Zhang Liunian startled Zhang Qian, and as he looked up, wondering why Zhang Qian wore such an expression, a cloth was suddenly pressed over his nose. His heart leaped, and just as he was about to cast aside the old man in his arms, his vision went black, and he knew nothing more.
“Master Zhu, you want us to escort him to the mines? This kid is as strong as an ox, truly suited for it.
Rest assured, we’ll handle this perfectly, absolutely no mistakes.
However, what about that other person?”
“Leave him here. He’s barely clinging to life; he won’t survive.”
“……”
“Bang”
In his daze, Zhang Liunian heard voices around him. He tried to open his eyes but couldn’t. It wasn’t until his body was jolted by an impact that he finally came to.
As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw a dim interior of a vehicle. His limbs were all tied behind him, rendering him immobile. He parted his lips to speak, only to find a rag stuffed in his mouth, preventing any sound.
Without making any sudden movements, he quickly suppressed the myriad thoughts in his mind and began to analyze his predicament and his impending destination.
His mind whirred, and within a short time, Zhang Liunian had figured out his situation. It seemed Zhu Lao San had kidnapped him and intended to send him to the mines; he had overheard this himself.
What about Zhang Qian? He scanned the surroundings and found only a brightly colored woven bag, along with two unfamiliar men in the driver’s and passenger seats. There was no fourth person.
Where had Zhang Qian gone?
Wait, he remembered hearing something in his dazed state, “Leave him here. He’s barely clinging to life; he won’t survive.”
Were they talking about Zhang Qian then?
If that were true, he had to escape quickly and go find Zhang Qian. He couldn’t let him die there.
Just as he thought this, the minivan suddenly braked, causing him to lurch forward and hit the woven bag. It was this jolt that allowed him to see the contents of the bag – a stark white substance. His heart sank instantly. Then, realizing something, he immediately closed his eyes, feigning unconsciousness.
The two men in the front stopped the car and simultaneously glanced back. Seeing that Zhang Liunian was still out, they paid him no mind, opened the car doors, and got out.
Seeing the car empty, Zhang Liunian immediately began his escape. First, he used his hands, tied behind his back, to rub against his lower back, but the object behind him wasn't there. Then, he began to hook his arms left and right. Fortunately, the blade hadn't been lost. After a moment of fumbling, he successfully retrieved the blade and then proceeded to cut the ropes.
With the blade in hand, his movements were swift. Just as he finished cutting the ropes.
The two men outside began talking with another man.
“Master Zhu has given us a special assignment: to escort someone to the mines and deliver the goods to you. Have you prepared the money?”
“Yes, it’s all in the boxes.”
“Alright, I’ll give you the goods first. We’ll have a meal here later, then rest for a bit before continuing our journey.”
Hearing this, Zhang Liunian immediately gripped the cut ends of the ropes in reverse, maintaining his pretense of being unconscious.
As the driver got into the car to retrieve the woven bag, he glanced at Zhang Liunian a couple of times. His eyes flickered, and he deliberately stepped on Zhang Liunian’s feet. However, seeing that Zhang Liunian didn’t even flinch, he dispelled his doubts and replaced the white powder with a box of cash.
After placing the box down, the driver closed the car door and left with the others, chatting and laughing.
Zhang Liunian heard the sounds fade into the distance. He raised his hand, removed the cloth from his mouth, then broke the ropes binding his feet. Opening the box, he discovered it was filled with money, roughly estimated to be at least a hundred thousand.
Quickly closing it, he scanned the car’s interior again. Good heavens, the car keys weren’t even removed. Wasn't this a gift from heaven?
However, Zhang Liunian didn't leave immediately. He hadn't even figured out his location and couldn't return like a headless fly.
So, his first priority was to ascertain where he was before apprehending these men and sending them to prison.
With this thought, he immediately moved to the driver’s seat and looked outside. He saw a very small motel, and couldn’t tell where it was.
This small motel looked very ordinary. From the outside, there was nothing unusual. If Zhang Liunian hadn't personally overheard them conducting a transaction here, he wouldn't have suspected that such illicit dealings were happening within.
He wondered how many people were here. It couldn’t possibly be hundreds again, could it?
That was impossible; this place wasn’t large, with only a few rooms, it couldn’t accommodate so many people.
Therefore, he could completely take this place down first, then swagger back to find Zhang Qian.
Having made up his mind, Zhang Liunian took the keys, quietly pushed open the car door, and got out from the other side. He then reversed his clothes, put them over his head, and headed towards the motel.
Upon entering the lobby, Zhang Liunian didn’t say a word before knocking out the receptionist with a palm strike – or rather, stunning her. He then proceeded room by room. Relying on his martial prowess and experience, a motel wasn't a difficult challenge for him.
The only time he nearly ran into trouble was when the guns of the driver who had brought him and his accomplice made him flinch, but within a few moments, he had successfully apprehended them.
Zhang Liunian tucked the gun into his waistband, closed the motel door, and then began searching. Within moments, he found the bag of white powder from earlier.
At the same time, he discovered three more boxes of cash. Zhang Liunian wasn’t a saint. He hid the money and the gun, then called the police.
Upon hearing that it was a major drug trafficking incident, the officers immediately drove over for reconnaissance. With the culprits apprehended red-handed, it attracted the attention of the provincial authorities, who dispatched several specialists.
Zhang Liunian then explained his situation and borrowed a car from the officer – the very car that had transported him. The officer was very accommodating. Upon hearing that his brother was in trouble and urgently needed him to return, he not only provided a map but also lent him the car.
Thus, Zhang Liunian returned to Jiangcheng alone.
Before leaving, he also took the four boxes of cash with him.
Meanwhile, at the Jiangcheng Guesthouse, Zhu Lao San, upon learning that Zhang Liunian had taken away the "wild boar" he had his sights on, was furious.
“You bastard, how dare he do that? If I had known he would snatch things from me, I should have made him suffer again, or simply taken his life.” At this moment, Zhu Lao San regretted letting Zhang Liunian off so easily.
Because no one who dared to defy him had yet been born.
He had been too hasty, securing the person and then sending Zhang Liunian away without delay. He hadn't realized that Zhang Liunian would stab him in the back.
This Zhang Liunian was utterly wicked.
“Xiao Zhu Zhu, it’s not impossible for you to want his life now!” Wu Guddi whispered.
Zhu Lao San started. Yes, he could take Zhang Liunian’s life right now; it was just a phone call away.
But he fell silent. He knew that with Zhang Liunian’s physique, he could indeed save him a lot of money. Letting him die now would be too lenient.