Special District 9

Bella went over to Qi Lin’s mother and younger sister’s room to sleep whereas Qi Lin brought Ah Long into his own room.

“You seem to be living not bad. You even got yourself a wife,” Ah Long said as he examined the room. He walked straight over to the bed and took a seat on his own accord.

Qi Lin clenched his fists and glared at Ah Long, “If you want to die, you can mess around elsewhere. Why did you come back to Songjiang? Do you know I nearly got done in cause of you?!”

Ah Long’s real name was Qi Long, and he was Qi Lin’s blood-related elder brother. However, their personalities were polar opposite. Qi Lin was a conservative person who would rather live a humble and practical life whereas Qi Long was a risk-taker. He would often hang out outside, rarely coming home at all.

The last time Qi Long came back was two years ago. Since then, he had never sent any word back to his family at all. There were times that Qi Lin wondered if Qi Long had already died outside. He never thought that he would actually see his elder brother during the operation the other day.

Even though the two brothers didn’t have a close relationship with one another, in the end, blood was still thicker than water. He couldn’t shoot at his own brother just to earn some merit.

He couldn’t tell this matter to anyone, so he had been feeling very stifled over the last few days. Furthermore, he was very worried about Qi Long’s safety too.

Qi Long leisurely took out a box of Chunghwa cigarettes, placed one in his mouth, and lit it. As he took a puff, he said, “I didn’t want to see you either. If we hadn’t met that day, I wouldn’t have come home today.”

“Yeah, why would you? You are having a hell of a time outside. Why would you even remember that you had a family?” Qi Lin spat coldly. “So what are you doing here? Do you know that I’ll be a goner if others were to learn about our relationship?”

“Can’t you talk properly?”

“…”

“You can rest easy. I won’t betray you even if I have a gun pointed to my head,” Qi Long replied with his usual lackadaisical attitude. “I camped here for a few days and confirmed that there are no one eyes here before looking for you. Besides, as long as I don’t get caught, they wouldn’t know about our relationship either. Back then, when you entered the Police Bureau, you didn’t write that you have an elder brother, right?”

“I just don’t get it. There are so many ways to earn money, so why must you choose this?” Qi Lin clenched his fists tightly as he howled in incomprehension. “Do you know that the Police Headquarters has been cracking down hard on medicine smugglers nowadays, and they are heaping pressure on the Police Bureaus to do their job? Songjiang’s entire law enforcement branch is eyeing you at the moment, wanting to know where your goods are from! As soon as you get caught, they’ll surely deal with you harshly. There won’t be any mercy at all…”

“I know.”

“But you still do it?”

“What else do you want me to do? Live pathetically the way you do?” Qi Long replied.

“I’m pathetic? I might be fucking pathetic outside, but at home…” Those words agitated Qi Lin, to the point that he was ready to fight with Qi Long over this.

Qi Long lowered his head as he interjected hoarsely, “Yes yes, I admit it. You are more of a man at home than me.”

Qi Lin suddenly found himself at a loss of words.

“Goddamnit, I’m hungry. Do you have any food here?” Ah Long asked with a smile.

Qi Lin hesitated for a moment before he sighed deeply and walked out of the room.

…

Over at the Police Bureau.

Yuan Ke personally poured a cup of water for Qin Yu before settling down on the sofa. He asked, “Have the medicine peddlers you caught confessed to Ah Long’s usual routes yet?”

Qin Yu shook his head and replied, “They have confessed, but they also think that Ah Long has already gotten out of Songjiang by now.”

“This bunch of fixers is putting their life on the line for money. They know the fate that lies ahead of them, so they won’t speak blindly,” Yuan Ke nodded. A moment later, he crossed his leg and smiled, “But well, I have confidence.”

Qin Yu was surprised by Yuan Ke’s attitude. “You got a lead?”

“Un.” Yuan Ke replied. He looked at Qin Yu and spoke softly, “I have some friends in the underground world. I’d offer them some conditions convenient for them, so they are quite reliant and supportive of me. The medicine peddlers you caught are headed by the Ma Family, and Ah Long is in a long-term partnership with them.”

“I am aware of that,” Qin Yu replied with a nod.

“There’s a mercenary in Black Street called Klaude, and we are still on friendly terms with one another. When I was eating earlier, he called me and told me that someone tried to smuggle a person out of Special District 9 through him,” Yuan Ke explained calmly. “I asked him for the details, and he said that the person who made the request of him is on close terms with Old Ma.”

Qin Yu widened his eyes as he asked, “So, the person who is being smuggled is very likely to be Ah Long?!”

“I am 80% certain it’s him,” Yuan Ke replied with a nod. “If it wasn’t anyone important, Old Ma would have looked for Klaude to negotiate with him directly. There’s no need for him to intentionally look for an intermediary to make the request on his behalf. Do you get what I’m saying?”

“Yes, that makes sense.”

“I had Klaude agree to their request first, so Old Ma will be making arrangements for Ah Long to leave very soon,” Yuan Ke chuckled as he looked at Qin Yu. “I have already given you the lead, I’ll leave the case to you. You have to catch Ah Long by hook or by crook this time around. Make him spit out the source of his goods.”

However, Qin Yu appeared to fall into deep thoughts after hearing those words. He didn’t reply immediately.

“What’s wrong?” Yuan Ke asked.

Qin Yu hesitated for a moment before asking with a smile, “Platoon Commander Yuan, there’s a matter which I have been wondering about for some time now.”

“Feel free to speak.”

“… To be frank, I am a little overwhelmed. I don’t understand why you are giving such a good opportunity to me,” Qin Yu got straight to the point. “You have managed to dig up such an important lead, so why don’t you pass the case on to a confidant of yours or even handle it yourself… This is an opportunity to earn some merit.”

Yuan Ke looked at Qin Yu for a few seconds before he suddenly stood up, pointed his finger at Qin Yu’s face, and said, “That’s because I’ve decided to raise you up this year.”

Qin Yu was perplexed, “Why is that so?”

“I’ll be promoted to a vice superintendent latest by the end of this year, so I’ll need to have my own following. I can see for myself who has capabilities in my platoon and who doesn’t,” Yuan Ke said confidently as he started pacing around the room calmly. “I am intending to raise three platoon leaders, and that includes you and two others.”

Qin Yu still didn’t respond after hearing those words.

“You fool, do you still not get it?!” Yuan Ke walked over to the sofa and patted Qin Yu’s shoulder. With a smile on his lips, he said, “I decided to raise you up because you are new here. You don’t belong to anyone, which means that you have a clean background. It’s not easy to find subordinates who are both capable and trustworthy.”

Qin Yu nodded for a short moment before replying, “Platoon Commander Yuan, I get it now that you have put it in such a way.”

“I’ll leave Ah Long’s case for you to handle. As long as you settle it satisfactorily, I’ll make sure that you are promoted to become the commander of Platoon 1 by the end of this year,” Yuan Ke said before standing up. “Work hard, Qin Yu. My boat is the stablest of all in the Police Bureau.”

“Thank you, Platoon Commander Yuan!” Qin Yu stood up and saluted. However, his brain was still whirring swiftly as he thought about another matter.

…

Qi Lin’s room.

Sitting before a broken round wooden table, Qi Long ate a bowl of noodles that didn’t have the slightest sauce or condiment to it. With a displeased frown, he asked, “Is this all you eat everyday?”

“You should be glad that you aren’t eating shit right now,” Qi Lin retorted as he smoked on his e-cigarette.

Qi Long sighed deeply before quietly finishing his noodle. He wiped his mouth before asking, “Is mum sleeping?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll go take a look by the window.” Qi Long stood up and walked over to the other room.

Qi Lin hesitated for a moment before following him.

Outside the opposite room, Qi Long stood by the windowsill and pressed his face against the icy-cold glass to look at the old lady lying on the bed inside.

Qi Lin stood behind him, smoking his e-cigarette without making a noise.

“How is mum’s ailment doing?” Qi Long asked with a quivering voice.

“Not too good.” Qi Lin shook his head.

Qi Long was silent for a few seconds before lamenting, “This is life. This darned life. It’s not as if there’s any use in getting to know King Yama.”

“Can you watch your mouth?” Qi Lin lost his temper and bellowed.

“Stop shouting. She’ll hear you,” Qi Long replied as he walked away from the window. He took out a small bag from his pocket and passed it over to Qi Lin.

Qi Lin was taken aback.

“There’s 10,000 dollars in there. Take it,” Qi Long said with a gentle voice.

“How the heck did you gather so much money…”

“I have only gotten into the medicine trade not too long ago, or else I would have already sent money back by now. This is my savings so far. Use 8000 dollars to treat mum. Whether she can live or not is one thing, but as her children, we’ll have to do as much as we can for her… As for the rest, use it for your daily expenditure,” Qi Long said calmly. “If I manage to survive this, I should be able to earn quite a bit more in the future. I’ll slowly send them over to you.”

Qi Lin looked at his elder brother a little worriedly.

“This is what I should do, so you need not think too much about it,” Qi Long said as he forcefully stuffed the money into his younger brother’s hands. At the same time, he lit up a cigarette and said, “Lil’ bro, I don’t know whether we’ll be able to meet again after this. I’ll be leaving this family to you. Your brother… is lacking in many ways compared to you.”

After saying those words, the two of them were silent for around one minute before Qi Long took one last look inside the room before leaving decisively.

Holding onto the small bag, Qi Lin was dazed for a long time before he called out, “… Are you sure you’ll be able to get out? Otherwise, I can help think of a way to send you out.”

Qi Long halted his footsteps at the entrance of the residence, and he turned around and said, “No matter who asks you, do not admit to our relationship. Treat me as if I’m dead from now onward. Take care of mum and lil’ sis.”

Qi Lin’s eyes reddened.

“And if you find yourself cornered and unable to live on one day, there’s a number in the bag. Find him, and he’ll be able to help you.” Qi Long waved at his younger brother before saying, “I’m going.”

…

Late at night, little bits of snow drifted in the sky.

Qi Long walked quickly until he was around a kilometer away before finally turning his head around. With tears streaming down his cheeks, he looked in the direction of his home and kneeled on the floor. He kowtowed and cried out with a quivering voice, “Mum… I am useless. I couldn’t do anything at all, and now, I’m going to lose my life very soon… I’ll surely be a good son to you in my next life.”

Back in the room.

Qi Lin sat on a chair in his room, smoking quietly. His heart was filled with worry. Even though he didn’t get along well with Qi Long, they were still brothers who shared the same blood with one another. Beneath the cold exterior of their relationship lay an indescribable bond known as kinship.

He prayed that his elder brother would be able to get through this. Little did he know that after this meeting, a storm that would change everyone’s fate would come right after…

…

Half a month later.