Atlas Studios

  Atlas Studios

  “Yes, Brother Steel!”


  The two men dragged Lima out of the room as though they were dragging some trash.

  The living room was back to silent.

  Bai Muchuan looked at Brother Steel. “How much? Quote me a price.”


  Brother Steel did not answer. Instead, he smiled while looking at Bai Muchuan.

  “It’s not friendly to talk about money. Let’s talk about something different?”


  Bai Muchuan raised his hand. “If we don’t talk about money, that’s even more unfriendly. For the only thing I have is only money!”


  “.……”


  It was a statement that might invite a punch.

  But Brother Steel had no reaction when he heard it.

  He looked at Bai Muchuan with a half-smile and continued to puff away on his smoking pipe.

  After a long time, he seemed to have come to a decision and he raised his head. “Why did you suddenly change your mind?”


  So this was the thing that he’s most concerned about?

  Bai Muchuan snickered. “I suddenly got interested! We’re all men, sometimes, it’s simply about mood. Right?”


  Although he seemed to ask Brother Steel a question, from the way he looked, it didn’t seem like he needed an answer.

  He started laughing without waiting for Brother Steel to say anything.

  “The money that I’ve brought today are all prepared for Brother Steel anyway…… Which business isn’t about the money? Since Brother Steel has already made the offer, I really shouldn’t refuse……”


  Brother Steel seemed surprised to hear that and put down his smoking pipe suddenly.

  “Hahahaha—I like your frankness! I simply like to do business with frank people like you!”


  Bai Muchuan stroked the handle of the chair lightly. His gaze felt cold but he was smiling from ear to ear.

  “Of course, Brother Steel should have done a thorough check on me. I’m someone…… who doesn’t like to do a business deal that makes me suffer a loss.”


  “Hahaha, certainly. I won’t let you suffer a loss.” Brother Steel’s eyes were flashing with joy while his smile appeared to be a little crude. “You can take that woman away. As for the goods—we should have a meal first. After that, I’ll bring you to check the goods first before you pay for them. How does that sound to you?”


  “Deal!” Bai Muchuan slowly leaned against the chair.

  He seemed not surprised or shocked. He didn’t show any other emotions as well.

  Brother Steel took another look at him and grinned in satisfaction……

  The food was already prepared.

  Liang entered the room and informed that the meal was ready. Everybody got up from their seat and walked to the dining room located on the left.

  Lima was now clean from a bath and had changed into beautiful clothes. She was pushed into the dining room and sat right next to Bai Muchuan.

  “I’m sorry!” she said very softly.

  As she had earlier revealed Bai Muchuan’s identity in front of Brother Steel, she looked uneasy and daren’t move nor raise her head up.

  Bai Muchuan did not reply at all, as though he had not seen her. He just continued to eat his food and drink with Brother Steel in his usual indolent demeanor.

  His calmness and self-composure were a little out of this world.

  His emotions and feelings were well hidden.

  In this dining room, no one knew what was going on inside his head.

  Brother Steel had been observing Bai Muchuan all this while. His eyes almost never left Bai Muchuan’s face. During the meal, he asked Lima several times to pour wine for Bai Muchuan.

  Bai Muchuan did not say much and accepted all the drinks that were offered.

  Well, he knew his alcohol limit very well.

  After a few glasses, he covered the mouth of his glass slowly and smiled at Brother Steel.

  “I think that’s enough! This younger brother is here to do business. It won’t be nice if I get drunk.”


  “That’s not a problem at all. You can just treat my territory as your home. If you’re drunk, you go upstairs and get some rest…… Haha! With such a pretty girl accompanying you, you don’t have to worry that you can’t fall asleep!”


  Bai Muchuan only gave a smile.

  Brother Steel made eye contact with him and cackled loudly again before instructing Lima.

  “What are you waiting for? Pour the wine!”


  Lima was stiff and moved slowly to get closer to Bai Muchuan.

  Her hair was not fully dried and still emitted a faint fragrance. With her approach, that faint scent suddenly barged into his nose.

  Her full figure, a fresh new face and the aid of effect of alcohol—


  All these were the perfect ingredients to make a man lose his soul.

  As Lima poured the wine, she slowly lowered her body. Her well-developed body almost touched Bai Muchuan’s arm—


  She stared at Bai Muchuan, moving slowly, her gaze seemed complicated……

  Unexpectedly, Bai Muchuan moved away.

  Lima’s hand shook!

  The wine landed on the table and dripped onto the floor……

  “You don’t even know how to pour wine properly?” An angry Brother Steel shouted.

  “Ah! I’m sorry……” Lima saw that the wine had seeped onto Bai Muchuan’s trousers. She quickly took some napkins and offered to wipe the mess. “Let me help you……”


  Her hands reached out to Bai Muchuan’s thigh.

  But the next second, she yelped in pain……

  Before Lima could touch Bai Muchuan, he had already swiped her hands away.

  “Don’t you know that women who make advances for no apparent reasons are the most worthless?” Bai Muchuan’s tone was cold as he said that.

  His glare towards Lima was like a knife that could slice through her bones.

  He looked away from Lima, whose face was now as if drained of color, and gave Brother Steel a cold look.

  “Brother Steel, let’s stop here. I don’t have a good temper! If I were to continue drinking, something bad might happen…… By then, if I get you implicated, that will be troublesome!”


  He was a man of his word.

  And would not give anyone any room for negotiation.

  Even if he was in the wolf’s den.

  Brother Steel looked face to face with Bai Muchuan for about half a minute.

  Slowly, he waved his hands. “Take the wine away. Let’s continue to eat our food.”
……

  It was a meal where both bosses pit against each other with their wits and courage.

  Tu Liang, Ding Yifan and Sailimu were having cold sweat!

  Bai Muchuan still looked as calm and cool as before. His dashing face would also occasionally show a smile.

  It was lucky that for this time, Brother Steel meant what he said and did not come up with any more tricks.

  Upon finishing their meal, Brother Steel was the first to stand up from the dining table. He took the lead and walked in front.

  “Brother Crown Prince, follow me. Let’s go and take a look at the goods!”


  Bai Muchuan smiled.

  He didn’t say a word nor showed any sign of nervousness.

  The four of them followed behind Brother Steel and walked out of the dining room.

  Just like before, Ding Yifan carried that briefcase and stood right next to Bai Muchuan.

  Tu Liang and Salimu walked behind the two of them.

  Brother Steel and his men walked right at the front.

  From the direction that they were heading, it appeared to be the backyard.

  Yet they did not stop when they reached the backyard. Instead, they unlocked the gate at the backyard and continued walking.

  After that, they saw a tall watchtower.

  Looking up, they could see two guards on duty at the watchtower.

  Based on the location of the watchtower, they should be able to see clearly all incoming vehicles and people from all directions.

  At that instant, Bai Muchuan’s eyes seemed to turn grim.

  “Brother Steel, looks like you’ve put in some effort on building this villa.” He looked at Brother Steel’s back.

  “Yeah!” Brother Steel replied casually.

  He turned around and took a glance at Bai Muchuan, showing his yellowish teeth with a grin. Then he pointed to a small hill ahead.

  “We’re almost there.”


  This guy was indeed cunning.

  He didn’t keep the goods in his villa but instead hid them in a warehouse that was located in the wilderness.

  If Brother Steel had not brought him there, even if they were to “exterminate” the entire bandit den, they would still not be able to find the drugs……

  At this moment, two members of the Dark Clan walked towards them.

  They swept a glance at Bai Muchuan and walked to Brother Steel where they whispered a few words to him.

  Although Brother Steel was back facing Bai Muchuan and team, they could still see clearly that his body froze for a moment.

  Ten seconds later, he turned around and let out a cackle. “Brother Crown Prince, you and your men wait here for me.” He pointed toward a few old stools outside the backyard. “You can take a seat over there. I’ll bring the goods over.”


  After that he paused for a while, as though fearing Bai Muchuan might have other thoughts, he quickly gave an explanation.

  “The warehouse is out of bounds to outsiders!”


  “I understand.” Bai Muchuan walked back and sat on a stool. “It’s a pity that I can’t get a chance to visit Brother Steel’s warehouse.” He smiled casually.

  “Hahaha, there might be a chance next time.”


  Before Brother Steel left, he left two of his men behind.

  But out of courtesy, those two men did not stand too close. Instead, they watched them from a distance……

  The old stool seemed to be broken as it felt shaky when Bai Muchuan sat on it.

  Bai Muchuan did not seem to mind as he asked Tu Liang and the rest to take a seat.

  The four of them took the stools casually and sat on it but each of them faced a different direction.

  Tu Liang was sitting next to Salimu, his eyes turned toward Salimu as he said softly.

  “You’re too rash earlier! You almost thwarted our plans!”


  Salimu knew that rashness was his shortcoming and he slowly lowered his head.

  Ding Yifan glimpsed at Salimu a while and asked Bai Muchuan in a low tone. “Why did you save that woman later?”


  The Dark Clan’s initial method of punishing Lima was way more cruel yet Bai Muchuan didn’t even move a finger.

  With regards to this, Ding Yifan couldn’t understand the reasoning behind it.

  “Unless…… she’s one of us?”


  Bai Muchuan gave a sneer. “You didn’t notice it?”


  Ding Yifan did not look at Bai Muchuan. His eyes were looking at the trees not far away. “What is it?”


  “The technique!” Before Bai Muchuan opened his mouth, Tu Liang suddenly turned his head and joined in the conversation casually. He smiled as he explained, “The way they tied Lima up…… was exactly the same as the 121 case. It’s not just an imitation anymore……”


  They had studied the dossier of the 121 case in detail.

  Each of them knew it very well in their heart.

  However—it was impossible for Brother Steel’s men to know all these details.

  Unless, they were the murderers—


  “No wonder! I had a peculiar feeling earlier that something did not feel right.”


  When Ding Yifan realized that fact, he took a deep breath.

  “Did we…… make the wrong guess?”


  Maybe nobody had lured them to Nanmu to deal with Dark Clan after all.

  It was simply because Dark Clan was the mastermind behind the 121 case?……

  The wind blew lightly against them.

  Nobody answered his question.

  The sudden change of event left everyone with a heavy heart.

  “They could also have been instigated too.”


  “Or they could be related to the real murderer.”


  “But no matter what, that woman…… shouldn’t die in front of us. We are the police.”


  She was an innocent party after all.

  Only those people who have committed crimes should be apprehended.

  “But now—” Salimu looked at the watchtower. “How will Captain Zhang be able to come and help us?”


  Bai Muchuan did not answer Salimu but turned to Tu Liang.

  “How many people do they have?”


  “About 30 to 40 of them are out in the open. Those hiding in the dark…… unknown.”


  There were already 30 to 40 people that they had met the moment they entered the gates of the villa. No one knew if Brother Steel might have other “helpers”. Seeing how Brother Steel built a warehouse in the hills, although he was big and burly, he was actually a very meticulous person……

  “The two men on top of the watchtower both carried QBZ-95 rifle guns. For the rest, about 20 of them carried weapons.”


  Tu Liang’s observation skills were indeed formidable.

  Just a simple contact and he already knew the firepower of Brother Steel’s men.

  Bai Muchuan licked his gums and showed a smile as he looked at the men who were patrolling around the hill.

  “Even if we did not receive backup, we can still win.”


  Everyone fell silent.

  “Hahahaha! Brother Crown Prince, I’ve brought you the goods—”


  They could hear Brother Steel’s loud laughter from the top of the hill.

  However, they did not see him walking down the hill. Instead, he came down from the hill on a jeep.

  On that jeep, there was an expressionless looking man sitting beside Brother Steel. He looked really familiar—


  Huang He……