Chapter 96 A Dirty Deal
November 10th, Sunday.
Qingcheng Mountain, with peaks circling like a city, remains evergreen in all seasons below half the mountain.
In a secluded area of the back mountain, by the water and by the peaks, there stands a simple and quiet Daoist temple. The place is so remote that within a radius of several kilometers, there are only a few struggling rural households.
A middle-aged man in a worn-out Daoist robe sits lazily on the stone step at the temple’s entrance, sunbathing with boredom. His unkempt beard and messy hair stuffed under a hat make him look extremely disheveled. Only his eyes flash with a cunning fierceness.
A common rural “three-wheeled” vehicle bumps and shakes its way to the temple, and a young man in a suit and glasses jumps out.
Noticing the middle-aged Daoist sitting idly in the sun at the temple entrance, the young man smiles, takes out a wallet from his pocket, counts out several hundred Yuan to send the three-wheeled driver on his way, and then walks toward the temple.
“Didn’t I tell you to try to avoid coming here? Aren’t you afraid of disappearing in this remote wilderness all alone?”
Watching the young man approach from a distance, the middle-aged Daoist spat with a strange mix of disgust and malice in his eyes.
“As long as you still need me, this is the safest place. Who would dare to steal from a bloodsucker nobleman of the Aleitai family in front of me?”
Zhuang Jianfei took out a high-grade cigarette, lit it, and casually tossed one to the middle-aged Daoist: “Old Cao, you are still the third in command of the Black Dragon Association. Your subordinates are enjoying the good life in the big cities while you’re cooped up here all day.”
“Isn’t that the good thing you caused? You tricked me into dealing with some brat from the Sun family in L city ten years ago. Only afterwards did I realize he was related to the Wang family! They pursued me for years, and I almost got taken out by an ambush!”
Cao Kuang picked up the cigarette from the ground, took out a match, lit it, and inhaled deeply, finally revealing a comfortable expression.
“You were a pathetic dog before becoming a vampire. Now you’ve advanced to a nobleman but are still so useless… Two worlds, and you’ve turned into a pathetic loser in both.”
Zhuang Jianfei laughed as he walked up to Cao Kuang, looking down on him with an openly contemptuous expression: “I’m still waiting for you to take out the Black Dragon Association’s boss Qian Laotou and move up the ranks.”
“Fuck you… When I was human, you tricked me; now as a vampire, I’m still tied to you…”
Cao Kuang spat, but his expression was somewhat tense: “I did everything regarding Wan Qiaoli according to your instruction. When do I get the drugs? Damn it, I don’t know where Qian Laotou is hiding, he’s been in hibernation for years. If he breaks through to Count this time, I’ll be the first one to be eaten!”
“As long as you have value and can hold your own in high places, Qian Laotou won’t touch you. Do you really think being a nobleman is like chomping on cabbage at will?”
With a smile, Zhuang Jianfei squatted beside Cao Kuang, casually patting his head without a hint of restraint, as if the Aleitai bloodsucker nobleman before him was just a dog at home that could be kicked around.
“That’s not safe. Unless I break through to Viscount before he returns, I’ll be dreaming of him tearing me apart…”
Cao Kuang seemed to think of something and couldn’t help but shiver: “How could I have listened to you back then, joining the Black Blood Clan… Damn it, you raised me! If an ambush or the Wang family finds me, I’d be the first to sell you out!”
Zhuang Jianfei’s expression froze, and he slapped him hard. Then standing up, he kicked Cao Kuang down to the ground, his voice icy: “You, a corrupt official who should have been executed, I gave you another chance back then, and now look at you in the Black Dragon Association as number three, and you’re learning to extort me? Do you think you deserve that?”
“I’m done today… Fine, first let’s settle the previous debts! Then we’ll talk business!”
Cao Kuang rubbed his cheek, brushed off the dirt from his pants, and sat back down on the stone step, glaring fiercely at Zhuang Jianfei’s face, a look of stubborn defiance: “Let’s both get what we need; I’ll work for you, but the accounts still need to be clear. I still need to send off my underlings!”
“I need to guard against retaliation from the Wang family… Don’t think I don’t know, you’re just working for those foreigners, using me as a weapon to make things difficult for the Wang family. You’re a lapdog for those foreigners but stingy with your own people.”
Zhuang Jianfei’s smile turned cold as he laughed back: “What makes you think you’re anyone’s people… But it shows you’re not stupid, you’re perfectly suited to be in the Black Blood Clan.”
Saying this, Zhuang Jianfei pulled out a small piece of paper from his pocket, holding it up: “This contains the address for the drugs. Go get them yourself. Besides Linglong Powder, there’s also ten doses of A-type breakthrough medicine for you to reward your subordinates. Remember, only high-ranking attendants can take it, which directly breakthrough to a lower tier knight.
“There are two doses of B-type breakthrough medicine available, which can help a high-ranking knight break through to a lower-ranking nobleman— you’ve taken it before. Let me clarify, both types of breakthrough medicine have only a thirty percent success rate. Don’t waste it; it’s best for those at high pinnacle ranks, which increases the success chance a bit. If it fails, you might lose your life; choose wisely who takes it.”
“This is yours.”
Zhuang Jianfei pulled out another small box from his pocket, “C2-type breakthrough medicine has only a twenty percent success rate, but it’s safe. There’s only one dose; you can only take it once a year. Whether you break through to Viscount depends on your luck.”
“Ha, a success rate of only twenty percent? If it doesn’t work, then my last effort was for nothing! Do I have to help you four more times to reach a hundred percent?”
Cao Kuang glared at the paper and box in Zhuang Jianfei’s hands, still showing displeasure: “Damn it, what good comes from being a fragile upper-tier nobleman without taking time to hibernate and growing with medicine?”
“Ha, a hastily matured nobleman is still a nobleman. Forty years to reach upper-tier nobleman, and you’re still not satisfied? If you don’t take the medicine, given your level of lowly blood food you raise, how many more years do you think it’ll take?”
Zhuang Jianfei scoffed, tossing the items directly onto Cao Kuang’s body before turning to leave, “Remember to keep that broken phone on; wait for my call.”
“You haven’t said yet, who is the target this time? I need to arrange my people. Damn it, one day I’ll eat you…”
Even though Cao Kuang’s words were dirty, his actions were honest as he grabbed the paper and box, stuffing them into his jacket.
“Spend some time setting up a scheme; make it a bigger event. With my help, even you useless can become valuable. Who knows, you might even get a taste of the soup.”
Zhuang Jianfei smiled as he lit another cigarette, tossing the rest of the pack onto the ground, leaving with a flourish.
“Ha, Zhuang, you’re a piece of scum wrapped in a human facade. The Wang family is at least half an ally of the Secluded Alliance, but you’re a traitorous dog eating from both sides, you’re audacious!”
Cao Kuang laughed exaggeratedly, probably sensing that Zhuang Jianfei was still plotting against the Wang family, while Zhuang Jianfei merely laughed indifferently as he walked away.
After the onset of winter, C city’s weather grew colder, but at least on the streets, the lovely dresses paired with thick stockings or leggings remained the mainstream for young women. Beautifully freezing, if not beautiful, then rather dead.
For unknown reasons, today the Jinhe Club sent out a notice of closure to all its members, and Wan Yue, who rarely appeared on weekends, also showed up in a professional outfit today, gathering everyone for attendance.
What intrigued everyone was that following Wan Yue was not only the reliable Zhao Peng but also a girl, Su Xiaomeng.
As they entered the hall, Su Xiaomeng waved slightly to Jiang Yan and Jiang Yao, but her expression seemed a bit uninvited.
Today, all members, regardless of whether registered under their real names or third-party phone numbers, would temporarily stop using their personal devices and switch to internal backup phone numbers.
Wan Yue walked slowly through the spacious hall, her sexy black stockings highlighting her long legs creating a crisp sound as her heels clicked on the marble floor, pausing for a moment on every member of the Huaxin team she passed.
When she reached Jiang Yan’s side, Wan Yue nodded lightly and then turned to the crowd: “Enter a level two alert state; at all times, necessary equipment should not be away from your person. Travel by your own car or taxis, public transportation is prohibited.”
“Yes, Sister Wan!”
In the hall, nearly thirty members of Huaxin team bowed in acknowledgment.
“Xiao Ling, you’ll depart soon for Longquan Mountain’s Huaxin Villa to switch shifts with Zheng Shaolin and serve as the tutor there.”
“小冬, inventory the medicine stock, ensuring everyone has at least a week’s worth of supplies, and make a note of any shortfalls with Zhao Peng.”
“Zhao Peng, contact Huang Gu using a secure phone and have him come here as soon as possible.”
“Xiao Ai, rearrange the night duty roster for the club. Aside from Liang Tai, each day requires at least two knights and five attendants.”
“Liang Tai.”
The so-called club security, whom one rarely sees, emerged from the shadows of a corner with a serious expression.
Looking at the middle-aged man who had once left the Secluded Alliance alongside Zhao Peng, Wan Yue’s expression softened considerably: “Check on the condition of the firearms and ammunition stock; if there are issues, discuss with Zhao Peng about replenishing. Prepare a public notice: for the next month, Jinhe Club will be closed for internal renovations.”
“Understood!”
Uncle Liang nodded forcefully before shrinking back into the shadows, disappearing.
“Jiang Yao… Why are you hiding? Look at me!”
Wan Yue glanced at Jiang Yao not far away, her delicate brows arched, a hint of mischievousness at the corner of her mouth: “Starting tonight, you’ll secretly protect the Zhong family, keeping watch from midnight to six in the morning, and you can roam freely the rest of the time.”
“Ah? I’m supposed to protect the Zhong family?”
Jiang Yao was taken aback, glancing at the other girls around her as her face began to heat up, fidgeting, “Why me? I get particularly sleepy in the evenings…”
Before she could finish complaining, Jiang Yan slapped her on the back, and upon seeing Wan Yue’s serious expression, Jiang Yao could only withdraw her head to the side.
Jiang Yan.
Yes, Sister Wan.
Curiously looking at the commanding presence of the Huaxin leader before her.
“I’ll have a private talk with Su before heading upstairs with Zhao Peng later.”
With that, Wan Yue headed toward the spiral staircase, and as Su Xiaomeng passed by Jiang Yao, she gave a fist pump gesture of encouragement, her chest swaying enticingly, making Jiang Yao gawk.
“Sis, is there something big going on? Now that all the knights are assigned, even Zheng is coming back from afar.”
Once everyone dispersed, Jiang Yao secretly leaned closer to Jiang Yan, grabbing her arm, her expression somewhat tense: “I feel like something big is about to happen; have we been exposed?”
“It should be about the Black Blood Clan’s attack on Wan Qiaoli Commercial Square ten days ago… This time, it may not just be the Dark Arrow troops involved; I suspect it’s related to the Wang family.”
Jiang Yan pondered, guessing something from Su Xiaomeng’s appearance, but could not confirm at the moment. The information cocoon effect is not limited only to those within the Dark Arrow troops; it continues to exist after becoming a vampire, perhaps even more pronounced.
A series of memories triggered by the Wan Qiaoli incident suddenly surged in Jiang Yan’s mind, causing a wave of dizziness, with certain emotions uncontrollably flooding her head.
Months ago, after encountering Meng Huai as a vampire, Jiang Yan felt as if fate began a sequence of cruel mockeries, forcibly dragging her through yet another experience of life and death separation.
Just last night, she stealthily visited the Army General Hospital again, that same inpatient building, down the same corridor on the same floor, in the same specialized ward area, yet she could no longer see Meng Huai’s figure.
The odd yet forlorn look on the on-duty nurse’s face made Jiang Yan not need to guess the outcome.
Had she done well at that time? What would he have thought then? Would he still feel regret?
That strange yet impulsive hug still made Jiang Yan blush, breathing heavily with complicated feelings. It’s just that the other party could no longer provide her with answers.
What emotion pulled her to make such stirring and ambiguous actions back then? Whether it was an effort to preserve something or a resolute abandonment, she could not tell.
“Sis, you’re spacing out again.”
Jiang Yao waved her hand in front of Jiang Yan’s face, puzzled, “You’ve been like this the last few days.”
“Oh… I’m fine… This is Sister Wan’s first solo task for you, don’t take it lightly; you need to have the strength of a pillar.”
Jiang Yan said no more, giving a smile and squeezing Jiang Yao’s arm, turning to walk toward Zhao Peng.
