Chapter 82: The Crimson Scorpion Pays a Visit

Chapter 82: The Crimson Scorpion Pays a Visit

For Xu Yun, the idea of bathing with either Ruan Qingshuang or Qiu Yan was nothing short of a dream. After Ruan Qingshuang helped Guoguo bathe, Guoguo was promptly dragged off to bed by Qiu Yan, who insisted on an early night. Ruan Qingshuang, flustered by the awkwardness, quickly retreated to her own room. Yet despite their efforts, Guoguo soon slipped away, dashing back to Ruan Qingshuang’s room in search of her bedtime story.

Qiu Yan felt a twinge of concern, but in the end, she let it go. Perhaps Guoguo could only find peace in Ruan Qingshuang’s presence—after all, the woman’s temperament so strikingly resembled that of Guoguo’s late mother.

Xu Yun lay quietly on his bed, practicing his breathing exercises. When he was done, he filled the bathtub with hot water. Aside from a massage, there was no better way to unwind completely. The battle looming on the horizon made it impossible not to feel at least a little tense.

He’d never faced a top-tier opponent entirely on his own before. Previous missions, though even more dangerous, were always team operations—there was always someone to watch his back. Now, facing this alone, he found it truly daunting.

The hot water soaked away his tension. Xu Yun knew that the Crimson Scorpion, having missed them, would inevitably catch their scent and track them down. It was only a matter of time. With Qiu Yan’s current condition, she stood no chance against the Crimson Scorpion. No matter how tough it got, Xu Yun knew he had to face this head-on.

He switched off the lights, letting his entire body relax as he closed his eyes in comfort. Whatever happened, he’d always met challenges as they came—like water meeting earth, or soldiers meeting their foe.

He didn’t know how much time passed before faint noises stirred him from his reverie. The nerves he had just relaxed tensed again, but soon he recognized a familiar, weary sigh—it was Qin Wan’er, returning.

He chuckled wryly at himself. So a single Crimson Scorpion was enough to put him on edge? Clearly, he’d been away from danger too long; he was no longer accustomed to the scent of peril.

Qin Wan’er and her special unit had interrogated Ma Pinghai throughout the night. Ma Pinghai adamantly denied any connection to the fugitive Hao Kai. Leadership quickly decided to surround Ma Pinghai’s villa at Jiuyan Mountain with armed units, but Hao Kai was nowhere to be found.

Without having caught the fugitive, and with no evidence against Ma Pinghai, he was released. He even threatened to sue Qin Wan’er for wrongful accusation. With circumstances as they were, the bureau could only send Qin Wan’er home.

After all, Ma Pinghai was a prominent figure in the city, with the title of Street Committee Secretary. Wrongfully accusing someone like him could have an unnecessary social impact, so Chen Wei made the call to let him go.

Qin Wan’er was as frustrated as could be, returning to the medicinal bistro with nothing to show for her night’s work. It was already one in the morning.

She sighed—no use wallowing in misery. A hot bath would do her good. Rest would prepare her for another day’s efforts.

Xu Yun lay in the tub, the water now cold, patiently waiting for Qin Wan’er to go to bed so he could slip out unnoticed.

But things did not go as he hoped. Qin Wan’er opened the bathroom door and walked right in.

Hidden behind the shower curtain, Xu Yun regretted his choices. He should have left the light on… or maybe he should have made some noise earlier? Was it too late to warn her now?

As Xu Yun debated how to alert her, Qin Wan’er flicked the light on with a snap and gently closed the door.

Through the curtain, Xu Yun saw her graceful silhouette. She hummed softly, a song about love, and casually slipped off her top… Xu Yun could only hold his breath in silence, knowing that if Qin Wan’er found him now, she’d likely kill him on the spot.

She then took off her pants… Even though Xu Yun could only glimpse the outline of her figure through the curtain, the sight sent his blood racing and his heart pounding.

Qin Wan’er, do you really need to undress just to wash your face and brush your teeth? Xu Yun thought helplessly.

Wait! Suddenly, Xu Yun realized—no one strips down just to wash up. Was Qin Wan’er planning to take a bath?

With a loud swish, the shower curtain was abruptly yanked open.

Damn it! She is here to bathe! By the time Xu Yun understood, it was too late. Qin Wan’er stood naked before the tub, eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at the equally bare Xu Yun within.

Qin Wan’er wondered if exhaustion had driven her to hallucinate, but she could hardly believe she’d conjured up such a vivid scene.

Xu Yun forced a harmless, apologetic smile. “I must have dozed off here… Uh, if you want to bathe, I’ll get out…”

Qin Wan’er’s lips twitched. She snatched a towel to wrap around herself, squeezed her eyes shut, and was about to scream in horror.

But just before she could cry out, the sound of the front door echoed from outside, followed by Qiu Yan’s sharp rebuke: “Who’s there!”

A chilling, sinister laugh reverberated from the corridor window.

Qin Wan’er froze, her face a picture of confusion and terror.

Xu Yun’s brow furrowed instantly: This was bad. Qin Wan’er must have led the Crimson Scorpion straight to them…

…

The Crimson Scorpion had indeed trailed Qin Wan’er here. Upon receiving Ma Pinghai’s call, his first move was to rush to the Hedong International Hotel to catch them, but by the time he arrived, they were long gone.

Jin Biao, still at the scene, cautiously asked if he was looking for Ma Pinghai, but the Crimson Scorpion nearly killed him with a single hand, demanding only, “Where did they go?”

Crushed by the fear of death, Jin Biao confessed that Ma Pinghai had been taken by the police.

Without hesitation, the Crimson Scorpion pursued them to the police station. He was certain there was a special task force investigating him, and that Ma Pinghai would be under interrogation. He didn’t care whether Ma Pinghai would betray him; he only wanted to know where the woman and child were.

Though he didn’t catch up with them, he lingered near the station. Soon, he saw a large group of special police officers assemble and head out. He realized they were going to Ma Pinghai’s house in search of him.

None of this concerned him. He knew that if the police failed to catch the fugitive, they would have to release Ma Pinghai eventually. All he needed was for Ma Pinghai to tell him where the woman and child were, and then he could dispose of this traitor.

His patience paid off. As Qin Wan’er left the station, a police officer on duty at the gate asked, “Officer Qin, is it true that Ma Pinghai was harboring a fugitive?”

“No evidence,” Qin Wan’er replied with a helpless smile before turning to hail a cab.

The Crimson Scorpion heard everything but made no move. As Qin Wan’er got into her taxi, he deftly flicked a dark red tracking chip onto the vehicle.

Minutes later, Ma Pinghai emerged from the police station, looking like a man who had narrowly escaped death. He believed he was finally free of trouble, but before he could hail a cab, a hand clamped over his mouth and dragged him into the woods behind the station.

He stared in terror at the Crimson Scorpion before him, stammering, “Brother Kai…”

“I told you to meet me at the hotel; why’d you run off to the police station for tea?” the Crimson Scorpion asked calmly, a faint smile on his lips.

“I didn’t say a word! I swear! I did everything you asked! But the people you wanted me to find were with a cop. They caught me making the call, that’s why I ended up like this!” Ma Pinghai blurted out.

The Crimson Scorpion’s smile was thin. “The ones I want you to find were with the police?”

“Yes, a woman officer—her surname is Qin!” Ma Pinghai said quickly. “She brought me in, so I couldn’t keep watch on those two. She just left the police station. If you find her, you’ll find the woman and the child!”

He remembered the conversation at the station gate. “The officer you’re talking about—was she in plain clothes, blue jeans, and a milky white T-shirt? Quite a figure, too…”

“That’s her!” Ma Pinghai’s face brightened with hope, believing that if he helped find the target, he’d be free at last.

A trace of satisfaction flickered across the Crimson Scorpion’s face. “Got it. Thank you.”

Ma Pinghai sighed in relief. “Brother Kai… I did everything you asked. Does this mean…?”

The Crimson Scorpion nodded. “I won’t be going to your house again.”

Wonderful! Ma Pinghai felt as though the clouds had parted and he was finally out of torment.

“In that case, you’re of no further use,” the Crimson Scorpion said softly.

His gentle smile turned cold and merciless. Before Ma Pinghai could savor his relief, the Crimson Scorpion’s hand closed around his throat. He struggled, eyes wide with panic, unable to understand why his cooperation still led to death.

A sharp crack echoed as his neck snapped. Darkness claimed him.

“Humans are so fragile,” the Crimson Scorpion murmured, his expression full of sorrow, as if genuinely mourning Ma Pinghai’s death. “If you hadn’t made that call and been overheard, perhaps I’d have caught my targets already. That’s why you must die.”

He didn’t bother to hide the body. With several murders already to his name and a nationwide warrant out for his arrest, another corpse meant nothing. Even if the police knew he was the killer, what did it matter? He’d already decided that after finding Fox Lord and the Feng family’s little princess tonight, he would slip away to Suhang under the cover of darkness. He’d had enough of Hedong—wanted posters with his face plastered everywhere, forced to wear a hooded jacket every time he stepped outside. It was tiresome.

After leaving the woods, the Crimson Scorpion pulled a device from his pocket and quickly located the taxi’s position. A flash of silver gleamed in his hand. With his speed, catching up would be no problem.

Thus, by the time Qin Wan’er returned to the medicinal bistro, the Crimson Scorpion was already waiting outside.

He sneered, surveying the building. “This really is an excellent hiding place. No wonder Qiu Yan is so highly regarded by Feng Qiansui, and why the boss is so eager for her to join us.”

Just as the Crimson Scorpion leapt to the second-floor window ledge, Qiu Yan burst from her room without hesitation!