chsdbacks Chapter 218 Conversation with the Local Bully
Chapter 218 Conversation with the Local Bully
"Sit down, sit down, don't be shy." Yan Ben gestured for him to sit, then changed the subject, "However, Boss Lin, finding someone can't be rushed; it takes time. You're new here and unfamiliar with Mengla, so just waiting like this won't be pleasant. How about this, I'll have someone arrange accommodation for you at the guesthouse behind my 'Benlong Pavilion'—clean and safe. Settle in first. I'll let you know as soon as I have any news. Also…"
He paused, a knowing smile spreading across his face. "Since you're in Mengla, don't let the trip be in vain. We may not have much else here, but we have plenty of stones. The lobby downstairs is where I run my little business: gambling on stones. If Boss Lin is interested, why not go down and have a go? A little gambling is harmless, after all. If you're lucky, you might find a good piece. Maybe that will cover your travel expenses to find the boss, and also pay the brothers for their hard work, haha!"
This is to make them "show their appreciation," and at the same time, it's a test—to test their financial resources, and... whether they are "sensible."
Nie Lingfeng understood. He hesitated and struggled on his face, but finally, as if he had made up his mind, he gritted his teeth, took out a bulging envelope from his backpack (actually a fanny pack), placed it on the tea tray, and pushed it in front of Yan Ben.
"Brother Yanben, this is just a small token of our appreciation. Consider it money for cigarettes for the brothers and to cover our lodgings. We'll leave the finding of people entirely to you! As for jade gambling... we don't know much about it. We'll go take a look and learn more once we're settled in."
The envelope wasn't thick, but it contained a solid, brand-new 10,000 RMB. This was part of the "seed capital" provided by "Eagle" to deal with this situation.
Yan Ben glanced at the thickness of the envelope, his smile becoming more genuine. Without any hesitation, he gently pushed the envelope towards the desk drawer with his thick hand, laughing heartily, "Boss Lin, you're too kind! Don't worry, I'll take care of your brother's matter! A-Chang, take Boss Lin and his sister to the guesthouse in the back and arrange the best rooms for them! Treat them well!"
"Yes!" Achang quickly replied and gestured for Nie Lingfeng to proceed.
Nie Lingfeng thanked him again, then took Chen Duo's hand and followed Achang out of Yan Ben's office.
Walking calmly down the carpeted, quiet corridor, Nie Lingfeng's gaze remained composed. The first step had been taken successfully. Using Feng Zhenghao's business card and the pretext of "searching for his brother," they had successfully made contact with the local tyrant, Yan Ben, and obtained temporary protection and "assistance." Although this assistance came at a price, and Yan Ben was by no means a benevolent person, at least they now had a relatively safe place to stay and a channel for gathering information.
Next, he needs to use this identity and his relationship with Yanben to secretly investigate the truth behind "Nammu Cave" and the disappearance of people. At the same time, he must be careful of the old fox Yanben's schemes, as well as... that terrifying "thing" hidden underground in the town, which is awakening or gestating.
"Boss Lin, this way please. The guesthouse is just behind, a secluded courtyard, very quiet and absolutely safe." Achang led the way solicitously, saying repeatedly, "Don't worry, in Mengla, anyone under the protection of our Boss Yanben is safe and sound! You and your sister can stay here with peace of mind!"
Chen Duo followed closely beside Nie Lingfeng, her small hand tightly gripping the hem of his clothes. Only after Achang had walked a few steps away did she tiptoe to Nie Lingfeng's ear and whisper in a low voice, audible only to the two of them:
"That fat boss... he has a 'stinky' smell on him. It's faint, but it's a bit like the smell in the jar that old man in the teahouse has." She wrinkled her little nose and added, "And the way he looks at me... I don't like it."
Nie Lingfeng's eyes narrowed slightly, and he gently squeezed her hand to indicate that he understood.
Does Yan Ben smell like the kind of exorcism items made by Ajarn Ki? Is it a talisman he obtained himself? Or... is he also connected to the events at "Nammu Cave"? And the way he looks at Chen Duo... is probably more than just assessing "value".
This town of Mengla is indeed like a pool of muddy water that appears calm on the surface but is turbulent underneath, harboring countless treacherous waters.
And they have already stepped into these murky waters.
Behind "Benlong Pavilion" lies a "guesthouse," which is less a guesthouse and more a self-contained, small garden-style complex enclosed by high walls and electric fences. Passing through a guarded side gate, the view opens up dramatically. A winding gravel path winds through the area, flanked by meticulously manicured tropical plants and bonsai, and even a small pond with a few koi. Several two-story buildings with white walls and gray tiles, exhibiting a distinctly antique style, are scattered throughout the garden. The environment is indeed much quieter and safer than the noisy and chaotic town outside—at least the visible security is more than doubled.
Achang led Nie Lingfeng and Chen Duo to one of the innermost and quietest buildings, and opened a suite on the east side of the first floor.
"Mr. Lin, Ms. Lin, this room is reserved for our esteemed guests. Inside is the bedroom, and outside is a small living room. There's a separate bathroom and shower. Hot water is available 24 hours a day, and the sheets and blankets are all freshly changed. If you need anything, just press the bell by the bed, and someone will be there to assist you at any time," Ah Chang said solicitously as he opened the door.
The room was indeed nice. Although the decor still had that nouveau riche "luxury" feel—mahogany furniture, embroidered screens, and gaudy "flowers symbolizing wealth and prosperity" paintings on the walls—it was spacious, clean, and fully equipped. The window faced the bamboo grove in the backyard, making it very secluded.
"Thank you for your trouble, Brother Chang." Nie Lingfeng nodded and placed his luggage (mainly the slightly worn travel backpack) on a chair in the living room.
"No trouble at all! Mr. Lin, Miss Lin, please rest first. Should I have dinner delivered to your room, or...?" Ah Chang asked.
Nie Lingfeng glanced at Chen Duo. From morning until now, she had only eaten a bowl of rice noodle soup and half a fried dough stick. After being jostled on the mountain road for so long, she was probably starving. Moreover, given her personality, she probably wanted to go out and "see" this unfamiliar border town.
"Let's just go out and grab something to eat later, no need to bother the kitchen," Nie Lingfeng said.
"Alright! Our night market in Mong La does have some unique features! I won't bother you any longer, you can rest first!" Ah Chang tactfully withdrew and closed the door behind him.
Only Nie Lingfeng and Chen Duo remained in the room. Chen Duo immediately placed the panda doll on the sofa in the living room, and then, like a bird just released from its cage, curiously circled the room, touching the mahogany table, looking at the embroidered screen, and then running to the window, standing on tiptoe to look at the bamboo forest outside, her bright green eyes full of wonder.
"Nie Lingfeng, this place... is prettier than where we stayed before," she commented, then, remembering something, she touched her stomach, her face falling, "But... I'm hungry."
Nie Lingfeng chuckled, glanced at the time—it was past four in the afternoon. "Let's rest for a bit, and then we'll go out to find something to eat when it gets a little dark. It should be quite lively here at night."
"Okay!" Chen Duo nodded immediately, then sat down on the sofa, hugging her doll and looking at Nie Lingfeng expectantly, her eyes clearly saying, "Hurry up and it gets dark, hurry up and go find something delicious." (☆▽☆)
Nie Lingfeng walked to the window, seemingly admiring the bamboo forest, but in reality, his senses were quietly spreading out, checking the room inside and out. He didn't find any obvious surveillance or eavesdropping devices, but he could sense that there were at least four or five guards around the small building, some overt and some covert. Yan Ben's "care," or rather, "surveillance," of them was quite thorough.
He withdrew his senses, walked over and sat down next to Chen Duo, lowering his voice: "Chen Duo, remember, here, my name is Lin Feng, and your name is Lin Duo. I am your brother, and we are here to find our eldest brother, Lin Shan. Outside, don't call me 'Nie Lingfeng,' and don't use 'fire' carelessly, understand?"
Chen Duo nodded earnestly, "Yes, I'll remember. Brother Lin Feng." She tried calling him that, and seemed to find the address a bit novel, her lips curving slightly.
"Furthermore," Nie Lingfeng's expression turned serious, "this Yan Ben, and the people here, are not simple. They might have a strange smell, or something else. If you smell anything particularly 'stinky,' or anything that makes you uncomfortable, just tell me quietly, but don't show it, and don't keep staring, understand?"
"Okay, I understand. I'll tell you quietly." Chen Duo nodded again, indicating that she was very good at "quietly".
The two rested in the room for about an hour. Outside, the sky gradually darkened, and the hustle and bustle of the town seemed to have only intensified, not subsided. In the distance, the sounds of increasingly loud music, shouts, and a kind of… indescribable restlessness mixed in with the noise could be faintly heard.
Nie Lingfeng changed into a more ordinary dark shirt and trousers, more like a local smuggler. Chen Duo was still wearing the same outfit, except she took off her straw hat and simply let her hair fall over her shoulders. The two left the room, locked the door, and headed out of the guesthouse in the direction A-Chang had pointed out earlier.
After passing through the garden and returning to the side gate of "Benlong Pavilion", they greeted the guards (Yan Ben had obviously given instructions), and then the two blended into the night scene of Mengla Town as the lights came on.
Compared to the daytime, the town of Mengla at night seems to unveil another layer of its veil, revealing a more bizarre, dangerous, and alluring true face.
Along both sides of the street, almost all the shops' neon lights were lit, flashing a gaudy and blinding light. Jade shops, gambling dens, and specialty shops were still open, but more prevalent were bars, KTVs, massage parlors, and places with names like "entertainment city" and "club," emitting deafening music and frenzied cheers. The air was thick with the smells of barbecue fumes, cheap perfume, alcohol, and tobacco, along with a more primal, restless atmosphere mixed with desire, money, and violence.
There were more pedestrians than during the day, and they were more diverse. There were many more young women dressed provocatively, heavily made up, with vacant eyes or professionally seductive smiles; many more drunken tourists or gamblers, arm in arm, making loud noises; and many more thugs with sinister eyes, lurking in the shadows in groups of three or five, eyeing passersby with ill intent.