Chapter 23: Death is So Near (Part 1)

  The rooftop, a rope hanging down from it.

  I chose a secluded corner with a good view, from here I can clearly see everything in the corridor through the window, as for what Tang Chao and others are talking about in the room, I don't care.

  About half an hour later, a middle-aged man with a serious face walked out of Tang Chao's reception room and went to a small room at the end of the corridor. Three minutes later, he came back, holding a stack of leather file bags in his hand.

  I just smiled slightly, that's all.

  After careful observation, it was clear that the room had been carefully crafted, with no windows facing outwards. The only way to enter was from the corridor.

  Stealing is a very stimulating thing, and in my past life, I rarely missed the stimulation. Although now stealing has become numb, from the perspective of stealing mentality, this state is better.

  I sneaked back into the ballroom, grabbed a glass of wine from a waiter, and swayed my way up to the second floor like a drunkard.

  There was no one in the corridor. After all, Tang Chao was just a small official. If he arranged for a large number of security guards at home, others would think it was showy.

  With hardly any obstruction, I pulled out a thin thread and 'click', the door opened with a sound.

  For someone as skilled as me, once I've entered, everything is within reach.

  I took out my flashlight and shone it around, looking at the interior decorations. This should be a study room. To the left of the entrance, there was also a small bar with foreign liquor on display.

  I quickly scanned the room and finally landed on a huge painting hanging on the wall.

  I lifted the painting, and a dark iron door came into view. Without any excitement, I took out my tools and got to work immediately. The Feiyun brand improved Devil's Ultimate Edition safe, three minutes later, had its outer shell removed, right before my eyes.

  The cabinet was divided into several layers, and Lin Mu Xian's bracelet was not seen. The top layer was full of file bags, while the other layers were filled with banknotes from various countries, as well as many colorful jewels. In short, they had found the right place.

  If I'm not mistaken, this model of safe doesn't have a hidden compartment. After carefully scanning it again, indeed there is no hidden compartment. However, with so many documents, it's impossible to find what I need in such a short time. But I've considered this situation before - if I can't get it, then the only option is to burn them all.

  He pulled out a glass bottle from his waist, which was filled with gasoline and white sugar in a ratio of three to one, along with a small amount of potassium and sulfur.

  This gasoline has a very famous name: *

  Move all the files out, place them on the ground, hang the wine bottles with thin lines on the pendant lamp on the ceiling, and then I take out a medical syringe, inject gasoline into one of the light bulbs.

  In this way, after I leave, Tang Chao enters the house and turns on the light. Within about half a minute, the temperature inside the bulb can ignite the gasoline, causing an explosion.

  The * fell from the chandelier and shattered on the floor, burning fiercely and igniting the papers nearby.

  This process takes less than one second.

  "Miss Hong, please rest here for a while. Young Master Tang will be over soon after he finishes his business." Just as I was about to leave, a disordered footsteps sounded outside the room, and then the door slowly opened.

  I dodged and hid under the wine cabinet at the door.

  As the lights came on, Lin Muxian's face slowly walked in, lying down on the sofa, her eyes slightly closed, and she dozed off.

  Behind the sofa is that pile of cowhide documents.

  From the time she came in to turn on the light until she lay down on the sofa, about 7 or 8 seconds had passed. In another 10 seconds or so, the bulb would burst and fall, triggering a big fire.

  Hanna was so close, it's obvious she was affected by the flames.

  It has come to this, I let out a soft sigh, then suddenly jumped up and shouted: "Run quickly, there's a big fire." After that, I opened the door and ran wildly away.

  For me, the light has already come on, whether I escape early or late is the same, if I can avoid harming others, then I won't harm them.

  Just rushed downstairs, only heard a light 'bang' sound behind me, but the music in the hall was loud and not many people heard it.

  "Everyone be careful, there's a fire!" Hong Na happened to run out of the door and shouted as she rushed down.

  "It's on fire, everyone run!" I rushed through the band and shouted into the microphone a few times. As the pungent smoke drifted out, the crowd finally became chaotic.

  I quietly hid in the corner, looking around, before leaving Lin Mouxian especially instructed that the patrol officer must not have any accidents. However, Bide himself often revealed a message, his skills were quite formidable.

  Rolling thick smoke drifted down from the building, people rushed out in a frenzy, and in the chaos, I finally saw Tang Chao's figure.

  He rallied a group of young people and calmly directed the firefighting efforts.

  The fire was actually not big, mainly the pungent smoke scared people.

  Thinking of the next plan, I lazily found Peter again, and with a fleeting figure, I weaved in and out of the crowd, flashing behind Tang Chao's back, and said with a sly smile: "Don't be busy, your things are all here, if you want them, follow me."

  Tang Chao's whole body shook, and as soon as he turned around, I had already blended into the crowd, leaving only a shadow behind.

  "Go after him!" Tang Chao waved his hand and led several people in pursuit, ignoring the luxurious mansion that was burning more and more fiercely.

  ……

  In the distance, flames shot up into the sky.

  A fire that could have been controlled spread wildly, and eventually became uncontrollable. In a dimly lit alley not far from the scene of the fire, several dark figures stood still.

  "Who are you? What's your purpose?" Tang Chao said in a low and stern tone.

  It has to be said that Tang Chao has a lot of patience, things have developed to this extent and he can still maintain his composure.

  "It doesn't matter who I am, what matters is your attitude." I said in a cold tone.

  Tang Chao said: "Let Ren Da burn down his ancestral home and come listen to you talk, will this attitude be very bad?"

  "Listen carefully." I said slowly: "The evidence of your collusion with government officials to sell state-owned assets is in my hands, and what I want is not much, only two things. First, give me the evidence of Vice Mayor Gao's crime; second, let your men hand over that antique bracelet."

  "Who are you?" Tang Chao's eyes narrowed, and he counter-questioned instead of answering. In coordination with him, the three people behind him also took a step forward.

  I gripped the thin blade hidden in my sleeve tightly, and at this moment, there was no need to hide it anymore. I wiped off the disguise on my face and smiled lightly: "Young Master Tang should still remember me, right?"

  Tang Chao's face sank, "You're not dead?" He turned his head and glared at the three subordinates behind him, "What's going on?"

  "I interrupted: 'Let's pursue responsibility later, first do what I asked for.'"

  Tang Chao regained his composure and said, "The evidence is in the safe deposit box, it's unclear whether it's still there or not. As for the bracelet you mentioned..." He turned around and asked, "Did you guys take it?"

  "Uh, there is one." One of the Han people said weakly.

  Tang Chao didn't say much, he just nodded:

  "Yes."

  "Throw it over here." Seeing him wanting to walk this way, I hurriedly stopped him.

  This distance is the best I intentionally kept, under the condition that my line of sight is not blocked. As soon as Tang Chao makes a move to pull out his gun, I can launch a surprise attack within 1.5 seconds. The time spent practicing Wuqinxi wasn't wasted after all.

  After seeing me take the bracelet, Tang Chao said: "Alright, where are my things?"

  "What about the evidence of the vice mayor's crime?" I asked back.

  Tang Chao frowned and said: "I just said it, the evidence is in the safe."

  "I said: 'The cunning rabbit has three burrows, don't tell me you didn't keep a copy.'"

  "Is it necessary to keep a copy of this thing?" Tang Chao sneered, "If you want to, just search for evidence again, although it's a bit troublesome."

  I nodded in agreement, this man indeed has the potential to be a hero, he can pick up and put down, lose with integrity, and have a calm demeanor.

  "Uh-huh, I believe you, however," I said calmly, "the thing you want, I've already burned it. There were too many documents and I didn't have time to look for it."

  After finishing speaking, I gripped the thin blade tightly in my hand and stared intently at Tang Chao's hand.

  But then, Tang Chao smiled lightly and said with a relaxed expression, "Actually, I followed you just to see who burned down my ancestral home. As for the rest, I had already guessed."

  As he spoke, I became more cautious, and Tang Chao was smarter than I had imagined, or else he would have capsized in the gutter.

  Tang Chao suddenly smiled and said, "Little brother, don't be nervous. When I found out it was you, I realized it was a misunderstanding. Here, I apologize for what happened last time, and I hope we can coexist peacefully from now on." A self-satisfied expression appeared on his face, as if he had regained control of the situation.

  I smiled faintly. What was meant to be obtained had been obtained, and what was meant to be known was already known. I didn't have the mood to listen to his sentimental thoughts. I cupped my hands together and said, "In that case, farewell!"

  Upon hearing this, Tang Chao's calm smile suddenly froze, and many more lofty words were swallowed back, choking him until his face turned red. I couldn't help but smile to myself, thinking that people like him, who think they're superior to others, always believe their own views are correct and convincing.

  I refuse to listen.

  Tang Chao was a man who knew how to prioritize things, so he just smiled wryly and said, "Take your time, I won't see you off."

  I silently backed away, retreating until I was out of the handgun's firing range before leaving. But just then, a cold and arrogant hum came from behind me, "Are you leaving just like that?"

  Tang Chao's face changed, "Is it you?"

  P.S: Hmm, let me see if I can update an extra chapter today, and maybe tomorrow it'll rise another spot on the new book chart... Hehe... Please collect and recommend with a click...