Wang Wei couldn't believe it. He was already fifty-five, and only ten years ago had he first come into contact with the "Cleaners."
Ordinary people had no way of knowing they existed; only someone like him—the No. 1 figure in a regional security unit—had a way to reach them.
And even then, contact was through a middleman, who would in turn notify a Cleaner.
In ten full years he had dealt with more than twenty Cleaners, but this was the first time he'd seen an Intermediate Cleaner so young.
As the woman approached, Wang Wei finally saw her clearly.
She stood a little over 1.7 meters, tall and slender. Her eyes were clear and razor-sharp, as if they could see through everything, her whole bearing brimming with heroic spirit.
Black hair fell loosely over a strikingly handsome face—none of the usual delicate softness, only brisk, spirited vigor.
Pop!
Another bubble burst on her lips.
She stopped in front of Wang Wei and pulled a dark red booklet from her person.
Wang Wei took it and immediately checked the details.
Jiang Huihui, Intermediate Cleaner, attached to the Dragon Nation Eastern District Sanitation Department.
He glanced at the steel seal below—no mistake.
"Hello."
Wang Wei returned the booklet to Jiang Huihui and gave her a respectful salute.
Jiang Huihui slipped the booklet into her pocket and walked over to Nine Fingers' body.
She lowered her head to examine it and said coolly, "As expected—Nine Fingers. A tail-end assassin on the Death List, wanted by our Sanitation Department."
Only then did Wang Wei let out a breath. Since the Cleaners were taking the case, it was no longer his problem.
Several younger officers around them looked baffled.
Wanted by the Sanitation Department?
Isn't that the street-cleaning bureau? Since when do they issue warrants?
Did this guy… steal a Cleaner's broom?
While they were still clueless, Jiang Huihui pulled on black gloves. She slid a finger along the bullet hole in the skull and drove it straight in.
Crack!
The skull fractured.
A few of the young officers gagged.
With brute force alone, Jiang Huihui dug out two bullets from Nine Fingers' head.
She studied them closely and murmured, "Caliber .50 AE."
Then she took out a clear evidence bag and dropped the two rounds inside.
"The body's fresh. Tell me—did anything happen here today?"
She flicked the gloves off and let them fall to the ground.
"Come to think of it, something big did happen today," Wang Wei replied, and he recounted in full the incident Xu Mu had reported.
Jiang Huihui chewed her gum and listened the whole time.
Afterward she gave a slight nod. "Got it. You can pull your people back. We'll handle this from here. Cooperate fully when we follow up."
"Alright."
Wang Wei nodded; he couldn't wait to toss this hot potato away.
…
Xu Mu had already returned to the villa. Meng Wanyue and Ye Tong were there.
He only gave Ye Tong a rough outline of what happened; he didn't mention a word about fighting Nine Fingers, not wanting her to worry.
He'd asked Meng Wanyue to come today to clear out the cameras around the place while she was here.
With the Lin Yang matter temporarily put to rest, he couldn't allow the man to keep eyes on him anytime, anywhere.
Xu Mu had Meng Wanyue stay for dinner before letting her go.
After eating his fill, he checked the time—still not yet eight in the evening. He wondered if going to bed now would be a bit early.
But after dinner… there really wasn't anything to do.
Just as he was about to have Ye Tong head back to her room, his phone rang.
He took a look—Feng Yue again.
Xu Mu hesitated, then picked up. "What is it?"
"I need to thank you for today, even if your goal wasn't to save me," Feng Yue said over the phone.
"No need. We're old acquaintances, after all," Xu Mu said. "Get some rest. If there's nothing else, I'll hang up."
"I'm at the gate of your villa community," Feng Yue said.
At that, Xu Mu smiled. "What now—planning to team up with Lin Yang to hurt me again?"
"Don't mock me. I made up my mind to come this time," Feng Yue replied with a bitter smile.
Xu Mu hesitated, but decided to take a look—at the very least, Feng Yue knew where he lived now.
If she wanted to find him, she had to show up in person, not summon him like a dog as she had before.
"Who was that?" Ye Tong came out of the kitchen with a smile after washing the dishes.
"Feng Yue—the bar owner," Xu Mu said without hiding it. "She says she wants to thank me for saving her. She's at the gate."
"Then go," Ye Tong said.
"In the middle of the night, and you're that at ease?" Xu Mu rolled his eyes.
"Of course," Ye Tong said—secretly wishing he'd get thoroughly 'fed' outside and give her a few days' break.
Xu Mu still decided to go see what trick Feng Yue was playing.
Outside the community, not far away, he spotted a Porsche Cayenne.
He swept it with his senses—Feng Yue was indeed alone inside.
He walked over and, as before, took the initiative to get into the back seat.
"Go on—what do you want with me?" Xu Mu asked evenly.
Feng Yue started the car and drove to an underground garage nearby.
As before, she parked in a deserted corner, opened the door herself, and moved to the back seat.
Once seated, she pressed the key fob and locked the car.
"Xu Mu, I'm leaving," Feng Yue said, looking at him. In the cramped space, he could clearly hear her breathing.
"Leaving? What do you mean?" Xu Mu asked.
"I'm leaving Jiang City. My home wasn't here to begin with."
Her hand fell onto Xu Mu's leg. "To be honest, you're not a good man in my eyes—but who would've thought everyone else I met was worse than you."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Xu Mu said, pushing her hand away. "Don't do that—I get nervous."
Feng Yue withdrew her hand, her face calm. "I've wrestled with this for a long time. I've decided to repay what I owe you."
"I'll value your life at thirty million. Add the miscellaneous money I've made you spend before—transfer me fifty million and we're even."
Xu Mu took out his phone and looked at her. "Just transfer it to me."
"I don't have that much," Feng Yue said flatly.
"Then how are you going to pay me back?"
"With me."
She looked straight into his eyes.
"Heh."
Xu Mu tipped his head back and laughed, then waved a hand. "Feng Yue, do I look that stupid to you? You really think I'd do anything for that pretty facade of yours?"
He was no longer the old Xu Mu, much less the former Qian Gang.
From what he knew of Feng Yue, she might be trying to use her body again to rope him into doing something for her.
"I'm only repaying you. No conditions," Feng Yue said, expressionless.
"Is that so?"
Xu Mu didn't believe it. He sized her up like he was watching a clown performance. "I admit you've got the gift of gab, but talk alone won't cut it."
Feng Yue's seductive eyes froze for a beat—then, without the slightest hesitation, she began to demonstrate just how persuasive she could be.
Xu Mu was stunned. He couldn't believe it—what on earth had gotten into Feng Yue? She really dared to go that far.
…
By the time Xu Mu returned to the villa, it was already ten-thirty at night.
He watched Feng Yue's car disappear and fell into thought.
With his senses, he'd seen her inside the car, crying—crying her heart out.
Soon, though, the vehicle passed beyond the range of his perception.
Even now, he still didn't understand why Feng Yue did what she did.
He stood there for a long time, hesitated, and tried calling her—but her phone was switched off.
He went straight to his underground garage, got in the Lamborghini, and headed for Feng Yue's bar.
He wanted to ask her face-to-face. But when he arrived, the lights were off, and a crowd had gathered outside, confused about what was going on.
From the roadside, he saw two big characters pasted on the bar's door: "For Transfer."