His head hung limply, his body in a kneeling position with his knees spread apart.

Qiu Shihuan hummed as he scooped up a handful of soap bubbles, puffing out his cheeks and blowing on them with intense concentration.

“Uncle, this uncle who suddenly kicked the bucket said the tracker is inside the little girl's tooth.” He pulled back his lips and tapped several of her upper right molars. “Do we have to pull it out to find out exactly where it is?”

“The toolbox is in the wardrobe in the bedroom, on the top shelf. There should be a pair of pliers inside. There's a medical kit right next to it.” Jiang Yu turned his back to the scene, so hot that he stripped off his shirt. “The medical kit has anesthetic and medical alcohol. If we pull it out now, there's a good chance the wound will become infected.”

“What about this guy? He's so big, but he's such a coward.”

Qiu Shihuan pointed at the man's corpse, grinning without a care in the world.

Jiang Yu held a cigarette butt between his lips, his gaze almost sinking into the grime on the tiles.

“I think he may have been injected with something capable of causing cardiac arrest. Unfortunately, he could have been our only connection to the club.”

“Don't trust anyone, Uncle.” Qiu Shihuan hugged his knees. “When there's a greater interest at stake, anyone might stab you in the back. Fighting alone is the most interesting way to do things.”

“Sometimes, taking risks gives you a greater return on your investment.”

“Are you going to start lecturing me? I protected you, and now you're lecturing your savior. How annoying.”

Qiu Shihuan pouted, looking displeased.

“That's right. My savior was pointing a gun at me, too. Young Master, would you like me to praise you a little more?”

“That? He definitely wouldn't have had the guts to pull the trigger.” Qiu Shihuan smiled with his hands behind his back. “Every possible reaction a human being can make under extreme fear can be predicted. At worst, you'd just have a hole in your head.”

“…Young Master, can you tell me how many people you've killed over the past dozen years?”

“Why are you asking that?” Qiu Shihuan pursed his lips and looked around suspiciously. “Is there a recording device nearby?—Is this what they call entrapment? Uncle, entrapment can't be used as evidence, right?”

“No.” Jiang Yu sighed and turned to face him. “I'm just curious. Your marksmanship, mobility, and performance in every other area don't seem like the kind that would cause you to miss because of an obstacle. So at the hotel, did you deliberately spare Li Yuanxi?”

Qiu Shihuan looked aggrieved, pressing his index-finger knuckle against his lips.

“I told you, that was a mistake. Uncle doesn't believe me. Am I really that untrustworthy?”

“Don't chew on your fingers. Bacteria.” Jiang Yu walked over and pulled his finger away. He leaned down, staring intently into Qiu Shihuan's blue eyes. “And at the club. You had a weapon, but you didn't attack anyone else there, nor did you try to cause a panic. Why?”

“Because Uncle already assumed I would do that.” Qiu Shihuan continued to smile as he danced around the question. “Uncle, do you really want to waste time on something meaningless? Come on. We need to dispose of the bodies, don't we? Otherwise, you're only going to have more and more trouble.”

“Promise me you won't do that again.”

“What are you referring to?”

“Killing people.” Jiang Yu looked at him very seriously. “Whoever you kill, taking away someone's right to live is more serious than any punishment. It's a road that has no end.”

The corners of Qiu Shihuan's mouth drooped. Expressionless, he asked,

“Why are you only starting to lecture me now?”

“I used to think you were beyond saving. I thought you'd kill anyone indiscriminately.” Jiang Yu thought of Jin Youzhe and everything that continued to confuse him, and for a moment he hesitated. “But now I think you're just a child whose sense of right and wrong has become distorted. No one guided you properly, and you don't even know what you're doing. You and Ibis Technology…”

“—Uncle, you've got your position mixed up, haven't you?” Qiu Shihuan suddenly interrupted him, his eyes seeming both amused and angry. “Who do you think you are? Who do you think you are to have the right to ask me questions like that?”

Jiang Yu rubbed his eye sockets. He had no intention of continuing this conversation.

“…There are three large black suitcases under the wardrobe. I also need three sheets of tarpaulin. You can find those in the wardrobe too.”

“Where are we going?”

“To see a friend. He's an expert in this field. He may be able to extract the drug from the body.”

Qiu Shihuan immediately brightened with enthusiasm.

“Oh, right! Uncle, can I remove the tracker?”

“No. I'll do it.”

“Why?!”

“Because you'd pull out her tooth while she's still conscious. I'll inject anesthetic into her gums first, then use a metal detector to locate the tracker.”

“So it's because Uncle really likes wasting time.”

“Because a normal person can't possibly endure that kind of pain!”

─── ⋆⋅ ♰ ⋅⋆ ───

Five minutes later.

A bloodstained tooth was wrapped in tissue paper.

Jiang Yu removed the tiny tracker hidden inside it, then finished treating Li Yuanxi's wound with some stitches and disinfectant.

“Uncle.” The anesthetic was still taking effect. Her speech was slurred, and she lay flat on the bed with tears in her eyes. “Is it over?”

“Don't worry.” Jiang Yu touched her forehead. “The tracker has been removed. You'll be safe in this apartment.”

“Were those people sent by the club?”

“Yes.”

Li Yuanxi looked troubled. “Did I… cause you a lot of trouble?”

“You're my client.” Jiang Yu smiled. “And you haven't done anything out of line. I don't think of you that way. Oh, and the Young Master and I need to go out and take care of something. I don't know when we'll be back.”

Li Yuanxi nodded weakly and managed to force a smile.

“Thank you, Uncle. Be careful…”

After leaving the bedroom, Jiang Yu switched the power back on.

He dragged two heavy black rolling suitcases behind him, their wheels nearly skewing across the carpet, the outer compartments bulging heavily.

Qiu Shihuan followed behind carrying an easel, paintbrushes, and other supplies.

“Ahhh, Uncle is really gentle with her.”

“Because Yuanxi is both a victim and the weaker party. She's also an important client of mine. Understand?”

“Are you saying Uncle feels sympathy for the weak? No way.”

Qiu Shihuan suddenly chuckled.

He carried the easel down the long corridor, then turned his head toward the night sky on the horizon. His unruly eyes seemed to contain drifting sparks and an entire universe.

“This is District 19, the bottom of hell. Even a stray dog can become a murderer. No one gets dragged before a court over a single life. That's how the Federation works. Uncle, if you're too sympathetic toward the weak, be careful you don't end up paying the price.”

“I know.” Jiang Yu looked into the distance as well. “This world has sunk into the cold. Everyone wants to extinguish the flames. I just… take a look now and then. I don't ask for anything more.”

─── ⋆⋅ ♰ ⋅⋆ ───

The suitcases and easel were loaded into the trunk.

After checking the surroundings and making sure everything was properly sealed, Jiang Yu walked around to the passenger side and opened the door for Qiu Shihuan.

Just as he placed his hand above the door frame, someone behind him called out.

“Are you the young man from upstairs, Room 216?”

Jiang Yu turned blankly and found himself face-to-face with a middle-aged woman.

Qiu Shihuan had only gotten one leg into the passenger seat and hadn't even settled down yet.

Jiang Yu immediately lowered his voice and urged him inside, telling him to hurry and fasten his seat belt.

Then he turned around and blocked the car door with his back, pressing himself firmly against the window.

“Isn't that Auntie Zhang? It's so late. Why are you only coming home now?”

Jiang Yu forced an awkward smile while doing everything he could to keep Qiu Shihuan hidden from the woman.

“Oh, the mahjong room is being renovated today. We were halfway through a game when the construction crew showed up. So I won a few rounds and came straight home.” Auntie Zhang patted her chest, unable to hide her delight.

Seeing Jiang Yu acting so secretive, she became suspicious and ventured closer.

“Little Jiang, what treasure are you hiding? Going out this late at night—don't tell me you're off to drink and chase women?”

“You know me. When would I have the time to go out drinking and chasing women?” As Auntie Zhang drew closer, Jiang Yu began sweating all over. “Do you need anything else? If not, I'll be heading out.”

“Hey, wait—”

Jiang Yu darted around to the driver's seat.

Auntie Zhang hadn't even gotten a good look at the person in the passenger seat when the Beetle roared to life.

After stepping on the accelerator and leaving the parking lot, Jiang Yu glanced through the rearview mirror and saw Auntie Zhang standing far behind in her polka-dot dress, head lowered, apparently pondering something.

Qiu Shihuan seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the scene.

He crossed his hands behind his head, resting them there, his long legs stretched casually forward.

“Uncle, are you really afraid of that old lady?”

“Afraid is putting it mildly.” Jiang Yu snorted. “You haven't heard about her illustrious exploits.”

“Oh? What did that old lady with the perm do?”

“On the surface, she's the Queen of Gambling—the kind who always wins. But she's actually a legendary card cheat, habitual thief, and insurance fraudster. She's done plenty of dirty things.” Jiang Yu kept one hand on the steering wheel, shifting gears fluidly with his foot. “It was probably a few years after she moved in. She supposedly bought a life-insurance policy for her husband's entire family. Then, when they went traveling, she had someone cut the brake lines.”

“Wow, that's creative. Did they all die?”

“She isn't a god. Of course they died.” Jiang Yu said, “Apparently the car reached nearly 200 miles per hour, smashed through a cliffside guardrail, and plunged into a swollen river. They still haven't found the bodies.”

Qiu Shihuan couldn't help expressing his amazement.

“So if she really saw you, you'd be in for a lot of trouble.” Jiang Yu casually turned on the indicator. “Auntie Zhang is widowed now. Knowing her personality, she'd probably launch an enthusiastic pursuit of you.”

He imagined the possible scene and immediately got goosebumps.

“Uncle doesn't want other people to like me?”

“How did you arrive at that conclusion?”

“You didn't answer directly again. What would happen if I got out of the car right now and kissed this person?”

Qiu Shihuan pointed toward a pedestrian wearing a knitted cap. As he spoke, he began undoing his seat belt, fumbling several times with the interior door handle.

Fortunately, the car doors locked automatically, but Jiang Yu was terrified he'd manage to unlock it.

“Don't move! The car is still moving!”

Jiang Yu hurriedly pressed down on his wandering hand, trying to stop Qiu Shihuan's dangerous behavior.

Sweat kept accumulating in his palms, and fine beads appeared all around his neck. One hand struggled with the steering wheel while he had no time to worry about the traffic cameras.

Qiu Shihuan's eyes were still smiling.

The Beetle pulled over in a no-parking zone.

“Are you trying to get yourself killed?!”

Jiang Yu pulled the handbrake, unfastened his seat belt, and rapidly twisted his upper body sideways, restraining Qiu Shihuan's hands as quickly as possible.

Sweat slid down the bridge of his nose. His lips were marked with clear impressions from his teeth.

Jiang Yu stared furiously at him, gripping his wrists so tightly they were almost red.

“There are no speed limits in District 19. Do you know how fast I was going just now? One hundred and forty! How can you do something that dangerous while we're driving at high speed?”

“Uncle, what exactly are you worried about right now?” Qiu Shihuan smiled unconcernedly. “Are you afraid the son of a financial magnate might get hurt, or are you genuinely worried about me?”

“What are you talking about…?”

Jiang Yu blinked blankly at this utterly deranged, irrational kid.

He didn't know how to answer such a closed-ended question.

Whenever Qiu Shihuan's eyes looked toward him, they somehow triggered a sharp pain in his nerve endings, as though he had been forced beneath the deepest, bluest ocean—unable to see, breathe, or cry out.

Every wave that crashed over him was violent and lethal, luring countless ships to their deaths and burying countless treasures.

Just looking into eyes like those made Jiang Yu feel suffocated, unable to breathe.

Because he didn't know what harsh words he could possibly say to someone with eyes like that.

Just then, a whistle sounded in the distance.

A patrolling police officer had probably spotted their illegal parking and issued a ticket before crossing the road toward them.

Jiang Yu was just about to turn his head when Qiu Shihuan suddenly grabbed him by the collar, pulling his entire body stumbling toward the passenger seat.

One hand slammed against the back of the seat, his knuckles almost white from the pressure.

The car jolted violently. His knee collided with the soft flesh of the inside of his thigh, and his forehead slammed hard against the sun visor.

In the cramped interior, where even the air seemed unable to circulate, Jiang Yu instinctively spread his limbs to protect himself against the possibility of an uncontrolled collision.

But that only made it look as though he had enclosed Qiu Shihuan in his arms.

Even his lips and teeth were forced apart, and his tie was pulled recklessly into the other's embrace.

The wet kiss that repeatedly teased the roof of his mouth was unimaginably deep, as though what had invaded his mouth wasn't merely a tongue, but a sticky, muffled moan rising from somewhere deep within his nasal passage.