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Chapter 280 Intelligence and Objectives, Midnight Forest
"After the Black Hawk Gang was destroyed, Xu Hao seemed to have vanished into thin air."

Xu Sanduo then offered an explanation:
"He was nowhere to be found, neither alive nor dead. Not only his former cronies, but even his family thought he had died on the street and searched frantically everywhere. In the end, they had no choice but to report him missing to the police."

"The police have opened a case, but they can't find anything out. It's like he just vanished into thin air."

"But that's the strange thing—"

Xu Sanduo's tone shifted again, filled with surprise:
"About two months ago, just when everyone had almost forgotten about him, this kid suddenly reappeared without warning, and he seemed like a completely different person, becoming quite formidable in combat."

"He used to be just a nobody who hung out on the streets, a nobody from a third-rate gang, with at most a bit of brute force. But now he's a completely different person. Not only has his strength increased, but his skills are also faster and more ruthless. Many veterans who have fought with him have been knocked to the ground before they could even touch his clothes."

"No one knows where he went or what he did during this time. Perhaps he had some incredible adventure, or ate some miraculous medicine, or perhaps, as some people have spread rumors, he encountered some kind of evil thing and his body was modified..."

"In short, with his extraordinary skills, he made a name for himself in the underworld in just one or two months. He was incredibly famous and outshone many of the top henchmen in the gangs. Some even gave him the nickname 'Mad Dog Xu'!"

The sound of a lighter clicking came from the phone. Xu Sanduo seemed to take a deep drag of his cigarette and continued talking about the strange things that had happened to Xu Hao:

"And there's something even stranger. Someone witnessed him being stabbed three times in a street fight, each time drawing blood. And guess what? A few days later, Xu Hao was back at a bar, all healthy and energetic, without even a band-aid, acting like nothing had happened."

At this point, Xu Sanduo raised his voice slightly, speaking with a hint of flattery:

"Of course, compared to a true master like you, that kid is still very green. The scene of you killing an armed thug with your bare hands and beating up two bald monks still deeply shocks me when I think about it. It's amazing..."

Fang Cheng interrupted his flattery, his voice cold:
"Get to the point, how did the Red Tiger Gang deal with him?"

"Oh my, that's a very good question!"

Xu Sanduo quickly continued his story:
"According to reliable information that I managed to obtain through various means and roundabout methods, he has now gotten in touch with the Red Tiger Gang and is already the most popular guy in the gang!"

"It is said that after several elders tested his skills, they all praised him highly. The most exaggerated thing was the attitude of Chief Chen. He rewarded him with a luxury house on their first meeting and made an exception to allow him to directly participate in the Red Tiger Gang's incense hall meeting."

"Just think about it, how long has it been? A newcomer who has been in the gang for less than two months is already able to speak to the gang's higher-ups, and his status has risen as fast as a rocket."

"Don't let his young age fool you, he's already considered a mid-level manager with real power within the Red Tiger Gang."

"Moreover, Chief Chen values ​​him highly, practically grooming him as a future trusted confidant. At this rate, his future is truly limitless..."

As Xu Sanduo reported the information he had gathered, Fang Cheng slowly tapped his fingers on the cold window frame, making soft "tap" sounds.

"Xu Hao...Red Tiger Gang..."

He whispered to himself, a clue beginning to form.

"I see."

Fang Cheng was silent for a moment, then spoke again, his voice regaining its calmness:
"Sanduo, that's enough for now. Have your people withdraw. Things are tense lately, so don't draw too much attention. I'll contact you again if needed."

"Yes, yes, boss! Just give the order, Xu Sanduo and my brothers are ready to serve you anytime! I'm your loyal dog..."

Upon hearing this, Xu Sanduo immediately expressed his loyalty and flattered him repeatedly.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Fang Cheng hung up the phone without listening to the whole thing.

The room fell silent once more.

Darkness surged in like a tide, enveloping Fang Cheng. The flickering lights of countless homes outside the window reflected on his face, outlining an inscrutable expression.

Xu Hao... the Lu family... the Red Tiger Gang... even the Special Investigation Team...

Names and forces swirled in my mind like a revolving lantern.

Who could be secretly investigating me?

Could it be because of the last battle for the Golden Bamba Bottle, or something that happened even earlier?

Fang Cheng's mind raced as he analyzed the situation one by one.

The Lu family? That seems unlikely.

Xu Sanduo just mentioned that the Lu family has a new head, Lu Yongquan, and it is a critical period for internal power transition and the purge of dissidents.

The replacement of senior executives and branch managers at Jinlu Group indicates intense internal strife and a lack of complete stability.

At such a chaotic time, it is unlikely that Lu Yongquan, the newly appointed head of the family, would deliberately create unnecessary trouble by provoking an unknown enemy who might cause problems, unless he has completely lost his mind.

At least, that approach won't be taken.

So, what about the Special Investigations Unit?
Fang Cheng frowned.

If official forces are involved in the investigation, their methods will inevitably be more secretive and rigorous, and they will never easily leak information.

It's even more impossible for someone like Xu Hao, a newly emerging figure in the underworld, to know confidential information, let alone use such intelligence to blackmail him.

This is illogical and extremely unprofessional.

After eliminating these two less likely options, then... the clue seems to point to...

Fang Cheng's gaze once again fell upon the deep night outside the window.

Xu Sanduo's intelligence clearly linked Xu Hao closely with the Red Tiger Gang.

Xu Hao's mysterious disappearance, his miraculous return, and his meteoric rise within the Red Tiger Gang all seem highly unusual.

There must be high-ranking members of the Red Tiger Gang behind this, and it may even involve deeper secrets.

Recalling her brief encounter with Xu Hao during the day.

Although the other party did not say it explicitly, the confident attitude in his words subtly implied that "I know your secrets," indicating that he had access to inside information that ordinary thugs would never know.

He was certain that he was not an ordinary person, and he was also certain that the news of being "investigated" would put him in a difficult position.

If the higher-ups of the Red Tiger Gang knew that they were responsible for the "bloodshed" at the port warehouse and garbage disposal plant, they would probably be terrified and wouldn't dare to provoke them.

Therefore, the answer seems obvious...

Fang Cheng gazed at the sea and lights in the night sky.

Although it's not yet certain who the person secretly investigating him is, Xu Sanduo's intelligence undoubtedly points to the direction of suspicion.

I glanced at my watch; the blue fluorescent numbers showed 20:03.

Fang Cheng took one last look around the empty, rough, unfinished house that would soon become his new base.

Taking a deep breath to suppress the surging thoughts in my heart, I turned around and walked out, gently closing the door behind me.

Click.

The empty room was filled with only boundless darkness and the lingering smell of renovations.

As I approached the roadside, the night breeze carried the faint, fishy scent unique to the beach.

Fang Cheng flagged down a passing taxi, opened the door, and got in.

"Go to the city center, Feihong Road, Midnight Forest Bar."

He gave the driver an address.

The taxi quickly merged into the traffic and headed towards the brightly lit city center. Next, Fang Cheng needed to address some pressing issues.

Since trouble has come knocking, let's face it head-on.

....................................

Traffic flowed like a river, and light strips crisscrossed the landscape.

The outlines of skyscrapers are drawn by countless lights, reflecting the prosperity and bustle of this city that never sleeps.

The taxi stopped at the intersection of Feihong Road in Wenchuan District.

Fang Cheng paid the fare, got out of the car, and adjusted the bag on his shoulder.

Night had fallen, but the street seemed to have just awakened, with neon lights flashing and people bustling about.

The air was filled with the mixed smells of alcohol, perfume, and food.

At the street corner, the four huge artistic lettering signs of "Midnight Forest" stand out prominently under the alternating dark red and blue lights.

Deafening music, full of rhythm, emanated from the half-open door, attracting thrill-seeking men and women.

This is one of the entertainment venues under the Red Tiger Gang, and also the place where Xu Hao has been most frequently seen recently, according to Xu Sanduo's intelligence.

According to Xu Hao's business card, he should now be the "manager" of this area, or, to put it more politely, the security manager.

Fang Cheng pulled down his baseball cap, the brim covering half of his face, revealing only his well-defined jawline.

Then, following the surging crowd, I slowly walked into the bar.

The interior lighting was even dimmer and more hazy, and the heavy bass drumbeats seemed to pound on the heart.

In the center of the dance floor, countless young bodies writhed wildly under flashing laser beams, releasing excess hormones.

At the booths and bar, glasses clinked and laughter rose and fell.

Fang Cheng's gaze swept quickly across the entire room, searching for his target.

According to intelligence, Xu Hao has no fixed address. The house that the leader of the Red Tiger Gang gave him is still under renovation, so when he has nothing to do, he either partyes all night in bars or simply sleeps in the upstairs lounge.

Fang Cheng sat down in a relatively secluded corner booth with a good view, and ordered only a glass of orange juice instead of alcohol.

The cold glass in my hand seemed out of place in the sweltering atmosphere around me.

He sat there quietly, like an ice cube thrown into boiling water, observing everything around him without making a sound.

Not long after, two sexy and alluring women walked over, carrying wine glasses.

Their skirts were just the right length, revealing their legs clad in stockings. Their heavily made-up faces wore professional smiles, and their eyes kept darting around Fang Cheng.

"Hey handsome, are you alone?"

One of the women, with curly hair, spoke first, her voice sweet and suggestive, clearly meant to flirt.

She sat down on the sofa opposite Fang Cheng, leaning forward slightly to reveal her alluring curves.

Another woman with straight hair moved even closer, almost touching Fang Cheng, and a strong scent of perfume wafted over:

"You look unfamiliar. Is this your first time here? Would you like to treat us sisters to a drink?"

Fang Cheng glanced at them, his gaze calm, and said indifferently:
"No thanks."

"Don't be so boring~"

The straight-haired woman, undeterred, reached out and put her hand on Fang Cheng's shoulder:

"It's no fun being alone. Let's have a drink to warm up, and then come dance with us later? You're so handsome, you must have a great body too..."

Fang Cheng slightly turned his body to avoid the woman's harassing touch.

He didn't want to attract unnecessary attention here, but he also didn't want to be constantly bothered.

After a moment of silence, Fang Cheng raised his hand and slowly took off his baseball cap.

In the dim light, a shiny bald head was clearly visible, creating a strong visual contrast with his handsome and refined face.

Without the brim of his hat to conceal his gaze, Fang Cheng's deep, sharp eyes were fully exposed as he calmly stared at the two women before him.

The smiles on the two women's faces froze instantly, as if they had seen something unbelievable.

They looked at each other, their eyes filled with astonishment and a hint of...disdain?
"whispering sound!"

The curly-haired woman pursed her lips and muttered under her breath, "So, it turns out he's a monk..."

"This is so boring, I'm leaving."

The woman with straight hair also lost interest, stood up, and helped her companion.

The two turned and left dejectedly, but before leaving, they didn't forget to turn back and give each other a rather regretful look, as if to say, "What a waste of that face."

Fang Cheng put his baseball cap back on, completely unconcerned about the little incident, and continued sipping his orange juice.

His gaze returned to the bustling crowd, and he waited patiently.

Time passed by, and the atmosphere in the bar became more and more lively.

Just then, a commotion and argument suddenly broke out from a booth near the dance floor.

Several men, clearly drunk and with flushed faces, were seen pulling and tugging at a young girl in a waitress uniform, hurling vulgarities like "slut" at her.

The girl was terrified and struggled desperately.

The surrounding customers quickly backed away, and the other waiters also hesitated to approach.

These drunkards were burly and strong, clearly tough guys who frequented nightclubs, and for a moment no one dared to step forward to stop them.

Just as the situation was about to get out of control, a series of hurried footsteps came from the entrance of the bar.

As if sensing something, the dancing crowd automatically parted to make way for them.

Fang Cheng sipped his juice and looked up.

Xu Hao swaggered in, surrounded by a group of burly, heavily painted-up henchmen.

He was wearing a flashy silk shirt with the collar open, revealing a thick gold chain around his neck.

His face carried an arrogant and fierce air, and his eyes swept across the entire room with disdain, giving him the air of a gangster boss.

Only the streak of dyed yellow hair on his forehead added a touch of roguishness to him, weakening the original sense of oppression.

Immediately, a security guard rushed forward and reported the situation at the booth to him.

Xu Hao frowned, his face revealing obvious impatience and ruthlessness:
"Damn it, what kind of blind bastard dares to cause trouble on my turf?"

(End of this chapter)