Volume One, Chapter 11: A Secret Meeting in the Dead of Night

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At three in the morning, the cyberfraud compound in northern Myanmar had fallen into a deathly silence. The bitter winter wind seeped through the cracks in the corridors, carrying with it a damp chill and an unsettling gloom. Six hundred and eighty thousand in commission had vanished overnight at the casino, but what troubled him even more was the vague sense of conspiracy hanging in the air.

Chen Zhiming’s phone call, and that meaningful remark—“You people…”—kept scratching at his mind like an invisible hand.

“Brother Li.” Little Zhou suddenly lowered his voice and leaned close to his ear. “Do you know what Wang Meng used to do?”

Li Yang turned his head slightly. “What?”

Little Zhou warily scanned their surroundings. Seeing no one nearby, he continued in a hushed voice, “He used to be a psychologist.”

“A psychologist?” Li Yang stared at him. “Are you kidding?”

“It’s true.” The corner of Little Zhou’s mouth twitched, as though he were recalling something unpleasant. “I heard it from one of the old hands. Wang Meng used to run a clinic back home, mainly treating patients with psychological disorders and depression. Then, for some reason, he went mad himself.”

Li Yang frowned. “Mad?”

Little Zhou nodded, his eyes filled with an inexplicable fear. “Apparently, one of his patients was a rich second-generation heir who had been neglected by his family for years. He was severely depressed. The kid went to see Wang Meng for treatment, but ended up jumping off a building. His family refused to let the matter go. They smashed up Wang Meng’s clinic and threatened to sue him. Then… Wang Meng disappeared.”

“After that, he turned up here and became one of Boss Wang’s men.”

Li Yang fell silent. A sudden chill rose in his heart. He had always felt that Wang Meng was different from the other enforcers. His calmness and precision seemed to suggest that he was controlling other people’s minds… If he had truly been a psychologist, then everything made sense.

“So whatever you do, never show him an opening,” Little Zhou warned in a low voice. “That man is extremely good at reading people. Before most realize what’s happening, he’s already played them to death.”

Li Yang was about to ask for more details when a low, heavy set of footsteps suddenly sounded behind them.

“Li Yang.”

The icy voice froze them both in place.

Li Yang slowly turned around and met a pair of deep, shadowed eyes. Wang Meng had appeared behind them at some point, a lit cigarette between his lips, his gaze carrying a hint of amusement.

Little Zhou’s face instantly went pale. He lowered his head and dared not say a word.

Wang Meng slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke. The corners of his mouth lifted into a smile of unmistakable significance.

“What are you two talking about?”

Li Yang forced himself to remain calm, doing his best to make his expression appear natural. “Nothing. Just making conversation.”

“Oh?” Wang Meng lightly tapped the ash from his cigarette. “From the way you sounded, it seemed as though you were talking about me.”

Cold sweat appeared at Little Zhou’s temples, and he bowed his head even lower.

Li Yang knew there was no point hiding it, so he simply said, “Little Zhou told me a bit about your past. About… being a psychologist.”

Wang Meng’s smile deepened, but his eyes grew dangerous.

“He really does dare to say anything.”

Little Zhou’s body trembled faintly, his hands twisting tensely at his sides.

Wang Meng stared at Li Yang as though his gaze could pierce through flesh and see straight into the depths of his heart. After a long moment, he gave a quiet snort, flicked his cigarette butt to the floor, and crushed it beneath his leather shoe.

“Li Yang.” His voice turned several degrees colder. “Come with me.”

Li Yang’s heart sank, but on the surface he continued to feign composure. “Where?”

Wang Meng crooked a finger at him.

“To see whether you truly deserve to stay in this place.”

The dark, damp basement reeked of rot. From somewhere in the distance came the faint sound of rats gnawing at the corners of the walls. Wang Meng led Li Yang through a narrow corridor until they stopped before a heavy iron door at the very end.

Wang Meng took out a key and turned the lock. A wave of foul stench rushed toward them.

There were no lights in the room. Only a few feeble beams filtering through the vents barely illuminated what lay on the floor—

More than a dozen people were curled up there, skin stretched over bone, their upper bodies bare and covered in whip marks and festering wounds. They looked like livestock that had been imprisoned for years. Iron chains bound their hands and feet, black cloth covered their faces, and their skeletal bodies trembled uncontrollably.

Several battered metal bowls sat in the corner, filled with sour rice and scraps of bone. Beside them lay a half-dead dog, emaciated to the point of starvation, panting heavily.

These people… were eating what the dog had left behind.

“This is what happens when you refuse to obey,” Wang Meng said indifferently, as though stating something utterly insignificant.

Li Yang’s stomach churned. Fighting down his nausea, he stared fixedly at the chained prisoners.

One of the “piglets” seemed to sense the disturbance outside. With great difficulty, he raised his head. The black cloth covering his face quivered, and a dry, hoarse plea escaped his throat.

“Help… help me…”

Wang Meng narrowed his eyes, raised his foot, and brought it down hard on the man’s fingers. The sound of bones being crushed was horribly clear.

“Ahhh!”

The man let out a shrill scream. His finger bones were crushed in an instant, and his entire body convulsed as he curled into a ball.

Li Yang’s fists clenched instinctively, but he knew he could not allow any emotion to show.

Wang Meng slowly turned his head toward him, his gaze sharp as a blade.

“Do you want to end up lying here one day, eating garbage that even a dog wouldn’t touch?”

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Li Yang raised his head and met Wang Meng’s gaze, struggling to keep his expression utterly impassive.

“I don’t.”

“Then prove it to me.”

Wang Meng suddenly reached out, seized Li Yang by the collar, and shoved him forward, forcing him directly in front of a “piglet” curled up in the corner.

“Stamp on him.” Wang Meng’s voice was low, like a demon’s whisper. “Crush his hand, just as I did.”

Li Yang’s heart hammered violently, and his breathing quickened.

“Didn’t you say you don’t want to become one of them?” Wang Meng narrowed his eyes. “Then do it. Otherwise… next time, you’ll be the one eating dog food.”

The air seemed to freeze.

The only sounds in the room were the prisoners’ faint, ragged breaths and Wang Meng’s cold stare.

Li Yang’s throat felt dry. He looked down at the emaciated hand beneath his foot. The flesh was already rotting, and the fingers were stiffly curled inward.

If he refused, Wang Meng would certainly become suspicious.

He had no choice.

Drawing a deep breath, he closed his eyes and brought his foot down with all his strength—

Crack!

The sound of breaking finger bones rang out with dreadful clarity in the silent room.

“Ahhhhhh!”

The prisoner’s agonized scream reverberated through the basement, filled with utter despair.

Wang Meng watched Li Yang as the corners of his mouth slowly rose into a cruel smile.

“Feels good, doesn’t it? Ha ha.” He let out a wild laugh. “You. Come upstairs with me.”

Blood still stained the sole of Li Yang’s shoe. Beneath his feet, the “piglet” writhed and moaned, while the air reeked of blood like rust.

He knew that Wang Meng had taken in every detail of his reaction.

“Not bad.” Wang Meng patted him on the shoulder. The force was not heavy, but it felt like a venomous snake winding gently around its prey’s throat—cold and dangerous. “You’re a clever man. Much better than those useless fools.”

Li Yang did not respond. He merely glanced down at the man on the floor.

The “piglet” had already fainted. His finger bones were twisted at grotesque angles, and blood seeped from the torn flesh, dripping onto the moldy tiles.

Wang Meng reached out, grabbed Li Yang by the collar, and pulled his face closer. His voice was low, like a whisper rising from hell.

“Do you know why I brought you here?”

Li Yang stared into his eyes without answering.

The corners of Wang Meng’s mouth curved upward, his expression laced with mockery and menace.

“Because you’re a newcomer, yet you landed a major score. What does that tell me?”

He released Li Yang, turned, and strolled a few steps before speaking with deliberate indifference.

“It tells me you have potential.”

Li Yang’s heartbeat faltered slightly.

“There aren’t many people like you in this compound.” Wang Meng looked back at him, his gaze fierce. “Most of the ‘piglets’ simply follow the routine and cheat people out of their money. Those who can hook a target in such a short time, the way you did… there aren’t many.”

“I was lucky,” Li Yang said quietly.

Wang Meng gave a mocking laugh and patted his cheek. His palm was rough and carried a faint smell of tobacco.

“Don’t be modest. Luck accounts for thirty percent. The method is what matters.”

His eyes were deep and cold, as though they could see through every ripple in Li Yang’s heart.

“You know exactly when to apply pressure, when to ease off, when to lure someone with profit, and when to force them with threats… That’s talent.”

Li Yang remained silent.

“That’s why Boss Wang has taken a liking to you.” Wang Meng shifted into a more relaxed stance, his tone softening slightly. “A man with talent belongs in a higher position.”

Li Yang’s heart tightened faintly. He knew Wang Meng was about to begin drawing him in.

“Starting tomorrow, try managing a small team.” Wang Meng narrowed his eyes. “We’ll see whether you’re suited to the position.”

Li Yang clenched his fists beneath the surface, but he maintained a calm expression.

“Manage a team?”

“That’s right.” Wang Meng let out a derisive laugh. “Did you think I made you do that merely to frighten you? No, Li Yang. This was a test.”

He stared into Li Yang’s eyes and spoke each word distinctly.

“Only those who can truly climb over others to rise higher have any chance of surviving.”

Li Yang knew he had no right to refuse.

Wang Meng looked at him and suddenly smiled, as though appraising prey.

“What do you think? Do you dare give it a try?”

Li Yang lowered his eyelids slightly, concealing the turmoil deep within his eyes, and slowly nodded.

“I’m willing to try.”

Satisfaction appeared on Wang Meng’s face.

“Good.”

He casually pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and slowly exhaled a plume of smoke. His expression was half smile, half something else.

“If you’re going to manage people, you should naturally experience the life of management. Tomorrow night, we’re going to the Royal. I’ll take you there for some fun.”

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Li Yang frowned slightly. “The Royal?”

Wang Meng raised an eyebrow. “What? You’ve never heard of it?”

Of course Li Yang had heard of it. It was the most luxurious entertainment venue in the entire fraud compound, accessible only to members of management. The “hostesses” there were not ordinary drinking companions, but women selected from other compounds, trained to use every imaginable means.

And Xiao Ling… might be there.

His heart clenched violently, but he kept his expression calm.

“I understand.”

Wang Meng studied him for a while, then suddenly smiled.

“That expression of yours… Are you not interested in women?”

Li Yang’s back instantly tensed. He knew the question was a trap.

He quickly adjusted his expression and let a faint smile touch his lips.

“How could I not be? I’ve just never been there before, so I don’t know what it’s like.”

“Ha ha.” Wang Meng laughed loudly and patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. You’ll know once you go.”

He extinguished his cigarette and casually dropped the butt to the floor, grinding it beneath his leather shoe.

“By the way, since you’re going into management, you’ll need better accommodations too.”

Li Yang’s heart sank. So it had come.

“Starting tonight, you’ll move in with Big Bear.” Wang Meng’s tone brooked no refusal. “If you want to adapt to the life of management, you need to learn how to live alongside a real manager.”

Big Bear.

That cold, vicious face immediately surfaced in Li Yang’s mind.

If Wang Meng was a snake, skilled at lying in wait and probing his prey, then Big Bear was a savage beast who controlled the situation through violence and bloodshed. His cruelty was an open secret throughout the compound. Anyone who dared defy him would meet a fate worse than that of the piglets.

Li Yang’s heart sank heavily. He knew this was not a promotion, but surveillance.

Still, he nodded.

“I understand.”

Wang Meng watched him for a while, then suddenly smiled, his tone filled with hidden meaning.

“Li Yang, I hope you can remain this clever.”

He turned and walked away. Beneath the dim lights, his back seemed extraordinarily tall, like an impassable mountain.

Li Yang remained where he was, his fingers curling slightly, his nails digging deep into his palms.

He knew that from this day forward, he had truly been drawn into the vortex.

One wrong decision could send him into eternal ruin.

* * *

Big Bear’s dormitory was far more spacious than the rooms assigned to ordinary piglets. Its furnishings were crude but clean. A cleaver that gleamed coldly rested beside the bed, while several posters of naked women adorned the walls. The air was thick with a mixture of tobacco and alcohol.

When Li Yang pushed open the door, Big Bear was sitting on the bed, wiping his cleaver. At the sound, he looked up and cast Li Yang an indifferent glance.

“I’m living here with you from today onward,” Li Yang said first.

Big Bear snorted, his tone faintly mocking.

“Wang Meng sent you?”

Li Yang nodded.

Big Bear gave a cold laugh, tossed the cleaver onto the bedside table, and spoke lazily.

“You catch on quickly, kid. You haven’t been here long, and you’ve already worked your way up?”

Li Yang did not answer. He simply pulled out a chair and sat down, looking at Big Bear with calm composure.

“Are you unhappy about it?”

Big Bear narrowed his eyes, as though sizing him up. After a few seconds, he suddenly laughed, cruelty glinting in his smile.

“I don’t care. You’re only a test subject, anyway.”

Li Yang’s heart tightened. “A test subject?”

Big Bear’s gaze turned icy.

“Wang Meng never trusts a newcomer easily. Understand? You’re nothing more than a dog he’s let loose to test the waters.”

Li Yang drew a deep breath, forcing his voice to remain steady.

“And you?”

Big Bear stared at him for a moment, then gave a derisive laugh. He rose and patted Li Yang on the shoulder.

“Don’t ask so many questions. Get some sleep. Tomorrow night… is going to be a big one.”

He turned and walked into the bathroom. The door slammed shut behind him.

Li Yang sat in the chair, his fingers tapping unconsciously against the tabletop as Xiao Ling’s face rose in his mind.

Perhaps tomorrow, he might see her again.

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