A Good-for-Nothing

281. I Want You Dead

Translator: Dragon Rider

After Qi Ming … No, after Zhou Qi left SMB, he first sent Zhou Congzhi a text message. Zhou Congzhi had not bargained on receiving a message from his son saying that there were moles in the Zhou family. Zhou Congzhi knew that Zhou Qi would not make a joke of this kind of thing, so he held an intensive inquiry into it.

Zhou Qi believed that his plan was watertight. It had never occurred to him that Wei Cheng and the other SMB staff members had been merely putting on an act to “play along” with his little game so as to trick Zhou Congzhi into suspecting his subordinates.

At three o’clock in the afternoon, Xiang Hailou, the leader of the third group, along with Tun Shanhai, Zhen Ni and Zu Zhichong, who were led by Han Zhuo, deputy group leader of the first group, departed from SMB, driving several vehicles. Originally Zhou Qi had thought that the message was just a smokescreen, but as they approached the destination, Zhou Qi felt as though his insides were turning into ice. It would seem there were indeed moles. Otherwise they would never have found out about the exact location.

“Chichi, what happened to you? You don’t look very well.”

It was Xiang Hailou who was driving the car that Zhou Qi was in. In the front passenger seat sat Wei Cheng, the back seat Zhou Qi, Tao Wujiu and the deputy group leader of the third group.

After hearing this, Wei Cheng impassively glanced at the reflection of Zhou Qi in the rear-view mirror and asked, “Chichi, are you not feeling well?”

Zhou Qi hastily forced a meek smile and answered, “I’m just a little carsick … but I can tough it out.”

Xiang Hailou lowered the car window a little for Zhou Qi, who hastened to thank him with a smile.

The cars were driving along at a steady pace, Zhou Qi’s heartbeat quickening as they got closer to the destination. He bowed his head so that nobody could see the cold look in his eyes.

He was so close to success. Under no circumstances would he let some insignificant people ruin his big plan.

Fortunately Master and Zhou Congzhi had left with the others. He stayed behind, playing for time, collecting intelligence, making sure that things did not go terribly wrong. If he found out who the moles were … Zhou Qi’s eyes glinted flintily.

The car stopped, but Zhou Qi seemed not to notice.

“Chichi, we’re here. Stay close to me,” said Wei Cheng standing beside the car door.

Zhou Qi bobbed his head, hurried out of the car and did as Wei Cheng said.

The place they had just arrived at was none other than the villa owned by the Zhou family.

Xiang Hailou, standing shoulder to shoulder with Han Zhuo, said, “This villa was under the name of the Zhou family. Zhou Congzhi, Zhou Yize, Zhou Yihao and Zhou Qi are sure as hell part of the inner circle of the Demon King.”

Zhou Qi’s eyelids abruptly twitched as he began to curse inwardly in fury. Zhou Yize, that bastard, had even ratted out him.

“It’s empty. They’ve fled.” Han Zhuo glanced at the unnaturally quiet gateway of the villa. Through the gaps in the large wrought-iron front gates, they could see that the villa was as silent as a pond of stagnant water, and there was no sign of activity whatsoever.

“Let’s get inside and take a look. Maybe we’ll find some fish that escaped the net,” said Xiang Hailou in an even voice as he expressionlessly tossed a glance at Zhou Qi, whose mind was in such a turmoil that he failed to notice Xiang Hailou’s uncharacteristic countenance.

For fear of potential ambush, they split into three groups and entered the villa through three different spots. It seemed that Zhou Congzhi and the others had vacated the residence in great haste, for the front gates were ajar, unlocked.

“Let’s get in, Chichi.”

Zhou Qi slowly inclined his head. For some unknown reason, he suddenly had a strange feeling, as though he had missed something. They searched the residence, but there was nothing suspicious. Tao Wujiu, however, found a large hollow in the back yard that seemed to have been filled only not long ago. Surprised, he dug it open and discovered that there was a piece of fine jade ware in there. It was a pity that the jade ware bore a long crack through the middle of it. Tao Wujiu wondered what had been the cause of the crack.

However, he did not know what this thing was. After giving it some thought, Tao Wujiu wrapped it up. He had once heard his master, who was also his father, say that many people good at Tao skills used objects containing spiritual energy to stabilize magic Circles. It struck him that this piece of jade ware might have some uncommon qualities.

This was just an interlude.

They scoured the whole place but found nothing useful. When coming here, they had been in high spirits, but when leaving, they inevitably felt somewhat disappointed. Zhou Qi, as he perceived that Wei Cheng was silent and the mood in the car was fairly dejected, suddenly felt that this was a good opportunity.

When the cars returned to the department, Zhou Qi did not get out of the vehicle immediately. He stopped Wei Cheng, winked at him and said, “Brother Cheng, I’d like to have a word with you. Do you think you can spare a couple of minutes?”

Wei Cheng paused in the act of exiting the car. Tao Wujiu gave a pointed cough, patted Wei Cheng’s back and said, “See you around.”

“What’s that in your hand?” Wei Cheng’s sharp eyes alighted on the thing Tao Wujiu was holding.

“I found it in that villa. I’m giving it to Group Leader Xiang,” said Tao Wujiu, casting a shifty smile at the two of them. “I’ll leave you guys to it.”

Zhou Qi’s had no room in his head to worry about anything except the matter bothering him, so he did not notice that what Tao Wujiu was holding was none other than the jade Cong.

Zhou Qi, seemingly shamefaced, bowed his head, a flush over his cheeks.

Tao Wujiu slunk away like the wind. Soon Wei Cheng and Zhou Qi were the only ones left in the car. Wei Cheng looked a little uptight, and his voice was faintly curt. “What is it, Chichi?”

“Brother Cheng, I–I never thought that you … I … ” Zhou Qi appeared a shade shy, his face so scarlet as though blood was about to ooze out.

Wei Cheng’s eyes were quite intent. Zhou Qi could feel his ardent gaze on him. “Chichi, it’s just a misunderstanding.”

Zhou Qi chuckled. He did not care whether or not it was a misunderstanding. All he wanted was for his objective to be achieved … However, the original owner of this shell indeed had had deep feelings for “Brother Cheng”! This secret probably would never be found out about by another person.

“I’m sorry, Brother Cheng.”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to apologize. Is this what you want to talk with me about?”

“No.” Zhou Qi shook his head and then looked up at Wei Cheng, appearing earnest. Then he affected an air of vexation, wringing his hands. “Brother Cheng, it strikes me that there’s something fishy going on.”

Wei Cheng, poker-faced, kept a certain distance from Zhou Qi, who was so intent he did not observe the black shape that flashed across the rear-view mirror.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean … none of it feels right. You said that someone you planted in the Zhou family informed you of the Demon King’s hideout, but when we got there, the place was deserted. Do you think your informer lied to you?”

Here it was.

Wei Cheng’s heart gradually sank, but the more anxious Zhou Qi appeared, the more composed Wei Cheng became.

Wei Cheng’s countenance gave little away. “That informer of ours is absolutely reliable.”

Zhou Qi could not think of who that person might be. Who on earth had betrayed the Zhou family? Was it the old butler, by any chance? No, the butler could not have done that, for he had been with Zhou Congzhi all the time, and his loyalty was unquestionable. Was it one of those newly recruited Demon’s Attendants? That was unlikely as well, because Zhou Congzhi’s plan was always watertight. There was no way any of them could have obtained any information about it.

Then who was it that had done that?

“An informant with such an ironclad cover identity … Brother Cheng, you guys are really badass,” said Zhou Qi with an air of worshipful fascination. He did not ask the question that he wanted to ask the most, but both his tone and his mien seemed to be prompting Wei Cheng to steer the conversation onto that topic.

“Yes, he’s indeed very reliable. In fact, there’s one particular thing you’re unaware of.”

Zhou Qi’s eyes brightened, but of course he knew better than to make it too obvious. “What is it?” Zhou Qi asked.

Wei Cheng, staring into Zhou Qi’s eyes, smiled a watery smile and stroked Zhou Qi’s hair. Zhou Qi knew that this man named Wei Cheng had been giving Qi Ming some special treatment, that he had stroked Qi Ming’s hair in a brotherly way very often. In order not to raise Wei Cheng’s suspicions, Zhou Qi, after taking possession of Qi Ming’s body, had never avoided Wei Cheng’s hands.

But this time, things did not seem to be going the way they were supposed to.

Wei Cheng’s hand was not as gentle as usual. When the hand approached, Zhou Qi, sharp-eyed, suddenly caught sight of a wicked gleam in Wei Cheng’s palm.

Zhou Qi, without a second thought, reflexively dodged aside, but Wei Cheng was also very fast. The narrow car was not a suitable place for fighting. Wei Cheng was unable to produce his demon-killing staff.

Zhou Qi was alarmed and incredulous, wondering why Wei Cheng was doing this.

“What’s going on, Brother Cheng?! Why did you suddenly attack me?!”

Zhou Qi was having a hard job dodging the blows. Eventually he had to pull open the car door and rolled out of the vehicle.

Wei Cheng’s countenance remained unchanged.

“I want you dead!”

Wei Cheng fell to the ground and his face abruptly changed. There was nobody else around. Zhou Qi wanted to keep up his pretence, but when Wei Cheng launched another attack with undisguised murderousness in his eyes, Zhou Qi came to realize that a certain part of the plan must have gone awry!

But Zhou Qi was not the kind of person who would yield without putting up a fight. Wei Cheng’s attack was intensifying, and Zhou Qi finally tore off his camouflage. When Wei Cheng mercilessly swung his staff at Zhou Qi, the latter lightly raised his hand which collided with the staff head-on.

Wei Cheng had not bargained on Zhou Qi being so powerful. As Zhou Qi struck the blow, the staff was deflected and Wei Cheng uncontrollably backed away several paces before he heavily bumped against the car and let out a muffled groan.

Zhou Qi’s feigned facial expression instantly changed. His appearance was adorable, but as the soul inside the shell had been replaced, Qi Ming’s fair-skinned face now looked a little horrifying.

Black gas began to seep out of Qi Ming’s face.

“Originally I wanted to play along and finish this touching scene with you. It never crossed my mind you’d see through it so soon.”

“I had no intention to kill you, because at least you were nice to me. What a pity,” smiled Zhou Qi blandly as a sphere of black gas appeared out of thin air inches above his palm. Given that he was capable of controlling black gas in such a skillful fashion, Zhou Qi was probably more powerful than Zhou Yihao, even Zhou Yize.

It had never occurred to Wei Cheng that Zhou Qi had learned such skills.

Rotating the sphere of black gas above his palm, Zhou Qi suddenly chuckled, “I get it now – you found out about it some time ago, right?”

“I did.” Wei Cheng, clutching his chest, spat out a mouthful of blood with a cough.

An eerie smile broke across Zhou Qi’s face. Step by step, he slowly closed in on Wei Cheng, his voice becoming lighter and lighter until it was barely audible. “Wouldn’t it be better if you just kept playing dumb? Why seek your own death?”

“Zhou Qi, are you sure it is Wei Cheng who’s seeking his own death?”

A male voice as loud as thunder issued from behind Zhou Qi, who abruptly felt a chill run down his spine. It was Xiang Hailou. How come he showed up in this place?

“We cast such a wide net. Now it’s finally time to draw it in.” Han Zhuo’s voice was heard.

Zhou Qi was no fool. He came to understand what was going on. He did not have to look back to know that he had been surrounded by crack agents of SMB.