Some thoughts are terrifying when you delve into them—so terrifying that you simply cannot afford to dwell on them.
Is Qian Guang clean? Absolutely not. Perhaps he doesn't flaunt his misdeeds as brazenly as Fei Zhu and the others, but he's far from innocent. Xiao Mi is living proof of that...
Stepping outside, the glaring sunlight stung my eyes. I hailed a cab and headed to Xiao Mi's residence. The damp, dingy apartment upstairs was just as dilapidated as ever.
I knocked on the door, and Xiao Mi opened it. She looked better—healthier, more spirited, less gaunt and defeated than before. I stepped inside and closed the door, noticing her mid-injection.
"How are you feeling?" I asked.
"Since you left, I haven't used. But this morning, Qian Guang called me, and I couldn't resist the urge anymore, so I thought I'd take just one shot..." Xiao Mi said.
Her words revealed she already knew about accompanying me to Myanmar. I sat down and asked her seriously, "Where does your supply come from?"
She hesitated, then replied, "I buy it, of course..."
I frowned. "From whom?"
"I don't know. Every time, I'd give money to Qian Guang, and he'd deliver it to me. Last time, I bought ten thousand worth, but you flushed it all away. I haven't bought more since. This morning, Qian Guang said he'd send some over when I left with you. Whenever he needs me to do something, he ensures I have what I need," Xiao Mi explained.
Taking a deep breath, I clenched my fists. Qian Guang is far from clean.
I swallowed hard. "He asked you to follow me to spy on me, didn't he?"
Xiao Mi chuckled softly. "You already know. It seems you're wary of him now too..."
Frustrated, I leaned back on the couch. Disheartened, truly disheartened. I thought our relationship had reached a point where surveillance was unnecessary. I believed he could trust me entirely...
"Qian Guang trusts no one. Don't be fooled by his brotherly camaraderie. He only trusts you when you're under his watchful eye. The moment you're out of sight, he's uneasy. That's why he sent me to monitor you and report anything unusual," Xiao Mi explained.
"Why does he trust you so much? Is it because of the drugs?" I asked.
"Yes. He's terrifying. He uses drugs to control me. I'm addicted. Whenever I relapsed, I'd beg at his feet like a dog, and only when he pitied me would he give me a little..." Xiao Mi confessed, her voice laced with bitterness.
Her hatred was palpable. To be controlled this way was beyond humiliating. I swallowed hard. Some people, some truths, are far darker than they seem.
I buried my face in my hands. Qian Guang's deeds had nothing to do with me. If I kept my head down and focused on earning money through gambling stones, I'd be fine—or so I told myself. But how could that be true? If he got caught, I'd inevitably be implicated. There was no escaping it.
"Are you afraid?" Xiao Mi asked, studying me.
How could I not be? This was a path leading straight into an abyss. I hadn't committed truly heinous acts yet, but I was already being dragged into the mire. Resentment and despair churned within me—I had no way out.
I left Xiao Mi's apartment after promising to pick her up when it was time to leave. As I stepped outside, a suffocating unease enveloped me.
Plots, deceit, false brotherhood...
So this was what they called loyalty. What nonsense. How many more vile, twisted secrets did Qian Guang harbor? He wasn't just ruthless—he was terrifying.
At the bank, I cashed out my money and transferred it all to Qian Guang's account. Wandering the streets, I felt utterly lost. There wasn't a single person I could turn to for advice.
The only one who might help was Ma Lan. She had both the resources and the clout. I made my way to Jade City to find her. At the counter, I saw Sang Ling, who greeted me with a smile. In her uniform, she looked less alluring but even more radiant.
"Zhao Fei, looking for Ms. Ma? She's upstairs. I'll take you there," Sang Ling said.
I nodded and followed her upstairs. As we walked, she asked, "Is it okay if I call you Zhao Fei? You don't mind, do you?"
I smiled. "I don't mind. It feels friendlier that way."
"Hmm, I used to call my first love by his name all the time—it became a habit..." Sang Ling said.
Her words made me frown slightly. Was it a casual remark, or did it carry hidden meaning? "Are you still single?" I asked.
"Yes..." she replied with a laugh.
"You're so beautiful. It's a pity not to have a boyfriend," I said.
Sang Ling chuckled softly. "If I found someone as handsome and capable as you, I'd date them in a heartbeat. But men like you are rare..."
Her words, delivered with a lingering gaze, left me a little puzzled. Was she hinting at something?
Lost in thought, we reached the second floor, a private area for the shop's operations. Sang Ling knocked on a door, opened it, and led me inside. There was Ma Lan, crouched over some uncut jade stones from before.
"What brings you here?" Ma Lan asked without looking up.
"I need to talk," I replied.
Ma Lan stood up and instructed Sang Ling, "Put these jade stones in the safe for me."
Sang Ling nodded and carefully started packing the stones. Ma Lan turned to me. "So? What's the matter?"
I glanced at Sang Ling. Ma Lan followed my gaze but didn't say anything. She waited, but when she noticed Sang Ling struggling with the heavy stones, she added, "Be careful. These stones are worth 80 million. Each piece is worth millions—you can't afford to break any of them."
The tension of the moment, however, is better left for later.
Ma Lan led me into the inner room, locking the door behind us. She turned to face me and asked, "This serious?"
I nodded. "If Qian Guang is involved with drugs, would Lord Qi let him off?"
Her expression darkened, curiosity flashing across her face. "What do you mean? Is Qian Guang connected to Fei Zhu and their dealings?"
"I'm not sure," I admitted. "But he's not clean. He has access to large quantities of drugs, which terrifies me. I used to think his control over others was limited to small amounts, but last time, when I gave Xiao Mi ten thousand yuan, she used it all to buy a massive batch. It was Qian Guang who supplied her."
Ma Lan listened and smirked. "That's actually good news. If he's dirty and it's exposed, my father won't let him go. Imagine my sister's reaction to this—it'll be priceless."
"Don't joke," I said, exasperated. "What do you think I should do?"
Ma Lan frowned. "Qian Guang might not be dealing directly, but if he's connected to those people from Nongdao, it's a big problem. Fei Zhu worked with them to expand his operations, dreaming of overthrowing my father and becoming the northern kingpin. If Qian Guang's tied to them, his ambitions are just as dangerous."
Her words made me uneasy. I had always suspected Qian Guang's ambitions were vast, but if he had ties to Nongdao, the stakes were far higher than I'd imagined. The waters I was wading into were murky and treacherous, and I felt utterly adrift.
"But why would Qian Guang still gamble on stones if he's involved with Nongdao?" I asked. "The risk in gambling stones is enormous—nothing compared to the steady profits of collaborating with them."
"Zhao Fei, don't act rashly," Ma Lan cautioned. "Keep an eye on things. When we have solid evidence, then we'll strike. And if Qian Guang is guilty, this is your chance to eliminate him and take his place. With him gone, our partnership will be stronger than ever."
I nodded, though my heart was in turmoil. I knew Qian Guang's ambitions, yet I couldn't shake the unease gnawing at me.
Ma Lan opened the door abruptly, and we found Sang Ling standing outside, looking flustered.
"What are you doing here? Why haven't you left?" Ma Lan demanded, visibly irritated.
"I was waiting... to give you the safe's key," Sang Ling stammered, clearly nervous. She handed the key over hastily.
Ma Lan snatched it, glaring at her. "Go back to the shop. And don't come up here again."
Sang Ling nodded quickly and retreated, her face tinged with embarrassment. Ma Lan muttered, "Sneaky little thing," as she turned back to me.
I shook my head, uninterested in Sang Ling's behavior. "I'm heading to Myanmar for a few days. Take care of things here," I said.
With that, I left Ma Lan's store and returned to the bar. Sitting at the counter, I took a drink while Wang Gui and Zhao Kui watched me with concern.
"Fei, what's wrong? You look like you've been through hell," Wang Gui quipped, trying to lighten the mood.
I forced a weak smile. "Is there even such a thing as loyalty in this world? For profit, people lie, scheme, and discard all semblance of humanity. For power, they'll do anything."
The two men exchanged glances but said nothing. I shook my head. Ma Lan wasn't exactly trustworthy either—greedy and cunning, at least she was upfront about it. But Qian Guang? He was an enigma, his depths too murky for me to fathom. Every time I thought I could trust him, I'd glimpse something in his gaze that filled me with dread.
If he truly had ties to Nongdao, then everything I'd done so far had already provoked them. And if, one day, Nongdao forced him to choose between me and their interests, I feared his decision.
"Fei, no matter what others do to you, I, Wang Gui, am true to you," Wang Gui declared, his voice resolute. "You saved my life, gave me a path, gave me money to survive. For that, I'll follow you to the end and never betray you."
Zhao Kui nodded. "I trust you, Fei. And as long as you trust me, I'll never turn against you."
I smiled faintly and nodded. "Whatever happens, you two will always be my brothers. We'll drink together, share our wealth, and if there's an enemy..."
"We'll take them down together," they said in unison.