There were a total of five such auction houses on the Wuma Family's territory. Over the years, just these five auction houses had brought the Wuma Family clan full coffers, making many people envious.
Yet tonight, this filthy, disastrous place that had harmed countless men and women, a place where countless businessmen sought thrills, was completely burned down by someone.
The auction houses were made of wood and caught fire easily.
Cheng Jinyan stood in front of the raging fire that used to be an auction house, the flames reflecting in his glasses as he took out a box of cigarettes from his pants pocket, lightly flicking one out to put between his lips.
He casually lit the cigarette with the torch in his hand, then threw the torch into the big fire.
In the night, he appreciated this decent scene, the lightly dressed him getting some warmth from the fire.
Seeing the fire raging more intensely in the distance, Cheng Jinyan couldn't help but mutter: "Did this guy splash gasoline?"
Hearing movement approaching, knowing it was the Wuma Family's men, Cheng Jinyan stuffed his hands into his pant pockets and slowly walked away.
"Splashing gasoline and trying to deny it, huh?"
After meeting up with Ye Si, Cheng Jinyan's first sentence was to ask him this.
Ye Si stood on the second floor corridor, holding a wine glass and leisurely sipping wine. "Gasoline is so dirty, how could I possibly touch it?"
The three of them had split up, each person responsible for an auction house while Ye Si's subordinates took care of the remaining two.
They agreed to see who could burn theirs down the fiercest. Halfway through, this young master Ye Si felt the place was too dirty for his shoes and had his subordinates do all the work while he went ahead to the meeting point to drink.
Cheng Jinyan looked at his own lightly dressed, blood-stained self, then back at the fashionably dressed, vacationing-like Ye Si, and wanted to kick him off the second floor.
"How come she's not here yet?" Cheng Jinyan looked in the direction of the auction house Qiao Ying was responsible for, where flames now raged into the sky.
Qiao Ying was supposed to take care of the auction house they had just been at, but didn't leave after.
When they split up, Cheng Jinyan had left first and didn't know Qiao Ying had other business after burning down her auction house.
"The baby said she still has some questions for that guy."
Cheng Jinyan: "Who?"
"The one on stage who smiled at the baby, asking to die." Ye Si stood up straight. "Let's go first."
They were currently at the residence of the black man who had died. The girl Qiao Ying had saved from the auction house was in the room behind them.
The Wuma Family men would quickly find this place.
With all five of the family's auction houses completely burned down by a group of outsiders, the Wuma Family, who had never suffered such anger and humiliation, sent men to seal off all entrances and exits and began a carpet search.
Especially for that Asian girl who openly, in front of everyone, lit a torch, attacked their people, and finally burned down their main auction house.
Teng Yan silently stood by, watching the much more influential Wuma Lin furiously rant, claiming that after catching Qiao Ying, he would auction her off a few dozen times until she died from the playing, then chop her remains into pieces to feed the dogs.
Wuma Lin was bursting with anger but had nowhere to vent it, so he turned and saw Teng Yan just standing there watching his outburst. He immediately redirected his tirade at him.
Teng Yan didn't try to start a conflict and just let him scream and curse.
"Mongrel scum, useless trash, get out there and find them for me. The Wuma Family doesn't feed useless garbage." Wuma Lin spat out vicious words.
But Teng Yan remained calm and unprovoked. He didn't even change his expression at these awful insults, just silently turned and left.
However, Teng Yan did not obey Wuma Lin's order to search for Qiao Ying's group; instead, he returned to his own residence.
Pushing open the door, in that very instant, a flash of cold light from a blade swept across his face.
Teng Yan's footsteps halted as he entered, his expression changing instantly as his entire body became vigilant. He looked up at the same time.
In front of the tea table sat a delicate figure.
Teng Yan stepped inside and closed the door behind him, then turned on the light to see clearly who it was.
The girl sitting leisurely at the tea table polishing a short knife was extremely beautiful, her expression also extremely cold. Wasn't she the one who burned their auction houses and was being hunted by them right now?
The girl calmly polished her knife and spoke indifferently, "Can't believe you can endure being scolded like that."
Teng Yan didn't care about her words. "I'm very surprised you came looking for me. You didn't sneak in here wanting to get rid of me completely right? After all, we have no enmity."
Qiao Ying: "I'm here to ask about someone. Cooperate and I won't kill you."
Teng Yan: "Who are you trying to find out about?"
Qiao Ying: "Black Spade A of Dark Shadow."
Teng Yan narrowed his eyes slightly: "From Dark Shadow, same as my dead foster father?"
Qiao Ying: "Red Heart K, yes."
Teng Yan: "Sorry to disappoint, but while Red Heart K was my foster father, I barely know anything about Dark Shadow. Other than Red Heart K, I've only seen Dark Shadow members that one time on the cruise ship. As for this Black Spade A you speak of, I have no idea at all."
Seeing that Qiao Ying didn't believe him,
Teng Yan continued: "I know your abilities surpass Red Heart K's. And I'm someone who values my life. I have no need to lie."
"Since you discovered some clues to this person's whereabouts here, perhaps try checking other places, like that big drug lord to the east, or that arms dealer to the southwest. Their identities are also very mysterious. Here in Arkenlin, those two rival even the power of our Wuma Family. I believe someone of Black Spade A's capabilities could have grown into similar forces."
Teng Yan suddenly glanced around before continuing, "I was just sent here so I'm not too familiar with the extent of my family's power in this area. As you heard, I don't have much say in the family. There's much I'm not qualified to know about, including whether this Black Spade A you're looking for could possibly be with us."
After listening to Teng Yan, Qiao Ying smiled, "Trying to use me to kill Wuma Lin for you?"
Seeing through his intentions at a glance.
Qiao Ying: "I dislike people playing games in front of me."
Teng Yan wasn't embarrassed either: "I do have an agenda, but I was telling the truth too."
Qiao Ying spoke slowly: "So who around here makes you think they could be Black Spade A?"
She had just scoped the area out and found Wuma Lin to have the most influence. If Black Spade A was around, could he be working under Wuma Lin?
This question stumped Teng Yan. He smiled awkwardly, "You really are clever—may I ask why you have a grudge with Dark Shadow?"
Teng Yan couldn't imagine what deep hatred this teenage student could have with Dark Shadow's upper echelon.
First Red Heart K.
Now coming all the way to this Arkenlin place to find Black Spade A.
Qiao Ying didn't feel like wasting more time with him and prepared to leave.
Teng Yan quickly said, "Are you interested in working together? With your skills and capabilities, I believe we could..."
Without turning back, Qiao Ying interrupted him, "You think you deserve that?"
Her tone was full of disdain and arrogance.
Teng Yan fell silent, watching the girl's departing back, a smile at his lips as he murmured, "Who knows."
The burning of the Wuma Family's auction houses shocked all of Arkenlin overnight.
The Wuma Family was sparing no effort to hunt for this group of Asians everywhere.
And at this moment, Qiao Ying's group had already left the Wuma Family's territory, arriving at the turf of that arms dealer.
Qiao Ying's group arrived respectfully. Seeing they were Chinese nationals, the guards allowed them entry.
The big bearded driver also told Qiao Ying that in Arkenlin, any Chinese national in trouble could seek help from this arms dealer.
If lucky, they might offer assistance.
So Qiao Ying and her companions, who were in trouble with the Wuma Family, came.
But Qiao Ying did not come here to hide from the Wuma Family.
She had two agendas—
One, probe this arms dealer to see if he might be Black Spade A.
Two, find a place for the girl she rescued from the auction house.
Soon enough, Qiao Ying's group was led to a military camp.
Two stewards came out—a man in his thirties and a kind looking middle-aged man.
They clearly recognized this was the group that burned the Wuma Family's auction houses and was being hunted by them.
Yet they dared come to their territory. What gall!
The two stewards exchanged a look.
The middle-aged man called Old Liu asked kindly enough, "May I ask who you all are?"
Qiao Ying: "Qiao Ying, student."
Cheng Jinyan: "Cheng Jinyan, lawyer."
Ye Si: "Ye Si, big boss, handsome and rich."
Qiao Ying: "......"
Cheng Jinyan: "......"
Old Liu: "......"
Younger Man: "......"
