Chapter 1: Iron Palm Gang

Do you know why we came to find you? Xiao Li said

Little Li muttered while opening the car door: "I think it is most likely engraved with something like a mold."

Xiao Li also said: "Yes, yes."

The middle-aged police officer glanced at the line of cars behind him, his mind filled with thoughts of lawsuits: "After ten years as a criminal investigator, this is the most baffling task I have ever been assigned! I have no idea what the chief is thinking!"

"How can you say that!" Wang Xiaojun retorted, "You have watched me grow up; do you not know how bold I can be?"

With single eyelids, the young man stood honestly in front of the locals, hands covering his groin, and said: "My name is Wang Xiaojun, 21 years old"

Xiao Li said: "Not all of them are Japanese cars"

Wang Honglu did not give a clear answer and said: "This case is classified as damage to another's property. The complainant is a wealthy second-generation individual whose family runs an auto repair shop. The person in the photo is named Qi Fei, who has taken an interest in the same girl as the wealthy second-generation individual. It is now certain that these fingerprints were all left by him, as an act of revenge out of jealousy. The wealthy second-generation individual's family is seeking to change the nature of the case to intimidation and extortion, and the higher-ups are paying considerable attention to it. According to that girl, Qi Fei inadvertently mentioned that he had learned martial arts from the Iron Palm Gang, which is why we came to you to understand the situation."

What is this ... ... seal?" Wang Xiaojun murmured in confusion

Well, just consider us like the Go Association and the Chess Association

Uh... Wang Xiaojun said, "To be honest, I rarely speak. Since I can remember, I have learned a few sets of martial arts. If you two would like to see, I will change my shoes right away." He was still wearing slippers on his feet.

"No need to see off!" Wang Honglu and Xiao Li had almost reached the entrance, and just as they were about to step out, Xiao Li suddenly turned around and said, "By the way, I would like to ask how many people your gang has now?"

Old Wang took the kettle, fixed his gaze on the pile of cards, and asked, "What does the police want with you?"

Wang Xiaojun brought a few photos closer and noticed that the shapes at the deepest parts of the indentations were irregular, while the surrounding areas bore faint fingerprints, resembling the impression left by a person's palm.

The middle-aged police officer glared at him and struck the iron door several times with force

Wang Honglu said: "The last question— to your knowledge, does your grandfather or your father possess this ability as shown in the photograph?"

Wang Xiaojun then wiped his sweat and sat down, saying: "I haven't had much interaction with the police, especially with the criminal investigation team"

After the two police officers left, Wang Xiaojun quickly ran to refill the water. With his back to the door, he said to the long-haired man with a gusty tone, "Wang Xiaojun, why are you talking nonsense? You've made people too afraid to even look back." This man had a delicate appearance, and a cigarette was pinched between his slender fingers. Although he spoke with a hint of reproach and annoyance, there was a certain unique charm about him.

Wang Xiaojun, looking bewildered, said: "Is someone smashing Japanese cars again?"

Xiao Li's face flushed, and Wang Honglu suddenly took out a photograph and asked, "Have you seen this person?"

The young man with single eyelids was clearly taken aback: "Criminal Investigation Team?"

Wang Honglu glared at him and said, "Aren't you clever? Use your brain more!"

Xiao Li succinctly stated: "Iron Man does not exist, but the Iron Palm Gang does exist"

In the central area of the city, on an old commercial street adjacent to the main road, a Mitsubishi SUV meanders in the middle of the road, stopping and starting. The road is not wide, barely allowing two cars to pass each other. The vehicles behind the Mitsubishi are growing increasingly frustrated, intending to honk their horns, but upon seeing the dazzling police license plate, the drivers wisely choose to remain silent

Wang Honglu smiled and said, "Don't be nervous, we are just here to understand some situations, not to interrogate."

Wang Honglu said: "Can we go in?"

Uncle Zhang stated emphatically: "We do not eat what you make!"

The young man led the two of them to an empty room in the east and said, "Why don't you introduce yourself as well?"

As he stepped out the door, Wang Honglu glanced at Xiao Li and said, "What do you think?"

Xiao Li said with a half-smile, "So you don't believe in the martial arts passed down in your family?"

Xiao Li said: "Why haven't we seen the others from the Iron Palm Gang? We would like to meet your grandfather and your father"

The young man with single eyelids paused for a moment as he noticed Xiao Li's gaze lingering in the north hall, and quickly said: "Oh, they all have senior citizen cards"

Xiao Li said in disbelief: "The Iron Palm Gang has a total of five members, and you are the fourth in line to inherit?"

Old Li suddenly said: "I tell you, Xiao Jun, other mahjong parlors provide meals at noon, when will you be able to do that?"

Wang Xiaojun hurriedly explained: "No, it is the fourth-ranked heir, not the fourth-generation leader. What I mean is that apart from my grandfather, the leader, my father, my senior brother, and my junior sister, I am ranked fifth."

Wang Xiaojun said with a sullen expression: "Take care, officers."

After Xiao Li entered, he discovered that behind the door was a spacious courtyard, which surprisingly had two entrances and exits. In the northern hall of the courtyard, a group of elderly men were gathered around a table playing mahjong with a clattering sound. On both sides of the courtyard, at the entrances of the side rooms, there were weapon racks, but the racks were all empty.

Wang Honglu said: "Take a close look at the shapes of these dents; what do they resemble?"

As he was speaking, the large iron gate was suddenly kicked open by someone. A man, as tall as an iron tower, strode into the courtyard, threw his worn travel bag at his feet, and cupped his fists, declaring loudly: "Hu Tailai from the Black Tiger Fist seeks to learn martial arts from the Iron Palm Gang!"

"Is it just because we are called the Iron Palm Gang?" Wang Xiaojun said with a mix of laughter and tears, "If this were a butt print, wouldn't you have to go to America to find Iron Man?"

Xiao Li took out his notebook and glanced at it, saying: "Is your Iron Palm Gang... registered as a civil association?"

Old Man Wang said to Old Man Li across the street with a relaxed tone: "Have you forgotten about the time when you fought with our little Wu when we were kids and stuffed cotton rope into our door lock in the middle of the night?"

After a short while, one of the two iron doors was suddenly flung open, and a person leaned out, asking: "Who are you looking for?" This individual appeared to be around twenty years old, with single eyelids and a high nose bridge. Although his appearance was not unattractive, he possessed an innate quality of being "lost among the crowd," embodying the essence of an ordinary young man who, just as you can casually knock on the door, can also casually emerge.

Oh, come in.

Xiao Li said seriously: "Then Brother Wang, what do you think those handprints are about?"

Xiao Li said: "But as a gang, you still have positions like the gang leader or the master, right?"

Wang Xiaojun sincerely said: "We are all just trying to make a living, haven't you seen that I've turned this place into a senior activity center?" At that moment, an old man in the main room stretched out his arm, revealing a teapot, and called out loudly: "Xiaojun, bring another pot of water!"

Old Wang also said: "Indeed, this person, once he gets home and has eaten his fill, becomes drowsy and just wants to lie down. You are cutting off your own source of income."

Xiao Li could not help but feel a deep respect upon hearing this and said, "So it turns out to be the leader Xiao Wang."

Wang Honglu smiled and said, "Let’s not engage in any formalities; our investigation this time is not aimed at your Iron Palm Gang. Xiao Li's question is mainly out of curiosity."

Wang Xiaojun smiled wryly and said, "Apart from that unprecedented incident where my father nearly beat me to death, what other trouble have I caused?"

Wang Xiaojun was startled and said: "Gang? Officer, please don't lead me astray. Wasn't the gang already disbanded?"

Wang Honglu said: "In other words, in terms of form, the Iron Palm Gang resembles a martial arts association or a martial arts school. Do you usually engage in activities such as teaching martial arts, competitions, and sparring?"

Wang Honglu said lightly: "I knew all along that this trip would be in vain—let's go."

Disgusting! The long-haired man waved his hand at Wang Xiaojun

The middle-aged police officer took out his identification and said, "We are from the Municipal Criminal Investigation Team. My name is Wang Honglu, and this is Xiao Li. We would like to understand some matters with you."

Isn't that right! Wang Xiaojun was wandering behind everyone with his hands behind his back, observing the cards

The middle-aged police officer, as if under the influence of a stimulant, quickly stopped the car. The two of them hurriedly got out and approached the iron gate, each casting a different gaze at the sign.

Wang Xiaojun lamented, "Do not believe in the notion that 'masters are among the people'! In this era of such restlessness, the true masters have long since gone to various variety shows!"

The person in the photo appears to be no older than thirty, with a center-parted hairstyle and ordinary eyebrows and eyes. Wang Xiaojun glanced at it and said, "I have never seen this person before." He cautiously added, "This is the suspect you mentioned, right?"

Wang Xiaojun said: "None of them are local, so it is pointless for you to ask. The leader is my grandfather, and I have followed him since I was young. I have never seen this person, so he definitely is not from our Iron Palm Gang. Do you still not trust me?"

Wang Xiaojun increasingly perplexed asked: "What are you showing me these for?"

Wang Xiaojun waved his arms excitedly and said, "What is this? Have you read too many martial arts novels? You are people’s police; how can you believe in such supernatural and bizarre things? Do you really think there are people with such abilities?"

"When you turn around, they won't be able to tell that you are a man," Wang Xiaojun said

Old Wang said, "You can hire someone."

Wang Xiaojun helplessly said: "It's not that I don't have enough manpower, if you few don't mind, I---"

He has gone missing, and we are also searching for him. However, it would not be appropriate to issue a large-scale wanted notice, so we are currently in a passive position

Wang Xiaojun finally let out a breath and said: "So that's how it is. To be honest with both of you, my official identity is the fourth heir to the Iron Palm Gang's leader—" He added, "I am just like Prince Harry of the United Kingdom, we are both in the same boat"

Wang Honglu waved his hand and said, "Let us get back to the point; I will first show you some photos." He poured out a pile of photographs from a file bag and spread them on the table. Wang Xiaojun looked through them one by one. The photos depicted various types of cars, all of which had suffered impacts. Some had damage to the front, while others had dents on the body, all showing significant indentations.

Wang Xiaojun said with a bitter smile: "I have only you few regular customers throughout the year, and that little money is barely enough to support myself, let alone hire anyone else"

Uh..." Wang Xiaojun said reluctantly, "Did I not just say: my grandfather, my father, my senior brother, and my junior sister, and of course, me.

After hearing the explanation of this phrase meaning "there's no silver here," Xiao Li and Wang Honglu exchanged a helpless glance

I didn't expect there really to be the Iron Palm Gang! The young police officer's eyes could not hide his curiosity and amusement, "The Iron Palm who floats on water wouldn't really live here, would he?"

Wang Honglu and Xiao Li exchanged a glance, stood up together, and Wang Honglu said: "Then we shall take our leave, here is my business card, feel free to contact me if you have any leads." He inadvertently glanced towards the north room, and saw a person with long, shiny black hair, which made Wang Honglu pause. Wang Xiaojun quickly added: "Oh, that is Grandpa Wang's granddaughter. Today, we were one person short, so we temporarily brought her in to make up the numbers."

Little Li said with a smile: "The leader does not have the surname Qiu, which makes me very disappointed"

At that moment, the little policeman exclaimed excitedly, pointing his hand out of the car window and saying, "There really is such a place!" Following the direction of his finger, on an iron gate facing the street hung a sign that prominently displayed the words "Iron Palm Gang"

Uncle Zhang, who was facing the door, nodded and said, "Indeed, there is nothing else."

The driver is a middle-aged police officer, a second-level police supervisor with two bars and two stars on his shoulder. Sitting in the passenger seat is a young man who appears to have just completed his internship, also dressed in police uniform. He is holding a map and looking around, guiding the way, which causes the car to drive hesitantly, just like him, constantly glancing left and right.

Wang Xiaojun patted his thigh and said: "This is not something that has never happened! I have never seen this person at all. As for this Qi Fei, I want to ask him in person!"