Shen Yi stopped his bike a little distance away from the tall building that stood brightly against the twilight. He remained still for a while as he observed the large casino where Jiang Qi had just gone in after following him the entire evening. He had seen Jiang Qi enter with only four bodyguards while the rest were left standing outside at different positions, keeping watch.
He sat silently on the bike for a moment longer, and although the engine was off, his heartbeat wasn't calm. That was because the problem wasn't getting close but it was getting to Jiang Qi without raising alarm. Shen Yi already knew that with all the guards around, there was no way he would be allowed inside easily, and the casino most likely only allowed VIP guests.
The entrance was under tight surveillance, and even though he was good at sneaking in and out of difficult places, this was not one he could walk into blindly, so he needed to find another way. Shen Yi quietly got off his bike and walked towards a path that curved around the back of the building, and his eyes moved fast, scanning every corner for a possible way in.
He kept walking until he reached a blind spot. There at the side of the wall was a rusted metal pipe that ran all the way up, and above it was a small window—one of those tiny ones that were usually found in public toilets. He looked around carefully to make sure no one was watching him, and when the coast was clear, he placed one foot on the bottom of the pipe and began to climb swiftly.
His movements were quick and sharp, and within twenty seconds, he had already reached the top of the pipe, though his fingers were beginning to ache slightly from gripping the cold metal. He adjusted his balance and looked at the small window, then gave it a light pull, and after a few tries, it opened just enough to let him squeeze through.
His slim body made it easier, though it was a tight fit, and after some brief struggling, he finally slipped inside and landed on the tiled floor of what appeared to be a washroom. Luckily for him, it was empty, and the sound of the soft landing echoed slightly, but there was no response or movement outside the door.
Shen Yi stood up and brushed the dust off his clothes, then walked toward the door with quiet steps and gently turned the handle. He opened it just enough to peek through, and he looked both ways, only to find the hallway empty. It was stretching out in both directions with dim lights above.
He was about to step out when he suddenly paused and glanced at his reflection on the small mirror beside the door. The way he looked now—with a hood over his head and shadows covering half his face—he knew anyone who saw him like this would immediately suspect something.
He stepped back inside and took off the hood and placed it on the side of the sink. Underneath, he had a balck leather jacket. Slowly, Shen Yi unzipped the front of his jacket, revealing a simple dark t-shirt along with a thin silver necklace. His black hair was slightly messy, so he ran a hand through it and pushed it back until it looked neat.
He looked at the mirror again and gave a small nod, then looked down at the pistol tucked under his belt. The handle was slightly visible, so he adjusted it and pushed it behind him so it would be less noticeable. Satisfied, he took his hood, rolled it up quickly, and stuffed it deep into one of the toilet stalls before walking out quietly and locking the washroom door behind him.
*****
Inside the casino, the atmosphere was louder, but not chaotic. Jiang Qi was seated comfortably in a VIP lounge. He held a half-full glass in his hand while talking to a few older men, who looked like experienced businessmen or underground partners, and the conversation seemed serious but calm.
He sipped slowly while listening, and after a while, he stood up, giving a short nod to the men before turning away and walking toward the inner corridor where a row of private suites was located. Two bodyguards followed closely behind, and the other two stayed near the main area, keeping watch over the general floor.
They walked to the end of the hallway, and Jiang Qi stopped in front of the last suite. He reached into his pocket to pull out a black key card. Before unlocking the door, he turned slightly to the guard on his left.
"Yao Zhen, have someone bring up something to eat," he ordered in a low but firm tone.
"Yes, Boss." Yao Zhen bowed slightly and turned away to carry out the order while the other bodyguard, Xu Bo, stood outside the door.
Just as Jiang Qi was about to enter, he paused again, as if remembering something, and without fully turning around, he said casually, "Mm… get me a bottle of wine."
Xu Bo looked around briefly and noticed there was no one else present to take his place, so he hesitated.
However, Jiang Qi's voice changed slightly, now calm but commanding, "Get me a bottle of wine," and he repeated the order without raising his tone.
Xu Bo immediately replied with, "Yes, boss," and then walked away without saying another word. Jiang Qi watched him leave, and only after Xu Bo was out of sight did he step inside and close the door gently behind him.
Back at the hallway, everything had gone quiet again, and the footsteps of the guards had faded into the distance. From around the corner, Shen Yi stepped into view and walked quickly but silently down the hallway, keeping close to the walls as he approached the door at the end.
He stood right in front of it and reached for his pistol, now fitted with a silencer, and aimed it at the door's locking mechanism. He held his breath slightly as he prepared to fire, but just as he was about to pull the trigger, the door swung open from the inside.
Before he could even react, a strong hand grabbed his wrist. The gun was snatched from his grip in an instant, and he was yanked forcefully into the room. The door slammed shut behind him, and the next thing he knew, he was pinned hard against it, his chest pressed to the cold surface while a sharp pain twisted through his arm.
His right hand was pulled tightly behind his back, and something cold and hard was placed firmly against the side of his head.
Then, a low voice spoke close to his ear, "Any movements you die."
Though the voice was calm, it carried a deadly weight warning him that if he moved even slightly, he would be shot without hesitation.