Chapter 341: Chapter 295: Either Don’t Do It, or Do It Thoroughly
"You’re not dead?" Yang Xiao immediately went on guard.
"Ms. Tong has the luck of heaven on her side." Mo Daidai smiled, raised his hand, and gestured for her to take a seat. Tong Han found a chair and sat down, but her gaze remained fixed on Yang Xiao.
Tonight’s main character was Mo Daidai. Yang Xiao turned his head to look directly at him and demanded, "Is your merchant association in cahoots with the Yu Yuan Sect?"
"People from the Yu Yuan Sect wanted to kill me, but Mr. Mo saved me," Tong Han spoke up.
"Still putting on an act for me?" Yang Xiao scoffed coldly, "In that nightmare, you and Li Qingxuan played off each other quite convincingly."
Tong Han was startled by his words, "What do you mean by that?"
After listening to Yang Xiao’s account, Tong Han also furrowed her brows, "I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t even know this Li Qingxuan. If he’s also from the Yu Yuan Sect, then he must be of a higher rank than I am, but that possibility seems very low."
"Ms. Tong is no ordinary captain-level character. If her last mission had been a success, she would already be the new Venerable One of the Yu Yuan Sect," Mo Daidai said lightly, sipping from his teacup.
This made Yang Xiao uncertain, Li Qingxuan was certainly capable, but to say he was on equal footing with people like Granny Hong, Yang Xiao thought that would be giving him too much credit.
Yang Xiao set that matter aside for the moment, more curious about why Mo Daidai had invited him here today, "Stop beating around the bush, just speak plainly."
"I am aware of the abilities you two possess. I invited you here today because I want you to help me with something," Mo Daidai had just finished speaking when the door was pushed open, and two serious-looking men in suits each brought in a silver case and placed them in front of Yang Xiao and Tong Han. After opening them, inside were ten glittering gold bars, and additionally, a flat iron box holding ghostly pictures.
"This is the down payment. Once the job is done, there will be a rewarding bonus," Mo Daidai said as the two suited men turned and left.
Ten gold bars and a box of ghostly pictures, along with the special silver case—the three items together wouldn’t go for less than 10 million on the market. He truly was a high-ranking member of the merchant association, offering more for a down payment than what Yang Xiao received for killing a person.
Although the offer was enticing, Yang Xiao didn’t touch it, "No reward without service. You’d better make it clear what you need us to do."
In the underworld, there were things that could and couldn’t be done. This money could end up being blood money. Mo Daidai wasn’t a fool; he knew the reward wouldn’t come easy.
Mo Daidai gave a small smile, leaned back comfortably in his chair, and motioned to Tong Han, "Ms. Tong, your turn."
"In Ye City there’s a gang called Yan Mountain Pavilion. Their gang leader goes by Yanhe Tian. A few years ago, he stole something of Mr. Mo’s. I need your cooperation to retrieve that item," Tong Han said straightforwardly.
"Is this Yan Mountain Pavilion very strong?" Yang Xiao asked.
"Not particularly. Yanhe Tian has an item called the Resentful Eye, assessed as a third-grade grievance-level item. If it came to a life-or-death battle, he would be about even with me right now," Tong Han was quite upfront.
Yang Xiao outright laughed when he heard this, turning his head to look at Mo Daidai with unabashed mockery, "With your status and position, you had something stolen by someone like that? Tell me, should I believe it, or should I not?"
Putting down his teacup, Mo Daidai chuckled softly, squinting his eyes, "Believe it or not, that’s up to you. But, the thing must end up belonging to someone with the surname Mo."
"Aren’t you afraid this is a trap she’s setting with the Yu Yuan Sect?" Yang Xiao pointed at Tong Han, without any reservation.
"Yang Xiao, if I, Mo Daidai, lacked the ability to discern such things, I’d have been picked clean to the bone long ago. I can tell you for sure, Ms. Tong is very trustworthy, and right now, she is working for me," Mo Daidai declared confidently.
Yang Xiao looked back at Tong Han. Tong Han took a deep breath and continued, "Yanhe Tian has under-the-table dealings with the Yu Yuan Sect and plans to trade the item to them. They’ve nearly finished negotiating, and the person coming to collect it is expected to arrive tomorrow afternoon. So, we must act tonight."
"Just the two of us?"
Tong Han nodded, "Yes, just the two of us. Mr. Mo does not wish for a third party to be aware of this matter. It’s very important."
"Mr. Mo has numerous skilled people at his disposal. There are even a few capable fellows lurking around outside. Why choose us?" Yang Xiao asked.
Tong Han answered on his behalf, "Yanhe Tian is part of the Ye City Apostles Union, holding an executive position there. If we were to use people from the merchant association, any mistakes might affect the relationship between the association and the Apostles Union."
"I am a defector from the Yu Yuan Sect, and you are their sworn enemy. We are the perfect candidates for this job. Even if we get identified, the Apostles Union will attribute it to our grudge with the Yu Yuan Sect since Yanhe Tian’s secret collusion with a heretical cult is fact," Tong Han explained.
After glancing at the gold bars and the silver case on the table, Yang Xiao inquired after a pause, "After the job is done, how much more will there be?"
"It will definitely satisfy you," Mo Daidai said.
"How much exactly?"
Mo Daidai still wore that smiling face, but his expression was very relaxed. He repeated the previous statement, "I will definitely satisfy you."
Yang Xiao frowned slightly, "Do you know how much I want?"
"However much it takes to satisfy you."
If it had been someone else talking to Yang Xiao with such smugness, Yang Xiao would have already pulled out a magic artifact to teach him a lesson. But Mo Daidai was different, he truly had the credentials to speak in such a manner. Of course, Yang Xiao also wouldn’t go overboard with his demands.
"What exactly is that treasure you want?" After hesitating for a moment, Yang Xiao still asked the question, "A high-level Resentful Eye, right?"
"Yes, and no."
Seeing Mo Daidai playing coy with him, Yang Xiao felt even more that there was something fishy about the situation, "I can’t promise you right away, allow me to think it over."
"Of course, I’ll be right here waiting for you. When you’ve decided, come find me before 12 o’clock." Mo Daidai didn’t waste words and directly gestured to see his guest out.
Yang Xiao stood up and left, but just as he was going through the door, he was called back, "Wait a minute!"
Yang Xiao turned around warily, his hand reaching behind him, almost ready to pull out the horsetail whisk from his backpack. But he only saw Mo Daidai smiling and pointing at the silver box on the table containing gold bars and the Ghost’s photograph, "You forgot to take your things."
"I do not accept undeserved rewards; I haven’t agreed to do this for you yet."
"It doesn’t matter, come or not as you please. We are friends, and it’s normal for friends to exchange little gifts, right?"
"Thanks for the offer, but I’m not as well-off as you, and I can’t offer a decent gift in return. I’ll take my leave."
Yang Xiao understood the principle of being indebted to someone who gives you something. He was somewhat interested in taking on this task, not solely for the reward, but he also wanted to inquire about the Yu Yuan Sect through Yanhe Tian—maybe he could even stumble upon some clues related to Li Qingxuan.
Without going home, Yang Xiao went directly back to the Patrol Defense Bureau. He had to report this significant matter to the chief, Nalan Shuo, in person.
"Ms. Wen, is the chief in?" Just as he arrived on the chief’s office floor, Yang Xiao ran into Ms. Wen.
"He’s in the office, waiting for you to come back." Ms. Wen always had that same gentle smile, which made people involuntarily relax.
Upon entering the office, Yang Xiao didn’t beat around the bush and told Nalan Shuo the whole story of what had happened that day, making Nalan Shuo furrow his brow, "No wonder there have been many inscrutable masters arriving in Rongcheng of late. So that’s why."
"I know of Chi Hengzhong, he appears cultured and refined, but in reality, he holds himself in high regard. In the whole of Rongcheng, there are only a handful of people he truly respects. Considering that Mo Daidai, young as he is, managed to pressure him this much, he must have ties beyond just the provincial business council, perhaps even higher." Nalan Shuo looked at Yang Xiao, "I suggest you accept this job."
"To help him kill people from the Apostles Union?" Yang Xiao was hesitant, "After all, I am with the Patrol Defense Office, and I’m worried about stirring up trouble."
"Be clean with your work, be decisive when you face challenges. When a man needs to act, he must be ruthless if necessary. Either don’t do it at all, or do it thoroughly," Nalan Shuo spoke in a lowered voice.
Yang Xiao looked at Nalan Shuo in astonishment. This did not sound like something the Patrol Defense Bureau chief would say, but Nalan Shuo offered no explanation. He walked straight to his desk, picked up the phone, and dialed a number, requesting an investigative report on the Yan Mountain Pavilion from Ye City to be sent over immediately.
In less than 10 minutes, Huang Qiang scrambled over and delivered a document envelope sealed with the Patrol Defense Office’s confidential imprint, then promptly left.
After opening the envelope and seeing the past deeds of Yan Mountain Pavilion, Yang Xiao finally understood the chief’s insinuation.
"Did this Yan Mountain Pavilion kill our people?" Yang Xiao was shocked.
"Yes, this Yanhe Tian, relying on the United Federation’s support from behind, secretly took part in an operation against our Patrol Defense Office. At the time, our people were dealing with a supernatural event and were at a critical moment sealing a Resentful Eye. He and his men disrupted the operation from the shadows, leading to its failure," Nalan Shuo said with resentment, "The deputy captain of the investigative team and three members were killed on the spot, with several others seriously injured. The incident was quite scandalous at the time, but we had no conclusive evidence to pin him down. In the end, with the mediation of the United Federation, the matter was dropped."
After Yang Xiao had looked over the file, Nalan Shuo took the documents back, clearly indicating the high level of confidentiality of the report. This was not only a secret but also a deep wound on the Patrol Defense Office that could not be touched.
"If that’s the case, I won’t be polite with him. Daring to harm our Patrol Defense Office brothers behind our backs, he must be dealt with!" Yang Xiao decided to take on the mission.
"Hmm, don’t worry about the legitimacy of this mission. If one day someone digs this up, I will cover for you. Consider this a secret mission assigned to you by the Patrol Defense Office."
"Of course, there will be no record of this mission, nor any reward. As for the benefits Mo Daidai promised you, feel free to keep them all; the same goes for anything you acquire during the mission, no need to hand it over. Those are the rewards you’ve earned on your own merit and have nothing to do with the Patrol Defense Office," Nalan Shuo said.
