Chapter Seventy-Five: The News Brought by Qin Wan'er

Chapter Seventy-Five: The News Brought by Qin Wan’er

Dan Hongning was frantic; as soon as Xu Yun appeared at the stairs, he couldn’t wait any longer. “Brother Yun, hurry up, this is urgent!”

“I’m coming!” Xu Yun shouted as he dashed downstairs. “What’s the hurry? What’s so important?”

“Brother, today one of Jin Biao’s men came to my place to deliver a message for you,” Dan Hongning blurted out, unable to contain himself. “He said Jin Biao is hosting a dinner tonight at Hedong International Hotel—the biggest one in our district—for Sister Shuang and you. North Boss Ma Pinghai and West Boss Wu Lei will be attending too!”

Xu Yun stroked his chin. That old fox had just been beaten by him, and now he wanted to invite him to dinner? This was as obvious a trap as a banquet at Hongmen. Was Jin Biao trying to show off his power, to prove that even if he had committed a crime, no one dared arrest him? If he was that shallow, he couldn’t possibly be the boss of the entire East. Clearly, it wasn’t so simple.

With both the North and West leaders attending, something about this felt suspicious.

“Brother Yun, I think they’re trying to curry favor with our South District,” Dan Hongning said. “Jin Biao, Ma Pinghai, Wu Lei—they’re the heads of the East, North, and West respectively. Now they’re inviting you and Sister Shuang, so it’s obvious they want the South leader to be decided.”

Xu Yun smiled helplessly. “You mean they want Sister Shuang to become the boss of Hedong’s South?”

“Exactly!” Dan Hongning nodded.

But Xu Yun shook his head slowly. “I don’t think so. Who in South District Two would dare disrespect Sister Shuang now?”

“If anyone did, I’d be the first to deal with him!” Dan Hongning declared, showing his loyalty.

“So the situation is clear. Since Sister Shuang is already leading South District Two, it’s not up to those three to meddle. Jin Biao is just worried we’ll expand our territory and make a move against him, so he’s joining forces with the North and West bosses to put some pressure on us,” Xu Yun said with a cold laugh, finally seeing through the scheme.

Dan Hongning was suddenly enlightened; Brother Yun made sense. That old fox Jin Biao really wasn’t up to anything good.

This dinner was evidently a Hongmen banquet—a trap. The three of them would surely lay their cards on the table, hoping to maintain the balance of Hedong’s underworld, ensuring no one crossed boundaries. If Xu Yun showed any intention of encroaching, they would unite against him.

“Brother Yun, should we go or not?” Dan Hongning was uncertain.

Xu Yun didn’t rush to decide. Whether they went or not didn’t matter to him; he didn’t take those three seriously anyway. “We’ll talk about it this afternoon. Rushing a decision would make us seem too casual.”

Dan Hongning nodded, recognizing Brother Yun’s inscrutable wisdom. “I’ll tell that guy to let Jin Biao wait for your notice.”

“By the way, did you finish what Qiu Yan assigned you?” Xu Yun suddenly changed the subject.

Dan Hongning was caught off guard. “Brother Yun, you mean about that person on the wanted list?”

Xu Yun nodded, not denying it.

“Brother, to be honest, we know you and Sister Yan are trying to help Officer Qin achieve something, but the brothers are really afraid to mess with this fugitive,” Dan Hongning admitted, frowning. “Sure, great rewards draw brave men, but no one wants to die for money. The police won’t hand out half a million for nothing—there’ll be media coverage, and whoever gets that money will be a target.”

Xu Yun couldn’t help but smile. Dan Hongning was speaking from the heart.

Dan Hongning continued, “Just think, this killer who murdered six officers isn’t someone you want to provoke. He broke out of prison to rescue another wanted man. All his friends must be tough, and everyone fears retaliation.”

“I was just about to talk to you about this,” Xu Yun said. “You don’t need to help search. It’s not something we can get involved in. The police aren’t paying us, so there’s no reason to risk our lives.”

Hearing this, Dan Hongning felt relieved. Qiu Yan’s orders had been hard to ignore.

“Alright, I’ll go tell Kong Zhong and Lü Feng.”

After leaving the medicinal restaurant, it was lunchtime. Only he and Ruan Qingshuang were there, so it was sure to be a busy shift. This job really needed hired help, or they’d work themselves to exhaustion.

The medicinal cuisine business was booming. Even if Ruan Qingshuang and the others did nothing, their other income streams were considerable. Just Dan Hongning’s Doulao City partnership brought in fifty to sixty thousand a month.

Just as the lunch rush was ending, Qin Wan’er returned unexpectedly. Without a word, she pulled Xu Yun upstairs. Fortunately, there were few customers left, and Ruan Qingshuang was tidying up tables.

“What urgent news do you have?” Xu Yun was surprised.

Qin Wan’er, breathless, gulped water before speaking. “Days ago, the criminal investigation team took over. Based on strong evidence, we can now confirm that the suspect exited Hedong Airport and hailed a taxi—license plate He H20156, from Jieyun Taxi Company—which headed toward Jiuyan Mountain in northeast Hedong.”

Xu Yun was proud of his judgment. He had not underestimated the criminal team’s investigative skills; they had found a lead quickly. “Then just bring the taxi driver in for questioning.”

“That’s the problem,” Qin Wan’er frowned. “The driver insists he remembers nothing. We tried everything, but he wouldn’t say where the suspect was going.”

“And then?” Xu Yun asked calmly.

Qin Wan’er sighed. “With a reward of half a million, we think maybe the driver really doesn’t remember, or perhaps the suspect stayed hidden in the car. Either way… the trail ends here. All we know is the suspect is likely hiding in Jiuyan Mountain.”

“Alright, got it,” Xu Yun smiled. “Do you know the taxi driver’s address?”

Qin Wan’er handed him a slip of paper. “I knew you’d ask. Here. But I don’t think he’s lying—who wouldn’t want half a million?”

Xu Yun took the note, memorizing the address, but didn’t answer. Dan Hongning’s words echoed in his mind: “Great rewards draw brave men, but no one wants to die for money. The police won’t hand out half a million for nothing—there’ll be media coverage, and whoever gets that money will be a target.”

Because of that, Xu Yun didn’t think the taxi driver had forgotten about Red Scorpion. In fact, he suspected the driver remembered very well, but was too afraid to spend the money and end up dead, so he insisted he knew nothing.

Xu Yun looked up. “Have you eaten?”

“Uh… just a cup of instant noodles with the investigation team,” Qin Wan’er grumbled.

“Come on, let’s eat downstairs,” Xu Yun shrugged. “Sister Shuang and I haven’t eaten either.”

After a simple meal, Qin Wan’er left. Since joining the case, she had been busy all day. Ruan Qingshuang, feeling unwell, had gone upstairs to rest early.

Xu Yun called Qiangzi, who was recovering at home, to watch the shop. Unexpectedly, Qiangzi showed up driving a nearly new Audi A6.

“Where’d you get it?” Xu Yun wondered where Qiangzi had gotten the money.

Qiangzi grinned. “Lü Feng taught Infantry a lesson, so he compensated me with this new car. Haha, how’s that, Brother Yun? I’ve finally made it to the four-ring club!”

Xu Yun was speechless. “It’s a black market car with no papers—what’s there to show off? Give me the keys, I need it for an errand.”

Qiangzi handed over the keys. “Brother, what’s up? Let me come with you.”

“You’re here to mind the store. Don’t disturb Sister Shuang upstairs. Got it?” Xu Yun shot him a look. “If you came with me, what would be the point?”

“Heh, got it!” Qiangzi chuckled.

Xu Yun drove the spotless Audi A6 straight toward the address in Beijia District written on Qin Wan’er’s note. If he was to find Red Scorpion, he had to first locate the taxi driver who knew the fugitive’s first destination.

From Wenhui District to Beijia District, the route cut across Hedong from south to north—a hundred thirty kilometers, which for a speedster like Xu Yun was barely more than an hour. But unfamiliarity with Hedong’s routes made things trickier, and he spent over half an hour asking directions before finding the address.

It was a rural relocation housing complex in Beijia District, fairly remote; Xu Yun considered himself lucky to have found it.

Originally, Xu Yun thought he’d have to wait hours for the person he sought, but just as he arrived, a taxi with He H20156 plates pulled in.

Xu Yun followed without hesitation.

The taxi stopped in front of the third row of buildings, and a man in his early thirties got out.

“Hey, buddy,” Xu Yun called as he parked.

The driver paused, his nerves obvious as he glanced at Xu Yun’s Audi plates before shifting his gaze to Xu Yun himself.

Xu Yun stepped out, looking utterly unconcerned. “The plate’s fake. Memorizing it won’t help.”

The driver’s expression changed markedly. “Who are you?”

“I just want to ask you something. No need to be nervous.” Xu Yun took a pack of Hongtashan cigarettes left by Qiangzi in the car, casually tossed one to the driver. “I’m Xu Yun. And you?”

“Feng Wei.” The driver accepted the cigarette, lit it without ceremony, but his tension remained. “We don’t know each other, right? What do you want?”

Xu Yun slipped the pack into his pocket and smiled slightly. “Just a small matter—the one the police couldn’t get out of you.”

Feng Wei’s face changed instantly. The hand holding his cigarette trembled noticeably, and the freshly lit cigarette fell to the ground. Xu Yun noticed everything. If the taxi driver truly knew nothing, why was he so nervous?