After sending off the injured, the group returned to report to Mammoth Brother.
Upon hearing that they had been attacked by Fengshan, Mammoth Brother immediately announced a late night meeting and summoned them to his office.
By the time Lu Pei arrived, ten people had already gathered inside, Mammoth Brother’s trusted subordinates.
He didn’t know their names. They were all addressed as “Brother So and so” or “Sister So and so.” Every time he greeted them politely, he privately assigned them nicknames based on their appearances: Monkey King, Silver Horned King, Square Face, Bearded One… It was impressive that Mammoth Brother had managed to gather such a group.
“You’re back,” Mammoth Brother said. “Come in.”
You Rulan led the way, Lu Pei entered and Yuan Que followed last, taking position by the door.
As the one in charge of the mission, You Rulan naturally gave the report. He recounted everything in detail and especially praised Lu Pei.
“Ruby swapped the truck keys in advance. That’s how we managed to keep our Jinxing Stone.”
Everyone turned to look at Lu Pei, waiting for him to speak.
You Rulan didn’t take credit for himself, which left Lu Pei feeling subtly awkward. It was hard to explain his reasoning for switching the keys in a way that sounded appropriate.
There were two reasons.
First, he had felt uneasy, sensing that something might go wrong, so he kept a backup plan. If nothing had happened, he could simply apologize to Frank Feng, claim it was a mistake and hand over the real key, no harm done.
Second, he had sensed something unusual about the deal. Regardless of what the real object was, as long as he secured the Jinxing Stone in the cargo, he would be safe. Even if something went wrong, Mammoth Brother would hold You Rulan accountable, not him. After all, on the surface, he knew nothing.
Lu Pei had always been a bit calculating. He had no intention of taking the fall.
But at the same time, he couldn’t let Mammoth Brother know just how calculating he was.
“It was because the boss emphasized how valuable this shipment was. I was afraid of messing up and disappointing him, so I got overly nervous and secured the key in advance, just in case,” Lu Pei said smoothly. “And it was You Rulan who kept teaching me things along the way, telling me how cunning Fengshan is. It made me especially cautious. Thanks to him…”
He first flattered Mammoth Brother, then shifted the credit onto You Rulan, afraid that Mammoth Brother might form any particular opinion about him because of this matter.
After hearing his explanation, the confidants all showed expressions of approval, as if thinking, this kid is quite good. Only Mammoth Brother remained gloomy.
“‘Fengshan’ didn’t attack you because of the Jinxing Stone,” Mammoth Brother said. “They came for something else.”
Lu Pei put on a perfectly measured look of surprise.
Because of Mammoth Brother’s somber tone, the room fell into a stagnant silence.
“That was something Brother Zu entrusted me to escort. Its value exceeds your imagination. That’s why ‘Fengshan’ wants it or wants to destroy it.”
Mammoth Brother clasped his hands behind his back and stepped away from his desk.
Starting with the first confidant on his right, he walked slowly, meeting each person’s eyes one by one.
“I only received this information yesterday. ‘Fengshan’ knew about it almost immediately and planned the attack.”
His voice was unhurried but the atmosphere gradually tightened. Everyone present understood the implication behind his words.
“In our organization…”
“Is there someone… who isn’t quite loyal?”
Lu Pei mimicked the others, facing Mammoth Brother with the most loyal expression he could manage, while secretly observing the reactions around him. He was curious too, who was the mole?
Although Mammoth Brother occasionally glanced at him, there was no way suspicion would fall on a newcomer like him. He felt like someone watching gossip unfold, pretending to be tense but inwardly rather entertained.
“You should remember the traitors we dealt with last time,” Mammoth Brother said coldly. “I thought the two of them were utterly loyal to me. Who knew they were a pair of restless lovers, always wanting to fly away. So, I buried them together.”
Lu Pei wondered if Ren Yao had gotten involved with one of the “Brothers,” but Ren Yao wasn’t even present, his rank wasn’t high enough to attend such meetings.
He quietly scanned from You Rulan to the bearded man, thinking, Who could it be?
Which lucky pair of wild lovebirds was it?
“Yuan Que,” Mammoth Brother suddenly said. “You were supposed to go to the north district tonight and I didn’t assign you any additional support tasks.”
“Explain why you crossed half the city to appear somewhere you weren’t supposed to be.”
Lu Pei: “……”
Everyone else: “……”
All eyes turned toward Yuan Que.
Lu Pei was even more stunned.
This wasn’t Mammoth Brother’s arrangement?! Yuan Que acted on his own?! Then he came for,
“…” Yuan Que was silent for half a second. “I just went to help.”
Such an explanation clearly did not satisfy Mammoth Brother. His gaze immediately shifted to Lu Pei, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
“He explains it like that. Do you have anything to say?”
Like sunflowers following the only sun in the room, everyone’s heads turned toward Lu Pei once more.
Lu Pei: “…………”
He had been completely unaware just a moment ago.
This is bad! He forced a smile, racking his brain for words. “I…”
“But at least, you two are the heroes of tonight,” Mammoth Brother snorted, cutting off his attempt at explanation. “Let’s talk about ‘Fengshan.’”
…………..
The “wild lovebirds” turned out to be him!
After issuing that warning, Mammoth Brother smoothly moved on to the next topic, without keeping them behind for further questioning. It was as if he had merely mentioned it in passing but everyone’s gaze had changed.
Throughout the rest of the meeting, Lu Pei screamed silently in his mind.
Only when Mammoth Brother waved his hand to dismiss them did Lu Pei finally let his voice escape once they reached a place where only the two of them remained.
“Yuan Que! You came on your own? Why didn’t you tell me something this important beforehand?!”
“There was no need,” Yuan Que said coldly.
“There was a need! A very big need!” Lu Pei nearly lost his mind.
If they had coordinated in advance, they could have come up with a reasonable excuse. Now, it was impossible to explain.
Still trying to salvage the situation, Lu Pei asked, “Have you ever disobeyed Mammoth Brother’s orders before?”
Yuan Que thought for a moment. “If he tells me to die, I won’t.”
“I mean serious mission orders!”
“If his orders conflict with Zhou Zu’s, I follow Zhou Zu.”
Lu Pei understood. “So basically, you’ve never acted on your own like tonight, right?”
Yuan Que looked into the distance, saying nothing and quickened his pace.
Lu Pei: “……..”
What more was there to understand?
A subordinate who had always followed orders suddenly acted independently and did so in close association with another subordinate whose actions were already suspicious. That subordinate also had a military background. Put together, anyone would think the two of them were highly questionable, perhaps even suspecting involvement from the military itself.
Lu Pei felt both deeply moved that Yuan Que had come specifically to save him and at the same time, his head throbbed with a headache.
But… didn’t this also mean that the real object of the transaction was something the military would absolutely intercept, something that couldn’t simply be ignored?
Was that why Mammoth Brother was especially wary of subordinates with military backgrounds?
What kind of smuggled item could it be?
“…Damn.” Lu Pei’s heart skipped a beat.
Yuan Que: “?”
“From now on, we keep a low profile. Don’t get involved in this anymore,” Lu Pei said.
“Oh.”
“The real item being traded… if I’m not mistaken, it’s probably…”
“It’s a wooden box, about the size of two palms,” Yuan Que said. “Inside is a drug. Valuable.”
“How do you know? Didn’t Mammoth Brother keep you out of this?”
“They were talking. I heard.”
So he did pay attention to intelligence while staying on the sidelines. No wonder he could act so recklessly and still survive, when it really mattered, he was surprisingly careful.
Hearing that it was a “drug,” half of Lu Pei’s suspicion was confirmed. Before he could even feel pleased at obtaining information, he immediately said, “Don’t tell anyone else about this. Not a single word. Just pretend you forgot it.”
“Oh.”
Lu Pei wasn’t reassured. He pressed further, “Otherwise, we’re both dead for sure!”
Yuan Que: “?”
The word “dead” seemed to trigger something in him. Earlier, he had been indifferent even after drinking poison yet now he reacted differently, a faint displeasure appearing in his eyes as he looked at Lu Pei.
“I won’t die,” Yuan Que said firmly. “And neither will you.”
Lu Pei looked at him, raising his brow slightly.
He savored the meaning hidden within those simple statements, subtle but enough to give him what he wanted.
A smile curled at his lips.
“Mm.” Lu Pei extended his fist.
Yuan Que tilted his head slightly, staring at it.
“Like this. It’s a gesture of agreement,” Lu Pei said, grabbing his forearm and guiding him. “Make a fist.”
It was said that a fist was roughly the same size as a heart. Yuan Que’s heart must be strong, when their fists met, the difference in size was clear.
Their arms brushed against each other, fists lightly colliding.
Then Lu Pei pried open his fingers. Yuan Que allowed it, loosening his grip.
“Then it’s settled.” Lu Pei raised his arm, preparing for a high five. In the night, his smile was bright. “From now on, the two of us will survive together.”
He reached out. Their palms met, then separated.
…….
Suddenly, a sharp “zzz!” sounded in Lu Pei’s ear.
It was as if a light had been lit in the darkness. Images appeared before his eyes.
【Lu Pei and Yuan Que accept a mission from Mammoth Brother. The next day, they head to Hexing Street to find a contact.】
【Will the two of them prove themselves in this mission?】
【Bang bang bang bang!!! Pew! Bang!!
A storm of gunfire erupts!
Through thick smoke, a pickup bursts forward, Yuan Que gripping the steering wheel.
“Waaaah!!” Lu Pei shouts from the passenger seat.】
The scene gradually darkened. Behind their pickup, more vehicles burst out from the smoke, chasing closely.
It was obvious, they would be hunted during the delivery.
The two of them were being pursued by a group!
【All that has passed needs no words. The two are truly a pair of ill fated lovers.】
Lu Pei: “…………”
Again? Again??
Does this ever end?!?!