Chapter 24 Exposing Illegal Activities, Clues Come Together

Chengbei Avenue, No. 666.

Behind Sister Dong's Bar.

Xia Qianyue sneakily made her way to the location alone, cautiously surveying her surroundings.

She noticed that there were actually people patrolling the back door of the bar.

Chengbei Avenue used to be filled with factories; after many big factories moved out, the buildings were converted into various facilities.

Behind Sister Dong's Bar, there was a stretch of open street, and beyond the back door, there was a small factory building that used to store machinery and equipment for the industrial area.

However, calling it a small factory building was relative; it was two stories tall, ten meters in length and width, and covered over a hundred square meters of ground. It only seemed small compared to the thousand-square-meter warehouses converted into bars.

As expected, there were also guards at the entrance of the small factory.

"If it's just about opening for business, why position four guards? There must be some shady dealings inside that can't see the light of day!"

Xia Qianyue, fully utilizing her silly or simple-minded intelligence, figured that if Sister Dong was the culprit, then the weapon must be hidden inside that building.

If Zhang Wei were here, he would certainly argue: since when would a murderer kill someone and then keep the weapon close by without cleaning up.

"Could I possibly knock out four people with my skills?"

Even with her confidence in her own abilities, Xia Qianyue felt somewhat nervous at the sight of those four guards.

It's not that she was afraid—silly people don't get scared.

Rather, if she didn't take down all four in an instant, allowing one to escape could alert the murderer.

Brave as she was, she still worried about letting the culprit get away.

"Hey, girl, what are you staring at?"

Unfortunately, Xia Qianyue's hiding spot wasn't very discreet and, coupled with the fact that hardly anyone came down this alleyway, she was spotted by one of the guards.

A young man with dyed red hair approached Xia Qianyue immediately.

"Wow, we've got ourselves a cutie here. You've got a pretty little face!"

Upon seeing Xia Qianyue, the youth revealed ill intentions.

As she found herself being harassed, Xia Qianyue clenched her fists tightly—crack, crack...

"Aiyah, how did you end up here?" Suddenly, from behind Xia Qianyue, an exclamation could be heard.

Zhang Wei staggered forward with the gait of a drunkard—swaying with every step—and slowly made his way toward Xia Qianyue.

"Burp~ My dear, what are you doing here? Come drink with me, burp~"

Zhang Wei, belching like a drunken man, came up beside Xia Qianyue.

"Zhang Wei, you..."

"What are you waiting for? Sister Dong has already mixed the drinks. If you don't come and drink with me, it'll all be wasted!"

Zhang Wei grabbed Xia Qianyue's hand without waiting to see if she resisted and dragged her toward the main entrance of the bar.

Hearing that Zhang Wei was Sister Dong's guest, the red-haired youth stopped in his tracks and didn't continue approaching.

After all, Sister Dong was their boss; they couldn't interfere with the boss's opportunity to make money.

"For the love of... It's your first time at a bar. What are you shy about? Didn't you ask me to bring you here? And then you bolted mid-drink, is that because you look down on me?"

At this moment, Zhang Wei, feigning the effects of alcohol, began to get handsy with Xia Qianyue and seemed genuinely offended.

"Let's go, let's go, what are you standing around for? We're here to drink!"

He pulled Xia Qianyue away and they left the alley.

The redhead watched the two depart, a look of disdain on his face.

"Bro, what was that just now?"

"Nothing much, just some youngster bringing a chick for drinks. That girl looked fresh; probably a greenhorn. Lucky bastard!"

"Heh, bro, how about we hit up that foot massage place we went to last time after our shift ends? Maybe even get the full package?"

"You really get me, kid. This time it's your treat!"

"Bro, we only get paid so much; you can't make me pay every time..."

"Dude, they call me Bro Freeloader. If not you, then who's gonna pay?"

...

Leaving the alley hoodlums out of the picture, back at the bar.

"Zhang Wei, what brings you back here, and drunk at that?"

Xia Qianyue looked at Zhang Wei and was the first to ask.

But the drunken look on Zhang Wei's face quickly disappeared and, instead of responding, he just stared at Xia Qianyue as if looking at someone foolish.

Voice-over: Kid, who's the one with a problem here? Don't you have the slightest clue in your heart?

The look in Zhang Wei's eyes made the heart of our silly girl flutter with discomfort. Seconds later, she quickly grasped the meaning behind Zhang Wei's actions.

"Zhang Wei, I just felt that we couldn't let the bad guys get away, so I thought... I thought I'd come back to look for evidence..." Realizing her own mistake, the silly girl admitted her fault.

"Forget it, since you haven't caused any trouble, we can always try again!"

Zhang Wei patted Xia Qianyue on the shoulder as a sign of comfort.

Xia Qianyue, who had been hanging her head low, suddenly looked up, her crystal lashes fluttering, her eyes sparkling, "Zhang Wei, you're not mad at me?"

"Mad at you for what? Haven't I come back too? We both made mistakes. How can we blame each other?"

Zhang Wei forced a smile, but thought to himself, "When would a father ever blame his daughter? A father only has love and care for his daughter..."

"Silly, I've watched for a while, and although there are four people on duty in the back alley, two of them occasionally patrol the bar. This is our chance. You might struggle against four guys, but can you handle two?"

"Rest assured, just two little hoodlums, I'll have them in the palm of my hand!"

Watching Silly pat her flat chest, making a confident face, Zhang Wei sighed repeatedly, thinking it a pity.

This girl has everything going for her, except she's likely to starve a child!

"Then let's get moving. We have to continue playing a scene later. Listen to my commands, we'll do it this way, that way..."

The two once again crept close to the back alley, and this time Zhang Wei acted as the lookout; the hoodlums on duty didn't detect them.

When two of the hoodlums guarding the back door left to patrol, only two remained in the alley.

"Babe, don't run, have another drink with me~"

"Get lost, you pervert! You said you'd take me out to have fun, but all you did was make me drink. You're up to no good!"

"What are you talking about? If you don't drink, how can I take you to a hotel room?"

"You lecher! Wanting to take me to a hotel room, you're completely rotten!"

At this moment, Xia Qianyue seemed like a vulnerable young girl, with a cry-like tone, running towards the back alley.

Behind her, Zhang Wei faked a "drunken" state, staggering every three steps as he chased, all the while cursing under his breath.

"Big brother, what's this all about?"

"Hehe, wasn't that the couple from just now? Looks like they're having a tiff!"

Red Hair and his underling watched Xia Qianyue running towards them, grinning wickedly.

"Big brother, this chick's got style, a hundred times prettier than those massage parlor ladies!"

"More like a thousand times. Just for those fair, long legs, I could play all year round!"

Red Hair and his underling, watching Xia Qianyue run toward them, all had lecherous smiles on their faces.

At this moment, they were already planning to beat up Zhang Wei and then seize the girl before them to take to a hotel room.

Even though Zhang Wei might be the Boss's guest, when meat's delivered to your doorstep, there's no reason not to eat it.

"Beauty, why run? Were you bullied? Let your brothers here uphold justice for you!"

Red Hair took on a righteous pose, blocking Xia Qianyue's path.

"Handsome guy, I... he..."

"Don't be afraid, did that little rascal bully you? I'll teach him a lesson for you. Then you can come with me, I'll take you somewhere fun!"

Upon hearing Xia Qianyue call him handsome, Red Hair was overjoyed and, with a hehe, charged towards Zhang Wei.

"Sister, just stick with our big brother from now on, let me tell you, the boss of Anmen is... hey, why are you raising your fists, what are you going to do, don't come any closer, ah—"

Red Hair heard a scream next to him and then felt something was off. He immediately turned around.

What he saw was a pink fist closing in on his face.

Bang!

His nose bone met the fist, a wave of dizziness hit him, and then his body toppled over, knowing nothing more.

"Done!" Xia Qianyue dusted off her hands, giving Zhang Wei a "yeah" gesture.

"Silly, stop wasting time, we need to act fast!"

Zhang Wei went straight to the factory door, fumbling with how to open it.

"No good, it's locked!" Zhang Wei found a lock on the door.

"Watch me!"

Xia Qianyue quickly kicked out.

Crack!

The palm-sized metal lock was deformed by Xia Qianyue's kick, and the second kick shattered it.

Seeing the lock smashed to bits, Zhang Wei's mouth fell open, and he instinctively covered his groin.

If that kick had landed on a person, they'd be childless for life.

"Let's go!"

Xia Qianyue pulled up the rolling shutter and rushed into the factory first.

Zhang Wei hurriedly followed and found the switch for the lighting equipment in the corner.

When the big lights on the factory ceiling came on, all the equipment inside was displayed before the two of them.

The factory housed some mechanical processing machines that resembled printing presses.

The machine in the center was connected to a conveyor belt on one end and a pulper on the other.

Zhang Wei took a step and felt something odd under his feet.

He lowered his head and saw paper money scattered all over the floor, all of which were small denominations.

"Small-denomination currency, printing press, pulp machine..."

Looking at the equipment inside the factory building, Zhang Wei's mind instantly flashed with the professions of Lu Mei, Li Ping, and the third victim.

Lu Mei was a chemistry teacher, Li Ping was an engraver, the third victim was a vending machine repairman.

"Zhang Wei, what is this machine for?"

"Simple-minded person, if I'm not mistaken, these guys are making counterfeit money here!"

"Counterfeit money?!"

"That's right, counterfeit money, and this place is a counterfeit money workshop!"

Because making counterfeit money requires the preparation of printing reagents, and that's a job for a chemistry teacher.

Counterfeit money also needs carved printing plates, something only an engraver can do.

Counterfeit money needs raw materials; the small-denomination notes from vending machines are the original materials for large-denomination counterfeit bills, which the repairman was responsible for securing.

Moreover, counterfeiting money requires ink for printing, something a tattoo artist possesses.

And finally, counterfeit money needs a place to be printed, and just behind the hotel, there was an abandoned factory building.

The identity of the three victims corresponded one by one, and all the clues came together at this moment.

Why could Lu Mei and the others get 9500 every week? Because they were making counterfeit money.

Why did all three perish in the end? Because of Xu Dong's greed. Why split the profits among five people when the three were no longer needed?

Getting rid of them would mean three fewer shares to distribute.

All of it, everything was connected!

Xia Qianyue, hearing Zhang Wei's affirmative answer, also lost her composure.

The circulation of currency in Dragon Country is strictly regulated; using counterfeit money is already a criminal case, and making it is a serious crime.

It was unexpected that behind these three murders, there was also a counterfeit money crime involved.

"Simple-minded person, I think we need to leave..." Quickly, Zhang Wei sensed a hint of danger.

He was about to leave the factory building, but he didn't expect to hear a burst of footsteps just outside the door.

Sister Dong, the bar owner, came in with her boyfriend and a dozen or so underlings.

"Sister Dong, it's her, that woman attacked me with a dirty trick!" Red Hair, supported by his pals, stared at Xia Qianyue with a fierce look in his eyes.

"Surround them!" Sister Dong waved her hand, and her minions immediately sprang into action, encircling Xia Qianyue and Zhang Wei.

Facing this situation, Zhang Wei also felt somewhat Xiao Fang.

"Where are those guys from the Martial Association Serious Crime Team when you need them?"

Nevertheless, even though his heart was racing like a frightened dog, his expression remained calm.

"Folks, I was just having a fight with my girlfriend. She 'inadvertently' broke the lock outside the door, and we 'inadvertently' came in. Actually, we know nothing, really..."

"You murderer, not only did you kill people, but you're also making counterfeit money here. Surrender now; this missy won't let you off!"

Zhang Wei: "..."

Silly girl, who asked you to be so quick with your mouth? I was still hoping to smooth-talk our way out of this.

Well, since Silly has said so much, there was no way for him to pretend anymore.

Zhang Wei suddenly dropped his smile, his face turned stern, and he shouted, "Xu Dong, do you know who we are? We are from the Martial Association!"

The words "Martial Association," when spoken, carried an overwhelming sense of authority, making the surrounding hooligans unconsciously take a half step back.

"Hmph, Martial Association, trying to deceive a ghost!"

Xu Dong, however, let out a cold laugh, "Would the Martial Association break into my bar this late and sneak around to this place? They act according to the evidence; without a search warrant, they can't even enter my bar!"

Xu Dong saw through Zhang Wei's attempt to bluff with just a glance.

"Catch them!"

Sister Dong signaled, and the eager-to-please hoodlums around them sprang into action.

"Zhang Wei, stay behind me!"

But Xia Qianyue was not afraid at all, and she started throwing punches as she plunged into the crowd.

In a moment, she turned into a fierce tiger penetrating a flock of sheep, knocking out someone with each punch, and in just a few strikes, several people were lying on the ground.

The hooligans were scattered, feeling the pinch.

Sometimes, Zhang Wei couldn't help but marvel at Xia Qianyue's astonishing combat abilities; ordinary thugs couldn't even land a blow against her.

Xia Qianyue's attacks consisted of simple straight punches, jab punches, and straight kicks, but her power was immense.

Even if the thugs tried to block with their hands, you could hear the crisp sound of bones breaking, and the entire person would be sent flying by the heavy blow.

Bang Bang Bang!

After a flurry of punches, there were only a few of Sister Dong's henchmen left standing around Xia Qianyue, and the rest wore a look of terror, not daring to come any closer.

"Waste, a bunch of wastes!" Xu Dong's face turned extremely ugly upon seeing this.

All those underlings he had were almost all knocked down by a little girl; this was simply unbearable!

"Honey, make your move!"

At Sister Dong's command, the man beside her picked up a spring knife and went straight for Xia Qianyue.

In an instant, the two were locked in combat.

Xia Qianyue was strong, but her opponent was adept at guerrilla warfare, avoiding a direct test of strength.

Not only that, but he also relied on the sharpness of the dagger in his hand, aiming tricky attacks at Xia Qianyue's vital points, forcing her to remain on the defensive and dodge.

"Simple-minded person, catch my coat!" In a moment of crisis, Zhang Wei took off his jacket and threw it out.

Xia Qianyue caught the coat and immediately understood Zhang Wei's intention. She wrapped it around her right hand, creating a makeshift guard.

Now she was temporarily impervious to the threat of the dagger.

Xia Qianyue attacked again, relying on the coat for protection against the dagger man's attack. Her punches came like the wind, as she went on the offensive.

The dagger man carelessly received a punch from Xia Qianyue. His arm ached terribly, his bones nearly splintering. With no other option, he could only try to dodge, and instantly the situation was reversed.

"Damn it!"

Seeing her boyfriend being overwhelmed by Xia Qianyue, Sister Dong's face turned extremely ugly.

She spotted Zhang Wei hiding in a corner and shrieked, "Grab that kid for me!"

"Fuck!" Seeing the gang members closing in on him, Zhang Wei cursed out loud.

The thugs began to approach Zhang Wei.

Facing this dangerous situation, he knew he had to respond.

"A bunch of trash, this is what you've forced me to do!"

Zhang Wei roared, grabbed a wrench near his hand, and charged at one of the thugs in front of him.

The thug had not expected Zhang Wei, who was hiding behind, to be so fierce and was caught off guard.

Crack!

The wrench struck the thug's head, splitting it open.

The thug fell, clutching his head, his limbs twitching.

"Who else wants to die? Show yourself!"

Zhang Wei's face twisted into a ferocious snarl, intimidating those behind him.

"Whoever catches this kid, I'll give him ten thousand bucks as a reward!" Seeing this, Sister Dong immediately threw out a financial incentive.

"Shit!" Hearing this, Zhang Wei finally lost his composure.

As the thugs closed in again, Zhang Wei began to wonder if it was still possible for him to kneel and surrender.

"Nobody move, drop your weapons, get down on your knees with your hands over your head. Martial Association Serious Crime Team, on duty!"

In the nick of time, the sound Zhang Wei longed for finally came from outside.

They saw Team Leader Wu Yong arriving with his subordinates, Old Xing, Ah Ni, and Tamu.

This time, they were bona fide members of the Martial Association, and moreover, from the Serious Crime Team.

Everyone's actions halted, and the chase between Xia Qianyue and the tattoo artist also stopped.

Seeing Wu Yong's Martial Association badge, all the thugs panicked, their legs shaking.

Sister Dong's eyes flickered, exchanging a glance with her tattoo artist boyfriend.

"Grab them as hostages!" she screamed at the top of her lungs and charged at Zhang Wei.

Meanwhile, seeing Xia Qianyue also stop, the tattoo artist quickly pulled out his dagger and stabbed at Xia Qianyue's abdomen.

Compared to Zhang Wei and the people outside from the Martial Association, Xia Qianyue was, in his eyes, the most dangerous person there, so he had to incapacitate her with a single strike.

Moreover, they had been exposed, and what was waiting for them was life imprisonment. If they didn't struggle now, there would be no chance left.

So, he thought Xia Qianyue had to go down, preferably by stabbing her to death. Otherwise, he and Xu Dong wouldn't be able to escape!

"Be careful!"

"Dodge quickly!"

Wu Yong and Old Xing issued warnings one after another, but it was already too late for them to act.

"Simple-minded person!"

At this critical moment, Zhang Wei's legs suddenly exploded with strength, and his figure seemed to fly to Xia Qianyue's side.

With a simple smile on his face, he pushed the simple-minded person in front of him away, then felt a piercing pain in his abdomen — the dagger had plunged into his flesh.

"Zhang Wei!"

Xia Qianyue's beautiful eyes shimmered, her pupils contracting.

Bang!

"Nobody move, or I'll shoot!"

Finally, Zhang Wei only heard a gunshot and Wu Yong's roar.

His vision darkened, and he completely lost consciousness.