The Cabaret
Naturally, Chen Ling couldn't have used Fate Weaving to arrange a heavy rainstorm specifically to play a trick on these two "Door Gods". He wasn't idle to that extent, and his true target wasn't here.
As for these two unlucky bastards, Chen Ling also couldn't really drive them away. He still needed these two people to provide cover for him... But no matter what, since these two people chose to come look for trouble with him, Chen Ling wouldn't make them too comfortable either. They had to suffer a bit.
Looking at the two people shivering in the rain outside the door, Chen Ling happily finished the last sip of chicken soup and placed the bowl back on the table.
"It's about time."
Chen Ling glanced at the sky and said to Kong Baosheng, "I'm going out for a bit."
Kong Baosheng gave an "mm", turned around, and took out an umbrella from under the counter for him. After Chen Ling took it, he slowly stepped out of the Theater House entrance, glancing at the two drowned rats who were almost frozen into popsicles.
At this moment, the two of them had been drenched until they had almost no feeling left. Noticing Chen Ling's gaze, they braced themselves and glared back, only their gazes at this time appeared exceptionally pathetic and wretched.
They could only watch helplessly as Chen Ling opened his umbrella, his figure gradually disappearing at the end of the street.
Great World Cabaret.
The heavy rain didn't drown the enthusiasm of the people in the Red Dust Main City for song and dance. As the brilliant neon signs lit up in the curtain of rain, the Cabaret finally opened for business. Many young people poured in, and in a short while, it was completely packed.
A gorgeously dressed singer stood on the Stage, her body swaying left and right rhythmically with the song. Neon lights flashed across the dance floor as many figures embraced and danced. Decadent music mixed with the crisp sound of clinking wine glasses echoed in every corner of the dance hall.
Li Ruohong stood in the VIP box on the second floor, looking down at the lively dance hall venue below, and downed the red wine in his glass in one gulp.
"That Theater House boss truly doesn't know what's good for him."
Li Ruohong snorted coldly. "Never mind that group of people from the Casino, after all, it's my Maternal Uncle's property, so yielding to them a bit doesn't matter. But since when does a boss running a dilapidated little Theater House dare to challenge me?"
"Brother Hong, why get angry over such a minor character?" A short-statured manager stood behind him and spoke with a chuckle. "Haven't those two brothers surnamed Zheng already gone? They'll teach him how to behave. Next time you meet, he'll probably be begging you to buy that Theater House..."
"But we still can't go too far, after all, these are extraordinary times right now." Li Ruohong paused for a moment. His gaze turned to VIP Room 001 opposite him, whose curtains remained tightly drawn, and said in a deep voice, "If the Police Officers investigate us at this time, things will become troublesome..."
The manager also glanced at that VIP room and asked cautiously:
"Brother Hong, are those few really not coming down to play? They've been here for so many days and haven't even stepped out the door. Is there a need to be this vigilant?"
"What do you know? Those few are..." Li Ruohong spoke halfway but didn't continue. He waved his hand and said, "Anyway, their identities are extremely sensitive in the Red Dust Domain, absolutely no outsiders can know... Here's what you do, prepare a Fruit Platter and send it over. Just leave it at the door. Remember, don't knock."
"Okay, I'll go right away."
The manager immediately turned around and left to personally prepare the Fruit Platter.
Standing behind the handrail of the box, Li Ruohong continued to look down at the crowd immersed in song and dance below. He really liked this feeling. It gave him a sense of power, looking down on the masses, and a special feeling that everyone else was drunk while he alone was awake. Paired with a little tipsiness from the wine, it was simply better than being an immortal.
Just then, a drop of coldness landed on his cheek.
Li Ruohong froze slightly. He raised his hand and wiped it, discovering it was a small drop of water.
He looked up and found that at some point, the floorboards of the third floor had actually become somewhat damp, seemingly leaking a bit of rain... However, he didn't pay it much mind. This Cabaret was indeed getting old, and coupled with the heavy rain today, a little leakage was perfectly normal. He just needed to find someone to repair it later.
"Boss, your friends would like to invite you down for a drink together." A bodyguard stepped forward and said.
"Which table?"
"Table 888."
Li Ruohong nodded slightly, walked straight out of the box, and went down to the first floor.
Just as he walked downstairs, a figure happened to enter from outside the Cabaret doors, brushing past Li Ruohong... It was a man wearing a brown windbreaker with an unfamiliar face, holding a wet umbrella in his hand, looking around.
Li Ruohong's gaze swept directly past him and finally landed on a spacious booth not far away. Several middle-aged figures who looked quite prestigious sat together. Seeing Li Ruohong arrive, they all smiled and stood up.
"Boss Li, long time no see!"
"Boss Li, your Cabaret's business is still as booming as ever... When will you invite Miss Susu to have a drink with us?"
"Hahaha, easy. We are all old friends. After she finishes Singing this song, I'll have her come over!"
"..."
Amidst a round of pleasantries, Li Ruohong naturally mingled with them, completely failing to notice that the brown-clothed man who had just walked in was already sitting silently in a corner not far away.
His pupils reflected Li Ruohong's talking and laughing figure. After a moment, he shifted his gaze and began observing the layout of the other boxes here.
"Mister, would you like something to drink?" A sexily dressed waitress walked over and handed him the drinks menu.
Chen Ling flipped through it casually and smiled:
"A Pink Lady, thank you."
"Okay."
As the waitress left, the smile on Chen Ling's lips gradually faded, replaced by a calmness that was out of tune with the lively and noisy atmosphere.
After Chen Ling left the Theater House, in order not to arouse the suspicion of the two "Door Gods," he specially walked to an empty corner to change his face before entering this Cabaret. Although he already had a half-finished "Script," he still had to personally conduct an on-site investigation for some detailed things.
This was also Chen Ling's first time coming to a place like a Cabaret. After all, such things didn't exist in the Aurora Domain at all. But in the eyes of these young people in the Red Dust Domain who were passionate about hedonism and excessive consumption, this place was considered a very good entertainment venue.
Although Chen Ling's position was in the corner, he could take in almost the entire first floor. While waiting for his drink, he used his peripheral vision to observe Li Ruohong, who was laughing heartily at the booth in the distance, his gaze ultimately locking onto the ceiling above him.
"Mister, your Pink Lady."
Before long, the waitress delivered a fiery red cocktail in front of Chen Ling.
Chen Ling smiled politely and gently swirled the ice cubes in the cocktail. The ice cubes clinked against the glass, making a crisp sound... His eyes, flashing with sharp light, slowly closed. After taking a sip of the drink, he placed the glass back on the table.
The moment the bottom of the glass touched the table, Chen Ling's pupils flashed with a deep blue light.
Bang—!
The next moment, the music in the dance hall stopped abruptly. All the light bulbs instantly flared brilliantly before shattering simultaneously!
Amidst bursts of exclamations, the dance hall plunged into pitch-black darkness.