Chapter 360: I Don't Know Anything
Gangs of thugs are found everywhere.
They might not be skilled in much else, but they're masters at scouring the streets for information.
Many intelligence agencies recruit from the ranks of these street gangs.
Jin Mingzhu watched the group hurry away. "They aren't going to just run off, are they?"
Xiao Ye wasn't concerned. "They can run, but they can't hide."
If they dared to run, Xiao Ye would show them the meaning of true regret.
With the thugs' help, the two of them no longer needed to investigate matters in town themselves.
Besides, they also had Leader He helping them.
So, Xiao Ye and Jin Mingzhu decided to return to their guesthouse and get some proper rest for a few days.
「Two days later.」
Early one morning, his phone wouldn't stop vibrating.
Xiao Ye, having just finished his morning workout, wiped the sweat from his brow and answered the call.
"B-Boss!" The middle-aged man's voice came from the other end. "We found an outsider who went into Da'anling."
"The same day we met, this person went into Da'anling."
Xiao Ye shot to his feet. "Tell me where. I'm on my way!"
「An hour later.」
「Downtown.」
The middle-aged man looked at Xiao Ye, trembling. "It just so happens one of my guys comes from a family of hunters."
"His uncle was up early feeding the pigs that day and happened to run into the guy."
"The guy didn't say a word, just went straight into Da'anling. It must have been around four or five in the morning."
"The sky was still dark then. As soon as I found out, I had my guy look for him. He should be staying in a small inn right now."
The inn happens to be a popular rendezvous spot for some of the local thugs. Otherwise, the middle-aged man wouldn't have been able to track him down so quickly.
Xiao Ye nodded. "If this lead is useful, I'll spare your life."
The middle-aged man was ecstatic. "Thank you, Boss!"
「In a residential complex in the city.」
This place had a family-run inn that charged thirty a night. The rooms were tiny—only a few square meters at most—with no private bathroom, just a bed and a table.
The people who stayed in a place like this were either laborers or broke thugs.
The owner didn't show much enthusiasm when he saw them arrive.
The thug leading the way was a regular. Without a word, he grabbed the key and led Xiao Ye inside.
"This is the room."
103.
Xiao Ye glanced at the door.
The thug understood and quickly pulled out the key.
CREAK.
The door swung open.
The curtains in the room were drawn, leaving it shrouded in darkness.
Xiao Ye immediately spotted the person lying on the bed.
He strode into the room.
Jin Mingzhu followed close behind and went to examine the body. "He's dead."
"Just recently. The body's still warm."
Xiao Ye looked at the corpse. Its lips were dark, a clear sign of death by poisoning.
Hearing this, the thug at the door turned pale with fright.
'How... How is someone else dead?!'
'Could this pair be King Yama in the flesh?'
'Everyone they come across dies!'
"Looks like he knew we were coming for him."
Xiao Ye scanned the room, then reached under the bed and pulled out a rosewood box.
The box was open and empty.
But it still reeked of a heavy Yin Demonic Qi. It seemed the box had indeed held what they were looking for.
"The item is gone..." Jin Mingzhu murmured thoughtfully. "It seems your guess was right. The mastermind doesn't want us to see what was in it."
"But where could it be now?"
This was a residential complex, and there were hardly any surveillance cameras in the area.
It would be difficult to find out who he met or where the item was taken.
Moreover, Xiao Ye couldn't sense any Yin Demonic Qi in the vicinity. "It's definitely not here anymore."
"We'll keep searching! I refuse to believe we can't find it!"
He looked at the thug. "You can go. And keep your mouth shut."
The thug slapped a hand over his mouth. "I... I don't know anything! I didn't see a thing!"
With that, he scrambled away, terrified that Xiao Ye would remember his existence and decide to silence him for good.
A short while later, the same people from before arrived.
They took the body away for an autopsy back at military headquarters.
Xiao Ye walked out of the inn and looked up at the overcast sky. "If we can't find any more leads here, we'll move on to the next location."
"As for the formation's core, have some people keep an eye on it. If any problems arise, they should notify us immediately."
Jin Mingzhu nodded. "That's our only option."
They had just gotten into their car when Leader He called.
"I had my people run a comparison on the photo you sent. We've confirmed his identity. According to the Sky Eye facial recognition system, he met with someone."
"This person is currently at a club called Ice River."
After hanging up, Xiao Ye immediately drove toward the club without a word.
By now, it was evening.
The streets were quiet.
The club's neon sign was lit up.
Xiao Ye and Jin Mingzhu put on simple disguises before heading inside.
They looked much more ordinary now. With their auras reined in, they wouldn't attract much attention.
A wave of heat washed over them as they pushed the door open.
The music inside wasn't loud; it was just right.
The stage was empty, and most people were sitting at the bar.
Strangely, the ratio of men to women was perfectly balanced. In fact, everyone seemed to be in male-female pairs.
'Is this a couples' club?'
Jin Mingzhu glanced around and lowered her voice. "I know what this place is."
"It's a club for married couples. Most of the patrons are husbands and wives."
Xiao Ye frowned slightly. He'd never heard of a club for married couples.
A look of disgust crossed Jin Mingzhu's face. "A club like this exists for only one purpose: swapping."
"Some thrill-seeking couples come here to swap partners."
"They call it 'keeping things fresh,' but really, they're just a bunch of players who are irresponsible about their marriages."
Jin Mingzhu looked at Xiao Ye. "We're a man and a woman. If we don't want to tip anyone off, our best bet is to pose as a married couple. What do you think?"
Xiao Ye considered it for a moment, then nodded. "All right. We'll do it your way."
'It's normal to take on all sorts of identities for a mission.'
Jin Mingzhu was secretly delighted. She reached out and looped her arm through Xiao Ye's.
She knew he disliked physical contact with other women, so this level of intimacy was just enough without being off-putting.
Sure enough, Xiao Ye didn't refuse and instead found a booth where they could sit.
They had only been sitting for a moment when a man approached their table.
His gaze burned as he stared at Jin Mingzhu. Her face was average, but her body was incredible.
Especially with her overcoat off, revealing a physique that radiated strength.
'A woman like that must be a wild ride in bed.'
"Hey, beautiful. Interested in a swap?"
He then looked at Xiao Ye and gestured for a woman to come over. "This is my wife. If you're open to it, we can have a little chat."
The man's wife was young and had an innocent-looking face.
Xiao Ye noticed that other men had already set their sights on her.