Gathering Information

Inside the tavern, Xiong Da, Xiong Er, and Hu Qiang clinked cups and drained them, drinking to their hearts' content. Dirty jokes and strange tales were mixed in, and the atmosphere was lively.

Meanwhile, in Flower Alley within the city, the Giant Bear Gang received a youth dressed in plain cloth, his expression calm. His phoenix eyes were even three parts more beautiful than a woman's, yet there was not a trace of effeminacy about him. With every breath, the vigor of a man rushed forth to meet the eye. He was truly a fine young man.

Flower Alley was indeed a narrow alley. Small houses built from gray bricks and red tiles stood on both sides. They were not large, but they could fit a bed, table, and chairs. This place had never been meant for people to live in.

Outside the alley, every few steps, a gaudily dressed woman would wave a handkerchief and solicit customers. Wrinkles creased the corners of some women's eyes, and ingratiating smiles hung on their faces, while their eyes were as dead and indifferent as ashes. Between heaven and earth, if there truly were no other way, who would willingly make a living selling their flesh?

"Young man, how about it? Come in with your big sister and have some fun. I'll definitely make you feel like you're floating among the clouds—so good you wouldn't trade it for being emperor."

A woman who looked well into her thirties spotted Xiang Yang standing at the street corner and looking into Flower Alley. Her eyes lit up. In a few steps, she reached him and teased him, all while toying with the clothes at his chest. Her fingertips trembled as they slipped inside, nimbler than even the knot-untying method practiced through the Iron Finger Technique. Xiang Yang could not help shuddering and hurriedly slapped her hand away.

"Big sister, don't be in such a hurry. I have something to ask you. If you answer well, this qian of silver is yours for free. What do you say?"

When gathering information, one relied first on connections and personal networks, and second on wealth and silver. Xiang Yang had learned that Hu Qiang had come down the mountain to the Giant Bear Gang thanks to Fu Da Chun's tip-off. As for the specific details, those would have to be settled with silver.

This woman looked rather old and had surely worked in Flower Alley for quite some time, so she must know the place thoroughly. If he could obtain useful information from her, let alone a qian of silver—even a tael would be more than worth it.

Seeing the broken silver in Xiang Yang's hand, the woman's eyes gleamed. She snatched it away, then cast him a flirtatious glance and was about to speak.

But after looking around and noticing quite a few women like herself watching them, she hurriedly dragged Xiang Yang deeper into the alley. Reaching a willow tree, she plopped down on the ground.

"If you've got questions, ask them quickly. Once you're done, we'll pretend we don't know each other. You've never seen me, and I've never seen you. The Giant Bear Gang isn't someone you can afford to provoke. Whatever you're planning, don't drag me into it."

The woman laid everything out plainly, which eased Xiang Yang's concerns. He carefully asked about Flower Alley's exact circumstances—the way it operated, its hours, the men the Giant Bear Gang stationed here, and so on. He left no stone unturned, asking about everything he could think of.

Xiang Yang intended to kill Hu Qiang under the Giant Bear Gang's protection. Before Hu Qiang died, he even intended to force a confession from him and investigate the mastermind behind his father Xiang Da Niu's death. Naturally, he had to consider every angle. The more he knew, the more advantageous it would be for him.

The woman was merely a lowly person who sold her body. There were things she knew and things she did not. However, when Xiang Yang asked about Hu Qiang, he unexpectedly received useful information. It turned out that this woman had actually served Hu Qiang before.

"Originally, that dead man was supposed to have someone from Crimson Tower serve him. Who knew those little sluts couldn't take that pervert at all? They were played half to death before long, and in the end, they picked me out of the lot to take their place. Still, fierce as he was, this old lady wasn't made of straw either. We fought a three-hundred-round battle of tangled intestines, and in the end, he was the one who lowered his weapons first."

When the woman mentioned the people from Crimson Tower, disdain showed on her face, though envy filled her eyes. As the saying went, those in the same trade were sworn enemies. Her business catered to the low end, while Crimson Tower served the wealthy. Naturally, she was green with envy. The rest was merely her bragging about her amorous exploits, which Xiang Yang did not care about.

"This really is an unexpected delight. By her account, Hu Qiang truly lusts after women as if his life depends on it. Every time he comes, he goes to the room at the very end of Flower Alley. At most, there are three guards outside. The security isn't particularly tight."

Those three guards did not stand watch outside the door without pause. Rather, they were the Giant Bear Gang members left behind in all of Flower Alley, specifically tasked with dealing with customers who tried to enjoy themselves without paying or people who came to make trouble. Strictly speaking, there might be times when Hu Qiang had no guards at all.

"It isn't that the Giant Bear Gang doesn't know how to conduct itself. Hu Qiang simply trusts too much in his own strength, and he hates having others nearby disturb his amorous pleasures. So he refuses their protection. He relies on his own bravery—I wonder whether, now that you're injured, you're still so confident."

Seeing Xiang Yang lost in thought, the woman looked at the youth's handsome face and felt a touch of melancholy. Vaguely, she recalled Ergouzi, the boy who had lived next door during her girlhood. Many years had passed. That person was gone, and she herself had fallen into the dust of the mortal world. For a moment, she was filled with emotion.

"Young man, no matter why you're asking about these things, your life is the most important. Don't act on a moment's hotheadedness. Here, big sister will point you toward one last path. There's a dog hole in the second small courtyard at the very end of Flower Alley. It's covered by a haystack and leads directly outside. I hope you won't need to use it."

Xiang Yang narrowed his phoenix eyes at the woman's expression. This woman was far too accommodating—whatever he thought of, she supplied. If there truly was such a dog hole, his safety would increase greatly. But could she be trusted?

By this point, Xiang Yang had already revealed many things: his interest in Hu Qiang, his hostility toward the Giant Bear Gang. Yet this woman had disclosed so much information. Was it true or false? Could she simply be bait?

The woman had weathered many storms. One look at Xiang Yang's expression told her what he was thinking. She shook her head.

"I don't know why I've told you so much either. In the past, I would've taken your silver and chased you away. Why would I waste so much breath on you? Believe it or not, this is all I can tell you.

"All right, I need to go solicit customers. If you have nothing else to do, leave quickly. The people guarding this place aren't easy to talk to."

With that, the woman swayed her waist and hips as she returned to the street to solicit customers. Yet her back looked somewhat desolate, making one's heart ache.

It was normal for the woman to say so much. If an ugly bastard and a handsome man went to the cafeteria for the same meal and ordered the same dishes, their portions would definitely differ. Even the cafeteria aunties judged by looks. If you were handsome, you got a few extra pieces of meat—there were naturally benefits.

This was also a bonus brought by Xiang Yang's good looks. Combined with the woman being especially sentimental that night, it led her to act on impulse. At another time or in another place, he might not have received such good fortune.

Xiang Yang nodded inwardly. The woman's final words had been heartfelt and sincere, and they seemed credible. In any case, he was not planning to act tonight. He could observe things in secret first—for example, that dog hole.

With that thought, Xiang Yang looked around. It was still early, and there were hardly any people coming to exercise. The alley was quiet, making it perfect for him to investigate.