Wilderness Romance!

Night fell as expected, enveloping the entire old town. The afterglow of dusk faded completely, and the old streets of the old town lost the hustle and bustle of the day, gaining a more somber tranquility.

There are no towering buildings and flashing neon lights in the new urban area. Instead, there are only mottled old residential buildings on both sides. The streetlights are dim and weak, and the light filters through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting scattered and swaying shadows on the ground.

The place is sparsely populated, with only the occasional sound of old shop curtains rolling up as they close, creating a somber and oppressive atmosphere.

Half an hour before eight o'clock, Dafei drove his car and parked it directly in front of the Yuelai Restaurant.

Lu Pingchuan didn't rush to get out of the car. He held an unlit cigarette between his fingers and looked out the car window, quietly observing the unassuming old restaurant in front of him.

The Yuelai Hotel has been open for more than ten years. The decor is old and the paint on the signboard has long since peeled off. It usually only serves the local residents. With little foot traffic and a secluded location, it is indeed an excellent meeting place. No wonder Dafei specifically chose this place.

The old town was under the jurisdiction of Master Zhao, and Luo Sanpao's influence rarely extended there. However, the safer a place seemed, the more likely it was to harbor unknown hidden dangers.

This was Lu Pingchuan's first time targeting Luo Sanpao, and he couldn't afford to make any mistakes, so he dared not be negligent.

After everyone got out of the car, Lu Pingchuan glanced at Dafei beside him and instructed, "Dafei, have the brothers check the surrounding area to see if there are any of Luo Sanpao's spies."

Dafei looked solemn and nodded slightly.

He understood the significance of this meeting; it was the first step in bringing down Luo Sanpao. If things went wrong, not only would all his previous efforts be in vain, but it could also invite Luo Sanpao's furious retaliation, leading to a series of troubles.

Dafei glanced at his brothers behind him, and with just a look, he relayed Lu Pingchuan's order.

Immediately afterwards, more than ten brothers scattered in all directions.

"Let's go, Dafei, let's go up."

Dafei paused, a look of surprise on his face: "Pingchuan, can I...can I go up too?"

"Li Cheng knows me. If I go up there, won't our plan be exposed?"

"So what?"

Lu Pingchuan didn't care. Right now, he was the only one who could treat Li's mother's illness. If Li Cheng was really a filial son, he had no choice at all.

If Li Cheng is not as filial as rumored, the other party will certainly not easily agree to his request. Therefore, whether Da Fei is present or not is irrelevant.

"It's alright, Dafei, he'll find out sooner or later."

Lu Pingchuan put his arm around Dafei's shoulder and stepped into the restaurant.

The two went straight to room 308 on the third floor. Ten minutes later, the henchmen responsible for patrolling the area entered the room one by one.

"Brother Dafei, Mr. Lu, we've looked all around, but we haven't found any of Luo Sanpao's spies."

Lu Pingchuan nodded and waved, saying, "Thanks for your hard work, brothers. Let's go out and get a table. Order whatever you want to eat, but drink less alcohol."

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up, smiles appeared on their lips, and they couldn't wait to leave the private room.

In the blink of an eye, only Dafei and Lu Pingchuan remained in the private room.

Lu Pingchuan picked up the teapot and poured Dafei a cup of hot tea: "Dafei, what's the situation with Jin Guisheng?"

Dafei tapped the table three times with his right index and middle fingers together: "Don't worry, Pingchuan. As you instructed, I've been keeping an eye on him. I have detailed records of where he went and who he contacted."

Lu Pingchuan lit a cigarette and said, "After we deal with Li Cheng, our next target is Jin Guisheng. Tell the brothers to keep a close eye on him and not miss any information."

"Understood." Dafei nodded emphatically: "Now we don't need to keep an eye on Li Cheng anymore. I'll have the brothers here go over and keep a close watch on Jin Guisheng's every move, 24 hours a day."

Lu Pingchuan nodded slightly: "It's almost eight o'clock, Li Cheng should be arriving soon."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a knock came at the door.

"Enter."

As Lu Pingchuan's voice fell, the door to the private room creaked open, and Li Cheng, wearing a baseball cap, appeared in Lu Pingchuan and Dafei's sight.

"Mr. Lu, what's wrong...?"

Li Cheng grinned, and just as he began to speak, his gaze suddenly swept over Da Fei, who was standing next to Lu Pingchuan.

"Dafei?" The smile on his face froze instantly, his brows furrowed sharply, revealing a look of surprise and wariness.

"Mr. Lu, what's he doing here?"

Lu Pingchuan glanced at Dafei beside him and smiled without saying a word.

Although he didn't say it explicitly, Li Cheng seemed to have understood what Lu Pingchuan meant.

Li Cheng quietly placed his right hand on his waist, his whole body tensing instantly, his eyes filled with vigilance.

He was full of doubts when he received Lu Pingchuan's invitation yesterday.

The new district is full of upscale restaurants with excellent ambiance and service, but the other party chose the unassuming Yue Lai Hotel in the old district.

Only now did he fully understand the reason behind it.

Lu Pingchuan gestured for him to sit down: "Please have a seat, Mr. Li."

Since he was already here, he might as well make the best of it. Over the years, Lu Pingchuan was the first person who could cure his mother's illness, and he couldn't leave.

Li Cheng glanced around the private room and finally sat down by the window.

The evening breeze drifted in through the open window, ruffling the stray hairs on Li Cheng's hat brim and making him even more alert.

He leaned half his body against the chair, his center of gravity lowered subtly, his knees slightly bent. He seemed to be sitting down casually, but in reality, all his muscles were already tense and ready to strike.

If Lu Pingchuan and Dafei make the slightest move, he can use the momentum to jump out of the window and disappear into the intricate alleys of the old city.

Lu Pingchuan saw all of this. He picked up the teapot, poured Li Cheng a cup of hot tea, and grinned.

"Mr. Li, there's no need to be so nervous."

Li Cheng's hand remained firmly around his waist, his right hand gripping the short blade hidden beneath his clothes. The cool metallic touch was his only source of confidence at that moment.

He took off his hat and asked in a deep voice, "Mr. Lu, are you one of Master Zhao's men?"

Lu Pingchuan shook his head, immediately denying Li Cheng's guess.

"You've misunderstood Mr. Li. I, Lu Pingchuan, only work for myself."

The doubt in Li Cheng's eyes did not diminish at all; his brows remained furrowed, and his tone was filled with deep wariness.

"Since you're not one of Fourth Master's men, why is Dafei with you? Everyone in Qingshui County knows that Dafei is Fourth Master's most trusted confidant, always by his side."

Upon hearing this, Dafei twitched the corners of his mouth, a complex smile appearing on his face: "Li Cheng, what you're saying is all outdated. Now, I only listen to Mr. Lu."

Li Cheng's pupils suddenly contracted, but the suspicion in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest.

Having spent many years in Qingshui County, he knew all too well Dafei's importance.

Dafei has followed Master Zhao through thick and thin for more than ten years. He is Master Zhao's most trusted and relied-upon right-hand man. He is loyal and has never had any disloyal thoughts. How could he suddenly switch sides?

"Alright, Mr. Li." Lu Pingchuan handed the menu to Li Cheng. "Order first, and then we can talk business."

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