I was shocked by his last statement, I never expected Brother Hui to have such a peculiar habit!
In that era, media was limited to print publications and television reports. Information acquisition was far from as developed as it is now, and communication was relatively isolated. People’s ingrained beliefs were more traditional, and awareness of individuals with such specific fetishes was almost nonexistent.
When he suddenly mentioned Brother Hui’s behavior, I was slow to comprehend and froze for a moment before finally understanding.
I suddenly felt a surge of nausea.
However, the fact that he revealed such a difficult-to-discuss matter made me believe him a little more.
“Alright, I understand. But it all depends on your performance later. I’m giving you a chance. If you hold up your end, we’ll be brothers. If you betray me, I won’t hesitate to send you to hell.”
“Don’t worry, boss. Whether I live or die, my life is yours. If I break my word, you can take my life at any time.”
He had no other options now. Until his freedom was restored, I could only partially trust anything he said. Although his cooperation was a crucial part of this operation, I couldn't put all my eggs in one basket. We needed to have backup plans.
I brought him back to where the elder was, then pulled the elder aside and quietly recounted the situation of my interrogation. However, I omitted the part about Brother Hui’s peculiar habit; I couldn’t bring myself to say it, fearing I’d genuinely vomit.
The elder listened without speaking, likely contemplating the details of our deep infiltration.
Unlike my previous encounter with Wu Guodong, this time, if even one aspect went wrong, it would be a total loss with no room for maneuver.
After about an hour, the others arrived.
The elder assigned two Daoist brothers to escort the three subordinates of Brother Hui to our location. Mr. Song had already sent people to search Xie Jiabao’s study, so they could be handed over to him for processing.
While waiting for the Daoist brothers to return, the elder helped me with my disguise.
I was to pose as one of the men tasked with receiving Zhou Yingying and go to Brother Hui’s place with Ah Bei, the leader we had just captured.
Unlike my previous disguise as a returning overseas student, this time I would transform into a street hoodlum.
The three men who were sent away earlier had swapped clothes with us. All that remained was to change my face.
By then, the sky had begun to lighten. The elder was applying makeup to me in the same place where I had interrogated Ah Bei.
Ah Bei had already been untied, but he wasn’t brought over. He was with the Daoist brothers and Zhou Yingying by the riverbank.
Although I had met Brother Hui several times, it was always as the overseas student. He didn't actually know what I looked like. However, there was no guarantee that his dispatched assassins hadn't seen me. To minimize the risk of being recognized, I needed a significant change.
The elder understood this well. He altered my appearance several times before nodding with satisfaction, then began to trim my hair.
A low-level hoodlum from society wouldn't have perfectly neat hair; it should be messy and unkempt.
This wasn't difficult for the elder. The real challenge was altering my facial features.
After all, too many people remembered my face, and if someone recognized me, our mission would be ruined.
Therefore, the elder didn't dare to be careless, meticulously attending to every detail until he was satisfied.
After a while, he surveyed my new appearance and said, "It's good. Let's get ready to go."
We returned to the others. When I stood before them, I managed to surprise everyone!
Now dressed in the clothes I'd swapped with the grunts, I blended in seamlessly, making it impossible to tell who I was.
Ah Bei, in particular, gaped with his mouth open.
Although we had interacted in the darkness earlier, he hadn't seen my face clearly. However, he had sensed the authority I exuded. Now, I was a complete and utter street punk, with no trace of my former bearing.
I smiled and said to him, "Let's go. You're the boss now. The rest is up to you."
Ah Bei snapped back to reality, nodded nervously, and said to us, "Then, let's go."
The two Daoist brothers had also rejoined us. The seven of us walked out along a small path.
Calling it a path was generous; it was merely a gap in the jungle trampled by those crossing the border. If it weren't daylight, it would have been invisible.
The branches and thorns on either side scratched our clothes with a rustling sound. Following Ah Bei, we dodged the flailing branches and walked with difficulty on the muddy mountain path.
After walking for about two to three li, we finally reached a small village.
Ah Bei and his group’s vehicle was here.
It was a green, open-top jeep.
It was impossible to tell which era the car was from; it was so old and worn that its color had faded. Even the tires were missing pieces, and I truly feared it would break down somewhere.
Fortunately, Ah Bei hopped in and started it immediately. The engine vibrated violently, and the exhaust pipe backfired like firecrackers.
I arranged for them to get into the car, and I took the co-pilot seat.
The car had two rows of seats in the back. The elder sat behind me, Zhou Yingying sat on the other side, and the Daoist brothers crammed into the last row.
Despite its decrepit state, the car showed no signs of breaking down. It swayed and bounced as it carried us along the pitted road.
The road conditions here were actually suitable for this kind of vehicle. If we had brought our luxurious sedan, we probably would have needed to push it for part of the way.
This region had been plagued by continuous conflict, and survival under such extreme conditions was people’s top priority. They had no inclination to develop public transportation, and having a road leading out was already considered fortunate.
After about an hour’s drive, we arrived at a larger village with many shops lining the streets. The pedestrian traffic wasn't heavy, and we occasionally saw one or two young men in military uniform with rifles wandering the streets.
With universal conscription, it wasn't unusual to see such individuals on the streets.
The car stopped in front of a restaurant.
We had been on the go for most of the night and had to travel on empty stomachs early in the morning, so everyone was hungry.
Furthermore, the elder and one Daoist brother needed to stay behind. Brother Hui’s hideout was not far from here, and any further would take us into a military-controlled zone.
After quickly grabbing a bite to eat, the elder and I parted ways. We all got back into the car.
As soon as the car left the village, it turned onto a dirt road, which became even more difficult to navigate. Two tire tracks, resembling a snake, wound their way into the distance.
On either side of the road were extensive banana plantations, bearing sparse fruit.
Ah Bei told me that we were about to enter a military camp.
I glanced again at the two Daoist brothers disguised as Brother Hui’s men. They appeared calm and composed, showing no signs of nervousness or unease.
I nodded with satisfaction and thought to myself, "Brother Hui, here I come!"