Red Peacock [English] (Original Novel by Ju~On, translation by LuckyCasualty)

7. Lǎo Gōng Kǒng

For five straight years, Lù Yī Péng had never once taken a day off or used up any of his leave days. The inspector was putting in more hours than anyone else on the force. Everyone called him "The precinct's workhorse". It was said in respect, but none of them knew that deep down, Lù Yī Péng himself actually craved a break, a chance to unwind and de-stress for himself. The only problem was...

"Péng Péng, how about we escape the heat and go on a vacation this summer? We could visit a beautiful beach with clear water and watch the sunset," Kǒng Què asked from his leather armchair in the lounge, waving a travel brochure in his hand. Lù Yī Péng furrowed his brow and immediately stood up.

"I'm leaving," the young inspector rose abruptly. When that darn peacock had sent someone for him at work, he thought something serious had happened. Now he was annoyed, *Who would want to go on vacation with someone as mentally unstable as this psychopath?*

Kǒng Què watched him leave the room, thinking there might be some other issue bothering him.

"What's wrong? Don't you like the sea? Then how about we go hiking in the mountains?"

"I'm not going anywhere with you," Lù Yī Péng replied, but he couldn't leave the room because as soon as he stood up, two towering male subordinates stepped in to block his path. Although these two men were intimidating, the most terrifying was the man sitting calmly on the high-back chair with a satisfied smile; the true leader among them.

Lù Yī Péng didn't want to stir up more trouble, so he reluctantly turned back and sat down as before. Seeing Hóng Kǒng Què's face clouded with thought, he sighed.

"What's the matter? We've known each other for years, and you still don't trust me enough to go on vacation with me?"

"Who would trust someone like you?" Yī Péng retorted immediately, looking straight at him. Kǒng Què's expression saddened, and he spoke softly, "I just want you to take a break, Péng Péng. You've been working hard for many years, and you look worn out, like your body's in your seventies or eighties."

Lù Yī Péng wanted to express how it was him, the damned peacock who made him this way, but he couldn't risk saying it aloud, especially with this man listening. So, the young inspector resigned himself to reply calmly, "I'd rather just stay home and rest."

As Hóng Kǒng Què was about to say something, Yī Péng quickly clarified, "Alone. I want to be alone."

Hóng Kǒng Què looked at him with a brief look of irritation for a moment before sighing and exhaling deeply, his disappointment evident. "So, this year Péng Péng wants to be alone again, huh? Don't you want to find someone to spend your time with, huh?"

Lù Yī Péng shot a piercing look at the man in front of him. Hóng Kǒng Què always spoke like this, every year since they met. His days off were never used. Lù Yī Péng feared he would only become more exhausted than before. He would rather work at the department than stay with that darn peacock. Chasing cars, chasing criminals, even dodging bullets he was happier than being with this lunatic.

Seeing the young inspector's murderous eyes look at him, as if he were about to cut into his blood and flesh, Hóng Kǒng Què lowered his head gently, looking like a bird without anyone to play with. Then, he reached out to a drawer and pulled out two envelopes.

"I simply want you to take a break, Péng Péng. Take these. There's a flight ticket and a resort booking for four days and three nights in Phuket. Booked under your name. Invite anyone you want to go with. I insist."

Lù Yī Péng stared at the two envelopes handed to him for a while before hearing a voice from the other side speak up, "Take it. There's no poison covering it."