Chapter 393: Wu Zui’s Plan

2022-05-20

“Since you know all this, then you should understand!” I gritted my teeth, my voice trembling. “Where our parents ended up—it’s now under Lai San’s control. Our parents died because of these people. You won’t even avenge them. Instead, you took Lai San in. What are you thinking?”

Wu Zui furrowed his brow and spread his hands, looking genuinely confused. “Wait, I’m not really getting this. Revenge? Why seek revenge? Aren’t you the one who always talks about justice? Our parents chose their own path, whether they lived or died, it was their choice.”

Wu Zui pressed his lips together and shook his head. “You can’t have double standards, little brother. Besides—don’t you think taking in the organization that killed your parents is an even better kind of revenge?”

“How do you know all this?” I asked. “Twenty years ago, we were just kids. There’s no way you remember. Did Lai San tell you? Have you ever considered that anyone who knows the truth might have been involved in their deaths? Can you really trust what those people say?”

A mysterious smile flickered across Wu Zui’s face. He said, “Honestly, I don’t care about our parents. If I’m supposed to feel something, I guess my life was given by Shi Huacheng. So, to repay him in some small way, I ought to break him out.”

“Repay him for raising you?” I shot back, furious, emotions running high. “All those things Shi Huacheng taught you, you call that kindness? He had you killing people in elementary school, didn’t even let you know good from evil. That’s what you call gratitude?”

Wu Zui stroked his chin. “You make some good points. But this is just our fate—you know? We’re born into sin. Everyone close to us ends up dying. We came into this world alone and, with lives as cursed as ours, everyone around us gets dragged down too. In the end, it’s just us.”

“What’s the point of killing until there’s no one left?” Wu Zui laughed. “Think about it—when it comes down to it, all that’s left is the two of us, brother against brother. Isn’t that a thrilling show? Remember, the same blood runs through our veins. Ever wonder why you’re so prone to guilt delusions? Because we’re the same kind! We were born to tear this world apart!”

Slowly, I sat down on the edge of the bed, listening to Wu Zui’s baseless arguments. I pushed back, “Everyone’s heart holds both good and evil—that’s something they decide for themselves. It has nothing to do with our parents. What I need to do is put you away with my own hands!”

“Me?” Wu Zui pointed dramatically at himself. “You’re going to catch me? Look where you are right now. How exactly do you plan to do that?”

As he spoke, Wu Zui came over and gently ran his fingers through my hair. “My dear little brother, just watch my show. You’re about to taste the worst this world has to offer. Everyone will abandon you, just like you came into this world alone—you’ll leave it the same way.”

Wu Zui gave me a broad grin.

As he spoke, he pulled on his mask and gave a slow, deliberate clap.

A moment later, Jesse stepped through the door.

Wu Zui looked back at Jesse. “How’s everything?”

Jesse replied, “No problem. Scarface is set, and it’s been checked—the moment we move, that entire wall’s coming down. Lai San took his crew west; if they get discovered, they’ll all be mobilized.”

Wu Zui nodded.

Jesse continued, “Lai San already coordinated with Liu Jian. When it starts, there’ll be a huge commotion on that side—everyone will be pulled in and nobody will interfere here. Lai San’s supposed to run for it, leaving his men behind to take the blame. Of course, we’ve made it clear with Liu Jian—in the end, Lai San won’t get away. That’s the real point of our cooperation.”

“But…” Jesse glanced at Wu Zui as if he wanted to say something, then changed the subject. “Yinzi has started hacking the system. According to him, he’ll have five minutes of control. He must reach the target spot within those five minutes.”

Wu Zui nodded. “No word on Li Ai’s side?”

Hearing Li Ai’s name, it suddenly dawned on me what Wu Zui was after. Li Ai wasn’t a stranger to us—he was the intersex killer from the Twelve Zodiac Murders, the one with multiple personalities. After that case wrapped up, Wu Zui set me up, so I never knew what happened to Li Ai.

Later, when I met up with Gu Chen again, he told me what became of Li Ai. After turning himself in, Li Ai managed to escape while everyone was distracted. Beyond that, I knew nothing. Now, it’s clear Wu Zui had pulled him in, and he was still doing Wu Zui’s bidding.

Shaking his head, Wu Zui said, “Li Ai’s been inside for over two months now. He should have made contact. By now, if he wants to slip away in secret, he’ll play along.”

Jesse nodded. “Old Zhang is waiting for us at the rendezvous with everything ready—escape tools, the lot. We can leave any time. Vivian’s already scouting the area. Moriko, Guan Zengbin, and Gu Chen are together. Should we stick with the original plan?”

Wu Zui raised his hand, checked his watch, and said, “It’s three in the morning. In two hours, when dawn’s first light breaks, everyone will just be getting up—groggy and off guard. That’s when we strike. They’ll never see it coming.”

“Go get ready.” Wu Zui waved them off. “Ten minutes, then we all move out.”

Jesse nodded again and left.

Wu Zui adjusted his mask and said, “It’s almost time. You’re about to witness one hell of a show.”

I looked at Wu Zui and spoke my guess out loud. “You want to bust someone out?”

“How many people do you even have?” I asked. “You think, in just ten minutes, you can get Shi Huacheng out?”

Wu Zui wagged his finger. “No, no, no. There’s no such thing as an unbreakable prison. As long as there are people, there are weak points, and as long as there are weak points, nothing is truly unbreakable.”

“Some people take bribes, some can be seduced, others need a little force. And even if the breakout fails—so what?”

Wu Zui’s voice was almost gleeful. “It’s been two decades since Dongxing City saw a case this big. Just picturing those bigwigs losing their minds cracks me up. And this—this is only part of our plan.”

“Only part?” I shook my head. “Even if you break Shi Huacheng out, you really think you can get out of Dongxing City? The whole city will be locked down. Even if you had wings, you couldn’t fly out.”

Wu Zui sounded annoyed. “What’s wrong with you? I told you already—I never planned to escape. Where else could I find a city this fun if I leave? I only did this to fulfill my adoptive father’s last wish. It amused me, so I went along. That’s all there is to it.”

“Why do all of you think killing needs some grand reason? If you want one, it’s simple—I enjoy it. Like some people love meat, some prefer veggies, some like loud noises, some like the stink of preserved eggs. I like killing. I like chaos. I love the blood. Get it?”

Wu Zui grabbed my collar, furious.

“Why can’t any of you understand?” Wu Zui panted. “Even my only living relative doesn’t get me. That makes it boring. You have to understand me, truly understand me, and then I’ll kill you. Only then do I feel alive. Got it?”

“Do you get it?” he snarled, shoving me onto the bed.

A hint of madness flickered in Wu Zui’s eyes. Guess that’s what happens with twins—even our cracks show up in the same way.

Wu Zui let out a long breath. “But you don’t have to understand. Just sit back and enjoy the show.”

“Come on, my dearest brother. You’re the only one in this world I want to slowly torture to death.”