Chapter Fifty-One: A Desperate Gamble

Ying Xi was hesitant about Lu Hehuan’s suggestion to lie in wait. “But now we only have two days left to catch her. I’m afraid waiting in ambush won’t be fast enough.”

Lu Hehuan didn’t reply. He walked over to the bed and tapped the dates on several newspapers with his finger. “Did you notice that every time Long Zhentian kills, it’s always on the first day of the lunar month?”

Ying Xi hurried over, quickly scanned the newspapers, and nodded with excitement. “You’re right!”

Lu Hehuan rested his chin on his hand, pondering for a moment. “It’s likely she was sold to a brothel on the first day of the month. That day must have left a deep shadow in her heart.”

“What day is it today?” Ying Xi asked anxiously.

Lu Hehuan gave a sly smile. “Tomorrow is the first day.”

“So, tomorrow Long Zhentian will most likely appear on Fourth Avenue, where the brothels are?” Ying Xi speculated.

Lu Hehuan nodded.

“So we really can just wait for her to show up.”

Ying Xi was elated, but Lu Hehuan remained composed. He sat back in his chair and looked at Ying Xi. “Judging by Long Zhentian’s choice of victims, she only kills clients. We can use that—find someone to pose as a client, set the bait, and draw her out.”

“Good idea. You be the bait.” Ying Xi slapped his thigh and made the decision at once.

Lu Hehuan shook his head hastily. “I can’t. I have no experience. You should do it.”

“I’m asking you to pretend to be a client, not actually be one. No experience needed.”

“Precisely because it’s a pretense, you need experience to make it convincing.” Lu Hehuan paused, then looked at Ying Xi with exaggerated seriousness. “Inspector Ying, you frequent such places. You should be the client.”

Ying Xi shook his head, walked to the window, and put on an expression of difficulty. “No way. Long Zhentian is in the habit of slicing her victims in half at the waist. My back couldn’t withstand her blade.”

Lu Hehuan couldn’t help but laugh. “What kind of logic is that? Having a good back means you can withstand her sword? I think you’re just afraid for your life, that’s why you won’t be the bait.”

“If you’re not afraid, then you do it,” Ying Xi retorted, lifting his chin.

“Of course I’m not afraid, but I have parents to care for,” Lu Hehuan replied with righteous sincerity.

Ying Xi glared at him. “Even if I didn’t have parents, Long Zhentian knows my face. Would she fall for it?”

“She knows me too.”

“So what now?” Ying Xi was stumped.

Lu Hehuan frowned. “Let’s think of someone else.”

Ying Xi pondered for a moment, then his eyes lit up with a mischievous grin. “Didn’t Director Bao say last time, ‘By any means necessary, bring Long Zhentian in’?”

“What do you mean?” Lu Hehuan looked confused.

Ying Xi sighed. “Can you be any more dense? We can find a way to make Director Bao the bait.”

“That’s not proper, is it?” Lu Hehuan was startled and instinctively lowered his voice.

“What’s wrong with it?” Ying Xi was unconcerned.

“It’s too dangerous,” Lu Hehuan wavered.

Ying Xi looked at him, justified and firm. “Director Bao wouldn’t have risen to his position if he were useless. Don’t worry, he’ll be able to protect himself.”

“Su—” Lu Hehuan, still uneasy, blurted out in English.

“Huh?” Ying Xi was taken aback.

“You’re sure it’s not dangerous?” Lu Hehuan corrected himself.

“Relax. We’ll be protecting him from the shadows, won’t we?”

“OK.” Seeing no better plan, Lu Hehuan hesitated, then nodded.

Ying Xi grinned smugly. “I understood that one.”

The next morning, the rosy sun painted the blue sky with a streak of color. Bao Kang was in the police yard, feeding insects to Ah Hua.

“Eat up, Ah Hua,” Bao Kang cooed affectionately.

Not far away, Ying Xi dragged Lu Hehuan along, deliberately speaking loudly.

“I told you to come with me to Blossom Lane on Fourth Avenue, but you refused.” Ying Xi stole a glance at Bao Kang, then swallowed with relish. “I used to go to the Paramount more, but this was my first time there—and the women there! You have no idea how much fun I had last night!”

“How much fun?” Lu Hehuan pretended to press eagerly.

“It was like becoming an immortal!”

“Really?”

Ying Xi pounded his chest, looking proud. “Absolutely. I’m telling you, if a man hasn’t experienced this, he can’t call himself a man.”

“That’s a bit much, isn’t it?”

“If you don’t believe me, try it yourself.” Ying Xi winked suggestively, his tone meaningful. “I guarantee you’ll be hooked.”

“I don’t buy it,” Lu Hehuan feigned hesitation.

“Then forget it!” Ying Xi strode off.

Lu Hehuan chased after him. “Alright, I believe you, okay?”

At this, Bao Kang straightened and looked over at the two.

Ying Xi stopped and continued boasting. “With my years of experience, I can say with confidence—the women on Fourth Avenue are the best.”

Lu Hehuan sniffed. “What’s so special about them?”

“Sweet mouths, spicy figures…” Ying Xi couldn’t help but smirk. “Try it once and you’ll never want to stop.”

“Is it really that good?”

“Why would I lie? Last night I felt like I was floating on air.” Ying Xi’s face was dreamy.

“Floating on air? That magical?” Lu Hehuan pretended to envy him.

Ying Xi waved impatiently. “Enough talk. Go if you want. Unless you want to die a virgin? What a waste! Life is short—enjoy it while you can!”

Lu Hehuan snapped his fingers. “Right, you’ve got a point.”

Laughing and joking, the two walked into the police station.

Bao Kang stared after them, dazed. “Fourth Avenue, Blossom Lane…”

A blast of cold wind made him shiver. Realizing something, he shook his head fiercely. “I’m the chief of the Old Gate Police Station—how could I be thinking such dirty thoughts!”

He turned back to feed Ah Hua. “Eat up, Ah Hua. Don’t listen to their nonsense.”

Ah Hua clucked and fluttered her wings at the sight of the insects. Watching her fly, Bao Kang fell into a trance.

“What does it feel like to fly?” he murmured, staring blankly at Ah Hua.

Early in the morning, the police office was empty. Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi slipped inside, huddling over the desk to plot.

Lu Hehuan looked at Ying Xi, uneasy. “Do you think Director Bao will take the bait?”

Ying Xi stroked his beard. “Hard to say. Time’s tight—we’ll have to stoke the fire a bit more.”

“How?”

Ying Xi leaned in and, with a conspiratorial air, pulled a risqué print from his pocket for Lu Hehuan to see.

Lu Hehuan blushed immediately and turned his head away, embarrassed.

Ying Xi gave him a look of disdain. “What’s a grown man got to be shy about?”

“I’ve never seen anything like that,” Lu Hehuan said earnestly.

“Then this is your chance to broaden your horizons.”

“No thanks. I’m not interested.”

Ying Xi suppressed a laugh. “You may not be, but Director Bao will be. Come on, let’s drop this off in his office.”

Lu Hehuan was aghast, his voice rising. “Are you crazy? He’ll throw us out for sure!”

Ying Xi gave a mysterious smile, clearly confident. “Of course we won’t hand it to him directly. Watch me.”

Lu Hehuan followed him toward Bao Kang’s office.

Bao Kang was lounging in his chair, gazing out the window, still picturing Ah Hua flying. He shook his head, puzzled. “What’s with me—why do I keep thinking about that?”

Suddenly, a knock came at the door. He straightened up at once.

“Come in.”

Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi entered.

“Director Bao, Detective Lu and I have more or less figured out Long Zhentian’s pattern. We’d like to request a few officers for the arrest,” Ying Xi said, feigning urgency.

“I already told you—no reinforcements,” Bao Kang replied, a touch annoyed.

“Director Bao, if we fail this time, you’ll be implicated too,” Ying Xi pressed, emboldened.

Bao Kang glared at him, barely containing his anger. “How many do you need?”

Ying Xi glanced at Lu Hehuan. “Five will do.”

Bao Kang nodded. “Fine. You get five. This time, you must succeed. Remember—keep it low-key. Everyone in plain clothes.”

“Yes, sir!” Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi replied in unison.

“Off you go,” Bao Kang waved them out.

As they left, Ying Xi deliberately let the risqué print fall to the floor of Bao Kang’s office.

“Hey, you dropped something,” Bao Kang called, standing up.

Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi pretended not to hear, hurriedly closing the door behind them.

Bao Kang picked up the print and, upon seeing it, his face flushed. He wiped his brow, puzzled. “Why am I suddenly so hot? Am I coming down with something?”

He opened the door, intending to return the item, but overheard Ying Xi and Lu Hehuan discussing Blossom Lane.

Knowing Bao Kang was eavesdropping, Lu Hehuan played along. “Inspector Ying, is that Blossom Lane you mentioned really on Fourth Avenue?”

“Thinking of going?” Ying Xi grinned wickedly.

Lu Hehuan feigned embarrassment. “Just curious.”

“It’s easy to find. Past Prosperity Road, down Third Avenue…” Ying Xi drawled, intentionally slow.

Eager, Bao Kang whipped out his pen and notebook.

“Then you turn onto Culture Street—it’s a hidden alley leading to Fourth Avenue. The moment you enter, you’ll see a parade of beauties, each more stunning than the last.”

The enticing words floated over as Bao Kang pricked up his ears, scribbling down the directions before returning to his office.

All this was observed from the corridor by Lu Xiang, whose lips curled into a sly smile.

Bao Kang closed the office door and window, took the print, and sat down, looking at it with great interest. In his mind, Ying Xi’s words echoed:

“Go if you want, unless you’re content to die a virgin. What a waste! Life is short—enjoy it while you can!”

At that, Bao Kang steeled his resolve and muttered, “He’s right. Life is short—enjoy it while you can! I can’t stay single forever just because I’m afraid to talk to women. Maybe if I try, I’ll get over this fear!”

He caressed the print and looked at the address he’d just written down. “Tonight, I’ll go to Fourth Avenue and ‘test my courage.’”

Suddenly, as if remembering something, he stood. “I’d better tell Xiaorong a lie—say I won’t be coming home tonight.”

With that, he hurried to the coroner’s office. Moments later, Lu Xiang tiptoed in. At Bao Kang’s desk, he saw the print and the notebook with the Fourth Avenue address, and instantly guessed what was going on.

Lu Xiang smiled. “Well, well, Bao Kang, I didn’t expect you to have a roving eye too. Since you exposed me for having tea with that widow, tonight I’ll catch you in Blossom Lane and have something on you for once! Let’s see if you dare cross me again.” He chuckled to himself, already plotting.

At the end of the workday, the officers trickled out. Bao Kang, looking perfectly upright, left with his briefcase. At the corner, he furtively checked his notebook for directions.

“First Prosperity Road, then Third Avenue…” he muttered, glancing around to make sure no one familiar was nearby before changing course and heading for Blossom Lane.

By evening, Blossom Lane was unusually quiet.

Following his notes, Bao Kang strode into the alley. Behind him, Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi led a team of plainclothes officers, trailing from a distance.

Ying Xi signaled the officers in a low voice. “Remember, don’t reveal you’re police during the arrest.”

“Yes, sir,” they replied in unison.

Ying Xi, feeling at last they were close to catching Long Zhentian, smiled with satisfaction. Suddenly, he spotted Lu Xiang ahead, tailing Bao Kang.

Shocked, Ying Xi turned to Lu Hehuan. “What’s your father doing here?”

“No idea!” Lu Hehuan was puzzled.

“This is bad!” Ying Xi exclaimed.

In a panic, Lu Hehuan bit his lip. “I’ll go call my father back.”

He started to move, but Ying Xi grabbed his arm, frowning. “It’s too late—and besides, another decoy increases our odds.”

Lu Hehuan hesitated but finally agreed. They continued to follow from a distance.

Up ahead, Bao Kang sensed something amiss and deliberately waited at a corner. Lu Xiang, caught off guard, lost sight of him and hurried over, only for Bao Kang to grab him.

Seeing who it was, Bao Kang grew angry. “Lu Xiang! Why are you following me?”

“Who’s following you? It’s not your street,” Lu Xiang played dumb.

Bao Kang snorted. “Not following me? Then are you out to have tea with a widow again?”

“What did you say? You have the nerve to say that, coming to a place like this yourself?” Lu Xiang retorted, red-faced.

“I’m just passing through—you’re the one with no shame,” Bao Kang replied defensively.

“Oh really? Want to repeat that?” Lu Xiang bristled.

“With pleasure: shameless!” Bao Kang shot back.

“I’ll teach you a lesson!” Lu Xiang seized Bao Kang by the collar.

They scuffled fiercely, unaware of the dark figure approaching.

Ever closer, the shadow resolved into Long Zhentian.

She stood behind them, holding a small box. With a flick of her wrist, it unfolded into a gleaming broadsword.

She raised the sword high, shouting, “Despicable men, prepare to die!”

Still grappling, Bao Kang and Lu Xiang turned simultaneously to see Long Zhentian looming, sword raised. Instinctively, each grabbed the other to use as a shield.

Long Zhentian swept her sword at them. Locked together, the two could only duck, and the blade sliced off patches of hair from their crowns.

Terrified, they clung to each other, screaming, “Help!”

Long Zhentian, frustrated by her failed strike, chased them down the alley, sword swinging. She cornered Lu Xiang and brought the blade down. Lu Xiang, eyes squeezed shut in terror, braced for the end.

At the last second, Lu Hehuan dashed in, shielding his father as the sword crashed down on his chest.

“Lu Hehuan!” Ying Xi shouted in horror.

Lu Hehuan kicked Long Zhentian back, knocking her to the ground. Lu Xiang, opening his eyes and seeing his son, rushed over.

“Son, are you alright?” Lu Xiang asked, worried.

Lu Hehuan looked at his slashed shirt, reached inside, and pulled out a battered gold axe amulet. He breathed a sigh of relief. “Mother saved me.”

Ying Xi relaxed too. “You scared the hell out of me!”

As they spoke, Long Zhentian charged Bao Kang with her sword. He screamed and ran.

Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi rushed to intercept, fighting her together. Every one of Long Zhentian’s blows was deadly.

A plainclothes officer lunged at her, but she slashed at his waist. With a cry, he staggered back and looked down to see his belt cut clean through. His trousers slipped to reveal bright floral boxers. Embarrassed, he yanked them up and fled.

Long Zhentian swung her sword at Lu Hehuan’s head, but he dodged nimbly. She swept the blade at Ying Xi’s waist, and he rolled aside. Again she attacked Lu Hehuan’s shoulder, and again he dodged, seizing the flat of the blade.

Locked in a struggle, Long Zhentian suddenly drew a dagger and stabbed at Lu Hehuan’s abdomen.