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Chapter 120: Crossing the Line - Pursuit 4
The heavy rain had turned into a light drizzle, casting a hazy veil over the night scenery of Binhai.
Li Derli drove around several flooded areas and finally parked at a bustling intersection, where he could see Rong Wu approaching with an umbrella.
Inside the car, Nie Qifeng, looking somewhat fatigued, sat in the back seat. He opened the door for Rong Wu, who asked with concern, "Are you alright?"
"Ha ha, I took the boat this morning. Don't worry," Nie Qifeng replied.
"Well done, you’ve worked hard," Rong Wu praised, unable to hide his excitement.
Nie Qifeng inquired, "How's it going here? Any progress? After all, they are just a bunch of rookies, too young compared to us back in the day."
"There's some progress," Rong Wu said as he pulled out his phone to show Nie Qifeng a photo. It was a picture of a computer screen displaying a wanted notice: Mulin Shen, male, twenty-six years old… Upon seeing it, Nie Qifeng frowned. "I thought the first slip-up would be someone else?"
"There are experts among the police too. He entered through the back gate of the community; he might have been caught. This kid is too Zhang Quan. But it seems uncertain; the case is about extortion and blackmail, so it might be an old case," Rong Wu commented.
"What about the others?" Nie Qifeng asked.
"There's no news for now, but there shouldn't be any progress... Are they safe?" Rong Wu questioned.
"They split into several directions; they are definitely safe," Nie Qifeng assured him, though he still seemed troubled by Xiao Mu's involvement.
"Stop worrying. They have to slip up eventually; otherwise, who will take the blame for this mess? It's just right that these days we have someone local mixed in with them; let them search slowly," Rong Wu said.
The plan had been executed perfectly; those who had pulled strings and stolen assets had fled, and the assets had been relocated. The police were left feeling frustrated as if they had been kicked in the head by a donkey. Sighing in relief, Rong Wu remarked, "The waves of the Yangtze River push forward those behind. This kid's plan is quite impressive; it's a pity… However, people accustomed to taking risks aren't easy to handle."
"Brother Wu, I know… I just feel a bit sad. One by one, both old and new faces are getting caught. Our days might not be many either; sooner or later, the police will come looking for us," Nie Qifeng said.
"So until they find us, let's go as far as we can... You two, move all the stock from Suzhou and Hangzhou tonight. Use the sea route, and once you're out, don't come back. I'll handle things in Binhai and contact you later," Rong Wu said.
"If we leave, you'll be all alone. Take care of yourself," Li Derli replied.
"As long as you are safe, I will be safe," Rong Wu assured them.
"What about Brother Five? Any plans on that side?" Nie Qifeng asked.
"Not for now... But don't trust Brother Five's reputation too much. If something goes wrong, the first gun will be pointed at us for sure... So we need to be prepared," Rong Wu warned.
"Got it. We'll move everything tonight," Nie Qifeng confirmed.
"Think carefully, is there anything we've overlooked?" Rong Wu inquired.
"What about Widow Ma and Mourning Hair? They've been asking for their money several times," Li Derli mentioned.
"Don't tell them anything. Let He Shi handle it. No one should know the departure time or destination; this is life-threatening. We'll discuss it after things settle down," Rong Wu instructed.
"Understood." The two responded softly.
After a brief conspiracy in the moving vehicle, it seemed they had mapped out their route. Rong Wu got off at an inconspicuous spot, watching the two leave before cautiously scanning his surroundings. After confirming it was safe amidst the hurried pedestrians in the rain, he turned to the roadside and signaled for a taxi...
...
...
At a quarter past nine, at Kaishilong Hotel on the twenty-first floor, Guo Wei peeked out again. From his room, he could see a spa and relaxation area on this floor, where several elegantly dressed women were present. They were all formally attired, not revealing anything inappropriate. In his eyes, there was no way they could be defined as fallen women by police standards.
He glanced around and then pulled his head back, shaking it at Lin Qizhao and Shen Lingchen: "No."
"This can't be rushed. According to scientific research, a man's peak arousal times are in the morning and at night, with the nighttime peak around ten o'clock," Xiao Mu explained seriously, in a peculiar tone.
"Is there any certainty?" Guo Wei questioned as usual.
Shen Lingchen couldn't guarantee anything either. How could such a significant suspect be lured here just by Xiao Mu's words? Lin Qizhao was even less certain; he looked at Xiao Mu with a bewildered expression. If it weren't for finding the hideout of Golden Treasure, which matched almost exactly with the crime database, he would have thought Xiao Mu was just a con artist.
"Look at how you're asking; it's obvious there's no certainty," Xiao Mu admitted, spreading his hands. "I'm just trying this out; psychological suggestion can't replace commands."
Shen Lingchen glanced at the clock and said, "Let's wait a bit longer. Anyway, the Criminal Investigation Team Five can't let Xiao Mu go back yet; there are too many people around."
"That works... Mr. Mu, you mentioned psychological suggestion? What kind of method is that? I've seen it in books, but..." Lin Qizhao asked cautiously.
"Psychological suggestion means getting others to follow your train of thought, to think, speak, and act as you wish... In simpler terms, it can help uncover secrets; in more complex situations, it can influence someone's will," Xiao Mu explained, pointing at the suspect on the computer screen. "Gao Rui, right? In the gang, he goes by Locksmith. He embodies all the traits of being poor, short, ugly, and dark-skinned. He has body odor and dandruff... Such a person is extremely looked down upon in life and private matters. I estimate he probably has no self-esteem... When I told him there are twins and maids ready to serve him, his expression changed... So I think his sexual preferences might lean towards group activities or oral sex... Just imagine, having several women kneeling before him would be quite an achievement for someone like him."
Xiao Mu spoke with conviction. Shen Lingchen's face began to redden, Guo Wei chuckled quietly, and Lin Qizhao found it hard to listen any longer. He interrupted: "That's quite creative. But are you sure he'll come?"
"You've already asked that many times. In psychology, we never use the word 'certain,'" Xiao Mu explained.
So the answer was uncertainty. Lin Qizhao slumped down in defeat while Shen Lingchen paced around the room, occasionally glancing awkwardly at Xiao Mu. Meanwhile, Xiao Mu seemed very interested in Locke Gao Rui's background as he studied it closely. He murmured to himself about how this was a self-taught individual who started by stealing motorcycles; look at his first crime—he used hydraulic pliers to cut locks. After one stint in detention, he could open three Insurance locks; after another stint—wow—he graduated to opening Insurance safes... Impressive! Every individual has their unique qualities.
Raising his eyes inadvertently, Xiao Mu was momentarily taken aback when he noticed the other three were looking at him. He smiled and asked, "What's up?"
"We're all waiting for you to talk about the Case Situation," Shen Lingchen said.
"What Case Situation do I have? I've already laid everything bare... Oh right, Old Shen, how much is my informant's reward this time?" Xiao Mu asked.
"Ask the leader." Shen Lingchen pointed at Lin Qizhao, who replied, "For a typical A-level case, the reward for providing clues is fifty thousand. Given your situation, it should be upwards of a hundred thousand."
Upon hearing such a low price, Xiao Mu exclaimed angrily, "Come on! The bribe I handed over was five hundred thousand... How about you just reward me with fifty thousand?"
"Are you out of your mind? Using the bribe as a reward?" Shen Lingchen retorted.
"If you're offering me a hundred thousand to get rid of me, then that's all the work I'll do... But now it's far beyond that. The value of Golden Dog's hidden stash is at least ten million." Xiao Mu raised his fingers, starting to negotiate and argued reasonably, "Hey, you can't avoid this topic. Look, I'm not affiliated with any party or group; I have no obligation or responsibility to do this. After risking my life for so long, you can't just give me a hundred thousand, right?"
"We... we'll discuss it further," Lin Qizhao deflected.
"Don't regret it. If I get caught for a hundred thousand, that's all I'm worth... the rest is up to you." Xiao Mu stated.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?" Shen Lingchen was also irritated. Guo Wei reminded him, "Didn't you say you weren't sure?"
"It's not that you're unsure; I believe he will come. To put it simply, it's about catering to his interests. Just like telling you there's stolen goods over there—he'll run faster than a rabbit," Xiao Mu explained.
"And where is this person?" Lin Qizhao asked. Upon hearing this question, Xiao Mu couldn't provide an answer. Lin Qizhao turned to Shen Lingchen and suggested, "How about we keep watch for the person he's looking for?"
"Never! If you’re on guard, he’ll just run away when he shows up," Xiao Mu replied.
The people outside were genuine fallen women; Xiao Mu had brought one over directly. Lin Qizhao was quite disgusted by this matter. If it weren't for this informant knowing too much, he would have likely kicked them aside long ago.
With a frown on his face, Xiao Mu rolled his eyes at Lin Qizhao. In his thirties, Lin Qizhao had an elongated face and sharp eyebrows with a somewhat cold demeanor—clearly not the type to indulge in such filth. Noticing Xiao Mu's gaze on him, Lin Qizhao asked in a deep voice, "What are you looking at?"
"I can tell that your childhood wasn't happy..." Xiao Mu used the same tactic again. Lin Qizhao looked surprised and glared at him. Xiao Mu continued to manipulate him, "The unhappiness of your childhood has left you feeling very lonely... Loneliness makes you exceptional; being exceptional only deepens your loneliness. You probably have very few friends—am I right?"
Lin Qizhao stared at Xiao Mu in shock; he was taken aback. Guo Wei was astonished as well and scrutinized Lin Qizhao closely—there's no way loneliness could be read from his face!
"You might see more than just loneliness," Xiao Mu continued, "You've lost someone you loved the most... He is... your... the most important person in your heart... I might guess who it is..."
Lin Qizhao's expression shifted to one of fear and surprise. At that moment, Xiao Mu interjected, "It seems to be a woman..."
Lin Qizhao's face twitched. Xiao Mu smiled as he revealed the answer: "Your girlfriend... Don't think I'm underestimating you; you've been abandoned by a woman."
Lin Qizhao swallowed hard and asked Xiao Mu, "You... how did you..."
"Are you asking how I figured it out?" Xiao Mu replied.
"Yes," Lin Qizhao said in astonishment. But Xiao Mu pointed at Shen Lingchen and said, "He would know too."
Shen Lingchen smiled and said, "In this world of deception, you're young and my superior, so of course you're exceptional; excellence often comes with loneliness. A troubled childhood can mean you're happier than most people in a way; it seems to be a woman—he didn't finish his sentence. If your expression hadn't darkened, he would have immediately corrected himself and said, 'No, it's a man.' Since it's a woman and you're hesitant to speak about it, he naturally guessed it was your girlfriend..."
Lin Qizhao grimaced at Xiao Mu and retorted, "Deception?"
Xiao Mu laughed heartily, his features contorting with amusement. Lin Qizhao thought for a moment and then said, "Wait, are you saying I was abandoned by a woman?"
"You clearly aren't the decisive type; you're sentimental and indecisive. You must have been left behind. If you had taken the initiative to end things, you'd have moved on already," Xiao Mu explained.
Hearing this made Guo Wei burst into laughter, while Shen Lingchen shot him a glare before explaining, "Department Head Lin, don't take him seriously."
"No, I actually think I need to learn this trick well..." Lin Qizhao said, unable to hide his surprise. The world was indeed full of all kinds of people; this was precisely the aspect where excellence was most lacking.
"Well, if I can see so much, do you really think I wouldn't notice that you all are trying to pull a fast one on me regarding my reward? You think I won't catch on after finishing my work?" Xiao Mu asked with a mischievous grin.
This unexpected turn caught Shen Lingchen off guard as well; his expression changed as he awkwardly revealed the correct answer.
"Alright, I'll report to the hall immediately and do my best to negotiate for you. I keep my word; under these circumstances, securing two hundred thousand should be about right," Lin Qizhao resolved.
"That's too little," Xiao Mu said with a pained expression, as if he were about to cry.
"But this two hundred thousand must be based on Gao Rui being caught; otherwise, it's off the table," Shen Lingchen provoked Xiao Mu.
"Fine, but don't treat this like a joke. If anything happens later, we'll discuss it separately," Xiao Mu replied.
"This brat," Shen Lingchen said, angrily jabbing his finger. However, Lin Qizhao sensed something was off and curiously asked, "Is there something else?"
"Don't listen to his tricks," Shen Lingchen warned.
"No, no, no. I can't help but feel he is quite confident about catching Locksmith," Lin Qizhao remarked.
"Of course I'm confident; otherwise, why would I even be here..." Xiao Mu said with a smile that radiated undeniable self-assurance. A fleeting image of the sleazy Locksmith crossed his mind—bright eyes, twitching lips, licking them while refusing to speak—like a client with money looking for thrills without telling anyone else. With this thought in mind, Xiao Mu slowly continued, "Sexual perversion isn't just a way to satisfy desires; it's also a means of relieving pressure. This behavioral habit is something he can't change... So he will definitely linger in Suzhou and Hangzhou and will surely come to Pursuit of Pleasure."
Certain—one hundred percent certain—the three of them looked at Xiao Mu in astonishment, but their skepticism only deepened.
At that moment, the phone on the coffee table rang. It was the agreed-upon call. Guo Wei quickly turned and rushed to open the door, pulling in a man with slicked-back hair who had been dialing at the entrance. It was the chicken head, grinning widely as he addressed Xiao Mu, "Wood Master, here we are!"
"He came alone?" Xiao Mu asked.
"Yes," the chicken head replied.
"He loitered outside for quite a while before coming in?" Xiao Mu inquired further.
"Yes," the chicken head smiled as he answered.
"Wearing clothes or pants with vertical stripes, dark colors," Xiao Mu asked.
The Chicken Head was taken aback, nodding and saying, "Right, you knew just by looking?"
"I also know he must be chewing gum and wearing glasses," Xiao Mu replied with a smile.
The Chicken Head was stunned, and Lin Qizhao curiously asked, "Is that true?"
"Yes, that's completely correct," the Chicken Head confirmed.
Lin Qizhao picked up the phone and said, "Are you sure it's him? The bald guy?"
"Absolutely, he's too easy to recognize. No need for a code to identify him," the Chicken Head said.
The three of them fell silent, moving quickly out the door. They faintly heard shouting, things being knocked over, and a woman's scream. The Chicken Head looked at Xiao Mu in terror and asked, "Wood Master, what is this…"
"Take your people and leave. Just pretend nothing happened; I’ll remember this favor. Thank you," Xiao Mu said.
"You're welcome, you're welcome. I'll be going then."
The Chicken Head said as he left, and Xiao Mu waved him off. Xiao Mu then got up and entered the inner room of the house, leaving the door slightly ajar to peek through. The disheveled Gao Rui, nicknamed Locksmith, was brought in handcuffed while Lin Qizhao was on the phone calling for backup.
He gently closed the door, feeling a bit of relief.
At 21:40, Gao Rui, a major suspect in the Coastal Antique Theft Case, was apprehended in Suzhou and Hangzhou. Binhai had already reconstructed his timeline based on his likeness. This audacious suspect was accurately guessed by Xiao Mu; he had indeed checked into the Kaishilong Hotel after indulging in pleasures. In his room, they found the untouched reward for his crime: five hundred thousand.
There was also a pile of newly purchased clothes—dark-colored with vertical stripes. When Lin Qizhao saw these, he was utterly astonished…
As he glanced at his watch, the time read 9:30 PM. Li Derli looked ahead with worry. It was raining, and the roads were slippery. There had been an accident on the highway, and the traffic police were clearing the wreckage. Cars were backed up for two kilometers. What should have been a one-hour drive was now stretching indefinitely.
At that moment, he couldn't get through to Golden Treasure's phone.
"Could something have happened?" Nie Qifeng asked, his heart tightening.
"It shouldn't be anything serious; my nephew is quite reliable," Li Derli replied, unable to think of what might have gone wrong.
"Has this happened before?" Nie Qifeng inquired.
"Never. He always answers within twenty-four hours, at least three rings," Li Derli said, his heart beginning to race as he looked at Nie Qifeng.
This was a matter of life and death; any small mistake could lead to irreversible consequences. Nie Qifeng thought for a moment and asked sternly, "Who else knows about Golden Treasure's stash?"
"Only Widow Ma and Mourning Hair don't know. The incident happened so suddenly that he moved everything himself. After that, Widow Ma and Mourning Hair were closely monitored by the police, so they haven't dared to touch anything. Golden Treasure has always kept a low profile. The only one who might know..." Li Derli began.
"Who is it?" Nie Qifeng pressed.
"Old Cripple," Li Derli replied.
With Widow Ma and Mourning Hair in trouble, it would be hard to keep their stash a secret from Old Cripple, who had a stake in the business. Nie Qifeng frowned, stroking his chin as if reluctant to suspect such a thing. After a long hesitation, he said, "It shouldn't be Old Cripple; we saved him back when he was with the Four Little Dragons. He owes me his life."
"But who knows what could happen? It's hard to say," Li Derli said uneasily.
"Perhaps we are overthinking it. Let's see when we get there," Nie Qifeng reassured himself.
The traffic was still jammed when a phone call came in. Li Derli glanced at the unfamiliar number and genuinely thought something had happened. However, upon answering, he was taken aback: "Huh? Yun Yun... why are you calling? Where's Golden Treasure?"
This was Golden Treasure's wife. Surprised, Li Derli switched to speakerphone, and a woman's voice came through, filled with distress: "Uncle... someone has taken me away... what should I do?"
"Huh? Who? What did they take?"
"They took all the valuables from my house, and I can't find Golden Treasure..."
"Do you know who it was?"
"I recognized him; it was that guy from Cripple's gang, the one with the gourd. He came to the store to carry things before. They tricked me into thinking Golden Treasure was delivering something, but once they got inside, they ransacked the place and took everything valuable... Woe is me, Uncle... what should I do?"
"Okay, just wait there. Don't call the police; we'll be there shortly..."
Li Derli hung up in shock and turned to Nie Qifeng in disbelief: "Big Gourd... robbed Golden Treasure's house?"
"Oh man, these idiots are growing up fast; they’re already resorting to blackmail."
Nie Qifeng's expression darkened with anger, but stuck in traffic, he felt powerless. No matter how much he planned, he never anticipated that those lawless thugs would target them—especially since they were his own subordinates. The frustration of this situation left Nie Qifeng feeling like he could cry without tears…
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