A New World

As dusk settled, Jiang Cheng and the other two disguised themselves, slipped out of the studio, hailed a taxi, and headed to another part of the city.

That afternoon, Huai Yi had received some new information, but it was vague and needed to be verified through other channels.

After getting out of the car, Huai Yi looked around. They were on a street lined with bars. Maybe it was still too early, but the area looked rather quiet. "Brother Jiang," Huai Yi asked through his mask, "what are we doing here?"

"Looking for someone." Jiang Cheng didn't waste words. He led Fatty and Huai Yi to a bar called Glorious City. Its doors were shut, and a notice announcing a temporary closure for rectification was posted on them.

"They're closed." Fatty couldn't help feeling disappointed.

Jiang Cheng looked up at the notice with the utmost seriousness, as if he were deciphering a code. After a moment, he nodded, then led Fatty and Huai Yi on a long detour to a narrow alley behind the bar.

The place was desolate. Only a few scattered lamps lit the deep alley. Jiang Cheng found a door with practiced ease, walked up to it, and knocked.

His knocks followed a rhythm: one hard rap, then three light ones, and finally two slow knocks.

It wasn't long before someone spoke from behind the door, which cracked open just a little.

"It's me," Jiang Cheng said.

The person inside immediately opened the door. A young man dressed like a waiter greeted him with a smile. "Well, Brother Jiang, you're here! Why didn't you call ahead? We could've come to pick you up."

The waiter noticed the two men behind Jiang Cheng and warmly ushered them inside. "Come on in, you two."

Once all three were inside,