radiothebook Chapter 588 - 549: A Double Act
Chapter 588 - 549: A Double Act
When the three ladies heard the crunch of stones not far behind them, they immediately spun around. To their astonishment, the middle-aged man they had confirmed was dead was getting up to escape.
"No way!" one of them exclaimed. "How did that dead man get up and run away?"
Miss Lili glanced between Zhao Rong and the assistant, saying in amazement, "Brother Zhao, you two really messed up. How could you mistake a living person for a dead one? Now that he has escaped, not only have we failed to get our revenge, we’ve also let a tiger back into the mountains..."
A worried Lady Yu Lan added, "If that guy escapes, won’t he bring back reinforcements and surround us?"
Lady Xuelian also complained about their mistake. With a crestfallen expression, she said, "Brother, you really should have been more careful. How could you drop the ball at such a critical moment?"
Listening to them, Zhao Rong simply chuckled and said quietly, "Ladies, there’s something you don’t know. The assistant and I were just putting on an act. We intentionally let that middle-aged man go..."
The assistant smiled beside him. "You have to risk the bait to catch the wolf. Since we’re already so close to our destination, it’s time to let the tiger return to the mountain. He can lead us to our final destination: the Phoenix Dance Hall."
Zhao Rong then took a tracker out of his pocket. Looking at the location displayed on the screen, he said to the three ladies, "Just now, when we were checking his pulse, we quietly stuck a tracking chip to his skin. So now, no matter where this fellow runs, I can use this tracker to pinpoint his exact location."
The assistant laughed. "This man must think he escaped because Brother Zhao and I made a mistake. He has no idea we let him go on purpose. We plan to use him to catch them all in one fell swoop."
At this, it dawned on the three ladies what was happening. They immediately gave Zhao Rong and the assistant a thumbs-up. "Brother Zhao, you two are brilliant!"
"I never would have guessed," Miss Lili said admiringly. "Brother Zhao, your acting is quite impressive. I honestly didn’t realize you and the assistant were putting on a show."
Lady Yu Lan said enviously, "Brother Zhao, with acting that good, you really should have applied to the Central Academy of Drama. You might have become a star by now."
Lady Xuelian took out her phone and started filming them. "Brother Zhao, since you’re both such good actors, I’m making a TikTok of you two to upload online. Maybe a director will see you two and invite you to be extras. You might even go viral!"
While the three ladies were praising Zhao Rong and the assistant, the escaped middle-aged man was chuckling to himself as he ran.
Zhao Rong, Assistant... you two are fools! Although your martial arts are strong and your Eyes of Golden Flame are keen, I still deceived your senses with my feigned death technique. Now, I’ll run to the Phoenix Dance Hall and report your location to the masterminds, Hong Ju and Zhou Xiaoer. Then we’ll bring reinforcements and wipe you all out in one fell swoop! It seems I am the smartest man in the world. As for Zhao Rong and his assistant, they’re just a couple of stupid pigs with negative IQs...
However, the man was completely unaware that his every move was being precisely tracked by Zhao Rong, his assistant, and the three ladies.
Following the tracker, Zhao Rong, the assistant, and the three ladies trailed the man deep into a canyon. When they arrived at the entrance of a solitary dance hall, they were stunned.
Zhao Rong looked at the dilapidated building before him, then at the sign that read "Phoenix Dance Hall." He was suddenly reminded of the movie *Uninhabited Area*, starring Huang Bo and Xu Zheng.
The assistant stared at the desolate structure, thinking to himself, Could this so-called decrepit building, the Phoenix Dance Hall, really be the legendary hideout of the masterminds, Hong Ju and Zhou Xiaoer?
Miss Lili simply couldn’t believe it. "I really don’t get it. Why would wealthy bosses like Hong Ju and Zhou Xiaoer build their lair in the heart of a canyon deep in the desert? And why call it the Phoenix Dance Hall? It’s truly bizarre and mind-boggling."
Lady Yu Lan speculated, "Maybe the masterminds Hong Ju and Zhou Xiaoer built their lair here to avoid drawing attention. That way, no one would ever discover where the two villains are hiding."
Lady Xuelian’s imagination ran even wilder. "What if the inside of this desolate building is another, bustling world entirely?"
Lady Xuelian’s words piqued the group’s curiosity about the old, derelict Phoenix Dance Hall.
Zhao Rong took several searchlights out of the Magic Ring, handed one to each person, and then led the way into the decrepit building. Seeing him go first, the assistant ushered the three ladies forward while he brought up the rear. "Ladies, you walk in the middle, and I’ll protect you from behind. With Brother Zhao in front and me in the back, the three of you will be safe."
As they stepped inside the Phoenix Dance Hall, they were immediately hit by a strong scent of perfume. At the same time, they heard a blast of wild, piercing music.
Zhao Rong couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise, "What the heck? This is bizarre. When we were outside this old building, we didn’t hear a thing. How is the music so loud now that we’re inside? Is this place built with soundproofing material?"
The assistant headed toward a glowing corner, assessing the situation as he walked. "Brother Zhao, if I’m not mistaken, this place has to be a nightclub. There must be a lot of people partying inside; otherwise, why would the music be this loud and the scent of perfume so strong?"
Miss Lili was even more confused. "That doesn’t make sense. If this is a nightclub, where would all these people come from? After all, this place is extremely desolate—a place where birds don’t even bother to shit."
Lady Yu Lan guessed, "Could this decrepit building have another exit that leads to the center of a bustling city? Otherwise, how could there be so many people inside the Phoenix Dance Hall?"
Lady Xuelian confirmed Lady Yu Lan’s theory, saying, "Lady Yu Lan is right. The Phoenix Dance Hall must have another exit in the middle of a city. Let’s go in and find out for ourselves."