Chapter 183: Ow—Knocked Out
At this moment, Nan Xun really wanted to smash the other man’s head in. Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to expose an undercover agent in public? Damn it—where’s your professional ethics?!
Nan Xun’s first instinct was to look at Yan Luo.
Yan Luo was staring straight at him. His eyes widened at the thunderbolt of a revelation, pupils contracting sharply. Then those eyes reddened, veins bursting with bloodshot fury. The rage of betrayal surged from the depths of his gaze—cataclysmic, world-ending.
Little Eight cursed, “We’re screwed. The big boss’s darkening value just shot straight up to 100!”
“Brother, listen to me—this isn’t how it looks. I didn’t tip anyone off, really not me…” Nan Xun was on the verge of tears.
All the brothers glared at Nan Xun with hatred, as if they wanted to tear him to pieces.
So the traitor really was this little bastard!
Yan Luo didn’t look at Nan Xun. He suddenly sneered at Captain Zhao. “Officer, on what charge are you arresting me? I’m just doing a bit of porcelain business with an old friend. What—doing business is illegal now?”
Captain Zhao’s expression changed. He snapped his gaze to the contents of the crate.
“Captain Zhao, they’re all fake!” a policeman exclaimed.
Yan Luo raised a brow and looked toward the American partner, who was clearly shaken. “My old partner likes celadon, so he bought some high-quality replicas from me to collect.”
Captain Zhao’s face turned iron-blue. “If it’s just a simple trade in replica celadon, why all the secrecy? And why would this American friend pay in cash instead of transferring funds?”
Yan Luo replied unhurriedly, “Oh, that? I asked for it. I happened to need a sum of cash lately to reward my brothers, so I had him pay in cash. Officer, you don’t think I’m trafficking national cultural relics, do you? As a citizen, how could I do something that harms national interests?”
Captain Zhao was furious. He’d received an informant’s tip that Yan Luo would personally move a batch of cultural relics today, which was why he’d brought so many people—special forces included—for a full encirclement. And yet it was all for nothing. Worse, the informant had been exposed.
That’s right—Captain Zhao had always believed the informant was Su Mobai. The previous tips had been him too.
Unwilling to accept it, Captain Zhao unlocked everyone’s handcuffs, then pulled Nan Xun behind him.
Yan Luo glanced at the two of them with mockery and didn’t stop it.
Inside, Nan Xun whimpered, Little Eight, I think I’m done for. The way the big boss looked at me just now—it was like he wanted to blow my head off.
Little Eight sounded equally dejected. “Yan Luo hates traitors more than anything. It’s over—really. Forget clearing malice points. If he gives you a quick death, that’d be mercy.”
Nan Xun followed Captain Zhao away in a daze. He looked back once—Yan Luo’s face was dark, hatred roiling in his eyes.
Damn it. This is really the end.
Nan Xun suddenly felt as if needles were being driven into his heart—sharp pain, and a deep sense of grievance.
His brother really seemed to hate him now.
After the police left, Yan Luo dismissed all the brothers clamoring for revenge, keeping only Ji He.
The air fell silent. The two faced each other for a long time without speaking.
Ji He broke the suffocating stillness first, speaking with certainty. “You already knew.”
He had leaked the information—and Yan Luo had deliberately fed him the false message.
Yan Luo looked at him coldly, his hand unconsciously clenching into a fist. “What was in that crate—I told only you. Even Xiao Bai didn’t know.”
Ji He said nothing.
“Ji He, you betrayed my trust.” Yan Luo’s gaze turned vicious. He suddenly drew a silenced pistol from his waist and aimed it straight at Ji He’s forehead.
Ji He didn’t dodge—no fear crossed his face. He met Yan Luo’s eyes openly, the corners of his mouth lifting in a smile that looked like relief at last. “The moment I accepted the undercover assignment, I never expected to make it back alive. Kill me. Let this end between us. Only… Xiao Bai is a good kid. I hope you’ll spare him.”
Yan Luo’s eyes flared red. He roared, “Shut up! What’s between Xiao Bai and me is none of your business!”
But Ji He kept going. “Xiao Bai was tricked by Captain Zhao into this line of work. He’s not a cop—just an ordinary person. He’s done nothing to betray you. I did everything.”
“I said shut up!” Yan Luo pulled the trigger, shooting Ji He in the right shoulder.
Ji He clutched the bleeding wound, pain forcing him down to the floor, yet he still finished what he needed to say. “Xiao Bai can’t go back with you. Even if he isn’t a cop, he is an undercover. Your brothers won’t let him live. Yan Luo—don’t look for him again. You’ll ruin him.”
Yan Luo’s eyes burned with rage. “He can forget it! In this lifetime, he’s not leaving my side. Even if it’s death—he dies in front of me!”
With that, Yan Luo fired again, this time into Ji He’s right leg. His voice was cold and chilling. “When I was out of prison those two-plus months, you took care of Xiao Bai. For that, I won’t kill you today. But from now on, if we meet again, it’s either you die—or I do.”
Ji He pressed on his bleeding wounds, watching Yan Luo’s furious figure recede.
Just as Su Mobai acknowledged only Yan Luo, Yan Luo acknowledged only Su Mobai. From beginning to end, Ji He had never been able to wedge himself between them.
Given Yan Luo’s nature, he would never let a traitor like Su Mobai go.
Xiao Bai… sorry. Second Brother can’t help you. Ji He sighed inwardly.
Because retaliation against police—especially undercovers—happened often, Captain Zhao took Su Mobai to his own home and asked his wife to look after him.
Captain Zhao was riddled with regret. He’d cuffed everyone at the scene and assumed they were all looking at solid prison time, so he hadn’t bothered hiding Su Mobai’s undercover identity anymore. Who knew… sigh.
Mrs. Zhao saw how clean-cut the kid was and, after hearing about the undercover work, scolded Captain Zhao thoroughly. She was especially kind to Su Mobai.
However, only three days after the last raid, on a pitch-dark, blustery night, the Zhao family’s security door was pried open. When Mrs. Zhao saw the tall, grim-faced man, she screamed—but the sound died in her throat as the intruder chopped her neck, knocking her out cold.
Nan Xun didn’t resist. He looked at the man innocently. “Brother, let’s make a deal—I’ll go with you. Don’t knock me out.”
The next second, pain exploded at his neck, his vision went black.
Yan Luo knocked him out.
