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Chapter 64: Completion
Chapter 64: Completion
"So, you two wanted to see me?"
Fu Shouxin looked at Ren Xiaotian and Chen Chuan. Hearing that a client wanted to meet him, he had his men bring them over.
Located near the city center, this underground arena required him to deal with people from all walks of life. The old gang rules wouldn't cut it here, especially with clients who had extensive connections and influence. He tried to avoid offending them whenever possible, as long as there were no major conflicts.
Chen Chuan sized up this man, another leader of the Bloodstain Gang, but unlike Fu Shouxin and Guo Pangzi, he was not the wild and unrefined type.
This middle-aged man was well-groomed, with neatly trimmed sideburns and a clean-shaven face. He wore a casual imported suit with a plaid tie and shiny black leather shoes, the very image of an upper-class gentleman.
Fu Shouxin invited the two to sit and then signaled for his men to serve them drinks. Leaning back on the sofa, he gestured with his hand and said, "So, what brings you two here?"
Ren Xiaotian spoke up, "We want to take An Qingqing away."
"Oh, that matter?" Fu Shouxin replied nonchalantly. "As long as you can get her to leave on her own, I won't stop you. We do business here, and we all follow the rules."
"She refuses to leave," Ren Xiaotian continued, "and I hope Mr. Fu will convince her to leave."
Fu Shouxin chuckled and straightened his posture slightly. "Let me make this clear. You're not the first to come for An Qingqing, but she's our guest, and she's here to pay us. How could we possibly drive away a paying customer? I'd be delighted if she stayed. As for your request..." He leaned back, spreading his hands, "...it's impossible."
At this moment, Ren Xiaotian placed his revolver on the tea table. The security guards and gang members tensed, some preparing to draw their weapons.
Fu Shouxin raised a hand, signaling them to stand down. His expression was a mix of curiosity and amusement. "What's this? A threat? As clients, you should know where you are. Do you think you can scare me with a gun? Are you here to mock me?"
Ren Xiaotian spoke in a monotone, "If you don't let her go, I'll fire a shot into the sky."
Fu Shouxin's face, which had been relaxed, suddenly changed upon hearing this.
Ren Xiaotian continued in a steady voice, "When the shot is heard, someone will call the Patrol Bureau, and they will come."
"Damn!" Fu Shouxin swore. "You're serious?"
He was well aware of the nature of the Patrol Bureau. Their funds came directly from the state, bypassing the Government Hall, and their tight-knit internal structure meant they wouldn't show favor to the Bloodstain Gang.
When they arrived, they wouldn't care about the specifics of the situation or who fired the gun. They would use the search for firearms as an excuse to extort a hefty fee or even seal the place for a few days. Even if Fu Shouxin used connections to lift the seal, it would still cost him.
The critical issue was that he had a lot to hide, and an investigation would be disastrous.
Chen Chuan now understood Ren Xiaotian's strategy. He was familiar with the ways of the Patrol Bureau, so he chimed in at the right moment, his tone calm and collected.
"Mr. Fu, your arena is located between two districts. While you may usually exploit this loophole to avoid regulations, the sound of a gunshot will alert both districts' Patrol Bureaus.
The Great Plain District Patrol Bureau is a ten-minute drive away, and the Preservation Zone Patrol Bureau is even closer, just eight minutes. They'll be here within ten minutes, and with such a large operation, you won't have time to evacuate, will you? You should know the rules of the Patrol Bureau. As far as I know, Captain Wei of the Preservation Zone is known as Wei Laohu. He's a man who hates evil and acts boldly. I believe you wouldn't want to see him here."
Fu Shouxin's expression shifted, contemplating whether to detain these two. But the problem was that anyone bold enough to meet him here would surely have made arrangements outside, making the situation harder to explain.
Carrying a gun meant they were either fugitives or had a weapon permit, the latter being more troublesome. It implied a connection to Wu Da, and the complications that came with it were numerous.
Fu Shouxin had never faced such a situation before. Those with the qualifications wouldn't bother him, and those without wouldn't dare challenge the Bloodstain Gang.
Ren Xiaotian contemplated for a moment before signaling to one of his men, who approached with a serious expression. "Go and cancel the reservation for Room 7. Escort the client out," he instructed.
The subordinate nodded and led the client away.
Ren Xiaotian picked up the gun from the desk, tucked it away, and stood up. "Goodbye, Mr. Fu," he said.
"I hope we don't meet again," Fu Shouxin replied, his face grim. "You are no longer welcome here."
"There won't be a next time," Ren Xiaotian assured him.
Fu Shouxin scoffed. "I certainly hope so." He turned to his men and ordered, "What are you staring at? Escort the client out!"
A group of Bloodstain Gang members surrounded them, and as they stood up, they were escorted out like prisoners.
Ren Xiaotian and Chen Chuan weren't overly concerned, knowing it was just a show. After all, the task was already accomplished, and they had to give the owner some face.
Once outside, they met Lin Xiaoti, and Chen Chuan noticed a faint scent of algae oil on her. He realized that Lin Xiaoti had played a role in this.
An Qingqing had not yet emerged, so the three of them waited.
Chen Chuan pondered and realized that Ren Xiaotian's strategy of borrowing strength to defeat strength was ingenious. By utilizing the Bloodstain Gang, he had resolved the issue without getting personally involved.
This seemingly simple task required a deep understanding of Fu Shouxin's psychology and the Patrol Bureau's operating style. It also demanded self-assurance to execute such a plan.
Chen Chuan expressed his admiration to Ren Xiaotian, "Senior Ren, I've learned something valuable today."
Ren Xiaotian looked at him intently and said, "Use the rules to counter the rules." He paused, then added, "Your safety is paramount."
Chen Chuan nodded in agreement.
Lin Xiaoti chimed in playfully, "Listening to Senior Ren is always a wise choice."
After a brief conversation, An Qingqing emerged with her female bodyguard, Xiao Zhen. An Qingqing had her arms crossed, looking annoyed.
Lin Xiaoti approached and said, "Miss An, it's nice to see you again. Let's go."
"Was it you who set this up?" An Qingqing asked, hugging her arms. She hummed and said, "Fine, if you can beat Xiao Zhen, I'll go with you."
The muscular female bodyguard had just stepped out when she saw Ren Xiaotian draw a gun and aim it at her. She immediately froze, raising her hands in surrender. "Miss..." she said, turning back.
An Qingqing glanced at Ren Xiaotian, who held the gun with a cold expression, and then at the pleading eyes of the female bodyguard. She muttered a few words and said, "Fine, I'll go with you. But I won't ride in your car. Xiao Zhen, you drive me home."
Chen Chuan silently thought to himself that the armed permit was indeed useful.
With permission granted, the female bodyguard hurried to fetch the car. Soon, she returned with a red maple sedan, and An Qingqing walked straight to it, opened the door, and sat inside.
Ren Xiaotian asked, "Is it done?"
Lin Xiaoti giggled and replied, "I checked. I wanted to give her a little more, but her algae oil was only enough for the trip home. She can't go anywhere else."
Ren Xiaotian didn't say more. He gestured to Chen Chuan and Lin Xiaoti to get into the off-road vehicle, and the two cars drove off towards the south of the city.
The journey proceeded without incident, and they safely escorted An Qingqing back to the residential area where the wealthy An family lived. Ren Xiaotian instructed Lin Xiaoti to make a phone call, and soon, a housekeeper-like figure emerged to sign the receipt.
Ren Xiaotian then handed Chen Chuan a carbon copy of the receipt, marking the completion of this assigned mission. What An Qingqing might do next was no longer their concern.
On their way back to school, Chen Chuan learned through conversation that Lin Xiaoti was a year younger than him. She had been learning combat techniques from her master since childhood and was also planning to take the entrance exam for Wu Yi Academy the following year. Given her connections and skills, it seemed likely that they would be classmates the following year.
Upon reaching the dormitory, Chen Chuan bid farewell to the others and, as usual, called Cheng Zitong. When Cheng Zitong heard about the successful mission, he said,
"I checked your records. You had an assigned mission when you first enrolled, and the evaluation was excellent. This evaluation should also be fine, so you've completed the three assigned missions. Now, you need to focus on mastering the combat technique."
Chen Chuan replied calmly, "Teacher, I will do my best."
(End of Chapter)
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