Chapter 336: Fragrant

The woman Liu Jie had said, "Even the most urgent matters can wait; first, see Wu Ge." From this, it seemed that as long as Song Qi and the others met Qian Wu first, they would likely survive.

The situation aligned with Qi Xia's guess. Only two or three minutes had passed when Song Qi emerged, his right hand now fully restored.

"Sorry, everyone. Please come with me inside to rest for a while. Wu Ge is quite busy at the moment." He nodded to the three of them. "He should be able to see you in about half an hour."

Qi Xia glanced down at Song Qi's right hand, finding it hard to believe. This person called Qian Wu could even mend a severed hand—was it some kind of healing ability called "Hui Xiang"?

Was he the source of the intense scent that Zheng Yingxiong had detected?

The three followed Song Qi into the prison and waited in what looked like a guard's rest room for about half an hour. Finally, they heard footsteps echoing in the corridor.

The three slowly stood up and turned toward the door.

What would this person called Qian Wu, the leader of "Mao," look like?

A few seconds later, a tall woman appeared in the doorway. She wore a black leather jacket, had neat short hair, and a strikingly sharp face.

On her left cheek was a terrifying scar, as if it had been torn by some wild beast.

The woman stepped forward a few paces, her pupils flickering slightly. Then she extended her hand to Qi Xia and said,

"You good, I am Qian Wu."

The atmosphere grew a bit awkward.

"You're Qian Wu...?"

"The real deal." The woman replied.

"You good." Qi Xia didn't shake her hand; he just nodded lightly. "Qi Xia."

"It's... Qi Xia..." Qian Wu's face showed a mix of a faint smile and a hint of loss.

"Do you know me?" Qi Xia asked.

"Not at all." Qian Wu withdrew her hand. "This is our first meeting."

Qi Xia furrowed his brow slightly. This woman was probably lying.

But who said the boss of "Mao" had to tell the truth?

Qian Wu smiled at Qi Xia. "What's with that expression? As if you're doubting my identity."

"I am doubting it." Qi Xia still frowned. "The two people behind you call you 'Wu Ge,' but you're a woman?"

"Me? A woman?" Qian Wu glanced down at her body and said, "I suppose that's not a problem."

Qiao Jia Jin and Li Jingguan exchanged glances, both feeling a bit puzzled. Did someone really need to look at their own body to confirm their gender?

"Hey, you wouldn't be some kind of freak, would you?" Qiao Jia Jin blurted out.

"Ha, of course not..." Qian Wu looked up at Qiao Jia Jin, her expression also hesitant. She paused, then said, "You all are interested in my gender...?"

"I'm not interested." Qi Xia cut in bluntly. "Qian Wu, let's talk."

"Oh...?" Qian Wu turned to Qi Xia. "I know you must have a lot of questions, but now's not the time."

"Not the time?"

Qian Wu didn't respond. She pulled over a chair and sat down, then waved for the others to do the same. Everyone sat.

"Smoke?" She took a pack of cigarettes from her leather jacket pocket and offered it around.

Qi Xia and Qiao Jia Jin didn't take any, but Li Jingguan took one without hesitation.

Qian Wu stood up, leaned over to light Li Jingguan's cigarette, and then lit one for herself.

Qi Xia felt a bit odd and asked, "What are we waiting for?"

Qian Wu took a drag and said slowly, "For someone."

"For someone...?"

The group fell silent, waiting quietly. Qi Xia sat at the table, lost in thought about the current situation. Qiao Jia Jin scanned the room's furniture, considering what he could grab if a fight broke out.

Li Jingguan and Qian Wu smoked in silence, saying nothing.

The most restless in the room was Zheng Yingxiong. He paced around, sniffing the air as if searching for something.

After finishing her cigarette, Qian Wu stubbed it out in her hand and signaled to the woman with the lip piercing.

"Yes." The woman nodded, her lips moving slightly as if speaking to someone.

A few minutes later, footsteps sounded in the corridor, and a refined-looking man pushed the door open and entered.

"Liu Jie... you called for me?" the man said softly.

"Nineteen, Wu Ge wants to speak." The woman said. "Come in and stand by."

"Understood." Nineteen nodded. "Leave it to me."

Song Qi and the woman with the lip piercing exchanged glances and started to leave the room, but Qian Wu called them back.

"No need to leave. No one has to avoid this." Qian Wu gestured. "Song Qi, Zhou Liu, you two sit as well."

Once everyone was seated, Nineteen stood quietly among them and closed his eyes.

Zheng Yingxiong slowly moved behind Qi Xia and muttered quietly,

"I... smelled the fragrance of 'Jian Mo.'"

"What...?"

Qi Xia turned back, staring at Zheng Yingxiong in confusion. Before he could say more, he felt the room enveloped by a strange force, and all sounds from outside suddenly faded into complete silence.

Something had happened.

"There's no need to be tense." Qian Wu said seriously. "Nineteen's ability isolates the surrounding area from all outside sounds. It's just so we can have a proper chat."

"A chat...?" Qiao Jia Jin and Li Jingguan's faces flashed with caution.

At that moment, Qi Xia turned to Zheng Yingxiong, his mind filled with questions.

Simultaneously, Qian Wu spoke up: "Qi Xia, 'Tian' is looking for you."

"Oh?" Qi Xia turned back, his expression neutral as he looked at Qian Wu. After all, he had already suspected as much. "So, you're worried about eavesdroppers? Is 'Tian' the one who tasked you? What's their ultimate goal?"

"I don't know." Qian Wu waved her hand, and Zhou Liu took an old bottle of foreign liquor from a nearby cabinet. "Qi Xia, today I want to gauge your attitude and decide whether to hand you over to 'Tian.'"

Qian Wu naturally handed the bottle to Qiao Jia Jin, but a half-second later, she pulled it back and asked, "What's your name?"

"Bo Lan Jie Ah Jin."

"Bo Lan Jie... Ah Jin..." Qian Wu hesitated, a touch of melancholy in her eyes, then placed the bottle in front of Qiao Jia Jin.

"This..." Qiao Jia Jin stared at the half-bottle of liquor and swallowed hard. He felt like he was in heaven. "Is this all for me to drink?"

"Not exactly." Qian Wu smiled. "Ah Jin, the good liquor in 'Zhong Yan Zhi Di' is one bottle less with each one drunk, so you can't have it all. I have to drink with you."