Under One Person: The Taoist Priest Descends the Mountain

Xia Liuqing's face fell: "If I were kicked ten times, would I still be standing here?"

"Oh dear, Grandpa Xia, you're so old, why are you still arguing with us juniors?" Xia He clasped her hands together and blinked. "You're a very famous figure in Quanxing, it would be embarrassing if word got out."

Xia Liuqing's lips twitched.

He realized that these two weren't planning to let him off the hook today: "Fine, fine, I'll pay you back. I'll transfer the money to your account later."

Xia He immediately beamed and clapped her hands, exclaiming, "Grandpa Xia is truly the best!"

Xia Liuqing glanced at her sideways: "So it's not good not to change it?"

"Hehehe." Xia He chuckled guiltily.

Cheng Mo seized the opportunity to change the subject: "Grandpa Xia, there's something I haven't figured out."

Xia Liuqing, who was already feeling the pinch of the money, said irritably, "What?"

Cheng Mo asked casually, "Why did you come to me? Logically speaking, you didn't need to tell us the news in the first place, since our involvement might have disrupted your friend's plans."

He paused, glancing at Xia Liuqing's expression in the rearview mirror: "You wouldn't be asking me to help kill people from the Tang Clan, would you?"

Xia Liuqing waved his hand: "Hey, I initially thought you were pretty good, so I let you take care of the Japanese devils. Who would have thought you wouldn't kill a single one?"

Cheng Mo frowned; this explanation did not satisfy him: "No matter how you look at it, my involvement will become a variable, and besides, you've already called Baron."

"Baron was really lucky. He was exploring the Changbai Mountains, and I only got in touch with him after I arrived in Northeast China. As for your question..." Xia Liuqing leaned back in her chair.

"All I can say is that that's exactly what I was thinking—to let you kill a few Japanese devils to vent your anger and relieve some pressure on my old buddy. Who knew my old buddy was playing such a big game?"

Cheng Mo seized on the key phrase: "Old buddy?"

Xia Liuqing didn't hide anything: "We were friends who risked our lives for each other back then. It was really a coincidence that we met in Liupanshui. We happened to be talking about this matter, and you two happened to be interested, so I invited you two to come together."

Xia He suddenly realized: "So, after you arrived here, you contacted your friend and only then realized that the young Taoist priest and I were a distraction, which is why you didn't contact us immediately, right?"

Xia Liuqing shook her head: "Your imagination is too rich."

He adjusted his posture: "Since you've both arrived in Fengtian, it's only a matter of time before you come looking for me. I'm just avoiding you two to make it easier to stay in touch with my old friend."

Cheng Mo pressed further, "Why didn't you hide from Baron?"

"His hearing isn't as good as yours," Xia Liuqing pointed to her ears. "Besides, he's a foreigner after all, and he doesn't care about things in our country. As long as it doesn't involve him personally, he won't interfere. Unlike you, you have to go and see everything you see."

Cheng Mo thought about it and agreed.

Although Xia Liuqing was not a kind person, in this incident, he did not ask me to do anything, nor did he deliberately cheat anyone; he simply concealed some things.

Ultimately, they have no obligation to tell you everything.

Cheng Mo released the handbrake, and the car drove out of the parking lot.

Xia Liuqing looked around and asked, "Where are we going?"

"Buy a motorcycle," Cheng Mo said matter-of-factly.

Xia Liuqing was stunned: "I'll send the car to you later."

"You're already waiting at the train station, you must be getting ready to leave." Cheng Mo glanced at him in the rearview mirror. "Then we need to buy our motorcycle first. What if you leave and then deny everything? Where am I supposed to find you then?"

Xia Liuqing was silent for two seconds: "...You've really thought of everything."

The car turned out of the train station area and arrived at a motorcycle shop in ten minutes.

A dozen brand-new motorcycles, ranging from street bikes to cruisers, from domestic to imported, were displayed in front of the shop, all polished to a shine.

The owner, a middle-aged man in his forties, was squatting at the door smoking. Hearing the noise, he looked up, saw a customer, and quickly put out his cigarette to greet him.

"How many of you are looking at the cars? What model are you interested in?"

Cheng Mo walked around the store, then pointed to the black streetcar in the corner: "How much is that?"

"That one, it costs 38,000, but there's a promotion that gives you an 800 discount."

Xia Liuqing followed behind, looking constipated, her hands trembling as she took out her bank card.

The shopkeeper glanced at Xia Liuqing, then at Cheng Mo, his eyes a little strange, but he didn't ask any further questions and quickly issued the invoice.

After completing the paperwork, the car owner's name was Cheng Mo.

Xia Liuqing put the card back in her pocket, turned around and asked, "Where's that scratched bike? I'll just ride it back."

"Huh?" Cheng Mo was taken aback for a moment, then thought for a second, "Then I'll just send it to you in Liupanshui. Riding that thing back is thousands of kilometers, it's not safe."

Xia He nodded repeatedly: "Yes, it's not safe, and it's especially cold. In this weather, you'd freeze halfway there."

Xia Liuqing's face darkened: "What business is it of yours how I get back?"

He stepped forward, blocking Cheng Mo's path: "Bring me the car right now, or I'm not leaving."

Cheng Mo looked at Xia He, who shrugged.

"Alright, alright, you're awesome." Cheng Mo handed the keys to the new car to Xia He. "I'll go get the car. You guys wait here for me."

Xia He took the keys: "Okay, I'll stay here with Grandpa Xia."

Cheng Mo turned around, got into the car, and drove away in a flash.

Xia Liuqing watched the car disappear around the street corner, then turned to Xia He: "Little He Miao, where did you park your motorcycle?"

Xia He blinked: "Just park in the hotel parking lot."

"Then why did you drive here yesterday?" Xia Liuqing pressed.

"Uh..." Xia He thought for a moment, "The little Taoist priest has a way."

Xia Liuqing squinted, feeling that something was amiss.

……

Cheng Mo drove around two streets before stopping in a deserted alley.

After getting off the vehicle and looking around to make sure no one was there, I took the motorcycle out of the food bag.

He locked the car, got on the motorcycle, twisted the throttle, and drove back to the motorcycle shop.

Xia Liuqing took the car, climbed on and tried it out; the engine sounded alright.

"Okay, that's settled then." He twisted the accelerator, waved to the two of them, and said, "Let's go."

Xia He waved: "Goodbye, Grandpa Xia!"

Cheng Mo waved and said, "Take care on the road, Grandpa."

Xia Liuqing twisted the throttle, and the motorcycle sped off, quickly disappearing around the street corner.

Cheng Mo watched his figure disappear, then rode away on his motorcycle. A short while later, he returned empty-handed and got into a car.

……

Near the train station.

Xia Liuqing rode his motorcycle to a repair shop, left the motorcycle there, and asked the mechanic to give him an estimate so he could buy it.

The driver walked around the car and quoted a price.

Xia Liuqing took the money and turned to walk towards the ticket hall.

Halfway there, we suddenly stopped.

He stood there, frowning and thinking for a long time, then suddenly slapped his thigh: "Wait a minute! How did they get that motorcycle back? Hung it on the back?"

Xia Liuqing stood at the entrance of the ticket hall, his face wrinkled into a deep frown. He then patted his head and muttered, "This brat is really strange. Who knows what kind of treasure he hasn't taken out yet?"

Xia Liuqing shook her head, went into the ticket hall, and bought a ticket back to Liupanshui.

……

Fengtian, Nadutong Office Building.

The underground detention cell was dimly lit, and the walls were painted a pale green, with some areas peeling off to reveal gray cement.

Gao Lian came to Lin Rufeng's cell again.

Lin Rufeng sat on the iron chair, his hands and feet were handcuffed, his eyes were closed, and his face was expressionless.

Gao Lian sat down opposite him and placed the folder on the table: "Still not going to tell me?"

Lin Rufeng neither opened his eyes nor spoke.

Gao Lian stared at him for a few seconds, then got up and left.