Chapter 232: Black Market

At Yuezhou Third Hospital, He Jiaqing suddenly opened his eyes.

A strange, powerful aura abruptly appeared, seemingly not too far from the hospital.

Who had come to Waizhou?

He wondered if he was overthinking things, or if this powerful aura might be connected to "Zhao Xiaowan." He Jiaqing wanted to go out and investigate, but then the ward door was suddenly pushed open, and Captain Chen of the Dark Star Bureau entered.

The doctor was explaining He Jiaqing's condition to Captain Chen. Despite some recent developments, He Jiaqing's health did not seem to have improved. Captain Chen wasn't particularly interested in the illness; he quietly observed He Jiaqing.

He Jiaqing didn't dare to move recklessly, as Old Chen was a Seer of no low rank. The window was closed, but a subtle breeze seemed to enter the ward. The powerful aura. Old Chen also sensed this inexplicable aura. He looked out the window, then turned his gaze back to He Jiaqing.

He Jiaqing inwardly groaned. What did this mean? Was he suspicious of him?

After a moment of standoff between the two, the strange powerful aura vanished. Xiao Zhenggong had sent someone to retrieve "Zhao Xiaowan" and immediately sealed it.

After Old Chen left, He Jiaqing quickly contacted Wan Jinxian: "Did you really get 'Zhao Xiaowan'?"

Wan Jinxian changed his tune: "I'm still tracking it with full effort."

He Jiaqing was startled: "What happened?"

Wan Jinxian sighed: "I was tricked. Luo Zhengnan deceived me with a lizard skin. I mistook the ancient famous spear 'Cloud Dragon' that I got for Zhao Xiaowan."

"Who has Zhao Xiaowan now?" He Jiaqing's tone was calm, but it made Wan Jinxian even more nervous.

"It should still be with Luo Zhengnan."

"Where is Luo Zhengnan?"

"He should still be at Tiemen Fortress."

"Still at Tiemen Fortress?" He Jiaqing let out a laugh, which made Wan Jinxian tremble for a moment. He Jiaqing said no more and ended the call.

If he wasn't mistaken, Luo Zhengnan had already arrived in Waizhou, and the powerful aura from earlier likely originated from him.

At the villa, Xiao Zhenggong hosted a banquet to reward Luo Zhengnan.

"Old Luo, I toast you. You are the only true talent in our gang!"

"Thank you for your high regard, Gang Master!" Old Luo raised his cup and drank it all.

Xiao Zhenggong ordered a continuous flow of wine and dishes, showering Luo Zhengnan with praise. However, he didn't mention a word about the Vice Master position. What was the meaning of this? He had signed a contract. Xiao Zhenggong was also from Puoluo Prefecture and should know the weight of a contract.

Xiao Zhenggong was indeed from Puoluo Prefecture, but he had lived in Waizhou for too long. He knew that people from Puoluo Prefecture valued contracts, but he had also learned some techniques for dealing with contracts while in Waizhou. For example, flexibility. For example, loopholes. For example, the phrase: "In principle... logically speaking... but the actual situation is..."

In principle, according to the contract, after the matter was concluded, Xiao Zhenggong would make Luo Zhengnan the Vice Master. Logically speaking, Luo Zhengnan had indeed accomplished the task and delivered "Zhao Xiaowan" to Xiao Zhenggong. However, the actual situation was that the Vice Master position was no small matter; it concerned the rise and fall of the gang and required extreme caution. One could not only look at merits but needed to consider everything comprehensively and plan for the long term.

Could Luo Zhengnan understand these subtleties? Yes, he was a man who understood the ways of the world. But could he accept such a result? No. He was from Puoluo Prefecture. For people from Puoluo Prefecture, a contract was an unshakeable existence.

Luo Zhengnan didn't want to stay a moment longer and returned to Yaowang Ravine that same day.

The next morning, Zhu Junlong, the general manager of Chashan Hotel, came to visit He Jiaqing in his ward and brought him a bouquet of flowers. After Zhu Junlong left, He Jiaqing, unnoticed by the caregiver, clenched a single flower petal in his hand. Through the petal, He Jiaqing heard Zhu Junlong's voice.

"Jiaqing, I just got news: Xiao Zhenggong, the Young Master of the Jiangxiang Gang, has obtained Zhao Xiaowan."

He Jiaqing glanced at the caregiver, who, unable to suppress his exhaustion, fell asleep. He Jiaqing then asked Zhu Junlong: "Is the news reliable?"

"The news comes from an informant within the Jiangxiang Gang. They've received a good sum from us, so it should be reliable."

The news spread so quickly? Was Xiao Zhenggong so careless? Did someone close to him leak this news? He Jiaqing had many informants within the Jiangxiang Gang, but none had managed to infiltrate Xiao Zhenggong's immediate circle. Who else could it be? Could it be Old Luo? What was his reason for doing this? Could it be because Xiao Zhenggong hadn't honored the reward?

Regardless of who leaked the news, Zhao Xiaowan's soul must be acquired quickly, otherwise, some matters would become much more difficult to handle. He also didn't want to keep lying here.

He Jiaqing pinched his chin thoughtfully for a moment, then raised an eyebrow and smiled. Why not take this opportunity to test Xiao Zhenggong's true colors?

He Jiaqing told Zhu Junlong: "Find a suitable person to invite Gang Master Xiao for a cup of tea."

"A cup of tea?"

"Kidnap?" Zhu Junlong was worried he had misheard: "You mean... kidnap the Young Master of the Jiangxiang Gang, who is also the Vice Captain of the Dark Star Bureau?"

It sounded like an impossible mission. But He Jiaqing didn't see it that way: "What do you mean, 'kidnap'? How could we possibly do such a thing? If news of that got out, wouldn't our reputation be ruined?"

Zhu Junlong was somewhat puzzled: "Then what do you mean?"

"I'm asking you to invite him over for a cup of tea, ask him a few questions, and then kill him. That way, the news won't spread, will it?"

Zhu Junlong understood He Jiaqing's meaning but still felt the task was too difficult. Since He Jiaqing had said so, he would naturally create a suitable opportunity for Zhu Junlong to make his move.

Back at the hotel, it wasn't long before Zhu Junlong received a message from He Jiaqing. Tonight, the Dark Star Bureau was going to investigate a black market in Huahu District, with Xiao Zhenggong personally leading the team.

Investigating black markets was standard procedure for the Dark Star Bureau; sometimes it was a genuine investigation, other times just routine. With Xiao Zhenggong leading, it could be concluded that it was merely routine. He was not in the mood to directly confront the black market. He had already notified the black market owner in advance; tonight was just for a quick look. This was indeed a good opportunity, as in such routine operations, Xiao Zhenggong wouldn't bring too many people or be on high alert.

Zhu Junlong summoned a Hermit and a Fighter. The Hermit, a reclusive cultivator named Duan Xiangwen, had a cultivation level of Five. The Fighter, a Martial Cultivator named Zhong Guoshu, also had a cultivation level of Five.

Zhu Junlong explained the situation, and both immediately agreed without asking any further questions. He Jiaqing was their brother, a sworn brother. At his call, they would not hesitate for a moment, even if it meant going through a mountain of daggers or a sea of fire. Moreover, this was not a matter of extreme danger. According to the Dark Star Bureau's records, Xiao Zhenggong was merely a Level Three Fighter, and Zhong Guoshu believed he alone would be sufficient.

Zhu Junlong cautioned: "It's better to be cautious. Jiaqing cares deeply about this, so we must also take it seriously."

Hermits were not good at socializing. Duan Xiangwen was unwilling to communicate with Zhong Guoshu, and Zhong Guoshu also felt he was superfluous. Fortunately, Zhu Junlong was prepared. He was very familiar with the black market, clearly explained the tactics and ambush locations, and even took them to scout the area.

At exactly 11:58 PM, the black market opened on schedule. The so-called black market was not simply a vegetable market set up on the street. Even with powerful backing, they wouldn't dare to be so obvious. On Yiping Road in Huahu District, there was a Cultural Palace. Tonight, it had been rented out for a private movie screening, and this was where the black market was located.

The Cultural Palace housed a very traditional cinema from the last century. Its hard seats could be flipped up, always creating a clattering sound as audiences entered and left. Although the cinema was old and rundown, it was quite large, divided into two floors with private boxes on either side.

Those unfamiliar with the black market's ways sometimes wondered why people still came to watch movies at this Cultural Palace, which had been abandoned for years. The curious might even go inside to take a look. Could they enter without a ticket?

Classic films from the 1980s and 90s were shown on the screen, and there were usually a sparse twenty or thirty people in the audience. Once inside the cinema, don't rush into business. If you genuinely came to buy something, first find a seat in the back rows – avoid the first five – and watch for about fifteen minutes.

If the movie was a Wuxia film, it meant today's sellers specialized in weapons. If it was a comedy, it meant most sellers dealt in magical artifacts. If it was a romance film, it meant most visitors today were selling medicinal ingredients. If it was a romance film unsuitable for regular cinemas, it meant elixirs were for sale today. If it was a gunfight film, the situation was special: most visitors today were "Flower Tongues" (brokers). These included those who could arrange travel permits, fake identities, or even hire bodyguards and assassins.

After watching the movie for about ten minutes, a vendor carrying a box of snacks, common in old cinemas, would approach and ask what you'd like to buy. The correct answer was to buy water, not a beverage, just pure water. Buy a bottle of water, don't drink it. Carry this bottle to the first five rows, sit next to an audience member, and you can start talking to a seller.

Both parties had to maintain the pretense of watching the movie. The seller would name the goods, and the buyer would listen. If interested in making a deal, they would move to a private box on the second floor to discuss details. When conducting business, they would place the water bottle at the door to prevent interruptions.

Once a deal was struck, the buyer should not rush to pay. Instead, go downstairs, call out "Buy water," and wait for the snack vendor to come up. In front of the snack vendor, the buyer would hand over the money, and the seller would name the goods. Ten percent would be taken out and given to the snack vendor as a commission. Why give the snack vendor so much money? Because he was the black market owner, and this was his deserved venue fee. What if they didn't call him and just completed the transaction privately? But he couldn't know. Furthermore, if one received counterfeit goods, fake money, or was ambushed, the owner would bear no responsibility.

The owner had received prior notice, so none of the sellers appeared at the Cultural Palace tonight. Many buyers arrived, but they didn't see the snack vendor, and the first five rows were empty, leaving them unsure whom to approach.

During the standoff, Xiao Zhenggong entered alone. As it was agreed to be routine, Xiao Zhenggong only brought two new recruits, Deng Pao and Ming Xing, just to take a look, ask a couple of questions, and then leave. No business was being conducted here tonight, and people watching a movie wasn't against the law. Xiao Zhenggong couldn't even be bothered to open his mouth, simply telling Deng Pao and Ming Xing to ask a few casual questions and write a report. He found a seat in the back row, sat down, yawned, and waited for work to finish so he could go home.

A man walked up to Xiao Zhenggong and quietly asked, "Do you sell water here?"

Xiao Zhenggong frowned, glanced at the man, and chuckled, "Are you crazy? I don't want to arrest you, yet you're practically throwing yourself into my hands?"

The man replied, "No." As his words fell, a sharp knife was thrust into Xiao Zhenggong's ribs.

"Come with me, don't move, and don't speak."

The attack was swift, steady, and precise, leaving no trace. Seeing this, Xiao Zhenggong asked, "Are you a Martial Cultivator?"

The man applied a little more pressure on the knife: "I told you not to speak."

Xiao Zhenggong laughed: "If you tell me not to speak, I won't? Why do you think so highly of yourself?"