Chapter 43 Kui
The funeral of Zhong Si and Qian Xu Wu Yun was quietly completed in an extremely solemn and almost oppressive atmosphere.
There were no tombstones, no eulogies, only two unknown coordinates, sunk to the murky bottom of the Thames, their short and broken lives sealed away in the cold darkness. The headquarters of the Moonlit Organization seemed to have been drained of its last warmth, utterly reduced to a cold steel fortress, the air thick with the smell of gunpowder, disinfectant, and a deeper, metallic stench of revenge.
Driven by the iron-fisted integration of Xuyue and the chilling, silent destructive urges of West Asia, the organization resumed operations at an unprecedentedly efficient and ruthless pace.
The defenses were reinforced to the extreme, the intelligence network expanded outward with unprecedented aggression, all non-core operations were suspended or scaled back, and the entire organization was like a wounded beast, curled up, licking its wounds, sharpening its claws, with only a bloodthirsty red light in its eyes.
In this highly tense atmosphere, the alliance with the WV organization led by "Jackal" Lian Yeyi became a crucial part of the Xuyue strategy.
Lian Yeyi controls a vast smuggling network, casinos, and intelligence sources in London's underworld. His power is essential for flanking support and intelligence replenishment in a direct confrontation with a behemoth like BXX.
The meeting place was set at one of Lian Yeyi's properties—a warehouse located on the edge of the dock area, ostensibly a legitimate import and export trading company, but in reality a core stronghold of the WV organization.
The area is heavily guarded, with numerous sentries and checkpoints, and is filled with a similar, well-trained, and menacing atmosphere as the headquarters of Xuyue.
Xu Yue only brought Gongyang Yan Daosi and Mu Ye with her. She was still dressed in plain black clothes, her silver hair was neatly tied back, and her face was as pale as ice. Only her gray eyes were sharp enough to see through any disguise.
Ram followed closely behind, his face grave, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily. Mu, on the other hand, moved as silently as a shadow, his portable decoder never leaving his side.
Lian Yeyi received them in his private reception room. Unlike the cold, industrial style of Xuyue's headquarters, this room was decorated with extraordinary luxury, with thick Persian carpets, valuable oil paintings on the walls, and the air filled with the rich aroma of expensive cigars and aged whiskey.
Lian Yeyi himself was reclining on a huge leather sofa, wearing a well-tailored suit, with a thick Havana cigar between his fingers. He looked lazy and casual, but the sharp glint in his hawk-like eyes made people not dare to underestimate him in the slightest.
"My condolences, Xu Yue." Lian Yeyi exhaled a smoke ring, her voice carrying a perfectly measured hint of sorrow. Her gaze swept over Xu Yue and the two people behind her. "We've lost a promising talent, and... that interesting little bee. BXX really went all out this time."
Xu Yue nodded slightly, cutting straight to the point without any further pleasantries: "No need for formalities, Lian Yeyi. We need deeper cooperation. The threat from BXX is now out in the open, and we need to share all intelligence about them, especially... about their core, the 'Kuy' family."
Upon hearing the name "Kuy," Lian Yeyi's fingers, which were holding a cigar, paused almost imperceptibly. He took a deep drag on his cigar, slowly exhaling the smoke, the gray haze temporarily obscuring the expression on his face.
“Kui…” He repeated the name, his tone carrying a complex meaning, a mixture of apprehension and a hint of… indescribable curiosity. “It’s a name that is rarely mentioned, but whose power is terrifying. BXX is less of an organization and more like a… dark dynasty centered around the Kui family and maintained by enormous wealth and ancient contracts.”
He waved his hand, signaling the waiter to leave. Only the four of them remained in the room, and the atmosphere grew even more tense.
"The Kui family's origins can be traced back centuries, supposedly linked to some ancient and... less-than-honorable noble lineages in Europe. They amassed unimaginable wealth, but what's even more terrifying is their... almost obsessive, fixation on 'pure bloodlines' and 'eliminating hidden dangers.'" Lian Yeyi lowered her voice, adding a touch of mystery as she recounted a secret. "They control a vast financial empire and underground network, but operate with extreme secrecy. The identities of the core family members are top secret. The outside world only knows that, for the past few decades, BXX has been managed by a couple known as 'Mr. Kui' and 'Mrs. Kui.'"
Xu Yue listened quietly, her gray eyes calm, but her hands on her knees tightened slightly at the knuckles.
“Based on the fragmented information my subordinates have pieced together,” Lian Yeyi continued, her gaze sweeping meaningfully over Xu Yue’s cold yet perfect face, “this couple… has quite interesting personalities. Mr. Kui is ruthless and rational, like a precise machine, prioritizing the family’s interests above all else. Mrs. Kui, on the other hand… is even more enigmatic. She is beautiful and elegant, but it is said that deep down she possesses an almost artistic, morbid pursuit of ‘perfection,’ and correspondingly, a zero-tolerance desire to eliminate any ‘flaw’ or ‘potential threat’ that might taint this ‘perfection.’”
Mu Ye tapped the decoder lightly with his fingertips, producing a barely audible sound, as if recording or verifying this information.
Gongyang frowned slightly and asked in a deep voice, "How do they usually deal with so-called 'hidden dangers' or 'flaws'?"
Lian Yeyi twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a cold smile: "It depends on the situation. If the 'flaw' is insignificant and controllable, it might be 'kept' as a tool or... a kind of 'spare'. But if they deem it a threat to the core interests of the family or its 'purity'..." He paused, the red glow of his cigar reflecting the fleeting coldness in his eyes.
"...They would not hesitate to 'abandon' them, or... completely 'eliminate' them physically, and erase all related traces, as if the person had never existed. Their methods...are very clean and very thorough."
“Abandonment…” Xu Yue suddenly repeated the word softly, her voice so low it was almost inaudible. Her gaze seemed unfocused, as if piercing through walls, looking at some distant, blurry fragment of time and space. This word, like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, stirred up a barely perceptible ripple in the cold lake of her heart.
Lian Yeyi keenly noticed her sudden change in expression, but he wisely refrained from pointing it out and continued, "About twenty years ago, there seemed to have been a significant upheaval within the Kui family."
The exact reason is unclear. Rumors suggest it's related to a failed "cleanup" operation, while others suggest... a possible disagreement over how to deal with a family member. After that incident, the Kui couple seemed to act more reserved and cautiously, but also... more unquestionable.
He picked up his glass, took a sip of the amber liquid, and looked at Xu Yue: "I know you're investigating your origins, Xu Yue. Forgive my bluntness, but if... I mean if, your past is indeed connected to the Kui family, then you will be facing a vast, ancient, ruthless, and extremely dangerous enemy. They will not allow anything that might threaten the family's 'secrets' to live."
Xu Yue slowly raised her head, her gray eyes refocusing, becoming even deeper and colder than before.
The fragmented information provided by Lian Yeyi is like a few key pieces of a puzzle, vaguely corresponding to some vague, forgotten feelings deep in her heart.
That sense of trauma from being abandoned by the world, that bewilderment about the origins of one's own existence, and... an indescribable instinctive rejection and fear of a certain "perfection" and "purity".
“Thank you for the information, Lian Yeyi.” Xu Yue’s tone returned to its usual calm. “This information is very valuable. Gongyang will finalize the specific details of the cooperation with you. Mu also needs all available data from you regarding BXX’s recent personnel changes and cash flow.”
“No problem.” Lian Yeyi readily agreed. “I will have my people fully cooperate. After all, if BXX really becomes the only dominant player, it won’t benefit any of us.” He stood up, walked to Xu Yue, and extended his hand. “I wish us… a pleasant cooperation, and that we can give those self-righteous ‘upper-class people’ a little ‘surprise’ from the underworld.”
Xu Yue looked at his outstretched hand but didn't immediately take it. She simply gazed at him quietly, her eyes sharp as knives, as if trying to dissect the true intentions beneath his smile.
A few seconds later, she slowly raised her hand and gently shook his. Her hand was cold but strong, just like her eyes at that moment.
“It’s a pleasure working with you.” Her voice was flat. “But remember, Lian Yeyi, don’t try to find out things you shouldn’t know. Otherwise, a surprise might turn into a shock.”
Lian Yeyi's smile remained unchanged, but her eyes flickered slightly: "Of course, I've always been very sensible."
On the same evening that Xu Yue met with Lian Yeyi, Xi Ya had just finished inspecting one of the organization's new safe houses. The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the sky a desolate blood red, mirroring the destructive urge surging within him.
Zhong Si's death was like a poisonous thorn, deeply embedded in his heart, constantly reminding him of his dereliction of duty and incompetence. His hatred for BXX, his anxiety for Xu Yue's safety, and the increasingly distorted protective instinct stemming from his failure to protect those important to him burned like molten lava in his chest, threatening to consume him from the inside out.
He needed to vent, to kill, to inflict this pain on his enemies. However, Xu Yue's strict orders to focus on defense and investigation for the time being left him feeling trapped and restless.
As if possessed, his steps once again defied reason, leading him to that almost forgotten corner on the edge of the city—the "Forgotten Corner" used bookstore. It was as if it were the only eerie, tranquil harbor in his raging ocean where he could temporarily find refuge.
He stood in the familiar shadows across the street, not immediately going over. Warm yellow light shone from the bookstore windows, appearing especially comforting yet also glaring in the deepening twilight. He could see Zhou's figure moving among the bookshelves, blurry and serene.
However, this time, Sia did not find any peace from the scene as he had before. Instead, a deeper unease and...fear gripped him.
Even though he only heard snippets of information about the Kui family from Gong Yang, it was enough for Lian Yeyi to understand the terrifying existence they were about to face.
The road ahead was almost certainly a dead end. He had long since disregarded life and death, and his only goal was to clear as many obstacles as possible for Xu Yue before his destruction, and perhaps... he could even find out the truth for her, even if the price was his own life.
He was the "whale shark," a predator destined to sink into the abyss of darkness. But Zhou… she didn't belong to this world. The clarity in her eyes, the strange, purifying aura surrounding her, were things he, with his bloodstained hands, didn't deserve.
Getting close to her would only defile her. And the impending storm would mercilessly destroy everything beautiful and fragile. He couldn't let her be dragged into his own destiny's vortex any longer. Staying away from her was her only, and final, protection.
Just as he made up his mind to turn around and leave completely, severing this budding yet deeply ingrained bond with his own hands, the door of the old bookstore creaked open.
Zhou stood at the doorway, not inviting him in as usual. She simply watched him silently in the shadows, as if she had already known his intentions... and his decision.
Her brows furrowed slightly, and her eyes, which seemed to "see" emotions, were filled with unprecedented worry and... a trace of sadness.
The Xia she saw was no longer the chaotic and heavy tapestry of colors she had seen before. Now, he was shrouded in an almost desperate, impenetrable gray-black, with only a sliver of light—a dark, ember-like crimson representing his unwavering loyalty to Xuyue and the organization—and a… crystal-clear, death-bound resolve. That color chilled her to the bone.
“Xia.” Zhou’s voice was soft, yet it clearly penetrated the street, carrying an undeniable penetrating power. “The color on your clothes… is very bad.”
Sia's body jolted violently, almost unable to resist the urge to step forward. She could see! She saw the most unbearable darkness in his heart and his unwavering resolve to die.
He forced back a sob, using all his strength to make his voice sound cold and distant: "My affairs are none of your business." He deliberately avoided her gaze, staring at the dirty stone pavement beneath his feet. "From now on... let's never see each other again."
Zhou took a small step forward, standing in the dim light of the porch, her hazy blue hair swaying slightly in the evening breeze. "You're going to do something very dangerous, aren't you?" Her voice trembled almost imperceptibly. "That color... it's the color of ending. I... I can feel it."
“You were wrong.” Sia interrupted her abruptly, his tone growing colder, even carrying a hint of the ruthlessness he usually displayed towards his enemies. “You know very well who I am. My world is only about bloodshed and killing, a completely different world from yours, who lives in records and books. Before… I was out of my mind.”
His words were like icy knives, piercing not only the universe but also his own heart.
He saw Zhou's face turn pale, and the sadness in her eyes deepened, but she did not back down.
“You’re lying, Xiya.” Zhou looked directly at him, his gaze clear and sorrowful. “You’re afraid. Not afraid of death, but afraid of… dragging me down with you. You think that staying away from me is protecting me.”
Caught off guard, Xi Ya instantly flew into a rage. A sense of powerlessness and panic at having all his pretenses exposed made him blurt out, "Stop being so self-righteous! Who do you think you are? Can you read people's minds? Stop with your mystical tricks! I'm warning you, stay away from me, stay away from our business! Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!"
After saying these heartless and cruel words, he dared not look into Zhou's eyes again. He turned around abruptly and rushed into the deepening night as if fleeing. His back was resolute and panicked, as if a demon was chasing him.
Zhou didn't chase after her, nor did he call out again. She simply stood quietly at the door, gazing in the direction he had disappeared, motionless for a long time. The evening breeze ruffled her hair and skirt, making her slender figure appear exceptionally lonely.
She could see it clearly: as he left, a bright orange, representing immense pain and helplessness, burst forth from the gray-black deathly stillness—the color of lying, the color of a broken heart.
He chose the clumsiest and cruelest way to try to push her away, presuming to build a safe wall around her.
“Fool…” A barely audible sigh blended into the night, carrying endless sorrow and a bitter understanding. She looked up at London’s perpetually gray sky, a complex, helpless light flashing in her eyes, as if she had pierced through some kind of cyclical destiny. A storm was coming, and some people were destined to walk alone into its eye.
Leaving Lian Yeyi's hideout and settling into the back seat of the car, Xu Yue remained silent. The London streetscape outside the window rushed past, neon lights casting shifting shadows on her pale face. Gongyang and Mu also remained silent, both sensing the unusual, chilling pressure emanating from Xu Yue.
Kui...abandoned...flawed...cleaned...
These words swirled and collided in her mind. Lian Yeyi's words were like a key, inserting into the rusty lock deep within her memory.
Some blurry, long-forgotten images began to flash uncontrollably—blinding headlights, a violent impact, cold rain, the smell of disinfectant, blurry figures in white coats, and a suffocating feeling of being watched by a cold, scrutinizing gaze, as if one were a "defective product" that needed to be processed…
She abruptly closed her eyes, pressing hard on her throbbing temples. That familiar, soul-deep chill of utter denial swept over her again, clearer and closer to the truth than ever before.
“Mu Ye,” she suddenly spoke, her voice slightly hoarse, “Concentrate all resources to prioritize the investigation of all covered-up traffic accidents, hospital records, and… files on missing children or children sent to welfare institutions in London and the surrounding area that may be related to the Kui family around twenty years ago. Especially… cases involving unidentified girls.”
"Yes," Mu replied immediately, her fingertips already flying across the decoder.
Gongyang glanced at Xuyue with concern through the rearview mirror. He saw her tightly closed eyes and slightly furrowed brows, and knew that Lian Yeyi's information had been planted like a poisonous seed in the deepest soil of her heart.
The path to the truth is destined to be fraught with thorns and may lead to an even more cruel end. But he also knew that no one could stop Xu Yue. For her, figuring out "who I am" and "where I come from," like seeking revenge against BXX, had become an unshakable obsession that sustained her life.
The car silently drove into the night, like a fish gliding into the deep sea.
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