Chapter 540: Surveillance

Red Dust Domain.

Jian Changsheng stood before the second-floor window, looking down at the bustling crowd below, his brow furrowing tighter.

"Something’s not right..."

"What’s not right?" On the black leather sofa, Heart 9 yawned lazily.

"These gamblers." Jian Changsheng pointed below. "Ever since the Beidou Consortium started going crazy, I’ve been paying attention to the casino. A few people come every day but don't gamble; they just eat the free fruit and snacks on the side... Remember when someone found their way to the second floor looking for the restroom? I think..."

"Someone is watching us." Heart 9 looked at him in surprise. "Not bad, rookie. I thought it would take you at least another half month to notice... You haven't made zero progress in the last half year, after all."

Jian Changsheng was stunned. "You knew all along??"

"I only found out yesterday."

"Then why didn't you tell me!"

"What was there to tell? And isn't it normal for us to be targeted? Have you forgotten what a scene we caused that day when we forcibly took Heart Q back from the police? Besides, there’s a world of difference between you discovering something yourself and me telling you proactively."

Jian Changsheng paced the room, feeling incredibly frustrated, occasionally grabbing his hair.

"True... but there was no other way that day. Who could have expected Senior Bai Ye to appear suddenly, covered in blood, and run right into the police? If we hadn't acted to save him, it would have been too late by the time 【Floating Life Painting】 discovered his identity."

"They probably only suspect us for now... However, you must be careful with recent actions." Heart 9 pointed to the sky outside the window.

"It’s not just those plainclothes police officers watching us; 【Floating Life Painting】 has likely noticed something and sent people to watch this area closely... Once we act abnormally, we’ll probably be surrounded by a dragnet immediately. Although it’s not impossible to run, our half-year of effort would be wasted."

Jian Changsheng’s expression grew uglier. He looked up at the sky outside the window and immediately withdrew his gaze.

"How long are they going to watch us?"

"Hard to say... A month? Two months? Depends on when they dispel their suspicions about us."

"And if they never dispel them, does that mean we can't do anything?"

"There’s no other way... Unless you want us few to go head-to-head with 【Floating Life Painting】 on their own turf?" Heart 9 counted on his fingers. "Heart Q is still in a coma. Just you, me, and Diamond 10 who arrived last month, and Club J who came the month before... The four of us combined are no match for 【Floating Life Painting】."

Jian Changsheng struggled for a long time, let out a long sigh, and sat on the sofa opposite Heart 9.

"We wait, then. It’s just a matter of wearing them down... But there’s one thing I’m afraid of now."

"What?"

"I sent a letter to that guy Heart 6 a few days ago, asking him to come help..." Jian Changsheng’s voice grew quieter as he spoke. "If he really comes, not knowing the situation here, what if he gets discovered by 【Floating Life Painting】?"

Before Heart 9 could speak, Jian Changsheng shook his head to himself.

"No... maybe I’m overthinking it. Why would he come? Isn't it better to stay safely in the Opera Path Ancient Vault? And my relationship with him isn't even that close... It’s just a letter; maybe he didn't take it to heart at all."

Heart 9: ...

"You’re overthinking it."

"You think he won't come either, right?"

"I mean, his vigilance is far higher than you think," Heart 9 leaned back on the sofa and said leisurely. "A guy who could pose as a Golden Society special envoy at Third-Rank and fool the entire main city—how could he be exposed so easily? As for whether he’ll come... how would I know about the two of you??"

Heart 9 pondered for a moment and changed the subject. "However, there is one thing I can be sure of."

"What is it?"

"With Chen Ling’s disguise and infiltration abilities, if he really comes... I’m afraid neither 【Floating Life Painting】 nor we will be able to recognize him.

Until a certain moment arrives, he will appear before us in an unimaginable way."

……

Night deepened.

Outside the main city gate of the Red Dust Domain, a caravan passed through a strict search by police officers before being allowed through. Under the starry sky, they crossed the thick city walls and entered the main city slowly.

"After a long journey, we’ve finally arrived..."

"Yeah, we can get a good night’s sleep tonight. Once we process the goods in the next two days, we can go home."

"It has to be the Red Dust Main City. Look at how the night is just like the day here. Our small town is still too desolate compared to this... I wonder when I’ll earn enough money to be qualified to live in the city long-term."

"Forget it. Expecting to make money by coming in here is nowhere near as simple as switching careers to learn singing and dancing... After the Flower Capital Consortium collapsed, that new Huang Consortium seems pretty decent. They say the contract terms and benefits are quite good, and many well-known artists have already transferred under their banner. Could they be considered the fifth major consortium of the new stars?"

"Singing and dancing... forget it, forget it. I just don't have the talent for that."

“……”

Just as the group was chatting, the merchant member trailing at the very back of the line quietly slowed his pace, distancing himself from the caravan. Once he was sure no one was paying attention, he slipped silently into a nearby alleyway.

When he emerged again, he had transformed into a young figure dressed in plain clothes, his gaze slowly sweeping across his surroundings.

"Half a year later, and this place hasn't changed a bit."

This young man was, naturally, Chen Ling after changing his face. After leaving the Ancient Tibetan of the Opera Path, he had rushed without rest toward the main city of Red Dust. Seeing a caravan preparing to enter the city, he had taken advantage of their rest break to knock out one of the members, take their place, and slip in unnoticed.

Compared to Aurora City, infiltrating the main city of Red Dust was much easier. After all, Aurora City was closed to everyone, while the main city of Red Dust still permitted trade. As long as there was a place where people could come and go, Chen Ling could get in.

Chen Ling oriented himself and, following the location of the casino he remembered in his mind, headed straight toward a certain direction.

The first thing Chen Ling needed to do after entering the city was to rendezvous with Jian Changsheng and the others. On one hand, he needed a place to stay; on the other, he wanted to learn more about the current situation in the main city.

Jian Changsheng had sounded quite urgent in his letter, and he had no idea what exactly had happened...

It was hard to say how much time had passed before Chen Ling finally reached the street where the casino was located. Although it was already late at night, there were still many people coming and going at the entrance, and the interior of the casino was brightly lit, presenting a scene of bustling prosperity.

It seems Jian Changsheng has been running the casino quite well over the past six months?

Just as Chen Ling was about to step inside, he suddenly sensed something, and his body froze in place.

"This is..." His eyes narrowed slightly.