Chapter 23
At around eight o'clock in the evening, the parking lot of Yulong KTV was almost half full, and from time to time, rich young men driving supercars or female internet celebrities dressed in sexy clothes came in.
The first floor was a whimsical place, the smell of cigarettes and the frenetic rock music bringing a profound impact on the senses. In the booths, men and women played drinking games, laughed heartily, and flirted with each other, while on the dance floor, they danced wildly to the DJ music, making Team Lu seriously doubt the level of restraint these people usually had.
"Handsome, a drink?" A girl in a tight mini dress and waist-length hair called out to Lu Chengtian as he passed the bar. She looked familiar, and seeing the girl surrounded by a few seemingly unremarkable second-generations, he remembered that she was a well-known female internet celebrity in Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
Amidst the envious and jealous gazes of the men around him, Lu Chengtian said coldly, "I'm allergic to alcohol. Sorry," and pushed his way through the crowd. He suspected that if he accepted the drink from the internet celebrity, the younger generation would bully him right there.
To carry out his mission, Lu Chengtian had changed into a "pleasure-seeking" outfit. He wore a black silk shirt with a dark pattern, the collar half-open, the sleeves rolled up to the elbows, revealing his slender collarbone and muscular lines. Dark grey slim-fit trousers accentuated his slender waist and long legs. Zhao Yiqing had meticulously coiffed his hair with hairspray, giving it a wild, messy, and natural look.
The drums on the stage seemed to hit him directly in the heart. Ma Qiang shouted behind him for a long time but he couldn't hear clearly. Finally, Ma Qiang leaned over and yelled in his ear: "My brother Lu is so charming!"
Lu Chengtian: ...
He was dressed like this just to play the role of Zhao Yiqing's "henchman".
Ma Qiang next to him played himself, with a ramen head, black-framed glasses, and a red sweatshirt with Super Mario printed on it. He looked like a wretched otaku.
Passing through an inconspicuous corridor in the corner of the lobby, they arrived at the VIP elevator. Lu Chengtian took out a blank card and swiped it, and the elevator took them straight to the third floor.
Lu Chengtian looked around to make sure no one was following him, and went straight into room 304 opposite room 302.
A simple listening device was placed on the marble coffee table. A man in a white suit and a string of gold jewelry sat cross-legged in the middle of the sofa. Next to him were a man and a woman dressed in a nightclub style. Seeing Lu Chengtian and Ma Qiang come in, they nodded and greeted each other.
The man in the middle was wearing a Middle Eastern perfume. When he saw Lawrence Lu come in, he immediately stepped forward and gave him a hug: "A Kun, you're finally here."
"Do you really have to use the same perfume as Brother Biao?" Lu Chengtian dodged in disgust.
Zhao Yiqing said, "Do you think I want to? I didn't expect this person to have such bad taste. The smell of this makes me want to vomit."
They had received advance information from Director Guo that a transaction involving Galanxiang and Blue Flame would be taking place tonight in Room 302 of Yulong KTV. Zhao Yiqing's informant told them that the buyer was Brother Biao, who was involved in the casino business.
To ensure safety, buyers and sellers rarely meet before the transaction, but only use various means to inquire about each other's personal characteristics and preferences.
Lu Chengtian brought people from the Criminal Investigation Detachment to control Brother Biao in advance and forced him to reveal key information about the transaction.
After discussion, Zhao Yiqing, who is familiar with all kinds of local tyrants' styles, will play the role of "Brother Biao", Lu Chengtian will take on the important task of "henchman", and Ma Qiang and two policemen from the anti-drug detachment will be responsible for eavesdropping in the opposite room.
The computer on the table was turned on, and the surveillance footage installed in advance showed that no one had entered Room 302 next door, and both the high and low angle views were empty - one camera was installed on the laser light, and the other was installed under the edge of the coffee table.
At this time, a voice came from Lu Chengtian's miniature headset: "They are getting on the elevator."
He glanced at Zhao Yiqing and said, "Let's go. People are coming."
The two of them entered the next room, Room 302, without anyone noticing.
Zhao Yiqing lit a cigar, sat on the sofa with his legs crossed and waited, while Lu Chengtian played the role of a well-behaved and cold-faced thug, sitting silently beside him.
At this moment, someone pushed the door open and came in. Behind a man with a scarred face and a middle-parted hair was a burly man nearly 2 meters tall.
Zhao Yiqing stood up and walked forward, holding a cigar in one hand. His "henchman" Lu Chengtian also stood up. The big man opened the door for the man behind him and made a "please" gesture.
When they saw that man, Lu Chengtian and Zhao Yiqing's expressions changed.
Fortunately, the lights were dim, and the people who had just entered did not notice anything wrong with their expressions.
"Brother Xian, I've heard of your name for a long time. I thought you were an old man, but I didn't expect you to be so young and handsome." Zhao Yiqing reacted first, strode forward, and gave the young man who came in last a warm hug in the way of "Brother Biao".
The young man's slender eyes and eyebrows curved, and his voice was so clear that it could squeeze out water: "Brother Biao, you are too kind. I am just an employee. How can I compare with you? Your place is thriving. Everyone in Shenzhen and Hong Kong knows about it." As he said that, he raised his hand and calmly took away Zhao Yiqing's arm. The pungent smell of perfume made him frown.
Lu Chengtian stood behind Zhao Yiqing, staring intently at the young man's eyebrows and eyes, which were seven points similar to Lin Xian's, as well as the dazzling red mole on the side of his neck, and gradually regained his composure.
Although this person looks very similar to Lin Xian, his every move and gesture is frivolous, and there is no way he can be Lin Xian.
Sensing that sharp gaze, the young man looked at Lu Chengtian behind Zhao Yiqing and asked, "Who is this..."
"Oh, I forgot to introduce him to Brother Xian. This is A Kun, my capable subordinate." Zhao Yiqing smiled and turned to look at the two people sitting on the sofa: "Who are these two brothers?"
Without waiting for Brother Xian to introduce himself, the scarred man introduced himself: "Seven." The burly man next to him followed up with: "Eight."
"Hahaha, these two brothers are addressing each other in the underworld. It sounds like you are from our gang." Zhao Yiqing tried his best to liven up the atmosphere, but the two men sat there with gloomy faces, like two killing gods, and ignored him.
Lu Chengtian noticed that one of the two men had a bulge in his boots, and the other was wearing a thick coat. He probably had weapons. As for whether they had guns, it was hard to say, so he coughed softly.
When the three people from 304 next door heard this, their expressions changed.
Xian Ge smiled charmingly: "Sit down."
Lu Chengtian sat down with Zhao Yiqing. He looked at Xian Ge's attire—a white stand-up collar shirt and a dark blue sweater vest. He looked exactly like the man who appeared next to Zhou Xinzhang in the USB drive.
Could it be that the person who appeared at the drug loading scene all along was Brother Xian, not Lin Xian?
His mind raced as Zhao Yiqing said, "Everyone in the casino knows Brother Xian has something new lately. What's the saying, 'Shared happiness is worse than shared happiness'? Most drugs bring happiness to one's own self, but this brings happiness to everyone, hahaha."
Brother Xian chuckled softly and said, "Brother Biao and this Brother Xiaokun, do you want to try it together?"
With a glance, he signaled Qi Tiao and Yat Tong to stand up from their seats. Qi Tiao lifted the cushions on the sofa, revealing a storage cabinet-sized space underneath. He pulled out a black leather bag.
Lu Chengtian's mind raced: When did they hide the goods here? Why wasn't this part recorded in the surveillance?
If it was before they deployed the cameras, it would be too early and too risky.
If it happened later, and the surveillance footage didn't record it, does that mean they've already checked the footage and tampered with it?!
Thinking of the latter possibility, Lu Chengtian felt a chill down his spine.
Qi Tiao opened the zipper of the leather bag and took out a cylindrical cardboard package from it. It was not big in size and looked like the common Japanese incense packaging.
He took out two dark blue incense sticks and stuck them into the watermelon in the fruit bowl. He looked at Xian Ge. "Want to light it?"
Zhao Yiqing and Lu Chengtian had already learned about the power of this new drug during the Liu Yaoyao case. Inhaling the fumes would lead to addiction.
Zhao Yiqing laughed heartily and said to Brother Xian, "Although I sell this, I don't smoke it." He pointed to his head and said, "This stuff is bad for the brain. We businessmen really can't afford it."
"Oh? That's a shame." Brother Xian looked at him with a forced smile. "I don't smoke either, but there are rules in the underworld. Someone has to personally verify whether this stuff is pure. Otherwise, if there is a problem later, it will affect my reputation. Brother Biao, don't you agree with this?"
Zhao Yiqing glanced at Qi Tiao and Ba Tong, and saw that both of them had grim expressions.
"Indeed. Then, Brother Xian, tell me, how do you verify it?"
At this time, Lu Chengtian on the side began to yawn impatiently, scratching his head and arms from time to time, his eyes red, and said, "Let me do it."
"Brother Xiaokun seems to be an expert in this field." Brother Xian smiled at Zhao Yiqing and pointed to the bathroom inside the room: "Then let's go there for a while and let Brother Xiaokun and Qi Tiao Ba Tong enjoy it together."
Zhao Yiqing's expression changed. He looked at Lu Chengtian and shook his head imperceptibly.
Lu Chengtian, however, acted as if he hadn't noticed and said impatiently, "Hurry up, are you going to test it or not?"
"Okay, then A Kun, you just test it out to see if this Galan incense can really allow people to enter the Pure Land of Bliss." Zhao Yiqing curled his lips, but his eyes were cold.
He followed Xian Ge into the private bathroom, which was soundproof and airtight. The moment the door closed, he gave Lu Chengtian a deep look. Lu Chengtian returned his gaze, barely perceptible, meaning, "Don't worry."
Qi Tiao looked at Lu Chengtian yawning impatiently, tears in his eyes, and said with a smile: "Don't worry, Brother Xiaokun, it only takes one minute to light this thing and send you to paradise."
Lu Chengtian continued to play the role of an impatient drug addict, his thoughts racing. The black leather bag didn't look like it contained much "goods." If he rashly alerted the city police officers who were ambushing him, he wouldn't get much.
They must have hidden locations somewhere else.
Although Galan incense was less pure than Blue Flame, its addiction rate was still higher than that of ordinary drugs. He couldn't imagine the consequences of inhaling it, but there were emergency withdrawal methods available—all he had to do was quickly drink large amounts of water, soak in ice, and endure the initial pain.
However, those who come out of the rehabilitation center with hope and think they have gained a new life rarely escape the fate of relapse. Otherwise, his father would not have died of drug overdose so early, and his mother would not have turned from a gentle person into a complete lunatic.
When Qi Tiao lit the two dark blue incense sticks, Lu Chengtian seemed to see the abyss from the curling smoke, in which was hidden the woman who died with her eyes open in the closet.
In the bathroom, Zhao Yiqing lit a cigar and handed it to Xian Ge: "Want to smoke?"
Under the warm white light, the small red mole on Xian's neck becomes even more dazzling, making one think he's Lin Xian. A closer look reveals stark differences in the details of his eyes and eyebrows, as well as his demeanor and gestures. Yet, such a high degree of resemblance is incredibly rare.
Xian Ge smiled and refused: "In our line of work, we can't smoke or drink too much. Just like you said, some things can bring happiness, but they're not good for the brain."
"That's what Brother Xian is considering." Zhao Yiqing leaned against the sink, took a deep puff of his cigar, and blew out a puff of smoke in ecstasy, landing squarely on Brother Xian's face.
Xian's face grew colder, but he quickly put on his smiling mask. "The laser light, the cameras under the coffee table, do you really think they're necessary, Brother Biao? This is the first time I've seen someone so cautious in doing business. But I have to say, you're breaking the rules of the underworld by doing this."
Zhao Yiqing's heart trembled. He hadn't expected that the enemy would actually be able to discover the cameras they had set up in advance.
"It's the first time you deal with someone like Brother Xian, so it's always better to be cautious." Zhao Yiqing laughed and patted Brother Xian's shoulder, but was avoided by the other party.
In room 304 next door, Ma Qiang and two drug enforcement officers watched the video without blinking. At the moment the incense was lit, the picture suddenly changed to the scene before Sadako crawled out of the TV in "The Ring" - a black and white snowflake.
They could no longer hear the voices of Lu Chengtian and Zhao Yiqing.
The muscular man Batong leaned close to the thin smoke of Galanxiang and took a sip. He reached into his pocket and opened a small device - it was a signal blocking device.
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