When I entered the house, a person was lying on the ground, bound hand and foot, their face obscured.
Liu Hui sat on a folding chair, surrounded by more than ten people. One person wore a scorpion's claw, a sharpened blade fitted onto the fingers.
A punch delivered with such a thing would likely take half a person's life.
It was evident that the person lying on the ground had been beaten down by it.
Seeing me enter, Liu Hui looked at me with a half-smile, "Brother Xiang, we meet again."
"Boss Liu has gone to great lengths to summon me, for what purpose?" I asked, maintaining my composure.
Liu Hui grinned and used his foot to turn the person on the ground over.
I was taken aback, looking at the person lying there in disbelief. It was Wang Yang!
Wang Yang's face was covered in blood, and he was on the verge of death, as if he could pass away at any moment.
"You recognize this person, don't you?" Liu Hui asked.
I remained silent, only nodding.
Liu Hui slowly stood up and stepped on Wang Yang's chest, "This kid split my head open yesterday. After I caught him, I asked him why he did it… he said he'd tell me if I found you."
I noticed that Liu Hui's back of the head was indeed wrapped in gauze; he had been facing me when I entered, so I hadn't seen it.
This suddenly reminded me of my earlier arrangement with Wang Yang, where I had told him if he helped me beat up Liu Hui, I would be his friend.
I hadn't expected the fellow to actually dare to do it!
Liu Hui suddenly kicked Wang Yang in the chest, "Kid, I've brought the person for you. Now, can you say it?"
Wang Yang's eyelids had been beaten so badly they had rolled up. He looked at me with one eye open and one closed, then managed a grin, as if to say, "Are we friends now?"
I suddenly felt that this fellow was a madman, yet at the same time, I found myself respecting him.
To make friends with me, he was willing to risk his life. Such sincerity was impossible to refuse.
I took a deep breath, organizing my thoughts, and said, "Boss Liu, he is my friend. Please let him go."
Liu Hui blinked in surprise, then threw his head back and laughed, "Hahaha… What did you just say? Say it again?"
"I said he is my friend. I hope you will release him out of respect for me," I replied.
"What do you think you are?" Liu Hui's eyes turned cold as he stared at me. "Kid, if it weren't for that guy surnamed Yan last time, do you think you'd be standing here talking to me now?"
"Dragomans" like Liu Hui were generally desperate characters, accustomed to smuggling antiques, grave robbing, and double-crossing.
Moreover, Guangling was his territory, and I had no doubt he could kill me here.
"Boss Liu, how about we make a deal," I suggested.
Liu Hui raised an eyebrow, "A deal? What deal?"
"If you let him go, I'll forfeit the grand prize I obtained from Anyuantang."
"Haha…" Liu Hui laughed unreservedly. "Do you think that grand prize is yours for the taking? Kid, you still don't understand the situation, do you? Whether you can walk out of here alive today is a question, and you're trying to negotiate with me?"
My heart trembled. I took a deep breath, extended three fingers on my left hand, clasped them with my right, and made a fist, saying, "We are all 'Bi' an zi*, please be magnanimous."
This was a gesture and slang taught to me by my father, used only in matters of life and death.
The words I spoke meant: We are all friends, please be generous, Boss Liu.
I didn't know if this approach would work, but at this point, it was the only option.
A flicker of surprise crossed Liu Hui's eyes, and he frowned, "Are your ancestors from within the family?"
"You could say that," I replied, nodding.
"From within the family" in his terms meant belonging to the same group.
My father had told me that in any profession in the Jianghu, there was always a traceable lineage.
Chinese people valued tradition, so they paid great attention to what was passed down from their ancestors.
Liu Hui's success in Guangling was likely due to inheriting his father's business.
I hadn't expected my gamble to pay off!
Liu Hui stared at me thoughtfully for a long time, then said, "Kid, out of respect for our ancestors, I can give you a way out… but it depends on whether you have the ability."
"My eyes are clouded by my transgressions; Boss Liu, please set the terms," I said.
"Zhao zi" means eyes, and "tuo le jie" means making a mistake.
My words meant: I unintentionally offended you. Tell us what to do to be forgiven.
Liu Hui smiled, "Good! You are indeed one of us. I will give you an opportunity today."
With that, he took a briefcase from beside his chair and handed me a piece of paper.
I took it and saw it was a hand-drawn map.
Although crudely drawn and shaky, the place names were clearly written.
I didn't know what he intended, looking at the map in my hand with confusion.
"I've just accepted a job. Go and retrieve something from here for me, and we'll be even!" Liu Hui declared.
My brow furrowed. I glanced at a place name on the map that seemed familiar. After thinking, I realized it was a graveyard!
Did this guy want me to go grave robbing?!
I looked up at Liu Hui, then at Wang Yang on the ground.
If I said "no" now, I probably wouldn't be able to leave here today.
Thinking this, I took a deep breath, forced a smile, and said, "Alright! Since Master Liu has commanded, I can only comply. However, I wonder, is Master Liu in a hurry?"
Liu Hui held up three fingers, his lips curling into a cold smile, "I'll give you three days. If I don't have what I want after three days, you know the consequences."
I nodded, "Fine, three days it is."
With that, I put away the map, squatted down, and untied Wang Yang's ropes, helping him up.
Whether it was my imagination or not, his eyes seemed to hold a hint of schadenfreude as he looked at me.
Damn it, I shouldn't have saved this brat!
After leaving the house, Wang Yang and I got into the van. As usual, we put on hoods as soon as we got in. By the time we got out again, we were already at the entrance of Hongyuan.
I took Wang Yang to the shop first, then called Hong Yunpeng to buy some supplies for treating wounds.
Sitting on a chair, Wang Yang sprawled out and looked at me, asking, "Did you really agree to go into the tomb for him?"
It was better when he didn't speak, but the moment he did, I felt like slapping him.
This kid's brain must be missing some screws!
Why would you go and mug Liu Hui?
It's like trying to catch a fly on a lion's head; you're just asking for trouble!