Chapter 126: Chapter 0126: Things Got Serious_1
"The Diao Clan has gone too far. I have to fight back," Zhang Bin said. "Everyone, what do you think I should do?"
"The Diao Clan will definitely send people to arrest you soon," Liu Qian said somberly. "I can’t think of a good solution."
"We have to find someone to help. I’ll make some calls," Tian Guangjin said.
"Yes, the only way is to ask someone influential to intervene. Only then will the Diao Clan back down. Otherwise, the consequences will be severe," Qin Xiaolong added.
"Even if we find someone, it’s too late. We’re out of time," Yue Xing said, pointing toward the distant road. "Look, the special police are here."
"Drag Director Diao into the house and use him as a hostage," Ma Rufei suggested. "If we do that, they’ll be afraid of harming him and won’t dare to attack. That will buy us time to find help."
"But that would just escalate things," Liu Ruomei said worriedly.
"What’s there to be afraid of? The bigger the scene, the better!" Ma Rufei retorted. "It’ll be much worse for us if we fall into their hands."
Looking at Zhang Bin, he said gravely, "Master, you have to escape when the time is right. If you fall into their hands too, then it’s really all over."
"Escape? Is there really no other way?" Zhang Bin’s face turned livid, and his teeth ground together with an audible crunch.
"We’ll figure out a plan later..." Ma Rufei grabbed Director Diao and began dragging him toward the villa.
"This is absurd," Liu Qian muttered, a wry smile on his face.
"Everyone, go back to your own homes and don’t come out. I’ll handle things from here on out," Zhang Bin earnestly persuaded the villagers to leave.
Then he grabbed Captain Liu of the police station and the demolition team leader, rushing them into the villa. The many guests also shuffled into the villa, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
In just over a dozen breaths, several police cars arrived. Dozens of special police officers jumped out, quickly fanning out to surround the villa.
The special police captain raised a megaphone and shouted, "You are surrounded! Come out and surrender immediately, or your charges will be compounded!"
Zhang Bin grabbed Director Diao by the back of his shirt, pushed him out the door, and faced the special police captain. "Are you with the Diao Clan?"
He was crystal clear about their intentions. The Diao Clan was certainly targeting him, but their main objective was to seize his two medicinal recipes. They wanted to capture him and find a way to pry the formulas from his lips. That was why they were unlikely to start shooting indiscriminately.
Of course, he had other reasons to be confident enough to step outside.
He had now opened 15 meridians, and his Dantian had doubled in size again. He had recently learned the Pure Heart Mystique, and with the help of Gathering Qi Pills and Spiritual Water, the rate at which he accumulated True Qi had also doubled. As a result, his Dantian now held far more True Qi than before. Even his reflexes and the sharpness of his senses had improved tremendously—likely a benefit of cultivating the Pure Heart Mystique.
He was much stronger now. Even if hundreds of men surrounded him, he was confident he could fight his way out.
"That’s right. My surname is Diao, and my name is Diao Hong," the special police captain said coldly. "You’d better stop your stubborn resistance and release all the hostages. Otherwise, the consequences are not something you can afford to bear."
"Listen up, Diao Hong. Get lost now, or you can prepare to collect this idiot’s corpse," Zhang Bin said coldly.
He needed to stall for time so his friends could find help.
He had considered showing his credentials, but he felt he wasn’t an official member of the Special Action Team. Besides, he wasn’t in the right this time, since he really didn’t have the official authorization for his homestead. Pulling out his credentials probably wouldn’t help much.
Of course, he was also prepared for the worst.
If worse came to worst, he would take his family and flee to the cave mansion in the Great Green Mountain. He could always come back out to deal with the Diao Clan later and make them bite off more than they could chew.
"Very good. Do you, a mere farmer, really think you’re invincible? That there are no experts who can deal with you?" Diao Hong said with a mocking expression. "You’re just seeking your own doom. Why bother?"
"You mean I should just obediently hand my medicinal recipes over to your Diao Clan? I shouldn’t resist and just let you walk all over me, is that right?" Zhang Bin demanded angrily.
"Zhang Bin, there’s no need to change the subject or get paranoid about someone trying to take your recipes," Diao Hong said sanctimoniously. "This was originally a minor issue, just demolishing an illegal structure. So, just stop resisting and you might receive lenient treatment."
"Let me think about it. And don’t you dare try to provoke me..." Zhang Bin said, feigning submission.
Diao Hong’s spirits lifted. He took a few steps forward and lowered his voice. "Zhang Bin, you’re a smart man. You know what to do. As long as you’re sensible, not only will your villa not be demolished, but we’ll also retreat immediately. You’ll be completely fine."
Zhang Bin pretended to mull it over. After several minutes, he finally lowered his voice and said, "I’ll hand over the two recipes, but I should get some compensation, right?"
"What are you talking about? Who said anything about handing over recipes? However, if you’re willing to *sell* the two recipes, I can authorize their purchase. Just name a reasonable price," Diao Hong said with a faint smile, a hint of joy on his face.
He knew exactly how valuable Zhang Bin’s two recipes were. If he could obtain them today, it would be a monumental achievement for the Diao Clan.
"I’m just... really not happy about this..." Zhang Bin said, his face a mask of grief and fury.
"Zhang Bin, there’s no need to hesitate or be reluctant. A farmer like you doesn’t need too much wealth. In fact, great wealth will only bring you disaster. If you sell the recipes, you can get a sum of money and live as a rich man. How carefree would that be? So many people would envy you!" Diao Hong advised earnestly.
Zhang Bin nearly spat in the man’s face. What kind of bandit logic was this?
But he couldn’t do that, of course. He continued to play along and haggle, because out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ma Rufei give him an ’OK’ sign, followed by another gesture indicating ten minutes.
Evidently, Ma Rufei had found someone powerful to help, but they needed ten minutes to arrive. He had to stall for exactly that long.
Diao Hong, oblivious to the ploy, haggled furiously, driving the price down from Zhang Bin’s asking price of one hundred million to one million.
Finally, ten minutes passed.
A RUMBLING sound echoed from the sky, and a helicopter flew in from the horizon.
Damn, they even brought in a helicopter! It must be our Diao Clan’s doing. Diao Hong thought to himself, his confidence surging. He said arrogantly, "Zhang Bin, you see that helicopter? Do you see the power of my Diao Clan? The price of one million is void. It’s now half a million."
Zhang Bin laughed in exasperation.
The helicopter rapidly approached and landed directly on the lawn outside the villa.
Forgetting all about Zhang Bin, Diao Hong eagerly scrambled over to greet it.