531 Shivering in the Cold Air

"Say it!" That man sneered.

"Yes…" Huang He paused for a moment. "Brother Ying, I'll come straight to the point. I'm at the end of my rope. I wanted to see you and ask if I can work for you."

"Don't say that." That man laughed, his voice had a hoarse tone which sounded worse than crying. "It's not that easy to want to work for me."

"Brother Ying, I'm at your command."

"Hmph!" That man closed his eyes and did not want to talk to him.

He wasn't sure how much time had passed when the car finally stopped.

Huang He turned to look outside. They were no longer in the city but somewhere at a suburb with hardly any lights around.

Winter nights really are cold.

When Huang He got off the car, sneezing as he made contact with the cold air, the man inside the car issued a command. "Tie him up and give him a good bashing!"

…

Huang He was puzzled. His body shuddered for a second and he didn't move from his spot.

In no time, several men dashed toward him, covered his head with a sack and dragged him to an open space. There were echoes which he could make out the footsteps of quite a large amount of people around yet the surroundings still felt spacious. Huang He guessed a possible place he could be in and he didn't resist.

Of course, these men didn't treat him better just because he didn't put up a resistance.

They were told to beat up him and they really did.

They were a bunch of ruffians whose crimes could warrant a death sentence. They did not know the meaning of the word 'restraint'.

Each and every punch they delivered hit him hard.

Huang He groaned a little but he did not beg for mercy or plead them to stop.

He only gritted his teeth and questioned them. "Brother Ying, this brother is sincere in wanting to work for you. Is this how you treat people who want to join you? If this leaks out, no one would dare to join you…"

"Hur!"

That man barked a laugh.

"D*mn you, so you're saying that I'm in the wrong?"

After that, he let a cold grunt. "Save your breath! Hit him, my brothers! Send him to hell."

Huang He suffered another round of blows. After that, a loud thud was heard as he fell heavily to the ground.

"Tsk! Brother Ying," said Huang He as he supported himself with his hands, "even if you want me dead, you should give me a reason. What exactly did I do that I've offended you? You should let me know, right?"

"Reason? You're asking me for a reason?"

An Ying's voice was really low and his laughter could make one's hair stand at the ends.

"Fine, I'll let you know the reason why you will die here tonight."

An Ying gestured for his men to stop.

But he did not let them remove the sack over Huang He's head. "San'er, tell him!"

San'er was the young chap that Huang He met at the underground casino. When he heard An Ying's command, he let out a snort and hissed angrily at Huang He. "You still have the cheek to ask Brother Ying? You should think of what bad things you have done and not pretend to be ignorant. D*mn you!"

"Brother Ying," reiterated Huang He, "I really don't know."

"Recently, the police have been investigating our smuggling and distribution routes. They are fast and very accurate. Where in the world did they get such information?"

"I've heard about this from Danyue." Huang He's voice sounded deep and low due to the pain and the sack covering his head. "Brother Ying, in fact, I want to look for you because of this matter."

"Hurhurhur, this is interesting." An Ying clearly didn't believe his words but his curiosity was piqued. "Tell me then, why are you here?"

"Brother Ying suspect that there's a mole amongst us. That was why the police are able to get our locations so accurately. Of course, this is very possible. It's also reasonable for you to suspect me. After all, I've been working as a detective for so many years and knew a lot of people in the police. But Brother Ying, you're a smart person. Don't be provoked by others, just think more and you will understand. If it's really me, would I do it so brazenly, and walk right into the trap?"

An Ying let out a snort.

"As far as I know," said Huang He, "places that had been searched by the police were the spots that, pardon me for saying this, they were the weakest links of the Dark Clan with too many people involved and hence, the risks are naturally higher."

An Ying asked with a sneer, "So are you telling me that you're not the one who betrayed us and that you are here to help me establish a new smuggling and distribution route?"

Huang He replied, "Yes."

As he had said it as a matter-of-factly, An Ying paused for a moment.

"Hahahahahaha…"

An Ying let out peals of laughter before he dissed Huang He out loud.

"Do you bleeping have a problem? Why do you think that I will believe your words?"

"I have an advantage over all others," said Huang He, "the first is that I understand how the police work. I do have contacts in the police that I can make use of. I'm better at risk management than anyone else under your wing. The second is that… I need a sum of money to run away. I'll definitely risk my life for this."

An Ying remained quiet for a while.

Huang He waited for him to respond.

A while later, An Ying sneered once more.

He asked, "Do you know what is the most suspicious thing about you?"

Huang He did not answer that but listened to him quietly.

"You bleeping come at a timing that's too opportune. Almost all of my second to third-level smuggling channels were crushed by the police and I'm really troubled by this. Then you bleeping come looking for me. Huang He, your scheme with the police is really good… I almost believed you."

Almost believed him.

What was the reason that made him change his mind?

Huang He held that doubt but he dared not ask for the reason.

"Brother Ying, do as you deem fit. I've said what I wanted to say. This brother is sincere in coming here today to exchange my life for a sum of money. If you're unwilling to take me in or suspect me, then I have nothing to say. But I'm very confident in that you wouldn't be able to find another that can help you achieve your goals in a very short period of time."

An Ying was startled for a moment.

In a short period of time—this sounded really tempting to him.

The police had crashed most of the second to third level channels and they had now received the goods but were unable to distribute it out. Nevertheless, as long as there was enough time, he still could make a comeback.

However…

Operation Heaven's Wrath.

He couldn't afford to drag on anymore…

An Ying spoke slowly after ruminating over the matter, "Little Huang, you're someone who knows the rules of this line of work. All of my men, the moment they decided to do this, they are risking their lives for it. I do want to believe you but you can't just bleeping prove your sincerity and loyalty with just a bunch of words, right?"

"So what does Brother Ying want?"

"Do something that can prove your determination and loyalty to me."

An act to prove his loyalty.

Huang He laughed bitterly. "Brother Ying should know about my situation. If not for Danyue who got me out of the prison, I won't be here now…"After a short pause, he continued, "I do have a way to make Brother Ying believe my determination and loyalty."

An Ying snorted. "Oh?"

Huang He tried to turn toward where his voice had came from. "Please give me a knife, Brother Ying," said Huang He calmly.

An Ying was startled for a moment.

When the rest of An Ying's henchmen heard that, they were worried. "Brother Ying, don't listen to his specious excuses and deceiving words. He must be in cahoots with the police… Otherwise, about what happened to Brother Steel and most of our distribution channels… There really aren't so many coincidences…"

An Ying interrupted his men from talking "Give him a knife."

"…"

They removed the sack over Huang He's head.

Huang He shook his head and closed his eyes again to adapt to the light.

He was indeed inside a huge run-down warehouse. There was nothing inside and seemed to have been abandoned for a long time.

When Huang He saw the man whom should be An Ying, he was a little disappointed. An Ying had an ordinary looking face and features. He was not ugly nor handsome, rather, there was nothing special about him. He was not fierce looking and he didn't even have a villainous aura or vibe. He seemed like an ordinary person whom no one would be able to find him if he mixed with the people on the street.

And this man clearly lacked that imposing sense of authority.

Huang He had been in contact with this shady line of work for many months. An ordinary looking man who was the boss of a triad was indeed rare to see. If not for the thick gold chain on his neck, the Rolex watch on his wrist and the really big and obvious gemstone ring on his finger, his face did not fit into his identity as a big boss of a triad.

Huang He took a deep look at him but he didn't say a word. He took the dagger from the young chap called San'er and tested the sharpness of the blade. "It's very sharp!"

San'er stood before An Ying defensively. "What do you want to do?"

Huang He did not explain. He looked around the surrounding, walked to an old concrete table and put his hand on it. Chop! The next moment, he had chopped off his little finger…

"Ah!" San'er was the nearest to him and was the first one to shout.

An Ying didn't have much expression.

Huang He picked up his little finger and held it in his palm. He didn't bother with his wound and allowed the blood to drip and flow freely down.

"Brother Ying, this is my proof of loyalty to you. What do you think?"