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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 96: The Moon Rises High, the Wind Blows Dark
A sudden, urgent phone ring jolted Guo Wei from his brief moment of sleep. He picked up the phone, taking notes as a vague and unsettling message came through.
Xu Gang had disappeared.
Not long after notifying Shen Lingchen, both Shen Lingchen and Guan Yiqing hurried back, glancing at the notes. The time was 7:40 PM, and the location of the disappearance was Xu Gang's home, where he had been taken away by a vehicle. The field duty officers monitoring the area were unable to follow.
This was one of Ma Yubing's key subordinates, just released yesterday. The sudden turn of events left Shen Lingchen momentarily stunned, appearing slightly alarmed as he asked, "Who delivered the message?"
"Suzhou and Hangzhou Criminal Investigation Squad Leader Xiao Zhuoli," Guo Wei replied.
"Xu Gang, Black Steel... this seems like an informant. Did Captain Xiao mention anything else?" Shen Lingchen inquired.
"No," Guo Wei answered.
"Then we might be in trouble. Their counterattack is about to begin." Shen Lingchen slumped into his seat, feeling helpless about the situation.
A counterattack? A criminal gang retaliating against the police?
Guan Yiqing found it hard to accept. Guo Wei quietly informed her, "These people are operating in the shadows. Just because they don't dare to strike at the police doesn't mean they won't go after informants."
"Has he been exposed?" Guan Yiqing asked.
"Theoretically, he shouldn't have been. He was taken under the pretense of a routine check. With Pan Shuanglong as a cover, how could they possibly think... Hey, Master, are you sure Xu Gang is an informant?" Guo Wei questioned.
Sure enough, Shen Lingchen nodded. Xiao Zhuoli had informed him that this informant was released first, and now that Ma Yubing hadn't let him go yet, the informant had vanished without a trace, tightening Shen Lingchen's chest with an inexplicable sense of dread.
“Master, is that Xiao Mu...?” Guan Yiqing asked softly.
“Don’t break the rules. I’ve said it before, no one is allowed to mention him... especially not in front of outsiders. If something happens to the informant, it can only mean one thing: there’s a thief among thieves,” Shen Lingchen said through gritted teeth. The thief was likely from within their ranks, and suddenly, Shen Lingchen realized that the source of his fear was something he had long refused to acknowledge.
“By the way, what about the missing He Shi, also known as Old Cripple? We still haven’t found any trace of him,” Guo Wei reminded them. He asked, “What role does this person play in the gang? I found out that he was with Pan Shuanglong on the day they returned from Binhai, but I have no way of knowing their purpose.”
“They wouldn’t be together for no reason. Since they were together, there must be some connection,” Shen Lingchen pondered.
“So how do we respond?” Guan Yiqing asked.
“There’s no need to respond, nor can we. The Underworld has its own rules; let this informant fend for himself,” Shen Lingchen replied.
His tone was cold, far from the warmth he showed towards Xiao Mu. This behavior deeply pierced Guan Yiqing, making her feel a sudden chill in her heart.
However, it seemed there was no better way than to wait and see...
………………………
………………………
When Xiao Mu received the news, he was on his way back to the South Huai Culinary School. It was a newly agreed-upon communication code; the method involved receiving a “scam message”: Want to know who your wife is cheating on you with? Click here... This indicated an important message.
He stopped his car at a newsstand and returned a call, feeling a bit flustered by the sudden news.
Ma Yubing and Mao Shiping had been arrested, and just before their imminent release, the informant known as Black Steel had disappeared. Was he afraid of retaliation for his disappearance, or had he been uncovered by the other side? The former was not a concern; if it was the latter, then those hiding in the shadows would have to reveal themselves.
The unknown always evokes a sense of mystery and fear. This was different from his experience in Shaanxi Province. Although he was labeled an informant there, he received treatment akin to that of a leader. How would such a Hideout deal with traitors?
Amputation? Dismemberment? Impossible; that would be too lenient.
Mouth shut? That seemed impossible. Murder was a serious crime in the country, and there was no statute of limitations on homicide. From the perspective of professional crime, if there was a mastermind behind it, they should have a better, unimaginable way to handle things.
What could that be? Burying someone in a concrete block and tossing it into the sea once it solidified? Or maybe getting them drunk and then throwing them into the sea? If they washed ashore, it would look like an accident. Or perhaps injecting them with a peptide compound to disrupt their secretions, turning them into a madman in just two days? They might even jump into the sea themselves. Oh right, there’s also that obedience serum; if someone were to force-feed a bottle of that to me, I’d spill everything without hesitation, and that would be disastrous.
Xiao Mu felt a shiver run down his spine, goosebumps rising all over him. He stopped the car several times to think. Damn it, maybe he should just bail out halfway; it was too intense and could lead to fatal consequences.
But when he thought about leaving, he hesitated. The world was vast, but he was unemployed and homeless; running away would make him look like a traitor. What if Black Steel hadn’t escaped? He’d end up with all the blame on his shoulders.
Damn it, these stupid cops couldn’t even use an informant properly. They had some half-baked idiot who could easily blow their cover and drag him down with them. They couldn’t even report something without making mistakes… Wait? That didn’t add up.
Something still felt off. Black Steel had notified him to go to the logistics company, but that company itself was a false lead. Who had given Black Steel that information?
Was it Ma Yubing testing Black Steel intentionally? Or did they have suspicions about me too? Was it related to the stolen goods? Or perhaps Panzi’s arrest?
It seemed like there were missing links in this puzzle. He couldn’t think clearly, but this kind of ambiguity and conflicting choices was exactly what Xiao Mu loved. It felt like betting everything he had on a single throw; such situations excited him, made him feel alive, gave him a sense of superiority in intelligence and existence as a worthless person.
“Either lose everything or rise straight to the top.”
He thought this as he saw a slim chance amidst danger. Torn between withdrawing in fear or transforming into a new criminal, he seemed to lean towards the latter.
“Damn it, I have nowhere else to go anyway.”
He drove back to Nanhui Branch School, his mind set on making some money for himself. With an informant's identity for protection and a suspect partner by his side, as long as he gained their trust, opportunities would abound.
He had no doubt about his intelligence; he could handle this ragtag group after all—he had already tried it before and still had that much confidence.
Embracing this strange malicious thought, he returned to Culinary School. He parked his newly rented Buick and looked at the brightly lit restaurant before heading straight inside. Given this group’s habits, after gathering so much money, they were likely celebrating.
Sure enough, when Xiao Mu returned, beer bottles littered the floor. Many were red-faced from drinking; some had already taken off their shirts and were singing or playing drinking games. Not only those who brought people along but also several apprentices and Masters from the school had joined in. As soon as he walked in, Big Gourd approached him with a bottle in hand and poured him a drink respectfully: “Bro, we’ve been waiting for you… Come on, let’s eat!”
"I've had some," Xiao Mu said, taking a sip from his cup.
"Perfect, let's drink together! Oh, it's been a while since I've gone this wild," Erhu Lu chimed in, joining the fun.
With Xiao Mu seated at the head of the table, the group of ruffians took turns toasting him. Xiao Mu accepted each toast without hesitation, downing his drinks in one go. After such a long time, Discipline had become quite strict; they no longer rambled about where the money came from like before. Even those from the Academic Affairs Office came to toast him, expressing their gratitude for paying a hefty tuition fee. Xiao Mu insisted they shouldn't be so polite and urged them to enjoy themselves.
"I'm not being polite; I'm just embarrassed to take it," one of the Academic Affairs Office staff said shyly.
"What's there to be embarrassed about?" Xiao Mu asked, puzzled.
"Among you lot, there aren't many who have what it takes to be a Master. You sleep in every morning and can't even hold a ladle steady after a week. Some of you can't even recognize all the ingredients by name. I feel guilty about it," the staff member admitted, showing rare signs of conscience. They had come to study in a group and were being treated so well; it felt undeserved.
"It's fine, it's fine... Just drink up and don't worry. If they need more time to learn, let them," Xiao Mu reassured him, signaling Big Gourd to take this somewhat conscientious staff member away and continue pouring drinks into him, as it would be hard to explain things if he became too clear-headed.
It was chaotic; this was a bunch of reckless individuals drinking and throwing punches. With just a few wrong words exchanged, they would start hurling insults at each other without hesitation. It was no wonder Old Cripple and his crew had left them on the streets to fend for themselves—at this rate, even a savior couldn't save them.
Most of the time, people fall into ignorance and degradation without realizing it, slowly destroying themselves bit by bit... Xiao Mu thought about what he had learned in the past; here he could most intuitively feel that process of degradation and destruction—thoroughly fallen and yet so joyful.
Look at that one—drunk and dancing with his shirt off.
Another one is using a bottle as a microphone, singing loudly.
And yet another is either sprawled out or lying down, groaning as he vomits.
The scene resembled a chaotic dance of demons. Not easily drunk himself, Xiao Mu casually turned to Big Gourd and asked, "Hey, where is everyone?" Better not ask; several rascals were busy dragging Big Gourd around, forcing drinks on him. Just then, a painted hand reached over with his cup and filled it up again. When Xiao Mu turned his head, he saw Red Sister—her figure having changed over the years—who might have barely passed for beautiful two decades ago. He smiled and asked, "Why are you here all alone, Red Sister?"
"Are you asking about West Phoenix and Big Li?" Red Sister placed the drink in front of him.
They were sisters in both life and work. Xiao Mu nodded and replied, "I thought I saw them just now."
"Ah, let me tell you..." Red Sister said with a mischievous smile, leaning in to whisper to Xiao Mu. They had both managed to seduce a Master, and even the one from the Academic Affairs Office, successfully getting involved with him.
Xiao Mu was so shocked by the news that he spat out his drink, incredulously asking, "Really? It's only been a few days!"
"Love at first sight can't be measured in days," Red Sister replied with a laugh.
"Well, that's good. Who knows, maybe we can find a stable partner and open a couple's shop together," Xiao Mu said.
"Wrong. In our line of work, very few end well," Red Sister said, her tone turning slightly somber. She glanced at Xiao Mu and added with a smile, "If only I had met you twenty years later."
The flirtation almost made Xiao Mu spit out his drink again. What the hell? What does it feel like for an old harlot to talk about regretting not meeting someone when she was unmarried? Xiao Mu couldn't help but ask, "Red Sister, I consider you a brother; you don't actually want to pursue me, do you?"
Ha ha! Red Sister was amused by Xiao Mu's teasing, her ample chest shaking as she laughed. She looked him over and said, "Come to my room; I have something to tell you."
"Wow, are you serious..." Xiao Mu was taken aback.
Red Sister leaned in and whispered, "Lame Brother is here and wants to see you." Ignoring Xiao Mu's stunned expression, she grabbed a cup in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other and swayed away.
What’s there to fear? Whatever comes will come quickly. Xiao Mu set down his cup and pulled over the mumbling Erhu Lu before heading outside. His opinion of Red Sister rose another level; no wonder they kept such a Madam around—she probably had ulterior motives.
As he walked, Xiao Mu pondered that he had no exposed weaknesses. Gathering his courage, he headed straight for the Second Floor dormitory where Red Sister lived. He stopped at the stairway when he saw a shadow leaning on a crutch, as if it had appeared out of nowhere. The crutch thudded heavily on the ground as Xiao Mu halted and pulled out his phone to shine some light on the figure. He smiled and asked, "Lame Brother, I thought you went inside too."
"Oh? You wish I would?" Old Cripple replied disdainfully.
"Come on now, how could I dare? Don't just stand there; let's sit in my room," Xiao Mu suggested.
"No need for that. Come with me; I need to ask you something," Old Cripple said as he stepped out of the shadows with his crutch. A car was waiting at the entrance, already running with its headlights on. Xiao Mu followed closely behind as Old Cripple asked while walking, "I heard you've been doing quite well—gathering dozens of our people here?"
"If I hadn't brought them in, who knows how many would have been caught?" Xiao Mu replied.
"Well, not bad. You've managed well, I hear your harvest is good too?" Old Cripple asked in a teasing tone.
"Yeah, can't just sit around and eat away at my resources, thought I'd take a little from the restaurant," Xiao Mu replied.
"Haha, a cultured person indeed. Extortion can be called 'taking,' haha," Old Cripple laughed. When they reached the car door, Xiao Mu stepped forward to open the co-driver's door. After settling in, he took a seat in the back. Upon entering, he noticed there were already two people in the car. From the smell of smoke, he could tell they were strangers.
Moreover, they seemed to be of a higher caliber; unlike those ruffians, the smoke was mixed with a pleasant scent. At the very least, the fragrance inside this car indicated the owner's distinction—a BMW 3 Series that had seen better days. He sat quietly, and while they were driving, he noticed the driver's thumb ring and the chain around his neck. He began to assess this person's identity and habits again.
"Interesting, quite composed," the driver suddenly remarked.
Old Cripple chuckled lightly. The person in the back patted Xiao Mu on the shoulder and asked, "What's your name?"
"Mulin Shen," Xiao Mu replied, sticking to his name without hesitation.
"You seem like one of You Bisheng's subordinates; I haven't seen someone like you before," the person in the back said.
"Right, there wasn't anyone like me when You Bisheng wasn't caught; I was abroad," Xiao Mu stated directly.
"Damn, that's something," the person in the back exclaimed in surprise.
The driver smiled lightly; his voice was soft but sent chills down one's spine in that enclosed space. He asked, "So you have no reason to side with Widow Ma then."
"Actually, I do. I have a high school classmate named Wang Jie; his hair is a bit curly. We used to call him Little Foreigner. He followed You Bisheng as a lackey and told me about Ma Ge's situation. He got caught recently while trying to gain followers," Xiao Mu explained. This was the only lead Shen Lingchen had found for him—an identity that was unverified and currently held captive.
"Oh, so Ma Ge, Brother Mao, and Brother Pan are all in together now. What's your take on that?" the driver asked.
Xiao Mu blurted out, "There's a traitor."
"Is it you?" the other person questioned.
"I'm not lying; I was desperate and went to Ma Ge hoping for a stroke of luck. I've been hanging out with Lame Brother," Xiao Mu said.
"Then tell me, why didn't anything happen to you?" the other person asked.
"That day, I got a call from Black Steel. I took a taxi to the logistics company. It was still early, so I sat at a food stall eating wontons. I didn't expect that everyone at the stall would be police officers, which scared me off..." Xiao Mu explained clearly, maintaining a steady pace as he recounted the events.
Xiao Mu spoke calmly, even surprising himself with how tranquil he felt. In moments of danger, panic was the usual response... Oh right, he suddenly understood. Ever since he left home, since he stopped receiving news from there, and since he went to find Widow Ma in a reckless manner, that rebellious, world-weary feeling—an emotion that made him want to self-destruct—had been following him, pushing him step by step toward seeking thrills that ordinary people could not accept.
Negative emotions were like the psychological Hercules effect; if you ignored them, they would dissipate and naturally fade away. But if you confronted them, they would only swell and dominate your entire emotional state.
Why do I understand everything yet can't act on it?
During the pause, Xiao Mu thought about this. Although he had escaped his father's shadow, he couldn't shake off that feeling which was not quite resentment but felt even stronger than resentment.
"Why does this sound like a rehearsed statement?"
After a long while, the driver remarked as the car drove steadily along, sensing a hint of excitement or some other change.
"Of course it's rehearsed. If something happened, people would definitely suspect me. But there's no need for all this; Ma Ge and Brother Mao have treated me well," Xiao Mu replied. His heart, which had slowly hardened, began to feel indifferent. This world filled with con artists, robbers, and thieves was truly unbearable.
"Your reasoning isn't sufficient," the driver casually dismissed Xiao Mu's explanation.
"I haven't been here long enough to provide you with solid reasons. Besides, I don't know you; who are you? Is there any need for me to explain anything to you?" Xiao Mu's attitude turned hostile. That guy in front was just a thief pretending to be a cop or judge—how ridiculous.
"Mind your words," Old Cripple reminded him.
"I'm already being polite. Who is Lame Brother anyway? I only recognize two types of people: my own and outsiders. If there's no grudge or favor between us, sorry, but I don't know you," Xiao Mu retorted angrily. He felt his heart racing uncontrollably, causing his blood to rush too quickly and leaving him slightly dizzy.
However, the thrill it brought was unparalleled. Damn it, wasn't Yang Zirong from The Taking of Tiger Mountain just like this?
The unknown person laughed, a chuckle that didn’t sound old, yet his status was undeniably high. He commented with a smirk, “Old Cripple, now that's a character... But even if you're a character, I can't let you go. Sorry, brother... Let's get to it.”
Suddenly, the person in the back seat clapped his hands, and Xiao Mu felt darkness envelop him as something was thrown over his head. The assailant moved quickly; strangely, Xiao Mu didn’t resist. The man grabbed Xiao Mu’s arm and tightened a strap around his wrist, leaving him no chance to fight back. With a sinister grin, he asked, “Oh? Have you lost your nerve already?”
“I’m as weak as a kitten; I can’t take you on... Do whatever you want,” Xiao Mu replied nonchalantly, though a chill ran down his spine. He shivered involuntarily, biting his lip until it bled, feeling utterly helpless.
“Of course! Let’s see how calm you can stay when death is at your doorstep.” The one who had bound him sneered, slapping Xiao Mu’s head and cursing, “You’re putting on quite the act. You think we don’t know who you are?”
“Acting tough? I’m just saying I’m a young master. Come on, I’m tired of living anyway. Get creative with your methods; the more pain and screams, the better! Don’t underestimate me,” Xiao Mu said lightly. In that moment, he embodied the cunning of a con artist, the ferocity of Baldy, and the shamelessness of street thugs—what kind of person he had become was hard to define. Yet as he spoke these words, there was no hesitation in his tone; it felt innate.
The others seemed taken aback and fell silent. In the darkness, the driver glanced at Old Cripple; both wore expressions of discomfort. They had only intended to test the waters, but it turned out this was all nonsense—utterly disgusting.
No one spoke again as the car sped up rapidly towards Seaside Dock...
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