Chapter Forty-Six: Raising the Stakes

The corpse was laid out in the morgue, the icy air slicing through to the bone marrow, chilling enough that even the usually bold Sun Qi couldn't help but shiver. In contrast, Qin Yang seemed completely unaffected, even appearing to savor the experience with an unsettling look on his face. Sun Qi, unnerved, edged away, afraid he might somehow pick up such a morbid habit.

A forensic doctor rolled out the body—it was Deng Qi, the man who had attempted to kidnap Liu Molan earlier. His body showed little sign of change, covered in a thin layer of white frost. Scars were faintly visible beneath the ice, though most had been treated with a rough hand. The forensic doctor, holding a file, recited, “The deceased, Deng Qi, male, thirty-two, a native of Haitian City. Dropped out at fourteen and started making his way on the streets. Later, he caught Cao Xianhu’s eye and was brought into his criminal gang, eventually becoming Cao’s trusted right-hand man. He died early yesterday morning, his body found in the sea. Our examination suggests he was killed by a heavy blow to the head—an attack, not a struggle. He was likely ambushed.”

“Then what about the wounds on his body?” Qin Yang asked.

“Old injuries,” the forensic doctor replied. “For someone like him, getting a new scar every day is hardly unusual.”

“Steward, absorb his soul,” Qin Yang commanded silently. “Extract his memories.”

With the steward’s help, it cost only fifty soul points to fully read the man’s memories. Deng Qi had been formidable in his lifetime, and the cost was justified by his strength. Qin Yang was left with forty soul points, but nearly two hundred more were accumulating in the jade pendant, so the expenditure was within his means.

“No, it wasn’t an ambush,” Qin Yang shook his head. Having read Deng Qi’s last moments, he added, “He was killed in a single blow. The killer was a true expert.”

“That’s impossible, isn’t it? Deng Qi may not have been the strongest, but he wouldn’t have gone down in a single hit—especially not head-on,” Sun Qi protested in disbelief.

“If he were within three meters of me, I’d have a hundred percent chance of killing him in one second,” Qin Yang replied bluntly. “The person who killed him was a master.”

“Are you serious?” Sun Qi still found it hard to believe.

Qin Yang didn’t bother answering directly. Instead, he stepped out of the morgue, removing his gloves as he went. Sun Qi hurried after him. “You’re not checking the others? Just a glance is enough?”

“What, should I look twice? Maybe give him a full-body massage?” Qin Yang shot him a look. “I have no special interest in corpses. Take me home. I’ll give you an answer tonight.”

“So soon?” Sun Qi was even more skeptical, but he respected Qin Yang’s wishes and dropped him off at the mall before hurrying away. Qin Yang, in no rush to head to the office, found a quiet corner and called Ji Liehu.

The phone rang for a while before Ji Liehu picked up. “Hello? What is it?”

“Deng Qi is dead. Killed, right in front of Cao Xianhu,” Qin Yang said in a low voice. “That jewelry thief I asked you to investigate has struck a deal with Cao. Cao Xianhu is moving against you. Be careful.”

“Why would Cao Xianhu let someone kill his own right-hand man?” Ji Liehu asked, puzzled.

“Cao Xianhu is planning a massive drug deal during the Hailong Jewelry Exhibition. The jewelry thieves will draw most of the police attention. Deng Qi wanted a cut and was killed by Cao for it. Cao plans to pin both Deng Qi’s death and the drug deal on you. As for how he’ll set you up, I don’t know.”

“Do you know where the drugs are coming from? Southeast Asia or Colombia?” Ji Liehu asked.

“No idea,” Qin Yang replied. Deng Qi’s memories held no clues. “But the seller’s background must be significant; Cao’s aiming big this time.”

Ji Liehu cursed. “I’ll be careful. You take care too.”

“Mm, I’ll notify the police. Want to try your luck with this?” Qin Yang suddenly grinned. “You’re short on capital. If you could get your hands on the dealer’s drugs and all the money Cao’s moving, what would that mean for you?”

“Not likely,” Ji Liehu laughed ruefully. “If the police believe you, there’ll be SWAT teams everywhere. I doubt I could profit amidst that chaos.”

“How will you know if you don’t try?” Qin Yang smiled. “Get ready. I’ll contact you again.”

“All right!”

Ji Liehu was fearless by nature, and Qin Yang’s words spurred him on. He had nothing to lose—failure meant nothing, but if he succeeded, the profits would be staggering. Rising from the ashes would no longer be a joke. After hanging up, Qin Yang breathed a sigh of relief.

No sooner had he returned to the top floor than Tao Caijie pulled him aside. Glancing around to make sure no one was near, she whispered conspiratorially, “Guess what the general manager asked me about?”

“You think I’m a spy?” Qin Yang rolled his eyes. “How would I know?”

“Ha! She asked mostly about you,” Tao Caijie lowered her voice, clearly excited. “I think the general manager is seriously interested in you. Whenever she talks about you, she loses focus. You should seize the opportunity—she may seem cold, but she’s a good woman. Don’t miss your chance.”

“Aren’t you playing matchmaker here?” Qin Yang replied helplessly.

“Who’s playing matchmaker? I’m just looking out for you,” Tao Caijie shot him a glare. “If the general manager really likes you, that’s your good fortune. Don’t fail to appreciate it.”

To outsiders, their hushed conversation looked suspiciously intimate—especially to Guo Jintao, who already harbored such suspicions. Watching from a distant corner, he was livid, wishing he could tear Qin Yang to pieces. But mindful of Qin Yang’s relationship with Sun Qi, he forced himself to calm down. Upon leaving the mall, he went straight to the Golden Pavilion and found Cao Long in his office.

Cao Long was in a foul mood these days. Long Qiu and Hu had staged a surprising comeback, putting him under tremendous pressure—all thanks to Qin Yang. The only solution seemed to be finding the jade pendant the old sage had mentioned; perhaps then, everything could be resolved. He tossed a photo of the pendant onto the desk. Despite sending out many men to search, he’d found nothing, and his frustration was mounting. Seeing Guo Jintao enter, he snapped, “What is it?”

“Cousin, I need your help—with teaching someone a lesson,” Guo Jintao said through gritted teeth.

“Teaching people lessons, is that all you ever do?” Cao Long flared up immediately.

Guo Jintao jumped, then asked cautiously, “Cousin, is something troubling you?”

Cao Long sat heavily, lighting a cigarette and taking a fierce drag. Guo Jintao, at a loss for words, glanced at the photo on the desk. Suddenly, he froze, picked it up for a closer look, and exclaimed, “I’ve seen this pendant at our mall. The person I want you to help me with has it.”

“Are you sure?” Cao Long grabbed him, eyes wide. “You’re sure you’re not mistaken?”

“Absolutely sure,” Guo Jintao vowed. “It’s exactly this pendant. Cousin, give me a few men, and I can handle him!”

Guo Jintao had no intention of mentioning Qin Yang’s connection with Sun Qi—he didn’t want Cao Long to back out. Cao Long, driven by his desire for the pendant, didn’t doubt him. As long as he could obtain it, he didn’t care what it cost. He readily agreed to Guo Jintao’s request.