Chapter 172 - 170: The Clash
Jiang Li picked up her phone and called the number. The person who answered was clearly using a voice changer.
"East Suburb Factory. Come alone, or I’ll kill her."
Immediately, Yu Changle’s terrified scream came from the other end of the line. It couldn’t have sounded faker.
Jiang Li was about to refuse. That wasn’t the real Yu Changle, and Xiao Ji already knew the caller’s location. She didn’t have to confront them head-on; she could think this through.
"You’re looking for Lu Xingye, aren’t you?"
"What did you do to Lu Xingye?" Jiang Li clenched her fists, images of the murders from her dreams flashing through her mind.
The person on the other end chuckled. "You have half an hour. Don’t be late. And remember, come alone."
With that, the call was disconnected.
"They only want me to go alone. Xiao Nian, Xiao Ji, you two wait nearby. As soon as I’m inside, call Zheng Qichuan."
Jiang Li looked back at them. ’Go alone? I wouldn’t dare.’
"Then I’ll accompany you," Huang Nianci said with a smiling nod.
Jiang Li drove toward the East Suburb Factory.
"Captain, Jiang Li’s location is moving toward the east suburbs. Should we make a move?"
Zheng Qichuan looked up at the moving red dot on the screen, recalling Jiang Li’s wary, keep-your-distance demeanor from earlier that day.
"Let’s follow her and see. She might have been threatened," Jiang Qinian said, walking out to lead a team after her.
Jiang Li parked her car at the East Suburb Factory and walked inside.
As soon as she entered, Jiang Li saw Lu Xingye and Yu Changle tied up.
"Lu Xingye!" Jiang Li called out, but Lu Xingye didn’t respond at all. He had probably been drugged.
Jiang Li scanned her surroundings. A moment later, a masked man with a distinguished air walked in through a side door.
"Jiang Li, a pleasure to meet you."
The man leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, his gaze sizing her up like a lamb to the slaughter.
"Let them go, and I’ll go with you," Jiang Li said, calmly looking up at the man before her.
Jiang Li walked closer, her eyes scanning him, searching for any distinct features.
The next second, a powerful attack came at her. Jiang Li dodged instinctively and immediately countered.
The two of them were evenly matched, trading flesh-pounding blows.
Jiang Li pulled out a prepared dagger and slashed, but the man blocked it in the next instant, seizing her and pinning her against a nearby wall.
"My moves? You truly are a marvel."
Jiang Li gritted her teeth, delivered an elbow strike, and used the opening to plant a Gu Worm on him.
The man took two steps back. Hearing the approaching police sirens, he smiled as if he’d expected them. He wiped a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth and looked at her with great interest.
"Jiang Li, next time, I definitely won’t let you go."
"Cough!" Jiang Li watched the direction the man had disappeared in and coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"Jiang Li, I’ll take you to the hospital! Where’s that damn pervert?!" Wu Ming stormed in and began searching angrily.
"He knew I wouldn’t come alone and timed his escape. Let’s get Lu Xingye to the hospital first."
Jiang Li went to untie Lu Xingye’s ropes, but the next second, her pupils constricted at the sight of what was strapped around his waist.
"A bomb!"
Wu Ming yanked Jiang Li away.
Zheng Qichuan rushed in with his team and saw the scene. He quickly ordered his men to untie Yu Changle and take her away, then told Wu Ming and the others to evacuate immediately.
Zheng Qichuan stared at the ticking bomb on Lu Xingye’s waist. "There’s only a minute left. The bomb squad probably won’t make it in time."
Hearing Zheng Qichuan’s words, Jiang Li’s mind went blank.
Miao Anji stepped forward and looked it over, stroking his chin. "Is it really that hard to cut a wire?"
Zheng Qichuan glanced at Miao Anji. "Cut the wrong one, and it’ll detonate immediately."
Miao Anji said, "Oh," and quickly called his Red Scorpion back. He didn’t want his Sister to get blown up.
"There’s no time," Zheng Qichuan said, his brow deeply furrowed.
"Sister, this one," Little Li said, pointing to one of the wires.
Jiang Li immediately snatched the cutters from Zheng Qichuan’s hand and snipped the wire Little Li had indicated.
The group of people watching nearby were so scared their hearts nearly burst from their chests.
"BEEP—"
The countdown on the device stopped. The group had yet to recover from the terrifying scene.
Zheng Qichuan snapped back to his senses and looked at Jiang Li. "You know how to defuse bombs?"
Jiang Li went forward, untied Lu Xingye’s ropes, and checked his condition. She let out a breath of relief when she felt him still breathing.
"Huh? What did you say, Captain Zheng?" Jiang Li asked, supporting Lu Xingye as she turned to look at Zheng Qichuan.
Yu Huannian came forward and took Lu Xingye from Jiang Li. "To the hospital first."
Jiang Li immediately followed.
Zheng Qichuan stared at Jiang Li’s back. ’Was that just a lucky guess, or does she really know how?’
"Captain, there are signs of a fight here. Jiang Li already fought with the suspect."
Zheng Qichuan came to his senses and looked at the marks on the ground. From the disturbed dust, he could tell the fight between the two had been intense.
"See if you can find any key evidence at the scene."
"Right."
Huang Zhongyu’s car was parked in the shadows. Watching the group emerge, he turned and spoke to Huang Nianci.
"Master, Jiang Li and the others are out safely."
"Let’s head back, then. Ask the others if they saw anyone suspicious."
"Yes."
「In the hospital.」
Jiang Li looked at the unconscious Lu Xingye in the hospital bed. Just as she’d suspected, he had been drugged. Thankfully, there were no other major issues.
Jiang Li then turned her gaze to the other side of the room, to Yu Changle, who still hadn’t woken up.
The moment Yu Changle opened her eyes, she saw Jiang Li. The next second, a cold dagger was pressed against her neck.
"Talk. Is the real Yu Changle still alive?"
"Sister Jiang, what are you talking about? I don’t understand..."
Yu Changle’s words caught in her throat, unable to utter another sound.
Jiang Li clamped a hand over her mouth, stabbed the dagger into her hand, and raised an eyebrow. "You don’t know?"
"Mmph! Mmph!" Yu Changle’s brows furrowed in pain as she struggled violently.
The next second, the woman kicked out at her. Jiang Li took a step back and watched her try to escape through the window. Jiang Li’s eyes turned cold. She rushed forward, grabbed the woman by the hair, dragged her to the floor, and threw a punch.
"Ugh!" Xu Caiwei cried out in pain, her eyes filled with fear. She could actually see the shadow of "Mister" in this woman.
"Talk!" Jiang Li tightened her grip.
Xu Caiwei opened her mouth, preparing to bite her tongue and commit suicide. ’Death is inevitable anyway...’
Jiang Li dislocated her jaw without hesitation and pressed the hilt of the dagger against her teeth.
"You should know, he loves knocking out people’s teeth. You’ve probably seen it plenty of times. Want to know what it feels like...?"
Terror filled Xu Caiwei’s eyes. She shook her head frantically. "I’ll... I’ll talk! She’s... she’s alive!"
Jiang Li pulled the dagger back a little. "What’s his name? Where is he?"
"I... I don’t know. We only call him Mister," Xu Caiwei said, trembling all over from the pain.
Jiang Li took out the handcuffs she had gotten from Lu Xingye and cuffed Xu Caiwei.
Jiang Li looked at Xu Caiwei. "Tell me all the locations you know."
Xu Caiwei hesitated for two seconds, but then she spoke.
Jiang Li memorized the locations. Between calling the police and calling Zheng Qichuan, she chose Zheng Qichuan.
She wasn’t familiar with the local police department.
Xu Caiwei shrank back and looked at her. "He’s going to find you at the banquet."
BANG!