Hearing Chen Chuan's words, Cheng Zitong looked thoroughly delighted. "Exactly! That's why I say you're a born intuitive!"
Chen Chuan smiled and continued flipping through the files in his hands.
Cheng Zitong seemed a bit parched; he picked up the water on the desk and took a sip, then pointed at the papers. "The client's request is to capture a Child in the Well. The pay is relatively high, there's no competition for it, and it isn't dangerous. While you still have some time, why don't you try your hand at this first?"
*It seems there's more than one of them,* Chen Chuan thought. *And who knows if it really is the creature from legends? I'll find out once I see it for myself.*
He was indeed intensely intrigued by things like this.
Even though he could only take action at night, he still needed to scout the location during the day. After all, the dossier was several years old, and there was no telling whether conditions remained the same; he had to verify things in person.
Since the next day was a rest day, once he made up his mind, he spent the evening in his dorm room planning his supplies and fine-tuning his approach. After a light training session, he went to bed when the hour grew late.
The next morning, he first made a trip to his aunt's house. He borrowed one of Nian Fuli's wristwatches from his aunt, retrieved the bicycle he had left there, bought a few tools outside, and set off riding north toward the city's outskirts.
After riding for about three quarters of an hour, he arrived at the old district in the north of the city.
He wasn't entirely unfamiliar with this area; his predecessor's parents had owned a suburban house further north from here, and that was also where his predecessor had lost his life.
Not knowing what had caused his predecessor's death, he had avoided going back there ever since, steering clear of any unnecessary danger.
Many buildings around here were ancient. Some were more than sixty years old, pre-dating the founding of the Republic of Great Shun, with a history spanning well over a century. In truth, this area was the former Old Yangzhi Town; only after the Great Expansion was the new Yangzhi City established as a logistics hub.
From the northwest of Yangzhi City to the suburbs, including Mount Zhang and other towns to the north, everything belonged to the Iron Chain Gang's territory. The Blood Mark Gang's domain, on the other hand, lay mostly in the city's bustling center. The northern district served as a buffer zone, home to dozens of gangs both large and small. The locals here were quite conservative and traditional, out of step with the rest of the city.
Considering the complex situation and the fact that he would be staying until nightfall, he brought along his constabulary satchel. In a place like this, the identity of a Wuyi student might not carry as much weight as having ties to the constabulary.
Following the map and checking the landmarks against their corresponding dates, he cross-referenced his way along and successfully found the well where the Child in the Well might have passed through the previous night. But upon arriving, he discovered that it had already dried up.
Since the Child in the Well only surfaced in old wells with water, it could not possibly have appeared here. It must have emerged from another well nearby the night before, which meant the entire sequence shifted back. He rode away on his bicycle, deciding to check the next old well.
Shortly after he left, three or four men dressed like gang members stepped out from a nearby house. One lackey asked, "Brother Tian, could that kid have been sent by the constabulary?"
Brother Tian snapped, "He had such a big satchel on him—you think I'm blind?"
"What do we do then? Those grey dogs from the constabulary have sharp noses. Tonight's deal..."
Brother Tian said impatiently, "What else can we do? The arrangements are already made, so we can't cancel. We'll just have to switch locations. Go give them word to move it up as early as possible so nothing goes sideways. And round up more brothers so we can handle whatever comes up."
"Understood, Brother Tian."
Chen Chuan searched further down the trail. Fortunately, according to the map, the next well wasn't far from the previous one. Sure enough, after barely three hundred meters, he found another one—and it was still in use. Having confirmed this spot, the subsequent well was likely where the Child in the Well would appear tonight.
He rode east for about half a li and found a well with a relatively large stone curb.
This was a sizeable open clearing bearing signs of years of washing and cleaning. Residential houses surrounded it, flanked by two narrow access alleys; it was evidently shared by multiple households. A windlass stood over the well with a bucket tied to it, looking well-used. That would make drawing water convenient for him.
After surveying the terrain and considering his options, he decided to give it a try tonight; if it didn't work out, he would rethink his plan tomorrow. Mind made up, he rode off and found a nearby boxing hall, where he worked out to pass the time.
Come nightfall in this area, the biggest trouble came from the various gangs. Most shops closed early; only boxing halls remained open, hosting ring matches that gang members joined openly or covertly. That gave him a place to wait until the right time.
He stayed there until about half past eight in the evening. Seeing that it was almost time, he left the boxing hall. As soon as he stepped outside, the clamor of the hall vanished. The street was dead quiet, save for branches bearing withered leaves that stretched overhead and swayed in the breeze. The streetlights below were lit, but pedestrians were virtually nowhere to be seen.
He adjusted the brim of his cap, retrieved his bicycle, and rode toward the well.
Five or six minutes later, he neared the alley entrance leading to the well, lit only by a lone streetlamp. Just then, he noticed a man walking toward him from across the street.
The man looked sturdy, wearing a face mask and a flat cap. He had been walking briskly, but upon spotting Chen Chuan coming from across the street—and seemingly noticing the satchel—he paused for a fraction of a second, pulled his cap lower, and hurried off down a side fork.
From the man's gait and build alone, Chen Chuan could tell he was trained, quite possibly a gang member. But that had nothing to do with him. He dismounted and pushed his bicycle into the alley. Because the lighting inside was dim, he switched on a flashlight to light the way.
Yet he had only walked a short distance when his steps slowed. Right by the clearing around the well stood seven or eight fierce-looking bruisers. Every one of them had a cigarette dangling from his lips and carried bludgeons or daggers. Someone shone a flashlight straight at him, making him narrow his eyes.
"Brother Tian, that's the kid from earlier today!"
Brother Tian snapped angrily, "Kid, I knew you were trouble this afternoon. I moved all the way over here and still couldn't shake you. I wasn't looking to get rough, but you just wouldn't quit haunting us. Blame your own rotten luck!"
Chen Chuan sighed softly. "It's hard to say whose luck is worse."
Brother Tian roared, "Get him!"
Chen Chuan gently leaned his bicycle against the wall, took off his cap, tossed it into the basket, and strode forward, rolling his shoulders and wrists as he advanced.
A club swung toward him. Tilting his head slightly aside, he braced an open palm against the attacker's chest. Without appearing to exert much force, he sent the man flying backward, knocking down several men behind him.
By now he had stepped into the clearing. A man hiding to the side thrust a dagger toward his waist. Chen Chuan simply pivoted and brought his foot down hard on the man's shin. With a sickening crack, the man crumpled to the ground, screaming and clutching his broken leg as he rolled in agony.
Another man rushed him from behind with a raised bludgeon. Turning, Chen Chuan raised a hand, deftly caught the wooden stick, and thrust it downward into the man's chest. The wooden club snapped with a loud crack, and the man collapsed sideways, clutching his chest in silent, excruciating pain.
The remaining gang members froze instantly, shrinking back. Was this a joke? Anyone could see this guy was a seasoned fighter. Going up against him was asking for a beatdown.
Seeing no one dared move, Brother Tian found himself backed into a corner. Gritting his teeth, he raised his machete and charged, hacking down toward Chen Chuan's head.
Yet before the blade could descend, darkness consumed his vision, and he knew no more.
All the lackeys saw was their boss charging in, only to take a kick directly to the head from Chen Chuan. He flew sideways through the air and hit the ground, lying motionless.
At that point, none of them dared linger. Dropping their weapons, they abandoned their boss and scrambled down an alley as fast as their legs could carry them.
Chen Chuan paid them no heed. He had already wasted enough time and could afford no more delays.
He walked over to the well, took hold of the windlass handle, and turned it. But as soon as he cranked it, something felt off; the weight below seemed too light. After a moment's thought, he kept hauling it up. When the bucket surfaced, he found several sealed plastic packages stuffed inside. Reaching in, he could feel what seemed to be box-shaped items.
He pondered for a moment. *Are these... drugs?*
Chapter 69