“Hu Yongzhu?” Why was that name coming out of his mouth? “Yes. He was one of the prominent figures in the List.”

“That man who came last week said the name while he was on the phone.” He held out a photograph, and when Xingyu took it, he saw Bai Xue standing right outside the door of the room they were in now. It was at a sharp angle and it was a little dark, but Xingyu could recognize the man who almost killed his brother just fine. “That him?”

“That’s him. Was he talking about a property, like you remembered?”

“Yes. Still, it’s difficult to get a handle on the conversation when you can only hear one side of it. All I could make out is that he’s having property issues and that he can’t get in contact with this Hu Yongzhu. Is any of that helpful?”

Hu Yongzhu. Properties. Xingyu sorted through his memories one by one. Where did the two intersect? Where did Bai Xue fit in? “Yes,” he said at last. “I think it does.” He stood, bowed to Eryu, then bowed to Yamashita. “Thank you, Mr.—ah, Jagiya?28”

Yamashita snorted and immediately hid his mouth behind his hand. The corners of Eryu’s lips were twitching, but he pressed them together and took a deep breath before he corrected Xingyu. “Khun,” he said. “Khun Eryu.”

“Thank you, Mr. Khun. And Mr. Yamashita, thank you for your help.”

Yamashita smiled at him and inclined his head.

“If there’s anything I can do—”

“We’ll let you know if there is,” said Yamashita, patting Xingyu on his shoulder. “Now get out of here before I get angry.”

THE CLUB WAS loud and uncomfortable, but beyond that Weiran could still recognize that it was fairly high end. The club he’d visited to set up the appointments with the List had the upper levels to separate the higher-paying customers, but everything was on the same level here; when Xingyu had left to speak with the leader of Kami no Ha, he’d disappeared through a hallway in the back that was guarded by two burly men who glared at Weiran when he tried to get closer. He made himself comfortable at the bar and tried to keep busy by texting Xiaokai, but it was late and Xiaokai needed sleep, so it was only a few minutes into their conversation before Weiran was telling him to clock out and get some rest. Xiaokai put up a fight, and then he was gone.

Xingyu came out two drinks later. Weiran spotted him stepping out of the hallway and immediately went to him.

“Well? Do they know where he is?”

“No. But I think I do.” Xingyu grinned at Weiran, but without the friendly mask it looked more like he was just baring his teeth. “We need to go back to the office.”