Yan Qing waited in the car for a short while before she saw someone descend the mansion’s front steps. The man was dressed in a dark blue-black house robe with a coat casually draped over his shoulders — it was Long Yunxiao himself, come to receive her.

Dihuai retrieved the wheelchair, helped Yan Qing into it, and pushed her to the gate.

Long Yunxiao’s men had already opened the entrance, and Long Yunxiao himself was watching Yan Qing with an expression she couldn’t quite read.

Before she could say a word, he smiled. “I know — no one visits without a reason.”

His self-deprecating humor put her at ease. She knew Long Yunxiao was a shrewd man; with shrewd people, there was no need to talk in circles.

“Come inside. It’s cold out, and not safe.” Long Yunxiao walked beside Yan Qing’s wheelchair, his gaze settling on her face. “What happened?”

Seeing that Shi Ting was not with her, he surmised he was probably away from Shun Cheng. Otherwise, if something had gone wrong, Yan Qing would likely have been with him — and even if she came to see Long Yunxiao, Shi Ting would surely have accompanied her. When it came to Yan Qing, Shi Ting was not a particularly broad-minded man. Long Yunxiao still remembered the little ordeal he’d been put through after the incident where he had rather presumptuously invited her to dine.

He found himself thinking: perhaps it was precisely because Shi Ting was away that she had come to him. Which meant that aside from Shi Ting, he was someone she trusted. That thought put a noticeable lightness in his step.

Inside the reception hall, Dihuai and the two guards in black took up their positions by the door. Dihuai, however, kept his attention sharply fixed on Yan Qing’s direction. He was wary of Long Yunxiao, every moment.

A servant brought tea, and Long Yunxiao personally poured a cup for Yan Qing.

Yan Qing had no mind for tea. Instead, she held out the badge she had been clutching in her palm. “Mr. Long, could you take a look at this and tell me what it means?”

Long Yunxiao reached out to accept it. The badge had been held in her hand so long it still carried a trace of her warmth. As he held it, he felt momentarily arrested by that small detail.

That warmth — unexpectedly soft.

He recovered himself quickly and held the badge up to the overhead light for a closer look. “This is a Xing Gang badge.”

Yan Qing nodded. It confirmed what Zheng Yun had said.

“And beyond that — what else can you tell?”

“This is the badge of Xing Gang’s Third Commandment Hall,” Long Yunxiao said. “The different branches of Xing Gang are distinguished by the skulls on their badges. This one has three skulls, each bound in chains — that marks it as the Third Commandment Hall, without question.”

“How significant is this Third Commandment Hall?”

Long Yunxiao turned the badge over in his hand. “The Third Commandment Hall is based on Qingyun Street. It has over a hundred members. Additionally, many of the dance halls and shops along Qingyun Street pass through their hands — and even those that aren’t their own operations fly under their banner.”

“Thank you, Mr. Long.” Yan Qing reached out to take the badge back. She had learned what she needed. Now she would have Zheng Yun focus the investigation on Xing Gang’s Third Commandment Hall.

Long Yunxiao did not immediately return the badge. Instead he asked, “What happened? How did you become entangled with Xing Gang?”

“My cousin went missing during the lantern fair, and my maid was gravely injured. This badge is what she was clutching in her hand, so I believe my cousin’s disappearance is connected to the Third Commandment Hall you mentioned.”

“Now that you know it was the Third Commandment Hall, what do you plan to do next?” He didn’t wait for her answer. “Go to the military police for help? You should know how things stand between the military police and the gangs. The gangs don’t answer to the military police. If the authorities tried to search the Third Commandment Hall’s premises, I can guarantee they wouldn’t get through the door.”

Long Yunxiao was not exaggerating. With Shi Ting present, things might have been different — even these people would have given him a measure of respect.

“And even if the military police managed to negotiate their way inside, can you be certain they’d find the person you’re looking for?”

Yan Qing frowned, turning his words over in her mind.

“Since you’ve come to my door, I’ll do this right and see it through to the end. I will help you find her.”

It was the last thing she had expected Long Yunxiao to say. Yan Qing looked at him with open surprise.

“It’s rare to see that expression on your face.” There was something in his look — a small, unmistakable flicker of satisfaction. “So even you can be caught off guard.”

Was that something to be proud of?

“You’re willing to help me?” Yan Qing still couldn’t quite believe what he had said. She had come to him only hoping to gather more information about Xing Gang. Knowing it was the Third Commandment Hall was already more than she had dared hope for.

“You helped me once. The matter of Shu Banxue — I’ve never had the chance to thank you properly.”

Yan Qing had sometimes wondered: if she had not uncovered the cause of Shu Banxue’s death, would Long Yue’s actions have ever come to light? He might have avoided all of it — the hiding, the flight — and perhaps he would not have died in the end.

But she was a forensic examiner. She could not lie. She would not.

Long Yunxiao held the badge and said, “I have informants inside the Third Commandment Hall. I’ll have them make discreet inquiries. As for the military police — tell them to hold off for now. Don’t spook anyone.”

If the gang was provoked into alarm, rescuing Wen Yan would become nearly impossible.

“How long will it take?” Yan Qing asked, not out of distrust, but because Wen Yan’s situation could not afford much delay. Thinking of what she might be enduring at this very moment left her feeling as though she were sitting on hot coals.

“I’ll make arrangements immediately. Word should come through quickly.” Long Yunxiao rose from his seat and placed the badge back in Yan Qing’s hand. His dark, deep-set eyes held hers for a moment. “Wait for me here.”

At this point, Yan Qing had no choice but to trust him.

Long Yunxiao changed quickly and left the mansion. A woman dressed as a household servant carried in a tray of pastries and snacks and set them on the tea table with a smile. “Please help yourself, Miss.”

Yan Qing had no appetite. She only stared blankly at those colorfully presented delicacies.

“Miss,” Dihuai came over quietly, “what do we do now?”

“There’s nothing else to do but wait for news from Long Yunxiao.”

Dihuai let out a quiet sigh. If Long Yunxiao was willing to help, that was the best possible outcome. No one knew Xing Gang better than he did. The feud between the Long Yun Society and Xing Gang had been going on for years — there would never be a reconciliation between them, for each side was bent on the other’s total destruction.

Yan Qing waited and watched the clock on the wall, the long and short hands moving with agonizing slowness. She had never felt time pass so heavily.

Shortly after eleven, the doors of the hall were pushed open. Long Yunxiao stepped inside still carrying the cold of the outdoors on his clothing.

“Any news?” Yan Qing asked, her eyes filled with urgency.

Long Yunxiao saw the expression in her eyes — hope placed entirely in his hands, the trust of someone who had given everything over to him.

Perhaps all men are susceptible to that particular satisfaction of being relied upon. Long Yunxiao felt his spirits lift considerably, and there was real confidence behind his words when he spoke. “Found her.”

Yan Qing’s face lit up. “You found Wen Yan?”

“Your cousin was indeed taken by the Third Commandment Hall, but she’s not being held at their main premises.” Long Yunxiao picked up his water glass and took a drink. “Earlier today, the Third Commandment Hall was carrying out an assassination. During the operation, your cousin stumbled upon them. They originally intended to eliminate her as a witness, but when they learned she came from a wealthy family, they decided to keep her alive and extract a ransom before doing away with her.”

At the words doing away with her, Yan Qing’s heart lurched. The hands resting on her lap curled involuntarily into fists.

“Where is Wen Yan now?”

“My people are still tracking her exact location. It’s only a matter of time.” Long Yunxiao said reassuringly, “I promise you — I will bring your cousin back safely.”

“Thank you.” It was all Yan Qing could manage to say.

“Will you stay and wait for more news, or…?”

“If there’s any update on my cousin, please have someone notify me, Mr. Long. I need to return to the Yan Mansion now — I dread to think what state things are in there.”

“Very well.” Long Yunxiao glanced at the clock. “I’ll have someone escort you home.”

“There’s no need, thank you.”

“I said I’d go the extra mile. There’s no need for formalities, Miss Yan.” As he said it, he was already heading for the door.

Yan Qing blinked. By that look of him, he intended to take her himself?

And indeed, Long Yunxiao personally saw Yan Qing all the way to her door. She thanked him once more and prepared to get out of the car.

“Miss Yan.” Long Yunxiao called out to her suddenly.

She turned her head. Moonlight fell across her serene, flawless face. Her lashes flickered faintly, as though waiting for him to continue.

Long Yunxiao paused — then shook his head. “Never mind. It’s nothing.”

Yan Qing found it peculiar, but said nothing. She accepted Dihuai’s support and stepped out of the car.

“Miss Yan — your leg has healed?” The sudden question stopped Yan Qing mid-step, her back going rigid.

She didn’t know how he had seen it. But a man who occupied the position he did naturally possessed powers of observation beyond the ordinary.

When Yan Qing didn’t answer immediately, Long Yunxiao gave a soft laugh. “I’ll keep it secret.”

He waited until Yan Qing had passed through the gate before lowering his eyes, his expression thoughtful.

“Mr. Long, what’s the plan from here?”

“Keep searching. Once she’s found, we let it be known that Miss Wen is my cousin. The Third Commandment Hall still owes me a debt from last time — and I’ve been waiting for an excuse to settle it.”

Black Snake reflected privately that whatever Long Yunxiao said, he was in truth worried the whole affair might land at Miss Yan’s doorstep. Otherwise, what excuse would he ever need to put Xing Gang in its place?

Long Yunxiao finished speaking, then turned his gaze back toward the gate of the Shi Family residence. His eyes grew distant, deep, and unreadable.

—