FY - 46

The inspection team didn’t know that Feng Zhongliang was in Qizhou when they arrived.

The team leader led the members on a surprise inspection of government departments and found no violations or disciplinary infractions. They received some letters from the public and made a visit to Criminal Investigation Team One.

Zheng Zhi wanted to take the opportunity to talk about Feng Zhongliang and Si Wen, but Wei Li’an held him back.

As soon as the team left, Zheng Zhi asked him, “What a great opportunity. The central government is directly investigating. We’re insignificant people, our power is as thin as a chopstick, even less than that of the city patrol. Wouldn’t we be played to death if we got involved?”

Wei Li’an closed the door tightly and took out a stack of documents, all of which he had acquired this past month by having his grandfather swallow his pride.

Zheng Zhi raised an eyebrow and opened it. “What is this?”

Wei Li’an said, “After the ‘Six Lives’ incident, Feng Zhongliang rose to become the director of the anti-drug bureau. His talks at various meetings were flawless, especially regarding the formulation and operation of his plans, but he overlooked their feasibility.”

Zheng Zhi saw the photos in the file, all of people who had been decapitated. He got goosebumps all over his body. “What do you mean?”

Wei Li’an pointed to the photos. “These were taken at a drug-making location. Before the arrest operation, many people saw these photos and were only filled with anger, but they forgot to ask why Feng Zhongliang had these photos.”

Zheng Zhi knew why. “Didn’t we have a mole? The one who died so tragically later? Didn’t you also privately investigate him and violate discipline?”

Wei Li’an turned a couple of pages. “In Feng Zhongliang’s action plan, it’s all about how he directed the operation from the command center. The mole’s role was very minor. It seems the mole didn’t provide much for the whole operation. But these photos are too personal. It’s impossible to take them without infiltrating the enemy’s inner circle.”

“Based on my understanding of drug dealers from my years in the anti-drug team, most of them have very high IQ and EQ. The few who don’t are extremely cautious. The fact that they allowed our mole to take these photos suggests that our mole was extremely capable.”

“If he was so capable, how was he exposed? And when was he exposed?”

“Why, after the arrest of the drug trafficking gang, did no one among them explain this part of the story? Months passed, the person died, and still, no one came forward to explain a thing. Is that normal?”

“Or, could our mole have never been exposed at all?”

This was a terrifying thought. After getting goosebumps, Zheng Zhi’s hair stood on end. “Are you saying that the mole from back then is still alive?”

Wei Li’an shook his head. “I don’t know. But based on the information we have, this assumption is not impossible.”

Not only did he think the mole was still alive, but Wei Li’an also felt he was right beside them. He flipped through a few more pages. “Now, about Si Wen.”

“Why did we investigate Si Wen? Because we found he was related to the ‘Six Lives’ case. Why did we stop? Because Feng Zhongliang stopped us. He said we had overstepped our authority and that continuing the investigation would put our lives in danger.”

“But if he gave us this explanation, couldn’t we suspect that he might be hiding some of the truth about the ‘Six Lives’ case?”

“Before, when we saw Zhao Youjin with Si Wen, we suspected Feng Zhongliang was protecting Si Wen and even thought they were in cahoots. But after getting these documents from my grandfather, I no longer believe that.”

“I have two theories now.”

“The first is that Si Wen is the mole, and his position as the head of Dong Sheng Pharmaceutical is a cover. He’s still doing anti-drug work and faked his death back then to change his identity and continue to help Feng Zhongliang.”

“The second is that Si Wen is the mole, but due to a conflict of opinion with Feng Zhongliang, he faked his death out of necessity.”

Zheng Zhi sat down on a chair with a thud, his face pale.

He took a moment to calm down before speaking. “That’s terrifying.”

Wei Li’an took a sip of his tea. “Otherwise, how do you explain all these things?”

He continued, “Originally, both of these possibilities could perfectly explain the information we have received. But then I found out that Si Wen went to a charity gala in the provincial capital and ran into Feng Zhongliang.”

With that, Wei Li’an showed him a photo taken from the surveillance footage. “It was only after this gala that Feng Zhongliang came to Qizhou.”

Zheng Zhi understood. “That disproves the first theory. They haven’t been in contact for years, so it’s impossible for Si Wen to still be his mole.”

Wei Li’an nodded, holding his tea mug.

It was too shocking. Zheng Zhi shook his head repeatedly. “My previous self-assessment was too accurate. We are just ants, and we can’t compete with them. If you’re right, then the whole world has been turned upside down.”

In Wei Li’an’s eyes, there was no absolute black or white.

Zheng Zhi thought about Si Wen’s face, shivered, and rubbed his goosebumps. “If Si Wen is one of the good guys, you’re still after his woman.”

Wei Li’an put down his tea mug. “If he is, then I’m indeed not worthy.”

Zheng Zhi patted his shoulder. “Does that hurt?”

Wei Li’an shook his head. “No. It feels good. As long as he’s alive, I feel good.”

Back then, he was a young man full of ambition, growing in the sunlight, with a fervent passion for his country and his people. A mole had died, but before his body was even cold, life had moved on. No one remembered who had brought them peace, and youth was a thing of the past.

But someone had to remember.

He had fought so hard to honor the memory of the mole, to prove that they were doing the right thing and deserved to be treated well.

Now, the mole was alive.

That was a good thing.

Zheng Zhi sorted and packed the documents. “With such a huge twist, what do we do?”

Wei Li’an looked at him. “Wait. And observe in secret.”

________________________________________

Guangnan Nunnery.

“You can’t kill me! Si Wen won’t let you get away with this! He won’t let you get away with this! You can’t beat Si Wen! You can’t beat him! You can’t kill me! My life belongs to Si Wen! Only Si Wen can touch me!”

He kept backing away, his feet kicking up pits in the ground. Pebbles and dirt flew up, splashing on Xue Peng’s face.

Zhao Youjin watched from the side, holding a huge plastic bag tied at the mouth. You could tell there was something alive inside because it was constantly moving.

Xue Peng stepped on his foot. “You heard that we want to kill Si Wen. Do you think we can let you live?”

The man’s bound hands grabbed at the sandy ground, shaking violently. Unknowingly, he gathered some pebbles in his hands, cutting his palms, but he didn’t care. His eyes were fixed on the sharp knife in Xue Peng’s hand, with its stainless steel hammered handle and shiny blade, in which he could vaguely see his reflection.

In the forest, the living things lay in the shadows, ready to pounce. They smelled blood, a smell that drove them crazy.

Xue Peng held the knife, the tip tracing his missing ear. “Si Wen is so ruthless. He shot off your ear with one bullet. Why would you be so loyal to a person like that?”

“He saved my life!” he roared, spitting on Xue Peng’s face. It was a mix of spit, sweat, and tears.

Xue Peng threw the knife away and picked up a rock, smashing the man’s face. He was crushing his face while he was still alive.

The only thing left at the Guangnan Nunnery was a scream. Blood splattered everywhere.

Zhao Youjin couldn’t watch anymore. “You’ve done enough. If you’re too brazen, Si Wen will find out, and we’ll both be screwed.”

Xue Peng couldn’t stand the way the man groveled to Si Wen. It reminded him of his own past behavior, and he couldn’t stand it. He had to destroy his face, stab him to death, and then let the snakes in Zhao Youjin’s bag enjoy his corpse.

After the entire process was complete, Xue Peng and Zhao Youjin stood on the fourth floor, watching a group of snakes coiled around the pool of blood. Their eyes gradually turned red.

Snakes don’t eat living people. They eat them after they’re dead.

Xue Peng turned around, walked to the wall, leaned against it, and lit a cigarette. “Didn’t you hear what that bastard said just now? Si Wen is getting entangled with a prostitute and fighting for her. How would he have time to come and monitor what we’re doing? Besides, what authority does he have to monitor us? He’s not even involved.”

Zhao Youjin said, “That’s true, but our actions are still possible thanks to his protection. Even if we’re determined to take him down, we should at least be discreet, right? If you do something like this, a person with a keen sense of smell like him will definitely be suspicious.”

Xue Peng spat. “I think you just want him to sleep with you. With your reputation for sleeping with thousands of men, do you really think he’d want you?”

Zhao Youjin’s face darkened. After a moment, she said, “You’re in a bad mood. I won’t argue with you.”

As she walked out and went downstairs, she said, “We’re meeting with Hu Lai next Tuesday. Get ready.”

________________________________________

Medicine Valley.

Si Wen took off his watch and put it aside. He opened a drawer, took out the women’s watch, and put it on. It didn’t fasten.

Zhou Yan was too thin. The watch he had custom-made for her could only be worn by her.

The phone rang.

He picked it up.

“Brother. They took the bait.”

“Good.”

“Liang Zi is dead. Xue Peng said he fell from the fourth floor. By the time I saw him, the wild animals in the forest had almost eaten him clean.”

“Remember how he died. I’ll hand Xue Peng over to you when the time comes.”

“Thank you, brother.”

The call ended. Si Wen picked up a silver cloth and continued to wipe the watch.

The watch wasn’t expensive. It only looked expensive when it was on Zhou Yan’s hand.

She always had no concept of time. He would tell her to arrive on time, but she would always be late. Although he was the one who changed the time at the last minute, how could Zhou Yan, who had been with him for four years, not know what he was thinking?

This wouldn’t do. He had to buy her a watch to train her.

He wiped the watch and put it away.

He looked up at the entire office. It was a three-hundred-square-meter office with three glass walls. He had had sex with Zhou Yan countless times here and listened to her scream. She smoked so much that her voice was damaged and low, sounding very dominant, but her moans were delicate. He loved hearing her call him “Daddy,” especially during doggy style.

Zhou Yan had listed his numerous sins, but she never thought that she was the only one who had ever been here, that she was the only one allowed into his apartment, the only one who could touch his phone, the only one who could get into his bed and sleep with his arm around her...

A person like him, who had been abandoned by the world and had decided to seek justice from it, trusted no one but himself. Yet, he was slowly beginning to trust her. He had let her see all of his flaws and seize all of his lifelines. How much power had he given her, and how much did he care about her?

She didn’t see it.

But it was okay.

He would eat the bitter fruit of his own doing. He was willing to.

As long as it was for Zhou Yan.