Chapter 30: Going to See Brother Liang Song (Part One)

After a simple meal at a restaurant, Zhang Heng prepared to return to his hotel room.

On the way back, he felt an inexplicable chill that left him deeply uncomfortable, bordering on a sense of dread. As someone who had faced life-and-death situations, he could not understand why he was suddenly feeling such cowardice. At that moment, it occurred to him that his fear might stem from an internal weakness—a deficiency of "yang" energy. He reasoned that if he sought out a place filled with vibrant, positive energy, he might be able to shift his state of mind. Yes, he decided, he would find somewhere to distract himself—somewhere healthy where he could relax before heading back to sleep to prepare for the next day.

But where could he find such a place? Standing on the street, watching the bustling flow of traffic and pedestrians, he fell into deep thought. He continued walking, but instead of heading toward the hotel, he followed the road forward. A few steps later, he reached a bus stop. A movie poster caught his eye, prompting him to quicken his pace.

It was a poster for the action-crime film *SPL II: A Time for Consequences*. The bold, eye-catching headline, "The Fiercest Action Film of the Summer—June 18th: Battle to the End," ignited his adrenaline and stirred his spirits. Seeing the faces of the tough-guy stars—Wu Jing, Zhang Jin, and Tony Jaa—made his heart race. He had been a fan of Wu Jing since he was a boy, especially fond of his breakout role as He Chenguang in *Unsheathed*.

"Yes," he thought. "Watching this movie will help me shake off this fear."

He pulled out his phone, searched for a nearby cinema, chose the closest one, and navigated his way there on foot. Upon arriving, he bought a ticket, waited in the lounge, and then entered the theater. He settled into his seat to watch the story of a Hong Kong undercover agent caught in a web of crime, involving a desperate prisoner-guard named A-Chai, an agent named Zhi-Jie, and the unfolding drama of human nature, fate, and karma.

Two hours later, the film ended. As the other audience members filed out, Zhang Heng remained in his seat, still immersed in the experience. Only after a staff member prompted him did he finally leave the theater and head back toward the hotel. Throughout the walk, his heart remained full of energy and vigor; the chilling sense of dread had vanished.

Back in his room, he left the door unlocked and went straight into the bathroom to shower. When he emerged, still naked, he realized he had forgotten to lock the door and rushed to secure it.

Feeling ready to rest, he gathered his belongings from his pockets and placed them on the bed. He returned to the bathroom to wash his clothes in the sink with detergent. Once finished, he hung them on the rack and turned on the ventilation fan. Before getting into bed, he set his alarm for 6:00 AM, plugged in his phone to charge, turned off the lights, and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, the alarm went off exactly at 6:00 AM. He shut it off, unplugged his phone, and got out of bed. To his satisfaction, the clothes he had washed were already dry. He dressed, freshened up, and pulled back the curtains to find the sky just beginning to brighten. He had maintained a habit of morning exercise ever since his four years at the Police Academy, and he kept to it faithfully.

After tidying up, he left the hotel and stepped onto the street, where many other early risers were already out jogging. He joined them, planning to run for a while and grab some breakfast on his way back. About 500 meters into his run, he passed a breakfast cart, but he decided to keep going. Checking his phone, he saw it was 6:42 AM, so he turned back to the stall, bought some food, and returned to his hotel.

Back in his room at 6:58 AM, he placed the breakfast on the table, washed up, and sat on the edge of the bed, staring at his phone.

At 7:00 AM sharp, a new text message arrived from the same number he had been communicating with the previous day. He opened it: "Mr. Zhang Heng, you have done well. You passed our surveillance all night and did not contact the outside world. You are a man of your word. To reward your integrity, we have transferred 20,000 yuan to your account."

A moment later, an official notification from the Bank of China followed: "Your debit account ending in xxxx just received a transfer of 20,000 RMB. Current balance: 70,020 RMB."

Puzzled, Zhang Heng typed a reply: "I'd like to ask what this money is for. I truly don't understand. Also, I want to see my brother Liang Song. Please, I beg you, let me see him. Thank you."

He watched the screen intensely. Two minutes later, a reply arrived: "Mr. Zhang, don't be impatient. That money is your reward. We promised you would see Liang Song by 12:00 PM today, and we do not go back on our word. However, it depends on your timing and planning. You must complete one final task before you can see him."

Zhang Heng immediately typed back: "What task?"

Less than a minute later, the response came: "It's very simple. In the cabinet beneath the nightstand on the right side of your room, there is a wrapped parcel. Do not open it, do not touch it, and do not ask what is inside. Your task is to deliver this box to the address I am sending you. That is where Liang Song is located. Once our people there receive the box, they will bring you to see him. You must agree to this."

A wave of dread washed over him. He felt certain the contents of the box were illicit—likely drugs. If he delivered them, he would be a drug runner, and his life would be ruined. He sank into deep contemplation. Should he go through with it? He had come this far only to save Liang Song. If he refused, he might never see him again. But if the box contained illegal goods, he would be trapped.

He was caught in a dilemma. Finally, he steeled himself and decided to gamble. He couldn't save his brother without meeting him first. He would rescue Liang Song, and then find a way to take down this criminal syndicate.

He typed: "Fine, I agree. Send the address."

Within a minute, the address arrived. He checked it on his map and discovered it was an abandoned steel mill. A monumental challenge lay ahead.