Chapter 212 - 210: A Night of Fish and Dragon Dance (Part 3)

Chapter 212: Chapter 210: A Night of Fish and Dragon Dance (Part 3)

It was simply another contest for the gold and treasure that had roiled Shenghai for months.

’Aunt Ding said that one of the factions coveting the gold has a precise method for luring and trapping the Fish Demon. They’ve nearly succeeded several times.’

’The only reason they failed was because other powers were interfering.’

’If I were them, after so many failed attempts, I’d have realized it by now. It’s better to sit down and negotiate than to have no one get their hands on it, especially before Li Mingyi arrives and all our efforts go to waste. First, secure the prize, then discuss how to divide the spoils...’

’No wonder Aunt Ding wanted me to bring Li Huaisuang down the mountain immediately. She’s the true key to unlocking the secret within the fish. If we want to secure the gold, we have to rely on her!’

Under the dim, yellow light of the carriage’s gas lamp, Fu Juemin’s mind raced, and he quickly made sense of the entire situation.

The way he looked at Li Huaisuang, who was huddled in the corner, changed instantly.

If tonight’s attempt to lure the Fish Demon was just another desperate try by one of the factions, that would be ideal.

They could just watch from the sidelines as the other powers fought amongst themselves, their efforts coming to nothing.

But what if those people had already reached an agreement before tonight and were preparing to lay a trap together?

That would be the worst-case scenario.

The Wen System would become the target for everyone in this game for the gold, and Li Huaisuang was the only key to breaking the deadlock!

With this in mind, Fu Juemin’s voice was grim as he asked, "You were in such a hurry to come down the mountain. What were you planning to do?"

In the corner of the carriage, Li Huaisuang, who was curled into a ball hugging her knees, lifted her head. Her young face was a mask of confusion.

"I don’t know."

She murmured, her eyes losing focus. "Little Fish... Little Fish is in a bad state. It’s calling out to me for help..."

"It doesn’t want to go there, but it can’t control itself. It’s being forced to go to that place..."

"It wants me to help it... It’s in so much pain..."

Her words were fragmented and incoherent.

Fu Juemin listened quietly, his gaze falling on the Fishbone Chain glowing faintly on her wrist. He continued to press, "Is ’Little Fish’ the Fish Demon that returned with you and the *White Dragon*?"

"You can communicate with it?"

"How does it want you to help it?"

"I don’t know! I don’t know anything!"

Li Huaisuang suddenly clutched her head and shook it back and forth, her voice breaking into a pleading sob. "Just take me to it! Please, let me see it..."

As she spoke, the light from the Fishbone Chain on her wrist flashed with increasing urgency. She seemed to be sinking into a state of immense terror and confusion.

Seeing her pained expression, Fu Juemin didn’t dare press her further. He softened his tone, soothing her gently. "W-we’re on our way to see it now. We’re going right now..."

His words seemed to work. The frantic rise and fall of Li Huaisuang’s chest gradually subsided, and she buried her face in her knees once more.

Neither of them spoke for the rest of the journey.

Only Li Huaisuang would occasionally jerk her head up as if startled from a nightmare, look around blankly, and then silently shrink back into herself.

After some time, the carriage slowly rolled to a stop. Big Cat’s low voice sounded from outside.

"Young Master, we’re here."

Fu Juemin stood, opened the carriage door, and took Li Huaisuang’s cold wrist, guiding her out.

It was pitch-black outside, with the faint noise of festivities drifting from the distance. Big Cat and Kitty stood before the carriage, their gazes sharp as they stared into the darkness in a particular direction.

Fu Juemin followed their gaze and saw the shadowy figures of a group of people in the distance. When they saw the carriage stop, a few of them started walking quickly in their direction.

Aunt Ding’s "mission" was to bring Li Huaisuang down the mountain and deliver her to the North City Street Corner in the old district. She’d said she would be there to meet them.

Fu Juemin shot Big Cat and Kitty a look. Big Cat understood and moved silently to intercept the approaching men.

Just then, Li Huaisuang, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, her voice trembling uncontrollably. "It’s wrong!"

Fu Juemin whipped his head around. "What’s wrong?"

In the gloom, Li Huaisuang’s face was deathly pale, her eyes a mixture of extreme anxiety, nervousness, and fear. She shook her head vigorously. "This is the wrong place! It’s not here! It’s so far... so far away!"

Fu Juemin frowned.

Just then, a slight commotion came from up ahead.

The group that had been waiting had drawn near. The man in the lead, who had thick eyebrows and large eyes and was dressed like a Qinglian Gang member, walked swiftly up to Fu Juemin and bowed politely.

"We appreciate your hard work, Young Master Fu!"

His eyes darted to Li Huaisuang behind Fu Juemin, then he quickly lowered his gaze, keeping his eyes fixed forward. "Mr. Ding’s orders are for Young Master Fu to hand the person over to us now that you’ve retrieved her."

Fu Juemin looked at him. "Where’s Aunt Ding?"

"Mr. Ding has other urgent business and is not here right now."

Fu Juemin nodded slowly, then suddenly asked, "Which hall are you with?"

The man was taken aback but quickly answered without hesitation. "To answer Young Master Fu, my name is Pang Ze. I’m one of Steward Ma’s men from Cao Yun Hall."

"And where are you taking her?"

Fu Juemin pressed.

The man’s tone immediately stiffened, and he shook his head. "This matter is too important. I’m afraid I can’t say. Please forgive me, Young Master."

"Of course, of course..."

Fu Juemin seemed agreeable enough. He nodded and gestured as if to push Li Huaisuang forward.

Pang Ze moved to take her—

But in the next instant, a blast of wind struck his face, making his scalp tingle.

He instinctively fell back, his right hand already reaching for the Mauser at his waist. His finger was just closing on the trigger when he focused his eyes again. Fu Juemin was still standing right where he was, showing no sign that he was about to strike.

Just then, a flurry of rustling sounds came from behind him—the sound of guns being drawn.

A sense of dread washed over the man. His expression changed, and he was about to shout an order, but a few steps away, the handsome young master in the crisp suit suddenly smiled at him.

This time, he truly did attack.

BANG!

BANG—BANG!

A few short gunshots cracked, then quickly fell silent, blending into the night like the pop of distant firecrackers.

On the bluestone pavement of the North City Street Corner, twisted bodies lay scattered about. Beneath them, dark red pools of blood were slowly spreading...

Fu Juemin casually tossed aside the handkerchief he’d just used to wipe his hands. The white silk fluttered down, landing on the face of a wide-eyed corpse at his feet.

Li Huaisuang stood to the side, hugging her shoulders tightly. Her face was pale as she stared at Fu Juemin in fear, seemingly remembering the first time they had met.

"They weren’t impostors."

Big Cat approached Fu Juemin after checking the bodies and reported calmly.

Fu Juemin nodded slightly, his tone flat. "Which means that tonight, we can’t even completely trust our own."

Big Cat didn’t reply, but his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Fu Juemin glanced around the deathly silent street, his gaze finally settling on Li Huaisuang.

He did his best to make his smile seem kinder, more gentle, as he asked her, "You just said this is the wrong place."

"Then where do you think... we should be taking you?"

Li Huaisuang couldn’t meet his eyes. Her gaze darted away as she raised a slender, trembling finger and pointed.

Fu Juemin’s eyes followed her gesture, and a glint appeared in his own.

A moment later, he strode to the carriage, deftly unhitched one of the fine horses, and swung himself into the saddle.

He urged the horse back to where Li Huaisuang stood, leaned down, and pulled her onto the saddle in front of him with an undeniable authority.

Then he looked at Big Cat and Kitty and gave a cold command. "You two go find Aunt Ding. Tell her I’m taking the girl to South City."

"Have her send backup to meet me as soon as possible!"

Big Cat and Kitty wasted no words, simply nodding before immediately employing their Body Techniques, splitting up and vanishing in two different directions like phantoms.

Fu Juemin sat on his horse, watching them go. He then narrowed his eyes, gazing toward the southern sky, which was alight with colorful fireworks.

Behind those brilliant lights, he thought he could see the demonic shadow of a giant, crouching toad. It was slowly taking form, its massive mouth gaping open as if to devour everything hidden in the night...

Fu Juemin took a sharp breath, dug his heels into the horse’s flanks, and shot off into the inky blackness, carrying Li Huaisuang with him like an arrow released from a bow.

...

「A few minutes later」

The sound of hurried footsteps shattered the silence of the North City Street Corner.

A large group of people rushed to the scene. Their faces changed at the sight of the carnage and the bodies, and they quickly fanned out to inspect the area and the lone carriage.

Two figures in fine, brocaded clothes stood leisurely at the edge of the scene, coolly observing the bloody mess.

One of them sighed, a note of regret in his voice. "A pity. I thought we might have gotten lucky..."

The other chuckled, speaking in a leisurely drawl. "You underestimate Ding Moshan. If a little trick like this was enough to handle her, she wouldn’t be Ding Moshan."

"True enough."

The first man nodded, then asked, "And Purchasing Agent Chen?"

"Purchasing Agent Chen is, of course, attending to his ’proper business.’"

"By now, he’s probably drunk He Renli and his men under the table..."

"Tonight, all we have to do is keep them occupied. This deal is a sure thing!"

"And if we get lucky and manage to grab the girl, well... that’s hitting the jackpot!!"

"Haha, you’re absolutely right!"

The two men chuckled, pulling out cigars. Amidst the carnage and the distant pop of fireworks, they slowly lit them....