The mastermind

The car slowly came to a stop. Chen Ying sat in the passenger seat with his eyes closed.

"We're at the clinic."

Uncle Qing's voice came from beside him.

"Two cars have been following us."

"Understood."

Chen Ying said nothing more. He pushed open the door and got out.

The clinic was silent. Neither the resident physician nor the errand boys were anywhere to be seen. Mr. Wen sat upright in the center of the main hall, dressed in a long gown.

Chen Ying cupped his hands in greeting.

"Sir..."

"Sit."

Much did not need to be said aloud.

Chen Ying found a seat in front of Wen Ruzhi and sat down.

"You've been busy today?"

Wen Ruzhi turned sideways to ask.

"Yes, with a few small matters."

"I can understand that."

Wen Ruzhi nodded. "But I want to ask why."

"Why what?"

"Why don't you trust me?"

Wen Ruzhi looked at Chen Ying curiously.

"You could have come straight to me. With me here, these problems would all be easy to resolve."

"First, it happened so suddenly that I lost my head for a moment. Second, as long as you're here, sir, there will always be someone to back me up."

Wen Ruzhi nodded.

"Dragon City didn't give me any notice. That was indeed unexpected. But it's too late to ask Lu Zhengxing now. He's already left with your granny."

"That is precisely why I've come."

Chen Ying looked at Wen Ruzhi. "I would like to know how many experts from Hong Kong and Kowloon the Lingnan Jiedu Office invited to deal with the Drought Demon this time."

"Four in total. Why do you ask?"

Wen Ruzhi asked curiously.

"Because I believe the mastermind behind all this must be one of those four."

Chen Ying said.

The Chen family had been in Hong Kong and Kowloon for far more than a day or two, yet trouble had struck in just these past two days. There was only one possible reason: the incident on Rongyi Street.

On the surface, someone had been raising ghosts on Rongyi Street. Behind it lay someone's attempt to connect the two realms and create a supernatural disaster.

Whether he suspected the Chen family had learned something about it or wanted to ensure his plan went smoothly, that person had to strike at the Chen family.

The core of the Chen family was that old granny.

So this mastermind had to meet two conditions. First, like the Chen family, he had lived in Hong Kong and Kowloon for a long time, giving him the opportunity to lay long-term plans.

Second, he also had to be part of the Lingnan Jiedu Office's expedition, for only then would he have a chance to deal with Granny Chen, who spent all her time in her small building.

If he were operating remotely rather than living in Hong Kong and Kowloon, he would have no direct control over the situation here.

With so many different sorts mingling in Hong Kong and Kowloon, any complicated scheme could be set off by an unexpected person.

For instance, ghosts had haunted Rongyi Street for years. The reason things had gone wrong was simple: Mr. Wen had sent him there to practice Kui Star Kicks the Dipper.

And without joining the Lingnan Jiedu Office's expedition to subdue the Drought Demon, he would not even have a chance to meet the reclusive Granny Chen.

If that person's target were Chen Ying himself, sending some youngster from the Western Hunan Pai Sect would have been enough.

"Lu Zhengxing, Xu Renying, and Ma Ming."

"Of those, Xu Renying is a renowned feng shui master in Hong Kong and Kowloon, while Ma Ming is a rare alchemist."

"Alchemy?"

This was already the second time Chen Ying had heard that word today.

"A type of foreign sorcerer. To be specific..."

Wen Ruzhi thought for a moment. "We have nothing comparable on our side."

"Ma Ming is versed in both Chinese and Western learning. He was born overseas, and he sought to bridge the differences between East and West, so he went abroad to study. He has only just returned to Hong Kong after completing his studies. He went back to join the expedition to display his skills and make a name for himself."

"So the mastermind is Xu Renying."

There were few choices, and Chen Ying had roughly worked out the mastermind's identity.

"Why not Lu Zhengxing?"

Wen Ruzhi frowned deeply.

"Lu Zhengxing's power base is in Kowloon Walled City. What would he gain from destroying Hong Kong and Kowloon? Besides, he's a martial artist too. At most, Lu Zhengxing knows about it. He isn't necessarily the ringleader."

Chen Ying replied.

"You've left someone out."

Wen Ruzhi looked at Chen Ying. "It could also be me."

"It wouldn't be you."

"Why? As soon as I arrived in Hong Kong and Kowloon, someone struck at you, leaving Granny Chen no choice but to come to me for help. As for motive, the tangled grievances between our White Lotus Sect and your Chen family would make sense too."

Wen Ruzhi frowned as he asked, "Besides, you did something this big without even consulting me. Don't you trust me?"

"It was precisely because I trusted you that I didn't come to you. If you meant the Chen family harm, Mr. Wen, I would have been gone long ago. You certainly wouldn't have needed to send me to Rongyi Street."

"Then why didn't you come?"

"Sir, you're the most crucial figure in Hong Kong-Kowloon City. Countless eyes, high and low, are watching you. If I came to you, I would certainly alert the enemy."

"So?"

"Xu Renying is the one plotting behind the scenes, and Young Master Wen, Yisheng's Numbers Manager, is the one out in front."

Chen Ying spoke carefully. "Xu Renying is an expert. His schemes in Hong Kong and Kowloon reach so far that he even helped someone rise to become a gang's Numbers Manager. It's hard to say there isn't someone else behind him."

"What do you want me to do?"

"I dare to ask you to intervene, sir, and help my granny take down Xu Renying. A snake cannot function without its head. If we can eliminate Xu Renying, every problem can be readily resolved."

Chen Ying looked at Wen Ruzhi.

"Your prolonged stay in Hong Kong and Kowloon means the sect intends to establish itself here. If you can eliminate Xu Renying, you will first be removing a powerful future enemy for the sect. Second, from this day on, I will willingly serve the sect in any capacity, without another word..."

Wen Ruzhi sighed.

"Impossible."

"Impossible?"

"Do you know where that Drought Demon is hiding?"

Wen Ruzhi looked up at the sky. "The place where it hides is called Wuzhong City."

"Wuzhong City?"

"It is the largest dead zone in all of Lingnan. Three hundred years ago, the gates of the underworld opened and drew the entire city into the Netherworld. Any expert who goes there has only the slimmest chance of surviving. If that Drought Demon hadn't caused such severe trouble, the Lingnan Jiedu Office would never have invited so many experts to go there."

"That is also why ten experts were invited to go together this time."

Wen Ruzhi said as he looked at Chen Ying.

"Don't worry. If anything happens to your granny this time, I will personally bring you into the sect and travel to Korea to bring your branch of the Chen family back into the fold."

"If Xu Renying manages to escape alive, he will be a mortal enemy of our White Lotus Sect."

Wen Ruzhi rose.

"You are my disciple."

"Yes."

"So what did you gain from approaching those foreigners?"

A trace of anger stirred in Wen Ruzhi.

"Because I believe you will certainly have a use for them, Master."

Chen Ying looked at Wen Ruzhi. "There are things it would be inconvenient for you to do that I can handle on your behalf."

"Such as?"

"I've already arranged a date to meet someone from the foreigners' Emergency Management Department. So if there are any clues about what you're looking for, Master, I can use this opportunity to make some discreet inquiries."

"What did you say?"

Wen Ruzhi looked at Chen Ying. At last, his expression changed.

"If there's something you want to find, Master, we can use the foreigners' help."

Chen Ying looked at Wen Ruzhi. "This is their territory, after all..."

Wen Ruzhi regarded Chen Ying suspiciously.

"How did you know I came here to look for something?"

"It's simple. Our White Lotus Sect has vast holdings and resources. As a high-ranking incense master, you must have an important mission to have lingered in Hong Kong and Kowloon for so long."

"And your temperament isn't suited to schemes and intrigue, Master, so you must be looking for some important person or object, perhaps something connected to the sect's legacy..."

"And you once showed an interest in Rongyi Street, which means this thing might cause something like a connection between the two realms..."

"Boy, teaching you martial arts really is a waste." Wen Ruzhi was still somewhat puzzled. "Are you a fox reincarnated?"

"I just like letting my imagination wander."

Chen Ying more or less acknowledged it.

"Well, you've guessed right."

Wen Ruzhi tapped the table with a finger.

"Since you've guessed it, how many other people in Hong Kong-Kowloon City do you think have guessed it too?"