Chapter Twelve: Attending the Meeting Alone

Chapter Twelve: A Blade at the Negotiation Table

Xu Yun's guess had been right—Qiu Yan had indeed been hiding not far from the medicinal restaurant, which explained how she had intervened so swiftly that afternoon. Who would have thought that the formidable Fox Lord of Violence would harbor such deep affection for a little girl?

When Xu Yun returned home, he did not, as usual, sit to meditate and regulate his breathing. Instead, he pulled a gray-green backpack from beneath his bed. Opening it, a variety of exquisitely prepared medicines spilled onto the floor.

He quickly located a gold-and-purple porcelain bottle. He had already noticed earlier that Qiu Yan’s forehead was dark and lifeless—perhaps only this could prolong her life. Were it not for Guo Guo, Xu Yun would never have used such a priceless treasure to save a Fox Lord famed throughout the underworld.

Leaving home, Xu Yun soon arrived at the small three-story inn where Qiu Yan was hiding. With a light tap of his foot, he leapt nimbly to the third-floor corridor window—his movements fluid and silent as flowing water.

The third floor was occupied by people in more than a dozen rooms. Xu Yun walked softly to the first door and pressed his ear against it.

"Ah! Darling, hurry up! Faster! Mmm—!"

"Mmm! Mmm! Mmm!"

Damn! Do they have to be so wild? Aren’t they worried the neighbors will hear? Xu Yun muttered inwardly, rubbing his ears as he moved to the next room.

"Snore... shhh... snore... shhh..."

The snoring was like thunder. No wonder the madness next door didn’t disturb this sleeper.

Xu Yun went straight to the third room. Pressing his ear to the door, he heard not a sound from within—an eerie, deathly silence.

A "Do Not Disturb" sign hung from the handle. Usually, only adulterers or drug users did that. But neither could conceal their presence so well. Only a master like Qiu Yan, the Fox Lord, could so utterly suppress her aura.

"I know you’re inside," Xu Yun said with a slight smile. "I brought something for you. If you think it’ll help, try it."

Inside, all was still; there was no answer. This fox was exceedingly cautious—but if she delayed any longer, not even Xu Yun’s skillful hands could save her.

Leaning his shoulder against the door, Xu Yun said, "I mean well—don’t take kindness for malice."

Still, there was no response.

"I’m only doing this for the sake of my bond with Guo Guo," he sighed. Wasn’t this the classic case of offering a warm face to a cold behind?

Still silence from within.

"Fine, I won’t throw pearls before swine any longer." Xu Yun set the small bottle from his pocket on the floor. "I’m leaving the medicine at your door. If you trust me, use it. If not, throw it away. At best, it will only prolong your life. If you don’t seek proper treatment soon, there’ll be no hope for you."

With that, Xu Yun wasted no more words and turned to leave.

Only after he’d vaulted away from the inn did the door open noiselessly, leaving a thin crack.

Qiu Yan stood in the doorway, her face expressionless and cold. With slender fingers, she brought the medicine bottle into the room. Was he truly doing this for Guo Guo’s sake, or was it mere pity for someone at death’s door?

She gently uncorked the bottle, fanning the opening with her fingers. A unique, potent aroma wafted into her nose, and her usually sharp gaze turned to one of utter astonishment.

"The Nine-Treasure Rebirth Pill!?" Qiu Yan gasped. How could that man possess such a rare and precious elixir?

Without another thought, she flung the door open and hurried down the corridor, but by the time she reached the window at the far end, Xu Yun was long gone.

Staring at the life-saving medicine in her hand, Qiu Yan’s curiosity about Xu Yun only deepened.

After receiving a call for backup from Qin Wan’er regarding the casino bust, the Wen Hui District police took the matter seriously—Deputy Director Ma personally took charge! The team that arrived on the scene was astonished—Deputy Ma, already forty, had never seen a case of this scale in his life.

"Xiao Qin, you’ve really brought honor to the station this time!" Deputy Ma couldn’t help but praise, "This afternoon you caught a host of criminals, and now you’ve wiped out a gambling den as well. I’m truly impressed."

"It’s all thanks to your leadership, Director Ma!" Young police officer Xiao Wu chimed in obsequiously. "Wan’er could only achieve such results under your wise command!"

Deputy Ma laughed, "Now, now, don’t say that—if Director Liu or Instructor Chen hears, I’ll be in trouble! Learn from Xiao Qin: talk less, do more!"

"Yes, sir!" Xiao Wu nodded.

Qin Wan’er had no taste for flattery and didn’t respond. "Xiao Wu, get to work—there’s a mountain of evidence to process."

"Will do!"

Over a hundred gambling devices and twenty-three suspects were brought back to the station, including Lü Bao, who had smashed a window to steal money.

Deputy Ma ordered all-night interrogations to bring the criminals to justice. But since Qin Wan’er had performed so well, she was allowed to go home and rest while others took the night shift.

Qin Wan’er was indeed exhausted and had little interest in the interrogations, so she followed orders and rode her bike home. Yet, as she waited for the light at Bowan Street’s intersection, a bag dropped from above!

Her vision dimmed at once—her hands were suddenly seized and bound, and no matter how she struggled, she could not break free. She heard several voices conversing, then she was thrown into a vehicle.

"You dare assault a police officer!" Qin Wan’er shouted.

Her only answer was the cold touch of a knife against her throat. "Shut your mouth! So what if you’re a cop? I’d attack even the Jade Emperor himself if I felt like it!"

Qin Wan’er realized she was dealing with reckless desperadoes and held her tongue. At the academy, her instructors had always said: stay calm in a crisis—only then can you find a way out.

The car rattled for over half an hour before coming to a stop.

"Clatter—" Qin Wan’er heard the car door open.

"Boss, I’ve brought her," came a hoarse, chilling voice.

She felt her pocket empty—her phone was snatched away.

The raspy-voiced man chuckled darkly, dialing a number from her phone.

...

No sooner had Xu Yun left the inn where Qiu Yan was hiding than he received a call from Qin Wan’er’s number. He was puzzled. "What is it, inviting me for dinner as thanks?"

"Oh, I’ll be sure to thank you," a hoarse, sinister voice replied.

Xu Yun stiffened. Why was a man answering Qin Wan’er’s phone? His sixth sense screamed danger. "Who are you?"

"Qin Wan’er is in my hands," the voice growled, growing more grating with each word. "You’d better be polite if you don’t want anything to happen to her. You dared mess with my casino—don’t you know who you’re dealing with?"

Xu Yun grew silent. He’d tipped off Qin Wan’er about the gambling den with good intentions, but now it brought her nothing but trouble. He regretted not lingering longer at the scene on Bowan Street.

"Say what you want," Xu Yun replied flatly.

"You beat Wei Lao Si this afternoon—got them all locked up! Tonight you took out Chen Sanpao and busted my place. You really are the nemesis of our Four Wolves gang. Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?"

Xu Yun understood and didn’t bother with pretense. "Fine. Name a place and I’ll meet you."

"The abandoned rubber factory by the Si River, where Hedong’s southern outskirts meet northern Jinnan," the voice rasped, chilling to the bone. "And don’t play games! Hurry, or I can’t promise my men will control themselves. If anything happens, blame that pretty policewoman for being too attractive!"

"Very well, I’m on my way. Leave me a way out, and we can talk," Xu Yun replied, a cold fury rising within him.

"Hah, you’re the one who left me no way out," the man snorted before hanging up. The dial tone sounded especially sharp in the dead of night.

Xu Yun was left to puzzle over what had happened. He quickly hailed a cab—at this hour, heading into the wilderness cost dearly, and only a driver who valued money more than life would accept.

The rubber factory hadn’t closed due to bankruptcy, but because severe pollution of the Si River had forced its relocation—neither Hedong nor Jinnan’s officials wanted a thousand-year-old scenic river destroyed.

On arrival, the taxi driver grew nervous. Having pocketed his fare, he sped off as soon as Xu Yun got out.

Night had deepened, and the abandoned factory was eerily quiet.

After walking another half a mile, Xu Yun saw the rubber factory under a dim light. As he approached the lights, he could hear laughter and raucous voices—the number of people inside was not small.

In the factory’s central yard were a Passat, a Haval SUV, a Great Wall pickup, an aging Buick minivan, and several vans. In the midst of these vehicles stood Qin Wan’er’s imposing police motorcycle.

The yard was empty—clearly, the enemy feared no surprise attack. With Qin Wan’er in their hands, they trusted Xu Yun wouldn’t make a move.

Xu Yun strode to the rusted iron doors of the workshop and, with a creak, pushed them open.