Chapter 24
The smoke from the galan incense quickly filled the small, enclosed KTV room. Lu Chengtian held his breath and reached for the dagger hidden in his boot.
At this moment, Batong came over and sat down beside him, his pupils dilated, clearly a little excited. This burly man, nearly two meters tall and weighing over 100kg, put his arm around his shoulders, the strong smell of cigarettes on his body rushing straight into Lu Chengtian's nose.
He smiled and said, "Brother Xiaokun, how about this? We have something even more exciting. I guarantee you'll have a blast."
Lu Chengtian calmly retracted his dagger, loosened his shirt collar, and asked with half-closed eyes, "Anything else you have? Let me see it."
Qi Tiao, who was standing by, danced with joy and climbed onto the coffee table to remove the round laser light from the ceiling.
Under Lu Chengtian's somewhat shocked gaze, he unscrewed the top of the laser lamp and took out a two or three-inch transparent sealed bag from it.
Lu Chengtian seemed high, but in reality, he was nervously watching Qi Tiao's movements. Under the laser light, they had pre-installed a pinhole camera disguised as a screw. If discovered, the consequences would be disastrous.
He didn't know that Brother Xian had already discovered the camera in the bathroom, and it was now useless.
Qi Tiao touched the slightly protruding screw nonchalantly, without even glancing at it. He pinched a sealed bag between his thumb and index finger and waved it in front of Lu Chengtian. "Brother Xiaokun, have you heard of Lan Yan? The police have been following us closely lately, so our eldest brother doesn't do anything anymore and only supplies it to friends."
Looking at the powder emitting blue fluorescence, Lu Chengtian's pupils shrank. Batong hugged him and leaned close to his ear and said, "How about it? Do you want to try it?"
Lu Chengtian calmly took away the strong arm that was around him and reached into his trouser pocket to take something out.
Seeing this, Qi Tiao and Ba Tong suddenly looked at him warily. Although they were high, they had not forgotten their mission. One reached into his arms, the other fumbled with his boot, his eyes suddenly cold.
Lu Chengtian felt the two gazes, seemingly tangible, but paid them no mind. He pulled out a small silver snuff bottle and waved it before the two men. "This is the real deal, Blue Flame, what's that?"
As he spoke, he poured a pinch of fine white powder into his palm, put his nose close to it, and inhaled it all without leaving a single grain, revealing an expression of "enjoyment".
"I've never heard of anything purer than Blue Flame in Shenzhen and Hong Kong." Batong was unconvinced and tried to snatch the snuff bottle from Lu Chengtian's hand.
Lu Chengtian immediately put it back into his pocket and patted him on the shoulder: "There are not many goods. If you two brothers are interested, you can talk to our Brother Biao."
In fact, this was a "prop" Zhao Yiqing had prepared for him in advance, specifically for those moments when he was forced to smoke ice. He watched with his own eyes as Zhao Yiqing had his drug enforcement officers grind the vitamin C tablets into powder and then put it into the snuff bottle.
The taste of breathing it in was clearly unpleasant, and Lu Chengtian's eyes quickly became bloodshot. He tilted his head back and took a deep breath. In the eyes of Qi Tiao and Ba Tong, this was a sign of his "ecstasy to the bone."
Qi Tiao came closer and said, "Brother Xiaokun does have good taste, but if you don't try the blue flame, how will you know if it works?" As he spoke, he poured some of the powder from the sealed bag onto the tin foil and handed it to Lu Chengtian: "I toast you."
The ubiquitous galan incense had already made Lu Chengtian feel a little drowsy. In his drunken excitement, he knocked the blue flames that Qi Tiao had handed him to the ground, muttering, "What a piece of crap. It's just a small bag, who knows if you're just exaggerating."
Looking at the powder scattered on the ground, the seven knife scars running through the bridge of his nose became more hideous. He pinched Lu Chengtian's chin and said, "You are shameless. We have plenty of Blue Flame. We have brought the goods. Open your eyes and take a look. Your boss is just a casino breaker. Who are you looking down on?" As he said that, he threw Lu Chengtian back on the sofa and took the light ball beside him - it was full of sealed bags of Blue Flame.
The crystal blue powder shimmered with a strange luster in his pupils.
Take the bait! Lu Chengtian suddenly burst into a violent coughing fit. This was the action signal he and Ma Qiang and others next door had agreed on - but there was dead silence in the miniature Bluetooth headset!
Before, he could occasionally hear Ma Qiang and the others' conversations. From the moment Zhao Yiqing and Xian Ge entered the bathroom, there was no sound from the other side.
what happened?
No matter what happens, we can't wait any longer. Now that we have confirmed that the goods are here, we can get started right away.
Lu Chengtian reached into his boot to take out the dagger, but he felt dizzy, while the Seven and Eight Barrels were still waiting for him to "inspect the high-quality goods."
He had just touched the hilt of the knife inside his boot when a figure suddenly pushed open the door and rushed in.
Before he could see who was coming, he was pushed down on the sofa by the other party.
The man dug his knees into his buttocks, reeking strongly of alcohol. He pressed his long, strong fingers against the back of his head and kissed him.
The clear gin was poured into Lu Chengtian's mouth as their lips and tongues intertwined. The man's warm breath blew on his face, and his long eyelashes fluttered across his sensitive skin.
The man kissed him so passionately that Lu Chengtian could hardly breathe. His Adam's apple rolled violently, and the cold wine slid down his throat, carrying a hint of absinthe.
Which drunkard with a brain defect came here and went crazy? He cursed wildly in his heart, but he had no strength at all - this was the effect of the galan incense.
During the struggle, he saw the small red mole on the other person's neck, which was so bright and juicy against the porcelain-white neck that it almost burned his eyes.
"Well, Lin..." The other party blocked what he was about to say with a deeper kiss.
Lu Chengtian could hear the thumping of his heart. The rainstorm of nine years ago, the damp scent of plants filling the world and the lingering scent of sandalwood in that person's embrace, returned with a vengeance.
Just when he was about to suffocate, the other party let him go briefly, holding the bottle in one hand, took another gulp, and kissed him again. The wine overflowed from the corner of Lu Chengtian's mouth and slid down his chest, like the tentacles of some marine creature teasing him.
Is this an illusion caused by the incense of Galan?
Lu Chengtian's palms suddenly clamped around that slender and powerful waist. He turned over and pressed her into the sofa pillows, kissing her back fiercely. The cool sandalwood fragrance suddenly became strong, and the entangled lips and tongues had a hint of rust.
The heavy rain in midsummer, the hospital filled with the smell of disinfectant, the profile of a young man typing in the middle of the night, the boy crying in the young man's arms, the collected pages of newspaper clippings and magazines... The person he had been thinking about day and night for nine years now met him again with the mature charm given by time and a lot of secrets.
Years of longing have turned into a perverse kiss.
In the hallucination brought by the incense of the galan, Lu Zhituan, who was kissing someone for the first time, didn't know what tenderness was and bit the corner of Lin Xian's lip. The person under him bit the tip of his tongue fiercely, and the taste of blood mixed with the crispness of juniper and absinthe.
The shimmering ebony pendant dangled from Lu Chengtian's collar, brushing against Lin Xian's delicate collarbone. The glass bottle slipped from his hand and slammed onto the cold tile, splattering the floor with shattered glass and liquid.
Qi Tiao and Ba Tong were stunned. When they heard the sound of shattering, they realized what was happening and started to curse: "Who the hell are you?"
Lin Xian suddenly pushed Lu Chengtian aside and stood up, his steps somewhat unsteady. He fumbled in his trouser pocket for a long time and pulled out something that looked like a ring.
Qi Tiao and Ba Tong came closer to take a look, then glanced at Lin Xian, who looked extremely similar to Xian Ge. They hurriedly bowed and nodded, saying, "I didn't know that Big Brother came in person. My apologies. Big Brother, please continue."
Lin Xian deliberately turned his back to Lu Chengtian, and Lu Chengtian did not see clearly what made the two thugs suddenly so respectful to him.
Lin Xian whispered something to them, and the two men looked at each other and ran away without even taking the "goods".
As soon as Ba Tong left, the signal blocking equipment was also taken out of the house. The sound returned to Lu Chengtian's miniature Bluetooth headset.
On the other end, Ma Qiang asked anxiously, "Captain Lu, can you hear me? What's going on over there?"
"The two thugs ran away, and the goods are with me. Go and chase them quickly." Lu Chengtian said in a low voice.
Ma Qiang immediately greeted his colleague guarding the door and chased after him with two drug enforcement officers under Zhao Yiqing.
The scent of juniper and wormwood lingered on his lips and tongue, and the drowsiness brought on by the galangal incense gradually dissipated. Lu Chengtian frowned, his heart beating restlessly in his chest.
He walked towards Lin Xian step by step.
Unlike the usual image of "Editor-in-Chief Lin" as a gentleman, Lin Xian was not wearing glasses. He was wearing a black deep V tight T-shirt, revealing a large area of fair skin on his chest. A silver chain was embellished between his sunken collarbones. He looked a bit cold and sexy, the type who would be approached crazily in gay bars.
The blood-red tip of Lu Chengtian's ear did not escape Lin Xian's sight. He teased with ill intention, "Brother Xiaokun, why are you blushing?"
The corner of Lin Xian's lip was bitten by Lu Chengtian, and the blood-red color made his skin look even colder and whiter.
Lu Chengtian's Adam's apple rolled violently, the coolness of juniper and the delicate fragrance of wormwood still lingering between his lips and teeth. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and suppressed the many questions in his mind. He glanced at the locked bathroom door and whispered, "Go home first. We'll talk after you get back."
There was only one thought in his mind: he must not let Zhao Yiqing and Lin Xian in the bathroom find him.
But it was too late, and Lin Xian himself had no intention of leaving.
At that moment, the restroom door clicked open. Zhao Yiqing, dressed like a nouveau riche, emerged—hands raised above his head. A cold gun pressed against his head. Xian Ge followed, smiling broadly.
Seeing that only Lu Chengtian and Lin Xian were left in the room, both of their expressions changed.
"Hey, why is Brother Xiaolin here? Where are Qi Tiao and Ba Tong?" Brother Xian glanced at the black leather bag on the sofa and the laser light ball thrown aside. "How come they ran away before the deal is even finished?"
Lin Xian didn't answer, but simply said, "Is it interesting to live with someone else's face and name, Lin Xian?"
Hearing this, a flash of anger crossed Lin Xian's face, but it disappeared in an instant. She smiled charmingly and said, "Why, are you still going to continue with the deal? If I fail to complete the task, I'm afraid it will be difficult to explain to my brother."
As soon as he said this, Lin Xian immediately understood: Zhao Yiqing and Lu Chengtian's identities have not been exposed yet.
He turned to look at Lu Chengtian: "That depends on what Brother Xiaokun thinks of the goods."
Lu Chengtian agreed, "The purity is too low. I can't feel it anymore. Could this be a counterfeit product?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Xian gently wiped the blood from the corner of his lips and chuckled.
"I've never seen anyone who can be so sober after inhaling Galanxiang. It seems that you are deeply involved in drugs, Brother Xiaokun." Lin Xian suddenly exerted force with the hand that was holding the gun against the back of Zhao Yiqing's head, and Zhao Yiqing staggered forward.
Lin Xian's fox-like eyes were filled with cold light as he stared at Lu Chengtian. "Brother Lin is here today. Three million, money and goods, and we'll remain friends. Otherwise, I'll shoot your brother Biao, and you can't leave."
Zhao Yiqing winked at Lu Chengtian. At that moment, he still hadn't figured out the situation and couldn't tell whether Lin Xian was a friend or foe. He wanted Team Lu to at least hold the enemy steady, lest Lin Xian suddenly turn against him.
"That's right." Lin Xian curled the corners of his lips, and instantly hooked his arm around Lu Chengtian's neck from behind, placing the cold blade against his neck - this dagger was taken out from Lu Chengtian's boot when they were kissing passionately.
Zhao Yiqing: ...
Lu Chengtian: ...
Seeing that Lin Xian was willing to help, Lin Xian smiled with satisfaction, and his tense muscles relaxed, and Zhao Yiqing felt relieved.
Lu Chengtian's throbbing carotid artery was right under Lin Xian's cold blade, but he was not nervous at all at the moment. He was in a very calm mood. He even noticed the stiffness in Lin Xian's facial expression when he smiled.
Thinking of what Lin Xian had just said, he instantly understood that Lin Xian and Lin Xian were 70% similar, and it was deliberately done that way.
The real one is still more attractive. Lu Chengtian thought inappropriately, but the blade in Lin Xian's hand moved closer to his carotid artery, almost cutting through the fragile skin and severing the overly active blood vessels.
Just when Lin Xian relaxed, Zhao Yiqing turned around quickly and snatched the gun from his hand, and Lin Xian also released the dagger that was on Lu Chengtian's neck.
Lu Chengtian quickly stepped forward and subdued Lin Xian together with Zhao Yiqing.
There was a clamor of voices on the other end of the Bluetooth headset. Ma Qiang said, "Captain Lu, our people were arrested by the Nancheng Branch Criminal Investigation Team. The guys guarding the door couldn't show their IDs, so they got angry and started a fight with them. Now they're handcuffed. They said they received a report and are here to crack down on pornography and illegal publications."
"Where are those two henchmen?" Lu Chengtian's pupils constricted.
"He ran away during the chaos! How are you and Captain Zhao?" I don't know who he was arguing with, but I heard Ma Qiang distractedly greet the other person's mother.
Lu Chengtian swiftly pressed Lin Xian onto the coffee table, and Zhao Yiqing handcuffed him from behind.
During the struggle, the clothes behind Lin Xian's neck were pulled down, revealing a small scar - it was a triangle with a flame mark in the middle.
Lu Chengtian and Zhao Yiqing saw it at the same time, looked at each other, and saw a solemn look in each other's eyes.
"Captain Zhao, your combat effectiveness is worrying. How many times have you had a gun pointed at your head?" Lu Chengtian whispered this.
Then, he moved to Lin Xian's side like a ghost, and produced a pair of handcuffs from nowhere. He grabbed Lin Xian's wrist that was not wearing the electronic shackle, and with a "click", handcuffed it to his own wrist. He whispered, "You also go back and cooperate with the investigation."
Now that things have come to this, it is impossible for him to hope that Lin Xian has nothing to do with the drug case.
Lin Xian lowered his head and stroked the silver shackles that bound the two of them tightly, and was surprisingly cooperative.
He glanced at Lin Xian, whose face was pressed against the coffee table, looking a little embarrassed. The other person's narrow eyes curved up and gave him a strange smile.
At the entrance of Yulong KTV, Ma Qiang's glasses had fallen somewhere during the fight. While he was arguing with the detective from the Nancheng Branch who was holding him tightly and not letting him leave, he heard his boss coldly say through the Bluetooth headset: "We've arrested two suspects, team up."
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