Chapter 227: Chinese Partners

I didn’t understand the situation, and Old Four Chong immediately closed the door. The first person I saw was Zhen Yangzi, and then I noticed Pan Shuya and the young boy sleeping beside him. Old Four Chong said, “This kid is very scheming; it wasn’t easy to trick him into coming here. Fortunately, Brother Dao’s acting was convincing enough to fool him.”

Zhen Yangzi replied, “To be honest, Brother Chong, I once wrote a letter to Director Ang Lee, questioning why he made *Brokeback Mountain* with foreigners instead of casting Chinese actors. Otherwise, I could have played the male lead.”

Old Four Chong said seriously, “Let’s focus on the matter at hand.”

I hadn’t expected that Old Four Chong, who seemed to be cooperating with me, was actually in cahoots with Zhen Yangzi. These two old bastards had deceived me and brought me here.

Zhen Yangzi looked at my expression and said, “I know you’re not convinced.”

I replied coldly, “No, I’m completely convinced. Your acting skills are truly astonishing. Mr. Chong, you started performing back at the hotel when I activated the Three Corpse Worms, didn’t you?”

Old Four Chong silently acknowledged it.

I continued, “You deliberately misled Secretary Jia into thinking Mayor Wu was targeting him, while Zhen Yangzi made it seem like Secretary Jia was plotting against Mayor Wu, right?”

Zhen Yangzi shook his head. “We didn’t make that up. The conflict between them has existed for a long time. As the saying goes, ‘Two tigers cannot share one mountain unless one is male and the other female.’ But neither of them is easy to deal with. Secretary Jia resents being sidelined, while Mayor Wu fears being backstabbed. That’s why he asked me to investigate Secretary Jia. So far, no one else has seen the compromising video of Secretary Jia and Pan Shuya. They only know it exists but haven’t seen it.”

I asked, “Are the two of you the ones behind this?”

Zhen Yangzi didn’t deny it, confirming my suspicion.

He pointed to a nearby chair and said, “You’ve already tested me and know you’re no match. Sit down and listen to the good news.”

Old Four Chong released two black threadworms from his hand. “Master Xiao, let me educate you about my worms. Otherwise, you might think I’m just a paper tiger.”

I asked, “What’s your connection to the Guo family? Are you one of them?”

Old Four Chong ignored my question. “These aren’t ordinary threadworms. They’re steel threadworms, bred from golden mantis gu. Once they enter a person’s body, they take over the central nervous system and control their actions.”

I thought for a moment. “So, once the steel threadworm enters someone’s body, they become a puppet?”

Old Four Chong nodded. “You could say that. More accurately, they turn into a zombie.”

I pressed further, “How does Old Five’s brain-eating worm compare to your steel threadworm?”

Old Four Chong replied, “They’re about the same. But you should understand—a butcher with a knife is no match for Yue Buqun wielding a needle.”

His meaning was clear: while the worms were comparable, his own skills in worm techniques far surpassed Old Five’s. I fell silent. Who would’ve thought Old Four was such a good actor?

If there were ever a Chinese version of *Brokeback Mountain*, Zhen Yangzi and Old Four Chong would be perfect for the lead roles. I’d definitely recommend them to Director Ang Lee.

Zhen Yangzi picked up the phone and called Mayor Wu, claiming that Secretary Jia had sent people after them and that Pan Shuya had realized his true nature and was ready to expose him.

Mayor Wu responded, “But a twenty-year-old girl can’t handle that old fox.”

Zhen Yangzi replied, “Mayor Wu, I must warn you—someone has planted a worm inside you. It must be removed before dawn, or you’re finished.”

Hearing this, the vigorous Mayor Wu immediately perked up and demanded to meet Zhen Yangzi. After hanging up, Old Four Chong repeated the same script, this time claiming Pan Shuya had betrayed him and that he needed the worm removed tonight to avoid disaster.

With their calls finished, Zhen Yangzi took out two bottles of Pepsi to celebrate their imminent success.

Old Four Chong accepted the Pepsi but didn’t open it, joking that too much of it killed sperm—or so the news said. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Old Four, you don’t even mess with women. Why worry about sperm count?”

Truthfully, Old Four didn’t trust Zhen Yangzi enough to drink his Pepsi. The two maintained a cautious distance.

Old Four frowned. “Xiao Qi, it’s been a long night. Why don’t you have one?” I had nothing to fear, so I opened the bottle and took a sip.

Zhen Yangzi sighed. “That’s a three-yuan bottle of Pepsi, and you gave it to him!”

My phone rang—probably Yi Miao or Secretary Jia calling. Zhen Yangzi shook his head. “No calls right now.”

I asked Old Four, “Are you going to kill me?”

He replied, “Let’s not talk about that now.”

Zhen Yangzi stood up. “It’s time to go.” He patted Pan Shuya and the boy on their necks, waking them from their stupor.

Pan Shuya had striking features, but after meeting Xie Lingyu and Guo Qiqi, I was no longer easily impressed. My gaze shifted to the boy—a youthful, innocent-looking kid with a mushroom haircut and a scar on his forehead, likely from a bar fight.

Pan Shuya asked softly, “Where are we going now?”

Zhen Yangzi waved his hand. “We’re going home.”

With some unseen gesture, both Pan Shuya and the boy obediently followed without protest.

Old Four ordered me to open the door and lead the way.

Downstairs, I glanced back at the dilapidated building. The residents slept peacefully, but in Little Ming’s home, his mother’s cough echoed through the night. For a child like him, the nights must have been long and unbearable. I suddenly wished I could buy Yanzi Li San a drink.

The Beetle car was cramped. Zhen Yangzi sat in the passenger seat, while Old Four, Pan Shuya, and the boy squeezed into the back. I drove while Zhen Yangzi directed me through the dark streets, where only early-shift street cleaners were out spraying water.

We finally stopped at a riverside dock in Jiangnan City. Zhen Yangzi led us onto a fishing boat, turning on the lights with practiced ease. “It’s small, but it’ll do.”

Pan Shuya and the boy sat side by side, their hands touching.

Zhen Yangzi asked the boy, “What’s your name?”

“Jia Peng,” he replied.

Zhen Yangzi smirked. “Interesting. You’re a Jia too.” The boy shrugged. “What’s so strange about that?”

Jia Peng seemed calmer than Pan Shuya. His fair skin suggested a privileged upbringing, yet the girl he loved was already someone else’s caged songbird. I felt sorry for him.

Old Four entered and warned Zhen Yangzi, “Don’t kill too many people later.” Zhen Yangzi sneered, the black hairs in his nostrils twitching rhythmically.

Suddenly, he locked eyes with me. His gaze pierced to the bone, sending a shiver down my spine. “What are you going to do?” I asked.

Zhen Yangzi grinned. “Do you know why I partnered with Mr. Chong?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“It’s simple,” he said. “You’re Long Youshui’s successor. Ye Wenxin is Ye Guyi’s daughter, making her your martial uncle in seniority.”

I was still trembling. “Right.” Zhen Yangzi continued, “A fire once burned on Mount Sanqing, set by a group of Red Guards. One of their leaders was Lin You, and another was Ye Wenxin.”

Yi Miao had told me about this—how the incident broke Gu Rechang’s spirit, subjected him to inhuman torture, and drove him to the dark path.

I frowned. “Even so, what does this have to do with you or me?”

Zhen Yangzi declared, “A son pays for his father’s debts. Since Ye Wenxin sinned, you must bear the punishment.”

I shook my head. “I still don’t understand.” He scoffed. “Let me explain. When I was starving, Taoist Master Gu gave me a bowl of noodles and later let me become a novice in his temple. I, Cao Qinghua—Zhen Yangzi—am a man who repays kindness. I’ve already dealt with many of those Red Guards, but a few remain. Now, I’m close to finishing the job.”

It suddenly made sense. Zhen Yangzi, indebted to Gu Rechang, sought to avenge his humiliation. In contrast, Gu Rechang’s own disciples, Ji Ruyue and Gu Xiulian, had never bothered. In that sense, Zhen Yangzi almost seemed righteous.

I asked, “So… you’re going to kill me?”

He hesitated slightly. “Y-yes.”

Zhen Yangzi wanted me dead, and Old Four, seeking revenge for Old Five and Fake Wang Han, was no different. Together, they were unstoppable.

Old Four added, “Old Five and Old Two have disappeared, and I’ve traced it back to you. There’s no escape.”

He struck first. The steel threadworm leaped from his hand onto my neck. I barely had time to think, *So Fake Wang Han was Old Two?* before Old Four made his move.

I had fought him before and expelled the worm, but this time, it didn’t work. A chilling realization struck me—this was serious.

Old Four sneered. “This steel threadworm was bred from golden mantis gu. Even if you’re a Five Elements Worm Master, it’s useless. Completely useless.”

Zhen Yangzi added ominously, “They’re here too.”