280: Chapter 280 Intelligence and Objectives, Midnight Forest

"After the Black Eagle Gang was wiped out, Xu Hao seemed to have vanished into thin air."

Xu Sanduo immediately explained:

"No sign of him dead or alive. Not to mention the fair-weather friends he used to hang out with, even his family thought he might have died on the streets. They searched everywhere in a panic, and in the end, having no other choice, they even reported him missing to the police station."

"The police opened a case, but they couldn't find anything. It was as if he had vanished from the face of the earth."

"But the strange thing is—"

Xu Sanduo's tone shifted again, filled with wonder:

"About two months ago, just when everyone was about to forget him, this kid suddenly popped up again out of nowhere. And it was like he had become a completely different person—he became incredibly good at fighting."

"Before, he was just a nobody idling on the streets, a punk in a third-rate Gang, with nothing more than some reckless courage at best. But now he's like a totally different person. Not only has his strength increased tremendously, but his moves are also incredibly fast and ruthless. Many old hands in the Jianghu couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes before being completely knocked to the ground."

"No one knows where he went or what he did during that time. Maybe he had some heaven-sent encounter, consumed some Spirit Pill or miraculous medicine, or maybe, as some people rumored, he ran into something sinister and had his body modified..."

"Anyway, relying on this bizarre capability, in just one or two short months, he carved out a fearsome reputation on the streets. His momentum was unmatched, outshining many of the top enforcers from various syndicates. Some busybodies even gave him the nickname 'Mad Dog Xu'!"

A click of a lighter came from the phone. Xu Sanduo seemed to take a deep drag of a cigarette before continuing to talk about the strange things happening to Xu Hao:

"There's something even more bizarre. Someone saw with their own eyes that he took three knife wounds in a street fight, each drawing blood. But guess what? A few days later, this guy Xu Hao was alive and kicking, dancing in a bar without even a band-aid on, acting as if nothing had happened."

Having said this, Xu Sanduo's voice rose slightly, speaking with a flattering tone:

"Of course, compared to a real boss like you, that kid is still very green. I still feel deeply shocked and awed when I think of how you killed that armed thug with your bare hands and thrashed those two bald donkeys..."

Fang Cheng interrupted his flattery, his voice cold:

"Get to the point. How is the Red Tiger Gang dealing with him?"

"Oh, you've hit the nail on the head with that question!"

Xu Sanduo hurriedly continued:

"According to the reliable information I managed to gather through all kinds of round-about ways, he has now hooked up with the Red Tiger Gang and is already the Gang's rising star!"

"It's said that after several elders tested his skills, they were all full of praise. The most exaggerated part is Chief Chen's attitude. He rewarded him with a luxury mansion on their very first meeting, and even made an exception to let him directly participate in the Red Tiger Gang's shrine meetings."

"Think about it, how long has it been? A newcomer who joined the Gang less than two months ago can actually speak in front of the Gang's high-level executives. His status has skyrocketed like a rocket."

"Despite his young age, he is already considered a mid-level cadre with real power within the Red Tiger Gang."

"And Chief Chen highly regards him, practically grooming him to be a future trusted general. If things keep going at this rate, his future is truly limitless..."

Listening to the information reported by Xu Sanduo, Fang Cheng slowly tapped his fingers on the cold window frame, making soft "tap, tap" sounds.

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

He murmured in his heart, a clue vaguely forming.

"I understand."

Fang Cheng fell silent for a moment, then spoke again, his voice returning to calm:

"Sanduo, that's all for now. Have your people withdraw. Things are tight lately, so don't attract too much attention. I'll contact you if I need anything."

"Alright, alright, Boss! Just give the word if you need anything. I, Xu Sanduo, and my brothers are at your service anytime! I am your loyal dog..."

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

"Thanks for the hard work."

Fang Cheng didn't listen to the end and hung up the phone directly.

Instantly, silence returned to the room.

Darkness rushed in like a tide, enveloping Fang Cheng. The myriad lights of the city outside flickered, reflecting on his face and carving out an obscure expression.

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

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

Who could be the one investigating him in secret?

Was it because of the last operation to fight for the golden bumpa bottle, or was it some loose ends left from even earlier?

Thoughts spun rapidly in Fang Cheng's mind as he analyzed the situation piece by piece.

The Lu Family? It didn't seem very likely.

Xu Sanduo had just mentioned that the Lu Family had recently changed its head to Lu Yongquan, which was a critical period for internal power transition and purging opponents.

The executives of the Jinlu Group and the heads of its branch offices had all been replaced, indicating that the internal struggle was fierce and things had not yet fully stabilized.

At such a chaotic time, as long as the newly succeeded head of the family, Lu Yongquan, was not completely out of his mind, he would be unlikely to actively stir up trouble and provoke an external enemy whose background was unknown and who might bring trouble.

At least, not in this manner.

Then, what about the Special Investigation Team?

Fang Cheng frowned.

If official forces were involved in the investigation, their style of conduct would certainly be more secretive and rigorous, and they would never easily leak any information.

Still less would they let a Jianghu figure like Xu Hao, who had just emerged on the streets, learn confidential information, let alone use such intelligence to blackmail him.

This was illogical and far too unprofessional.

Excluding these two less likely options, then... the spearhead seemed to point to...

Fang Cheng's gaze once again turned to the deep night outside the window.

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

Xu Hao's bizarre disappearance, his reborn return, and his rocket-like rise within the Red Tiger Gang—all of this seemed extremely unusual.

There must be the shadow of the Red Tiger Gang's high-level executives behind it, and it might even involve deeper secrets.

Recalling his brief encounter with Xu Hao during the day.

Although the other party didn't say it explicitly, his fearless attitude and the subtle hint of "I know your background" in his words all indicated that he could access some inside information that ordinary punks could absolutely never know.

He was certain that Fang Cheng was no ordinary person, and he was also certain that this news of "being investigated" could hold sway over him.

If the high-level members of the Red Tiger Gang knew that the "bloody cases" at the port warehouse and the waste treatment plant were committed by him, their legs would probably go soft with fear, and they wouldn't dare to actively provoke him.

Therefore, the answer seemed to be on the verge of coming out...

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

Although he couldn't be one hundred percent sure who the person investigating him in secret was, Xu Sanduo's intelligence undoubtedly pointed out the direction of suspicion.

He raised his hand to look at his watch; the blue fluorescent digits displayed 20:03.

Fang Cheng took a final look around this spacious, rough, yet soon-to-be-his-new-stronghold unfinished apartment.

Taking a deep breath, he suppressed the surging thoughts in his mind, turned to walk out, and reached out to gently close the door.

Click.

In the empty room, only endless darkness and the lingering smell of renovation remained.

Coming to the roadside, the night wind blew past, carrying the slightly fishy scent unique to the beach.

Fang Cheng hailed a passing taxi, pulled open the door, and got in.

"To the city center, Feihong Road, Midnight Forest Bar."

He gave the driver an address.

The taxi quickly merged into the traffic, driving toward the brightly lit city center.

Next, Fang Cheng was going to solve some pressing issues.

Since trouble had come knocking on his door, he would take the initiative to face it.

...

Traffic flowed like a woven fabric, and bands of light interlaced.

The outlines of tall buildings were sketched out by countless lights, reflecting the prosperity and restlessness of this sleepless city.

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

Fang Cheng paid the fare, pushed the door open to get out, and adjusted the shoulder bag on his shoulder.

The night was deep, but this street seemed to have just woken up, with flashing neons and a clamor of voices.

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

At the street corner, the four huge artistic characters of the "Midnight Forest" signboard were exceptionally eye-catching under the alternating dark red and deep blue lights.

Deafening music, full of rhythm, drifted out from the half-open main door, attracting men and women seeking excitement.

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

According to the business card Xu Hao had given him, he should now be the "Zha Fit Man" of this area, or to put it in a more elegant title, the security department manager.

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

Then, following the surging crowd, he walked into the bar at an unhurried pace.

The light inside was even dimmer and more blurred, and the heavy bass beats felt like they were hammering on his heart.

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

Around the booths and the bar counter, glasses clinked, and the noise of laughter and chatter rose and fell.

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

According to the intelligence, Xu Hao had no fixed residence, and the house gifted by the Red Tiger Gang's chief was still undergoing renovation. Thus, when he had nothing to do, he would either party all night in the bar or simply sleep in the lounge upstairs.

Fang Cheng sat down in a relatively secluded booth with a good view. He didn't order any alcohol, only asking for a glass of orange juice.

Holding the ice-cold glass in his hand, he was completely out of tune with the surrounding hot and dry atmosphere.

He just sat there quietly, like an ice cube dropped into boiling water, observing everything around him without showing any emotion.

Before long, two sexily and hotly dressed women holding wine glasses walked over with swaying postures.

Their skirts were just short enough to reveal their stocking-clad legs. Their heavily made-up faces wore professional smiles, and their eyes kept rolling over Fang Cheng.

"Hi, handsome, are you alone?"

One of the curly-haired women spoke first, her voice sweet and cloying, with an obvious intention to strike up a conversation.

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

The other straight-haired woman leaned even closer, almost pressing against Fang Cheng's side, as a strong scent of perfume assailed his nostrils:

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

Fang Cheng looked up at them, his eyes calm, and said indifferently:

"No, thank you."

"Don't be so boring~"

The straight-haired woman refused to give up and reached out to drape her arm over Fang Cheng's shoulder:

"It's so boring to be alone. Have some alcohol to warm up, and then go dancing with us later? You're so handsome, your body must be great too..."

Fang Cheng turned slightly, avoiding the woman's harassing touch.

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

After a brief silence, Fang Cheng raised his hand and slowly took off the peaked cap on his head.

Under the dim light, a shiny bald head was clearly revealed, forming a sharp visual contrast with his Yingjun and refined face.

Without the brim of the cap blocking them, Fang Cheng's deep and sharp eyes were also fully exposed, calmly gazing at the two women in front of him.

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

They looked at each other, their eyes filled with astonishment and a trace of... disgust?

"Tsk!"

The curly-haired woman curled her lip and muttered in a low voice, "After all that trouble, it turns out he's a monk..."

"How boring, let's go, let's go."

The straight-haired woman also lost interest, standing up and giving her companion a pull.

The two turned and left resentfully, not forgetting to look back with a rather regretful gaze before they went, as if saying, "What a waste of that face."

Fang Cheng put his peaked cap back on, completely unconcerned about this little interlude, and continued to sip the orange juice in his glass.

His gaze was cast back onto the noisy crowd, waiting patiently.

Time passed minute by minute, and the atmosphere in the bar grew more and more hyped.

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

Several men who were obviously drunk, their faces flushed red, were surrounding and pulling at a young girl in a waitress uniform, shouting filthy words like "fucking bitch" from their mouths.

The girl was pale with fright, struggling desperately.

The surrounding guests backed away one after another, and the other waiters also shrank back.

These drunkards were broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, clearly ruthless characters who frequented night venues. For a moment, no one dared to step forward to stop them.

Just as the scene was about to spiral out of control, a clutter of footsteps came from the entrance of the bar.

The dancing crowd seemed to sense something and automatically parted to make a way.

Fang Cheng drank his juice and looked up.

He saw Xu Hao walking in with a swagger, surrounded by a group of fierce-looking lackeys adorned with Dragon and tiger tattoos.

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

His face carried an untamed ferocity, and his eyes swept over the entire crowd with disdain, presenting a perfect picture of a Jianghu boss.

Only the single streak of dyed yellow hair on his forehead added a bit of ruffian air to him, weakening the original sense of oppression.

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

Xu Hao frowned, a clear expression of impatience and ruthlessness appearing on his face:

"Damn it, what blind bastards dare to make trouble on my turf?"