Chapter 365: Huangmao

The cold wind howled, the temperature dropped suddenly, and a fine, misty rain fell from the sky.

Chen Erbao was still in a short-sleeved shirt and long pants, but he had thrown on a black jacket over them.

Bai Xiaoqing was wrapped in a thick, white sweater, huddled in the passenger seat with her eyes slightly closed.

Her delicate profile was flawless, and her smooth, fine skin was dusted with a light layer of powder, making Chen Erbao almost unable to resist leaning in for a kiss.

Their work in Mianyang City was done. Next, they were heading to the neighboring Sanjiang City.

It was a journey of over three hundred kilometers. Not too far, but not close either. They should arrive around noon.

Chen Erbao drove very fast, speeding down the highway and leaving countless other cars behind.

Meanwhile, a black jeep left the urban center of Hongyuan City.

Gesang sat in the back, his face expressionless, resting with his eyes closed. He held a dagger that glinted with a cold light, constantly twirling it between his palm and fingertips.

"Have you confirmed their whereabouts?"

"Confirmed. The targets are on their way to Sanjiang City. Sanjiang City is adjacent to Binhai, and its criminal underworld is a complex web. As soon as the targets enter the Sanjiang urban area, we'll be able to lock onto their position immediately."

Gesang vaguely recalled hearing the name Sanjiang City before. He seemed to remember it was a tourist destination.

"Hn."

He grunted a simple affirmation and then fell silent.

...

Around one in the afternoon, Chen Erbao let out a long breath. He stood at the entrance of a restaurant in Sanjiang City and lit a cigarette.

Bai Xiaoqing stretched languidly in the passenger seat, and her ample peaks instantly filled Chen Erbao's line of sight.

She stopped mid-stretch. Seeing Chen Erbao staring relentlessly at her chest, she quickly covered herself with her hands, pushed the door open, and got out of the car.

The frigid air made her shiver, and she couldn't help but mutter:

"It's gotten so cold these last couple of days..."

Walking over to Chen Erbao's side, Bai Xiaoqing tilted her head and looked at him.

"You're smoking again?"

"I've been driving all morning. A cigarette helps me relax."

Chen Erbao took a deep drag, blew a smoke ring from his mouth, and watched it slowly rise before dissipating.

"Smoking is bad for you!"

"Already trying to manage me? If you become my girlfriend, I'll listen to you!"

Chen Erbao said with a grin.

Bai Xiaoqing's face flushed red. She glared at him, almost cursing out loud.

'Hitting on his girlfriend's best friend... Only a scumbag like him would do something so shameless!'

She stuffed her hands in her pockets and looked around.

"Isn't there a contact person for us in Sanjiang City?"

"I haven't called them yet. Let's just wander around this afternoon. No rush."

Chen Erbao said lazily, squatting on the curb.

With the experience from Mianyang City, the operation would be much simpler. If the location was suitable, he would just bury the Spirit-Containing Object directly and leave the follow-up work to the professional managers.

Bai Xiaoqing nodded, clutching her stomach. Her voice was as clear as a bell.

"I'm so hungry! Let's go eat first!"

Chen Erbao pointed to the restaurant behind him. "Let's just grab a quick bite here for lunch. After we eat, we can find a hotel. I remember there's a Vienna Hotel in Sanjiang City, right?"

"There is. I think it's right in the city center... I heard the ancient town in Sanjiang City is beautiful. Want to go check it out this afternoon?"

She seemed tempted by the idea.

Chen Erbao didn't really care either way. He had visited plenty of similar ancient towns in Dian Nan and at Changbai Mountain. Most of them were just for taking pictures and selling local specialties, which he found boring.

After finishing his cigarette, Chen Erbao walked into the restaurant side-by-side with Bai Xiaoqing.

There were a dozen or so tables in the main dining area, but only one was occupied.

It was three guys and two girls. All five of them had their hair dyed in a myriad of colors and were dressed strangely, looking like gangsters from a TV show.

Chen Erbao didn't stare, giving them only a passing glance before heading to a table by the window.

However, the three with the dyed-yellow hair couldn't stop staring at Bai Xiaoqing, their eyes filled with greed and malicious intent. Paired with their lecherous smiles, it was a very uncomfortable sight.

Bai Xiaoqing pulled her plain white sweater tighter around herself and followed Chen Erbao to the table.

"Boss, we'll have the stir-fried beef, garlic eggplant..."

Chen Erbao picked up the menu, rattled off a string of dishes, and handed it to the waiter.

The waiter took the menu without a word of acknowledgment and turned to leave.

"The service here isn't great!"

Chen Erbao complained.

Bai Xiaoqing sighed. "That's how these small roadside places are. They don't care whether you eat here or not."

Chen Erbao had also noticed the leering eyes of the three yellow-haired guys, but he paid them no mind.

To be honest, he'd seen plenty of looks like that when he went out with Lin Zhiqing and the others. He was used to it.

As the two were chatting idly, the three yellow-haired guys stood up and walked toward them.

"Hey, beautiful. Here in Sanjiang on vacation?"

One of the yellow-haired guys extended a hand adorned with rings and smiled at Bai Xiaoqing.

"..."

Bai Xiaoqing frowned slightly. She seemed to catch a whiff of the thick smell of smoke on him, and a hint of disgust appeared in her eyes. She glanced at Chen Erbao, then turned her head to look out the window, not wanting to speak.

The yellow-haired guy froze for a second, but he didn't seem embarrassed. He pulled back his hand and let his gaze brazenly roam over Bai Xiaoqing's waist and chest, the desire in his eyes growing even stronger.

"Hey beautiful, don't be so cold. My big bro is the top dog on this street!"

"Pfft!"

Chen Erbao couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.

His laughter immediately drew the angry glares of all three yellow-haired guys.

Chen Erbao grabbed a napkin to wipe his nose, feeling like he had almost laughed so hard that snot came out.

"You three, what era are you living in? 'Top dog'? You've been watching too many TV shows?"

These three yellow-haired guys didn't look very old, maybe in their late teens. The same went for the two girls with them, whose hair was dyed red and green.

"Who the fuck are you, acting so arrogant? Do you even know who owns Sanjiang City?"

The yellow-haired guy who had hit on Bai Xiaoqing was pissed off by Chen Erbao's tone.

'We're all just out here trying to pick up girls, so why is he acting all high and mighty?'

Chen Erbao looked at him with great interest.

"We just got to Sanjiang, so we actually don't know. Why don't you tell us?"

The yellow-haired guy sneered, stuck his hands in his pockets, and said arrogantly:

"Listen up and listen good. Sanjiang City belongs to the Patrol by day, but at night, especially in Sanjiang District, this is Lord Bao's territory! My big bro is one of Lord Bao's favored men. I don't care if you're here on vacation or for whatever else, when you're in Sanjiang District, you'd better watch yourself. Got it?"

"Heh, have you guys even turned eighteen?"

Chen Erbao found this quite amusing and decided to teach these young delinquents a lesson.

It was as if Chen Erbao had hit a sore spot. The yellow-haired guy immediately rolled up his sleeves. "You tired of living, motherfucker— Ahh!"

Before he could even finish his sentence, Chen Erbao slapped him squarely across the face. The yellow-haired guy cried out in pain and was sent sprawling to the ground, half of his face visibly swelling up.

Seeing this, the other two yellow-haired guys were startled and immediately reached out to grab Chen Erbao.

Chen Erbao didn't even move from his seat. Without so much as shifting his butt, he delivered two more slaps. All three of them ended up rolling on the ground, wailing in pain.

"You little punks haven't even hit puberty yet, and you're trying to act like gangsters? Get the hell back home and study!"

Chen Erbao flicked his hand and scolded them.