Speaking in the car was inconvenient. There were some things Long Xiao didn't want Lin Xuan to know, to avoid worrying her.
After Long Xiao ended his call with Lu Tianxing, Lin Xuan, who was driving, asked, "Long Xiao, did something happen?"
Long Xiao put away his phone and said with a smile, "It's nothing major. Lu Tianxing wanted to treat me to drinks, but I declined."
Lu Tianxing was the director of the Donghai Police Department. Nangong Yue didn't believe that Long Xiao would refuse an invitation to drink from him.
"Long Xiao, you're just bragging. I think you're getting more dishonest by the day, claiming Lu Tianxing invited you for drinks," Nangong Yue said with dissatisfaction.
In the past, Nangong Yue would have scolded him long ago. Now, living in Long Xiao's villa and spending his money, she was holding back from cursing him.
It was almost dark when Long Xiao and his group returned to Donghai. After leaving the highway, they parted ways with Nangong Xia's family. Long Xiao asked Lin Xuan to drive home, while he and Xiao Ming got out of the car midway.
Long Xiao and Xiao Ming went near the Xicheng Police Station and called Lu Tianxing, asking him to arrange for Zhao Kais' release.
Long Xiao and Xiao Ming waited for half an hour before Zhao Kais walked out of the police station.
As dusk settled, the streetlights flickered on. Zhao Kais stood under a streetlight waiting for a taxi, his face haggard and his expression troubled.
Long Xiao said in a low voice, "Let's go, Xiao Ming. We'll go talk to Zhao Kais."
Long Xiao had never met Zhao Kais in person, only seen the photo Lu Tianxing had sent him.
He and Xiao Ming approached under the streetlight. Zhao Kais mistook them for others waiting for a ride.
"Director Zhao, waiting for a car?"
Upon hearing himself addressed as Director Zhao, Zhao Kais turned to look at Long Xiao and said, "Do we know each other? I don't think I've seen you before."
Long Xiao nodded and said, "You haven't seen me before, and this is the first time I'm seeing you."
"Is there something you need?" Zhao Kais asked.
Long Xiao nodded again and said, "Let me introduce myself, my name is Long Xiao, owner of Xinglin Caotang."
Zhao Kais was so startled that he turned and ran. After only a few steps, he saw a giant Xuan Tie cleaver blocking his path.
"Little brat, get out of the way."
Zhao Kais reached out to push away Xiao Ming, who was holding the cleaver in front of him.
With a flash of dark steel, Zhao Kais felt a coolness on his head. He reached up and found a patch of hair missing.
"Your hair, do you want it?" On the cleaver held by Xiao Ming, a small pile of hair lay.
Zhao Kais stumbled back two steps, bumping into Long Xiao, his face pale with fright.
"No, no, I don't want it."
Zhao Kais felt another coolness on his head. He hadn't seen Xiao Ming move, but another small clump of his hair appeared on Xiao Ming's cleaver.
Zhao Kais knew then that he had messed with the wrong people.
Police officers arrest people according to the law, with evidence. Long Xiao was not bound by such rules when he took action.
"Zhao Kais, the police released you, but I have no intention of letting you go. Let's go, I'll find a place for us to have a good talk."
"No, no, Boss Long, Master Long, I have urgent matters. I can't accompany you."
"Xiao Ming, don't our garden flowers need fertilizing lately?" Long Xiao asked.
Xiao Ming swung the cleaver in his hand and said, "They do need fertilizing, but I don't have suitable fertilizer."
Long Xiao smiled, pointed at Zhao Kais, and said, "Director Zhao is robust and has plenty of fat. Buried under the flowers, they will bloom even redder next year."
"Boss, that's a good idea. But I suggest we keep him in our basement, feed him well, fatten him up a bit, then cut off a few pounds of flesh each day to bury under the flowers. We'll give him medicine so he doesn't die."
Long Xiao exclaimed happily, "This way we'll have a constant supply of rich fertilizer. Your idea is better than mine. We'll do as you say."
The two of them discussed how to deal with Zhao Kais, sentence by sentence, leaving Zhao Kais feeling a chill run down his spine. Being killed outright would have been terrifying enough, but they were discussing how to have an inexhaustible supply of flower fertilizer.
Zhao Kais' legs gave way, and he fell to his knees before Long Xiao, pleading, "Boss Long, don't kill me, please. I have elders to support and children to raise..."
"Shut up. We're not planning to kill you. We're just going to cut off a few pounds of your flesh every day. Why are you so scared?"
"Boss Long, I was wrong, I know I was wrong. Please spare me."
Xiao Ming kicked Zhao Kais and said, "Boss, he knows he's wrong. Why don't we spare him and report his situation to the Medical Affairs Department for them to handle?"
If the Medical Affairs Department found out Zhao Kais had harmed people with medicine, his life would be ruined, and he would never be able to be a doctor again.
"Don't do that, Boss Long. As long as you spare me, I'll do anything you say."
Long Xiao grabbed Zhao Kais, who was kneeling on the ground, and said, "Murder is against the law, and I don't necessarily want to kill you. As long as you obey me, I'll let you live."
"Don't worry, I'll do exactly as you say."
Seeing a glimmer of hope for survival, Zhao Kais quickly agreed.
Long Xiao put Zhao Kais down and said, "When you go back, act as if this never happened. In a couple of days, when Iiguchi Gorō contacts you again and asks you to do something, just notify me before you do it."
"That's it? You're really willing to let me go?" Zhao Kais was skeptical, fearing Long Xiao might have a trick up his sleeve.
Long Xiao nodded and said, "I, Long Xiao, never lie. As long as you don't mess up my plans, we have no grievances, and I won't risk killing you."
"Boss Long, are you planning to fight back?" Zhao Kais asked.
Long Xiao snorted and said, "Iiguchi Gorō wants to eliminate me completely. I won't let him off easily."
Long Xiao didn't hide anything from Zhao Kais; he revealed his entire plan.
Long Xiao intended to use a ruse. He planned to have Zhao Tianli feign death from poisoning, then have Zhao Tianli and the son of another person cause trouble at Xinglin Caotang. Zhao Kais would then help to escalate the situation, drawing Iiguchi Gorō out.
"Director Zhao, whether we can lure out Iiguchi Gorō depends on you. If you succeed, you live. If you fail, you become flower fertilizer."
"Boss Long, what if Iiguchi Gorō doesn't fall for it..."
Before Zhao Kais could finish speaking, Long Xiao interrupted him, "If Iiguchi Gorō doesn't fall for it, you'll be flower fertilizer. Don't think the police will help you. I can get you out with a phone call, and I can make them ignore my involvement."
Today, Zhao Kais had thought he was in serious trouble. He was puzzled as to why he was released so easily.
"Alright, I'll do my best to lure Iiguchi Gorō in."
While Long Xiao and Zhao Kais finalized their plan, Xiao Ming took out the last roasted duck from his backpack and began to eat.
By the time Xiao Ming finished the duck, Long Xiao's plan was also set.
"Director Zhao, you can go now." Long Xiao gave Zhao Kais his contact information and hailed a passing taxi.
Opening the car door, Zhao Kais looked at Long Xiao and said, "Don't worry, Boss Long, I will succeed."
Long Xiao nodded and said, "It's you who should be worried."
Watching the taxi drive away, Xiao Ming wiped his mouth with a napkin and asked, "Boss, do you trust this guy not to betray you?"
Long Xiao smiled and said, "Whether he betrays me or not is irrelevant. If he does, the two of us can just storm Iiguchi Gorō's residence and wipe out these islanders."
Xiao Ming patted his backpack and said, "Exactly. Wiping them out is much more satisfying. When dealing with problems, one must be decisive and not give bad guys any opportunities."