Chapter 714: Life Flower

Life Flower was a plant unique to this city. It had a strong hallucinogenic effect and could transmit the emotions of the dead. Prolonged usage of it could mentally and physically alter a person. However, the antidote was always close to the poison. Life Flowers took root in the dark and fed on human flesh and blood. Its growth process was gory and bloody. However, its flower could suppress the malice in human hearts.

“Zhu Chuan uses Life Flowers to retain the kindness in human hearts before turning them into medicine. The petal you gave me had the same effect but it didn’t rely on kindness but pain. It used death and endless despair to counteract malice.” Black Crow regretted eating the petal. The petal contained a pain that normal humans couldn’t survive. It froze his brain and affected him greatly. After swallowing, the blood in the flower didn’t disappear. It melted into his body to influence him.

“Life Flowers gave this city some hope. However, many gangs started a war around these flowers. They are the tears of the devil. They carry pity, sadness and tragedy.” Gao Ming crawled out of the hole. His pocket was filled with the seeds.

“I know the general production process. We need an elusive manufacturing area.” Black Crow saw burning ambition in Gao Ming’s eyes. His goal was not money, or a single gang. He wanted to uproot the whole city.

“Isn’t the taboo zone right there?” Gao Ming counted the seeds happily. He didn’t notice Black Crow’s face had changed.

“That won’t work.”

“Why not?”

“The taboo zones are called taboo zones because all humans will die if they enter them.” Black Crow explained patiently. “When a single resident goes out of control, they will be quarantined. Light cases can be treated with money and the heavy cases will be executed. For anyone living in this city, having their malice go out of control is a very dangerous thing. The taboo zones contain items that can trigger one’s malice. It could be a picture, a photo album or a sound. Before the contagion is found, going into one is basically suicide.

“Before the taboo zone is cleaned, we can start a small production assembly in the poor district. When the night police go after Zhu Chuan, we’ll figure out a way to take over Zhu Chuan’s new medicine research centre.” Black Crow studied the Life Flowers around them. “The new drugs smell just like these flowers. However, they are much stronger than the old medicine. I believe they added other things to the ingredients to further enhance the power of Life Flowers.”

“Using healing as an excuse, they are trying to make everyone into addicts. We are different. We will use despair and pain to demolish malice.” Gao Ming handed parts of the seeds and a small bottle of his blood to Black Crow. “I’ll leave the medicine creation project in the poor district to you.”

“Why?” Black Crow was shocked. Even though they both came from outside the city, they didn’t really know each other. Why would Gao Ming hand him such an important task?

“I trust you.” Gao Ming flashed a sunny smile. However, it didn’t fit Lee Sansi’s face. “Lend me Corpse Ghost’s night police book. After this, you only need to focus on the assembly line in the poor district and expand your influence in the night police.”

Black Crow handed the book to Lee Sansi. He sensed a familiarity in the man but he couldn’t be sure.

“Be careful. Do not expose the secrets that we’re outsiders.”

Gao Ming went back to Zhu Chuan’s old address and found Wu Wei.

“Director Lee, how the fuck are you still alive?” Wu Wei normally wouldn’t curse, but she was too shocked. “Where is the camera? Did you manage to get any footage?”

“The things inside the taboo zone can invoke and spread malice. It’s too dangerous to have video of them.” Gao Ming held Wu Wei by her arm and led her away. “I have found another way.” Wu Wei had shown trust in Gao Ming when she followed him there. She also didn’t abandon him. The trust between them was amplified.

“But… where is the camera?”

The two came to the road and hailed an old cab. The driver was a clean, middle-aged man. He wore a driver’s outfit.

“You are courageous to come to a place like this. If you’re willing to pay me triple my normal fare, I’ll drive you home.” The driver was talkative. He didn’t look like a bad person. His request wasn’t that crazy in this city.

“Drive us to Second Street’s Sacred Heart Church.”

“Are you going to meet Representative Ci Mei?” The driver connected the dots when he heard the destination.

“Do many people search her out?”

“Representative Ci Mei is an angel for poor people like us. She is always ready to help others and despises bad things. If there is still a clean place in this city, it’ll be around Representative Ci Mei.” The man wiped his glasses. “But Second Street is far away. I’ll need five times the fare.”

“Okay.” Gao Ming and Wu Wei entered the car. The door closed. The driver was in a good mood. The radio played soft music. A fragrance bag hung from the rear-view mirror.

After a while, Wu Wei felt drowsy. She leaned on the door and felt her eyelids weighing down. After taking another corner, the driver tapped on the steering wheel and drove down an abandoned path.

“Sir, I don’t think this will bring us to Second Street.” Gao Ming leaned forward. He saw shredded female clothing under the driver’s seat. He noticed scratch marks around the man’s neck.

“I’m taking a shortcut.”

“Don’t play tricks on me. Drive us to our destination and I will pay you the money.” Gao Ming nudged Wu Wei. The latter looked like she was already fading away.

“The drugs are working. You two have such wildly different physical resistance.” The driver smirked. “The countryside is perfect for murder and tossing away bodies. The river has a lot of mud. Drop a corpse there, and the river will handle the rest.”

Gao Ming narrowed his eyes. “I’ll repeat it. Drive me to my destination. I don’t want troubles.”

“Is your body weakening? Haha! Don’t force yourself. This is Zhu Chuan’s latest narcotic. It can take down a bull in three minutes. Unfortunately, the effect comes and goes quickly. I can only enjoy myself for half an hour.” Black lines appeared in the driver’s eyes. He picked up the shredded undergarments and took a big sniff. “You’re my second batch of customers. I’ll treat you well.”

Gao Ming took out the black pistol and aimed it at the driver’s head. “I’m still too kind. I shouldn’t give someone like you a second chance.”