"Alright, you should hurry and fix the car. We still need to drive away after watching the show!" Old Third urged, seeing my embarrassed expression. I grunted and, after pouring some water into the car's engine, returned to the passenger seat.
I continued to wait. Soon, the urgent wail of police sirens approached from not too far away. Old Third cursed and immediately slammed the accelerator, complaining, "How did we get discovered by the police before the plan was even finished? What's going on? Did 'Milk Dog' tip them off?"
My heart suddenly tensed, but I quickly calmed down, showing no outward sign of my panic. I chuckled wryly and said, "How could that be? I don't even know any cops!"
"Haha, I was just kidding! You looking so nervous is just like that person! But these cops nowadays are really something. They've discovered several missions within the association before. This time, it's probably the same. Let's go! Even though we were discovered, our mission is still complete. Let's go collect our reward from Old Tang the Ninth!"
Old Third said excitedly, driving off with a powerful surge. We soon returned to the mansion. This time, Old Tang the Ninth and his bodyguard, Sima Xinrong, were present. Several technicians, however, had gone out, likely on other assignments.
The moment we entered the mansion, Old Tang the Ninth looked at us sternly. I noticed Da Hong signaling us frantically from the side, and I immediately sensed something was wrong.
Old Third, however, flicked his wrist like a lady and asked curiously, "Who has angered our Old Tang the Ninth again?"
"Don't you know? Someone must have tipped them off about the incident just now!" Sima Xinrong said sternly, crushing the wine glass he was holding.
My heart sank. Had they found me out so quickly?
Old Third said, "How is that possible? You know the police have been watching very closely lately. They probably have informants near Fugui Road. Whatever I did must have been discovered by them!"
"Is that really the case? Old Third, are you not shielding anyone?" Sima Xinrong asked, his eyes glancing in my direction.
I dared not speak, afraid of being exposed. Old Third, however, said angrily, "How could I shield anyone? We're all members of the association; we paid to join. If something serious happened, I would definitely say something. This isn't just about my interests, but the interests of every member of the association!"
"Is that so? But I've noticed that ever since Milk Dog arrived, more and more of our activities have been exposed. Especially with this bombing incident, do you know what those police did? They dug out all the bombs from the manhole covers, as if they already knew the bombs were there. Only you and Milk Dog knew about this mission. So if you're not the traitor, then Milk Dog must be!"
Sima Xinrong pointed at me furiously, not allowing me any room to retort. The people around him all raised their guns and surrounded me!
Dozens of dark gun barrels were pointed at me simultaneously!
"Hey, hey! What do you think you're doing? You dare to lay hands on my people!" Old Third roared, pulling a Tang sword from his waist. I couldn't believe she could hide such a large sword in her clothing.
"Hmph, Milk Dog, don't think I don't know what you're thinking!" Sima Xinrong glared at me, wiped some mud off his leather shoes, and walked over, puffing on a cigar. He blew smoke into my face.
I had been trying to quit smoking recently, but under his provocation, I felt extremely uncomfortable.
But I was also very annoyed at that moment and couldn't help but curse, "Sima Xinrong, how could I have tipped them off? I'm Old Third's most trusted assistant, and I don't know any police. If I were truly a traitor, you all would have been arrested by the police long ago!"
"Haha, you say that easily. Dare you let me search you?" Sima Xinrong spat out his cigar and cursed.
I immediately raised my hands and let him search me without fear. Several technicians put away their weapons and began to search me. They took my phone and checked it. Finding nothing suspicious, they continued to search my pockets and other parts of my clothes.
After a long search, they found nothing. Even if they touched my wrist, they wouldn't have been able to find the bracelet because it was the same color and texture as my skin. An unprofessional person would never discover it.
After the search yielded nothing, the technicians looked helpless. Sima Xinrong was about to say something when Old Tang the Ninth arrived. He patted Sima Xinrong on the shoulder and said, "Forget it, I think we've misunderstood. The police have indeed been very watchful lately. Perhaps our plans were discovered by their informants. Let's just let it go this time. Milk Dog, as agreed, you can go see our boss!"
"Thank you, Old Tang the Ninth," I replied. Old Third deliberately gave me a flirtatious wink, which I managed to endure without spitting. Soon, I left the mansion with Old Tang the Ninth. He asked Old Third and Da Hong to follow, and the four of us drove off to another location.
This time, I should get to see Black Humor. I wonder what kind of person he is.
After all, the mastermind behind the Song Ci serial murders might be him.
Of course, this is if Yi Chengwen's confession is true.
After more than two hours, we finally drove to a very remote area. I could tell we were no longer within the city limits of Fuming. I didn't know where we were, but judging by the environment, it looked like a mountain village. I never expected Black Humor to be hiding in such a place.
There were no decent mansions in the mountain village; there were only dilapidated houses everywhere. After getting out of the car, we followed a waterway towards the village. Along the way, Old Tang the Ninth said, "Milk Dog, do you think this place is terrible?"
I dared not answer, afraid of saying the wrong thing. But Old Tang the Ninth continued, "Don't misunderstand. Our boss actually likes living in the deep mountains. You'll know his living environment when you get there."
"Oh, alright! I actually like the feeling of nature too!" I replied casually. As we passed through the central path of the village, I noticed a completely wooden mansion near a row of tombstones not far away. It was adjacent to the cemetery on the left, surrounded by many dandelions. The wooden house spiraled upwards. The wooden walls were covered with iron plates, but most of the design leaned towards a classical style, with carved beams and painted pillars, pavilions, and screens. There seemed to be couplets on them.
Especially the two lifelike stone lion statues standing outside the gate, combined with the round ring design of the main gate and the hook-shaped bolt, made me feel that this place was somewhat similar to the design in 'The Grand Mansion'.