Chapter 27: Can It Be Found?

Seeing the strange expressions on Ding Jiashi and Ke Linzhi’s faces, Li Changqing realized he had probably said something wrong. These were cultists, people who had committed who knows how many murders and evil deeds. What he’d just said didn’t fit the character of someone like Hu Qideng. Li Changqing quickly added, “My sacred art is already perfected. The position of leader is within my grasp. Precisely because of this, there’s no need for a bloody struggle. No matter how we fight, it’s only our Shadow Sect’s strength that suffers.”

Ding Jiashi and Ke Linzhi’s odd expressions eased considerably. With his hands behind his back, Ding Jiashi began strategizing in the living room, “Protector Hu means well, but I’m afraid Protectors Qi and Gou won’t accept it.”

Li Changqing picked up the teacup from the table, sipped, and already had a plan in mind. “Where are you two staying? How should I contact you?”

Ding Jiashi and Ke Linzhi, both seasoned old hands, understood immediately. Ding Jiashi wrote a phone number on a slip of paper, “This is my number. It’s getting late, you should rest early. We’ll visit again tomorrow.”

Li Changqing took the slip, memorized the number, and said, “No need to come tomorrow. Just notify me once those two Protectors arrive.”

He didn’t want to interact too much with them; the longer they stayed together, the greater the risk of slipping up.

After seeing Ding Jiashi and Ke Linzhi to the door, Guan Wenyan spoke up respectfully, “Protector Hu, those two shouldn’t be trusted so easily…”

Guan Wenyan had been anxious ever since the two arrived. He’d worked hard to go undercover, all to become Hu Qideng’s most trusted aide. Now, seeing the way those two ingratiated themselves, he feared they might supplant him in Li Changqing’s confidence. Ding Jiashi and Ke Linzhi were old members of the Shadow Sect and likely more trusted by Hu Qideng. As for himself, he’d kept quiet for fear of revealing any flaws.

Li Changqing smiled and patted Guan Wenyan’s shoulder, “Don’t worry, I have my own plan. Go make dinner.”

Watching Guan Wenyan head into the kitchen with the groceries he'd just bought, Li Changqing finally sat down on the sofa, took a deep breath, pulled out his pistol and examined it carefully before locking it back in the cabinet. He appeared relaxed, but he was, in fact, worried about making mistakes—if either of those two noticed anything amiss, he’d be in real danger.

Fortunately, Tang Xiaoyu was there to cover for him. Tang Xiaoyu lay across his back, whispering in his ear, “Li Changqing, how much longer can we keep this up? You’re not really going to have me fight those two’s shadows, are you?”

“You? Could you even handle their shadows?” Li Changqing shook his head, sat on the bed and shrugged her off his shoulders, then fell into thought. “Tell me, who do you think is more dangerous—those two Protectors, or the evil thing in the abandoned factory?”

Tang Xiaoyu covered her mouth in surprise. “You’re thinking…”

Soon enough, the aroma of dinner filled the air—three meat dishes, three vegetable dishes, and a steaming hot soup. The usually taciturn Guan Wenyan sat across from Li Changqing, quietly eating his meal.

Li Changqing asked cheerfully, “Wenyan, do you know the history of our Shadow Sect? Tell me what you know. If you miss anything, I’ll fill you in.”

Guan Wenyan tensed up—was this a second test? If he said something wrong, he’d be exposed for sure. Playing dumb, he replied, “Protector, you know I’m a bit slow. Protector Liu told me a lot about the Shadow Sect’s history, but I just can’t remember much. Why don’t you tell me again? I’d like to learn properly.”

Damn…

Li Changqing had thought Guan Wenyan was a bit dim and had asked only to probe for information, in case he needed to talk with the other Protectors later and avoid making mistakes. He hadn’t expected Guan Wenyan to turn the question back on him. But what did he actually know? Not much.

Nevertheless, he kept his composure, sipped his soup, and said calmly, “If you couldn’t remember when Protector Liu told you, you probably won’t remember if I repeat it. Best to leave it. No matter how glorious the past, it’s all just fleeting smoke. What matters now is grasping the present and restoring the Shadow Sect’s former glory.”

“Yes.” Guan Wenyan nodded.

Both of them inwardly heaved a sigh of relief—too close for comfort.

After dinner, Guan Wenyan set about cleaning up the dishes, while Li Changqing settled comfortably onto the soft brown sofa and picked up the evening edition of the Nanlin News. Tang Xiaoyu sat cross-legged beside him, eyes glued to the television. The entire detective agency was filled with a quiet, peaceful atmosphere.

Reading the newspaper, Li Changqing’s mind wasn’t on the articles. He wondered when Protectors Qi and Gou would arrive, and whether his identity would be exposed.

…

Night had fallen over the bustling city of Nanlin, now sunk in silence, the streets nearly deserted.

Tap, tap, tap. A girl who looked sixteen or seventeen wandered the empty streets, clad in a red wedding dress, a golden crown on her head, and various gold and silver ornaments adorning her. She had a baby face, delicate and youthful.

She walked aimlessly down the empty avenue. Four delinquent youths, dressed in hippie-style clothes, with long hair and tattoos, had clearly been watching her for a while. They stepped forward to block her path.

“Hey there, beauty, where are you headed? Want us to give you a ride?”

They’d been following her for some time; just the jewelry she wore was worth a fortune. With no one around in the dead of night, they were tempted by evil thoughts.

The girl ignored them, continuing to walk forward. The four exchanged glances, then quickly covered her mouth and dragged her into a dark alley.

…

With the arrival of the bright morning sun, everything seemed to come back to life. Yet at the entrance to one street’s alleyway, a crowd had gathered—many on their way to work, breakfast in hand. Out of curiosity, some peered into the alley and immediately retched, leaving pale-faced and quickly departing.

Both ends of the alley were cordoned off by federal police. Despite their experience, some officers turned pale at the gruesome scene inside the alley; the less experienced clung to the walls, legs trembling as they vomited.

A black sedan slowly pulled up to the curb.

“This is the place?”

Hu Xiong and Bai Chuan stepped out, pushing through the crowd to the police line. They showed their credentials and entered the cold, shadowy alleyway.

Inside, the air was thick with the stench of blood and rot. The ground was littered with bits of flesh, shattered bone, hair, and severed fingers.

Hu Xiong lit a cigarette, smiling as he surveyed the scene. “Such heavy resentment. What do you think did this? Old Bai, your thoughts?”

Bai Chuan, face pale, covered his nose with a handkerchief. Such scenes were like hell to him. Hu Xiong seemed quite pleased with his discomfort. This proud man was only ever unsettled by such carnage.

Hu Xiong began pacing through the remains, observing. Some of the police wanted to stop him from disturbing the scene, but the more seasoned officers held them back.

After a while, Hu Xiong took a drag of his cigarette. “Judging by the bones and the amount of meat, there were about four victims. All the bones are shattered. It looks like someone tore them apart with their bare hands. This is an A-level incident.”

“Can we find it?” Bai Chuan said, his face ashen.

Hu Xiong sniffed the air. “Very difficult, unless she strikes again. But given her ferocity, I suspect she will. The Shadow Sect people won’t arrive in time. We’d best deal with this ourselves.”

The two left the scene. The federal police could take it from there.

Back in the car, Bai Chuan took a deep breath of the clean air.

He spoke icily, “Put out your cigarette.”

Hu Xiong chuckled, flicking his cigarette out the window, then placed both hands on the wheel, ready to drive.

Suddenly, Bai Chuan said, “How are we supposed to handle this? Shouldn’t there be someone watching the Shadow Sect?”

“Why do you think I so strongly recommended Li Changqing join the Thirty-Sixth Bureau? I’ve seen his file—he’s handled quite a few strange cases this past year, clear-headed and meticulous.”

“And he has that female ghost with him. Nothing should go wrong for a while.”