Chapter 531

"Miss Han, our big brother invites you to come along." Brother Xiong said coldly with a stern face toward Han Duo.

"Who are you? Who is your big brother? Why should I follow you……" Han Duo frowned, looking at this tall, muscular thug.

"Miss Han wants to know who it is; she'll find out when she goes." Brother Xiong's face was icy, and he had no intention of explaining further to Han Duo. As soon as Brother Xiong finished speaking, seeing Han Duo still unwilling, the surrounding burly men let out a cold snort and one by one moved their steps toward us.

In this situation, not wanting to go is impossible.

The fortune-tellers setting up stalls on both sides of the road were affected by the tense atmosphere of the drawn bow and crossbow, and they involuntarily grabbed their stools and scattered. A minibus drove off, with a squeak, the door opened, and Big Brother Xiong made a gesturing invitation toward us.

Helpless, I and Han Duo had no choice but to submit to this group's intimidation, obediently boarding the minibus. The key is that in this situation, we had no choice at all—how could two weak people be a match for this group of burly men?

The minibus drove all the way to the suburbs and stopped in front of a villa. After getting out, Brother Xiong remained silent, leading the bewildered me and Han Duo into the villa's main hall.

"Master Han, long time no see." A Tang-clothed old man with somewhat whitening hair, a somewhat worn face, about fifty years old, slowly descended from the stairs on the second floor.

Upon seeing this man, Han Duo couldn't help but exclaim in surprise: "Boss Chen, how could it be you?"

The Tang-clothed old man gave a hehe laugh, his smile somewhat forced, his face still bearing a trace of sorrow. He raised his hand to greet Han Duo, saying: "Miss Han, please sit down first; let's talk slowly."

Han Duo and I followed behind him, walking toward the dining room. From the start until now, I couldn't help but wonder how Han Duo could have gotten involved with someone like this. Although this old man appears refined and genteel on the surface, his bones harbor a street‑fighting viciousness.

People like this are invariably tough nuts; no matter how their attire changes, that temperament has already seeped into their marrow and does not fade with time. Looking at the retinue in this house, some have the slickness of street‑ruffians with broken skin, while others possess the ruthlessness of killing without blinking.

"What's the background of this Mr. Chen old man? How did you get to know him?" I asked quietly, tugging at Han Duo's sleeve.

Han Duo leaned close to my ear and whispered in reply: "This Chen Xiao is a big brother of the Hong Kong gang. Half a year ago, an intermediary introduced him to me. At that time I saw three needle‑broken marks on Chen Xiao's forehead, and I knew he would soon be entangled in lawsuits, so I helped him request a deity statue to resolve it. But that was half a year ago, and I don't know why Chen Xiao is summoning me now."

The so‑called three needle‑broken mark is one of the terms in physiognomy. On the Yintang, when three line‑like patterns resembling needles appear, that is the three needle‑broken mark. If the three marks are conspicuous, it is an innate facial feature, indicating a life of hardship and wandering without support. If the patterns are faint, they are the result of acquired fortune. As for the description of the three needle‑broken mark, ancient physiognomy books have said: "The face hears heaven, mirrors earth's pattern; fullness and roundness altogether relate to fate. Three needle‑heaven shatters the official seal; before and after, one encounters ten difficulties. The rights and wrongs of officials always concern oneself; the vital pulse of poverty is predetermined from the start."

Innate three needle‑broken mark governs one's life force; acquired broken‑print foretells entanglement in lawsuits. If acquired three needle‑broken marks appear on the Yintang, invoking a deity statue to pacify the residence is a good method.

But Han Duo said all that happened half a year ago. Six months later, why did Chen Xiao seek her out again, and with such a mighty show of force……

Could it be that Han Duo has swindled her out of too much money?

After sitting down, Chen Xiao fell into deep thought, while I beside him could barely breathe from holding my breath. And the topic began with his sigh.

"To be frank, Master Han, I invited you this time to ask a favor of you," Chen Xiao said.

Han Duo straightened her posture, yet dared not act presumptuously: "Boss Chen, I don't know why you summoned me; I'm not sure I can be of any help."

Sigh…… Chen Xiao's face looked sorrowful, and he let out an inexplicable sigh, gesturing to his attendant nearby: "Go ahead, bring it up."

Following Chen Xiao's instructions, several attendants went out of the house; after a few minutes, four attendants carried in a stretcher, its top covered with a white cloth, and beneath the cloth lay something unknown.

"Boss Chen, what is this……?" Han Duo frowned and asked.

Chen Xiao did not answer immediately; instead, he walked silently to the window. Time in the stillness, a few minutes felt as long as half a century. Unable to suppress her doubts, Han Duo ran to the stretcher and flung open the white cloth.

"Ah—" a shocking scream pierced the quiet villa; the surrounding lackeys were startled, but none dared to step forward. Han Duo, the moment she pulled back the white cloth, was terrified and staggered backward several steps.

Seeing her like that, I too felt a pang of doubt, puzzled I rose to my feet; however, when I saw a head exposed on the stretcher, I couldn't help but be violently shocked.

"Sorcery, someone must be practicing sorcery."

This was the first thought that came to mind when I saw the corpse. The body on the stretcher was a child; his complexion had turned black, especially the area from the glabella to the brows. Even harder to accept was a roughly five-centimeter round hole in the middle of his forehead, as if an awl had been viciously driven into his skull.

As I stepped closer for a careful look, I couldn't help but frown more deeply. Peering through the hole, I saw that the flesh inside had already dried up. Of course, one could say that after death flesh inevitably dries, but this boy's corpse is different: inside his skull, the edges of the hole are rimmed with a white substance. This means that before he died, someone had sucked out his brain marrow.

"This is my son, Xiao Zhi." Chen Xiao suddenly turned, his face showing a hint of grief: "Miss Han, I hope you can help me find the killer of Xiao Zhi. No, not find—I want you to kill him, to avenge my son." Chen Xiao's tone was filled with towering hatred.

"No… I cannot agree." Before Han Duo could speak, I stepped forward and made the decision for her.

What a joke—Han Duo's magical power hasn't recovered at all; she's no match for me in two rounds. Letting her fight someone magically would be tantamount to sending her to her death. Moreover, killing is illegal; in today's law-abiding society, it would get you shot.

Han Duo crouched beside Xiao Zhi's corpse, silent for a long time. Chen Xiao seemed angered by my tone; his face, which had just been wet with tears, suddenly darkened.

"I, Chen Xiao, always follow two rules in my dealings: those who can be of use to me I will never shortchange; those who cannot, there is only one possible outcome…"

"What? A death?" I sensed the thick threat in his words, and the villa filled with a synchronized swish as the burly men stepped forward in unison; moreover, some had already slipped a hand into their suit jackets, clearly preparing to draw guns.

"My hair hasn't even dried since I was born late; my family is poor, I've had little chance to read the Five Classics; I hope my sworn brother will instruct me, remembering the time we swore brotherhood at the flower pavilion." I blurted out suddenly, and everyone else in the room froze.

At that moment, I again bent my little and ring fingers, extended my thumb, index, and middle fingers, making a hand sign.

This is an internal code of the Red Gate; Fan Wuchang taught it to me in Aomen. The poem is a greeting used by Red Gate members when they meet, and the hand sign represents the heavenly aspect of the heaven-earth-human triad. Han Duo said Chen Xiao is a gang boss over in Hong Kong; being a gang, it's highly likely he has ties to the Red Gate. In this situation, all I can do is leave it to luck.

As soon as I spoke the code, I knew I had guessed right. Not only did the lackeys inside remain still, but even Chen Xiao, who had just been wearing a thick threat on his face, showed a flicker of bewilderment in his eyes.

"Where do you live?" Chen Xiao's face showed thick doubt, but he still asked in a hoarse voice, and at the same time he made a hand sign with his hands.

The Red Gate has three hand signs; bending the little and ring fingers while extending the thumb, index, and middle fingers represents the "heaven" character.

Bending the thumb and index finger while extending the middle, little, and ring fingers represents the "earth" character.

Extending the thumb and index finger straight downward represents the "human" character.

Together they form the heaven-earth-human threefold unity; I just made the heavenly sign, and naturally Chen Xiao responded with the earthly sign to match me.

"One bay after another, my family originally lived at Five Finger Mountain; I wholeheartedly sought the Aunt-and-Uncle Temple; the mountains to the left and right formed the third peak."

"How many people came,"

"Three!"

"And who are the other two?"

I answered without hesitation: "Li Fusheng and Wan Yunlong." Note:

Chen Xiao then asked: "Where are we headed?"

"To Muyang City."

"Do you have an official pass?"

"Yes," I nodded firmly, left hand slightly curved to show three fingers, right hand open as a palm, and said: "The left hand is the ticket, the right hand is the badge; palms together make the seal, the heart is the credential, the mouth is the command."

After Chen Xiao finished speaking, he suddenly fell silent, frowned at me for a moment, then pondered and asked again: "What are you holding in your hand?"

I froze for a second, then reacted immediately, ran to the wall, grabbed a broom, and called a deer a horse, saying: "I'm holding a knife."

"What kind of knife?"

"This knife is not an extraordinary blade; it is the Red Gate's righteousness blade—it does not harm a brother's hair, and slaying Qing soldiers raises one's spirit." Having just finished reciting the poem, I couldn't help but wipe the cold sweat from my forehead. Fortunately, I had listened carefully when Fan Wuchang said it, otherwise I would really not remember such a lengthy thing.

As I painstakingly worked out the corresponding codes, Chen Xiao immediately waved his hand; the surrounding lackeys scattered and sat back to either side. I thought this test should be over.

Unexpectedly, after Chen Xiao sat down, he then picked up the teapot beside him and poured a cup of tea into each of the two cups, placing one in front of himself and the other opposite him, making a gesture of invitation.

This appearance seems to be inviting guests to drink tea, but in fact this is the secret code of the Hongmen's adversaries; a slip could cost one's head and plunge one into an irredeemable abyss.

, preparing to wrap up announcement, thank you all

Yesterday there was no update because I suddenly went to the hospital. This morning I was still chatting and joking in the book group, saying I shouldn't give myself a break, shouldn't be so lazy. I never expected that not long after, the hospital called, saying Lao Chen's complexion had turned yellow again, yellow to an extreme degree.

The doctor said the situation was not optimistic, advised to prepare in advance, observe for two weeks; if it really doesn't work, surgery will be needed, having a relative donate one-third of their liver for a transplant. Several of us went for blood typing, waiting in line, already prepared for the worst.

So, I'm sorry to tell everyone, this book will have to wrap up early, I'm truly, truly sorry. But I have no other option; if surgery is needed, I should be the best candidate—the older ones are already married with children, we can't have them undergo surgery and rest at home for half a year or several months without work.

In order to prepare ahead, I've already quit smoking, exercise daily, and go to bed at eleven sharp. I have no choice but to do this, because if it really comes to that point, if surgery is truly needed, I will at least need to recuperate in the hospital for two weeks.

Grind Iron's update contract stipulates that a leave of one or two days is allowed, but if it lasts a full week with no update for a day, a hundred yuan will be deducted; if I lie in the hospital for two or three weeks, the manuscript fees for this book will also be wiped out. For me now, money is really tight. The cost of a surgery, I think everyone should understand.

So, I must start preparing now to wrap up this book early and finish it.

Actually, according to my outline, this book is quite large and I've planted many foreshadowings, but at the same time, while releasing this book, too many things have happened, causing the quality to drop repeatedly, sometimes even going off track. Now the situation forces me to prepare to wrap up early.

According to the hospital's situation, things will become clear in a month and a half, so I will only write this book up to the fifteenth of this month, I will try my best to perfect it, try my best to give it a good ending.

As for word count, at most it will only increase by another 180,000 characters. If any friends drop out, that's understandable; the unforgivable person is actually me, the author. Thanks to all who have supported the legitimate subscriptions, and thanks to all who have tipped me.

All I can say is, thank you all very much. Now I need to sort out the foreshadowing and then wrap up. In the short term, I won't be online on Q, and please don't leave comforting messages for me on QQ; my mind is in turmoil, and I don't know what to say.

Actually, I'm also unwilling to accept this; Grind Iron is currently holding the Golden League, the male subscription ranking I'm usually in the top ten, recommendation tickets also in the top twenty, the prospects are great, I originally wanted to give it my all, but I have no choice but to give up. I think life always requires trade-offs; some things can be tried again, some things and some people, once lost, are gone forever.

Occasionally when I think of it, besides worry, it's nothing more than me yielding to fate.

Chen Hai Sheng respectfully submitted.