Pristine Darkness

Chapter 105

Please stay safe, everyone. Stay at home, wash your hands, and pray. In the meantime, read on . . .

Bo Jinyan has managed to get them out of a sticky situation, but it never rains but pours - it looks like they are headed for another disastrous scenario! Before this chapter leaves you hanging in suspense, Bo Jinyan and Jian Yao share an intimate moment, and we find out more about the ominous Buddha's Hand.

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Translator: shl

Editor/ Proofreader: Anks

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They were in a big oil tank, empty, with the pervasive smell of rust. The smell was like tiny, small bugs invading their nostrils. There was only a little light leaking in from the crack above their heads.

Jian Yao and Bo Jinyan were cramped together; he was almost entirely carrying her.

Yue ge had 'felt bad' about putting them in the oil tank temporarily, saying that it was to avoid the police. However, it was obviously also a precautionary measure, and a means of control. In this way, they would have no idea which direction the boat was travelling in, and where it was going.

The tank was on the aft deck of the boat and there was no movement in their immediate surroundings. Yue ge and his underlings had probably decided there was no need to watch over them all the time. Jian Yao raised her head and leaned against Bo Jinyan's chin. Finally, she sighed and said, "Truly, the will of heaven supersedes man's."

Her Mr. Bo, who had thrown off all restraint in his behaviour for the past half hour, had apparently recovered his cold and arrogant demeanour by now. Despite their terrible circumstances, he replied in a leisurely manner, "No, Jian Yao, there's no need to be depressed. This is just a slight deviation from my original master plan. After all, no one can anticipate everything. It could even be that a better opportunity is brewing, because, where previously we were on the outside making arrangements, now we are in the game ourselves."

Jian Yao pursed her lips in a smile. In truth, without batting an eyelid, this criminal psychologist had more or less worked out the situation. Zhu Tao had also mentioned Smiling Snake, the leader of the newly emerging small criminal gang who was secretive and methodical. They did not know how Smiling Snake had gotten wind of the information they had, which he had planned to seize from them today. However, Smiling Snake had suffered defeat at the hands of Zhu Tao a few days ago, so it made sense that he would seize the information and offer it to the most powerful organisation in the southwest, Buddha's Hand. Although Bo Jinyan had taken the opportunity to pass himself off as the man they had killed, Smiling Snake, this was actually something he was rather reluctant to do. But, where psychological warfare was concerned, victory and defeat are just separated by a hair's breadth. Today, she had quietly watched as, through his speech and manner, he had come across as slightly probing and offensive, really convincing Yue ge that he was Smiling Snake. If what they were doing now could get them into the heart of Buddha's Hand, that would be an unexpected harvest. Once they got there, though, would they still be able to keep up this false identity?

Greatly perturbed, Jian Yao held Bo Jinyan's hand tightly. He had probably sensed her worries, for he unexpectedly chuckled and said, "Wife, let your husband worry about what comes next. Right now, I think you should sleep for a while and replenish your energy. After all, you are the fighting expert in our little team."

Jian Yao could not help laughing. She made a soft sound of assent and laid her head on his chest. The boat rocked gently with the waves and the smell of the water lingered all around. It was such a small space, on the Jinsha river* with danger lurking on every side, yet Jian Yao unexpectedly felt a sense of tranquility.