Chapter 25: Riding on a Wheel of Wind and Fire

In modern society, it is rare to see anyone perform the old-school underworld incense-offering ritual anymore.

Even now, as I recall it, I can still clearly feel the tingling on my scalp, the surging adrenaline, and the profound sincerity of a bond forged in life and death. Living a life is, in essence, living through memories. And memories are often constructed through rituals. A ritual is a blessing, a form of gratitude, a commemoration, a warning—it always carries a unique significance.

That night, we got dead drunk, rambling about everything under the sun and dreaming of the day we would stand at the pinnacle of the underworld.

The next day.

After breakfast, Fatty Dong asked me, "What's next?"

I wiped my mouth with a napkin. "The first order of business: settle the score with Xiao Sanpi of the Jiguang Apothecary."

Fatty Dong asked again, "How are we going to handle him?"

I replied, "We need to spend some money to hire a woman."

Hearing this, Fatty Dong’s expression turned lecherous, and he gave a sly chuckle. "Is this a perk of the job on the very first day? You’ve come to the right person. Do you want someone cheap or expensive?"

I said, "I don't have much money left, so the cheaper, the better."

Fatty Dong scratched his head. "Then that only leaves the hair salons near the train station..."

My eyes widened, and I cut him off immediately. "What the hell are you thinking? I need to recruit an actress!"

If I want to entangle the Nine Nether Hall, it’s impossible to do it wandering around on my own. I need a woman I can make up to look like Liao Xiaoqin. However, this role is a bit difficult to cast. Not only must her figure and face not be too far off, but she also needs to be sharp. After we provoke the other side's gang, she must be able to escape quickly, otherwise, things could go wrong.

I explained my idea to Fatty Dong.

Fatty Dong looked speechless. "Why didn't you make that clear in the first place! This is indeed a bit tricky... but you still asked the right person!"

"You have resources?"

"Don't be ridiculous! Doesn't my business card say I’ve done debt collection? I used to pose as a 'debt-collecting arhat' (a thug) with people from the martial arts school near Qingshan Road. The school has female disciples who know kung fu, so running away won't be a problem. We just need to pick one who looks good and find a beautician to handle the makeup, and we're set!"

That was a good plan!

Without further delay, we changed our clothes, put on hats and sunglasses, left the incense shop, and hailed a taxi to Qingshan Road.

Upon arrival, we intended to head to a martial arts school to scout for someone. But at the intersection, Fatty Dong grabbed my arm. His eyes were wide as saucers, practically spitting fire as he stared fixedly to the left.

I turned to look.

On the left, there was a street stall, and quite a few people were watching. A ragged-looking teenager of seventeen or eighteen, with delicate features, was wearing a small gray felt hat. He carried a small pack on his back and held a small woven bamboo basket in his hand, performing tricks while riding a unicycle made from a bicycle tire.

He rode the tire with a grin, spinning rapidly, suddenly coming to a halt, or balancing on one foot on the tire. On top of that, the guy was multitasking; while riding, he would occasionally produce a small bag of popcorn from his bamboo basket for the audience to eat, and then pull out a stack of medicated plasters for bruises and injuries, tossing them to the crowd.

The surrounding crowd was amazed, clapping and cheering, and many tossed small change into a basin on the ground.

I asked Fatty Dong, "What the hell is that look on your face?"

Fatty Dong was grinding his teeth so hard they were about to shatter. "See that bastard performing tricks?"

"I’m not blind."

"Last month, he was performing on Qingfeng Road. I thought it was interesting and kindly tipped him a hundred yuan. He produced a large bag of popcorn to thank me. After the show ended, I felt dizzy and drunk. This kid chased after me from behind—I can’t remember what he said—but either way, I not only ended up giving him all my money in a daze, but I also gave him the jade pendant my master left me on his deathbed."

"..."

"An hour later, when I sobered up, I realized that bag of popcorn tasted wrong. But when I went back to look for him, he was nowhere to be found... Hey, Xiao Meng, you look like you're mocking me."

I was indeed mocking him in my heart; I almost laughed out loud. Fatty Dong had clearly run into a member of the "Drifting Sect."

The Drifting Sect, also known as the Color School or the Willow School, encompasses professions like storytellers, actors, magicians, jugglers, and street performers. The famous "Eight Eccentrics of Tianqiao" were among them. Most people in the Drifting Sect make a living through street performance; it’s rare to find those who use shady tricks to swindle people out of their money.

I patted Fatty Dong on the shoulder. "We have to settle this grudge for you!"

Finding someone could wait. Fatty Dong’s jade pendant was a precious heirloom from his master. Now that we had finally run into the guy, if we didn't hammer him and get the item back, it would be an insult to the heaven-sent opportunity.

I gestured stealthily to the side.

Fatty Dong understood instantly and immediately headed toward the intersection, blocking the guy's escape route. I pretended to be an onlooker and drifted toward the stall. I reached the inner ring, waiting for him to spin by on his tire.

"Riding a wind-fire wheel, tumbling on the street like a cloud; though I have a mortal frame, even Nezha would praise me without end..."

"Brother, I see you have dark circles under your eyes. You must be suffering from a kidney deficiency. Would you like a pack of virility-boosting plaster?"

His voice was crisp, paired with a cunning smile that gave him an inexplicably amusing air. He actually flicked the plaster toward me.

I did have dark circles, but that was from staying up late drinking last night; kidney deficiency was impossible. I immediately raised my hand, caught the plaster between my index and middle fingers, and replied, "I'll take it!"

Seeing me pull off that stunt, his eyes went wide.

Strike while he’s stunned.

Make him go crazy!

Seizing the moment, I kicked out violently, striking the tire. He was caught off guard and tumbled to the side. The crowd let out a gasp. I didn't give him a chance to catch his breath; I leaped forward and pounced on the young man.

I didn't expect him to be so agile. Just as he was about to hit the ground, he suddenly planted his hands, and his body went into a handstand. Seeing me pounce ferociously, his face changed instantly. He kicked his feet and slammed the tire toward me!

I had to stop and sweep my leg to knock the tire away.

Looking up, I saw the kid walking on his hands, moving incredibly fast, charging into the crowd and sprinting toward the intersection. The crowd was pushed aside, erupting in exclamations.

Hit and run! This guy must have swindled plenty of people in the past!

I gave chase.

The intersection at Qingshan Road was under demolition, and the temporary path for pedestrians was narrow. Fatty Dong had been hiding behind a utility pole, holding a large plastic barricade, waiting for the guy to run past so he could smash him to the ground.

Seeing the target approach, Fatty Dong suddenly jumped up, raised the barricade, and roared, "Run my ass!!!"

*Crash!*

The barricade slammed into the ground. Plastic shards flew everywhere!

But the youth's reaction was lightning-fast; he rolled on the ground, barely dodging the ambush. Seeing me and Fatty Dong closing in on him from both sides, his face turned deathly pale.

Just when I thought he had nowhere left to run, something I never imagined happened. With a leap, he grabbed the utility pole like a monkey and scrambled up four or five meters in a flash.

Right next to the utility pole was an arcade hall. A window was right next to the pole, and it was open. The guy dove through the window and ran into the second floor of the arcade.

Fatty Dong stood there, holding the broken plastic barricade, stunned by the guy's wild maneuver.

I shouted at him, "Go upstairs and chase him! I'll guard the entrance!"

The arcade hall was likely a building slated for demolition—a "sandwich" building where only the front had doors and windows, while the other three sides shared walls with neighbors. If he were to escape, he had to come out the front.

Fatty Dong wiggled his fat rear and charged into the arcade.

I waited outside for several minutes, but he didn't come down. Quite a few students left the hall after finishing their games.

An old man, hunched over, holding a dustpan, came out to sweep up cigarette butts and paper scraps. I flicked my cigarette butt into his dustpan.

The old man didn't look up, didn't make a sound, and focused on his sweeping.

I stepped forward quickly and suddenly poked him in the chest.

The old man let out a soft moan and collapsed.

But...

A wondrous, undulating sensation traveled from my fingertips.

A woman?!