Love on the Turquoise Land

Lao Dao parked the car a bit farther away but at a vantage point where the entire Grand Cherokee was clearly visible.

He described the scene to Xing Shen: “The car’s parked at the hotel entrance, but the driver hasn’t gotten out. Probably waiting to pick someone up.”

Then, puzzled, he added, “Shen-ge, if you can’t smell anything, then it’s not a Dixiao… So why the hell is Mazha so jumpy?”

By now, Mazha had quieted down, likely sensing that the relative distance was fixed and the target was nearby—it clung to the right window, its thin, bony back rising and falling slightly with each breath.

Xing Shen said, “I don’t know, but there must be a reason.”

Lao Dao was about to say something else when a phone rang.

He checked his own phone first—the screen was dark, clearly not his—then realized it was Xing Shen’s. He quickly grabbed it from the cupholder in the center console, glanced at the screen, and turned back. “Shen-ge, it’s Jiang Shu.”

Xing Shen nodded. “Answer it.”

Lao Dao tapped the answer button and handed the phone over.

Xing Shen’s eyes could handle ordinary daily tasks, but being blind still came with plenty of inconveniences. For most people, their phones were indispensable morning and night, but for him, it was more of a hindrance—he could manage calls but could barely make out anything on the screen. So most of the time, his phone stayed with someone nearby.

Lao Dao couldn’t hear the conversation, but judging by Xing Shen’s expression, it wasn’t good news.

Sure enough, after hanging up, Xing Shen frowned. “Jiang Shu says the three people sent to Nanba Natou have lost contact.”

Lao Dao was caught off guard. “What? When… when did this happen?”

“They were supposed to check in at 8 a.m., 2 p.m., and 8 p.m. The last contact was at 8 p.m. last night. They didn’t answer this morning, but they thought it might’ve been a signal issue or equipment failure. Just past 2 p.m., still no contact. It’s safe to assume something’s wrong.”

Lao Dao couldn’t believe it. “But one of them was from the Gou family.”

In his view—and everyone else’s—having a Gou family member around was the safest bet. When danger approached, they could smell it coming and take precautions. The three-person team had been sent to gather intel, already cautious by nature, and with a Gou family member as backup, it was double security. How could they just vanish without a trace?

Xing Shen’s expression darkened. “Maybe they didn’t run into Dixiao. Maybe it was Changgui.”

Changgui?

Lao Dao gritted his teeth in frustration. Changgui—those were practically traitors, damn near impossible to guard against. No matter how terrifying Dixiao were, they had a distinct smell, making them easy to identify. People bitten or scratched by Dixiao who couldn’t be cured would go mad, behaving like beasts, and that was obvious from a distance. But Changgui? They looked exactly like humans, striking from behind without warning.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that over the centuries, more Chantou Army members had been lost to Changgui than to Dixiao. To make an inappropriate analogy: the enemy was hateful, but traitors were even worse. That was why the Chantou Army’s stance had always been: Dixiao could be subdued, but Changgui were to be killed on sight.

Meaning, Dixiao could be captured and used, but Changgui? No mercy.

But that was in ancient times. Try killing a Changgui now? In the eyes of the world, that’d just be murder.

…

Movement from the Grand Cherokee.Someone came out of the lobby, greeted the Jeep driver, then opened the trunk themselves and loaded the luggage inside.

To the uninformed, it would just look like a ride-hailing pickup—a scene that plays out a hundred times a day at hotel entrances.

But Lao Dao's blood rushed to his head, his teeth gritting as he spat out, "Shen-ge, it's that accomplice, Yan Tuo."

Yan Tuo received the call and hurriedly packed his things before heading downstairs.

Just as he stepped out of the hotel lobby, he saw Xiong Hei waving at him from the car.

Yan Tuo went straight over, stowed his luggage, then circled back to take the passenger seat. "Why the sudden relocation?"

Xiong Hei said, "Sister Lin thought it over and still wasn't comfortable leaving you alone at the hotel. She asked me to take you to A Peng's place."

A Peng was Xiong Hei's lackey.

Yan Tuo gave an absentminded hum.

It was difficult to work for Lin Xirou because she didn't lack people. She had operated for so long that everything ran smoothly and systematically. Even if he sharpened himself into a needle, he couldn't penetrate this seamless iron plate.

And he couldn't arouse her suspicion or vigilance: Why not just live comfortably as the carefree young master you are? Why suddenly offer to help me? Why this keen interest in my affairs? What's your goal?

He was alone, with only one body to spare—no room for failure. Everything had to appear natural and reasonable. He couldn't be a needle; he had to be like unnoticed moisture or water stains, slowly clinging to the iron plate, taking root as rust, layer by layer, corroding inward.

Only when Lin Xirou grew as accustomed to his constant presence as breathing, only when she instinctively included him when counting her "trusted aides," could he gradually advance his infiltration.

Around Lin Xirou, he avoided taking initiative. Like that night at the farm—if she didn't call for him, he stayed put in the car. But around people like Xiong Hei, he deliberately acted eager and ambitious, seeking their unconscious or intentional nudges.

Last time, when Lin Xirou took her people into the mountains, she left him on the periphery to handle pickups.

This time, he was still kept on the outskirts, but she sent someone to fetch him—to A Peng's place. Though A Peng wasn't exactly a core figure either, he was still closer to the secrets than Yan Tuo.

So, he was making progress. He needed to be even more careful now.

As the car started, Yan Tuo cracked the window slightly, gazing at the sliver of blue sky through the gap.

Today, he had added Nie Jiuluo as a friend, and Lin Xirou had sent someone to pick him up.

On the surface, they were small things.

But it had taken him seven years to reach this point.

Xiong Hei was in high spirits, steering with one hand while tapping his thigh with the other, humming a tune.

Yan Tuo glanced at him. "Is Lü Xian at A Peng's place too?"

From his observations, "A Peng's place" functioned as a logistics and backup hub, with Lü Xian often around—and where Lü Xian was needed, it usually meant fighting or injuries lay ahead.

Xiong Hei nodded. "Good company for you."

He knew his underlings were all of the "thug" variety, while Lü Xian and Yan Tuo were around the same age and background—both "scholarly" types from university, with more in common.

Yan Tuo kept the conversation going. "Tomorrow's the 8th. Are we really giving that cripple back to them?"

Xiong Hei scoffed. "What do you think?"

Yan Tuo: "I doubt it."Xiong Hei slapped his thigh. "Of course not. Come on, even kidnappers demand ransom before returning hostages, and we haven’t even made any conditions yet—handing over Crippled Father on the eighth? Use your brain, that’s impossible."

Yan Tuo asked, "What conditions do you want to propose?"

Xiong Hei knew when to keep his mouth shut. "Well, that depends on Sister Lin’s decision... Oh damn, this is interesting."

He suddenly stared into the side rearview mirror, subtly licking his lips.

Yan Tuo frowned. "What’s wrong?"

Xiong Hei said, "There’s a car... Hold on, let me change lanes."

Originally planning to go straight, he swerved the car and turned, not to circle around but to switch destinations, choosing a deliberately winding route.

After driving for another fifteen minutes, Xiong Hei’s expression darkened completely as he watched the rearview mirror. His face was already dark, so the change was especially noticeable.

Yan Tuo, reading his expression, had a rough idea. "Someone’s tailing us?"

Xiong Hei gestured at the mirror. "Normally, I wouldn’t even notice, but this car got cursed at by another driver earlier—I remember it. It even cut me off and sped past me. So why is it still glued to my tail now?"

It couldn’t just be coincidence. If it was coincidental before, how could it still be after changing routes? Did it develop feelings for us?

Yan Tuo thought for a moment. "Could they be after me? I was caught by Banya’s people before—they’ve seen my face."

Xiong Hei doubted it. "No, they spotted me first. Here’s the plan, Yan Tuo..."

He tapped a spot on the car’s GPS display. "I remember this area is pretty remote, with a stretch of reeds. The nearby villages have long been abandoned. Let’s act natural, pretend we don’t know we’re being followed, and figure out who they’re after—I’ll drop you off here, then keep driving ahead. We’ll stay in touch."

"If the car follows me, I’ll send you A Peng’s address, and you can go on your own. If it stops tailing me and goes after you, I’ll circle back. That area’s deserted—good for handling things. You got a gun? If not, I’ve got one here."

Yan Tuo sighed inwardly. Just sitting peacefully in a car, and trouble finds us again.

He nodded. "I’ve got mine. Let’s do it."

In the distance ahead lay a stretch of withered reeds. The weather was cold but not cold enough—the marsh wasn’t fully frozen, only a few thin sheets of ice floating symbolically on the water.

Further away stood a few dilapidated houses, scattered haphazardly—clearly abandoned, most of their roofs already collapsed.

Nightfall was pressing in, with only a sliver of twilight lingering at the horizon where day met night.

Lao Dao’s unease grew stronger, and he voiced it to Xing Shen: tailing a car was easier in the city, where traffic, roads, and crowds provided natural cover. But on rural roads like these, it was as obvious as spotting lice on a bald head.

He suspected their target was already on alert.

The safest move now was to overtake quickly and vanish, avoiding both conflict and exposure. But neither he nor Xing Shen could stomach it: Hua Saozi was dead, Crippled Father was missing, and the three-person team from Nanba Houtou had gone silent—five people unaccounted for, alive or dead. Finally running into someone from the other side, they couldn’t let the chance slip. Even catching one was better than having nothing at all.Lao Dao's throat felt dry: "Shen Ge, what's the plan?"

They couldn't follow all the way—if the other side had already noticed and was trying to lure them into a trap, it would be dangerous.

Xing Shen asked, "What's the situation around here?"

Lao Dao: "It's dark, no one around. Just a rural reed marsh with a few abandoned houses. Shen Ge, you're not thinking of... intercepting them by force, are you?"

He felt uneasy about a direct confrontation. The dog family's noses were unmatched, but they weren't good at fighting. It would be up to him, one against two. If the opponents were ordinary people, it might be manageable, but the driver was built like an iron tower—even one-on-one would be tough.

Xing Shen said, "Scared? Don’t forget we have Mazha."

Lao Dao was cautious: "Shen Ge, maybe I should inform Jiang Shu and see if anyone’s nearby—if we fail, having backup would be helpful."

Nothing in this world was guaranteed. Xing Shen grunted in agreement: "Do as you see fit."

As he spoke, he bent down, placing a hand on Mazha’s neck and whispering instructions into its hooded head.

Lao Dao multitasked—first sending their location, then quickly updating Jiang Baichuan via voice message while accelerating to catch up. Just as he sent the message, he noticed something ahead: the car had pulled over and let Yan Tuo out.

He immediately alerted Xing Shen: "That Yan Tuo got out. Looks like they're splitting up. Who do we... intercept?"

Xing Shen: "Why choose? Take them both."

Steeling himself, Lao Dao slammed the accelerator, swerving sharply to block the Grand Cherokee’s path before it could start moving again.

Darkness fell swiftly—in what seemed like an instant, the only light came from the faint glimmer of thin ice in the reeds. Neither car had its lights on, like two beasts silently sizing each other up in the dark, tension thick in the air.

Xiong Hei never expected the other side would dare to intercept them so brazenly before his plan could even unfold.

A car full of idiots—did they think he was raised on vegetables?

At first, he found it amusing. Then, a surge of aggression rose from his chest. He remained seated, lowering his voice to speak to Yan Tuo, who stood by the car door: "Yan Tuo, you go ahead. I’ll handle this."

Yan Tuo replied softly, "Xiong Ge, we’re in this together. Let’s stick with the plan."

Xiong Hei said, "You’ll just get in the way. I can lose an arm or a leg—no big deal. Can you? If you get hurt, Sister Lin will blame me again. Move it—when I turn on the lights, use the darkness to slip away. We’ll meet up later."

Yan Tuo didn’t argue further, only reminding him, "Xiong Ge, try to go easy."

At the same time, in Lao Dao’s car, Jiang Baichuan’s call came through. Lao Dao immediately put it on speaker.

Jiang Baichuan’s voice was low and urgent: "Xing Shen? Don’t—we don’t know their strength yet. Absolutely don’t make the first move—"

Before he could finish, the opposing car’s engine roared to life, its headlights blazing so brightly it was blinding. Before Lao Dao could react, there was a deafening BANG —the Grand Cherokee rammed straight into the side of their car. And it didn’t stop there. At full throttle, the Grand Cherokee plowed forward like a bulldozer, forcing Lao Dao’s car to skid toward the nearby reed marsh.

Jiang Baichuan shouted, "Xing Shen! Lao Dao!"The car jolted violently, sending the phone tumbling under the seats. No one had time to respond. Lao Dao gritted his teeth, trying to restart the engine. But his vehicle was no match for the larger one in size, and whether it was due to the earlier collision or not, the tires spun uselessly—the car simply wouldn’t start.

Lao Dao felt his entire body burning up, sweat trickling down his spine.

Then Xing Shen spoke: "Stay calm. Let’s play weak, let him get reckless first."

Night fell early in the north, and as soon as darkness descended, the temperature plummeted. Add a gust of wind, and even dogs would rather curl up in their dens than venture outside.

Nie Jiuluo opened the just-delivered takeout and pulled out a box of needles from inside.

She had tipped the delivery guy extra to pick them up on his way.

The box was packed full, the needles gleaming silver as they clinked together. These days, fewer and fewer people knew how to handle a needle and thread. In a few years, they might as well be antiques.

Nie Jiuluo twisted the opening of the box slightly ajar and shook out a single needle.

Holding it between her right fingers, she studied her left hand, as if gauging the best spot to prick. Finally, she averted her gaze and relied on instinct, lightly piercing the base of her thumb.

When she looked back, a tiny bead of blood had already welled at the tip.

That was enough. Nie Jiuluo smeared the blood along the length of the needle, then sucked briefly at the puncture before pulling out the dagger she carried with her. She rubbed the needle horizontally against the blade, back and forth, as if sharpening it.

After a while, she held the needle up to inspect it.

Yan Tuo had asked her if there was any discreet way to make Gou Ya sleep longer.

There was. This needle was it.

Tomorrow was the eighth—they might have to relocate. Best to hand it over to Yan Tuo tonight.

She set the needle on the table and picked up her phone, opening the "Burn After Reading" app.

Her contacts list now had two names: "Natou" and "Small Fry."

Just as Nie Jiuluo was about to tap one, the phone buzzed twice in quick succession—two messages from "Natou."

She opened the first one.

It was a screenshot of a location map, with a red circle marking the center. The name of the place stuck in her mind instantly. From the image, it wasn’t too far from the city—less than an hour’s drive.

Then she opened the second message.

—Nie Er, Xing Shen encountered the enemy here. Currently out of contact. You’re the closest. Move fast!

A third message came in.

—Emergency! Priority is Xing Shen.

Nie Jiuluo tossed the phone aside. Rising to her feet, she ran both hands through her hair, swiftly gathering it into a high ponytail.

Time for her to step in.