Chapter 10: Purchase of a Shotgun

Li Mang frowned slightly. Although he regarded wealth as mere dirt and upheld high moral standards, it did not mean he could be easily taken advantage of. Moreover, he could not afford to delay for too long, so he impatiently said: "Two thousand, and I will include twenty boxes of ammunition."

Behind the hardware store, there is a yard. The proprietress dragged a long box out of the room. Upon opening it, to my surprise, there were three black-painted items.

"Director Bao, don't talk while driving." Li Mang glanced at him

The courtyards are all similar, but the decorations in Zhang Daoist's courtyard are rather unique. The entrance is plastered with yellow talismans, and each fence post in the courtyard bears one as well. When the gentle breeze blows, they flutter gracefully, giving the impression of an unclean place at first glance, evoking a sense of unease. However, living in the Yanhuang Courtyard, one naturally needs to have a thick skin.

Seeing that no one was following him, Li Mang finally entered a hardware store, purchasing two machetes, four or five bundles of thick rope, and a small pot among other items, all of which he stuffed into a burlap sack

Having known each other for a few hours, Bao Ren had already inquired about Li Mang's identity in Yanhuang from the side. Although he maintained a facade of respect, he secretly looked down on Li Mang's abilities. However, he was just an ordinary person, and in terms of position, he was even lower than Bao Ren. If it were not for his connection to the mysterious headquarters, there would be no need for Bao Ren to show him such deference; he would certainly hold him in contempt. How could he choose the most luxurious single room? It was so extravagant and corrupt!

During the hotel check-in, there was a small incident. Originally, it was Bao Ren who was supposed to book the rooms, but Li Mang insisted that the funds for this trip were already in his possession and hurriedly booked three luxurious single rooms.

The market is currently at this price; at most, I can offer you a little less. The boss lady did not furrow her brow at all, her attitude was resolute

Two days ago, the police sent personnel to investigate. As a result, while driving back in the early morning, the vehicle plunged off a cliff, and all three criminal police officers perished. Further investigation revealed that the road conditions in the accident area were excellent, and the vehicle had collided and traveled about twenty meters up the slope before falling off the cliff. Even a novice driver would not make such a mistake, and moreover, the three criminal police officers had expressions of terror on their faces at the time of their death. Li Mang read aloud the information in his hand to Zhang Daoshi and suddenly felt that the vehicle he was in was not very safe.

Li Mang was not in a hurry; he suddenly asked softly, "Madam Boss, where can I find a gas dog for sale nearby"

First, we will rest for a few hours in Mengshan County, and then we will go to the execution ground in the early morning hours said Daoist Zhang after pondering for a moment

"What?" Zhang Daoist doubted whether he had heard correctly. Does he not understand Li Mang's status? Nevertheless, he took it with skepticism, examined it seriously several times before returning it to him, and sighed heavily, saying with deep significance: "Li Mang, I know you have been wronged over the past six months, but the discipline of Yanhuang is strict. It is best that you do not entertain any unrealistic thoughts. Hurry back, and I will pretend I saw nothing."

Good! Li Mang was pleasantly surprised. Previously, he had only speculated; the availability of bullets did not necessarily imply the presence of guns. However, considering the unique geography of Mengshan County, hunting rifles would not be in short supply. Thus, he cautiously inquired, not expecting to actually stumble upon it.

The sudden outdoor assignment filled Li Mang with joy, and he hurriedly packed a few pieces of clothing into his backpack before heading to Zhang Daoist's courtyard

Having finished speaking, Daoist Zhang shook his head and turned to leave

1,500! Li Mang quoted a psychological price; this type of shotgun could be purchased for a few hundred in previous years, but in recent years, the price has risen sharply. 1,500 is the market price

"Little brother, this 1,500 is too little, let me give you 3,000 instead!" The proprietress shook her head vigorously.

Li Mang, are you here to see me for something?" Zhang Daoist asked curiously

"Madam Boss, how much is this?" Li Mang asked directly

"Zhang Daoist, you rest for a while; I will go downstairs to send some money home." After Li Mang placed the ceremonial items properly, he came to the adjacent room and said this to Zhang Daoist

Mengshan County is merely a small town, and it is an ancient town situated in the mountains. The area is not large, and there is a slight lack of modernity, with hardware stores found throughout the town

Having played before, Li Mang was also very skilled in his actions, loading the bullet, pressurizing, aiming, and shooting—"Bang!"

However, in recent years, the restrictions have been severe, making it difficult to purchase powerful shotguns domestically. Having this item is certainly better than not having it at all, which is why Li Mang felt relieved and began testing it.

The proprietress had no suspicions, after all, Li Mang had previously sold many items and only suggested purchasing a "gas gun" after seeing others buy bullets. This indicates that Li Mang is not the type associated with law enforcement.

The corpulent proprietress extended a hand, entirely fleshy, and said: "In recent years, the inspections have been stringent, and prices have been soaring. For 5,000, I will give you five boxes of bullets"

"Madam Boss, give me two boxes of dog food," a young man called out to the store owner as he walked into the hardware store, his voice slightly lowered.

Zhang Daoist! Li Mang knocked on the courtyard door

Zhang the Taoist is nearing fifty years of age, with a square face and prominent features. What is even more striking is his aura of righteousness. If he were to change out of his robe and into formal attire, he would undoubtedly be a distinguished figure. However, it is worth mentioning that Li Mang has never seen Zhang the Taoist in casual clothes

After sending the young man away, the proprietress began to settle accounts with Li Mang

It is said that these items are only sold to regular customers or customers accompanied by regulars, but the high profits make her reluctant to give it up. Seeing that no one is around, she quietly says: "I have this at home; if you want, you can go to the backyard to take a look"

"Little brother, there are wild beasts in the mountains, and having a gun from a picture book does not guarantee safety. I also have large knives, daggers, electric batons, and the like. Would you like to buy some more?" Having tasted the sweetness of success, the shopkeeper's wife regarded Li Mang as a 'trustworthy' person and thus enthusiastically made recommendations

Two leaders, there are still two hours of travel time. Here are the details of the event; you may take a look first! The director of the Wuzhou office is a middle-aged man in his fifties, yet he shows great respect towards Li Mang and Zhang Daoshi. His surname is Bao, and his given name is Ren.

The sound was not small, and the power was considerable, as a beer bottle in front shattered with a bang

"Alright, Secretary Li," Bao Ren replied with a hint of displeasure, focusing intently on driving his car. However, he secretly looked down on him; with his level of experience, how could he not see through Li Mang's intentions? This Secretary Li was surprisingly timid. If the other party were not from the 'headquarters,' Bao Ren would have rolled his eyes at him long ago.

"You may go!" Zhang the Taoist responded with a smile, as he held great appreciation for those who are loyal and filial.

"Master Zhang, please take a look. We have an external mission." Li Mang handed him a document signed by Yang Fan.

Boss, you are being too harsh; this thing can be obtained for just a few hundred yuan!" Li Mang glanced at her.

When Li Mang was about to settle the bill, two young men rode up on a motorcycle in front of the hardware store, with a long object tied to the back of the bike. However, it was wrapped in burlap, making it impossible to discern what it was

"... ... Alright, you got a good deal!" The proprietress, skilled in reading the room, understood that this was Li Mang's low price and could only agree with a pained expression, secretly laughing to herself, as she would make a profit of over a thousand yuan from this transaction. To demonstrate her 'generosity,' she even gave Li Mang two extra boxes of lead bullets, which left Li Mang utterly speechless, considering each box only cost two yuan.

The second deceased was a tea farmer from the neighboring village of Changping Yao Township. His family was not well-off, and the cause of death was the same as the previous case, as he suffered a heart attack due to shock.

However, Li Mang furrowed his brow slightly. This type of air gun, known as a multi-stroke pneumatic gun, charges air from below the chamber. The greater the number of strokes, the more powerful it becomes. However, its drawback is that it generally lacks accuracy and has moderate power. Additionally, it uses small lead pellets, making it excellent for bird hunting. If one encounters large wild beasts, it is advisable to run as far away as possible.

After a simple and light dinner, several individuals decided to stay in Mengshan County, agreeing to set off at eleven o'clock in the evening

The courtyards of Group Nine are all concentrated in this area, and Zhang the Taoist is also a member of Group Nine; his courtyard is not far away, and Li Mang quickly arrived there.

"Indeed, there is still a point of doubt. Huangjia Village is adjacent to Changping Yao Township, separated by a execution ground for criminals. On the night the wealthy man from Huangjia Village died, he drove past this location, and the tea farmer from Changping Yao Township was also picking tea near the execution ground before his death. Moreover, the scene where the three criminal police officers met with misfortune is right on the road in front of the execution ground. Now, the villagers are circulating rumors that there are dirty things associated with this execution ground," added Bao Ren, who was driving ahead.

"... Zhang the Taoist, this is true!" Li Mang quickly called for him to stop, feeling both amused and exasperated. After a lengthy explanation, and with Yang Fan's confirmation, Zhang the Taoist finally came to believe his words

Bao Ren is merely an ordinary person, responsible for reception and task acceptance. Despite holding the position of director, he treats even the younger Li Mang, who comes from 'above', with utmost respect. Although he does not know much about Yan Huang, he understands that these extraordinary individuals are not someone he can provoke.

Li Mang felt guilty; his main purpose for going out this time was not to send money home, but rather to take the opportunity to purchase necessary items. However, to prevent any suspicion from Yan Huang regarding changes in his bank account, he had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure

"Yes, I need to go into the mountains for a while and want to buy a self-defense weapon." Li Mang raised the burlap sack in his hand to make his words more convincing and authoritative

A rough voice came from inside, followed by a middle-aged man with thick eyebrows dressed in a wizard's robe walking out of the room

The term 'dog food' is actually a colloquial expression among insiders referring to shotgun ammunition. Given that this item is illegal, calling it 'dog food' makes it somewhat more 'harmonious.' The two boxes of dog food that the young man just purchased are naturally not food for dogs, but lead pellets used for bird hunting, while Li Mang's request for 'air dog' refers to an air gun.

After making all the preparations, Li Mang took Daoist Zhang to the capital airport, boarded a flight to Nanning Wuxu, and then transferred to reach their destination, Wuzhou. They disembarked at three o'clock in the afternoon. After some discussion, the two only had a fast food meal during the journey and then took the off-road vehicle from the Yanhuang Wuzhou office to their final stop, Mengshan County

This is quite natural! Li Mang did not refuse and purchased two daggers, two machetes, and five electric batons. These items are hard to find in other cities, as they are prohibited goods. However, Mengshan County is surrounded by mountains, has primeval forests, and wild beasts roam, making it easier to acquire these items; one must seize the opportunity.

The proprietress paused her movements, her eyes flickering with vigilance, yet also tinged with greed. Then, maintaining her composure, she looked at him and asked, "Are you looking to buy?"

The incident occurred in Huangjia Village, Mengshan County. A few days ago, the wealthiest person in the village died under mysterious circumstances. The forensic examination diagnosed the cause of death as myocardial infarction; however, the deceased had no prior history of heart disease or similar ailments. Therefore, it is inferred that the wealthy individual from Huangjia Village died of fright

However, Li Mang did not rush to purchase the items he needed. Instead, he went to a postal bank located some distance away, withdrew 50,000 from the ATM, and then went to another credit union, transferring 40,000 to his home account and keeping 10,000 for himself

The shop owner glanced at Li Mang and, without much thought, took out two small boxes from under the counter. The packaging was quite rough, and there were no markings on them.