As soon as Jiang Sui got home and opened the door, she could smell that familiar, pungent scent of alcohol.
“Is that you, Sui? You’re home early today.”
Xia Youqing was sprawled out on the sofa, clutching half a bottle of liquor in her hand suspended in midair.
Her cheeks were flushed, her expression was dazed, and she hiccuped between every sentence; it seemed she had drunk quite a bit again tonight.
“Mom, did you eat dinner? You’re just drinking right there.”
“Do you think I’m a simple girl? Of course, I ate before I started drinking!”
Xia Youqing pouted as if affronted, pointing at the table nearby.
As expected, it was once again covered in empty takeout containers. During the weekdays when Jiang Sui wasn’t home, Xia Youqing survived entirely on takeout.
However, it was fortunate that she was so dead drunk that she didn’t take any notice of the cake and presents Jiang Sui was carrying.
Now was not the time to reveal the surprise.
Jiang Sui hid the items in her bedroom, then returned to the living room. She crouched down to pinch Xia Youqing’s cheek, and only after her mother impatiently swatted her hand away did she stand up to clean up the takeout containers.
Of course, she still handed Xia Youqing some water to help with the hangover.
“Oh, right, Sui.”
Xia Youqing suddenly sat up and stretched.
“I have business tonight, so you’ll have to sleep by yourself.”
“Huh?” Jiang Sui turned her head. “Mom, you aren’t planning on going out to party, are you?”
“Hey, you brat.” Xia Youqing’s eyebrows shot up. “Working overtime is nowhere near as fun as going out… I mean, I’m only going out tonight for legitimate business.”
“Really? It doesn’t look like that at all.” A trace of mockery flickered in Jiang Sui’s eyes.
“Sigh, there’s no love left, truly no love. I’ve worked hard for half a lifetime to raise you, so what’s wrong with me going out to have some fun?”
Xia Youqing immediately lay back on the sofa and began to throw a tantrum.
Jiang Sui couldn’t help but sigh; she couldn’t stop her anyway, so she might as well let her go.
She just hoped Xia Youqing wouldn’t return early and find the house empty.
Jiang Sui did not want a phone call to expose her identity while she was in the middle of her mission.
*
After Xia Youqing left, Jiang Sui stood by her bedroom window, watching her ride off on her little electric scooter before sneaking out of the house to begin her operation for the night.
According to the Black Cat, the club’s real hideout was located inside another bar. It operated as a regular bar on the surface, but in reality, it had long since become a stronghold for the members of the Black Star Cult.
Standing at the bar entrance, Jiang Sui eyed the large characters for “Starry Night Bar” on the sign, then noticed a Black Cat beckoning to her from a nearby alleyway.
Following the Black Cat, they made their way to the back door of the bar and found a corner to hide.
After about 10 minutes, the sound of the back door opening finally echoed through the alley.
A waitress stepped out carrying two large bags of trash and tossed them into a bin.
Just as she clapped her hands and muttered, “Finally off work,” a Rhombus Crystal flew from the shadows and shattered at her feet.
A strange fragrance wafted from it, and after taking a single breath, the waitress turned woozy and collapsed to the ground.
Jiang Sui stepped out from her cover, dragged the waitress into a deserted corner, and began to unzip her clothes.
“Are you planning to just blend in like that?” the Black Cat asked.
“As long as the disguise is good, that’s enough. I’m quite experienced with this.”
Jiang Sui smiled confidently, stripped off the waitress’s uniform, and began to undress herself.
If a normal person inhaled the Poisonous Potion she had just tossed, they would sleep for an entire night, which was more than enough time for her to wreak havoc inside and escape.
“What about you, Senior?”
“Don’t worry about me; I have my own way of getting in.”
Jiang Sui put on the waitress uniform, though she struggled a bit. The outfit was a bit tight, especially in the chest, making it difficult to breathe.
Jiang Sui also put on silk stockings—which she had fortunately worn before leaving home, rather than stealing them from the waitress.
“You still need to be careful; their influence is much greater than you imagine.”
“Because they are part of the Black Star Cult, right?”
“Good that you know.” The Black Cat didn’t blink. “And during my previous investigation, I made an additional discovery.”
“What?”
“The gang that was harassing you and your mother also has ties to this club.”
Jiang Sui wasn’t overly surprised; she had long suspected that things weren’t so simple.
“That… Earthworm gang?”
She spun in place twice, poked her cheek with her finger, and verified that her smile was appropriate for customers.
“Alright, let’s go.”
Fully prepared, Jiang Sui used the keys she had swiped from the waitress to open the back door and entered the bar.
After passing through the staff corridor, she was nearly deafened by the subwoofer as soon as she stepped into the hall.
On the ceiling in the center of the hall, a spherical crystal lamp kept shifting colors, and the entire space was enveloped in thumping music.
Customers here were drinking and dancing; in a corner, Jiang Sui even saw a man reaching into the top of the woman beside him.
The air, cooled by the AC, was a mixture of alcohol and sweat, constantly刺激 her olfactory nerves.
It was nothing short of a chaotic hell.
‘If I took them all down at once, I wonder what kind of expressions these guys would make.’
As Jiang Sui muttered to herself, someone tapped her on the shoulder.
“Hey, why are you just standing there? Don’t you see there are customers waiting for drinks?”
A short, fat man stood behind her, glaring at her with a vicious expression.
“Do you still want your Salary?”
“Yes, of course.” Jiang Sui immediately adopted the expected demeanor of a waitress.
She was disguised as the Hidden One, and because the hall was dimly lit by the spherical lamps, the short, fat man didn’t suspect her appearance.
“Then get to work.”
“Understood.”
Although she hadn’t worked as a waitress in either her previous life or this one, Jiang Sui, accustomed to her work as a Maid, intuitively felt there wasn’t much difference—one served a permanent Master, the other served temporary customers.
After feigning service and delivering several rounds of drinks, Jiang Sui confirmed that the person she was looking for wasn’t on the first floor.
To capture the bandits, one must first capture the leader; she had to find their head.
Since they weren’t on the first floor, they must be upstairs. Such important guests usually had their own private boxes.
Upon reaching the second floor, Jiang Sui wandered through the winding corridors and found that the soundproofing was excellent; even pressing her ear against the door panels made it hard to hear any movement inside.
How was she supposed to find their leader?
Just as Jiang Sui hesitated, a group of frantic-looking waiters rushed past her, catching her attention.
This team consisted of both men and women, but their expressions were like those of ferocious beasts, as if they were hunting prey.
Jiang Sui followed them quietly and overheard their conversation:
“Have you found the intruder yet?”
“Not yet.”
“Then pick up the pace. If we fail the Bishop’s orders, we’re all done for.”
After speaking, they scattered to continue their search.
Jiang Sui stroked her chin and fell into deep thought.
A Bishop?
She remembered that this was a member of the Black Star Cult ranked higher than a Budaoshi—which meant they were the superior of the Mistmaster and Kong Yang.
Such an important figure was actually here? If she could capture him, she might be able to obtain more information regarding the Black Star Cult.
And now, a perfect opportunity was laid out before her.
An intruder?
At first, she thought she or the Black Cat had been discovered, but upon reflection, that wasn’t right—there were other outsiders here.
Were they from the Execution Division?
Whoever it was, Jiang Sui intended to catch them first, then take them to the Bishop under the guise of an “escort,” taking the chance to subdue the Bishop as well.
With her plan set, Jiang Sui immediately went into action.
She shadowed the leader of the search team and learned from their conversation that the intruder had last been spotted on the second floor, and the exits to other floors had been sealed to trap them.
Confirming the target area, Jiang Sui deliberately moved away from the searchers. She believed that if the intruder wasn’t stupid, they wouldn’t go near the areas crowded with staff.
Just as she was considering how to flush the intruder out, a commotion broke out ahead:
“Found him… quick, grab him!!”
Accompanied by the sounds of a brief struggle and screams, Jiang Sui peeked around the corner, and to her surprise, she really did see the intruder.
The staff members blocking his path had all been knocked to the ground, appearing to be out cold.
Hmm, why does that sword look so familiar?
The moment Jiang Sui realized something, the intruder looked in her direction, scaring her into pulling her head back.
Jiang Sui’s thoughts were thrown into complete chaos.
Isn’t that Lu Yunze’s sword?
Is the intruder Lu Yunze?
That’s impossible… there’s no way he would appear in a place like this.
Yet, she couldn’t keep deceiving herself for long.
It was Lu Yunze. Who else could wield that Heavy Sword?
In the brief moment their eyes met, she had clearly seen his face—the real Lu Yunze.
Jiang Sui didn’t stay put; she retreated some distance and ducked into an empty room.
Lu Yunze is the intruder, but how did he find this place?
Jiang Sui gripped her chin, pacing back and forth.
If it really is him…
She recalled her plan.
Could she really bring Lu Yunze to the Bishop?