Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 163: Chain of Events

“This is the current situation.” Wu Sheng transmitted all the known clues to Chi Yingxue at the fastest speed, listing them one after another like a massive database.

After listening, Chi Yingxue blinked and said, “Oh.”

Wu Sheng said, “I know it’s a lot of information, but you don’t actually have to remember all this. Just keep an eye on Ying Jiu. He deliberately sent the body back and insisted on not leaving. There must be a reason.”

“No need to remember, yet you tell me…” Chi Yingxue complained.

Wu Sheng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Then pretend I didn’t say anything.”

“It’s too late.” Chi Yingxue took out the remaining four and a half oranges from the fruit plate, mumbling to himself—

The first orange: “Old Master Cheng survives a fall but dies from poison.”

The second orange: “Cheng Jiming gets kidnapped and dies, but the Fushou Gang refuses responsibility.”

The third orange: “Du Jinnian comes for tea and vanishes from the face of the earth.”

The fourth orange: “Cheng Xiaonan gets poisoned by alcohol and can’t get out of bed.”

The last half-orange was split into three segments: “Now both the Hai Gang and the Fushou Gang are refusing to leave. You should hurry up and look for the badge while searching the Cheng residence.”

Four oranges and three segments, neatly lined up by size, meticulously arranged by Chi Yingxue.

“All remembered, can’t be erased,” he said with a serious and distressed face, like a user unfortunate enough to have redundant information taking up memory that couldn’t be deleted.

Wu Sheng didn’t know whether to be astonished or delighted. “When did you awaken this skill?”

Chi Yingxue skeptically raised an eyebrow. “This counts as a skill?”

“Of course,” Wu Sheng said. “Although I am well-rounded in intelligence, martial skills, agility, and defense, most of the time, it’s ‘intelligence’ that decides the outcome.”

Chi Yingxue thought for a moment. “What about looks?”

“……” For a long time after sending off his teammate, Wu Sheng couldn’t figure out whether the question “What about looks?” was simply asking “Don’t looks matter?” or had a deeper meaning of “Can’t you have some shame?”

……

The Cheng family arranged four rooms in the guest house for the Fushou Gang. Ying Jiu and Xiao Wu each had their own room, with the remaining two rooms allocated to other brothers.

As soon as Chi Yingxue entered the room, he felt something was off. Someone was inside.

In the unlit room, only a faint, barely visible frost was illuminated by the moonlight filtering through the window, with Ying Jiu sitting behind it, his face obscured.

“I didn’t know you knew Mr. Bai.”

“He’s my… friend.” Chi Yingxue didn’t think it was a big deal, but when he said the last word, he couldn’t help but curl his lips, feeling proud and haughty.

“What kind of friend?” Ying Jiu’s voice was calm and steady yet unfathomable, like a deep river with a smooth surface but turbulent currents underneath.

Unfortunately, Chi Yingxue didn’t catch any of this, as he was fiddling with an oil lamp with interest. “One I clear levels with.”

“What levels?” Ying Jiu frowned in the darkness.

“You wouldn’t understand if I told you.” Chi Yingxue unilaterally ended the conversation and then shook the exquisite oil lamp at Ying Jiu. “Do you know how to light this?”

Ying Jiu lit the oil lamp for his subordinate, and when the room was illuminated, his face was completely dark, unwilling to admit what he had just done.

Chi Yingxue was still engrossed in planning for the Cheng family. “We should pull the electric wires over to the small building. Using electricity is so much more convenient…”

Master Ying Jiu didn’t want to stay a second longer, smoothing out the wrinkles on his long robe and walking towards the door.

Seeing Ying Jiu about to leave, Chi Yingxue quickly put down the oil lamp and asked, “Was the ransom provided by the Cheng family not enough? Why kill Cheng Jiming?”

Ying Jiu stopped in his tracks. He was silent for a moment, then turned around. His eyes, for the first time, revealed undisguised defiance and murderous intent. “Kid, no one has dared to talk to me like that.”

Chi Yingxue looked at him worriedly, not quite satisfied with the response—was Cheng Jiming killed or not?

Seeing this little brother drifting off again, Ying Jiu felt exhausted both in body and mind.

Killing someone with a gunshot meant nothing to Ying Jiu, but he could foresee that even if he did kill the other party, it wouldn’t resolve the frustration in his heart.

Moreover, he didn’t really want to make the move.

“Do you know why I let you follow me?” Ying Jiu rarely shared his feelings, but tonight was an exception.

Chi Yingxue: “Because I’m skilled?”

Ying Jiu glanced at him disdainfully. “You think too highly of yourself.”

Chi Yingxue frowned. “Then why?”

Ying Jiu quietly looked at him, as if seeing through him to the past. “Because you remind me of myself when I was young.”

“Impossible,” Chi Yingxue said without hesitation. “You’re not as good-looking as I am.”

“……”

When Ying Jiu left Young Master Wu’s room, he felt that not going on a rampage tonight must have been the work of a ghost—the kind that endures, made of steel.

……

Wu Sheng used stationery to make him invisible to search the entire Cheng mansion thoroughly, not sparing even the Western-style small building.

In the end, he found the [Chaos Badge] underneath the “stove” as indicated by the badge handbook and discovered the following clues in three other locations—

1. Cheng Jiming’s study was left as it was. In a book on the lowest shelf, there was a note with different handwriting than his own. The note featured the verse, “These stars are not those of last night, for whom do the wind and dew stand deep into the night?” It had no name, only a crescent moon-shaped red mark.
2. In Old Master Cheng’s residence, a letter was found with the signature of Mr. Bai, whom Wu Sheng had transmigrated into. The letter stated that the matter Old Master Cheng asked him to investigate had made progress and needed a face-to-face discussion.
3. In the study of Cheng Xiaonan in the Western-style building, Wu Sheng found a cylindrical seal under the carpet beneath the bookshelf, likely rolled there accidentally. The seal, adorned with a finely carved little lion with a hint of black resembling blood, was inscribed with “Yu Sheng”—Du Jinnian’s courtesy name.

The badge wasn’t difficult to find, but the clues were terrifying upon closer inspection.

Wu Sheng tucked the note, badge, and letter into his arms and slipped out of Cheng Xiaonan’s room, which was the last spot that he searched. He planned to return to the Bai Mansion under the cover of night—Old Master Cheng’s commission for Mr. Bai to investigate was likely related to Cheng Jiming’s kidnapping, and there might be more information and clues in Bai Mansion.

As soon as he stepped out of the study, he smelled a strange odor coming from Cheng Xiaonan’s bedroom.

In front of the bedroom, brothers from the Fushou Gang and the Hai Gang stared with eagle-like vigilance that not even a fly could enter. However, two of them seemed unsettled by the smell, cursing quietly. “Damn, it’s making my cravings kick in.”

Wu Sheng quietly returned to the study, leaping from balcony to balcony towards the bedroom, moving like a chess piece, eventually landing on the bedroom balcony.

The curtains weren’t fully closed, leaving a narrow gap that let out light.

Peering through the gap, he could see everything in the brightly lit room—a maid sat by the bed, skillfully delivering an opium pipe to Cheng Xiaonan’s lips. Her movements were practiced; clearly, this wasn’t her first time serving. Amid the swirling smoke, with an IV drip hanging, the bedridden master of the Cheng family struggled to turn his head, lazily and contentedly inhaling.

Even though he was poisoned, it didn’t deter him from smoking opium. Wu Sheng suddenly felt that the act of poisoning was superfluous—someone like Cheng Xiaonan could bring about his own downfall. If there was a grudge, one only needed to wait.

Upon returning to Bai Mansion, Wu Sheng glanced at the clock and was shocked to find that five hours had passed since his transmigration!

He had spent the entire night dealing with various people and searching for clues in the Cheng family residence without realizing how much time had elapsed! He had planned to search the Bai Mansion next and then think about the save point issue.

However, it seemed that time here didn’t flow at a 1:1 ratio with reality, a situation that had occurred both in the ancient castle in 7/23 and in the inner hell in 9/23. Often, more than five hours had passed in-game, but not in real time.

When it slowed, he could be at ease.

Wu Sheng stopped pondering these things and dove into Mr. Bai’s study, filled with documents, starting his massive search.

He searched until dawn, to no avail.

In the entire sea of documents—murders, robberies, adulteries, stolen cows, lost dogs—all kinds of cases were documented, except for anything related to the Cheng family; not even a single word.

This was very strange.

Even if Old Master Cheng’s commission wasn’t related to Cheng Jiming’s kidnapping but to something else, there should have been a record. The only explanation for such a void was that the records had been taken or destroyed.

It could have been done by Mr. Bai himself or by someone who didn’t want him to continue the investigation…

Because Wu Sheng found a note sandwiched in an inconspicuous poetry notebook that was probably Mr. Bai’s original work.

Luckily, the characters were large and few, so he could barely make them out—Meddlers, die.

The note was signed—Half-fallen plum blossoms in the pond have faded away.

Half-fallen plum blossoms…

Wu Sheng stared at the signature, slowly deciphering a word. “…Hai.”

……

All the clues connected because of this word that surfaced.

The mysteries shrouding the two deaths were gradually clearing, revealing a coherent trail, but—

Wu Sheng pulled out the seal found in Cheng Xiaonan’s study, suspected of being stained with blood, and frowned deeply.

Where exactly was Du Jinnian?

After rushing back to the Cheng family residence, day had broken. The courtyard was already set up for funeral rites, with monks taking their places and servants bustling about.

The news of Old Master Cheng’s resurrection had spread throughout the Cheng family residence overnight; on the way back, Wu Sheng even heard the nearby neighbors discussing it. For outsiders, it was merely a spectacle, but for those within the Cheng mansion, it was a real fear—whether servants or guards, strong or weak—everyone looked frightened, trying to stay as far from the memorial hall as possible. The elder was still lying in there, soon to be buried in his coffin.

Watching the atmosphere, Wu Sheng quietly formed a plan.

He didn’t know where Du Jinnian was, but after investigating this far, he at least needed to shake out the truth—for the unjustly deceased Cheng Jiming—to provide an explanation.

“Mr. Bai, I’ve finally found you—” Accompanied by a loud voice, his teammate walked over openly.

Wu Sheng stood still, watching Qian Ai, dressed in a simple short jacket, approach. “What, your lord is looking for me?”

Qian Ai came up and whispered, “I’m looking for you.”

The courtyard’s noise drowned out their conversation. To bystanders, it looked like a servant speaking with Mr. Bai, but in reality, Lao Qian was passing on the gossip gathered overnight about Cheng Jiming’s second marriage history.

Cheng Jiming’s first wife, Zhou Lanxin, died in childbirth. The daughter survived, but the mother didn’t. Afterwards, Cheng Jiming swore never to remarry, rejecting all matchmakers, until one day, after becoming intoxicated at a social event, he woke up to find Hai Huiping beside him.

Cheng Jiming, a gentle and mannered man, would have taken responsibility for Hai Huiping even without the pressure from the Hai Gang. Thus, Hai Huiping entered the Cheng family. Officially, it was a drunken mistake by Cheng Jiming, but rumors suggested it was a trap set by Hai Huiping. After all, the Hai Gang had attempted to make marriage arrangements several times—clearly Hai Huiping had set her sights on Cheng Jiming first.

Wu Sheng had already pieced together the main story, and Qian Ai’s information added more details.

As Qian Ai blended back into the crowd, Wu Sheng scanned the many monks in the courtyard, locking onto the most agreeable one.

With a look, the young monk approached; with the ongoing chaos, no one paid attention to their movements.

“What do you need me to do?” Xu Wang asked upon arrival.

Wu Sheng smiled. “Aren’t you going to ask about the progress of the mission first?”

Xu Wang lifted his shaved head. “As long as you can eventually submit the paper, the process is illusory.”

[If you like him, then just tackle him and get down to business.]

The inappropriate mantra from a teammate last night flashed through his mind.

Wu Sheng quickly focused, saying, “Indeed, I have a plan and need you to play a key role.”

Xu Wang nodded. “What do I need to do?”

Wu Sheng said, “Become possessed by the spirit of acting.”

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 162: Hint

Under the faint moonlight shrouded in thin mist, everything appeared hazy and desolate.

Qian Ai remained silent for a long while before asking, “Is your mission to find Du Jinnian?”

Wu Sheng nodded.

Qian Ai looked at him, struggling a bit to say, “Did they specify whether they wanted him alive or dead…?”

Wu Sheng sighed and didn’t answer, as if he also couldn’t clarify.

Qian Ai felt a chill run down his spine. The old man false corpse, the disappeared Du Jinnian, and Second Master Cheng who died last year… These pieces of information just obtained wove into a dark net, casting over the entire Cheng family estate. He couldn’t make heads or tails of it; such information processing definitely required a brain like Wu Sheng’s.

Watching Qian Ai hurry back to the memorial hall, Wu Sheng stood alone in the night for a while longer.

In just this short time, the complex clues formed a network—

1. Three disappearances: Cheng Jiming’s death; Old Master Cheng’s death; Du Jinnian’s disappearance.
2. Three remaining members of the Cheng family: Cheng Xiaoxan; Cheng Jiming’s second wife, Hai Huiping; Cheng Jiming and his first wife’s daughter, Cheng Yixin.
3. Social relations: Du Jinnian was close to Cheng Jiming; Hai Huiping is the younger sister of the young gang leader of the Hai Gang, Hai Yunlong.
4. Doubts:
   • Old master Cheng fell last year and died this year. Is there anything suspicious about this?
   • Cheng Jiming was kidnapped, and the ransom note was denied by the Fushou Gang. Did they really not do it, or are they just denying it?
   • Why did Du Jinnian suddenly visit the Cheng family, and what exactly did he discuss with Cheng Xiaonan in the living room of the small building?

The information gathered was like pearls scattered on the ground, and Wu Sheng needed to find the thread that strung them together.

Returning to the western-style building, unexpectedly, Hai Yunlong came with people.

Wu Sheng didn’t recognize Hai Yunlong, but from the way he brought a group of people with him, the slight resemblance to Hai Huiping in their eyes and brows, and the conversation with Master Jiu, he understood—Fushou Gang was imposing on the Cheng family, and Hai Huiping had called her brother to take charge.

However, what puzzled Wu Sheng was that Hai Yunlong seemed to harbor a greater hatred towards the young man by Master Jiu’s side. His eyes were fixed on the young man’s fair face with a gaze like the fires of hell.

The fair-skinned young man, on the other hand, appeared indifferent, not even looking at Hai Yunlong. He had a calm and self-satisfied demeanor, occasionally yawning.

Amidst the undercurrents, Ying Jiu spotted Wu Sheng standing at the door, hesitating to enter, and immediately became amiable. “Mr. Bai, you went to enjoy the moon, didn’t you?”

If one didn’t look into the depths of Ying Jiu’s eyes, he would seem like a very refined person. Even his teasing was done with a benevolent appearance.

Knowing he had been away for a while, Wu Sheng smiled and accepted the tease without explanation, to avoid making things worse.

Meanwhile, his gaze fell on Hai Yunlong, as if he had just noticed him, raising his eyebrows slightly with a mild surprise.

Hai Yunlong narrowed his eyes, snorting coldly with a sneer. “Mr. Bai.”

“……” Great, another “acquaintance”.

Wu Sheng suspected that this Mr. Bai he had transmigrated in was a social butterfly of Jinmen. Otherwise, why would all these big shots recognize him?

The more one talks, the more mistakes one makes, so facing the two big shots, Wu Sheng remained silent, just politely smiling.

Cheng Xiao Nan took the opportunity to join in the conversation, inviting everyone to sit. Fortunately, the living room sofa was large enough to accommodate the four of them while maintaining a polite distance.

Hai Yunlong left four people standing behind him, and the rest were sent outside, giving his brother-in-law’s family some face.

The long night was dragging on, signifying a sleepless night. The four engaged in an awkward conversation that looked like they were sitting in silent judgment rather than talking.

Ying Jiu and Hai Yunlong, being familiar with the underworld, could sit still, but Cheng Xiaonan, merely a wealthy son, wasn’t so adept at handling pressure. He had his servants bring a whole bottle of foreign wine, and in less than a quarter of an hour, he had refilled his glass several times.

Initially, Hai Yunlong was drinking tea but was tempted by the other’s actions. When Cheng Xiaonan poured another drink, Hai Yunlong shouted to a servant for an empty cup, saying he’d join the young master for a drink.

The servant hurried to comply, but just as he turned to fetch it, Cheng Xiaonan’s glass suddenly dropped to the floor. The thick glass didn’t break but made a dull thud upon landing on the carpet.

Looking at Cheng Xiaonan, his mouth was agape, and he was breathing rapidly with one hand clutching his throat and the other pointing at the half-empty bottle of foreign wine on the table. His eyes were filled with disbelief and terror. “The wine… the wine… is poisoned…”

Hai Yunlong, who had been leaning forward to examine the label on the wine bottle, trying to guess its country of origin, saw Cheng Xiaonan poisoned and instantly retreated, slamming back into the sofa to get as far away as possible!

Wu Sheng instinctively looked at Ying Jiu, who was also looking at him. Their eyes met, each lost in thought.

Cheng Xiaonan suddenly bent over, furiously gagging himself. Within seconds, he vomited out all the wine he drank in the evening until only bile was life. Struggling, he raised his head and hoarsely shouted, “Quick… go find… Dr. Gong… Tell him… it’s… aconite poison…”

As the servants rushed off, Cheng Xiaonan grabbed the teapot on the table, gulping down its contents directly into his throat, truly flushing it out.

After drinking, he put down the teapot, gagged himself again, and continued to induce vomiting.

This cycle of drinking and vomiting resembled a stomach wash. Wu Sheng watched this “proficient self-rescue procedure”, his gaze flickering slightly behind his glasses.

Aconite, a kind of traditional Chinese medicine, can cure diseases if used correctly but is highly poisonous if misused.

Soon, Dr. Gong arrived, equipped as a Western doctor, and from the conversation, it was clear he was an old acquaintance of the Cheng family.

Cheng Xiaonan was coughing and wheezing, barely able to speak. But upon seeing the mess on the floor, Dr. Gong knew he had vomited and immediately had Cheng Xiaonan moved to a room to lie down, then started treatment with injections and IV fluids.

The living room was left with the three parties, and all of their positions were awkward by default—they were imposing on the host, and now the host had been poisoned.

“Was your master drinking medicinal liquor?” Master Ying Jiu suddenly turned and asked the servant beside him, who was already scared stiff.

The servant took a long while to respond, then shook his head vigorously. “No, it was just foreign wine, not soaked with any herbs!”

Master Ying Jiu nodded, tapping his finger lightly on the armrest of the sofa, his gaze shifting to Wu Sheng. “Mr. Bai, don’t you find it strange? How was Master Cheng so sure that he had been poisoned with aconite?”

Wu Sheng indeed found it strange, but since he was unclear about Ying Jiu’s intentions, he cautiously said, “It’s common for people to be poisoned by aconite-infused liquor. It’s not surprising for Master Cheng to have seen it and recognized it.”

“What do you mean by that?” Hai Yunlong, naturally speaking up for his sister’s family, said, “Could Cheng Xiaonan have poisoned himself? Is he tired of living?”

Suddenly, a shadow flashed at the stairway.

Wu Sheng instinctively looked over. At the corner of the stairs leading to the second floor, a little girl was hiding in the shadows.

Wu Sheng couldn’t make out her face. He could only see her medium-length hair and, in the darkness, a pair of cold, piercing eyes.

Noticing Wu Sheng’s gaze, the child turned and ran upstairs, her footsteps almost inaudible.

Cheng Jiming’s daughter, ten years old this year—Wu Sheng recalled the information collected by Qian Ai.

About half an hour later, Dr. Gong came out of the bedroom and told them that the amount of aconitum poison Cheng Xiaonan ingested was likely small, and with the correct method of inducing vomiting, he was out of danger but needed to rest in bed and continue with IV fluids to cleanse the toxins as soon as possible.

After saying this, he also kindly advised, “Medicines are poisons in their own right; not everything should be infused in liquor.”

There was no aconite-infused liquor to begin with; it was just ordinary foreign liquor that had been poisoned.

This fact was already clear, but Ying Jiu and Hai Yunlong remained silent. Wu Sheng then changed what he was about to say to, “Dr. Gong, let me walk you out.”

Dr. Gong insisted it wasn’t necessary, but Wu Sheng still escorted him out of the building, all the way to the front yard.

However, just before reaching the gate, Wu Sheng took a turn, effectively dragging him to the memorial hall under the guise of using reason (intimidation) and emotion (enticement), half-forcing him to examine the corpse of the Old Master Cheng.

Wu Sheng initially suspected he might know some inside information, but after observing, he felt it was unlikely, thinking this person was probably just a doctor who had dealings with the Cheng family, so he decided to take a risk.

In the quiet of the night, the vast memorial hall was empty—no one dared approach the recently “resurrected” old master—except for only a few white candles, a table full of offerings, and the lonely figure of Old Master Cheng.

Doctor Gong couldn’t perform a real autopsy; he only examined the eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and limbs, but the more he looked, the graver his expression became. Finally, he said, “Mr. Bai, you might be right. Old Master Cheng likely died from poisoning.”

“Possibly?” Wu Sheng wanted “certainty”.

Doctor Gong shook his head. “Unless we analyze the gastric contents, no doctor can make a definitive diagnosis with just the naked eye.”

After sending Dr. Gong off, Wu Sheng pondered as he slowly walked back to the building. Just as he approached the entrance, he was pulled into the bushes by someone. Before he saw the face, he noticed the bald head.

Wu Sheng unconsciously curved his lips. His heart, which had been tense since Cheng Xiaonan’s poisoning, finally felt a breeze of relief. “You’re not sleeping properly. What are you wandering around for?”

Xu Wang said righteously, “How could I leave you alone to follow the mission thread?”

Wu Sheng laughed, deliberately asking, “Then let me hear; how can you help?”

“……” After a moment of silence, Xu Wang tiptoed and pecked his cheek. “Good luck?”

Wu Sheng felt this encouragement was good, and it was worth continuing.

“Do you suspect Cheng Xiaonan poisoned Old Master Cheng and that the poison was the same as what he was just poisoned with?” After hearing Wu Sheng’s summary, Xu Wang understood his meaning.

“Yes,” Wu Sheng said. “Otherwise, he couldn’t have reacted so swiftly and accurately after being poisoned.”

“But why would he harm his own father? And who poisoned him? What does all this have to do with Du Jinnian’s disappearance?” Xu Wang was still confused.

“We don’t know yet,” Wu Sheng honestly admitted. “But I always feel that the key lies with Cheng Xiaonan. The last person Du Jinnian saw was also him.”

Xu Wang asked, “What’s he doing now?”

Wu Sheng replied, “Lying in the bedroom with an IV drip.”

Xu Wang: “……”

Wu Sheng reassured, “Don’t worry. The Fushou Gang and the Hai Gang both have people guarding. If anything happens to Cheng Xiaonan, those who insisted on staying here tonight can’t escape responsibility, so they are more concerned than anyone.”

Xu Wang was surprised. “How do you know I was worried?”

Wu Sheng smiled. “Because according to typical detective movies, the prime suspect, by this time, should have been killed by the murderer.”

Xu Wang: “……”

There was no movement from Master Yan Yi; he had already gone to sleep. Xu Wang mainly came to ask about Wu Sheng’s situation and to offer some help, but since Wu Sheng himself had no clues, he told Xu Wang to go back to rest and then returned to the building himself.

Just as he reached the entrance of the building, he saw a servant sneaking around behind a column, peeping out at a Fushou Gang brother smoking not far away. He was so focused that he didn’t notice Wu Sheng walking straight towards him.

Only when Wu Sheng approached the column did he let out a startled “ah”, as if caught in the act of wrongdoing.

The Fushou Gang brother, hearing the noise, looked over, puzzled.

Wu Sheng saw no one in the living room and directly asked, “Where are Master Jiu and the young gang leader?”

The servant, taken aback by his question, stuttered for a moment before finding his voice. “Resting, resting.”

“They didn’t leave?”

“No, they’re resting in the guest room.” The servant finally spoke a bit more fluently.

With the host poisoned and unable to rise, the guests indeed had no reason to continue chatting over tea. However, it seemed they were determined to root themselves in the Cheng family.

After a moment’s thought, Wu Sheng said, “I’m also tired. Could you arrange a guest room for me?”

“Of course, sir. This way, please.” The servant immediately led the way.

Wu Sheng followed him to a guesthouse near the small building. Until they were alone, Wu Sheng suddenly asked, “Why were you looking at him?”

The servant stopped in his tracks, his expression a mix of fear and confusion. “Ah?”

Wu Sheng looked at him steadily, this time affirmatively. “You know that Fushou Gang brother.”

The servant shook his head vigorously. “I don’t know. I don’t know!”

“Okay.” Wu Sheng shrugged. “I’ll ask Young Master Hai to inquire. You’ll probably recognize him then.”

Wu Sheng could tell; the entire Cheng family estate was quite wary of Hai Yunlong. If Master Ying Jiu was an unwelcome guest, Hai Yunlong was more like a domineering presence from the mother’s family.

“Don’t, sir. I really don’t know anything. I just, just… caught a glimpse of it…”

Wu Sheng’s heart tightened, his tone becoming unconsciously stern. “Caught a glimpse of what?”

The servant was on the verge of tears. “Last year, after the second master was kidnapped, the kidnappers sent a child to deliver the ransom note… I was the one who opened the door… When I received the note, I saw him peeking from the alley. Our eyes met, and he ran away… Sir, you must not say it was me who told you… The Fushou Gang kills without blinking an eye…”

After repeatedly reassuring and comforting the servant, Wu Sheng sat in the dim and cold guest room, deep in thought, for a long time.

Could it really be the Fushou Gang that kidnapped Cheng Jiming, demanded a ransom, and then killed him?

He had always thought not, but that “testimony” just now made him waver.

“Did the Owl give you the task to investigate the case?” In the quiet night breeze, a voice slipped through the door crack, and then the person pushed the door and entered, as naturally as if entering their own home.

Wu Sheng stared blankly at the young man by Master Ying Jiu’s side, who sauntered in and casually sat opposite him, realizing, “Xiao Xue?”

“You’re wearing glasses now.” Chi Yingxue picked up an orange from the fruit plate on the table and started peeling it for himself.

“When did you recognize me?” Wu Sheng was curious.

Chi Ying Xue popped a segment of orange into his mouth. “When you entered the courtyard with a group of monks.”

“And then?” Wu Sheng didn’t believe he recognized him at that time, as he hadn’t spoken at all while the Fushou Gang was confronting the Cheng family from the perimeter.

Chi Yingxue frowned and tilted his head to look at him, as if to say, “It’s so obvious. Why do I even need to explain?”

“You and one of the young monks were exchanging glances, using the same set of eyes you use when you flirt with the captain.”

Wu Sheng: “……”

Which set is that?!

“Do you like the captain?” Out of nowhere, he threw out this question.

Without hesitation, Wu Sheng replied, “Of course.”

“If you like him, then just tackle him and get down to business.” Chi Yingxue stared at him, asking very sincerely, “Isn’t it frustrating to just satisfy yourself with looks?”

Wu Sheng: “……”

There wasn’t a hint of indecency in his eyes. It was just a straightforward, almost innocent question.

But it was precisely this kind that it was harder to answer!

“Hm?” Not getting an answer right away, Chi Yingxue urged.

Wu Sheng surrendered, throwing out the truth. “I didn’t before, but now that you ask like this…”

It all went unsaid.

Chi Yingxue was very satisfied with this answer that matched his expectations.

“By the way, Qian Ai is also here.” Wu Sheng remembered he had forgotten about a comrade. “He’s a Cheng family servant, now guarding the memorial hall.”

Chi Yingxue nodded and continued to look at him, as if waiting for something.

Wu Sheng adjusted his glasses; behind the lenses, it was all confusion.

Chi Yingxue couldn’t wait any longer and directly asked, “What about Xiao Sijin?”

Wu Sheng then realized. “Still don’t know. Qian Ai said he saw a thief who might be him but didn’t catch him as the person ran away.”

Chi Yingxue threw the orange back into the fruit plate, not eating anymore. His delicate eyebrows wrinkled out of shape. “We’re all here, and he’s not. Did the Owl glitch out again?”

“……” Wu Sheng lamented that he was inferior to this domineering logic of attributing everything that doesn’t go as planned to a bug.

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 161: Clues

Wu Sheng and Qian Ai were also heading back to the Cheng family’s residence, so they joined the procession of monks along the way.

Leading the monks was the abbot of the Guajia Temple, Master Yan Yi.

Not just any family could request the presence of the abbot from the Guajia Temple, but the Cheng family was a prominent household in Tianjin, and naturally, their funeral arrangements had to be conducted with dignity and propriety.

“This is the situation. I wonder what Master thinks?” After introducing himself and successfully joining the monks, Wu Sheng shared with Master Yan Yi the story of Old Master Cheng’s supposed “false corpse”.

Master Yan Yi, with his long white hair and eyebrows, looked wise and spirited. His gaze was insightful yet serene. “Death ends all entanglements.”

He spoke only these words and then remained silent.

Death ends all entanglements?

So, does it mean that anything happening afterward has nothing to do with Old Master Cheng?

Is this implying that the “false corpse” was the work of the living?

Or is there no implication, and it’s merely a statement from a Buddhist perspective?

Wu Sheng’s mind was filled with various “interpretations”, but he couldn’t come to a conclusion about which was correct. Master Yan Yi, looking straight ahead and focusing on the journey, obviously had no intention of elaborating further.

For some reason, Wu Sheng always felt that there was something more hidden in Master Yan Yi’s eyes besides wisdom and serenity. But being inexperienced himself, he found it impossible to see through an old monk who had lived twice as long as he had.

Qian Ai walked beside Wu Sheng, occasionally turning his head to look at Wu Sheng, then at Master Yan Yi, and back again, finding the conversation between the experts too difficult to understand.

Following them was a young monk who had been with the group for some time.

Xu Wang had noticed the two men at the front of the procession from the start. Appearing out of nowhere, getting cozy with the abbot, and then mysteriously joining the procession seemed key to some quest.

Deciding quickly, he sneaked to the front of the procession, hoping to overhear their conversation for clues to a mission or to meet up with teammates.

But as soon as he got close, he heard a thrilling story about an old man’s corpse rising in the fog and dashing through the streets.

He didn’t understand the sentence later spoken by Master Yan Yi, but the thoughtful silhouette of Mr. Glasses always felt both strange and familiar to him.

Sneaking to the side to get a better look at Mr. Glasses’ thoughtful profile, his feeling of familiarity grew stronger.

Perhaps his staring was too obvious, as Mr. Glasses sharply turned his head toward him.

Their gazes met in the air, sparking a connection.

Wu Sheng adjusted his glasses, scanning the nosy young monk from head to toe with an X-ray-like gaze.

Swallowing nervously, Xu Wang instinctively touched his head, unsure if it was out of nervousness or something else.

Wu Sheng observed the young monk’s rosy cheeks and white teeth for a while but ultimately focused on his bald head.

Resisting the urge to cover his entire head, Xu Wang felt warmth under Wu Sheng’s touch, not resisting it.

Wu Sheng tilted his head slightly and smiled at him, with a little joy, a little pride, and a little… interest.

The next second, Wu Sheng suddenly pulled Qian Ai out of the group and led him into a small alley.

Master Yan Yi, focused solely on moving forward, didn’t notice that the two accompanying laymen had left the group.

“What are you pulling me here for? Aren’t we going back to the Cheng family?” As soon as they entered the alley, Qian Ai finally got a chance to speak and immediately asked.

Wu Sheng gestured for him to be quiet with a “shh” and indicated to wait.

Qian Ai could hardly calm down but still waited.

Less than thirty seconds later, a figure nimbly entered the alley.

Wu Sheng saw the young monk peeking in, smiled slightly, opened his arms, and waited for an embrace.

Qian Ai was baffled, and even more so when the young monk, instead of running into Wu Sheng’s arms, stood firm and asked proudly, “Be diligent and cautious?”

Wu Sheng responded smoothly, “Study diligently and innovate.”

The young monk then laughed, looking like he wanted to jump in, but hesitated upon noticing someone else standing nearby.

Unable to resist any longer, Wu Sheng, who had his arms already open, moved them to pat the young monk’s head.

Xu Wang, having his head frozen all the way, found Wu Sheng’s touch quite warm and didn’t resist.

After patting a few times and feeling somewhat satisfied, Wu Sheng introduced, with a smile, “This is Lao Qian.”

Hearing this, Xu Wang was taken aback, then looked at the man beside him, who indeed seemed like a teammate, and immediately became curious. “Who have you transmigrated into?”

Hearing this tone, Qian Ai finally realized. “Captain?”

The suspects were only three: Xiao Xue, Xiao Kuang, Xu Wang. Combining this with the advisor’s affectionate gaze, the answer was clear.

“Wait.” Qian Ai remembered something. “Did you two just exchange a code? That diligence and innovation thing?”

“Yes,” Xu Wang said matter-of-factly. “How else could I be sure of his identity?”

Qian Ai: “But when did you guys come up with this code?”

Xu Wang: “No need to come up with it. You should know it too.”

Qian Ai: “Where would I know it from?!”

Wu Sheng: “It’s our high school motto.”

Xu Wang: “You forgot?”

Qian Ai: “……”

He had never remembered it to begin with!

So, that’s why some could be class representatives, and he was just an ordinary member; there were reasons for everything…

The three quickly exchanged information, with Xu Wang having little to share, so it was mostly Wu Sheng talking, with Qian Ai adding details.

While talking, Wu Sheng pulled Xu Wang into his arms, occasionally patting his head as if he was a mascot.

After finishing, Wu Sheng looked down at the captain in his arms and gave his transmigration a fair assessment. “You’ve gotten smaller.”

Xu Wang: “……”

The young monk was indeed shorter and slimmer than Xu Wang, so in terms of both age and physique, he had “gotten smaller”, but… it felt awkward to hear!

Xu Wang, never one to be outdone, immediately retorted, “You’ve become…”

And then there was no follow-up.

The person Wu Sheng had transmigrated into, Mr. Bai, was handsome, broad-shouldered, and tall, with an aura of a returned student, even having a scholarly and abstinent filter. No matter how one looked, he was attractive, leaving Xu Wang at a loss for words!

Qian Ai couldn’t stand it anymore and quietly left the alley.

Whether it was Mr. Bai holding the young monk or the advisor hugging the captain, it caused him immense distress on this chilly night, even more so than Old Master Cheng’s false corpse.

……

When the three rejoined the procession of monks, they had arrived at the Cheng family’s front gate.

The Cheng family’s courtyard was brightly lit and noisy—it was in chaos.

Old Master Cheng’s false corpse and disappearance over the wall had caused a commotion, and Wu Sheng thought this as he entered, only to find the situation even more complicated—Old Master Cheng’s body had been returned by a group of rather unfriendly-looking people and was lying on the ground inside the courtyard. Instead of moving Old Master Cheng back to the memorial hall, the Cheng family was confronting the group that had returned the body.

Perhaps they were too frightened to touch it, fearing the corpse might come back to life again.

“Master Jiu, does your Fushou Gang intend to ruin our Cheng family?” The man standing as the head of the Cheng family was naturally Cheng Xiaonan. He was dressed in Western pajamas with a Chinese-style cloak thrown over, which was rather a unique look. He was probably woken up by the servants and hastily put on the cloak before coming out to investigate.

Compared to Cheng Xiaonan, the man known as Master Jiu appeared much more composed. “Mr. Cheng, we were just walking down the street when your family’s Old Master fell from the sky. We recognized him and immediately brought him back respectfully. Your words might cool the hearts of the Fushou Gang brothers.”

“Ying Jiu! Stop your crocodile tears!” From the Cheng side, a woman in her late twenties, surrounded by servants and dressed more neatly, spoke up sharply. “For what happened to Second Master, the Cheng family and the Hai Gang have a bone to pick with you!”

Master Jiu’s smile faded, but he remained calm, exerting a sense of pressure without anger. “I have told Old Master Cheng before, and I will say it again today.” He looked around the courtyard as if addressing everyone. “The matter of Second Master Cheng has nothing to do with the Fushou Gang. We also want to find out who harmed him…”

“And,” his last words were directed solely at the woman, “don’t make me say it a third time.”

The woman still looked resentful but hesitated and ultimately didn’t speak again.

“Sir…” The gatekeeper leading the monks into the courtyard finally found a gap to speak.

This broke the deadlock.

Cheng Xiaonan immediately ordered some braver servants to carry Old Master Cheng back to the memorial hall, then warmly greeted Master Yan Yi, calling for the tea server to come over. Eventually, the tea server led the monks to rest in the side courtyard, discussing the next day’s rituals with Master Yan Yi along the way.

Taking advantage of the chaos as the monk procession moved again, Wu Sheng quietly instructed Xu Wang to keep an eye on Master Yan Yi—he had a feeling Master Yan Yi knew something.

Thus, Xu Wang, with a mission, followed the monks and disappeared in the direction of the side courtyard.

Qian Ai also took the opportunity to return to the memorial hall, carrying out the task assigned by his advisor—to inquire about the Cheng family’s situation from the servants; the more detailed and gossipy, the better.

Soon, only the Cheng family, the Fushou Gang members, and Mr. Bai were left in the courtyard.

Both groups were large, leaving Wu Sheng, a lone figure, immediately standing out and attracting all eyes.

Wu Sheng had no choice but to offer an awkward smile and explain to the Cheng side. “I went to chase the Old Master but didn’t catch up. Instead, I ran into Master Yan Yi and followed him back.” He then turned to Master Jiu, feeling he should say something, but couldn’t find the words.

Master Jiu watched him for almost a minute, finally realizing that Wu Sheng might not start the conversation and gracefully stepped forward. “Mr. Bai.”

Wu Sheng was taken aback. His first instinct was to ask, “Master Jiu knows me?” but immediately realized that would give him away and quickly went along. “Master Jiu.”

The two “acquaintances” nodded at each other, and the situation seemed to shift from a three-way standoff to a two-party alliance. Cheng Xiaonan, in his unique mix of Western and Chinese attire, couldn’t stand it any longer and cleared his throat. “Mr. Bai, everything you wished to know has been fully explained by the Cheng family.”

The implication was clear: You can leave now.

Wu Sheng, however, looked innocently puzzled and rooted to the spot.

“Mr. Cheng,” Master Jiu said with a light smile, taking control of the conversation. “It’s late and chilly. Let’s not talk here in the courtyard.”

Cheng Xiaonan’s face turned as dark as the night, matching the surrounding darkness.

But Master Jiu remained leisurely, adding insult to injury. “The great Cheng family can’t even spare a cup of hot tea?”

……

Wu Sheng, riding on Master Jiu’s coattails, entered the Cheng family’s living room for the second time.

Why did Old Master Cheng’s body end up in front of Master Jiu? And what was Master Jiu’s purpose in staying? With so many mysteries, Wu Sheng could only wait and see how things unfolded.

The Cheng family mansion was a blend of Chinese and Western styles. The front courtyard retained the old house’s appearance, but as one walked further in, a Western-style building emerged, rivaling the grand mansions of 5^th Avenue.

The women had returned to the inner quarters, leaving only Cheng Xiaonan to entertain them in the small building’s living room.

Wu Sheng found that Master Jiu indeed had the demeanor of a major figure in the underworld—he had only brought one person into the living room, leaving the rest of the Fushou Gang members outside. He was domineering when necessary yet showed perfect manners when appropriate—truly a formidable character.

The person Master Jiu brought in was a young man in his early twenties. He looked handsome, with fair skin and a facial injury, but dressed very decently… almost exactly like Master Jiu.

He didn’t sit down but stood next to Master Jiu, silent yet impossible to ignore.

As soon as they were seated, tea and some whiskey were served.

Cheng Xiaonan lifted his glass and casually asked the guests, “You don’t mind, do you?”

As the host preferred whiskey and didn’t force anyone to join him, the guests naturally had no objections.

So, two drank tea and one drank whiskey, with occasional awkward attempts at conversation, creating a momentarily harmonious scene.

That was until Wu Sheng saw a half-face appearing and disappearing outside the window.

Finding an excuse, Wu Sheng left the small building for a hidden spot where visibility was poor to meet up with his teammate.

Wu Sheng: “Did you find anything out?”

Qian Ai: “I did. The woman who shouted at Master Jiu earlier is Second Master Cheng’s wife, Hai Huiping, the daughter of the Hai Gang leader. She has an older brother, Hai Yunlong, the young leader of the Hai Gang.”

Wu Sheng: “Hai Gang?”

Qian Ai: “Yeah, an organization similar to the Fushou Gang, you know.”

Wu Sheng: “……”

Qian Ai: “Cheng Xiaonan’s wife died years ago, leaving no children; Cheng Jiming, that is, Second Master Cheng, died last year, leaving behind a ten-year-old daughter and Hai Huiping, the stepmother.”

Wu Sheng: “Stepmother?”

Qian Ai: “Yeah, his daughter was with his first wife, who died of illness before he remarried Hai Huiping.”

Wu Sheng, having a rough understanding of the Cheng family’s current situation from Xue Qingshan, knew the Cheng family now consisted of a master, a widow of the second master, and a daughter of the second master.

But since Xue Qingshan and the Cheng family hardly interacted and Du Jinnian didn’t talk much about the Cheng family, further information was scarce.

“How did Cheng Jiming die?” The confrontation in the courtyard earlier was what Wu Sheng was most concerned about. Both Cheng Xiaonan and Hai Huiping mentioned Cheng Jiming’s death was related to the Fushou Gang, but Master Jiu insisted it wasn’t. The key phrase here was “caused his death.”

There must be more to Cheng Jiming’s death.

“Ah?” Qian Ai opened his mouth. “How did he die…?”

A second later, the servant “Zhuzi” disappeared.

A little more than ten minutes later, he returned.

Qian Ai: “I managed to find out through indirect questioning. He was kidnapped, and a ransom was demanded!”

Wu Sheng: “By the Fushou Gang?”

Qian Ai: “That’s what the Cheng family says, but it seems the Fushou Gang denies it. Anyway, the Cheng family paid the ransom, but Cheng Jiming still died. His body had been discarded on a common grave for who knows how long… Quite tragic.”

Wu Sheng fell silent.

“From what they say, the Hai Gang made noise for half a year, but in the end, they didn’t really act against the Fushou Gang.” Qian Ai sighed. “You’d think Cheng Jiming, being the Hai Gang’s son-in-law and dying so miserably, the Hai Gang would react, right?”

Wu Sheng shook his head. “It’s not about enduring; it’s about having to. Didn’t you see the exchange between Hai Huiping and Master Jiu? If they really clashed, the Hai Gang couldn’t handle the Fushou Gang, and they might even suffer more losses.”

Qian Ai, looking at the occasional reflective glasses in the darkness, genuinely admired, “Advisor, you’re too into your role.”

From his demeanor to his lines, everything perfectly matched the era of the Republic of China. How did he manage that?

“By the way.” Wu Sheng, too focused on the mission, unusually ignored the praise. “What about Old Master Cheng? How did he die?”

Qian Ai: “……”

A second later, the servant “Zhuzi” disappeared.

Fifteen minutes later, he returned.

Qian Ai: “Illness… He died of illness…”

Wu Sheng: “Take your time, catch your breath.”

Qian Ai: “After Cheng Jiming died last year, he fell ill and had been bedridden until now. He probably couldn’t hold on anymore.”

Wu Sheng: “What illness?”

Qian Ai: “There wasn’t any specific illness; it was just a big blow from his son’s death, and then he just declined day by day. But…”

Wu Sheng: “But what?”

Qian Ai: “A servant said it was due to evil spirits.”

Wu Sheng: “What does that mean?”

Qian Ai: “He just mentioned it in passing; I didn’t get to ask in detail.”

Wu Sheng: “……”

Qian Ai: “……”

Wu Sheng: “……”

Qian Ai: “Okay, I’ve noted this question. Advisor, do you have any other questions? Can you write them down for me, so I can ask them all at once?”

Wu Sheng felt a bit guilty, but many questions arose based on newly acquired information, and he really couldn’t help it.

Fortunately, that was about it.

“Just three questions: one, why do they say Old Master Cheng was haunted by evil spirits; two, who in the Cheng family was closest to Du Jinnian; three, how long did Du Jinnian stay at the Cheng family two days ago, and when did he leave?”

This time, it took less than ten minutes for Qian Ai to return, either because his indirect questioning skills had improved dramatically or because the servants were inspired to unleash their gossiping spirits, offering information without needing to be prodded.

Qian Ai: “Last winter, not long after Cheng Jiming was buried, Old Master Cheng slipped in front of his own door, possibly due to his age and fragile bones, and never got up from bed again. The reason for the fall was water spilled by a servant in front of his door, which turned to ice. In the end, they couldn’t find who was responsible. Coupled with Cheng Jiming’s tragic death, rumors began that the Cheng family was cursed by evil spirits, leading to continuous misfortune. Now with Old Master Cheng’s death, the rumors seem even more believable…”

Wu Sheng: “The second question…”

Qian Ai: “I was just getting to that. Du Jinnian was closest to Cheng Jiming. When Cheng Jiming was alive, he often visited, but after his death, Du Jinnian almost stopped coming.”

Wu Sheng: “But he came two days ago.”

Qian Ai: “Yes, he did come, and he spoke with Cheng Xiaonan in the living room where you were sitting. At that time, Old Master Cheng had just passed away, and the Cheng family was in disarray. Cheng Xiaonan didn’t entertain him for long before continuing with the funeral arrangements.”

Wu Sheng: “And then? Did Du Jinnian leave?”

Qian Ai: “I don’t know.”

Wu Sheng: “You don’t know?”

Qian Ai: “Externally, they said Du Jinnian left after having tea, but according to the servants, no one saw him leave the Cheng family.”

Wu Sheng: “What does that mean? Did the man just vanish into thin air? Vanish inside the Cheng family mansion?”

Qian Ai: “Yes.”

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 160: The False Corpse

When Kuang Jinxin emerged from the secret path in the rockery with his master, fog had descended on the Cheng family’s large courtyard.

The fog made the old house eerily cold, and the sight of white mourning fabrics everywhere made it feel even more chilling.

Carrying a square, large box on his back, Kuang Jinxin followed his master through the rockery towards the courtyard wall, resembling a saint wearing holy robes, intending to slip away unnoticed.

They had already succeeded.

The box was filled with antiques and calligraphy paintings. Although Kuang Jinxin wasn’t deeply versed in these items, the fact that his master chose this box over rooms full of silver and jewelry made it clear to him which was more valuable.

However, there was something strange.

His master was as familiar with the Cheng residence as if it were his own home. Not a step was wasted; they went straight into the secret passage and into the “wealth center” of the house. Moreover, upon entering, his master didn’t search around but locked onto this box immediately, instructing him to carry it and leave without a second thought.

The goal was too specific, the route too clear.

“Who’s there?” Suddenly, a voice questioned from the bushes nearby.

Startled, Kuang Jinxin instinctively paused, only to see his master had already scaled the wall in a flash.

Kuang Jinxin had no time to sweat; he dashed to the base of the wall, hoping to use his momentum to kick off it and climb up…

As Qian Ai rushed out, he saw a young man with a large box on his back clumsily climbing the wall, moving so slowly and with such difficulty that he almost wanted to help lift him.

He had been driven here by the smell of the latrines, seeking a breath of fresh air in this idyllic spot, only to stumble upon unusual footsteps as he entered the bushes.

The sight before him made it clear. “Stop, thief—”

Shouting out a phrase in old-style slang, Qian Ai immediately felt as if he were transported back to the Kaifeng Mansion, as if the spirits of dynastic warriors and the legendary figures Zhang Long and Zhao Hu* were by his side. With a tiger’s stride, he charged forward and, without a second word, grabbed the leg of the little thief!

*They are bodyguards and investigators of Justice Bao, responsible for carrying the guillotine once Justice Bao sentences the criminal to death.

Kuang Jinxin had almost reached the top of the wall, about to succeed, when he felt a sharp pain in his ankle.

Looking down, he saw a dark face with bright eyes, fierce like a little tiger.

My apologies.

Kuang Jinxin silently apologized in his mind before kicking out at the face to avoid eye contact.

Qian Ai had anticipated the thief to pull his leg back, not expecting a kick. Caught off guard, he took a direct hit. Pain aside, hitting the face was a no-go, fueling his anger. He blurted out without thinking, “Fuck, you really kicked—”

At this exclamation, Kuang Jinxin froze.

Looking down again, the face seemed familiar.

“Qian Ge?” Kuang Jinxin murmured softly, unsure, and just as he voiced this, his master, already over the wall, pulled him down.

These words, mixed with the noise of his landing, puzzled Qian Ai, swirling in the foggy confusion.

Criminal record?

Lots of money?

Qian Ge*?

*Clarity: Hearing Kuang Jinxin say “Qian Ge”, Qian Ai is going through his brain thinking about what he had just heard (as if he had misheard it): criminal record [qian ke] (前科), lots of money [qian duo] (钱多).

In this world, except for Xiao Kuang, no one else would call him Qian Ge. But… could it be such a coincidence? And even if it was indeed Xiao Kuang, how could he recognize Qian Ai at a glance? The word “fuck” wasn’t his alone to use; the captain, the advisor, Xiao Xue—anyone could have said it.

Qian Ai looked up at the wall, tempted to jump over and ask for clarity.

But the fading footsteps beyond the wall told him the thief wasn’t alone, and they had already escaped far.

“What are you doing here?!” A middle-aged man came over, cursing. “One less person by the memorial hall makes an odd number. Breaking the rules and causing trouble, can you afford that?”

Qian Ai looked away, smiling apologetically, not because he was easygoing but because he had grown immune to the man’s nagging after waking up and having to listen to it 80% of the time.

This man was a tea server hired by the Cheng family, skilled in managing both joyous and sorrowful events, knowledgeable in all rituals and customs, from preparing the body to funeral procedures, orchestrating each step.

On the way back to the memorial hall, the tea server’s constant chatter, mainly complaints, became clear to Qian Ai—they had visitors for mourning.

“I’ve never seen such disregard for rules. Who mourns before the body is prepared? And at this hour, the sons in mourning need rest too. Who’s to ‘accompany the wake’? Who’s to ‘thank for mourning’…”

Qian Ai, half-understanding, nodded along, knowing agreement was usually safe.

Returning to the spirit shed, they found a young man in a Western suit and gold-rimmed glasses paying his respects to the portrait of Old Master Cheng.

The tea server’s demeanor softened, despite the breach of etiquette, welcoming the visitor and guiding him through the mourning process.

After the ceremony, before the tea server could escort the visitor out, the young man asked, “Can I have a moment to speak with you?”

The tea server was stunned for a moment and didn’t understand what he meant, but he still followed him to the side.

Qian Ai stood still, unable to hear the conversation between the two, but his eyes never left the young man.

For some reason, he felt that the young man’s gesture of pushing up his glasses was particularly elegant, wise, composed, and, well, pretentiously cool. But it wasn’t just any pretentious coolness; it was a kind that exuded an irritating air, a vibe that was both annoyingly familiar and itching.

“Zhuzi…” Suddenly, a servant beside him tugged at his sleeve.

Qian Ai’s rare moment of inspiration was interrupted, and he looked over irritably. “What?”

The servant was pale with fear, looking in the direction behind them. “Do you see that… Is that… the old master… floating?!”

The last words were uttered in such a fright that they didn’t even sound human anymore.

A chill ran down Qian Ai’s neck, and he immediately turned around to follow the servant’s pointing direction.

Then, he felt a chill from his hair down to the soles of his feet.

In the depths of the mist, a figure was floating, occasionally moving into less dense fog, revealing a dead face under the moonlight.

Qian Ai glanced at the “person” floating in the distance, then back at the portrait in the memorial hall, going back and forth, back and forth… Wasn’t this Old Master Cheng, who was supposed to be lying on the leisure bed in the memorial hall?

“It’s a false corpse*! Ahhhhh!” Another servant at the memorial hall screamed out, not sure who made such a noise, echoing through the silent Cheng family courtyard like a mix of firecrackers, skyrockets, flashbangs, and magic bullets.

*Ancient superstition, where it is said that when a person dies, there’s still a breath of air left in them, which can possess an animal that disturbs their corpse. The corpse will temporarily resurrect but can’t sustain itself and will then officially die (thus calling it a false (resurrected) corpse).

The first to react was that young man. He ignored the tea server and dashed towards the “dead person” floating in the depths of the mist!

Qian Ai, unsure of what came over him, felt a rush to his head and followed suit!

The young man ran ahead, he followed behind, and Old Master Cheng, as if aware of the pursuit, floated faster and faster, eventually even passing over the courtyard wall!

Without saying a word, the young man climbed towards the top of the wall!

Qian Ai was too familiar with this place, having been kicked here not long ago. At that time, he hadn’t had the chance to confirm the look in the eyes and was only left with the imprint of a shoe sole on half of his face. This time, he couldn’t miss the opportunity again—

“Someone used [Team Reunion] on you. If you don’t understand, just ignore me and keep climbing…”

Amidst a string of mumblings, the person already sitting on top of the wall froze.

Wu Sheng was just focusing on questioning the tea server and completely ignored the servants around him. His teammate, who had seemingly transmigrated, blended too well into the darkness of the night, just like the men in black from Detective Conan, with his features entirely merging into the shadows.

But now, he understood completely, his voice was filled with genuine joy. “Lao Qian!”

“Wu Sheng?” Compared to his advisor’s certainty, Qian Ai was still a bit hesitant.

“Who else would chase after the old master’s fake corpse but me?” Wu Sheng sighed. The current development caught him off guard, but time was of the essence. “Hurry up and come over. He’s headed east. Let’s chase together!”

Qian Ai didn’t hesitate at all, immediately joining Wu Sheng to leap over the courtyard wall and chase into the depths of the alley.

During the chase, Qian Ai finally understood Wu Sheng’s mission—to find the missing Du Jinnian.

As for why they ended up at the Cheng residence, it was because the client, Xue Qingshan, mentioned that the last place Du Jinnian was seen before his disappearance was at the Cheng family’s home.

The Du and Cheng families had been friends for generations, with Du Jinnian frequently visiting the Cheng residence. Xue Qingshan didn’t have much interaction with the Cheng family, but he had a good impression of his friend’s friend. Unfortunately, it was at the Cheng residence where Du Jinnian disappeared. Of course, Xue Qingshan had approached the Cheng family, but by then, the old master was already gravely ill. He was received by the eldest son of the Cheng family, Cheng Xiaonan, who confirmed that Du Jinnian did visit that day but left after having a cup of tea, knowing nothing else.

Wu Sheng had then hurried to the Cheng residence to investigate.

By the time all this was explained, Qian Ai was already out of breath, but there was one question he had to ask, “How could you recognize me as the servant at a glance? It could have been the captain, Xiao Kuang, or Xiao Xue, right?”

Wu Sheng glanced quickly at his teammate’s coarse clothes, worn shoes, and the face that read “life is hard”…

“Cough, it was just intuition. It’s very subtle, hard to describe…”

……

In a secluded back alley.

On a dark, murderous night with high winds, the thin fog couldn’t cover the smell of blood.

Hai Yunlong kicked a person towards Ying Jiu, who was tightly bound and had been tortured so badly that there wasn’t a good spot left on him. He was barely breathing, rolling on the ground like a blood gourd.

“Master Jiu, here’s the person back to you. I might have gone a bit too far, but he’s still alive,” Hai Yunlong said with a smile, wiping the blood off his shoe on the ground as if kicking that person had dirtied his shoe.

The brothers of the Fushou Gang standing behind Ying Jiu immediately stepped forward, veins bulging, barely restraining themselves from starting a fight.

Hai Yunlong’s followers immediately mimicked their stance, not giving an inch.

The atmosphere between the two sides became tense.

Until Ying Jiu said calmly, “Thank you, young gang leader.”

Following his words, the person on the ground was quickly put on a stretcher brought by the brothers of the Fushou Gang and carried away for treatment, leaving the remaining brothers on site.

Hai Yunlong tilted his head to look at Ying Jiu for a while, then smirked without a smile. “His life is still there, but my brother’s life—” he suddenly spread his hands, jokingly, “is gone.”

Ying Jiu gave a signal with his eyes.

Chi Yingxue, with his hands tied behind his back, was pushed out.

Ying Jiu touched his sleeve and said calmly, “A life for a life. Our Fushou Gang always abides by the rules.”

Hai Yunlong glanced at Chi Yingxue, then back at Ying Jiu, confused for a half-second.

His followers were collectively confused for several seconds.

These two were dressed almost identically; what was the meaning of this?

Both in long robes, one wouldn’t tell them apart if not for the bound hands of one, as if there were two Ying Jius standing there.

Had Tianjin introduced new rules? Before going on the road, one must dress according to the gang leader’s standard?

While Hai Yunlong’s followers were pondering in confusion, Hai Yunlong had already snapped back to reality, feigning politeness. “I knew Master Jiu was a man of principle.”

With a wave of his hand, two men immediately came up to drag Chi Yingxue towards Hai Yunlong’s side.

Just as he was being lifted, Chi Yingxue somehow broke free from the ropes, slipped out of the control of the two Hai gang brothers like a snake, and lunged at Hai Yunlong!

Hai Yunlong, completely unprepared for this turn of events, didn’t even have time to reach for his gun at his waist before Chi Yingxue had him in a chokehold!

Instead, Chi Yingxue helped him draw the gun, pressing its muzzle to his temple. Chi Yingxue’s eyes swept across the crowd coldly. “If anyone from the Hai Gang or the Fushou Gang dares to step forward, I’ll blow his head off.”

His gaze was cold, and his voice even colder, like a thin blade in the dark night, ready to cut throats.

“Back off!” Hai Yunlong shouted to his brothers, his voice breaking. Gone was his previously imposing demeanor.

The Hai Gang brothers naturally didn’t dare gamble with their young leader’s life.

But the stance of the Fushou Gang brothers was more delicate.

Hai Yunlong glanced nervously towards Ying Jiu.

The Fushou Gang and Hai Gang had never gotten along, but there had never been a major conflict openly. In theory, he thought the Fushou Gang wouldn’t dare act rashly, considering his father’s position above him. If they really did something to him, when his father came with the entire Hai Gang for revenge, things wouldn’t end well for the Fushou Gang.

But what if Ying Jiu acted impulsively? This was the cunning Master Ying Jiu—who knows what he was thinking.

“Let him go,” Ying Jiu finally said, making Hai Yunlong want to cry.

Chi Yingxue tightened his grip. “You let me go, I let him go.”

Ying Jiu nodded without hesitation. “Okay.”

Chi Yingxue smiled—a faint, disdainful smile—as if to say, my escape isn’t because you allowed it, but because I earned it.

Ying Jiu remained expressionless, just quietly watching him.

Chi Yingxue, while holding Hai Yunlong, retreated towards the direction of the Hai Gang brothers, who immediately cleared a path for them.

Hai Yunlong stumbled, finding it increasingly difficult to breathe, pleading continuously, “Brother, don’t strangle me to death. If I die, you won’t be able to get out…”

Before he could finish his sentence, a sudden noise came from the wall, and the next second, a body “plopped” into the alley, landing between the Hai Gang and the Fushou Gang, right in front of Chi Yingxue and Hai Yunlong, with the person’s hand landing on Hai Yunlong’s foot.

Upon closer inspection, this wasn’t a living person at all, but clearly someone wearing funeral clothes!

If not for Chi Yingxue holding him with the gun pressed against him, Hai Yunlong would have jumped up.

The air suddenly froze, and every brother in the alley, regardless of affiliation, stared dumbfounded at the corpse of the old man in funeral clothes on the ground, somewhat bewildered.

They had seen corpses before, in all states of gore, but the sudden appearance of an old man from the sky, especially on such a dark, windy, and foggy night, was a different kind of horror.

Chi Yingxue was the first to snap out of it. Taking advantage of everyone’s shock, he pushed Hai Yunlong and jumped over the wall to escape!

Hai Yunlong, pushed onto the old man, took a while to get up. His legs were weak. Furious, he ordered all the brothers, “Chase!”

A group of people immediately scaled the wall, no longer caring about the unrelated corpse.

……

After jumping over the wall, Chi Yingxue didn’t leave but hid on the roof of a nearby shop, leisurely watching Hai Yunlong and his gang run off. He blew a whistle only he could hear and jumped down from the roof.

To his surprise, a group from the Fushou Gang was waiting behind the house.

As soon as Chi Yingxue landed, he knew trouble was imminent. Turning around, sure enough, Ying Jiu was standing there with his hands behind his back, relaxed, with the Fushou Gang brothers carrying the old man’s corpse behind him.

“I don’t know him,” Chi Yingxue declared first.

“……” Ying Jiu sighed lightly, for the first time feeling his patience wearing thin. “He is Old Master Cheng from the Cheng family, who passed away two days ago.”

Chi Yingxue: “Oh.”

Ying Jiu: “……”

Perhaps unable to watch their leader being tormented any longer, the Fushou Gang brothers burst into action—

“Why waste words with him, Master Jiu? He denies involvement after drawing lots; our Fushou Gang doesn’t harbor such cowards!”

“Exactly, Master Jiu. Just say the word, and we’ll dump him in the Hai River!”

“Before dumping him, strip off those clothes. They look so uncomfortable!”

Ying Jiu raised his hand.

The brothers immediately fell silent.

Chi Yingxue tilted his head, curiously looking at Ying Jiu’s hand. Having witnessed its effect twice now, he had every reason to suspect it had a “mute button”.

“Why did you hold Hai Yunlong hostage?” Ying Jiu suddenly asked.

Chi Yingxue was slow to respond, only realizing Ying Jiu was speaking to him.

“I can’t die.”

“Can’t?” Ying Jiu raised his eyebrows slightly. People usually say, “Don’t want to.”

“If I die, I can’t submit my paper.”

“Paper?”

Chi Yingxue, losing patience with this repetitive conversation style, unilaterally decided they were not suited for dialogue.

Ying Jiu also realized that following the other’s lead in conversation was a dead end and directly brought back the original question. “Why did you, being closer to me, go out of your way to take Hai Yunlong hostage?”

Chi Yingxue shrugged. “I don’t want to pay with my life. You’re at fault. I take him hostage, it’s his loss of face. If he doesn’t hold it against you and you don’t spread it around, this matter will slide. If I took you hostage, it would be both your fault and loss of face, and he could broadcast it everywhere…”

He paused mid-sentence, suddenly zoning out as if just realizing what he had said.

Ying Jiu didn’t catch his lapse, instead showing rare approval. “Kid, from now on, follow me.”

Chi Yingxue didn’t hear Ying Jiu’s words, deaf to everything except his own heartbeat. Was it really him who answered so smoothly? That clarity of thought, that sharpness of vision, that decisiveness in action—it all felt more like… Yan Wang.

He despised thinking because clarity brought back unwanted memories. So, he preferred to be lazy and muddled.

Slowly raising his hand to his chest, Chi Yingxue, feeling the steady heartbeat, suddenly realized something.

The joke he and Chi Zhuolin made might be true—Yan Wang hadn’t left; he just stayed with him in another way.

“Hey, Master Jiu is giving you face. Don’t throw it away!” Someone nearby pushed him.

Chi Yingxue snapped back to reality. “Hm?”

Ying Jiu looked up at the foggy night sky, exhaling softly before looking back at Chi Yingxue. “I said, from now on, stay by my side. Stop being Cat Five.”

The career shift came too fast for Chi Yingxue to follow. “Then what am I?”

Master Ying Jiu: “Master Wu*.”

*Five.

Chi Yingxue: “You’re Master Jiu*, and I’m Master Wu. Wouldn’t I be running ahead of you?”

*Nine.

Master Ying Jiu: “Young—Master Wu.”

Chi Yingxue: “That’s good, sounds younger.”

Master Ying Jiu: “……”

Fushou Gang brothers: “……”

—Cat Five, a low-level thug in the Fushou Gang, was promoted on a starless night.

“Master Jiu.” The brother carrying the corpse asked, “What do we do now?”

Master Ying Jiu, having recognized the corpse as Old Master Cheng, pondered for a moment before saying, “Go to the Cheng family.”

……

On the main road, two alleys away, Wu Sheng and Qian Ai, having lost track of “Old Master Cheng”, ran into a procession of monks headed to the Cheng family for a ritual the next day.

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 159: Tianjin

11/23, Guizhou.

When they stepped into the purple vortex, the five friends simultaneously heard the paid intelligence provided by Mr. Fan echoing in their ears.

[11/23, Owl will send you into a crime scene from the Republic of China era. Most of them are homicides, with the occasional oddity, supernatural tale, or other miscellaneous cases. But the essence remains the same—dispel the fog and uncover the truth.]

To the friends, the words “deductive reasoning” was synonymous with “bonus level”. With Wu Sheng among them, following the deductive path, even if they wanted to be pessimistic, their hearts couldn’t help but bloom with joy. Upon closer inspection, each petal was a test paper, all marked with “correct”, 100 points.

With smiles of confidence, their vision cleared.

A pure white chamber, futuristic, like a space capsule.

The five friends: “……”

The identical scene gave them an instant sensation of time reversal, as if they had returned to the hell inside their minds on 9/23, awaiting the next dark prompt to pop up.

“Click—”

Indeed, it popped up as expected.

Chi Yingxue’s expression was darker than the darkness. Clearly, this setting held no fond memories for him.

The other four companions’ faces weren’t much better. Is this the Republic of China? Is this solving a case? Is this deducing? If Fan Yebai didn’t come up with a “seven-day no question asked + express refund + 10% compensation for every fake” luxury package, they’re absolutely going to give bad reviews to everyone they meet in the Endless Sea!

[Owl: Welcome to the chaotic Republic of China!]

Just as they finished criticizing the seller in their minds, the earpiece’s prompt vindicated Mr. Fan of his grievances.

The group paused, listening intently.

[Owl: The rules are simple. The Dark Agent No. 1 will receive a mission, complete it, and submit their paper. Dark Agents No. 2–5 will ensure their own survival until Dark Agent No. 1 submits their paper. During the process, if they meet each other, Dark Agents No. 2–5 may assist No. 1 in submitting their paper. Remember, first, each person can only use stationery only once—any further use is invalid; second, if any one of the five dies, it’s considered a submission failure.]

[Owl: You have three minutes to choose your Dark Agents. Countdown starts now.]

The friends looked at each other. Obviously, this level had been updated in form and was likely a recent addition, hence Mr. Fan’s lack of timely updates. But the core, still, was Republic of China + puzzle solving.

According to the rules, Dark Agent No. 1 is the absolute key player of this level.

Eight eyes fell on Wu Sheng, almost without hesitation.

With great power comes great responsibility. The advisor didn’t shirk, but he had instructions. “The rules mention ‘if you meet’, indicating we five will be separated. ‘Ensure your own survival’ means No. 2–5 will face dangers, so unless it’s feasible, don’t forcefully try to find me. Ensuring your own safety is the priority.”

Xu Wang nodded for the three companions. “Understood.”

Understanding is one thing, but in the chaotic times of the Republic of China, how could they let their advisor venture alone!

……

Republic of China, Tianjin, 5^th Avenue, Bai Mansion.

“Mr. Bai, I dare not say this money is remuneration. Just take it for some tea. Once you find my brother, I will have a substantial reward!”

The speaker was a young man with a sincere face and a sturdy build, dressed in a traditional Chinese long robe, exuding an air of martial vigor. He cupped his fists and bowed to Mr. Bai, who was sitting on the sofa, and spoke with sincerity; every word was sonorous.

The owner of the mansion, Mr. Bai, a modern and handsome young man with meticulously combed hair and gold-rimmed glasses on his nose, was dressed in Western attire. He stood in stark contrast to the visiting Mr. Xue, as if representing two different worlds.

“Rest assured, Mr. Xue, I’ll take the case.”

After listening to about fifteen minutes of “case presentation”, Mr. Bai had been quietly contemplative, making Xue Qingshan nervous. Now, finally speaking up without any fluff, just a clean and clear “I’ll take it”, it was like a rain shower for Xue Qingshan.

“Then I’ll leave it to you!” Xue Qingshan expressed his immense gratitude as if he wasn’t the one paying but rather receiving money.

Mr. Bai smiled, accepting the client’s pre-emptive thanks, even though he hadn’t started working yet.

After sending off Xue Qingshan, Mr. Bai returned to his study, surrounded by various books and several “investigation notebooks” on his desk. He envied the “contractors” of the Republic of China. In such chaotic times, as long as you have real skills, you could be assertive. If those skills were extraordinary, no amount of money could “hire” you, only “request” your services.

Mr. Bai, a “young detective” from a wealthy family, had set up this Bai Mansion on the most prosperous 5^th Avenue, taking on all kinds of challenging cases—not for money, but as a hobby. Unexpectedly, he made a name for himself. The recent visit from Young Master Xue was out of admiration, bringing enough money to tempt any detective into danger, just to find someone—his sworn brother, Du Jinnian, who had disappeared.

However, at this moment, Mr. Bai wasn’t really Mr. Bai.

Inside his body was the soul of Advisor Wu.

Wu Sheng had calculated everything but didn’t expect this to be a transmigration scenario. It was all because of the similarity to the dark room in 9/23, which made him assume it was still the same as last time—though it was consciousness navigating the challenge, he would still be in his own form.

Now, he turned out to be someone else, and so would his four companions, each with different appearances and identities. Even if they met head-on in the street, they probably wouldn’t recognize each other.

As Wu Sheng pondered, he lifted his arm again.

He entered as Dark Agent No. 1, the sole task executor for this level.

Now, no, as soon as Xue Qingshan arrived, his mission was issued—

[Cheat Sheet]: Accept Xue Qingshan’s commission to find Du Jinnian.

……

Republic of China, Tianjin, by the Hai River, Guajia Temple.

Xu Wang hadn’t opened his eyes yet but first smelled the incense—quiet, solemn, instinctively calming.

This was the only moment of peace he had that night.

Then, he opened his eyes, saw this world, saw the courtyard full of monks, saw himself in monk robes, and in the reflection of the lotus pond, saw his own face—though his lips were still red, his teeth were still white, and he still had lively eyes, they were all entirely unfamiliar.

His emotions surged from then on, wave after wave crashing against the shore, each slap dizzying him with confusion.

Until an older monk came over to scold him. “What are you dazed about? Get moving.”

Xu Wang asked blankly, “Where to?”

As he spoke, the courtyard gradually emptied—the monks who had been in the yard had already left in succession, forming a procession of ascetics on the streets as night fell.

“To the Cheng family,” the monk said, pushing him towards the door. “Old Master Cheng has passed away. Tomorrow is the third day, and a ritual must be performed.”

Xu Wang was confused. “The third day?”

“Three days after death, it’s believed that the deceased ascends to the Lookout Platform to gaze upon their homeland. At this time, chanting scriptures to help the soul transcend lets them know that their family has been waiting for them for three days. Since the deceased cannot return to life, this ritual also serves as their last farewell to their family. When the master performs the fire offering, just follow the other monks in chanting.”

Xu Wang: “……”

What’s a fire offering? His knowledge system was blank in this area!

“Hurry up—” Seeing that the courtyard was about to be empty, the monk pushed him hard on the back.

Stumbling to the doorway, Xu Wang gritted his teeth and jogged to catch up with the procession of monks ahead.

Thinking positively, being a monk in the chaotic times of the Republic of China meant at least there was no risk to his life. The monastery provided sustenance, and even if he couldn’t reunite with his friends, enduring until Wu Sheng completed the task should be possible.

As the night fully descended and the moon rose, the air grew cooler.

Xu Wang looked up at the moon, and as he watched, it turned into Wu Sheng’s face.

He said in his heart, “You better finish the task quickly. These hairless nights are too cold.”

……

Republic of China, Tianjin, the Cheng family.

The night deepened, but the mourning hall still had white candles burning. The filial sons and grandsons had finished their crying during the day, and now only a few servants stood guard. They were all young and sturdy, dressed neatly but plainly, with sun-tanned skin, clearly from humble origins.

Qian Ai was among them.

Upon opening his eyes, he was faced with the mourning hall, and then a breeze blew, flickering the candlelight, illuminating the paper effigies of boys and girls, horses, and sheep, more thrilling than inhaling menthol.

What was truly terrifying was the feeling that he had made eye contact with those two paper effigies of children. He inexplicably felt that the two paper figures were watching him, and once this feeling arose, it couldn’t be erased. No matter how he shook his head from side to side or turned around in place, he felt those pairs of eyes following his every move.

A square-faced servant next to him, tired, noticed his discomfort and muttered in confusion, “What’s up? Possessed by a ghost?”

Before Qian Ai could respond, another round-faced servant disapproved, his eyes full of the will to live. “Brother, isn’t it bad to joke about that here…”

Qian Ai really wanted to give Round Face a thumbs up.

Talking about possession in a mourning hall was simply asking for trouble!

Square Face paused, looking at the mourning hall, white candles, and paper effigies, and fell silent.

But it was too late; he too began to feel the paper effigies watching him, following Qian Ai’s path—swaying his head and turning in circles.

……

Cheng family’s back garden, outside the courtyard wall.

“Master, have you ever thought about changing professions?” A young boy, around fifteen or sixteen years old, handed a grappling hook attached to a rope to the middle-aged man beside him.

“Change to what?” The middle-aged man threw the grappling hook onto the wall, pulled it, and the rope tautened securely.

“Like… stop being a thief.” Both the young man and the middle-aged man were dressed in black. Their heads were covered, and they wore masks, making them unrecognizable to even their own mothers.

“Quit being a thief? And starve?” The middle-aged man leapt up, his movements light, climbing the rope smoothly onto the wall. He then moved aside, lying low on the top of the wall to avoid attracting attention, and urged, “Come up.”

The young man, failing to persuade his master, had no choice but to grab the rope and slowly climb up.

The middle-aged man waited for a long time, only to find that his disciple had climbed just halfway, rendering him speechless. “Tuck in your stomach, take a deep breath, focus on your feet, and use the momentum to lift yourself… I didn’t ask you to swing on a swing!”

The middle-aged man was usually calm and could suppress his temper well, but tonight he was truly frustrated. His disciple, for some unknown reason, had been incessantly nagging along the way, and though he had tolerated his urging to reform, now the disciple couldn’t even climb over a wall. What use was such a useless disciple!

“Have you eaten all I taught you?” Unable to bear it anymore, the middle-aged man reached down and yanked the disciple up.

With the help of the rope and his master’s pull, the young man finally made it onto the top of the wall.

Under the cover of the dark night, master and disciple successfully entered the Cheng family’s property.

With the Cheng family busy with funeral arrangements and the comings and goings of many people focused on mourning, it was the perfect time for “sneaking into the night with the wind and stealing quietly”.

Kuang Jinxin had transmigrated into the body of a burglar’s apprentice. His twenty-three years of law-abiding life were slipping into the abyss of crime.

……

Republic of China, Tianjin, South Market (lawless area).

“Brother, it’s your turn.” As soon as Chi Yingxue opened his eyes, he saw someone handing him a draw tube.

There were six sticks left in the draw tube.

He quickly surveyed his surroundings—a shabby, sweaty-smelling shack and a group of young men with a dubious air but serious expressions. This was clearly an illegal hideout.

“Draw.” The person holding the draw tube urged him.

Chi Yingxue, utterly confused, reached out to draw, then realized something was off. Although this hand was also beautiful, it wasn’t his.

He felt his hair, pinched his face, and checked his chest under the clothes. Indeed, this was someone else’s body.

“What?” The draw tube was nearly shoved into his face. “Hurry up and draw!”

Chi Yingxue, bewildered, randomly pulled out a stick—the bottom of the stick was red.

The air suddenly went quiet.

The people in the room seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, but their faces remained tense.

“Brother, accept your fate.” The person put down the draw tube, sighed, and patted his shoulder.

Chi Yingxue frowned, posing his first question after waking up. “Accept what fate?”

The man frowned deeper than Chi Yingxue, his voice dropping. “Drawing the black and red sticks is the rule here. It’s all up to fate. You think you can refuse?”

Chi Yingxue quietly observed him for a moment, deciding not to compromise. “Whether I accept or not, we’ll see. First, tell me, who am I? Where am I? Why do we have to draw? What happens if I draw a red stick?”

The roomful of young men: “……”

The one with the draw tube, now pale with anger, threw the draw tube down, ignoring him, and walked out the door. “Master Jiu, the red stick has been drawn. It’s Cat Five.”

Chi Yingxue: “……”

Is this a code name? A mission name? A gang name?

“Cat Five, don’t hold a grudge against your brothers.” Two hands, one on both sides, each grabbed his arms. Before he could react, someone came up behind him, binding his hands firmly behind his back.

Oh, so Cat Five was his name here. Truly… there couldn’t be a more unpleasant name.

And the clothes were ugly too.

Chi Yingxue looked down at himself, then up at a room full of “demons and monsters”. His fanciful imagination of the Republic of China era’s charm was shattered to dust.

The person with the tube returned inside, followed by a very dignified-looking man. He looked to be around forty years old, was tall and slender, and wore a long robe and jacket that looked antique and steady, with exquisite buttons, and the cuffs were embroidered with patterns. His face was handsome—the years had hardly diminished his beauty—but they had deposited an indelible aura of sternness in his brow, and his eyes were sharp, with a hint of ruthlessness difficult to detect.

Upon entering, his gaze fell on Chi Yingxue.

“Whatever your request, just make it. Once it’s done, you can go on your way peacefully. Don’t worry about your family; someone will take care of them.” The man’s voice was cold, and even such gentle words felt chilling to the listeners.

The young hooligans in the room, usually bullies, didn’t dare to meet this Master Jiu’s eyes, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Chi Yingxue, however, felt indifferent.

Wu Sheng had said that since the Owl required No. 2–5 to survive until submission, danger was undoubtedly ahead. Now, as soon as he arrived, he was to be sent off, which fit the scenario perfectly. No problem there.

“Can you agree to whatever I request?” he asked, full of doubt and without a hint of respect in his tone.

The room went pale with fright.

Yet, Master Jiu merely smiled gently, looking quite amicable. “Anything but your life.”

Chi Yingxue nodded, deciding to trust him this once. “Who am I? Where am I? Why do I have to draw lots? What happens if I draw a red lot?”

“……” The barrage of questions momentarily stunned Master Jiu.

“Answering these questions, that’s my request.” Chi Yingxue thoughtfully clarified.

Master Jiu: “……”

The room of hooligans: “……”

The one with the tube said, “Master Jiu, he might have gone mad from drawing the red lot…”

Master Jiu raised his hand.

The person with the tube immediately fell silent.

After a moment of contemplation, Master Jiu answered, “You’re called Cat Five, a member of our Fushou Gang. The Fushou Gang killed someone from the Hai Gang, and now the Hai Gang has come for retribution. The old rule is to draw black and red lots; those who draw a red lot have to die for the gang. Any more questions?”

Chi Yingxue looked at him for a long while, then sincerely said, “Your clothes look good. Can you get me a set too?”

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 158: Extra Chapter – Chi Yingxue

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back to Beijing?” As Chi Zhuolin entered the door, he frowned at the cramped double room in front of him but didn’t ask if he should get a luxury room instead—an obviously face-slapping question. Chi Yingxue had the card that could be swiped for anything. Staying in a standard room could only mean one reason—he wanted to.

“You didn’t tell me, yet you located me precisely.” Chi Yingxue pulled the room’s only chair over.

Chi Zhuolin was about to step forward when he saw his younger brother naturally sit down on it.

He immediately felt at ease, confirming this was indeed his younger brother.

Hanging his coat on the wall, Chi Zhuolin looked around the room. Apart from that chair, there were only two beds with the quilts rolled up into balls.

“Which bed is yours?” Chi Zhuolin asked. He was never the type to stand because there was no chair for him but sitting on someone else’s bed was still somewhat impolite.

“Both are mine,” Chi Yingxue said matter-of-factly, with a childishly domineering tone.

Chi Zhuolin felt a headache coming on.

The key reason he never settled down or had children was Chi Yingxue—taking care of a younger brother was already draining enough, let alone having a child. He definitely didn’t want one.

“How long will you stay in Beijing this time?” Chi Zhuolin picked a relatively less messy bed, flipped the quilt, and sat at the corner of the bed with his back naturally straight, legs crossed, and fingers interlocked on his knee, managing to make the corner of the bed feel like an executive chair.

“A day or two.” Chi Yingxue tilted his chin towards the next room. “Depends on them.”

“So rushed?” Chi Zhuolin originally wanted to arrange some hospitality activities for Xu Wang and others as a regular thank you and reward. After all, this group of travel friends had been with Chi Yingxue for the longest time. Moreover, Chi Zhuolin had investigated; all four had clean backgrounds. He wasn’t too worried about Chi Yingxue hanging out with such people. “Where to next?”

Chi Yingxue opened a pack of fruit gummies on the table, tossing an orange-flavored one into his mouth. “Guizhou.”

“Guizhou?” Chi Zhuolin frowned. “You really think you’re Xu Xiake*?”

*A Chinese travel writer and geographer of the Ming dynasty, known best for his famous geographical treatise, and noted for his bravery and humility. He traveled throughout China for more than 30 years, documenting his travels extensively.

Shaanxi, Anhui, Henan, Chongqing, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Hunan… A map of China appeared in Chi Zhuolin’s mind, half of it already stamped with his younger brother’s footsteps.

Chi Yingxue yawned in boredom, then tossed a second strawberry-flavored candy into his mouth. “Didn’t you say it’s better than loafing around? Traveling is good for the health, and it’s eco-friendly.”

“That doesn’t mean you should never stop traveling.” Chi Zhuolin felt helpless. He just hoped his brother would go out and breathe some fresh air. Now, it seemed like Journey to the West.

Chi Yingxue raised an eyebrow, glancing at him nonchalantly. “Would you rather I stayed in Beijing and annoyed you?”

Chi Zhuolin’s face stiffened, seriously saying, “I’ve never found you annoying.”

Chi Yingxue said, “I find you annoying.”

Chi Zhuolin: “……”

Chi Yingxue laughed, knowing that verbal sparring wouldn’t yield anything substantial, but seeing Chi Zhuolin at a loss for words made him happy. After all, this person always acted all high and mighty, educating him, making every face-to-face feel like he was being looked down on—a real disadvantage.

“You, stop trying to manage me.” Chi Yingxue sat up straight, imitating Chi Zhuolin’s tone and posture, and patted his brother’s shoulder kindly. “Manage the company, manage the property, and if you have any energy left, get married and have an heir…”

“Are you advising me or cursing me?” Chi Zhuolin had just opened a bottle of water, but upon hearing that, he didn’t feel like drinking anymore, fearing he might choke.

Chi Yingxue spread his hands, feigning a look of being wronged despite good intentions.

A subtle feeling swept through Chi Zhuolin’s heart. Although Chi Yingxue was always infuriating, “relationship issues” were never a topic he joked about.

Narrowing his eyes slightly, he scanned the room again, seeing no signs of another person. However, curiosity drove him to launch a sudden attack. “Are you in a relationship?”

Just as Chi Yingxue put the third grape-flavored candy in his mouth, he heard this and swallowed reflexively, sending the candy down his throat.

The candy hadn’t fully softened, stuck in his throat painfully. Chi Yingxue frowned, resisting the urge to grab the water bottle Chi Zhuolin had just opened but hadn’t drunk from, and swallowed a few times to finally get the candy down.

He breathed a sigh of relief and changed the subject. “Yan Wang is gone.”

Chi Zhuolin, calculating his next move, was thrown off by this abrupt statement.

“What did you say?” He asked again, cautiously, afraid he had misheard.

Chi Yingxue looked up at him, calmly stating, “Yan Wang, is gone.”

“Is he… gone forever, or just temporarily…” Chi Zhuolin’s voice trembled with excitement.

“Here.” Chi Yingxue pointed to his chest. “I can’t find him anymore.”

Chi Zhuolin could clearly hear his own heartbeat, thumping like a drum.

In the past, even if Yan Wang was asleep, Chi Yingxue could accurately locate him and even wake him up. More often than not, Yan Wang wasn’t asleep but was struggling with Chi Yingxue in his heart.

So Chi Zhuolin understood the significance of “can’t find”.

But he didn’t understand. “How could it suddenly…”

Chi Yingxue smiled at him, almost ethereally, under the dim light. “Pretend I had a very long dream, and now, the dream is over.”

Chi Zhuolin couldn’t help but feel heartache while touching his brother’s head. “It’s good you’re awake.” These words gave him an inexplicable sense of relief, so he repeated, “It’s good you’re awake.”

Without any concrete evidence, based solely on Chi Yingxue’s lips barely touching, Chi Zhuolin chose to believe, or rather, he hoped more than anyone that it was true.

That brother, who always switched between personalities, was both heart-wrenching and alienating. Despite reading countless psychology books, despite constantly telling himself that the other personality was also his brother, it was hard to truly accept.

He found it difficult to regard Yan Wang as his brother, and Yan Wang never treated him as a brother either.

The matter of treatment stalled due to Chi Yingxue’s resistance. Although he scoffed at some psychologists’ approaches, “treatment” itself was the only method Chi Zhuolin could rely on.

“So,” Chi Yingxue propped his head with one hand, smiling at Chi Zhuolin, “you don’t have to feel indebted to me anymore.”

Chi Zhuolin’s brows slowly furrowed, as if puzzled.

Chi Yingxue looked at him indifferently. “Back then, when you were at the boarding school, you didn’t understand why I was afraid of him, but you still sent me letters within your capabilities. Strictly speaking, you don’t owe me; instead, I owe you.”

Chi Zhuolin finally understood, but his frown deepened, and his tone grew heavier. “Do you think my treatment of you now is to make up for the past?”

Chi Yingxue lightly raised an eyebrow, as if to say, “Isn’t it?”

Chi Zhuolin gave him a sidelong glance without mercy. “You’re overthinking it. Back then, I was powerless. I couldn’t even speak up at home. Even if I knew how he treated you, what could I do besides suffer with you?”

“Listen clearly.” Chi Zhuolin looked at him firmly, with an authoritative tone in his voice. “I treat you well for one reason—you’re my brother.”

Chi Yingxue was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled. “Then give me half of the family wealth, and we can go our separate ways. You won’t have to deal with me as a burden anymore.”

“I refuse.” Chi Zhuolin didn’t hesitate for a second, refusing outright and confidently. “No matter how much I give you, with the way you only spend without earning, you’ll end up homeless.”

Chi Yingxue smirked. “You still can’t bear to let me go.”

Chi Zhuolin snorted. “I gave you that card with no limit. You’re welcome to try and spend all my money.”

A mischievous glint flashed in Chi Yingxue’s eyes. “Don’t regret it when the time comes.”

Chi Zhuolin looked at him and elegantly smiled. “If your spending can catch up with my ability to earn money, then you win.”

“……” Chi Yingxue finally understood how his teammates felt when he was overly confident.

Chi Zhuolin’s gaze inadvertently fell on the gummies on the desk. He was about to lecture Chi Yingxue on eating less sweets when he saw him suddenly lower his eyes, exhaling softly.

“Sometimes, I feel like he’s gone forever.” Chi Yingxue’s voice was low and distant. “And sometimes, I feel like he’s never left…”

Chi Zhuolin’s heart tightened, clearly understanding “he” referred to Yan Wang.

“You just said you couldn’t find him…” Chi Zhuolin’s words were cut off by Chi Yingxue suddenly looking up.

The gaze that met his was direct and sharp, like a knife.

Chi Zhuolin’s heart sank. He was too familiar with that expression. “Yan Wang…”

The person opposite him smirked, first with a mocking curve, then the smile could no longer be restrained and turned into genuine pride. “Just kidding.”

“……” Watching Chi Yingxue turn back into himself in an instant, Chi Zhuolin didn’t know whether to be angry or relieved.

But one thing he was sure of—this was definitely retaliation for his grand statements about earning money!

“Knock, knock—”

The unexpected knocking on the door interrupted the “tender moment” between the brothers.

Chi Zhuolin, puzzled, watched as Chi Yingxue got up, naturally walked over, and opened the door without asking.

“The captain sent me to call you out for supper. We found a particularly delicious place nearby…” Kuang Jinxin’s voice paused upon seeing Chi Zhuolin inside, surprised. “Mr. Chi?”

Chi Yingxue turned to look at Chi Zhuolin. He didn’t say anything and just silently looked at him.

Chi Zhuolin correctly interpreted the silent message to leave. He gracefully stood up, took his coat over his arm, and walked to the door. “You guys eat. I’m heading back.”

Kuang Jinxin glanced between Chi Yingxue and Chi Zhuolin, unsure of the situation but politely offered, “Why not join us?”

Chi Yingxue pulled Kuang Jinxin into the room with one arm and pushed Chi Zhuolin out with the other. “He has work to do at the company.”

“Oh.” Kuang Jinxin nodded blankly, then his gaze turned to a respectful send-off for Chi Zhuolin.

Chi Zhuolin felt a pang of self-pity, but seeing Chi Yingxue and Kuang Jinxin getting along well, he couldn’t help but feel happy and relieved that his brother was making friends.

After watching Chi Zhuolin disappear in the elevator, Kuang Jinxin turned back to continue discussing the supper plans with Chi Yingxue, only for the latter to stretch out his hand and close the door.

Kuang Jinxin was just there to pass a message and was planning to leave, but Chi Yingxue’s action of closing the door subtly changed the atmosphere.

Equally strange was Chi Yingxue, who, after closing the door, remained silent, all emotions hidden under the shadow of his eyelashes.

“What’s wrong?” Kuang Jinxin asked softly, sensing it had something to do with Chi Zhuolin.

What had the brothers just talked about? Yan Wang? Something in their childhood? A series of question marks popped up in Kuang Jinxin’s mind, along with those dark nightmares from the 9/23 level.

Suddenly, he was embraced.

A simple, solid hug.

“Don’t move. Let me hold you for a while.” Chi Yingxue’s voice came from above, sounding distant.

Kuang Jinxin stayed still, letting Chi Yingxue hug him without reciprocating.

He could clearly feel that Chi Yingxue didn’t need his response. The person holding him just needed something to hold—something warm, be it him, Kuang Jinxin, a doll, or a pillow.

Kuang Jinxin heard two heartbeats, one steady and strong, belonging to Chi Yingxue, and one rapid and chaotic, his own.

Chi Yingxue originally didn’t plan to say anything. He had already said too much to Chi Zhuolin, feeling empty now and just wanted to hold onto something to ease the emptiness.

But the room was too quiet—so quiet that Chi Zhuolin’s words came back to haunt him.

[Are you in a relationship?]

A question Chi Yingxue had never considered was jokingly brought up by Chi Zhuolin.

It was as if a gummy had been thrown into the bottom of his heart, slowly melting. The sweetness was tingling, making it irresistible.

“Xiao Sijin.” Chi Yingxue suddenly spoke. He was still embracing him, his chin gently resting on top of his head, as if intending to continue this hug to the end of time. “Have you ever had a girlfriend?”

“No.” Kuang Jinxin turned his face to look at the wall beside him, where faint gray spots were easily overlooked, mistakable for pristine whiteness.

“What about a boyfriend?”

“No.”

“Do you want to?”

“Yes.”

“Then…”

“But I don’t want to be with you.”

Chi Yingxue pulled away and raised his eyebrows in displeasure. “Am I that bad?”

The tranquil and warm embrace was thus concluded by its initiator with a hasty full stop that seemed out of place with the process. Or perhaps, he never cared about these things.

“You’re not bad; you just never seem to know what you want.” Kuang Jinxin tried to smile at him but didn’t succeed. Embarrassment flickered in his eyes, yet he continued speaking, thankfully with a steady voice. “You just want someone to accompany you. It doesn’t matter who, as long as they’re with you.”

Chi Yingxue was puzzled. “So, I chose you.”

Kuang Jinxin sighed, not knowing how to make him understand. “Dating requires mutual affection, like the captain and Sheng Ge.” He tried to soften his voice, hoping Chi Yingxue wouldn’t get angry and would listen. “Wanting someone’s company out of loneliness isn’t the same as liking them.”

Chi Yingxue fell silent, but the temperature in his beautiful eyes was dropping.

He was angry.

Kuang Jinxin was frustrated.

Actually, Chi Yingxue’s personality was quite simple: agree with him, and he’s happy; oppose him, and he gets irritable, especially when he’s unwilling to compromise or temper his mood.

But this matter was different from others; he couldn’t just agree with him.

Otherwise, Chi Yingxue might feel better, but then Kuang Jinxin would truly be trapped.

Chi Yingxue only wanted companionship and could only offer companionship, but Kuang Jinxin wanted more. Knowing it was unattainable yet still falling for it was too painful.

Kuang Jinxin was selfish; he didn’t want to suffer.

“I, the captain, the advisor, and Qian Ge—we will all be with you,” before the temperature in Chi Yingxue’s eyes hit rock bottom, Kuang Jinxin said. “Even if we leave the Owl, we will always be friends.”

Chi Yingxue blinked gently, his emotions unclear under the dim light.

“Xiao Sijin, do you know what I hate most about you?” He finally spoke, his voice softer and almost tender than Kuang Jinxin’s.

Kuang Jinxin froze.

Chi Yingxue slowly uttered the word, “Hypocrisy.”

A pang of inexplicable pain hit Kuang Jinxin.

Chi Yingxue continued on his own. “Even when facing people you dislike, you can say a bunch of nice things. It’s as if everyone is struggling in the mire, and only you stand on the shore, pitying them.”

“Actually, you might have cursed them countless times in your heart, but the nice words coming out of your mouth seem particularly sincere and credible.” He stepped back, scrutinizing Kuang Jinxin’s face, and finally nodded. “Yeah, it’s because of this face of yours—too upright, too misleading.”

Kuang Jinxin blinked, his gaze a little lost and slightly shrinking.

Reason told him that Chi Yingxue was just angry because he was rejected—that his words shouldn’t be taken to heart.

But emotionally, he thought that maybe this was Chi Yingxue’s true feelings—that this was how he saw him.

“Knock, knock, knock, knock—”

A careless knock on the door made Kuang Jinxin shudder.

But he quickly reacted, swiftly turning to open the door.

Outside was Qian Ai, who immediately complained upon seeing Kuang Jinxin open the door. “How come you couldn’t even call someone out!”

After saying that, he slowly noticed Chi Yingxue standing in the entrance as well, pausing for a moment, his gaze shifting back and forth between the two. “What’s going on with you two? If there’s something to talk about, do it over dinner. Why stand here?”

“Oh, Mr. Chi came over. He just left.” Kuang Jinxin, unable to fabricate a lie, resorted to the truth as a deflection.

“Chi Zhuolin?” Qian Ai’s attention was indeed diverted. “Why didn’t you ask him to join us?”

Before Kuang Jinxin could answer, Qian Ai had already figured it out himself. “I get it. The boss must be busy.”

“Alright, hurry up and change. We’ll wait for you in the lobby downstairs.” After speaking to Chi Yingxue and Kuang Jinxin, Qian Ai considerately pulled Kuang Jinxin, who had already changed, out with him, naturally expecting him to come downstairs with himself, who was also ready.

Chi Yingxue looked at Qian Ai’s hand on Kuang Jinxin’s shoulder, frowning unconsciously.

Unaware, Qian Ai closed the door with a “bang”, considerately locking it from the outside for his teammate.

This meal, Chi Yingxue ate without taste, occasionally glancing at Kuang Jinxin, who was just eating silently. Until the meal ended and they returned to the hotel, Chi Yingxue still hadn’t caught a single glance from him.

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Kinky Thoughts:

This marks the end of the third volume. Just one more to go.

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