Without warning, I didn't have time to react. When I turned my head, those sharp dog teeth were aimed straight for my eyeball.
Bang! I didn't even get to scream before a powerful force slammed me away. When my head cleared, a yellow-furred street dog was gently licking my wrist.
"Was it you who saved me?"
The boss was sweating buckets. If his dog had blinded me, that would have been a serious problem.
"Bro, are you okay?" He quickly squatted beside me.
"I'm fine. Don't worry." Just as I was about to stand up, a tingling sensation spread through my wrist. Looking down, I saw the dog was fixated on one spot, licking it over and over.
"This dog and I are connected—wait!" A flash of lightning shot through my mind. "The dog is licking the wound left by the Plum Blossom Gu from The Netherworld Live Show!"
I yanked my arm away, ignoring the awkward, apologetic smile from the boss. I crouched and locked eyes with the dog. "Do you know what this is?"
The boss was baffled by my reaction. "Why'd you get down on the floor? You're not trying to scam me, are you?"
"Boss, I want this dog."
"Huh? What's going on?"
"I said, I want this dog!"
"No, bro, this dog's not for sale. That fifty grand was probably just the old priest's drunken nonsense."
"What's its name?"
"Why so straightforward? The dog's been waiting for its owner to come back. Even if you buy it, it'll sneak back."
"Tell me its name!"
"Bai Qi."
"Bai Qi? Like Bai Qi, the most ferocious general of the Qin dynasty, who slaughtered 400,000 soldiers?!"
"The characters are the same, but—"
"What a domineering name, such heavy killing aura! No wonder it's so calm and indifferent to honor or disgrace, unbothered by ghosts and spirits! This dog's mine!"
I stood up, pulled out my black card for The Netherworld Live Show. "Boss, I won't haggle over fifty grand—not a single cent less."
"Bro, calm down." The boss was completely dumbfounded. What was going on here?
"No more hesitation. This is exactly what I want!" I reached into my pocket and shoved two hundred yuan into his hand. "We'll do installments. You keep this for now. Bai Qi, let's go!"
We took off at a jog. Bai Qi, drawn by the Plum Blossom Gu scent, followed close behind.
After we were two streets away, I heard the boss yelling, waving the two hundred yuan, running after us in slippers: "Hey, that dog's not for sale!"
"Keep the other 499,800. No need to chase us!"
We left the pet market behind and hopped in a taxi.
"Drive around the city once, then come back. Hurry."
"Okay, okay."
When I returned to the pet market later, the boss hadn't called the cops and his business was still going. I finally relaxed.
"Guess he figured you'd sneak back on your own tomorrow." I stroked Bai Qi's neck. The dog lay on my lap like a human, but its nose kept sniffing the wound on my wrist.
"You know The Netherworld Live Show too?" That was where the nightmare began. I could never forget it. I had a paralyzing fear of that place. I wouldn't admit it, but avoiding investigating Darkless Road was proof enough.
Back at Happy Pinnacle, Xiaofeng had finished cooking and sat at the table, seriously reciting product names and prices.
Hearing her calmly say some embarrassing names made me smile.
"Today's meal smells great. I could smell it before I even got in the door."
"You're back." Xiaofeng happily greeted me. Then, catching sight of Bai Qi by my side, she let out a sharp scream and darted back inside.
"Gao Jian! What—what is that?!"
"It's Bai Qi. From now on, he's part of the shop."
Inside, Bai Qi wagged his tail and slowly circled around Xiaofeng, who, the fated Red Luan, actually trembled and didn't dare move.
The dog seemed pleased with her reaction, barked three times at her, then went inside and started chasing its tail.
"Xiaofeng, cook three servings from now on. Make sure there's meat every meal. This dog's smart—don't treat him badly."
"You seem to care about him more than me."
Terrified Xiaofeng looked a bit hurt. I quickly sat next to her. "You've worked hard. I'll raise your pay. Tomorrow we'll go buy you some nice clothes."
After saying this, I silently mocked myself: "Why do I sound like some emotional con artist?"
Seeing her happier and still feeding me, I had things I couldn't say aloud.
Full and sleepy, I let Xiaofeng sleep in the upstairs bed and made a floor bed for myself downstairs.
Early the next morning, urgent knocking woke me from a sweet dream.
"Who is it?"
I opened the door to find a man wrapped head to toe in a trench coat.
"Bro, buying stuff at an adult shop isn't shameful. Why dress like a secret agent?"
The man's tone was cold: "Let's talk inside. I have business to discuss with you."
"Business?"
I led him inside, told Xiaofeng to watch the shop, and made the man some tea. "What kind of business?"
He said nothing, just placed a briefcase on the table and opened it: "A 100,000-yuan business."
"Big money." Compared to Xia Qingzhi's small deals, this was real business. "Long time no business, but when it comes, it lasts years. Go on."
He stood at the door, checked no one was eavesdropping, took off his hat, and sat back down. "Mr. Gao, hello. I'm Zhang, Chairman Huang's personal secretary from Qianding Pharmaceuticals."
"So male secretaries are popular now? Nice to meet you." My eyes never left the red bills—it looked so vivid.
"Mr. Gao, this 100,000 is just a deposit. If your investigation satisfies Chairman Huang, we'll give you another 100,000."
"Two hundred grand total? What do you want me to do, steal trade secrets from competitors?"
"Here's the situation. Chairman Huang has three kids—two daughters and a son. The eldest daughter works out of province, the second daughter is seriously ill, and the youngest son, Huang Guanxing, just over twenty, is a playboy wasting his life."
"You don't want me to investigate Chairman Huang, do you?"
"Of course not. This business was commissioned by Chairman Huang himself. He saw you at the Jiang family wedding and thinks you're capable, so he sent me."
"Sorry, I was being rash. Go on."
"Though the youngest son is reckless and a womanizer, he's the only male heir to continue the Huang bloodline."
"So despite headaches, Chairman Huang always sends people to secretly protect him, fearing accidents."
"But despite all that protection, Huang Guanxing died."
"Died?"
"Yes. Police say it was a drunk driving accident, and Huang Guanxing was fully responsible."
"Drunk driving is his own fault." I lit a cigarette. "Don't mind me."
Zhang waved his hand: "Though reckless, Huang Guanxing is allergic to alcohol. So he couldn't have been drunk driving."
"Alcohol was only found later in the autopsy, so Chairman Huang suspects murder disguised as an accident."
Zhang straightened: "Many groups have conflicts with Qianding Pharmaceuticals, so the killer is hard to identify. Chairman Huang is the company's face and can't act openly. He wants you to investigate quietly."
I thought for a moment. Private detectives usually avoid homicide cases, but those red bills on the table were tempting.
"Alright, I accept your commission." I stubbed out my cigarette and focused. "I need you to provide all materials, including all of Huang Guanxing's communication devices and social media accounts. I'll investigate everyone who had contact with him."
"No problem. I understand your rules." Zhang took a file from his coat: "Both of Huang Guanxing's phones are inside, with his social media usernames and passwords in the documents. Here's my card. Contact me anytime. I'll cooperate fully."
After sending Zhang off, I locked the upstairs door and opened the file.
"A two hundred thousand deal. Looks like I have to go all in."
I took out one of Huang Guanxing's phones and logged into WeChat. A familiar username appeared:
"Handsome & Skilled Girl? Isn't that—"