Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Cui Jiaying retorted bluntly, “So you feel that she’s innocent?”

Xiang Wan looked at her with disbelief. “Wasn’t she innocent? She was killed just because she found out about your secret. Isn’t that the case?”

“She’s not innocent.” Cui Jiaying sneered. “She, together with Qing Dai and the few of them, said bad things behind your back. She was no different from Du Landuo. One vented using her mouth and the other did bad things by making use of the internet!”

“…”

Xiang Wan took a deep breath and couldn’t help letting out a laugh.

She pointed at Cheng Zheng and Mei Xin. “These two police officers are listening to our conversation. When you put it this way, it sounded as though you did all of this for my sake… Hur, Cui Jiaying, don’t try to justify your crimes using my name.”

Cui Jiaying seemed serious. Her expression did not change the slightest bit because of her little humor.

“I thought you’re supposed to thank me for not killing you?”

Xiang Wan almost burst out laughing when she heard that.

“Fine! I thank you for not killing me. So, why didn’t you kill me?”

“What do you think?” Cui Jiaying asked her back.

Xiang Wan blinked. “Is it because I have a good character?”

“Hurhur!” Cui Jiaying sneered in amusement. “It’s because you are still of use to me. Do you think it’s easy to get Xuan Yue’s identity? Since I have assumed her identity, I have to make good use of it. It’s not easy to get close to you and we’ve been getting along fine. There’s no reason for me to kill you.”

“Oh, does that mean I’m important?” Xiang Wan raised her eyebrows.

“You’re not important. It’s Bai Muchuan who’s important.”

“… Alright.” Xiang Wan smiled with her lips pressed together. “We’ve talked a lot. Can you tell me what you know now?”

Cui Jiaying’s eyes dimmed and she looked downwards.

Xiang Wan tried to look at her eyes which seemed to avoid her gaze. “What exactly is Operation Heaven’s Wrath?”

Cui Jiaying stayed silent for quite a while before she looked up to face Xiang Wan. “Do you think someone like me would know a lot of things?”

“Ah.” Xiang Wan smiled. “So you’re not an important person.”

Cui Jiaying furrowed her eyebrows slightly in displeasure. She seemed to be a little irritated at Xiang Wan’s remark. “Hmph, I’m not important but I’m a smart person.”

Xiang Wan was secretly relieved inside as she had successfully led Cui Jiaying on. “They threatened you to work for them after all. It was only normal that they wouldn’t let you know too much information.” She puffed a sigh. “Nevertheless, right from the beginning, I’ve never looked down on you. With your level of intelligence, you must have known something that they didn’t want you to know. Am I right?”

Cui Jiaying looked at her bright eyes. “Yes.”

Xiang Wan felt glad inside. “Tell me!”

And with that, she held Cui Jiaying’s hand slowly.

Her hand was very thin and cold, like the hand of a dead person without any temperature.

Xiang Wan repeated slowly, “Tell me—”

Cui Jiaying took a look at her hand. “What’s the date today?”

Xiang Wan was surprised and replied after a second’s delay, “Today’s the 28th day of the Twelfth month in Lunar Calendar.”

Cui Jiaying looked up slowly. Like the slow-motion scenes in movies, her gaze was cold and full of resentment, as well as helplessness.

“Even if I tell you, it’s too late.”

…

Xi City. The sky was starting to get brighter and the air felt chilly and humid.

Huang He got off the vehicle and adjusted his coat. His eyebrows crumpled together as he inspected the old and rundown house up ahead. This place was located in the suburbs and was surrounded by the morning fog. “This is the location?”

Throughout their journey, San’er, whom An Ying had assigned him to assist Huang He, never left his line of sight.

San’er came up to him and laughed as though he was a young eunuch in the palace trying to please his master.

“It’s up ahead! Brother Huang, Sister Danyue, please follow me.”

Tian Danyue took Huang He’s arm and tightened her grip, seemingly feeling a little nervous.

Huang He assured her by patting her hand and walked slightly ahead of her.

A dog in a courtyard started to bark ferociously.

San’er walked over to knock on the door. They also heard someone scolding the dog inside which the dog stopped barking. After that, with a door creaking sound, the door opened with a small gust of cold wind gushing out.

“Aiyo, you’re here!”

The man who opened the door seemed to be in his forties. He had a yellowish face and was wearing a very old-fashioned big fur hat that actually looked similar to a moldy rice dumpling. His eyes were darting here and there and he sure didn’t seem friendly.

San’er then gave an introduction. This man was called Shi Bao. After Brother Steel died, they lost their drug supply stronghold in Nanmu. Shi Bao used to work under Brother Steel. When the police were wiping them out in Nanmu, Shi Bao happened to be making a delivery and hence, he was unscathed.

Shi Bao politely welcomed Huang He and Tian Danyue into the house, then asked another young fellow in the house to make tea for them. He was polite and thoughtful but he didn’t mention anything about the goods.

Huang He scrutinized the place from the corners of his eyes as he took the tea and then smiled at Shi Bao.

“Old brother, it must be tough on you.”

Shi Bao was surprised for a moment, the gloominess between his eyebrows had been concealed very well but he seemed a little awkward to hear that.

“It’s not tough. You’re the one who must be having it tough by travelling such a long distance.”

Huang He was keenly aware of a flash that appeared in Shi Bao’s eyes for an instant. “Where are the goods?”

Shi Bao looked at him then looked at Tian Danyue and plastered a smile on his face. “No hurry. Let’s wait for Brother Ying’s call.”

Huang He looked at him and nodded his head.

This organization was very cautious. In order to ensure the safety of the goods, An Ying would also adopt other security measures. For instance, if there were any traffic police check posts or police security checks in their route… All these would be checked in advance before they allowed them to leave with the goods.

With regards to this matter, San’er had previously told Huang He about it.

But Huang He obviously didn’t think that was the case.

An Ying had told him clearly that the batch of goods he would be receiving would be used for their Operation Heaven’s Wrath. This piece of news had come too easily. The feeling was similar to them trying very hard to get their equipment ready to climb a very tall mountain. In the end, when they arrived and took a closer look, the mountain had actually been razed to the ground. There was no need for any trouble anymore…

This was abnormal.

He drank his tea quietly.

Shi Bao got out of the house and talked loudly outside.

He was talking about cooking some dishes with the chicken and duck he reared in his courtyard, then proceeded to discuss with the young fellow if they should make some braised chicken or the taro roasted chicken. As Huang He didn’t receive any news from An Ying, he started to sense something amiss.

He tilted his head to talk to Tian Danyue. “Should we give Brother Ying a call instead?”

Ever since Tian Danyue stepped into the house, she seemed a little out of sorts.

When she heard Huang He’s question, she was dazed for a moment. “Eh?”

Huang He furrowed his eyebrows. “What are you thinking about?”

Tian Danyue smiled at him but suddenly lowered her head. “Looks like Brother Ying still doesn’t trust us enough.”

This time, she used the word “us” instead of “him”. Huang He looked at Tian Danyue and his gaze started to get cold.

A while later, he nodded his head. “You’re right.”

After that, without waiting for Tian Danyue to give any reply, he got up from his seat and walked out of the door.

San’er was talking to Shi Bao at the courtyard and walked up to Huang He when he saw him. “Brother Huang, where are you going?”

Huang He looked around the courtyard. “Where’s the toilet?”

Shi Bao pointed at the dilapidated tiny woodshed-like structure. “It’s over there.” When he saw Huang He’s gloomy expression, he laughed as he explained. “Brother, please make do with it. You already saw it’s really quite rundown here.”

“It’s actually not that bad.”

Huang He fished out a packet of cigarettes and took out one for a smoke.

“Lend me your lighter.” He turned to Shi Bao.

There were some men whom, before they went to the toilet, would smoke a cigarette in order to alleviate the bad smell inside. Shi Bao showed an understanding smile. When he lit the cigarette for Huang He, he took a meaningful glance at his left hand. He seemed to look down on this fellow who cut his finger in order to join the Dark Clan.

“Thank you!” Huang He then took a puff after the cigarette was lit.

As he was quite a tall person, it was a little troublesome for Shi Bao to help him lit the cigarette.

Although Shi Bao was unhappy with him, he still showed a polite laugh. “You’re welcome. Please make yourself at home.”

“Mm.”

Huang He went to the toilet.

It was in a really bad shape.

He held the cigarette with his left hand and his right hand was inside his pocket, holding the mobile phone as he deliberated over this.

Where exactly was the problem?

What is the situation like over at Bai Muchuan’s end? he thought.

He took out the mobile phone for a moment but he gritted his teeth and put it back.

…