Chapter 3: Zhang Fang, the Dragon Head

  Director Su looked at Ouyang Xuan and Zhang Lin, his face solemnly said: "Comrade Ouyang, Comrade Zhang, we have received the order from above, requiring our municipal bureau to fully cooperate with you! What do you think, just speak up!"

  Zhang Lin nodded and said, "Thank you, Director Su! From the current situation, it seems that the murderer, whatever it is, has a deep grudge against the Tianlong Gang, so I think the entry point should be placed on the Tianlong Gang!"

  Deputy Director Li nodded and said: "This is beyond doubt, because the seventeen people who were killed this time are all members of the Tianlong Gang, and not a single civilian was killed!"

  "Who is the leader of the Tianlong Gang?" Ouyang Xuan suddenly asked.

  "Let him go!" Liu Jun's face suddenly turned stern: "This is a deeply cunning and ruthless fugitive, extremely crafty, with no qualms about committing crimes such as murder, gambling, drug trafficking, smuggling, and arms dealing. He has at least a dozen lives on his hands, and his crimes are countless! I've been tracking him for years, but I've never had enough evidence to send him to the gallows, which is my greatest regret in life!"

  "Ouyang, you mean directly from Zhang Fang's body?" Zhang Lin asked.

  "Yes, the murderer has been killing members of the Tianlong Gang at all levels, making it clear that they want to completely destroy this gang! I reckon, nine out of ten times, Zhang Fan must have done something wrong and offended someone!" Ouyang Xuan analyzed calmly.

  "That makes sense!" Deputy Director Zhao nodded thoughtfully and said, "At present, Zhang is hiding behind closed doors all day long, with dozens of bodyguards following him closely at all times. He looks like a startled bird. If he wasn't guilty, he wouldn't be so afraid!"

  "Well then, Ouyang, why don't we go visit this Zhang Fang? Maybe we can find some clues!" Zhang Lin asked for Ouyang Xuan's opinion.

  "It's useless!" Liu Jun suddenly shook his head firmly: "The underworld has always refused to deal with the police, this is a rule. Moreover, Zhang Fang may be afraid of being killed by the murderer, but telling us about his crimes would also mean death for him, so he won't cooperate with us!"

  "Liu captain is right, it's definitely not going to work if we ask directly!" Ouyang Xuan nodded as if he had gained some insight: "Perhaps we can be a bit more subtle in our approach!"

  "What method?" Liu Jun was somewhat surprised.

  Ouyang Xuan smiled slyly: "Generally speaking, those who have been through the underworld have had to lick blood from their knives and live in constant fear of being caught; plus, having done many bad things, they must have some unease in their conscience, so they are basically quite superstitious, hoping for divine protection. Now that Zhang Fang is so scared, he must have realized that what he's up against isn't human. You think: if at this time, two powerful Taoist priests came to his door and offered their services, wouldn't Zhang Fang see them as a lifeline?"

  Everyone was shocked and couldn't help but look at each other in dismay: disguising oneself as a Taoist to crack the case, this move seemed unheard of!

  "Will this work, Comrade Ouyang?" Director Su seemed somewhat uncertain.

  Ouyang Xuan smiled, not saying a word, and simply tore off a piece of paper from his notebook. He casually drew a few talismans on it, then muttered to himself: "Heavenly spirits, earthly spirits, the Great Supreme Elder, quickly show your spirit!" His left hand pointed at the paper symbol.

  Suddenly, the paper charm burst into fierce flames and instantly turned into a puff of ash!

  Except for Zhang Lin, everyone's eyes widened in shock and they were speechless for a long time!

  "How's this? Like a Taoist?" Ouyang Xuan smiled, revealing a mouthful of snow-white healthy teeth.

  "Really? Really!" Director Su nodded several times in a row, his face full of surprise.

  "It's really worthy of being a Dragon Team member, Ouyang! Is this your special ability?" Liu Jun also exclaimed in surprise.

  "Yes! I think that as long as we can get close to Zhang Fang, we might be able to dig out some useful secrets! Although the underworld is not human, it cannot be allowed to slaughter outsiders at will. Punishment must come from the law!" Ouyang Xuan said seriously: "Besides, no one can guarantee that after killing off the Tianlong Gang, this murderer won't do anything else, so we must eliminate the hidden danger as soon as possible!"

  "Hmm, I personally think that although this isn't a regular way of handling cases, it's a good method!" Liu Jun smiled and nodded in agreement.

  "That's it!" Zhang Lin said: "The Municipal Bureau is responsible for dispatching personnel to monitor all industries of the Tianlong Gang, especially Zhang Fang's residence! I and Ouyang will be responsible for infiltrating Zhang Fang's home. If either of us discovers any situation, we will notify each other immediately! Director Su, what do you think?"

  "Alright, let's do it this way, we absolutely cannot let the murderer run amok anymore! Otherwise, if word gets out, S City will be thrown into chaos!" Director Su's face was grave, his expression filled with a kind of unspoken worry.

  This is a villa hidden among trees and flowers, with a large area, luxurious style, and it's obvious that the residents are wealthy people.

  Ouyang Xuan and Zhang Lin drove a Buick car and stopped in front of the villa, quietly sizing up the villa.

  "Damn it, protecting gangsters, how can I feel at ease in my heart!" Zhang Lin suddenly cursed.

  "Indeed, look at this Zhang Fang, I don't know how much blood he has sucked from the common people! If it weren't for the task requirements, I really hate to take matters into my own hands and kill this guy!" Ouyang Xuan also couldn't help but feel some indignation in his heart!

  "Alright, let's go and meet this underworld kingpin who has been rampant for many years!" Zhang Lin patted Ou Yang Xuan's shoulder.

  The two of them got off the car and rushed straight to the villa's gate.

  Just as they reached the entrance, before even pressing the doorbell, suddenly seven or eight burly men in black clothes burst out from behind the thick iron gate, each of them staring intently at the two with a fierce gaze, their waists bulging as if hiding some kind of deadly weapon!

  One of the leading men with a scar on his face said viciously: "Who are you? What brings you here?"

  "Wú Liàng Tiān Zūn!" ōu Yáng Xuàn chanted in a pretentious tone, saying ambiguously: "I was traveling down the mountain with my junior brother when we suddenly saw a fierce aura above your mansion, as if some evil creature was wreaking havoc. So I've come to pay my respects and see if I can help resolve this calamity!"

  The crowd of Han people were shocked, their faces somewhat frightened, they huddled together and whispered for two sentences. The scar-faced big man who was in charge doubted: "You said you are Taoists, why aren't you wearing Taoist robes?"

  Ouyang Xuan smiled and said, "Please, what era is this? Who still wears that kind of rustic thing! Besides, as long as you have a god in your heart, why be bound by appearances? Don't you think so?"

  "This also seems reasonable!" The crowd looked at each other, then cautiously glanced behind Ouyang Xuan and Zhang Lin, still hesitating and not daring to open the door.

  Ouyang Xuan feigned impatience and said, "What, don't you believe Xiao Dao's words!? Fine, I reckon that within three days, your esteemed residence will definitely have a bloody disaster! When the time comes and you're crying out to heaven but it doesn't respond, and calling out to earth but it doesn't answer, don't regret it then!"

  Turned around and pulled Zhang Lin, as if he wanted to leave!

  "Ah——, two masters, please wait, please wait!" The scar-faced big man hastily opened the door and rushed out to catch up with them. He put on a polite face and said: "I am Liu Bao, it's not that I don't believe in you two masters, but recently things have been quite unstable! You temporarily wait for a moment, let me report to the chairman first, how about that?"

  "That's good, but we're all young people and can't wait for long, don't keep us waiting!" Zhang Lin said with a cold hum, full of pride.

  "Yes, yes, wait a moment, you two masters!" Liu Bao then ran swiftly into the villa.

  Ouyang Xuan and Zhang Lin exchanged a knowing glance, both of them laughing inwardly until their intestines were about to twist into knots.

  Sure, here is the translation:

  As expected, in just a few minutes, Liu Bao flew back, panting and politely said: "Two masters, my chairman has invited you!"

  "Ah, lead the way!" Ouyang Xuan deliberately showed off his skills, looking extremely confident.

  As expected, Liu Bao became even more respectful and accompanied the two of them all the way into the villa.

  Along the way, Ou Yang Xuan and Zhang Lin, with their keen senses, discovered that there were many hidden secrets in the villa, and the precautions were indeed very strict!

  As soon as he entered the hall, Ouyang Xuan saw a man in his forties sitting calmly on the sofa in the center of the hall, wearing a high-quality yellow silk suit, with four robust and majestic bodyguards standing behind him.

  Ouyang Xuan quickly sized up Zhang Fang: his figure was slender and powerful, his face was thin and gaunt, his eyes were like torches, and his entire body exuded a sinister, ruthless, and profound aura! But faintly, the slightly furrowed brow seemed to suggest that he had something on his mind, and was worried.

  It seems that this person still maintains the calm and ruthless nature of a hero, and has not completely lost his composure!

  "Two masters, this is our Chairman Zhang!" Liu Bao hastily introduced.

  "Infinite Sky Road, Xiao Dao Ouyang Xuan and Shixiong Zhang Lin have met Chairman Zhang!" Anyway, the identities of Ouyang Xuan and Zhang Lin are top-secret, only a few main leaders in the municipal bureau know, so it's okay to say it directly!

  "Two masters, Zhang has paid his respects, please take a seat!" Zhang Fang hurriedly smiled and bowed slightly.

  Ouyang Xuan and Zhang Lin also didn't stand on ceremony, and sat down beside them.

  "I heard two masters say that Zhang seems to have been haunted by a monster recently, is it true?" Zhang's face remained calm as he carefully asked Ou Yangxuan and the others, probing for information.

  "Exactly!" Ouyang Xuan said with a serious tone: "Recently, someone close to you will suffer from a bloody disaster, and what's even more frightening is that the final victim might be you!"

  Zhang's face changed, as the matter of someone being killed in the gang had not been made public. He believed seven or eight parts of what they said and replied somewhat flusteredly: "The two masters are right, there has indeed been a strange case of homicide near Zhang recently. I wonder if the two masters can help with this?"

  "This..." Ouyang Xuan pretended to be deep in thought!

  Zhang Fang, as the leader of a gang, was extremely cunning. He said solemnly, "Two masters, please be at ease. As long as you two save me from this predicament, I am willing to thank you with a reward of one million gold coins!"

  "Boundless Heaven Venerable, the Small Way Mountain Observatory has been in disrepair for many years. Just as I was about to renovate it, thank you so much for your kind intentions, donor!" Ouyang Xuan feigned excitement.

  "That's great! I wonder how the two masters will resolve Zhang's difficulty?" Zhang asked with a hopeful face, having had enough of being on edge all day.

  "This is not difficult, Master only needs to tell Xiaodao about the recent grudges with whom, and then Xiaodao can find a way to resolve it!" Zhang Lin said calmly, his heart excited.

  "This...," Zhang Fang hesitated and furrowed his brow, as if there was something he couldn't bring himself to say.

  "If the donor has anything to hide, even a god cannot help! I am a recluse who has left the worldly affairs behind, and the things of this world are just fleeting clouds. The donor can rest assured that I will not reveal any secrets!" Ouyang Xuan saw an opportunity and quickly took advantage of it.

  Zhang Fang leaned quietly against the back of the sofa, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light as he considered for a moment before speaking in a calm tone: "Two masters, Zhang has been fighting in the business world for many years, experiencing ups and downs, and naturally there have been no lack of tricks and schemes. As for enemies, it's not necessary to mention that I've made quite a few. However, what Zhang really can't figure out is who he offended recently, and how they could have such great power to silently kill seventeen of my subordinates without leaving any trace!"

  "This sly guy, still doesn't reveal anything in his words!" Ou Yang Xuan and Zhang Lin exchanged a somewhat disheartened glance.

  However, it's not like there was no gain; at least Ouyang Xuan knew that Zhang Fang himself didn't understand which god he had offended.

  "It's getting tricky if the master himself doesn't even know who his enemy is!" Ouyang Xuan said slowly: "Moreover, from the aura of your mansion, it seems that your opponent is a demon, not a human. What a great calamity!"

  Zhang Fang seemed to suddenly recall the tragic deaths of his 17 subordinates, and a difficult-to-describe fear surged in his expression. He panicked somewhat discomposedly: "Two masters, please must save me, afterwards there will definitely be heavy thanks!"

  "Alright then!" Ou Yang Xuan thought for a moment and said: "Since the master doesn't know who the enemy is, we can only guard against it! My two martial brothers will temporarily stay at the master's house. If that demon dares to come and harass the master, I'll definitely subdue it!"

  "Great!" Zhang was overjoyed, now he trusted Ouyang Xuan and Zhang Lin completely, and hurriedly said to Liu Bao: "Ah Bao, you arrange it immediately, be sure to entertain the two masters well!"

  "Yes! The two masters, please follow me!" Liu Bao said respectfully.

  "Wait, isn't today the seventeenth of the lunar calendar?" Zhang Lin suddenly asked.

  "Exactly, what does Master mean?" Zhang Fang was somewhat puzzled.

  Zhang Lin's face changed, and he said solemnly: "The seventeenth is a night of calamity! If that demon really wants to find its master to take revenge, tonight is the perfect time!"

  "Ah——!" The room fell silent in an instant, Zhang Fang and Liu Bao couldn't help but change their faces, and their backs 'hissed' with cold sweat!

  "Big brother, are you sure?" Ouyang Xuan looked at Zhang Lin, unsure if he was telling the truth or lying.

  "Believe me, I have a ghost eye. When the evil spirit's power is strongest and its temper is most violent, I am the clearest!" Zhang Lin nodded affirmatively.

  "Ah!! What, what, two masters, how is this possible?" Zhang Fang could no longer sit still, his face pale with fear.

  "Hmm, if the monster comes tonight, 12 o'clock would be a good time! Tonight, Master, please don't sleep, and trouble yourself to prepare 49 red candles. My junior brother and I will use this cloth to form a Seven Star Ghost Fire Array, protecting Master in the array, it should be safe!" Zhang Lin said calmly.

  "Alright, someone come, quickly go buy red wax, must be the best!" Zhang Fang now is for seeking life, whatever is asked will be done.

  "Does this work, Zhang?" Ou Yang Xuan asked in a low voice.

  "Whether it's a monster or a ghost, there should be some restraint, don't worry!" Zhang Lin replied calmly, with a glint of sharpness in his eyes.