Volume One, Chapter 37: He’s Completely Unhinged

To climb into the upper echelons and become a trusted confidant, Qin Shang had cooperated with them extensively. Even though his starting point and ultimate goal were to seek vengeance and dismantle the fraud organization, the law is impartial, and he had indeed broken it. Consequently, Qin Shang was sent to prison, sentenced to two years for fraud.

Hearing his mother’s case abruptly brought up by Xu Mingyang today, a flicker of savage ferocity passed over Qin Shang’s face, so faint it was nearly imperceptible.

A moment later, Xu Mingyang took a deep breath. "Your mother’s case back then... it should be much more complex than we thought."

"It is true that 'Skull' was a pyramid scheme fraud organization, but they did not operate any casinos within the country. The online 'pig-butchering' casino that lured your mother into debt was run by an organization called 'Voyage.'"

"The information we recently uncovered during our anti-vice operations shows that one of your mother’s overseas transfers back then was made to an account under the name 'Voyage.' I suspect that after your mother entered 'Skull,' she was coerced into a series of contacts with 'Voyage,' and thus accidentally fell into their trap, becoming a victim."

"The organization that truly drove your mother to her death may not have been 'Skull' at all, but that casino called 'Voyage'..."

*Bang!*

Before Xu Mingyang could finish, the car window was struck by a heavy fist, emitting a dull thud. He turned his head quickly to see Qin Shang’s features twisted into a mask of grim ferocity. His complexion had turned deathly pale, and his right arm was pressed hard against the police car’s bulletproof glass, his veins pulsing visibly.

"So, you’re saying the organization that killed my mother is this 'Voyage'..."

"Qin Shang, it’s been two years. Haven’t you suffered enough? You went to prison for two years because of your impulsiveness back then—don’t be reckless now! We can plan this out in the long run!"

Hearing this, Qin Shang’s face twitched. "My mother died under suspicious circumstances. I cannot just give up. Since there are new leads..."

As he spoke, he bared his teeth in a chilling, sinister grin. "I won't give up on finding the truth until the very last moment of my life. Why do you think I only ran away with the money back then? I had actually reached the high ranks of that pyramid scheme; I could have easily handed their names over to the Public Security Bureau. I just wanted them dead!"

"In such a dangerous drug transaction, the people from 'Skull' who took the money ran off. What do you think that organization was to the other party in the deal? A police officer? An undercover agent? A fraudster? A free-loader?"

Qin Shang let out a laugh. "Those people deserved to die, which is why I took the money and ran. I just didn't expect that the high-level members I encountered were merely a drop in the ocean. Once the case blew up, the opposing party in the transaction simply handed over the rest of 'Skull's' leadership..."

He had lost his mind.

Watching Qin Shang, Xu Mingyang felt a prickle of fear running down his spine. Ever since he fell ill, the young man’s reverence for the law seemed to have withered away significantly. In truth, if one were to put themselves in his shoes, it was understandable. He was a man dying of brain cancer with, at most, three months left to live. What was there in this world that he wouldn't dare to do?

If it weren't for the fact that there were no witnesses when Jiang Qiqi went missing, and no other colleagues had gone to Yanjing on business with her, Xu Mingyang feared that Qin Shang might have resorted to kidnapping those in the know and torturing them for answers.

"Calm down! We are only investigating!" Xu Mingyang urged. "That 'Voyage' casino has some power, and it’s not a domestic operation. We are only suspicious, do you understand? Suspicion alone is not enough—you had better not act rashly without evidence. I will continue to follow up, and if there are any new leads, I’ll let you know..."

Qin Shang grunted in acknowledgment, though it was unclear if he had truly listened. He leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes, and pretended to rest.

Xu Mingyang felt a pang of regret. *My friend, I only told you this so you wouldn't die with regrets! Why does it feel like I’ve triggered some unknown switch in you, making your heart even heavier?*

Half an hour later, the police car pulled onto a quiet path. The surroundings were lush with greenery and appeared exceptionally elegant. After driving a few hundred meters, Xu Mingyang brought the car to a stop. Ahead stood a grand gatehouse, fountains, and detached villas. Even from a distance, it was clear this was an affluent neighborhood.

Xiangya Villas. They had arrived.

Xu Mingyang glanced at Qin Shang. After their conversation, Qin Shang’s mood seemed off, so Xu Mingyang didn't bother making small talk. "We're here, buddy."

"Right. Thanks, and I'm sorry for losing my temper earlier..."

"It’s fine, we’re brothers!"

Qin Shang patted Xu Mingyang’s arm, dropped the sentimentality, grabbed his backpack, and pushed the door open. Once outside, the air was filled with the fragrance of grass and flowers, as if he had stepped into the wilderness. The environment here was truly excellent.

Up ahead was the security booth. Qin Shang stepped forward, and a guard immediately emerged to inquire, "Hello, which unit are you looking for? Visitors must register. You need to provide the villa number so we can contact the owner for confirmation before we can let you in."

There were only eight villas in Xiangya Villas. On his way here, Qin Shang had briefly looked up the layout. Xu Mingyang hadn't been joking; this was indeed a neighborhood for the wealthy. To be able to afford a villa in Yanjing, where every inch of land was worth gold, in such an elegant location with convenient transportation not far from the city center—the price must be six figures per square meter.

The villas had been snapped up by Yanjing’s rich the moment they hit the market. Online records from 2016 indicated an opening price of over 300,000 per square meter. This was a neighborhood for the elite; without a net worth of at least a hundred million, no one would dare buy here. After all, with only villas, any single property would likely cost at least 40 to 50 million. Strict security was to be expected.

However, the guard’s question put Qin Shang in a difficult spot. The little girl 'Grandpa Cow's' final words only mentioned coming here to have him pass on a message. Due to the urgency of the moment, she hadn't provided any other information. The only thing Qin Shang knew was that the person should also be a 'God's Path' player, with the ID 'Red Bishop.'

Qin Shang coughed awkwardly and rubbed his nose, tentatively asking the guard, "Excuse me... is there anyone in this neighborhood who goes by the name 'Red Bishop'?"