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墨書 Inktalez
Inside the casino, the atmosphere was chaotic and smoky. Gamblers were gathered around the tables, each one excitedly fixated on the games before them, completely oblivious to the arrival of Lu Li and Fang.
At that moment, Boss Wang was seated at a table, laughing and chatting with several elegantly dressed guests, a glass of red wine in hand and a smug expression on his face.
Lu Li walked straight up to Boss Wang, her gaze icy as she said in a low voice, "Boss Wang, you have some nerve to kill someone and silence them!"
Boss Wang was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this, but then he recognized Lu Li and Fang. His expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. He set down his wine glass and forced a smile as he said, "Oh, isn't this Daoist Lu? What brings you here? And this is..."
"This is Qiang's wife, Fang," Lu Li replied coldly.
"Fang?" Boss Wang feigned surprise. "What brings Fang here? Where's Qiang? Why isn't he with you?"
"My husband... he has..." Fang choked up, unable to continue.
"What happened to Qiang?" Boss Wang asked knowingly, maintaining a hypocritical smile while a hint of malice flickered in his eyes.
Lu Li snorted coldly and said, "Boss Wang, stop pretending. You know exactly what you did!"
"Daoist Lu, what are you talking about? I don't understand," Boss Wang said with an innocent expression.
"Fine, since you won't shed tears until you see the coffin, I'll make sure you understand!" Lu Li shouted angrily. She pulled out a talisman from her pocket, murmured incantations under her breath, and then pressed the talisman against Boss Wang's forehead.
Instantly, Boss Wang felt a jolt throughout his body; darkness enveloped him as he lost consciousness.
The once noisy and bustling casino fell silent due to Lu Li's sudden action. Everyone stared in shock at the unfolding scene, unsure of what had just happened.
Ignoring the astonished gazes around her, Lu Li formed hand seals and recited spells. An invisible force surged from within her, creating a luminous screen in the center of the casino. On this screen appeared the horrific scene of Qiang's death: Boss Wang forcing Qiang to commit acts against his conscience, leading to a struggle in which he accidentally killed Qiang and then concealed his body...
The scene in the light curtain was vivid, as if it were happening right before their eyes. The crowd in the casino erupted in an uproar, pointing fingers at Boss Wang's crimes.
Boss Wang woke up from his stupor and saw his vile actions being displayed for everyone to witness. His face turned ashen, and he trembled all over, wanting to argue but found himself dry-mouthed and unable to utter a word.
"Ah—"
A piercing scream shattered the noise of the casino. A blurred figure struggled in the light curtain, eventually transforming into a grotesque vengeful spirit—it was Qiang!
The casino descended into chaos as terrified gamblers screamed and fled in all directions. Someone knocked over a gambling table, scattering chips and cards everywhere. The once lavish casino was instantly thrown into disarray.
"My money! My money!" A plump gambler was knocked to the ground and desperately crawled to grab the fallen chips, only to be trampled by others, letting out screams akin to that of a slaughtered pig.
Qiang's vengeful spirit wandered through the casino, emitting wails filled with resentment and fury that sent chills down people's spines.
"Boss Wang, return my life!" The vengeful spirit drifted in front of Boss Wang, extending its pale hand to choke him by the neck, lifting him off the ground.
Boss Wang's face turned red as he desperately clawed at the spirit's hand with both hands, kicking his legs wildly, but it was futile.
"Help! Help me!" Boss Wang cried out in despair, but everyone in the casino was too busy fleeing for their lives to pay him any mind.
"Life for a life; debts must be repaid!" Lu Li coldly observed everything without a hint of compassion.
"Daoist Lu, save me! Save me!" Seeing Lu Li, Boss Wang clung to him like a drowning man grasping at straws, pleading for help.
Lu Li remained silent, simply watching Boss Wang with eyes filled with disgust and disdain.
"Bang!"
The door of the casino was kicked open, and several uniformed officers rushed in, led by Detective Old Li from the French Concession police station.
Upon seeing the chaotic scene inside the casino, Old Li's brows furrowed deeply. He drew his pistol and fired a shot into the air, shouting loudly, "Everyone stop! What is going on here?"
After the gunshot, the casino quieted down somewhat. The gamblers, seeing the police arrive, stopped fleeing and stood frozen in place, still shaken.
"Old Li, help me!" Boss Wang cried out upon seeing Old Li, as if he had found a savior. He struggled desperately, pleading for help.
Old Li noticed that Boss Wang was being choked by a vengeful spirit, and his expression changed dramatically. Although he was greedy and lecherous, he did not believe in ghosts; he thought someone was pretending to be supernatural to escape amidst the chaos.
"Bold ruffian! How dare you pretend to be a ghost here and disturb the peace? Surrender at once!" Old Li shouted angrily, aiming his pistol at Qiang's vengeful spirit.
"Old Li, it's me! I'm Qiang!" the spirit wailed in pain. "Boss Wang killed me; you must seek justice for me!"
Old Li looked at the spirit and then at Boss Wang, suddenly understanding part of the situation. A flicker of panic crossed his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Nonsense! You are clearly guilty and trying to escape!" Old Li said, signaling to the officers behind him. "Arrest him!"
Several officers rushed forward to subdue Boss Wang upon receiving the order, but Qiang's vengeful spirit suddenly let out an angry roar, throwing Boss Wang aside and lunging at the officers.
"Ah! A ghost!" The officers were terrified and stumbled back in fear, unwilling to approach.
"How dare you!" Old Li was furious to see his men frightened out of their wits by a spirit. He raised his pistol again and fired multiple shots at the vengeful spirit.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The gunshots echoed throughout the casino, but the bullets passed through the vengeful spirit's body without any effect. Instead, they provoked its fury, and it let out a more piercing wail, attacking everyone in the casino frantically.
"Ah—"
Chaos erupted once again in the casino, as screams, gunfire, and the sounds of overturned tables and chairs blended together to create a symphony of hell on earth.
Lu Li coldly observed everything; he knew it was time to put an end to this.
Chanting an incantation, he waved his peach wood sword, sending a beam of golden light toward Qiang's vengeful spirit. The spirit was struck by the golden light and let out a terrible scream as its form gradually dissipated, ultimately vanishing from sight.
The casino returned to calm once more, with only the mess on the floor and the lingering scent of blood reminding everyone of what had just occurred.
Old Li watched all of this, cold sweat streaming down his forehead. He realized he had kicked a hornet's nest this time. Trying to maintain his composure, he said to Lu Li, "Daoist Lu, a murder has occurred here. I need to take them back for investigation. What do you think…"
Lu Li glanced at Old Li. He knew that Old Li and Boss Wang were cut from the same cloth, but he currently had no evidence and did not want to escalate the situation. He replied calmly, "Old Li, you just handle your case; don't ask too many questions about the rest."
Hearing Lu Li's words, Old Li felt relieved. He quickly instructed his subordinates, "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and take them all away!"
Only then did several officers react, rushing forward to escort the limp Boss Wang and Old Li out of the casino.
Lu Li watched as the two were taken away, feeling a mix of emotions. Fang had finally avenged her husband, but their story was far from over.
He walked over to Fang, gently patting her shoulder and softly saying, "Fang, let's go."
Fang looked up at Lu Li, her eyes filled with gratitude and sorrow. She nodded slightly and followed Lu Li out of the casino.
Outside the casino, the night was deep, and the streetlights cast a dim yellow glow as Lu Li and Fang's figures gradually disappeared into the darkness.
Lu Li watched Fang's solitary silhouette vanish around the dimly lit corner, feeling a mix of emotions swirling within him. He took a deep breath of the cool night air, suppressing his complex feelings, and turned to head towards the City God Temple.
At the City God Temple, it was quiet in the late night, with only a few red lanterns swaying in the night breeze, casting a warm yellow halo. Lu Li pushed open the Temple Door, and a damp, musty smell hit him. He fumbled to light the oil lamp on the offering table; the dim light dispelled some of the darkness but made the statues in the temple appear even more eerie.
Weary, Lu Li sat down on a mat, replaying the scenes from the casino in his mind. Fang's sorrow, Boss Wang's greed, Old Li's cunning—these images intertwined, leaving him feeling drained. He knew this was just the beginning; there were greater secrets hidden behind Boss Wang, and he had already been unwittingly drawn into this whirlpool.
Knock, knock, knock...
A series of urgent knocks interrupted Lu Li's thoughts. He stood up alertly and walked to the door, asking quietly, "Who is it?"
"It's me, Zhao San," came a familiar voice from outside.
Lu Li frowned slightly. Zhao San was a local power broker in the French Concession, well-informed and often providing him with intelligence. However, he was greedy and timid; why would he come looking for him at this hour? A sense of unease crept into Lu Li's mind, but he still opened the Temple Door.
Zhao San slipped inside; he looked flustered, beads of sweat dotting his forehead, and his satin Tang suit appeared somewhat disheveled—clearly he had rushed over.
"Zhao San, it's so late. What urgent matter do you have?" Lu Li asked nonchalantly while sharply scanning Zhao San's expression for any clues.
Wiping his forehead with his hand, Zhao San lowered his voice and said, "Lu Daozhang, do you know you've gotten yourself into big trouble tonight!" He glanced warily outside as if fearing someone might be following him.
Lu Li poured Zhao San a cup of tea and gestured for him to sit down. He then walked to the door to carefully observe his surroundings. After confirming there was nothing unusual, he returned to his seat and calmly said, "Zhao San, just speak your mind. I, Lu Li, stand firm and have never feared trouble."
Zhao San took the teacup but did not drink from it. Instead, he nervously rubbed the gold ring on his finger. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Daoist Lu, I have received news that behind Boss Wang is a big shot from the French Concession. You made such a scene at the casino tonight; they won't let it go easily."
Lu Li sneered inwardly; this was exactly what he had anticipated. However, he did not show it and feigned surprise as he asked, "What? Boss Wang has someone backing him? How is that possible?"
Seeing that Lu Li seemed genuinely unaware, Zhao San grew even more anxious. He leaned closer to Lu Li and lowered his voice, saying, "Daoist Lu, you are a smart person; some things you understand without me saying them. I came today out of our past friendship to remind you—it's best to back off quickly; otherwise, it will be too late!"
Lu Li looked at Zhao San's anxious expression and secretly laughed; this was precisely the effect he wanted. He knew that although Zhao San was greedy and timid, he also understood how to avoid danger. As long as he could exploit Zhao San's fear, he could extract more useful information from him.
"Zhao San, what do you mean by that? Is it wrong for me to help someone take revenge?" Lu Li asked feigning confusion, with a hint of anger in his tone.
Seeing that Lu Li not only ignored his warning but also appeared indignant, Zhao San became even more anxious. He slammed the table suddenly, causing tea to splash everywhere, and whispered urgently, "Daoist Lu! Are you out of your mind? The people behind Boss Wang are not ones we can provoke! If you insist on avenging him, you'll only bring disaster upon yourself—no one will be able to save you then!"
Lu Li abruptly stood up and slammed his teacup down on the table, splashing tea onto Zhao San's face. However, Zhao San did not dare to wipe it off; he just stared at Lu Li in terror.
"Zhao San! You know what kind of person I am! I walk the world relying on my integrity, fighting demons and helping the weak! If I know that evil people are in power today but shrink back out of fear, then what face do I have left to stand in this world?" Lu Li glared at Zhao San and spoke with righteous indignation.
Under the dim light of the oil lamp, Lu Li's figure appeared particularly tall and imposing. His face was filled with anger and determination, and his tone carried an undeniable authority.
Zhao San was intimidated by Lu Li's presence. He shrank back in his chair and dared not meet Lu Li's gaze. He understood that Lu Li was determined to help Fang take revenge and that his visit today was undoubtedly a waste of time—and might even bring trouble upon himself.
"Daoist Lu, I... I meant well. Since you refuse to listen to my advice, then there's nothing more I can do..." Zhao San stammered as he stood up, wanting to leave.
"Zhao San!" Lu Li called out to him again, his tone tinged with helplessness. "I know you're scared, but we've known each other for many years. Do you really think I would harm you?"
Zhao San stopped in his tracks, hesitating as he looked at Lu Li. He knew Lu Li was speaking the truth, but he also understood that the people behind Boss Wang were forces they could not contend with.
Lu Li walked over to Zhao San and patted him on the shoulder, speaking softly, "Zhao San, we are both just trying to make a living in this French Concession. Some things are beyond our control. But Boss Wang is going too far. Are you really going to just stand by and watch Fang, a weak woman, suffer without any recourse?"
Zhao San fell silent, recalling Fang's pitiful face, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He took a deep breath, as if making a significant decision, and said, "Lu Daozhang, ask me anything you want to know. As long as I know it, I will definitely tell you!"
"Good! Zhao San, I knew you were a sensible person!" A smile appeared on Lu Li's face as he poured Zhao San another cup of tea and asked, "Let me ask you, who is the person behind Boss Wang?"
Zhao San picked up the teacup and took a sip before lowering his voice to say, "It's Mr. Du."
"Mr. Du?" Lu Li frowned. "Which Mr. Du?"
"Which other Mr. Du could it be? In the French Concession, who else could have such power?" A look of fear crossed Zhao San's face.
Lu Li immediately understood. He took a deep breath, suppressing his shock, and asked, "Du Yuesheng!?"
"Shh!" Zhao San quickly gestured for Lu Li to lower his voice. He nervously glanced around to ensure no one was listening before whispering, "Lu Daozhang, you can't say this carelessly. If this gets back to Mr. Du, we won't be able to escape!"
Lu Li nodded in understanding. Although he had anticipated this revelation, hearing Zhao San speak Du Yuesheng's name still filled him with an inexplicable pressure. Du Yuesheng was a notorious leader of the Green Gang in the French Concession, wielding immense power in both the underworld and legitimate society. Why would he protect Boss Wang? What secrets lay hidden behind this?
Lu Li steadied himself and continued to ask, "Zhao San, do you know what the relationship is between Du Yuesheng and Boss Wang?"
"Well..." Zhao San hesitated before saying, "I'm not entirely sure about the specifics. All I know is that Boss Wang's casino has to pay a large protection fee to Mr. Du every month, and he often helps Mr. Du with some shady dealings."
"What kind of dealings?" Lu Li pressed on.
"Well..." Zhao San showed a troubled expression. He glanced at Lu Li and then at the Temple Door, seemingly hesitating about whether to speak.
Lu Li understood that Zhao San was worried about revealing too much and attracting trouble. He took a silver dollar from his pocket and placed it on the table, saying, "Zhao San, don't worry. As long as you help me today, I guarantee there will be a generous reward once this is done!"
Zhao San looked at the silver dollar on the table, then at Lu Li. Ultimately, he couldn't resist the temptation. He sighed and said, "Alright, Daoist Lu, I'll tell you. But you must promise not to tell anyone that I was the one who said it."
Lu Li nodded, indicating that he understood.
Zhao San leaned closer to Lu Li and lowered his voice, saying, "I heard that Boss Wang's casino is actually a secret contact point for Mr. Du in the French Concession, specifically used to entertain some important guests. Those guests are foreign businessmen who come here for..."
Upon realizing this, Lu Li couldn't help but fall into deep thought, his face obscured in the darkness.
Zhao San squinted his eyes and said, "Brother, there are rules in the Shanghai Bund..."
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