BPIFC -Volume 1 – Chapter 19 Old Beijing Seafood City

Just after leaving the Second Investigation Room, Shen La received a phone call.

Apparently, some relative of his had arrived in Beijing and needed to be entertained, so he parted ways with Sun Desheng.

Afterward, Sun found a secluded corner and made a phone call of his own. Speaking in a low voice for a few moments, he then casually strolled toward the First Investigation Room.

“Brother, if something like this happens again, don’t rush into a fight. Tell me first. Your big brother will handle it for you.”

When he arrived at the First Room, he found Che Qianzi and Director Hao exactly where he expected.

Taking out a pack of cigarettes and handing one to each of them, Sun continued:

“Not to brag, but there are countless ways to deal with people. You picked the dumbest one.

Sure, it felt good at the moment. But have you thought about it? Do you think the Second Room is going to let this go?

One day when you’re out investigating a case, somebody from their side might stab you in the back…”

“Not that serious, not that serious.”

Hao Wenming interrupted him with a wave of his hand.

“Ximen Lian and the others are definitely angry, but we’re all working from the same pot. Nobody would do something like that.

Not to brag, but back in the day, Qiu Bulao, Wang Ziheng, and I were constantly competing with each other. Yet nobody ever tried to trip me up behind my back.”

Sun chuckled.

“Chief Hao, back then you were a director, and Chief Gao was backing you. Of course nobody dared touch you.

But my little brother isn’t even a proper investigator yet.

And I’m not the Director anymore.

If they decide to move against him, they’ll move against him.

Sure, Ximen Lian, Old Mo, and that Bear Idiot probably won’t do anything themselves.

But who knows whether one of their subordinates might get stupid?”

“Alright, enough.”

Even Che Qianzi understood that the two men were looking out for him.

Thinking about how Sun Desheng would have to clean up the mess afterward, he reluctantly softened his tone.

“I know I was impulsive this time.”

Then he immediately changed gears.

“But make sure you tell those little bastards in the Second Room something.

If any of them come looking for trouble again, I’ll beat them again.

I’ll keep beating them until they stop looking for trouble.”

Sun made a helpless face.

“Fine. I really can’t talk you out of that.

Beat them if you have to—but don’t kill anybody.

Brother, if you actually kill someone, even I won’t be able to save you.”

Che Qianzi immediately kicked the ball back.

“Do your best. And remember to tell those Second Room idiots the same thing.

Don’t push things to the point where people start dying.”

Recruiting this hothead into the Bureau… maybe I’m starting to regret it…

Sun laughed bitterly to himself.

Hao Wenming quickly changed the subject.

“By the way, Great Sage, tell me more about what happened in Jiuhe. Why do I get the feeling the matter still isn’t over?”

“Of course it isn’t over.”

Sun smiled.

“Chief Hao, let me ask you something. What exactly is the Guangyuan Nether Mirror?”

“Guangyuan Nether Mirror…”

Hao looked surprised.

“Yang Xiao didn’t tell you?”

After confirming that Sun genuinely didn’t know, he continued:

“I thought Yang Xiao told you everything.

According to legend, the Guangyuan Nether Mirror is actually a scripture written by Lord Guangyuan of the Underworld.

It supposedly contains supreme techniques for commanding spirits and manipulating ghosts.

Back when you were handling business in America, the Underworld lost that scripture.

They dispatched countless ghost officials and underworld agents to search for it in the human world.

They never found it.

That was also when people first learned such a scripture even existed.

When news of the Guangyuan Nether Mirror appeared in the Jiuhe Ghost Market, Hao Zhengyi and I heard about it immediately.

We even discussed whether we should go take a look.

But Hao Zhengyi was right.

That thing is far too dangerous.

Unlike Yang Xiao, we don’t practice spirit-commanding or ghost-manipulating arts.

So we stayed out of it.

Who would’ve thought Ouyang Pianzuo would hear about it too?

He doesn’t know those arts either, but he couldn’t resist studying it.

I couldn’t talk him out of it, so he led a team to Jiuhe.

I honestly thought you’d all come back together.”

“The Guangyuan Nether Mirror appeared while I was in America…”

Sun Desheng narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.

After a moment, he smiled and asked:

“Then did either of you ask Director Wu? Maybe he’d have some use for it.”

“We did.”

Hao laughed bitterly.

“Hao Zhengyi was the one who asked him. But do you know what Wu Rendi said?”

Remembering the scene, he shook his head.

“He said it was a fart. That’s right. To Director Wu, all the world’s heavenly treasures, rare scriptures, and priceless artifacts are basically just farts.”

Hearing the conversation turn toward Wu Rendi, Che Qianzi finally spoke up.

“You people keep saying ‘Director Wu’ this and ‘Director Wu’ that.

What’s the deal with that white-haired pretty boy?

Why does everyone in the Bureau seem so afraid of him?”

Sun Desheng and Hao Wenming exchanged a glance.

Wu Rendi’s identity was complicated.

Neither man quite knew where to begin.

Finally, Sun smiled.

“That story is a long one.

Not something you can explain in a day or two.

Anyway, we’ve got plenty of time ahead of us.

I’ll tell you bit by bit.

Actually, speaking of that, I once thought about writing a book about all the stories I’ve heard over the years.

Chief Hao, what do you think about the title: Wu Rendi Battles the Gods and Buddhas of Heaven and Earth?”

“Go ask Wu Rendi yourself.”

Hao immediately stood up.

“And don’t tell him I had anything to do with it. I’d still like to keep living.”

With his hands clasped behind his back, he slowly headed for the door.

“I’m going over to the Fourth Room to see Director Hao.

Great Sage, it’s almost quitting time.

When you two leave, remember to close the door.”

“Chief Hao is getting old…”

Watching Hao Wenming’s departing figure, Sun sighed softly.

Then he muttered to himself:

“Ten years…I’ve got a wife, kids, and a warm bed at home now. Time really flies.”

Turning to Che Qianzi, he grinned.

“Come on, brother. Get ready. Tonight your big brother is treating you to something good.”

Originally, Sun had planned to complete Che Qianzi’s employment paperwork that day.

But after the massive fight in the Second Room, Secretary Yang had almost certainly fled to avoid trouble.

Since that wasn’t happening, Sun decided to handle other matters first.

Driving personally, Sun Desheng took Che Qianzi out of Bureau headquarters.

After crossing more than half of Beijing, the car finally stopped in front of a somewhat quiet restaurant.

Looking up at the signboard, Sun smiled.

“Old Beijing Seafood City. Yep, this is the place. Brother, eat as much as you want tonight. It’s all on me. I’ll let you experience authentic Old Beijing live seafood.”

Che Qianzi glanced at the sign.

Old Beijing Seafood?

Which shameless owner came up with that name?

Even someone like him, who had never traveled far from northeastern China before, knew that Beijing was hardly famous for seafood.

There was no way this could be considered authentic.

Still, since someone else was paying, he didn’t really care.

As long as the food filled his stomach, authenticity wasn’t important.

“Private room reserved by Mr. Hao.”

After Sun gave the reservation information, a server led them to a private room at the far end of the second floor.

The moment he sat down, Sun acted as if he owned the place.

“A table for three. The third guest will be here shortly. I’ll order first.”

He immediately started listing dishes.

“Old Beijing Steamed Grouper. Imperial Yuanmingyuan Lobster Sashimi. Emperor Qianlong’s Favorite Geoduck Clam…”

By the time he finished, he had ordered twenty or thirty dishes.

Che Qianzi didn’t try to stop him.

Back home, whenever people invited him and Kong Dalong to banquets for helping with supernatural matters, there were usually just as many dishes.

The two of them could easily finish an entire table by themselves.

What interested him more was the identity of the third guest.

The private room had been reserved under the name “Mr. Hao.”

Could the third person be Hao Wenming?

Just as he was about to ask, the private room door opened.

A tall, thin man entered.

When he saw that there was a stranger besides Sun Desheng in the room, he paused in surprise.

At that moment, Fatty Sun stood up with a broad grin.

“This isn’t an outsider. This is my sworn brother. Long time no see, Crow…”