Chapter 817: Zhang Da Sao’s Death

“Why did you scare her?” After Zhang Da Sao left, Kao Wei complained.

“She’s a petty person,” Bandaged Man said coldly.

“Don’t talk about her like that!” Kao Wei took out a lunchbox from the cabinet and packed some leftovers from the table. Bandaged Man guessed what she was going to do.

Sure enough, Kao Wei took advantage of the night to bring food and water to the old tailor. The old tailor was so moved that he cried, but Kao Wei quickly gestured for him to stay quiet.

After the old tailor finished eating and drinking, Kao Wei collected the dishes and went home. Bandaged Man was sitting on the stairs, gloomily smoking. Kao Wei thought he was going to make some lofty comment and said, “I just couldn’t stand by and do nothing.”

“You are very kind,” Bandaged Man said. “You know you can’t afford the consequences of your kindness, yet you still help. I admire your courage.”

Kao Wei raised an eyebrow, “Are you mocking me?”

“Honest truth,” Bandaged Man threw away his cigarette and went up to the attic.

“Don’t litter with your cigarette butts!” Kao Wei stomped her foot in annoyance but felt warm inside.

There were moments when Kao Wei wondered if he could be Wang Xi. But she quickly dismissed it. After all, she had lived with Wang Xi before; she would never mistake him. Bandaged Man was just a stranger she met by chance.

That night, someone called the loan shark company, leaving a voicemail: “Hey, is your reward still valid? I know where Wang Xi is, but you have to pay me to know more. My address is…”

The next morning, “Impressionist” arrived at Gou Pi Alley, pinching a fried dough stick with his orchid fingers, smugly chewing. His underling’s phone was playing “Who Let the Dogs Out,” and “Impressionist” bobbed his head to the music.

He suddenly stopped and said, “Change the song, change it to something cheerful.”

The underling switched to “Good Luck Comes,” and “Impressionist” continued to bob his head as he moved forward.

Today was a lucky day. He had barely arrived at the office when his boss said someone had spotted Wang Xi, the Judas who betrayed twelve of their big brothers. The whole gang had gone crazy looking for him back then.

The bounty was just a small bonus. The main reward was avenging the betrayed brothers, making sure the boss remembered him. Success and prosperity were not far away.

And there was no risk in this endeavor.

When “Impressionist” arrived at the informant’s place, he was surprised to find it was right next to the old tailor’s. The old tailor was still tied up in the alley, looking like a dead dog, but he wasn’t dead because he had whimpered when they peed on his face earlier.

People are tougher than they look, something “Impressionist” had learned from years of torturing debtors.

When his boss first asked him to collect debts, “Impressionist” thought it was boring and didn’t want to do it. But the boss explained that debt collection was a great job where he could beat people up legally, and they wouldn’t dare call the police. “Impressionist” was immediately convinced.

“Impressionist” made a gesture, and his underling kicked the door open, making it bang against the wall.

“Impressionist” glared, “That gesture meant turn off the music!”

“Usually, that gesture means kick the door…” the underling said innocently.

“Are you saying I was wrong?” “Impressionist” raised his hand to hit him, “You broke the door, so you’ll pay for it.”

“But the door was already unlocked.”

“Impressionist” looked and saw the lock wasn’t broken. The room was dark and had a faint smell of menstrual blood. “Impressionist” walked in and shouted, “Anyone home?”

No response.

The room wasn’t big. When the underling walked into the bedroom, he screamed. “Impressionist” slapped his head, “Why are you screaming?”

“Boss, there’s a dead body!”

“Impressionist” saw an older woman lying on the floor in a death struggle position, looking very pained. The faint blood smell came from her. “Impressionist” turned her over and saw her eyes rolled back and pink foam at her mouth—a mix of blood and saliva. He screamed, “Damn, I shouldn’t have touched her!”

His fingerprints and footprints were all over. The police would surely come. But calling the police was not an option. Gangsters don’t call the police.

Just because they wouldn’t call the police didn’t mean others wouldn’t. Even if she lived alone, her rotting body would be reported by neighbors in a few days.

“Impressionist” lit a cigarette in frustration, letting the ashes fall on the corpse. He said, “This is a cover-up murder, definitely done by Wang Xi.”

“Boss, I think Wang Xi is hiding nearby.”

“Damn it, we have to clean up his mess after he kills someone. When I find him…” “Impressionist” showed a fierce face, “First, get rid of the body. Don’t let anyone see.”

The underlings got to work, wrapping the body in a bedsheet and wiping the floor. One of them went to get the car.

Early morning in Gou Pi Alley was almost empty, but Kao Wei happened to go out for groceries. She was startled to see the gang’s car and hid in a doorway.

Two underlings carried a long object wrapped in a sheet and threw it into the car. The sheet wasn’t wrapped tightly, revealing a pale hand. Kao Wei gasped and covered her mouth.

The gangsters, focused on disposing of the body, didn’t notice her. They got into the car and left quickly.

Kao Wei rushed home, leaning against the door, panting. The person killed was probably Zhang Da Sao. But why did the gang kill her? She didn’t owe a huge debt or offend them. Why?

Wait, Zhang Da Sao had threatened to expose Bandaged Man last night…

She went up to the attic, but Bandaged Man wasn’t there!

Running late for work, Kao Wei had to leave. She was distracted all day, making many mistakes. Finally, she returned home in the evening. The lights were on, and she glanced at Zhang Da Sao’s door. Her heart pounded at the thought of the murder happening next door.

Unlocking the door, she found Bandaged Man sitting at the table, half a bottle of whiskey and a cigarette in his hand. He looked like he owned the place.

Seeing his expressionless face, Kao Wei felt a bit scared. She sat down and stared at him for a long time. “Did you kill Zhang Da Sao?”

“I didn’t.”

“I thought about it all day. The gang came for her in the morning. She must have called them. The gang wouldn’t kill her. She was healthy, and sudden death is unlikely. It must have been you!”

Bandaged Man slowly raised his eyes, “I didn’t.”

“It was you! You’re not Wang Xi, but you don’t want the gang around. You’ve been hiding, which means your identity can’t be exposed. You killed her last night to keep her quiet!”

Bandaged Man shook his head silently, “Motive doesn’t equal fact.”