to follow his lead. He stepped between the two sides, hoping to mediate. “Listen,” Lucas began, “you were once brothers in the same gang. The past is behind us, and it seems like Leo and Henas are sincere in their apologies.”
Lion and Tiger exchanged glances, their expressions still hardened. “It’s not easy to forgive,” Lion said, his voice tinged with reluctance.
Tiger added, “Especially after what happened.”
Henas, desperation in his voice, pleaded, “Please, brothers, we had no choice. We regret what happened every day.”
Leo chimed in, “We want to make things right, if you’ll let us.”
After a moment of tense silence, Tiger sighed, “Fine. But it’s hard to forgive someone like you.”
Lucas, seeing an opportunity, interjected, “You know, the combination move you two use was originally taught by Henas and Leo.”
Lion was about to protest, “That’s far from the original move,” but Lucas shook his head, signaling a deeper meaning. Lion understood Lucas’s intent and nodded.
Lucas then suggested, “Since both sides have come to an understanding, why not try to rekindle your old strength using the same move?”
Henas and Leo exchanged different looks, seeing this as an opportunity. Leo turned to Lion and Tiger, saying, “It depends on you, brothers,” gesturing to them for agreement.
Tiger grinned mischievously, clenching a fist into his palm. “I need to beat up some traitors first to get rid of my anger,” he declared, his eyes glinting with anticipation.
Leo and Henas exchanged confident smirks, thinking they could handle Lion and Tiger. Henas, with a hint of sarcasm, said, “Don’t go too hard. It’s just sparring.”
Lucas nodded, gesturing for them to move to the center. “Alright,” he announced, “the match ends when someone surrenders or can’t continue.”
Both sides nodded in agreement, ready to settle their differences. Lucas declared, “Let the match begin!”
The four men squared off, each pair mirroring the other’s stance. Lion and Tiger moved in sync, their years of fighting together evident in their fluid movements. Leo and Henas, equally experienced, anticipated their tactics, having once taught them.
Tiger lunged first, aiming a swift punch at Leo, who deftly sidestepped and countered with a low kick. Tiger blocked it with ease, having expected the move. Meanwhile, Lion and Henas circled each other, exchanging quick jabs and testing each other’s defenses.
The fight was intense, each side using familiar tactics, making it a battle of wits as much as strength. Lion feinted a punch, drawing Henas in, then pivoted to deliver a powerful kick. Henas, recognizing the move, dodged just in time, retaliating with a spinning backfist that Lion barely avoided.
Tiger and Leo were locked in a similar dance, each anticipating the other’s moves. Tiger attempted a sweeping kick, but Leo jumped back, using the momentum to launch a counterattack. Tiger blocked the incoming punch, grinning as he realized they were evenly matched.
The air was charged with tension and the sound of fists meeting flesh. Both sides were relentless, their shared history adding an emotional weight to each strike. Despite the intensity, there was a sense of respect underlying their blows, a recognition of their shared past.
As the fight continued, it became clear that neither side could gain a definitive advantage. Each move was countered, each tactic anticipated. The sparring session turned into a testament to their skills and the deep understanding they had of each other’s fighting styles.
The two sides paused, catching their breath. Leo, with a hint of admiration, remarked, “You’ve improved, Tiger.”
Henas nodded in agreement, addressing Lion, “You’ve gotten stronger too.”
Tiger, with a proud smirk, replied, “It’s been a while, but it seems you two haven’t changed much,” his tone teasing, almost mocking.
Lion chimed in, “Yeah, same old tricks.”
Leo, not backing down, retorted, “We haven’t even used our full strength yet.”
Tiger, with a challenging grin, shot back, “Then show us what you’ve got!” With that, he charged forward, eager to continue the fight.
Leo met his challenge head-on, rushing towards Tiger, while Henas and Lion engaged once more. The air crackled with renewed energy as both sides clashed again.
However, the dynamics shifted suddenly. Henas and Leo’s movements became more aggressive, their expressions darkening. In a swift motion, they revealed small daggers hidden on their persons, their faces twisted with a menacing intent.
The atmosphere turned tense as it became clear that Henas and Leo were no longer just sparring. Their eyes gleamed with a dangerous resolve, indicating they were after more than just reconciliation-they wanted Lion and Tiger’s lives.