Courtyard House: First, kill the hypocrites, leave none alive.

The skinny monkey walked over.

"Brother Da Gang," he said, "did you send Lou Zhenhua to contact Lao Cheng to probe Ruan Xiong's background?"

Chen Feng looked at him.

"What's wrong?"

Skinny Monkey said, "What if Lou Zhenhua lets something slip and Ruan Xiong finds out about us—"

Chen Feng interrupted him.

"He won't."

The skinny monkey was stunned for a moment.

"Are you so sure?"

Chen Feng said, "He's a smart man. A smart man knows what to say and what not to say."

The skinny monkey thought for a moment.

"What if..."

Chen Feng looked at him.

Those eyes remained expressionless.

"If he really does tell," Chen Feng said, "then let him disappear."

Skinny Monkey felt a chill run down his spine.

But he quickly nodded.

"Understood."

Chen Feng withdrew his gaze.

He leaned back in his chair, looking out at the neon lights.

Ruan Xiong.

More than two thousand people.

warlord.

These words swirled in his mind.

But his face remained expressionless.

-

A teahouse on Hong Kong Island.

Lou Zhenhua and Mr. Zhou met again.

It was the same private room, and the same dim yellow light.

Lou Zhenhua sat opposite Mr. Zhou with a smile on his face.

"Mr. Zhou," he said, "any news about what we discussed last time?"

Mr. Zhou picked up his teacup and took a sip.

He looked at Lou Zhenhua.

"Boss Lou," he said, "I have conveyed your message to Lao Cheng."

Lou Zhenhua's eyes lit up.

"What did he say?"

Mr. Zhou put down his teacup.

He said it was possible to meet, but it would take some time.

Lou Zhenhua was stunned for a moment.

"Wait? How long?"

Mr. Zhou said, "He just finished a big business deal. He needs to rest for a while."

Lou Zhenhua's heart skipped a beat.

Big business.

five million.

he knows.

But he didn't show it on his face.

"Okay," he said, "I'll wait."

Mr. Zhou stood up.

"Boss Lou, I have something to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."

He turned and walked out.

Lou Zhenhua sat there, watching his figure disappear through the doorway.

He picked up the teacup and took a sip.

The tea has gone cold.

Astringent, bitter.

He swallowed it slowly.

-

Borneo, rubber plantation.

The living room on the second floor of the small villa.

Ruan Xiong sat on the sofa, holding a telegram in his hand.

It was sent by Zhou from Hong Kong Island.

It says--

"There's a guy named Lou Zhenhua who wants to get in touch with Lao Cheng."

After reading the telegram, Ruan Xiong put it down.

He leaned back on the sofa, staring at the ceiling.

Lou Zhenhua.

He had never heard of this person.

But those who can connect with Lao Cheng are not ordinary people.

Xie Wanying came out from the inner room.

She saw the telegram in Ruan Xiong's hand and walked over.

"Brother Xiong, what's wrong?"

Ruan Xiong handed her the telegram.

Xie Wanying took it and read it once.

Her eyes twitched slightly.

Just for a moment.

Then she regained her composure.

"Brother Xiong," she said, "who is this Lou Zhenhua?"

Ruan Xiong shook his head.

"have no idea."

He looked at her.

"Wanying, what do you think?"

Xie Wanying was silent for a second.

Then she spoke.

"Brother Xiong, we just picked up Lao Cheng's goods. If anyone else wants to do business with him, it won't hurt us."

Ruan Xiong narrowed his eyes.

"How so?"

Xie Wanying said, "In business, having more friends means having more options. If this Lou Zhenhua is capable, we might be able to cooperate in the future."

Ruan Xiong nodded.

That makes sense.

He stood up and walked to the window.

He had his back to her.

Looking out the window at the rubber plantation.

"Wanying," he said, "you keep an eye on this man for me."

Xie Wanying nodded.

"Yes, Xiong Ge."

Ruan Xiong turned around.

Look at her.

"And that Yankee. Have you found out anything about him?"

Xie Wanying shook her head.

"The investigation is still ongoing. He's rarely out lately; he's been staying at Golden Princess and New World."

Ruan Xiong nodded.

"No rush," he said. "Take your time."

Xie Wanying looked at him.

"Brother Xiong, don't worry. That northerner won't get away."

Ruan Xiong smiled.

The smile was brief, fleeting in the sunlight.

-

Princess Jin, third-floor office.

Late at night.

Chen Feng was still sitting behind his desk.

The skinny monkey stood next to him.

"Brother Dagang," he said, "I've received news from Lou Zhenhua."

Chen Feng looked at him.

"explain."

"He got in touch with Mr. Zhou," said the skinny man. "Mr. Zhou said that Lao Cheng is willing to meet, but it will take some time."

Chen Feng nodded.

"How long will it take?"

Skinny Monkey said, "He didn't say. He only said that Lao Cheng had just finished a big deal and needed to rest."

Chen Feng's eyes twitched slightly.

I just finished a big deal.

five million.

It was sold to Ruan Xiong.

Chen Feng stood up and walked to the window.

Looking out the window at the neon lights.

"Skinny monkey,"

He said, "Have someone check where Lao Cheng's contact point is on Hong Kong Island."

The skinny monkey nodded.

"clear."

He turned around and strode out.

Chen Feng stood by the window, motionless.

Ruan Xiong.

Labor is accomplished.

Lou Zhenhua.

These people are slowly approaching.

He waited.

-

Somewhere on Hong Kong Island.

An inconspicuous general store, hidden in a small alley deep in Temple Street.

The storefront was small, and the signboard was old; it looked no different from any other general store.

But the skinny guy's men had already set their sights on this place.

This is Lao Cheng's contact point on Hong Kong Island.

Everyone who comes in and goes every day must be recorded.

Who came, who left, how long they stayed, and who they met.

I remember every single stroke clearly.

-

Princess Jin, third-floor office.

three days later.

Skinny Monkey stood in front of Chen Feng, holding a few sheets of paper in his hand.

"Brother Da Gang, we've found out."

Chen Feng took the papers and slowly looked at them.

The top is filled with names and dates.

Who went to that grocery store, when did they go, and how long did they stay?

Chen Feng read it once.

Then he put the paper down.

"How many times did Mr. Zhou go?"

The skinny monkey said, "Twice. Both times at night."

Chen Feng nodded.

"Who else?"

The skinny monkey said, "There are a few more I don't recognize. We're checking them now."

Chen Feng looked at him.

"Continue the investigation."

The skinny monkey nodded.

"clear."

He turned and walked out.

The door closed behind me.

Chen Feng leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.

Labor is accomplished.

Ruan Xiong.

And that Mr. Zhou.

The threads of these people are slowly getting tangled together.

All he needs to do is wait.

Waiting for the right opportunity.

Hong Kong Island, Tsim Sha Tsui.

It's still that upscale French restaurant, and that same booth by the window on the second floor.

The candlelight flickered, and the silver cutlery gleamed softly under the lamplight.

Outside the window is the night view of Victoria Harbour, with twinkling lights reflected on the sea like scattered gold.

Xie Wanying sat on the inside of the booth, holding a glass of red wine and sipping it slowly.

Today she was wearing a dark green cheongsam embroidered with subtle gold patterns, and the neckline was just right, revealing a section of her fair neck.

Her hair was pulled up high, with a strand hanging down beside her ear, swaying gently as she spoke.

Her face was covered in exquisite makeup, and a faint smile played between her brows and eyes.

Su Zhenzhen sat in the other chair opposite her.