Chapter 715: Ci Mei

The gunshot’s echo was much louder than Gao Ming anticipated. Even his ears dulled with pain. Gao Ming didn’t show any regret looking at the driver who had a hole in his head. If not for the Blood City Tattoo, he would have fainted with Wu Wei. “I mustn’t let my guard down.”

Gao Ming removed the driver’s clothes and wondered how to dispose of the body. However, when he opened the trunk, he was greeted by a lot of convenient tools like gloves, solvents, cleaners, mask, bags and so on. “Was he a professional killer masquerading as a taxi driver?”

Gao Ming used half an hour to clean up the taxi and tossed the driver into the river.

Compared to the Third Street, Second Street was orderly and clean. There were banners everywhere proclaiming virtues like kindness and truth. There were shops open even at midnight. For a moment, Gao Ming thought he was back in the real world.

“In Lee Sansi’s memory, Second Street is very rich. The average income is at the top three of all the districts. The citizens here value rules and civility. They hate violence and adore art. However, it troubled Lee Sansi… Where did the citizens get their money?”

Lee Sansi didn’t get it. Neither did Gao Ming. He slowed down the taxi when a strange man in yellow protective gear slithered out of a small alley. The person was large and wore a pure white mask. He pointed at Gao Ming’s driver’s seat and tossed his name card through the window.

“Cleaning company?” Gao Ming picked up the card. “How could he tell this cab once carried dead people? I remember after Hei Ao killed the woman, he also called the cleaning company.” When he turned back, the masked man was gone.

“Director Lee… Where are we?” Wu Wei woke up blurrily. She saw Gao Ming driver. “Where is the driver?”

“He went night fishing.” Gao Ming kept the card. “Wait for me in the car. I need to meet with someone.”

Gao Ming found a parking spot near Sacred Heart Church. He wanted to walk over and avoid all the cameras but he didn’t expect that the place would be filled with so many kneeling worshippers even after midnight.

“Representative Ci Mei! Please save us! My daughter has been missing for three days already!”

“My heart is not sincere enough! God, please forgive my foolishness!”

“The council took everything away from me. I’m innocent! They worked together to frame me!”

Most kneeling there were people at the bottom of the society. If Gao Ming hadn’t taken over Lee Sansi’s body, he’d be joining the crowd. The church was split into outer and inner layers. The outer area was dominated by praying citizens. There was barely space to stand. No one dared to enter the inner area where Representative Ci Mei was. It was very silent.

“No matter how loud you scream here, she can’t hear you.” Gao Ming handed a paper towel to an old man coughing blood. The man shoved Gao Ming back and punched his chest so he’d produce more blood. “Leave! Representative Ci Mei doesn’t have the heart to see sadness in this world. The more pitiable we act, the more likely we’ll get her aid.” The old man scolded Gao Ming.

“Is there no other way to meet her?”

“Yes. Representative Ci Mei encourages us to use our spiritual power to resist the evil in our hearts. She shuns all suppressive drugs. If you can dump the medicine case into the penance box before everyone’s eyes and pray for forgiveness in the penance room, she might see you.”

“The medicine is not cheap. They can save people’s lives. The fact that she asks them as entrance tickets is ridiculous.” Gao Ming didn’t believe these brainwashed people. He walked through the crowd to reach the penance box in between the two areas. It was a giant black box covered in a thick cloth. It was hard to tell what was inside. Gao Ming took out a seed of Life Flower. He reached his whole arm into the box. He searched for a long time but couldn’t find anything. Eventually, he let go of the seed. “No one can see anything. How can they tell if I’ve surrendered the medicine? Unless the box is connected to some other places.” Gao Ming grumbled internally. The worshippers looked at him with envy.

Ten minutes later, a long-haired man in priest habit walked out. He waved Gao Ming over. Gao Ming followed the priest but he wasn’t led into the church. Instead, he was brought to a place that looked like a cupboard. The space was blocked off by wooden boards with a hole in the centre.

“You can start your penance here. If you’re pious enough, God will guide the way.” The priest left. Gao Ming entered the room and closed the door. The space was oppressive and dark. Suddenly, a voice came from the space next to him. “Do not hide anything. Confess all of your sins.”

Gao Ming naturally didn’t do that. He knocked around the cupboard and noticed there was a hole that size of a book to his left. He could pass things over.

“If you can’t voice them out, you can write them down and pass your confession to me. You have to face the darkness before you can embrace the light.”

“I think you better bring me to Representative Ci Mei. I’m here to discuss something with her.”

“Your sins cover your body…”

“Enough. Give this to her. Tell her an old friend is here to visit her.” Gao Ming handed parts of Wan Sheng’s criminal evidence through the hole. “My advice is to not look at it. You might die.”

Silence returned. A few minutes later, a hidden door behind Gao Ming opened. A sweet voice announced, “Hello. Representative Ci Mei has just finished her job. She’s waiting for you in Office One.”

Gao Ming turned around and saw two holes. The girl was pretty but her face was ruined and her eyes were dug out.

“How can I refer you as?”

“The guests call me Ci Tong. I’m Mother’s adopted daughter.” The girl didn’t touch anything but she could tell where she was going. She was very familiar with the church.

Gao Ming’s heart chilled when he entered the passage. It was a long walk before he saw light again.

A graceful and dignified lady sat at the table. Her hair fell behind her. She should be over fifty but she looked just thirty. She had no wrinkles and she exuded an air of saintliness and purity.