Chapter 343: Ruby Badge

A moment later, Yue Feifei put away her makeup. Yang Xun stood up to check the mirror, raising an eyebrow at his reflection. The man in the mirror looked ten years older and significantly thinner; unless someone was extremely familiar with him, they would definitely not recognize him. With everything ready, the two walked side-by-side out of the staff lounge, heading down the hallway toward the exit.

Based on the information Yue Feifei had gathered and his own observations, Yang Xun had a rough understanding of the clubhouse’s layout. If the missing girls were trapped here, they were most likely upstairs. The two naturally headed for the upper floors, but just as they rounded a corner, they ran straight into a group of people.

Leading the group was a tall man in a dark gray suit, his strides steady and composed. Behind him trailed four bodyguards in black uniforms, each gripping a walkie-talkie as their sharp gazes swept both sides of the corridor. Yang Xun’s footsteps faltered slightly, and Yue Feifei paused a half-step behind him, both of their hearts instantly leaping into their throats.

“What are you two doing upstairs?” the lead man asked with a stern expression.

Yue Feifei kept her head lowered and remained silent. Yang Xun gave a simple, honest smile, his voice low. “We’re here to deliver alcohol.”

“Deliver alcohol? Didn’t a batch just go up?” The man scrutinized them, his suspicion evident. The longer he looked, the more unfamiliar the two seemed; they were definitely not regular faces.

“I’m not sure. Liu told me to deliver it, and I just do as I’m told,” Yang Xun said, feigning fear. “If you won’t let me in, then I’ll just leave the liquor with you and you can deliver it.”

Just as the man was about to raise his walkie-talkie to verify the story, a lazy, composed female voice suddenly drifted down from the top of the stairs.

“The gentlemen upstairs are waiting for their drinks. Why are you two dawdling?”

Yang Xun looked up to see a figure in a dark green velvet dress standing on the landing at the turn of the stairs. She wore a half-mask that concealed everything but her lower face and a pair of smiling eyes. Yet, even with her features obscured, Yang Xun instantly recognized her.

Su Mei! That seductively flawless figure could only belong to her.

A wide expanse of fair skin was exposed at her neckline, accentuating her full, perky cleavage. Her waist was slender enough to be gripped with one hand, and the velvet dress wrapped tightly around her body, outlining her perfect curves. With every step she took down the stairs, the hem of her dress swayed, adding a few more hints of alluring charm to her demeanor.

The bodyguards were instantly captivated upon seeing Su Mei, their eyes flashing with a touch of greed. What man wouldn’t want a taste of such an exquisite woman? It perfectly echoed the old saying: dying for a beautiful woman is a death well earned. However, the moment they spotted the brooch pinned to her chest, all those lustful thoughts vanished. A ruby brooch signified the highest status within the clubhouse, proving that this woman was anything but ordinary. Forget about touching her body—even brushing her hand would likely cost them their lives.

Su Mei’s gaze lingered on Yang Xun for a fleeting second. As if she had spotted something amusing, the curve of her lips deepened slightly. She then looked away, shifting her attention to the bodyguards with a casual, natural tone. “Since they’re here to deliver alcohol, don’t hold them up. The people upstairs are waiting.”

The bodyguards exchanged glances before finally stepping aside to clear a path.

Yang Xun gave Su Mei a meaningful look, unable to figure out why she was helping him. Feigning immense relief, he thanked her profusely before leading Yue Feifei up the stairs. As he brushed past Su Mei, he felt her gaze skim over him as lightly as a dragonfly grazing the water, carrying a faint hint of scrutiny. He didn’t look back. Instead, he simply supported Yue Feifei’s arm with a steady grip and continued ascending.

Passing through a hidden door at the end of the third-floor corridor, the two found themselves in a passageway entirely different from the floors below. The walls on both sides were paneled in dark wood, and every few steps hung a quaint, antique copper lamp that cast a dim, soft glow. The air was thick with a scent mingling agarwood and some kind of herbal medicine, a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere downstairs.

What caught Yang Xun’s attention the most, however, was the near-total absence of waiters on this floor. He lightened his footsteps, his gaze rapidly sweeping over the tightly shut doors on either side. Each one looked like a standard private room door, but there were no number plates or identifying marks of any kind on the panels.

Yue Feifei followed closely behind him. Her breathing was steadier than before, though a faint flush still lingered on her heavily made-up face. She lowered her voice, speaking in a barely audible whisper. “The intel I gathered said the girls might be locked up on the third or fourth floor. But there are too many rooms here, not to mention all the hidden doors. We can’t possibly search them one by one.”

Yang Xun kept a vigilant watch on their surroundings. “The structural layout of this floor isn’t right,” he said in a low voice. “The number of windows outside doesn’t match the interior layout. The extra space must have been partitioned off. The missing girls might be hidden there.”

“I noticed that too,” Yue Feifei nodded. As a detective, such observational skills were basic requirements. The current problem, however, was that they hadn’t found the entrance to that hidden space.

Yang Xun walked slowly down the corridor, extending his Perception outward to carefully scan the surroundings. A moment later, he frowned and whispered, “There’s the smell of blood.”

“Why can’t I smell it?” Yue Feifei sniffed the air, but aside from the scent of agarwood, she couldn’t detect anything else.

“Follow me.” Yang Xun pulled Yue Feifei forward. As they walked, the metallic stench of blood grew thicker.

At the same time, he clearly heard cries of pain. The sounds were intermittent, and although the voice was hoarse, it sounded young, sobbing and screaming simultaneously. Yang Xun’s heart trembled; he was certain they were closing in on the missing girls.

He didn’t approach immediately. Instead, he first scanned the environment. There was no one in sight at either end of the hallway, nor were there any security cameras. Narrowing his eyes, he noticed two bodyguards standing at the door of a nearby private room. Both men were dressed entirely in black, and with the dim corridor lighting, they were nearly invisible at first glance.

Yang Xun nudged Yue Feifei, signaling their presence. Only then did Yue Feifei spot the guards, her heart instantly skipping a beat. Exchanging a look, the two began walking in that direction.

Before they could even get close, one of the bodyguards sternly blocked their path. “What are you doing?” he demanded coldly. “Who gave you permission to come over here?”

“The boss inside asked us to deliver some alcohol,” Yang Xun replied, flashing a nervous smile.

“I’ll go check. You stand guard here,” the bodyguard told his companion. But just as he turned around, Yang Xun lunged forward, delivering a vicious chop to the back of his neck.

By the time the second guard realized something was wrong and tried to retaliate, it was already too late. Yang Xun swiftly knocked him unconscious as well. He and Yue Feifei hastily dragged the two men to the side, confiscated the handguns tucked into their waistbands, and pocketed them.