Chapter 41: Super-Sense Original Fluid

Night spread thickly.

A black private car pulled into the underground parking lot of Qingtai Hotel and stopped near the VIP elevator.

Two men stepped out: one was a tall, thin man in a black suit, his expression cold; the other was a young man in sportswear wearing a baseball cap and mask, his face hidden.

“I’ll wait here. Go on.” The tall man spoke without expression.

The sportswear youth glanced left and right, pulled his cap lower to shield his face, then walked toward the VIP elevator in the underground parking lot.

After iris recognition, the sportswear youth entered the elevator.

The elevator doors closed and began descending rapidly.

When the elevator stopped and opened again, it had descended into a long, dim corridor.

At the end of the corridor stood a metal door.

The sportswear youth walked to the door and passed iris and fingerprint recognition once more.

The door opened to reveal a vast, empty lobby; signs pointed to rest areas, loan offices, entertainment zones, but all were deserted, no one in sight.

The sportswear youth entered the staff passage and soon arrived before an unmarked office, knocking on the door.

“Enter.”

A languid woman’s voice replied.

Inside the antique-style office, candlelight flickered, and sandalwood incense curled gently.

A woman in a vintage black silk qipao with gold embroidery lounged lazily on a sofa, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, her figure graceful and alluring, her aura mature and seductive; in her hand she held a slender jade smoking pipe, her eyes behind the smoke hazy and dreamy.

“Sister Yang.” The sportswear youth sat down opposite her.

“Xiao Peidong, didn’t I say it’s best we avoid meeting?”

The qipao-clad woman, known as Sister Yang, glanced at him lazily. “Still covering your face so thoroughly when you come to me? Ever since you put on that uniform, you’ve grown even more timid.”

Xiao Peidong frowned. “If I’m discovered, I’m done for. I have to be careful.”

Sister Yang took a slow drag from her jade mouthpiece before speaking. “So, what brings Inspector Xiao here tonight?”

“I’m in trouble.”

Xiao Peidong’s voice was low. “I need the Kite Red Society’s help. Otherwise, I won’t hold onto this captain’s position.”

Sister Yang looked at him. “I’ve helped you enough. After Chu Tianyao escaped from Qinghu Island Prison, he lay low for so long—his first move was to get you this position. What more do you want?”

“But he didn’t kill Chen Yanan.” Xiao Peidong frowned.

“Kill?”

Sister Yang smiled. “You, as a patrol officer, should know best: a patrol officer injured and a patrol officer dead are two entirely different things. If Chen Yanan dies, the Patrol Headquarters will launch a full investigation—it’ll be a nightmare.”

She studied him with amusement. “Do you really want to drag the entire Kite Red Society down just to keep your seat?”

“Couldn’t you just lie low during the investigation?” Xiao Peidong frowned.

“Lie low?”

Sister Yang sneered. “Do you know how much money my underground arena makes daily? Do you know how your righteous speech at yesterday’s commendation ceremony—about rooting out crime in Xiaoshan District—scared off my customers these past few days?”

She tapped her pipe against the table, then said coolly, “I’ve kept a record of today’s losses, Inspector Xiao.”

“What can I do?”

Xiao Peidong frowned slightly. “Even the mayor’s son found out. The Star Shadow assassins you hired failed to silence them. Am I supposed to pretend nothing’s wrong and keep covering for you?”

“That’s your problem,” Sister Yang shot back coldly. “You don’t even know what level Lin Qing is. How can you blame me?”

Xiao Peidong’s frown deepened.

“He’s a rookie. Who knew he could survive an assassination by three professional Star Shadow hunters—and protect two others?”

Xiao Peidong’s voice was low. “Didn’t you say if Star Shadow moves, it’s a guaranteed kill? What’s the result? They haven’t even given an explanation.”

Sister Yang fell silent for a moment. “Star Shadow has abandoned this mission.”

“Abandoned?”

Xiao Peidong frowned. “I recall Star Shadow assassins always have a stronger observer watching. Why didn’t the observer act?”

“Why ask me? The Boss only gave me the chance to contact Star Shadow.”

Sister Yang snorted. “Star Shadow says the observer vanished without a trace. He was an elite assassin—his strength rivals yours—but he simply disappeared, no trace left.”

“Vanished?” Xiao Peidong froze. “Lin Qing only knows one combat technique. How could he kill an elite Star Shadow assassin? I couldn’t even do it.”

“No signs of a fight were found. Lin Qing survived for another reason,” Sister Yang said coldly.

“What reason?” Xiao Peidong frowned.

“How should I know?”

Sister Yang said, “Maybe Patrol Commander Yuan Anping happened to pass by? Or perhaps he stumbled upon hidden smugglers? Or maybe the observer faked his death to escape the organization?”

Xiao Peidong fell silent, then said, “Regardless, Lin Qing is a threat to me. Your Kite Red Society must help me.”

“A threat?”

Sister Yang sneered. “Fine if his sister Chen Yanan threatens you—but he’s just a patrol officer who got his official status a month ago. How is he a threat?”

Xiao Peidong said coldly, “He’s trained in combat techniques for less than a month. He mastered one already, and today he started learning a second—he’ll master it in no time.”

“And he got the 400,000 reward but didn’t buy EPS high-energy slow-release fluid. That means his 4-6 version training must be at its limit—possibly even achieved the 7-7 version!”

Xiao Peidong took a deep breath. “His merit points are already sufficient. Once he masters two combat techniques, he’ll become the new deputy captain.”

Sister Yang frowned slightly.

“You know.”

Xiao Peidong stared at her. “He’s so young, and a native of Xiaoshan District. If he becomes a patrol officer and deputy captain, Chen Yanan will definitely report and support him. Unless I’m officially confirmed, the city bureau will remove me as acting captain and appoint him instead!”

He spoke slowly. “The Boss told me to take control of Lin’an City’s patrols starting from Xiaoshan District, and to reach the position of overall commander. But if I can’t even take this first step, forget the future.”

Sister Yang frowned, lost in thought.

After a long pause, she sighed. “The Boss only gave me three chances to order Chu Tianyao. I used one to severely injure Chen Yanan. Do you really want to use another on Lin Qing? Isn’t that a waste?”

“No.”

Xiao Peidong said at once. “He’s a combat technique genius. If he dies, the Headquarters might take notice. We can’t kill him casually.”

“He’s not even deputy captain yet. Even if he becomes one, you can just transfer to another district in Lin’an,” Sister Yang glanced at him.

“You mean let him rise?”

Xiao Peidong sneered. “He knows about the underground arena. His sister was injured investigating the human trafficking ring you ran. Do you think he’ll drop the investigation once he’s in charge?”

Sister Yang frowned. “Then what do you want?”

“Three options.”

Xiao Peidong’s voice was low. “First: your Kite Red Society abandons the underground arena. I’ll conduct a raid tomorrow—perfect chance for me to earn merit. You arrange to evacuate part of your operation. That’ll give me two second-class merits. I’ll find a way to get confirmed within a month.”

“Impossible!”

Sister Yang sneered. “Don’t dream. Do you know how much money this arena makes for the Boss? You want me to abandon it just so you can earn merit?”

Xiao Peidong knew she’d refuse; his expression showed no surprise.

He said firmly, “Then option two: prepare five sets of EPS high-energy slow-release fluid and one vial of Super-Sense Original Fluid. If I can master the original Morning Training Method, that’s fine too.”

“EPS high-energy slow-release fluid?”

Sister Yang frowned. “Don’t you know it’s contraband? Are you asking me to buy it from the Lock Dragon Black Market? The price is several times higher than the Patrol Headquarters’ official rate—each set costs at least twenty million!”

She studied him coldly. “And Super-Sense Original Fluid? You still can’t even complete the first step of the original Morning Training Method?”

“I need more time. Besides, the Boss already told you to prepare one for me,” Xiao Peidong said.

“Only if you’re confirmed and have a chance to reach overall commander!” Sister Yang snapped.

“If I’m confirmed, I’ll get it eventually anyway. Why not give it to me now, so I can be confirmed smoothly?” Xiao Peidong said lowly.

He looked at her. “Or waste one of your Chu Tianyao orders—turn Lin Qing into another Chen Yanan.”

Sister Yang fell silent.

After a moment’s thought, she took a deep breath. “I can give you the EPS high-energy slow-release fluid in a few days. But the Super-Sense Original Fluid will take time—about half a month.”

“Fine. I’ll wait.”

Xiao Peidong stood and turned to leave.

(End of Chapter)