Chapter 83 Li Jie Is Dead

"The eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month. Lunu is cold, Baozhou is as well, but I feel none of it—there is central heating."

As someone who walks in darkness, Dugu Shiji possesses the heart of a poet. Back in the welfare home, the director had said he was clever, able to recite many ancient poems by heart.

Dugu Shiji believed he ought to wield a sword and write poetry, so he became a soldier.

In the end, he realized guns were more useful—especially the electric rotary machine gun.

After shutting down his blog, which nobody read anyway, Dugu Shiji sat in the car, savoring a moment of peace.

The driver was his comrade, tasked only with driving.

From the car’s speakers came the voice of Xue Xuanqing. His songs, like poetry, were romantic.

Unlike this target…

Dugu Shiji lowered his head, studying the photograph in his hand. In the picture, Li Jie was showing off his biceps and abs to a group of children, utterly disgusting.

He pulled out a notebook—yellowed with age. On the first page was a single line: “The child is named Liu Shiji.”

The director of the welfare home had told him that when he was brought there, this notebook was pressed upon his swaddling cloth; his true surname was Liu.

But he never called himself Liu Shiji. Alone in the world, he reversed the characters for “solitude”—thus, “Dugu.”

It sounded like a master from a martial arts novel.

Quite nice.

“Sergeant, after the toll station we’ll be on the Yangtze River Bridge. I’ve heard the roast duck in Jianye is excellent—shall I get one for you later?”

“That would be good.”

Dugu Shiji nodded. He thought that, as a wanderer walking in darkness, perhaps he should drink a pot of “Daughter’s Red,” and feast on ten pounds of braised beef…

Such romantic thoughts of the martial world were shattered when twenty police officers at the toll station, armed and at the ready, pointed their weapons at their heads.

“Get out! Get out! Hands on your head! Get out! Get out—”

Fully armed SWAT officers, even riot shields raised, and, more absurdly, armored police vehicles blocked the way both front and back.

There was no escape.

Dugu Shiji’s face darkened. He gritted his teeth and cursed silently: Jianye’s police… have no sense of honor.

This time, Dugu Shiji had brought all his treasured firearms—years of collecting, hard-won, especially in a country with strict gun control.

Now, it was all gone.

The Sanjiang Provincial TV station reported the incident that night, declaring they had cracked an “attempted murder-for-hire case.” The suspect, surnamed Liu (claiming to be Dugu), had accepted a down payment from the hirer and traveled thousands of miles from Lunu County, Baozhou City, in Zhili Province, to Jianye City seeking an opportunity to commit the crime…

In the twelfth lunar month, the whole nation prepares for the New Year. In such a peaceful, prosperous, and harmonious time, someone, crazed beyond reason, attempted to create a bloodbath as the old year was leaving and the new arriving.

Unforgivable! Investigate thoroughly!

That was the statement issued by the Sanjiang Provincial Police Department, though it was, in truth, mere words; if “Creative Ability” hadn’t donated a hybrid off-road vehicle, those four words—“investigate thoroughly”—would never have made it into the announcement.

During the New Year, fire prevention and theft prevention are paramount.

But Boss Li was different; he directly teamed up with Jianye Academy of Arts, stirring up trouble on internet media.

“Is there anyone in charge here? I’m a university student—did I violate some cosmic law? Must a professional assassin be sent to kill me? @Ministry of Education @Ministry of Police @Jianye Academy of Arts @Sanjiang Provincial Department of Education…”

On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, the Northern Minor New Year, Boss Li caused a stir on Weibo.

The official media account of Jianye Academy of Arts echoed his cries, promising a thorough investigation, justice for their students, and continued efforts to ensure a good environment for teachers and students…

Still the twenty-third, “Wang Tianxian” appeared on variety shows “Window Decorations” and “Eating Dumplings.” Especially during the dumpling segment, the joy was infectious—her laughter so bright, even when flour stuck to her face, the camera gave a close-up. Fans online edited clips from the show.

“My goddess is so adorable~~”

“She’s beautiful as a painting~~”

“Even her sneaky eating is lovely~~”

Sadly, it was futile.

Couldn’t make it to the hot search~~

“‘Gourd Hero’ actor Li Jie attacked by professional assassin!”

“‘Masked Brother’ battles professional assassin!”

“Li Jie is dead.”

All sorts of absurd headlines shot up the hot searches, the most ridiculous being “Li Jie is dead.”

Hooray!!

The “Ten-Year Anti-Fan” group’s wayward children celebrated, but happiness is always fleeting; soon, it was time to say goodbye, and the “Li Jie is dead” hot search was deleted even faster than it appeared.

Because “Li Jie resurrected” climbed to the top.

“Wang Tianxian’s” fans felt as if they weren’t celebrating the Minor New Year or eating dumplings, but mourning at Li Jie’s funeral!

And they seemed to be the ones grieving…

“Are you insane?! You, who make live-action animations, why must you always torment our goddess!”

“No manners, no acting skills, no singing ability, fine—but not even a clue!”

Yet, the low-quality anti-fans were quite polite this time.

“Could you all be a bit more rational? The police have issued a statement—Crab Bro really was nearly gunned down by a professional killer. If he had died, we’d have mourned for at least three minutes, okay?”

“Rational?! How are we supposed to be rational?! How many times now?! Huh?! Again and again, every time our goddess has an event, your muscle man causes trouble!”

Unlike most top-tier celebrities and internet stars, Li Jie always treated his fans as little more than utility poles. Only the new young fans liked him, but they all went to the ‘Masked Gourd Hero’ account, so they avoided early contamination from the cesspit of his main account.

As the “fan war” flared up again, Boss Li posted another Weibo: “@Daye Film Chairman Yang Ying, Mr. Yang, how’s your left leg? Is it alright? I’m free these days, so I’ll bring some fruit and visit you—the sweetest fruit, promise.”

This Weibo post instantly silenced all of “Wang Tianxian’s” fans.

Because entertainment forums everywhere were abuzz with rumors that “Amo” really had his leg broken, and that the perpetrator was none other than Boss Li Jie of “Creative Ability.”

Some even visited the “Smoke and Flames” bar, hearing that a fat man dressed in hip-hop robes was there that night—possibly Li Jie in disguise.

There was a time gap, so no one had proof.

Now, with Li Jie’s Weibo, even if it was fake, everyone took it as real, because it was blatant provocation.

“Han Zitong—”

In “Ren Shou Hospital” of Luzhou, Yang Ying, after smashing who knows how many tablets, roared, then glared at Han Zitong’s helpless face. “This is your so-called expert? Hmm? Taken down at the toll station?! What nonsense! Your guarantees are worthless!”

“Second Young Master, I’m sorry. I originally intended to test them, but didn’t expect they’d be so cautious.”

“I don’t want excuses. I’ll give you one more chance. Use our own people. I don’t care how—hire a whore to screw that Jiangnan mutt to death if you must! I just want to see him dead—”

“Yes, Second Young Master.”

Han Zitong nodded helplessly, then took out his phone, dialed, and said, “Eldest Young Master, Second Young Master wants to use family members.”

“Leave him be for now. I’ll inform my mother first.”

“Yes, Eldest Young Master.”

After hanging up, Han Zitong ordered, “Give me the records of everyone who came to ‘Ren Shou Hospital’ to visit Second Young Master that day.”

“Yes.”

Though Dugu Shiji’s debacle was laughable, Han Zitong couldn’t smile, because damn it, this meant they definitely had a mole!