Chapter 147: Stirring the Grass, Alerting the Snake

“Two heads for two men, disaster from the mouth… what do these characters even mean?”

In the van, Cui Yanqing muttered under his breath as he drove.

It was the first day of the mission, the fresh start after one night had passed in the seventy-eight-hour countdown.

Fang Shenyan had suggested renting a van for better mobility.

The space was large enough; seven people didn’t feel too cramped. But this dust-covered, battered van rumbled like thunder every time it moved. Cui Yanqing had to worry constantly whether it would break down mid-journey.

Choosing this kind of vehicle had been Fang Shenyan’s idea. After all, Ji Li and the others were wanted men now—keeping a low profile wasn’t the worst plan.

But why had he suggested gathering everyone together? That had another purpose…

Ji Li gazed out the window. The world beyond the grimy glass seemed unreal, full of endless falsehood.

“This should be a clue for creating the puppet,” Kondo Sei whispered from the back, answering Cui Yanqing’s question.

“That Black Serpent Boxing Club… are we sure it’s safe? Sounds like a shady place to me…” Chi Rou added.

But no one wanted to respond to her pointless, even naïve, remark.

The Black Serpent Boxing Club had come from last night’s investigation.

On the Bunraku troupe’s departing car, they had noticed a coiled snake emblem. Fang Shenyan had memorized the license plate—it belonged to a coach at the club.

That coach was a man named Takayama Toshino.

It wasn’t much of a lead, but Ji Li’s group had no better options. Whether such a straightforward approach would yield results was anyone’s guess.

For now, they could only try their luck at the club.

As for the eight-character riddle on the card, that would have to wait for later exploration.

None of them felt optimistic. Everyone knew—before long, someone would die.

In survival missions like this, there was no such thing as a dead end. So long as the task remained incomplete, ghosts could attack at any time.

It was, in the end, a game of luck.

All one could pray for was that the ghost didn’t choose them. Nothing more.

The van’s tires chewed through snow as time slipped by.

The Black Serpent Club lay in the Southeast Lower Kyoto District. It took some time to get there.

When the vehicle finally stopped, Ji Li stepped out into the wind and saw a commercial street.

At this early hour, there were few pedestrians. Many storefronts hadn’t even opened yet.

Ji Li glanced around. Mostly bars. A boxing club seemed oddly placed here, unless it was private, catering to members only.

The others turned to him, their so-called store manager, waiting for leadership when it mattered.

Ji Li didn’t rush. He pulled a cigarette pack from his pocket, waved lightly to Fang Shenyan, whispered something, and only then walked toward the entrance.

Fang Shenyan stayed put.

Ji Li’s reasoning was simple. If something went wrong, leaving a capable man at the door gave them flexibility. And if Takayama Toshino was inside, he might bolt at the sight of intruders…

This Bunraku troupe was strange. Such meticulous secrecy hinted at fear—or guilt. Perhaps even crime.

So Ji Li, cautious as always, left Fang Shenyan behind.

As he pushed open the glass door, a wave of heat hit his face.

Inside was a different world entirely. Dozens of muscular men swung their fists at sparring partners—friends or strangers alike. Others trained footwork, practicing with dripping sweat.

Contrary to Ji Li’s expectations, the club was crowded even in the morning. He frowned slightly.

Suddenly, a towering, broad-shouldered man blocked their way. He loomed more than half a head above Ji Li—at least one meter ninety.

Ji Li noted the black serpent tattoo on the man’s wrist. He gave a small nod. They were in the right place.

The man spoke, but Ji Li understood nothing. Instead, he pulled a photo from his pocket.

Takayama Toshino’s mugshot, taken in custody. Average build, plain features—except for those long, narrow eyes.

Clearly, the giant before them was not the man they sought.

Negotiations fell to Kondo Sei, while Ji Li, Cui Yanqing, and Gao Liangping tried to move past. But the brute made it clear they weren’t getting inside.

No matter what Chidoye said, he refused. Even when gold nuggets were poured out before him, he remained unmoved.

Ji Li’s face darkened. A cold irritation rose from his chest.

Since awakening, his life had been nothing but missions. His sole purpose: to complete more tasks, to find Tianhai, to uncover the truth about himself.

This had shaped a unique temperament—anyone or anything that obstructed his mission, guilty or not… could only die.

Bang!

A gunshot rang out from beneath Ji Li’s open coat. The giant man was hit between the brows and crashed to the floor.

For a moment the club fell utterly silent; every eye turned to Ji Li at the door.

With the obstacle removed, he could finally speak and act.

“Ma—Manager…” Chi Rou had seen death before, but this was the first person she had watched Ji Li kill with her own eyes.

While everyone argued over Ji Li’s unprovoked killing, only Mei Sheng stepped beside him and whispered, “Killing will alert the snake; that isn’t your way.”

“I want to alert the snake!” Ji Li shot her a cold look, then fired a round into the leg of a man in the corner who was reaching for his phone.

“Don’t call the police within five minutes. The next shot will be to the head.”

Kondo Sei was used to this by now; she didn’t want to translate Ji Li’s words, but she had to. Luckily this time he hadn’t killed—only warned—so she rendered it.

Mei Sheng frowned. Five minutes…

Recalling Ji Li’s loud, flashy move just now, a thought suddenly crossed her mind.

At that moment, a scream erupted from outside the door—so piercing and frantic it sounded even louder than Ji Li’s gunshot.