Chapter 273: Sexual Bliss (1/2)

Two-Face stared at me in disbelief, words seeming to fail him. After some time, he faltered, ”A-are you... some kind of bigshot?”

“I’m undercover, what do you think?” I chuckled. “But I can let you go without getting approval.” I looked at my cell phone and said, ”It's ten in the morning and the police will arrive at about two in the afternoon. If you leave before that, I promise not to say a word about you.”

Moved by my words, he asked, ”Why do you believe me? I mean, what if I’m lying?”

I shook my head, ”I believe what I see in your eyes...”

Suddenly, there came a heavy sound of footsteps behind Two-Face who urged me to hide. Scarface was probably making his rounds. There wasn’t a suitable place to hide so I slipped into the gap between the hall stairway and the wall, crouching as low as physically possible.

Two-Face picked up his axe and continued chopping when Scarface entered the courtyard with a loud yell, ”You lazy motherfucker! I didn't hear you working earlier. Are you bumming around again?”

Two-Face faltered, ”I-I was taking a short break.”

”Where did the chief store the cigarettes?” demanded Scarface.

”Ge, you should smoke less. After all, it’s so difficult to buy cigarettes in this miserable place,” replied Two-Face. “If the chief finds out, he’s going to give you another lecture.”

”Oh fuck off, will you?!” shouted Scarface. “It’s not your turn to say shit! You already know what happened this morning. Four and Five, those two bastards, dug up something and ran away on their own. The chief took a bunch of the good stuff and chased after them. I'm supposed to keep an eye on the three fools here. If it were up to me, I’d kill them off right now. Sigh, what the fuck is going on? Whatever, just get me a pack of cigarettes or I'll cut you!”

”Okay, I'll pass them to you later,” said Two-Face as he bowed respectfully.

Only after Scarface left did I stick my head out again. ”What did the abbot take with him?” I asked.

”Guns!” exclaimed Two-Face. “They have more than a dozen service rifles. But I don't know where they are hidden.”

I contemplated the circumstances. If they had guns, the situation might escalate later on, causing casualties among the police. Perhaps the safest way forward was to first subdue Scarface on our own.

”Wait for a while. Don’t deliver the cigarettes just yet,” I said.

Upon further reflection, I recalled having seen a special sort of herb outside the temple. I ran outside, carefully uprooted the herb and handed it to Two-Face. ”This herb is called Barrenwort. Grind it up and mix the liquid into the cigarette contents.”

Two-Face stared at me in horror. ”Is it poisonous? You mustn't poison him!” he blurted. “If he finds out, he’ll kill me!”

”Don't worry, it’s not poison!” I chuckled. “This stuff will only arouse him!”

”But if I open the cigarette pack, he’ll definitely be suspicious,” he added. “After a few brushes with death, these guys have learned to suspect anything and anyone.”

”Is there any way to fool him?” I asked.

He pondered for a moment and said, ”There is one way. I can steal a cigarette for myself. I usually smoke but that’s only when they allow me to or I’d be asking for a beating. But this time it’s worth it. So are you 100% sure you can handle him?”

”Of course,” I nodded. “Don't worry, I will capture him alive. By the way, there’s one more thing I’d like to ask. Do you know what the code is?”

”They won't let me dig for the treasure but they’ve repeated those words so many times I can even recite it,” he explained. “Listen up, it’s ‘3 zi mao, 2 zi si, 1 chou zi, 4 wei hai’.”

Upon hearing the code, I was astonished. What the hell was this?!

”Do you remember it?” asked Two-Face after he repeated the words once more.

”I do, but aren’t the words out of order?” I asked. “What do the numbers represent?”

”If I could solve the mystery, I wouldn't be stuck here…” lamented Two-Face, his lips curling into a bitter smile. “I’d be long dead!”

”After giving Scarface the cigarettes, you should run as far as possible!” I remarked, patting him on the shoulder.

Two-Face sighed, ”I’ve been on the run for ten years. My job, my family, they’re all gone. What’s there for me to do when I leave?”

”Rather than waste away in this temple, isn’t it better to give it a try out there?” I said. “You can dress up as a traveling monk. Although life will be a little difficult, you won't have to be bossed around by these criminals any longer.”

Two-Face suddenly fell to his knees but I quickly caught him. ”What are you doing?” I asked.

”How will I ever repay your great kindness? I don't even know what your name is.”