"This place is truly filthy. And now I have one more reason to have a... ’friendly chat’ with you all."
Beneath his black hood, Lin Li’s expression was emotionless. He stood in the shadows, watching two members of the Red Blood Gang walk toward his position. They stank of alcohol, arms slung over each other’s shoulders, muttering filth.
"Today, I went with my boss to Liu Laoshu’s house to collect a debt. The way he kept begging us not to take his daughter... it was hilarious."
"Haha, guys like that really are a joke. When he signed the promissory note, the terms were clear.
If he couldn’t pay up by the due date, his daughter was the collateral. But when we show up to collect, he puts on a show like that."
The two reeking Red Blood Gang members laughed as they staggered into the alley. A moment later, the sound of heavy bodies hitting the ground echoed out.
Lin Li’s gaze was ice-cold as he looked at the two lifeless Red Blood Gang members lying in pools of their own blood.
From what he had gathered, one of the prerequisites for joining the Red Blood Gang was having at least one life on your hands.
’Killing scum like this doesn’t weigh on my conscience at all.’
He flicked the blood from the Spiritual Artifact Dagger in his hand and continued to press forward, searching for his target.
「...」
At the very core of the Red Blood Gang’s residential area stood a magnificent mansion, its grounds spanning several acres and its interior lavishly decorated.
While the mansion couldn’t compare to the residences of fabulously wealthy merchants or powerful officials, when compared to the homes of other gang leaders, the Red Blood Gang Leader’s mansion was in a class of its own.
As it was late into the night, all the servants in the mansion had retired to their own quarters, leaving the sizable estate quiet.
The sound of footsteps in the corridors carried a long way.
A figure vaulted over the wall and entered, moving stealthily through the magnificent mansion in search of something.
As the saying goes, cut off the head of the snake. Since Lin Li had decided to take on the Red Blood Gang, he was approaching this operation with the intent to bring it crashing down.
However, upon arriving at his final destination, he found that the Red Blood Gang Leader’s mansion was enormous, making it much harder to find his target than he had initially anticipated.
But this didn’t discourage Lin Li. ’To me, it just means spending a little more time. If I search patiently, I’ll definitely find him.’
Inside the mansion that spanned several acres, with its complex of towers and pavilions, most rooms were dark. In the few lit sections of the corridor, he could occasionally see armed members of the Red Blood Gang on patrol.
As the residence of the Red Blood Gang Leader, having subordinates patrol at night was perfectly reasonable.
After all, open conflicts and covert struggles between gangs were frequent, and one side sending an assassin to take out the leader of a rival gang was a commonplace occurrence.
Hiding in the shadows, Lin Li watched the two patrolmen walk into the distance. Only after their figures had completely disappeared did he emerge and continue deeper into the mansion, searching for his target.
「...」
The study was brightly lit.
A massive crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, emitting a faint Spiritual Energy Wave.
This lighting fixture, giving off a faint Spiritual Energy Wave, was clearly a Convenient Spiritual Artifact powered by Spiritual Energy.
"The gang’s profits have been excellent recently! Most people can’t repay their loans. Excellent..."
The Red Blood Gang Leader, Hong Jiu, sat on a grand armchair, a satisfied smile on his face as he reviewed the accounts in his hand. He had a kind-looking face, stood one-point-nine meters tall, was slightly overweight with a potbelly, and wore loose-fitting clothes.
"Tomorrow, have someone find a buyer and get rid of all those girls. That’ll be another big haul..."
Hong Jiu muttered to himself in a flat tone, the content of his words chilling to the bone.
To him, selling off other people’s daughters was a completely ordinary affair, nothing more than a simple transaction.
"KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK..."
Suddenly, there was a knock on the study door. Hong Jiu, who was still looking at his accounts, lifted his head and glanced at the door in confusion.
It was extremely rare for anyone to knock on his study door at this hour. However, Hong Jiu didn’t overthink it, assuming a subordinate had come with an urgent report.
"Come in."
"..." The person outside didn’t speak.
"KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK..."
The knocking sounded again.
"Bastard, I told you to come in! Are you deaf? If you dare knock one more time, I’ll break your hands..."
Hong Jiu had barely finished speaking when the person outside, as if they hadn’t heard a word, knocked on the study door yet again.
"KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK..."
After this series of knocks faded, the person outside turned and walked away, which could be determined from the receding footsteps.
"..." Inside the study, Hong Jiu’s eyes went wide, completely baffled by the actions of the person who had knocked on his door. A fire of rage began to swell within him.
’This is outrageous! They knew someone was inside, yet they come knocking late at night for no reason, only to turn and leave after a few knocks. Are they playing me for a fool?’
"The absolute nerve! I’d like to see who dares to toy with me for their own amusement..."
His face filled with rage, Hong Jiu immediately stood up and strode quickly toward the study door.
He figured it was probably one of his drunk subordinates acting out.