Chapter 85 Lu Che's Identity Revealed

As dawn broke, the shouts of vendors from the morning market mingled with the roar of motorcycles outside the safe house window.

Fang Che didn't sleep all night.

It's not that I don't want to, it's just that the pain is so bad I can't sleep.

The wound on my side was burning with pain, and my ankle was swollen so badly that even the slightest movement would cause a sharp pain.

He leaned against the headboard, looking at the prison floor plan over and over again, trying to memorize the passageways, guard posts, and blind spots of the exercise yard.

When Old Chen pushed the door open, the boy was pale and had dark circles under his eyes, but his eyes were bright and piercing. The edges of the blueprints in his hand were worn and frayed.

"Are you out of your mind?" Old Chen frowned. "You're injured like this and you're still trying to push yourself."

Fang Che looked up and forced a smile: "Uncle Chen, good morning. When will Inspector Zhou arrive?"

"This afternoon." Old Chen placed breakfast on the table: Thai porridge and fried dough sticks. "Eat first, then change your dressing."

The porridge was still steaming, but Fang Che had little appetite.

He forced a few sips of his drink: "Is the matter of going to prison arranged?"

“It’s all arranged.” Old Chen sat down, his expression serious. “But Fang Che, I’m asking you one last time! Are you really sure? Bangkok’s special prison is for hardened criminals, murderers, drug lords, and desperados… If you go in, it’ll be like throwing yourself into the lion’s den.”

Fang Che put down his spoon: "If Brother Li can survive in there, so can I."

“Li Hanzhou is different,” Old Chen sighed. “He’s been through a lot in the underworld since he was a child. You…”

“I also came from Northeast China.” Fang Che interrupted him, his eyes fixed. “Uncle Chen, don’t let my pale face fool you, I’m tough as nails.”

Looking at his stubborn expression, Old Chen finally shook his head: "Whatever you want. The plan is this... This afternoon, Zhou Wenxuan will take you to 'turn yourself in.' The charge is smuggling cultural relics, and the sentence is three years. You will go in with another batch of new prisoners, and among them is an assassin arranged by Jiang Kun, codenamed 'Seven'."

"seven?"

“Jiang Kun’s assassins only have numbers,” Old Chen said in a low voice. “This man is dangerous and cold-blooded. Once you go in, try to stay away from him.”

Fang Che nodded, but he had other plans in mind.

If we can get close to "seven", we might be able to find clues about Jiang Kun.

“In prison, use the name ‘Xiao Che’,” Old Chen continued. “Remember, never reveal your real name. Jiang Kun’s men are looking for you everywhere.”

“Xiao Che…” Fang Che read it aloud, “Okay, it sounds good.”

"Still laughing?" Old Chen said helplessly. "There will be our people inside to meet you. The code is 'Is the barbecue on Portland Street delicious?' and the reply is 'Yes, but we're missing garlic.' Only those who can match this line are our own people."

Fang Che took notes carefully.

"One last thing," Old Chen looked at him, "when you see Li Hanzhou, don't rush to acknowledge him. There are many eyes in the prison, and if your relationship is exposed, you will both be in danger. When the time is right, we will arrange for you to be 'accidentally' locked up together."

"clear."

Zhou Wenxuan arrived at 2 PM.

He looked travel-worn, with sunken eyes, clearly having worked non-stop for several days.

Seeing the bandage around Fang Che's waist, he frowned: "You're injured?"

"It's just a minor injury." Fang Che waved his hand. "Zhou Sir, what about Brother Li..."

“It’s safe for now.” Zhou Wenxuan sat down and took a sip of water. “Jiang Kun’s men made two attempts to attack in the prison, but we stopped them both times. However, Li Hanzhou is still in danger. Jiang Kun sent ‘Seven’ in to completely eliminate him.”

Fang Che's heart sank: "'Seven' is that powerful?"

“Jiang Kun’s sharpest blade,” Zhou Wenxuan said gravely. “He has no emotions, no fear, he only follows orders. He went in with only one goal… to kill Li Hanzhou!”

"Then I have to go in even more." Fang Che stood up. "When are we leaving?"

"Wait a minute." Zhou Wenxuan called out to him, his expression complicated. "There's something you need to know first."

"What?"

"About Lu Che."

Fang Che was slightly startled.

Lu Che?

"Who exactly is he?" Fang Che asked. "You warned me to be careful of him before, why?"

Zhou Wenxuan remained silent for a moment, as if carefully considering his words.

Finally, he sighed, took a document out of his briefcase, and pushed it towards him.

"See for yourself."

Fang Che opened it.

The first page is a black and white ID photo. The man in the photo is younger, wearing a police uniform, and has sharp eyes.

The following is written: Luk Che, Position: Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police, Hong Kong Police Force, Affiliation: Organized Crime and Triad Bureau (O-Bureau).

Fang Che's pupils contracted slightly.

Senior Assistant Director?

This level... is much higher than Zhou Wenxuan's.

“Lu Che is my superior, but not my direct subordinate,” Zhou Wenxuan said slowly. “He is in charge of cross-regional and cross-border organized crime investigations. He has a lot of authority and can directly mobilize the Flying Tigers and even coordinate with Interpol.”

Fang Che continued flipping through the pages.

Following this is Lu Che's resume: from a family of police officers, he joined the police force at the age of twenty, solved many major cases, and was promoted to Senior Assistant Commissioner at the age of thirty-five, making him one of the youngest deputy commissioner-level officers in the police force. But three years ago, he suddenly went underground, ostensibly retiring, but in reality taking charge of a highly classified undercover operation.

"What undercover plan?" Fang Che looked up.

“Infiltrating Jiang Kun’s group.” Zhou Wenxuan lowered his voice. “Three years ago, the police received a tip that Jiang Kun was planning a transnational drug network involving Hong Kong, Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. But Jiang Kun was extremely cautious, and the police were unable to gather any evidence. Lu Che volunteered to pose as a businessman and get close to Jiang Kun.”

Fang Che's mind flashed back to all the times he had interacted with Lu Che...

Those seemingly accidental acts of help, the perfectly timed resources, are all coincidences that appear at crucial moments.

"He approached me... also for this plan?"

“Yes.” Zhou Wenxuan nodded. “Lu Che’s investigation found that Jiang Kun’s son, Jiang Tianqi’s, activities in Hong Kong are related to a Thai drug network. And you are Jiang Tianqi’s target, as well as someone Li Hanzhou cares about. Getting close to you will allow us to obtain information about Jiang Tianqi and also influence Li Hanzhou through you.”

Fang Che felt a bitter taste in his mouth: "So all the help he gave me was calculated?"

“Not entirely.” Zhou Wenxuan shook his head. “I’ve known Lu Che for many years. He’s a complex person. He has the responsibilities of a policeman, but he also has his own principles. He helped you set up a school and provided resources, which didn’t directly benefit his mission, but he still did it. I think he truly admires you.”

"You appreciate using me?"

“That’s just how this industry is,” Zhou Wenxuan sighed. “Everyone is using others and being used by others. Lu Che used you to get close to Jiang Tianqi, but weren’t you using his resources to protect Portland Street? You’re using each other, and you’re also helping each other.”

Fang Che remained silent.

Zhou Wenxuan continued, "I warned you to be careful of Lu Che not because he would harm you, but because he's too big a target. To complete his mission, he might make some... sacrifices. And you and Li Hanzhou could very well become those sacrifices."

"for example?"

“For example, Li Hanzhou’s arrest in Thailand this time.” Zhou Wenxuan looked into Fang Che’s eyes. “Do you really think it was just a setup by Jiang Kun?”

Fang Che's heart tightened: "What do you mean?"

“Lu Che knew all along that Jiang Kun was going to hide drugs in the goods, but he didn’t inform Li Hanzhou in advance.” Zhou Wenxuan’s voice was hoarse. “Because only when Li Hanzhou was truly ‘involved’ would Jiang Kun lower his guard and reveal more flaws. Li Hanzhou… was the bait in Lu Che’s plan.”

The room fell into dead silence.

Fang Che stared at Zhou Wenxuan, his hand slowly clenching into a fist, his nails digging into his palm.

Did he know that Brother Li might die?

"……Know."

"He still did it?"

Zhou Wenxuan did not answer; his silence spoke volumes.

Fang Che smiled, his eyes reddening with laughter: "Good, very good. Zhou sir, thank you for saying all this."

“Fang Che, it’s not too late to back out now,” Zhou Wenxuan said urgently. “I can arrange for you to return to Hong Kong, to Portland Street…”

“I’m not backing out,” Fang Che interrupted him, his voice calm. “Brother Li is still inside; I have to get him out. As for Lu Che…”

He paused, his eyes turning cold: "I'll settle the score with him when I get out."

Seeing the resolute look in the boy's eyes, Zhou Wenxuan knew he couldn't persuade him anymore.

He sighed and took an envelope out of his bag: "This is your 'criminal record' and sentence. The police will come to 'arrest' you at four o'clock this afternoon. Remember, once you're inside, you'll be 'Xiao Che,' a young Chinese man sentenced to three years for smuggling cultural relics. Speak less, observe more, and survive."

Fang Che took the envelope and nodded.

“There’s one more thing.” Zhou Wenxuan hesitated for a moment, “Lu Che… might appear in prison.”

"What?"

“He’s also on a mission, but I can’t go into the details,” Zhou Wenxuan said in a low voice. “If you see him in prison, pretend you don’t know him. If his identity is exposed, the whole plan will fail, and many people will die.”

"Including Brother Li?"

"……include."

Fang Che took a deep breath: "I understand."