Chapter 36: An Inescapable Net

Wushui Garden.

Inside the hall of an antique villa, the floor was littered with tea and shards of broken glass. An elderly man dressed in a traditional Tang suit and cloth shoes, his face a dark, flushed red, stood like a raging old lion. The two iron walnuts he held in his hand seemed on the verge of being crushed to dust by his grip.

"If anything happens to Qingguo, I will make you all pay with your lives!"

I, Fatty Dong, and Wu Ping stood across from the old man, enduring the storm of his fury. This man was the legendary figure of the Old Skin Sect, Second Master Jiang.

Earlier, near the Xu Family Clinic, I had given a child ten dollars to go inside and call Wu Ping out. I had avoided asking the child to call Xu Qingguo directly, fearing that because she was under constant surveillance, any direct contact might expose our plan. Once Wu Ping emerged, I explained the situation and urged him to take us to the Second Master immediately. Although Wu Ping was deeply resentful of the trouble we had caused, the fact that his boss’s goddaughter was in imminent danger forced him to lead us there with a cold, stern face.

"And you! Wu Ping! You have protected Qingguo since she started elementary school. Why did you let her act so recklessly this time, going off to save someone who has nothing to do with her?!"

Wu Ping remained silent.

I spoke up to explain to the Second Master. "Sir, when we were being hunted by Xiao Sanpi, Wu Ping was not with us."

*Crash!*

The Second Master kicked the coffee table over. "Shut up!"

He strode forward, grabbed me by the collar, the veins on his forehead bulging, his eyes flashing with the lethal intensity of an old veteran of the underworld. "Do you believe I could finish you off right now?"

Fatty Dong, who had been holding back for a long time, saw the old man moving against me and, unable to contain himself any longer, shifted his stance. I shot him a cold, warning glance, and he stayed put.

"Second Master, if you wish to finish me, I will be waiting at Wushui Garden at your convenience. There is no rush for this moment. The priority is that Bai Laokui is already on the move; protecting your goddaughter is what matters most."

Hearing this, the Second Master closed his eyes, let out a long, heavy breath, and pushed me away. He turned and sat on the sofa, his hair and beard trembling, his eyes cold and sharp. Wu Ping handed him a cup of tea. After taking a sip to suppress his rage, he spoke.

"Although I retired many years ago, friends from the Old Skin Sect still come to discuss the affairs of the underworld from time to time. As far as I know, the leader of the Jiuyou Hall was once one of the four great pillars of the Old Skin Sect. After the sect disbanded, he struck out on his own and founded the Jiuyou Hall."

"In recent years, the leader has been critically ill. Perhaps his mind has clouded, but he became obsessed with the idea that the Golden Silkworm Husk could extend his life. He told his inner circle that whoever finds it will inherit the assets of the Jiuyou Hall. There is much internal strife within the organization, and many have been searching for it in secret to claim the leadership. However, because Bai Laokui holds the most power, others have only been able to act in the shadows."

"Since Bai Laokui has come, if you hand over the Golden Silkworm Husk to him, I can use my reputation to mediate and ensure that the Jiuyou Hall forgets what Qingguo has done. As for the grievances between you and the Jiuyou Hall, that is not my concern, and I will not interfere!"

When I first entered the villa, I had debated whether or not to tell the Second Master that Bai Laokui’s primary goal in coming to Chang City was to find the Golden Silkworm Husk. But because Xu Qingguo’s life was at stake, I had ultimately decided to reveal it. It seemed my concern was somewhat misplaced; even the members of the Old Skin Sect were aware of the inner workings of the Jiuyou Hall. It was simply that Liao Xiaoqin, who rarely spoke, had not told me the full story.

The Second Master’s proposed solution was feasible. However, the Golden Silkworm Husk I had used in my scheme was a fake, and even if it were real, I would never hand it over to Bai Laokui.

I replied, "Second Master, the Golden Silkworm Husk in my possession is a fake. The real one has yet to appear in this world."

As soon as these words left my mouth, the Second Master’s eyes widened, his hand clutched his chest, and his eyes rolled back as he slumped against the sofa. Wu Ping was terrified, quickly pulling medicine from the coffee table and feeding him two pills. It took a long time for the Second Master to recover. As he gasped for air, his eyes overflowed with intense killing intent.

Worried that he might actually die of anger, I quickly added, "Second Master, I came to see you tonight because I have a solution, but I need your help."

He glared at me with absolute loathing. I cleared my throat and laid out my plan in full detail. The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The old man struggled internally, but in the end, his love for Xu Qingguo overcame everything.

The Second Master waved his hand. "We will do as you say!"

I breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Second Master!"

Suddenly, the Second Master’s face hardened. With a fierce shout, he smashed his teacup onto the floor. "But! Once this is over, I will settle our accounts properly!"

Tea and ceramic shards splattered everywhere. The cup lid spun endlessly on the floor. I bowed deeply to him. "Meng Xun will come to accept his punishment."

The three of us left Wushui Garden. In truth, it was never my intention to drag Xu Qingguo into this whirlpool. The old man’s love for his daughter was profound, and it was entirely understandable that he would hold me accountable for everything.

Before Wu Ping got into the car, I instructed him, "The clinic already has eyes from the Jiuyou Hall, and more of their people have been posing as patients these past few days. When you relay the situation and the plan to Qingguo, I suggest you communicate via notes and burn them immediately afterward."

Wu Ping still wore his "zombie face." "Understood."

He drove away. Fatty Dong and I hurried to make our preparations.

At six o'clock the next evening, we stood in an inconspicuous shop across from the Xu Family Clinic and watched as an ambulance rushed toward the building. After the vehicle screeched to a halt, Wu Ping jumped out, carrying the motionless, seemingly dying Second Master on his back, rushing inside with a frantic expression.

An hour later, Fatty Dong’s phone rang. It was Xu Qingguo, her voice trembling and urgent, laced with tears.

"Dong Chuan, is Meng Xun with you?!"

"Yes, what’s wrong?"

"My godfather... he just had a sudden heart attack, he’s... he’s dying... *sob*..."

"What?!"

"Put him on the phone, I need to talk to him!"

I quickly took the phone from Fatty Dong. "Qingguo, what happened to the Second Master?!"

"Yes! Meng Xun, I seem to remember you saying that if someone wears the Golden Silkworm Husk within seven days of their last breath, it can temporarily prolong their life, right?!"

"..."

"Answer me!"

"That is only a claim from ancient texts. After my sister-in-law brought it out of the tomb, no one has ever tested it. I don't know if it's true... You are a doctor, you believe in this?"

"I don't care if it's true or not! My godfather’s body is still warm, I want to try it!"

"Fine... We are out, but we can reach the Changjiang Pier by 9:30 tonight. Hurry over and get it!"

"Okay!"

After hanging up, Fatty Dong and I immediately headed for the Changjiang Pier. The Second Master’s condition was a feigned death; as a boss of the Old Skin Sect, he had plenty of ways to make himself appear as if he had breathed his last. Qingguo’s call had also been performed according to my plan—the girl’s acting was incredibly convincing.

The Xu Family Clinic was swarming with Jiuyou Hall members. This sudden emergency would inevitably reach Bai Laokui’s ears immediately. Bai Laokui still firmly believed that the Golden Silkworm Husk was in my possession. He would never miss such a heaven-sent opportunity to capture both the prize and us. He would surely rush to the Changjiang Pier with his men, and we would be waiting for his arrival.

A trap was set, waiting for the master!