Chapter Ninety-Eight: Demise

Zhang Qinglin sat inside the Jaguar, gazing out the window. The matter of Chi Tan coming out with them had already been reported to Grandma Gu. At the time, they only intended to find Wu Mingshi to inquire about the Code Master, then quickly return to Beijing to send him back. Grandma Gu had also reminded him over the phone to take good care of Chi Tan, warning that if anything happened to him, how would Zhang explain it to her?

Cheng Che drove the roaring Jaguar along the winding road on the outskirts of Xingkou Township, surrounded by endless mountain ranges.

Wan Qing’s car was ahead of them, slowly making its way over the uneven road.

They entered a place called Longtou Village within Xingkou Township. The village housed three furniture factories, and Wan Qing said that Master Wu was in one of them.

Wan Qing parked at the edge of the village and got out to survey the row of tall factory buildings in the distance. Turning back, she said to Zhang Qinglin, “It should be that one up ahead.”

“Here, take this. Let’s go!” Cheng Che handed a baseball bat to Zhang Qinglin, having retrieved it from the trunk.

Wu Cheng’an tossed his backpack into the car and strode over to Zhang Qinglin’s side, his eyes sharp and focused on the factories ahead.

Zhang Qinglin said, “Cheng Che, you don’t have to go in. Wait in the car. Xiao An and I will go.”

“That won’t do. If they have numbers, how can you two handle it? I have to come.” Cheng Che placed the baseball bat firmly into Zhang Qinglin’s hand.

Leaning against the car door, Wan Qing watched them with a bored expression. “Alright, enough. None of you need to go. Just wait here.”

The three looked at Wan Qing in surprise. Cheng Che was about to speak when several people hurried from the direction of the factories toward them. Chi Tan was among them. Upon reaching the car, Wan Qing greeted them with a few words, and the group soon left.

Only Chi Tan remained, hunched over and standing quietly before Zhang Qinglin and the others, head lowered, not daring to utter a sound.

He followed them into the car, looking dejected. Zhang Qinglin maintained a stern expression, silent the entire way until they reached Tianhe County.

How Chi Tan had been caught by Wu Guangen was a question Zhang Qinglin later asked him alone in a room, berating him harshly before the boy finally confessed.

Chi Tan said at first he just wanted to vent his emotions, not really planning to run away. Besides, he had no money on him. He happened to stumble upon Wu Guangen and four or five others sneaking toward Qingshan.

Out of curiosity, he followed them. Midway, he saw Wu Guangen negotiating with some men coming from the opposite direction, as if making a deal. Chi Tan noticed a gold watch on Wu Guangen’s wrist.

An idea struck him. He trailed behind them into a nearby village. While Wu Guangen and the others sat outside a small eatery having breakfast, Wu Guangen took off the watch and placed it on the table. Chi Tan tried to swindle it but was caught red-handed. Wu Guangen dragged him aside, gave him a beating, then left. But Chi Tan was cunning—he managed to steal Wu Guangen’s wallet.

Just as Chi Tan was gloating and preparing to leave, Wu Guangen blocked his way and took him along.

“Chi Tan, don’t show up with such petty theft again. Do you know that’s a crime? The people you ran into this time—if it weren’t for your luck, you’d be dead by now.”

Zhang Qinglin rapped his hand on the boy’s head and strode toward the door. “Let’s eat.”

During the meal, Zhang Qinglin picked up a plate of sea cucumbers Cheng Che had ordered. Suddenly, images flashed through his mind. He remembered the Pi Xiu amulet.

He pulled the amulet from his pocket. The others looked over. Cheng Che frowned. “Old Zhang, you’re still carrying that Pi Xiu? Where on earth did you find it?”

Holding the amulet up to his eyes, Zhang Qinglin said, “I don’t know where it came from either. Maybe it’s connected to the Code Master. Wan Qing, I want to ask you for a favor.”

“What is it?”

“I want you to help me look into someone named Fanny.” Zhang Qinglin handed the Pi Xiu to Wan Qing.

Wan Qing nodded and put away the amulet. After dinner, everyone returned to their rooms. Wan Qing went to find Brother Xun but soon came back with a panicked expression. “Brother Xun is dead.”

Wan Qing explained she had gone to Brother Xun’s residence in Tianhe County. When she saw him, his flesh was almost rotted beyond recognition. Just days ago, he had been fine; suddenly, he had deteriorated like this. Unable to bear it, Wan Qing grabbed a fruit knife from the table and ended his suffering with a single stab.

She stood silently before his corpse for a long time. Then she noticed his body changing again. Wan Qing suspected a virus or contagious disease and quickly wrapped him in a quilt, loaded him into the car, and buried him in a remote field.

Wu Cheng’an stood nearby, listening and asking about Brother Xun’s symptoms. After hearing the description, he said it was caused by the Gu curse attached to the Bronze Jue.

Brother Xun’s death was definitely related to the Bronze Jue, which meant he had seen it before.

...

That night, Zhang Qinglin suffered from insomnia once more. He stood by the window, staring into the pitch-black night sky. Since arriving in Tianhe County, several homicides had occurred, and it seemed these murders were somehow connected.

Zhang Qinglin replayed every moment from the previous night—starting from when he left the Good Luck Inn, through Wu Cheng’an’s departure, up to the moment he regained consciousness. Finally, in the mental images, he spotted another indistinct figure.