Chapter 27
Editor: Princess
Late at night, in a dark, damp alley far from the bustling areas of T City, the uneven dirty ground was filled with potholes of oily water from the rain that had fallen earlier in the evening. A pungent smell of mildew hung faintly in the air.
Garbage emitting a putrid odor was piled carelessly against the wall, next to several overturned trash cans. A few stray cats darted out from the base of the wall, jumping into the overturned garbage cans to forage for food. Their cries startled rats that were also searching for food in the garbage heaps, causing them to scatter in all directions.
The alley was hidden behind the glamorous facade of the bustling metropolis. This place was densely populated yet chaotic, gathering people from the lowest strata of society from all directions. They engaged in various, even despised illegal occupations, struggling to conceal their dark sides unknown to others. This was a place in every prosperous metropolis where sunlight could never reach.
At this moment, footsteps echoed from the end of the quiet alley, sounding somewhat disorganized and hurried, particularly clear and lonely in the alley. The silence was suddenly broken by several dogs barking in succession, yet it didn’t disturb the people in the houses. Everyone seemed long accustomed to the barking of dogs in the dead of the night.
The alley was very dim, with streetlights standing in corners like superfluous obstacles, only every few working and emitting weak light. The figure finally walked under a functioning streetlight, its feeble glow illuminating his face. The man had a stubbled face, sunken eye sockets, and bloodshot eyes, but beneath them was a cold gaze.
After a while, the man stopped in front of a dilapidated compound. Clutching his arm with one hand, he bowed his head slightly and looked back cautiously. The dark alley seemed endless, with no figure in sight. Only then did the man release his arm and knock on the broken wooden door gently.
“Who is it?” A male voice came from inside, filled with caution and alertness.
“It’s me!” The man lowered his voice.
As soon as he spoke, the wooden door opened. The man who answered poked his head out, and after seeing who it was, immediately showed delight: “Brother Shui, you’re finally back! The brothers have been worried about you. You…”
“We’ll talk inside.” Brother Shui interrupted the other’s uncontrolled emotions with a frown. He stepped into the yard and, before closing the door, looked around to ensure no one was following. It was only after he confirmed this that he closed the door quickly, although his expression didn’t show any signs of relaxation.
The man who had answered the door looked puzzled and asked carefully: “Brother Shui, what’s wrong? Is someone following you?”
Brother Shui glanced at him, then walked in silently, lowering his head to look at the mud beneath his feet. His once shiny leather shoes were now covered in mud and dirt, their original expensive value no longer visible. The dilapidated walls surrounding the yard seemed ready to collapse with a push, and the fruit trees planted in the yard were half-dead, the entire courtyard permeated with an atmosphere of death and decay.
Intense hatred gradually emerged in Brother Shui’s eyes. The untreated wound on his arm still caused severe pain, yet he seemed not to feel it as he walked in with bloodshot eyes.
What was a gunshot wound? He, Brother Shui, had weathered many storms, having taken so many bullets that he’d lost count, and had nearly lost his life several times. Yet he had always crawled out of the pool of blood.
Besides, the pain in his body was nothing compared to the terror of having nothing. Everything he had fought for with his life, the power he had finally built, had become someone else’s in an instant. Not only had he lost the glory and wealth that should have been his, his brothers who lived and died with him were also gone.
Su Wentian!
Brother Shui’s eyes were blood-red with hatred. He would make Su Wentian pay someday. Even with one less arm, as long as he was still alive, was still breathing, no matter the cost, he swore to heaven he would get everything back with interest.
The group of brothers in the room immediately stood up to greet him when they saw him push open the door: “Brother Shui, you’re finally back. Without you, we didn’t know what to do. So many brothers were arrested, and with police searches outside, we didn’t dare make any moves. We could only find a place to hide first.”
Brother Shui waved his hand and sat down on a bamboo chair. Seeing this, his subordinate immediately brought him a cup of tea. He accepted it and took a sip. The low-quality tea was very bitter, making it difficult to swallow, but considering the state of his brothers, he endured it.
“I heard this plan didn’t go well. Brother Shui, how did you end up in Mo Shaoheng’s hands? The remaining brothers who weren’t arrested were terrified when they found out…” One subordinate said, seeming hesitant about continuing. But the matter was significant, and concealment was meaningless at this point. Just as he was about to continue, another voice finished his statement.
“Brother Shui, they thought you had offended Mo Shaoheng, and were afraid of retaliation, so when we few brothers weren’t paying attention, they ran away secretly.” The man who had opened the door for Brother Shui earlier interjected, his face very serious, however he was speaking with anger. “They’re just a few cowardly wastes. Brother Shui, don’t take it to heart.”
Hearing this, Brother Shui’s hand gripping the cup tightened, his face tense.
“Br-Brother Shui, I heard you were injured. Should we look at the wound first?” Another subordinate, seeing his grim expression, nervously changed the subject, secretly glancing at the other’s hanging arm.
Brother Shui looked down at his arm, which seemed both painful and somewhat numb. Qi Fengyu hadn’t deliberately mistreated him, he just had someone do some basic bandaging. It had been neglected for too long. After all, that person’s bullet had directly pierced his arm, and he had nearly stomped his arm off.
“Br-Brother Shui?” The subordinate, seeing Brother Shui lower his head in silence with an increasingly grim expression, wasn’t sure how to read his attitude.
“Have a look…” Brother Shui said flatly. He couldn’t let this arm be crippled before his revenge was complete.
Hearing this, the man didn’t dare delay and immediately had someone bring the medicine box. It seemed some treatment had been done already, as the wound didn’t look as ghastly and frightening. He had been seen as an uneducated hooligan on the fringes of society, but after following Brother Shui, he had made something of himself. Now they were back to square one.
“That Guan Yi really can’t be underestimated. As expected of Su Wentian’s loyal dog. Brother Shui brought so many men today and still didn’t gain any advantage.”
“He was just lucky this time that he met Mo Shaoheng. Otherwise, Miss Su would have already fallen into Brother Shui’s hands.”
“It wasn’t Mo Shaoheng who acted.” Brother Shui suddenly said coldly.
Everyone was stunned, somewhat confused.
Brother Shui remained silent for a moment, a flash of cold light in his eyes, then he laughed coldly: “It seems the world has misjudged him.”
To be honest, if Qin Huanxi wasn’t Mo Shaoheng’s man, he would quite admire such a character. He was a person really worthy of being called a character. These seemingly glamorous large families like the Qin family were rotten to the core inside beyond recognition. What’s more those young masters and misses could be as ruthless as anyone. They were just good at using their beautiful, arrogant exteriors to cover their dirty hearts.
“Brother Shui, besides Mo Shaoheng, who could have injured you in that situation?” A subordinate couldn’t help asking.
“Hmph!” Brother Shui snorted coldly. “The Qin family’s genius violin performer, Qin Huanxi!”
“Qin Huanxi…” Fu Zecheng sat in the magnificent hall, leisurely crossing one leg, accepting the wine glass handed by the butler. He held it up to his eyes and swirled it gently, the alluring liquid displaying a charming color under the light. “Qin Huanxi, indeed unexpected.”
“Yes, I heard that the Young Master Mo wanted to learn the violin, so Miss Mo recommended the Qin family’s young master to Master Mo. In terms of talent, no one can compare to Young Master Qin. It’s said that Master Mo personally took Young Master Mo to visit Young Master Qin at the Qin residence. However, given the friendship between Master Mo and Old Master Qin, Young Master Qin probably wouldn’t refuse.” The butler who was standing nearby explained in a timely manner.
“Oh? Mo Shaoheng really cares about this son, to be able to invite Qin Huanxi to teach his son the violin.” Fu Zecheng seemed quite interested, raising his eyebrows as he asked, “I heard that the Qin family’s prodigy was in a car accident before, lying in bed for several months?”
“Yes, sir, you remember correctly. That accident nearly cost Young Master Qin his life. Old Master Qin used considerable connections and financial resources to save him. In the end, his life was preserved, but he lay unconscious for a full two months. Even the hospital advised Old Master Qin to give up hope. However, Young Master Qin is blessed with great fortune and woke up miraculously. And his recovery speed afterward was also astonishing.” The butler replied with a smile.
Fu Zecheng chuckled lightly. If he hadn’t suddenly felt that the recent days were too peaceful and uneventful and had a whim to cause trouble for Su Wentian, he wouldn’t have witnessed such a spectacular scene and would have missed the opportunity to rediscover the Qin family’s prodigy.
The Qin family held a special reputation and position in T City. Although there were no conflicts of interest with their several large families, there was no need to offend them, and everyone even sought to maintain good relations with them.
Fu Zecheng really hadn’t taken the Qin family seriously before, thinking that maintaining lukewarm relations would suffice without needing to deliberately curry favor. But now he suddenly felt that his previous actions had been somewhat negligent. Mo Shaoheng already had two capable assistants— Qi Fengyu and He Jingyi were enough of a challenge—and if an unfathomable Qin Huanxi was added, the situation would become troublesome.
Once Qin Huanxi stood on Mo Shaoheng’s side, with Old Master Qin’s love for Qin Huanxi, it would be equivalent to handing the entire Qin family to Mo Shaoheng. However, from the current situation, the Qin family probably didn’t know that Qin Huanxi was actually the one holding the entire Qin family in his hands, still treating him as an innocent young master who only played the violin.
“Sir, should we…”
Fu Zecheng raised his hand, interrupting the butler’s next words: “There’s no need to offend Mo Shaoheng over a small matter at this time. Since Mo Shaoheng would let the people go back, it’s clearly to protect Qin Huanxi. He must also know that our people were involved in this matter. Why don’t we temporarily extend him a favor? Besides, we don’t know what moves Su Wentian will make next. It’s not advisable to drag Mo Shaoheng and Qin Huanxi into this now.”
“Sir’s consideration is thorough. I was careless.” The butler agreed.
Fu Zecheng sat up straight, tapping the armrest of the sofa with his fingers gently: “Send someone to check on him in the alley. His mission isn’t complete yet. Make sure his arm isn’t really crippled. Bring a doctor too. Qi Fengyu probably wouldn’t be so kind as to treat him.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll arrange it immediately.” The butler accepted the order respectfully then went to arrange personnel quickly.