Chapter 31: The Xiling Gang

The warehouse of Xiling Trading is located in the western suburbs of Tianhai City. A truck loaded with crystal sugar idled on the side of the road, its yellow hazard lights flashing rhythmically.

Qian Hao stood before the truck with a gloomy expression, smoking in silence. The cherry of his cigarette pulsed in the darkness, mirroring the grim state of his mind.

"Er Sheng, I really overestimated you. I thought you were a clever man, someone I could groom for bigger things. Instead, you arrange for a cop to follow me to the sugar factory! It’s fortunate I was vigilant enough to have a backup plan. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have made it out unscathed."

"Have you lived such a soft life that you can no longer tell a cat from a mouse?"

Qian Hao’s anger flared as he spoke. He reached out, grabbed Kong Er Sheng by the hair, forced his head down, and pressed the burning cigarette directly into his face.

*Sizzle!* The smell of scorched flesh filled the air.

Although Kong Er Sheng trembled from the agony, he didn't move an inch, gritting his teeth to endure it. He knew Qian Hao’s temperament all too well—a volatile man who would kill at the slightest provocation. This minor physical pain was nothing; as long as it could appease Qian Hao, he was willing to suffer.

Qian Hao tossed the mangled cigarette butt to the ground and spat in disgust. "Who recommended Xiao Ziguang?"

"It was Old Ghost! He’s the local snake I found in Tianhai. I’d used him before and trusted him, so I didn't vet Xiao Ziguang’s background." Kong Er Sheng swallowed hard before adding, "I truly never expected Old Ghost would introduce a cop to me. The man is a user and a dealer himself—how could he be a police informant?"

"Whatever he is, make sure he becomes a dead man as soon as possible," Qian Hao said, lighting another cigarette. "If he doesn't die, you will."

Kong Er Sheng bowed to Qian Hao and rushed out with his men. Moments later, the roar of motorcycles echoed outside the warehouse.

Tonight, Tianhai was destined to be anything but quiet. Xiling Trading, a dragon crossing the river, had finally shed its mask and officially planted its flag in Tianhai City.

Old Ghost was hacked into three pieces, and his blood was used to scrawl three characters on the ground: *Xiling Gang.*

***

Xiao Ziguang walked out of the bedroom, yawning. He saw Lele, who was still bleary-eyed. The little girl was quite polite: "Good morning, Toad."

Xiao Ziguang was speechless. "Kid, don't just call people names. I'm your father!"

"You're not! Daddies and mommies sleep in the same room. You're just someone chasing mommy, a toad trying to eat swan meat!"

Are children these days this knowledgeable?

While Xiao Ziguang was stunned, Xue Wen hurried over. She bowed to apologize to Xiao Ziguang before scooping up Lele and rushing toward the bathroom.

So awkward—it was mortifying! If the floor could open up, Xue Wen would have crawled right into it. She knew Lele was precocious, as children of the poor often matured early, but she never imagined the girl would be so bold with her words.

She hoped Xiao Ziguang wouldn't misunderstand. Xue Wen cherished her current life and didn't want anything to change.

Sitting at the dining table, Xue Ao’s smile never faded. As people age, they become nostalgic and cherish family ties; what they crave is the warmth of home. This life, which had previously only existed in his dreams, brought light to the endless darkness Xue Ao had lived in.

"Ziguang, sit! I heard your father is having surgery soon? Let Wenwen and me go pay a visit to your parents."

"I will personally help contact the doctors. Wenwen, you should go to the hospital more often to show your filial piety. After all, Ziguang’s father is your father now, too!"

"Yes," Xue Wen nodded.

Xiao Ziguang felt an inexplicable warmth in his heart. Even if Xue Ao had his reasons for this, it was undeniably pleasant. If Xue Ao hadn't lost his sight and could still act as the head of the Xue family, their influence would surely exceed what it had been in his past life.

"Dad, I spoke with Xue Qiang yesterday and then met with the Second Uncle. They agreed to the two-for-one trade and to extend the transaction cycle by a year. They also promised to hand over Xue Qiang’s taxi company to me once the matter is settled."

"Dad, if you have no issues with this, I’ll arrange a time for us to have tea with the Second Uncle."

"I trust your judgment, Ziguang. Set a time with the Second Brother, and I will talk to him myself." Xue Ao reached out and patted Lele’s head. "Wenwen, take my car this morning. Have Dajun take you to register Lele’s household residency. From now on, her name is Xue Lele."

Xue Wen, who had been eating, trembled. "Dad! Thank you, thank you so much..."

Her voice choked with emotion. For years, she had been burdened by guilt, feeling that she had brought shame upon the Xue family. Now that her father was willing to accept Lele, it meant the humiliation was finally over.

"We are all family; what is there to thank me for? If you’re truly touched, then take good care of your health and give me a few chubby grandsons with Ziguang to carry on the lineage of the Xue family’s main branch..."

"Dad!" Xue Wen cried out, blushing.

*Ding-ding-dong, ding-ding-dong!*

Xiao Ziguang’s phone rang abruptly. He was about to hang up, but seeing the caller was Yang Jin, he said apologetically, "Dad, let me take this call."

Seeing Xue Ao nod, Xiao Ziguang answered. Yang Jin’s frantic, furious voice erupted from the receiver: "Xiao Ziguang, are you a pig? I told you to go undercover, and I repeatedly told you not to alert the enemy!"

"And look what happened! Last night, the Xiling Trading motorcycle gang rampaged through Tianhai, and Kong Er Sheng hacked my informant, Old Ghost, to death."

"You useless, destructive idiot, you are going to take full responsibility for this..."

Strictly speaking, Old Ghost wasn't entirely Yang Jin’s informant. Having followed Xiong Yaohui for nearly twenty years, he was undeniably one of Xiong’s most trusted lieutenants. Now that Old Ghost was dead, Xiong Yaohui would demand an explanation regardless of the reason. Yang Jin certainly didn't want to carry that burden, so Xiao Ziguang was the perfect scapegoat.

Having lived two lifetimes, Xiao Ziguang understood Yang Jin’s intention instantly. He retorted with a sneer: "Captain Yang, did you eat crap this morning? Your mouth reeks!"

"Since Old Ghost was your informant and you know he was killed by Kong Er Sheng, why don’t you go arrest him and get revenge? Why are you barking at me?"

"You aren't taking your anger out on me just because you’re too scared to face Kong Er Sheng, are you? The way you’re howling in your incompetence, you really look like a dog."

"You... you! You!" Yang Jin was so furious he couldn't form a coherent sentence. His lungs felt ready to explode. He took several deep breaths to steady himself.

"Xiao Ziguang, don't think you can talk your way out of this. You’ve caused such a catastrophe that not even I can protect you."

"I will report the situation truthfully to Director Xiong. To make such a massive blunder on your first undercover mission—just wait to be disciplined!"

Xiao Ziguang wanted to retort further, but the dial tone hummed in his ear. That bastard Yang Jin had hung up, leaving Xiao Ziguang with a frustrating sense of having his hands tied.