Chapter 362: Life Hanging by a Thread

Xu Damao left the Security Department resentfully.

He felt he had again become an overlooked hero.

Li Ping'an's bland reaction was like a fishbone stuck in his throat, neither coming up nor going down.

The muddy footprints in the bathhouse, Lao Sun Tou's flustered and resentful gaze—this is clearly a major discovery!

Why am I not being valued?

Could it be that Li Ping'an is afraid I'll steal his credit?

That must be it!

Xu Damao seethed with indignation, yet his feet involuntarily moved again toward the worker's bathhouse.

As dusk fell, the factory area's streetlights came on one by one.

The dim yellow light lengthened the sparse shadows of passersby.

The bathhouse was past opening hours; the door stood ajar, a faint light leaked from inside, accompanied by the sound of splashing water.

Lao Sun Tou was probably rinsing the pool.

Xu Damao lightened his steps, edged up to the crack in the door, and peered inside.

The changing room was empty, with a few forgotten old work clothes tossed on the bench.

The small door leading to the rear storage room, just as he said, was merely ajar, its latch broken, hanging there.

The feeling of being overlooked, mixed with an inexplicable urge to prove himself, began to ferment in his heart.

Li Ping'an doesn't believe it; I'll check myself!

If I really discover something, let's see what he has to say then!

Once this thought arose, it could no longer be suppressed.

Xu Damao took a deep breath, like a thief, gently pushed open the bathhouse door, and slipped inside.

Warm, humid steam mixed with the scent of soap and human sweat hit his face.

He tiptoed, quickly crossed the changing room, and arrived at the ajar small door.

Inside was pitch black; only a thin sliver of light seeped through the door crack, barely illuminating the doorway's chaotic pile of broken wardrobes and legless benches.

Xu Damao's heart raced.

He reached out to push the door, then drew back.

What if Lao Sun Tou is inside?

He listened intently.

Only the distant sound of the rinsing pool and his own pounding heartbeat.

The storage room was utterly silent.

He gritted his teeth, pushed the door open a little, and slipped sideways inside.

Darkness instantly engulfed him.

His eyes needed time to adjust.

He felt his way forward, his foot kicked something, producing a light clatter.

He froze in fright, holding his breath.

There was no movement at all.

Only dust and mildew, plus a faint… strange odor like machine oil mixed with rust.

This smell was somewhat familiar.

He suddenly recalled that on the day he was attacked in the alley, the assassin's body seemed to have exactly this smell!

This discovery made his hair stand on end, yet also thrilled him to trembling.

Sure enough, there's a problem!

He strained to widen his eyes, trying to make things out in the darkness.

Using the meager light from the door crack, he saw that deep in the storage room, against the wall, there seemed to be something bulky covered with old canvas.

Its shape was irregular, like a large bundle.

Xu Damao's heart felt like it would jump out of his throat.

He trembled as he pulled a match from his pocket.

A soft hiss.

The feeble flickering flame barely dispelled a small patch of darkness.

He held the match, cautiously approaching the canvas-wrapped bundle.

His footsteps on dust and wood chips made a soft rustling.

Just as he was about to reach the bundle and lift a corner of the canvas—

The ajar door behind him was suddenly shoved fully open without a sound!

A black shadow slid in like a phantom, moving so fast it stirred only a faint cool breeze!

Xu Damao heard the movement and turned in shock.

The match's feeble light only managed to reveal a pair of icy, bloodshot, cloudy eyes!

It was the bathhouse doorman, Lao Sun Tou!

But Lao Sun Tou's face now showed none of his usual dullness and meekness.

Only a disturbed, man‑eating ferocity!

In his hand he gripped a heavy iron rod used to unclog the bathhouse drains!

Xu Damao's shout caught in his throat.

He wanted to run, but his legs felt as if filled with lead.

The match burned his fingers, a sharp pain made him jerk, and the flame went out.

Darkness fell again.

Only Lao Sun Tou's heavy breathing and the grating, teeth‑on‑edge scrape of the iron rod dragging on the floor could be heard.

You… what do you want? Xu Damao's voice shook uncontrollably—I'm a factory official! You…

An official? Lao Sun Tou's voice was hoarse and dry, like sandpaper scraping metal, carrying a chill‑to‑the‑bone mockery.

You saw something you shouldn't have.

Then don't leave.

Before his last word even landed, a tearing sound burst forth!

The iron rod whipped up a foul wind and viciously stabbed toward Xu Damao's approximate position!

Xu Damao, relying on survival instinct, scrambled and rolled to dodge to the side.

The rod grazed his arm, then smashed heavily into the nearby broken wardrobe, sending wood chips flying!

Xu Damao, his soul scattered, crawled and rolled toward the door as he remembered it.

In the darkness he knocked over something unknown, causing a clattering din.

Lao Sun Tou seemed extremely familiar with this place; judging by sound, he launched the iron rod again with a howl!

This time, Xu Damao couldn't fully dodge.

The iron hook of the rod viciously scraped his shin!

Intense pain shot through him!

Xu Damao let out a miserable cry and collapsed to the ground.

He felt warm liquid instantly soak his pant leg.

Lao Sun Tou stepped forward, his heavy footsteps like the death god's drumbeat.

In the grip of extreme fear, Xu Damao instead found a surge of mad strength.

He grabbed whatever lay at his feet and hurled it wildly toward the sound of the footsteps!

At the same time he screamed hoarsely: 'Help! Murder! Lao Sun Tou is killing people!!'

His voice echoed in the spacious bathhouse and storeroom, shrill enough to change tone.

Lao Sun Tou's movement visibly stalled.

He clearly hadn't expected Xu Damao to suddenly shout.

Though remote, it was still inside the factory grounds.

That shout…

In that flash of lightning—

The small window of the storeroom was suddenly burst open from outside by a tremendous force!

Wood chips and shattered glass sprayed everywhere!

A figure shot in like a hawk, bearing a biting gust of wind, straight for Lao Sun Tou!

It was Li Ping'an!

He still couldn't put his mind at ease.

Or rather, he instinctively wary of the accidents that someone as dim‑witted as Xu Damao might cause.

Not long after Xu Damao left, he had Chen Jianghe secretly follow him.

Chen Jianghe saw Xu Damao sneaking back to the bathhouse and immediately reported it.

Li Ping'an made a quick decision, personally led the team over, and just happened to hear Xu Damao's miserable cries and pleas for help.

Lao Sun Tou reacted extremely fast; the moment Li Ping'an smashed through the window, he knew it was hopeless.

He didn't try to meet force with force; instead he hurled the iron rod in his hand at Li Ping'an while lunging backward, hoping to escape through the door.

Li Ping'an sidestepped the flying iron rod, unfolded his Carefree Step, clung like a shadow, and instantly cut off Lao Sun Tou's retreat.

Lao Sun Tou's eyes flashed with murderous intent; he let out a low roar, hands curled like claws, and lunged at Li Ping'an's face and throat with a vicious gust.

The move was cruel and lightning‑fast—clearly not an ordinary gatekeeper!

Li Ping'an neither dodged nor yielded; his right hand shot out like a spirit snake, caught Lao Sun Tou's grasping wrist, and unleashed Tai Chi Winding Silk Energy, leading and pulling.

Lao Sun Tou felt a soft yet irresistible force flow in, and his body involuntarily staggered forward.

Li Ping'an's left hand, fingers together like a sword, flashed to strike the major point beneath Lao Sun Tou's ribs.

Lao Sun Tou desperately twisted, barely avoiding the vital spot, but the fingertip energy grazed him, instantly numbing half his body.

He realized he had met a top‑level master; escape was impossible.

A flash of desperate madness crossed his eyes; instead of facing Li Ping'an, he turned and lunged at the struggling Xu Damao on the ground.

He meant to drag a down‑with‑him victim to the grave!

Li Ping'an would not let him succeed.

Changing his footwork, he struck first with a palm strike to Lao Sun Tou's back.

The palm force was held back, not released—it was Tai Chi Shocking Energy.

Lao Sun Tou's forward momentum halted abruptly; his whole body shuddered, a mouthful of blood spurted out, and he collapsed limp, unconscious.

The entire exchange lasted only a few breaths.

Li Ping'an didn't even glance at the fallen Lao Sun Tou; he immediately crouched to check on Xu Damao.

Xu Damao lay on his side, face ashen as paper, forehead slick with cold sweat.

His shin was a bloody mess, blood gushing out and staining a large area of the floor red.

His gaze unfocused, seeing Li Ping'an, his lips trembled as he tried to speak.

Li Ping'an quickly examined the wound; it was deep, possibly hitting an artery.

He immediately tore off a piece of his own sleeve and pressed it hard against Xu Damao's thigh root to stop the bleeding.

At the same time he shouted outward: Call a doctor! Quickly!

Xu Damao grabbed Li Ping'an's hand, his fingers icy, squeezing until the knuckles turned white.

His eyes were filled with fear, unwillingness, and a strange look that seemed like relief.

His mouth opened slightly, his breath weak.

Box… box… photo… he said haltingly, Lao Sun… he… he and the library… that woman… had spoken… I… I saw…

His voice grew lower.

Li Ping'an's heart shook violently.

Xu Damao saw Lao Sun Tou and Su Xiulan interact?

This is likely the reason he was silenced!

He wanted to ask further, but Xu Damao's gaze already began to drift.

Doctor! Li Ping'an turned and roared.

The door was forced open, and the factory health office's doctors and stretchers rushed in.

Quickly! To the hospital! Li Ping'an helped lift Xu Damao onto the stretcher.

Xu Damao was swiftly carried away.

The chaotic footfalls and the stretcher's fading sounds gradually vanished into the night.

Li Ping'an stood where he was, watching the glaring pool of fresh blood on the ground and the unconscious Lao Sun Tou.

The air was filled with the scent of blood, dust, and a faint smell of engine oil and rust.

Chen Jianghe led people to begin searching the storage room.

Soon, that canvas‑wrapped bundle was lifted open.

Inside was not any dangerous item.

Rather, a neatly stacked set of half‑worn but clean blue work clothes, a pair of rubber shoes, some dried rations, and a small bottle of water.

It was clearly a simple emergency hideout.

In the corner, they also found a small wooden box wrapped in oilcloth.

Opened, it was empty.

But the bottom of the box retained a few specks of gray, powdery residue.

The technician preliminarily judged it might be residue of some kind of medicine.

Li Ping'an walked to Lao Sun Tou's side, squatted, and carefully looked at his now pain‑twisted, ordinary face.

This seemingly honest, taciturn bathhouse gatekeeper.

Was actually another piece placed by the Shopkeeper.

Moreover, a ruthless piece responsible for support, concealment, and possibly carrying out a silencing mission.

Xu Damao, this Kua Dan, truly hit the muzzle this time.

With his own life, he forced open a door leading to a darker depth.

What does his final sentence mean?

Lao Sun Tou and Su Xiulan spoke?

When?

Where?

Does Su Xiulan know that Lao Sun Tou works for the Shopkeeper?

How dense is the Shopkeeper's net?

Li Ping'an slowly stood up.

Night fully enveloped the factory grounds.

The commotion at the bathhouse had already drawn the attention of nearby workers, who gathered at a distance to watch, pointing and commenting.

Wang Dahu led people to maintain order, sealing off the scene.

Li Ping'an walked out of the bathhouse, inhaling a deep breath of icy night air.

Xu Damao's fate was uncertain.

Yet the Shopkeeper's clue seemed a bit clearer.

Only the price was too heavy.

He looked up toward the hospital.

Xu Damao, you must hold on.

What you saw, what you heard, may be more important than you imagine.

The wind grew colder.

It blew so that people felt bone‑chilling cold.

And the spider hidden beneath the shadow of this steel fortress seemed to have had another strand cut.

How will it react?

Will it launch a frantic counterattack, or sink into total hibernation?

Li Ping'an knew the answer might be hidden in Lao Sun Tou's mouth, in the information Xu Damao might bring back, and also in the forthcoming, even fiercer storms.

Moths rush to the flame, burning themselves to death.

Yet the firelight also illuminated more shadows lurking in the darkness.