Netherworld Investigator

At the thought that yet another enemy was coming after me, a crushing sense despair welled up inside of me.

However, the motorcycle approached, its body suddenly swinging across me. The rider, whose face was obscured by his helmet, pulled out a Glock from both bags on the left and right sides of the motorcycle and started shooting at the driver of the jeep.

Aware of danger, the muscular man crouched, abruptly exiting the vehicle, his body tumbling on the hard tarmac.

The moving jeep rolled down to the roadbed. 

"Song Xingchen!" I shouted but got no response.

Upon emptying his magazine, the rider quickly reloaded and jumped off the motorcycle, raising both hands as he wildly shot at the muscular man. The latter dropped to the ground and threw a knife at the rider.

Metal clashed with metal as a bullet met the flying knife in mid-air. Taking the opportunity to pull out a gun from his belt, the muscular man engaged in a shoot-off with the rider.

Across a distance of over a dozen steps, the two shot at each other while repeatedly dodging the oncoming bullets, their limbs like leopards. The chaotic exchange of gunfire left me speechless!

Finally, relying on a machine pistol, the rider managed to injure the muscular man's leg. Darting across the road and into the grass, the muscular man fired several shots at the rider while running. The rider continued to chase after him, emptying his magazine with a dozen shots at the grass before walking away...

The battle lasted less than ten seconds, but it felt like an eternity. When the gunfire stopped, I immediately rushed to the side of the road to look for Song Xingchen.

Movements came from within the grass and out crawled Song Xingchen. His clothes were dirty but he wasn’t injured.

Breathing a sigh of relief, my gaze turned to the mysterious rider. At this point, I couldn’t figure out who he was. When he took off his helmet, the first thing I saw was the grey wolf tattooed on his shiny, bald head. To my utter surprise, it was the Wolf King!

Song Xingchen reflexively raised his sword but in a show of goodwill, the Wolf King stretched out his hands and said, "Relax, I'm not here for the bounty. I just want to kill the Tyrant Riger to avenge my buddies!"

"I don't believe you,” came Song Xingchen’s cold reply.

The Wolf King smiled contemptuously and put away his gun, "Believe whatever you want! Anyway, I always keep my word!"

The Wolf King walked to the side of the road to check on the jeep. Song Xingchen and I exchanged a look of consternation, still unaware of the real reason behind the Wolf King’s sudden change in position on the matter. If it was really just for vengeance, it was unlikely that he would willingly help us for nothing. After all, I was no less of a hot potato. Who would dare stand on my side?

The roar of an engine interrupted my thoughts. The Wolf King returned driving the jeep that was crushed beyond recognition.  

"Just get in!” he said, patting the door. “The gunfire is bound to attract others."

After a few seconds of hesitating, Song Xingchen and I climbed into the jeep. As soon as we were seated, I went straight to the point. "Why are you helping me?"

The Wolf King lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply, "As the saying goes, even thieves have their morals. When the reward was first offered in the Jianghu, we all discussed and agreed upon fair competition. But who would’ve thought the Tyrant Tiger would play against the rules! He’s killed all my buddies. I can’t just let him go. The money isn’t as important as avenging my buddies!"

I couldn’t help but look upon him in a new light. "You’re not that bad after all!"

The Wolf King snorted, "I know you’re not local. You can ask anyone about me and they’ll tell you I killed those officers to save my buddies. Although my actions have put me on the national wanted list, I don’t regret a single thing."

"So you’re helping me to avenge your buddies?" I asked.

"Alright then, let’s put our cards on the table! I heard that you’re a policeman. And since someone spent so much just for a bone of yours, you must be someone important,” the Wolf King puffed a mouthful of smoke. “I’ll escort you away from the hunting range. Once you’re safe, you must do two things for me. First of all, send someone to collect my buddies’ bodies. Secondly, I’ll need a new identity and a way out of the country.”

I contemplated his requests in silence. The first was a no-brainer but I didn’t have the authority to approve the second request. Additionally, helping him would be going against my conscience. No matter how loyal he was as a friend, he was a wanted man after all.

Before I could speak, Song Xingchen interrupted, "The Song family can get you a new identity. As for going overseas, that will take some time to arrange."

The Wolf King nodded, "Alright then! Let’s not doubt each other any longer. A real man’s words... "

"Is his bond!" added Song Xingchen.

The Wolf King began driving as he explained the muscular man’s origins. The Tyrant Tiger was a fierce fugitive along this side of the coast who used to be a special forces soldier in Southeast Asia. He was removed from the special forces for killing prisoners. After returning home, he turned his skills towards robbing banks, blasting the vaults open with explosives. He was both ferocious and bold.

He remained at large due to his ruthlessness. At the end of every operation, he murdered all his accomplices so the police couldn’t find him. Because his methods were so vicious, both the law and the Jianghu were after him. This time, the attractive reward must have lured him out of hiding.

In fact, the bounty was accompanied by an extra reward. Those who successfully obtained my radius would be given a new identity to leave the country so criminals of all walks of life were out to hunt me regardless of the consequences. With the Jiangbei Daggers’ vast resources, this matter was definitely a piece of cake for them. The promised reward was certainly not an empty check.

Since the bounty covered Fujian in its entirety, even if I went to Jianyang City, I would still be in danger. Leaving the province through the back roads would be the best bet.

"How do you know that the reward is real?” I asked. “Perhaps it’s all a lie."

The Wolf King chuckled, "Trust is the most important thing for those who walk in the Jianghu. This sort of bounty must have a guarantor. This time, the guarantor is the former boss of the Black Dragon Hall mafia gang, which is probably the most reputable person throughout the gangs on the coast."

It seemed the underworld had their own set of rules. While I had never heard of the Black Dragon Hall, from the Wolf King’s words, I gathered they were big shots in the underworld.

Half an hour later, a car appeared on the side of the road with a middle-aged man waving at us. It seemed his car had broken down. 

The Wolf King snorted, "There it is, another one coming for you. Who would buy such a stupid trick!"

Then, he pulled out his Glock and aimed it out the window. But before he could fire, I stopped him, "What if he’s a good man?"

Ignoring my words, the Wolf King stopped the car and fired a few shots at the man, all of them hitting the ground. The man was so frightened he wrapped his head in his hands, trembling uncontrollably. Jumping out of the vehicle, the Wolf King rapped his knuckles against the door and said, "Come down. We’ll switch cars."

Despite being appalled at his actions, I soon discovered he was right. Upon starting the engine, we found the car in perfect condition with a full tank of gas. 

"Look, what did I say?” the Wolf King smirked. “Bad guys all have the same vibe. I can sense them from a hundred meters away."

"Aren’t you a bad person as well?" I laughed.

The Wolf King sighed, "I was just born at the wrong time. Take the Liangshan heroes[1] for example. If they were judged based on the current laws of the country, wouldn’t that make them criminals as well?"

Of course, the Liangshan heroes would certainly be punished for their shady business in today’s society. I couldn’t resist the outpouring of a little goodwill for the man; he didn’t seem like a bad guy. 

When we were ready to hit the road, I suggested, "Lang[2]-ge, let me drive!"

"No, you should rest,” he said. “Are you still worried I might plot against you?"

I shook my head, "No, but driving with the headlights on will attract more attention."

Thus, I turned off the headlights and started the engine. The night was our best cover. The Wolf King expressed surprise at my ability to see in the dark.

[1] From the Water Margin.

[2] Means wolf from his alias.