CHAPTER 177: CHAPTER 174: IT’S QUITE HARD (12,000-WORD MEGA CHAPTER)

Chapter 174: It Was Tough

Chen Nuo glanced at Zhang Linsheng to confirm that, although he had some external injuries, he wasn’t seriously harmed, then gave a slight nod.

Truth be told, it wasn’t until this moment, with Sun Keke safe at his side and seeing that Zhang Linsheng was relatively unharmed, that the weight Chen Nuo had been carrying finally settled.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t been anxious before.

Rather, after waking up and then passing out twice under Mount Fuji in RB, by the time Chen Nuo awoke and returned to Tokyo, only to learn that Sun Keke and Zhang Linsheng had gone missing, nearly two days had already passed.

To put it bluntly, if they were destined to meet their demise, it would have already happened in that timeframe.

At first, Chen Nuo had even prepared for the worst, resolving that if anything befell Sun Keke or Zhang Linsheng, he would make the entire Guo Family pay with their lives.

But then, the analysis of a text message from Brother Lei suggested they had been kidnapped and were being moved quickly, prompting Chen Nuo to rush back.

Once he was sure they were still alive, Chen Nuo’s considerations deepened.

He still didn’t understand why the Guo Family had taken them—he didn’t have a god’s omniscience, after all.

But there must have been a special reason! Otherwise, why go to the trouble of dragging them all the way back instead of simply silencing them? Wouldn’t that be easier?

Since they chose to kidnap them, it meant the victims likely wouldn’t be harmed for the time being.

The only thing to do was figure out how to rescue them—and his methods had to be strategic; he couldn’t let the enemy know what he valued most.

If the adversary learns your vulnerabilities before negotiations even start, what’s the point of talking?

It was like a poker game: when both sides have chips on the table but are unsure of the other’s hand, both are on edge.

At such times, the more indifferent you appear, the more anxious your opponent will become!

But Chen Nuo couldn’t show his hand either. Because once the cards were on the table, it would be a matter of life and death. Chen Nuo didn’t dare gamble with the lives of Sun Keke and Zhang Linsheng, nor risk betting on whether the Guo Family’s reason for taking them was significant enough for the Guo Family to risk everything, including the lives of their four captured members.

The issue remained: if he took the hostages to the Guo Family seeking an exchange, what if they didn’t comply?

What if the Guo Family was willing to sacrifice those four lives and still refused to compromise? Could Chen Nuo afford to risk Sun Keke’s and Zhang Linsheng’s lives?

Avoiding being cornered was why Chen Nuo had held back until now.

A trump card is only effective when kept hidden; once played, the outcome is unpredictable.

As for why he didn’t storm the Truth Society’s headquarters as he had in RB... Because this was Huaxia!

In RB, Chen Yanluo could wreak havoc, and if things went awry, he could simply leave. The Truth Society was a cult; the government wouldn’t protect it. Even if the Truth Society had its own armed forces, it wouldn’t call the police or seek governmental help.

But Huaxia was different! Although the Guo Family was a martial arts clan that generally wouldn’t involve the authorities, if they were actually stormed with gunfire in their own stronghold... would the Guo Family truly not call the officials?

If that happened, unless Chen Nuo was ready to live on the run after this, he couldn’t risk confronting the authorities.

And even if Chen Nuo didn’t care about living as a fugitive, he might be able to flee, but could Zhang Linsheng and Sun Keke join him? What would happen to them if they were left behind to face the authorities?

Different circumstances and different adversaries naturally called for different strategies.

When Zhang Linsheng saw Chen Nuo enter, he was already stretching his neck, choking from swallowing dry steamed buns. Startled, the bun lodged firmly in his throat, nearly cutting off his breath. All he could do was stare wide-eyed at Chen Nuo, hands desperately clawing at his own throat, only managing to produce hoarse, gurgling sounds.

Chen Nuo smirked and forcefully slapped Brother Haonan on the back.

PUFF! Zhang Linsheng’s mouth opened, and the piece of steamed bun flew out.

"Hahh..." Zhang Linsheng gasped, his face red as he looked at Chen Nuo.

"Don’t rush. Catch your breath before you speak."

Zhang Linsheng stared, eyes wide, and finally mumbled, "What’s there to say? You’ve been caught too. We’re dead meat now, aren’t we?"

Sun Keke was already struggling to process the situation.

The day’s rollercoaster of emotions had left the young girl in a daze. She was now just clinging tightly to Chen Nuo’s clothes. Upon hearing Zhang Linsheng’s remark about their impending doom, she couldn’t help but burst into tears. "Chen Nuo... you really shouldn’t have come to save us... Now, even you... even you’ve fallen into their trap."

Chen Nuo sighed, turned, and hugged Sun Keke tightly, whispering, "Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid. Rest assured, none of us will die."

"Ha!" Mountain Tiger, standing in the doorway, sneered and looked at Chen Nuo. "Kid, you’re facing death and still playing the hero? You’ve provoked the Guo Family this time. Surviving will be tough!"

Chen Nuo glanced at Mountain Tiger and lazily shook his head. "Small fry like you shouldn’t waste my time with idle talk. You’re not qualified to speak to me. A minion should know his place, even if he isn’t a boss yet."

Mountain Tiger’s face flushed red with embarrassment and anger. He snapped, "What did you say?!"

"I said you’re a minion," Chen Nuo replied with a faint smile. "What, was I wrong? With that short temper, you don’t seem like boss material."

"!!" Enraged, Mountain Tiger looked as if he would charge and strike Chen Nuo, but then he heard Steward Liu’s voice from outside, behind him.

"That’s enough, Mountain Tiger. He’s right; you are indeed too impulsive."

Facing his father, Mountain Tiger didn’t dare to act out. He gritted his teeth, turned, and meekly said, "Dad."

"Go and rest. With your temperament, you really do need to calm down."

Steward Liu stood at the doorway, hands clasped behind his back. He nodded at Chen Nuo from afar. "Sir, judging by your voice, you must be the one from the phone call. You’ve certainly caused quite a stir in Xi’an. Our Guo Family hasn’t suffered a loss like this in years."

He paused and actually gave Chen Nuo a thumbs-up. "A young hero indeed!"

"So, shall we talk?" Steward Liu raised an eyebrow, a humorless smile on his face.

"Talk about what?" Chen Nuo laughed.

Steward Liu intentionally let his expression darken, saying coldly, "Let’s talk about who you really are! Let’s talk about where you got the nerve to do such a thing to my Guo Family! Let’s talk about who’s backing you! And which sect or organization you belong to!"

Chen Nuo seemed to understand. He hummed lightly and asked with a smile, "Anything else?"

"Yes! Of course, there is!" Steward Liu snorted. "And you’d better satisfy me with your answers in the conversation to follow. Otherwise, I’ll cut off one of your companion’s hands to liven things up! Do you understand me?"

Hearing this, Chen Nuo actually froze for a moment, then couldn’t help but burst out laughing. "Ha! So petty? Throwing my own words back at me to try and intimidate me? Steward Liu, is it? It seems your Guo Family is quite petty indeed!"

"When someone kicks down your door and captures four of your people, there’s not much room for niceties."

Saying that, Steward Liu actually had someone bring a chair over. It was placed inside the room, and he sat down with a smile, just watching Chen Nuo.

Someone else brought a small table and placed it before him, setting a pot of wine, a dish of peanuts, and a bowl of braised beef on it.

Chen Nuo sighed as he observed the scene Steward Liu had orchestrated.

"What’s wrong? Regretting it now?" Steward Liu sneered.

"No, I just have one small regret."

"A deathbed regret?"

"Not quite," Chen Nuo said with a smile. "I regret that I actually had no quarrel with your Guo Family. But you attacked my home in Jinling and kidnapped my girlfriend and my brother... so I had no choice but to dispense with courtesy."

Steward Liu was stunned. He hadn’t expected this young man, trapped and captured, to still be so arrogant.

Chen Nuo, however, turned his head and gave Sun Keke a gentle smile, whispering, "Close your eyes, okay? The following scene might get a little bloody. Be good now, close your eyes."

Sun Keke looked at Chen Nuo blankly. He smiled, stepped closer, and lifted his hand to gently brush her eyelids, causing her to subconsciously close her eyes.

"Keep them closed. Don’t open them," Chen Nuo whispered in her ear.

Then, he turned his head to glance at Steward Liu. "Excuse me, what time is it?"

Steward Liu raised an eyebrow. "Four o’clock."

Chen Nuo visibly relaxed and nodded. "Good, looks like I’m still on time." He seemed to murmur to himself, then said in a low voice, "After I’ve dealt with this, I can still make it for dinner."

As he spoke, Sun Keke, her eyes still closed, felt Chen Nuo pat her clothes.

The next second... A muffled GRUNT! Then a CLATTER!

Sun Keke was startled and instinctively tried to open her eyes, but Chen Nuo caught her wrist and pressed her head down, burying her face in his chest.

Then came two THWACKS! Two figures flew out!

Steward Liu jumped up from his chair in shock! "Quick! Restrain him!" he bellowed.

Everyone in the room rushed toward Chen Nuo, and even people from outside heard the commotion and ran in.

Mountain Tiger’s expression changed. He stepped back a few paces, then suddenly pulled a double-barreled shotgun from the back of his belt.

In the blink of an eye, Chen Nuo strode forward with a smile. The first two men who charged him were sent flying before anyone understood how. Another man, just as he reached Chen Nuo, seemed to hit an invisible wall and was thrown backward, tumbling to the ground.

Nearby, Zhang Linsheng saw one of the downed men struggling to get up and kicked him squarely in the head.

Chen Nuo pushed Zhang Linsheng further into the room, handed the trembling Sun Keke to him, then turned, strode out the doorway, and slammed the iron door shut behind him!

Meanwhile, Steward Liu had begun to retreat, but Mountain Tiger had already raised the shotgun, aiming it at Chen Nuo and roaring, "Die!"

Chen Nuo smiled, his eyes fixed on Mountain Tiger, and seemed to blink slowly.

Mountain Tiger suddenly found that his finger on the trigger wouldn’t press down at all! Moreover, the arm holding the gun abruptly swiveled ninety degrees, aiming the barrel straight at his own father, Steward Liu!

What the hell? The muzzle turns before firing! Who could possibly deal with that?! Mountain Tiger was scared out of his wits!

Steward Liu hadn’t even reacted yet when Mountain Tiger, his face contorted in terror, let out a loud scream: "AH!!!"

His fingers, manipulated by an invisible force, squeezed the trigger!

Fortunately, in that moment of desperation, as Mountain Tiger roared, the controlling force seemed to loosen ever so slightly, allowing him to wrench his arm downwards by a mere inch...

BANG!!! A henchman, who had unfortunately run between the muzzle and Steward Liu just then, was blasted by the shotgun. Half his body took the impact of the lead shot, and he let out a horrific wail before collapsing!

And Steward Liu didn’t escape unscathed! Although the man had absorbed most of the blast, a good portion of the lead shot still peppered Steward Liu’s right thigh!

Steward Liu’s right trouser leg was instantly shredded, revealing a bloody mess of torn flesh beneath!

Steward Liu seemed stunned for half a second before he let out a howl and collapsed, clutching his thigh and rolling on the ground.

"Dad?!" Half of Mountain Tiger’s body went cold. He instinctively wanted to throw down the gun and rush to his father.

But then, an even more bizarre scene unfolded. Mountain Tiger found that when he tried to throw the gun, he couldn’t! His fingers were still clenched tightly around the grip!

And not only that—Mountain Tiger watched in horror as his own hands, moving against his will, quickly fished out a packet of iron pellets from his pocket, and began the process of reloading the shotgun barrel by barrel...

A few seconds later, Mountain Tiger let out a bloodcurdling scream. He watched his own hands clutch the barrels, turn the muzzle, and press it against his own thigh...

"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

It was only then that Mountain Tiger realized the young man was standing at the iron-gated doorway of the inner room, smiling and giving him a slight wink.

BANG!

There had been thirty Guo Family members in and around the building; now, most of them lay on the ground.

Steward Liu and Mountain Tiger lay groaning on the floor, their legs covered in blood.

Mountain Tiger’s last shot had blasted his own instep, turning his foot into a mangled mess of flesh and iron pellets. He was now howling so hard he could barely breathe.

The three to five Guo Family members who hadn’t been taken down by Chen Nuo were completely cowed, squatting in the corners with their heads in their hands.

Chen Nuo chuckled and walked over to the small table. He glanced at the food, which hadn’t been disturbed, picked up the chopsticks, tapped them neatly on the table, and then popped a few peanuts into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully.

"Not bad. A bit of salt and pepper would make them perfect," Chen Nuo sighed.

He looked over at the few Guo Family members in the corner. "Go and get your Steward Liu up. Oh, and that guy too." He pointed at Mountain Tiger. "Don’t let them die."

The remaining Guo Family members were still trembling with fear, but finally, once they were sure Chen Nuo meant them no further harm, two of Steward Liu’s more courageous confidants hurried over and helped him up.

Despite the pain, and remembering he was his father, Steward Liu whispered to his men, "Save... save Mountain Tiger!"

The men glanced at Chen Nuo, who was nonchalantly eating peanuts. He then picked up a slice of beef, took a bite, and waved his hand dismissively.

The Guo Family members felt as if they’d received a pardon. One of them quickly ran to a nearby cabinet and pulled out a first-aid kit.

That kind of shotgun blast spread a wide pattern of iron pellets. Although not deeply penetrating, the pellets caused gruesome wounds when they hit flesh, shredding skin and muscle, with countless pellets embedding themselves.

The Guo Family members didn’t know how to treat such wounds properly. They could only pour some antiseptic solution over them and then hastily wrap them layer by layer with gauze.

This might stop the bleeding and save their lives for now, but it will likely lead to more severe infections later, Chen Nuo watched but didn’t interfere.

Chen Nuo picked up the shotgun from the ground, weighed it in his hand, then turned and pushed open the iron door of the inner room.

Zhang Linsheng and Sun Keke stepped out. Seeing people lying scattered everywhere and the blood-covered Steward Liu and his son, their faces filled with shock. Sun Keke, in particular, looked at Chen Nuo with a complex expression, her lips pursed, as if tears might fall at any moment.

"Chen Nuo..."

Chen Nuo sighed. "Whatever it is, let’s talk about it when we get back, okay?"

With that, he handed the shotgun to Zhang Linsheng and pointed to Steward Liu and his son lying in the corner, as well as the few other Guo Family members who could still move.

"Here’s the gun. If anyone dares to move, shoot them!" Chen Nuo squinted at Zhang Linsheng and asked slowly, "Do you dare to open fire?"

Zhang Linsheng was terrified, in truth! But under Chen Nuo’s intense gaze, remembering the suffering of the past few days and the clear intent these people had to kill him, he gritted his teeth and gripped the gun tightly. "I dare!"

"Good. I’ll leave them to you for now."

Chen Nuo said this, then walked back into the inner room. Moments later, he dragged out Boss Guo, Guo Qiang, by one foot, hauling him across the floor like a dead dog.

Guo Qiang pleaded continuously, but Chen Nuo maintained a stern expression and ignored him completely.

"Little Chen... Hey, hey, hey, Little Chen, let’s talk this out, hey, hey, hey..."

Chen Nuo, however, walked up to Steward Liu and said coldly, "You were definitely planning to kill him earlier, weren’t you? Did you prepare a place nearby to bury him?"

"..." Steward Liu was stunned. What the hell! Aren’t you... aren’t you guys on the same side?!

But he reacted quickly. "East of the house, about twenty meters, there’s a dry well."

"Good!" Chen Nuo nodded. Disregarding Boss Guo’s wails, he began dragging him out. After a few steps, however, he turned back to look at Steward Liu.

"Which way is east?"

"..." Steward Liu swallowed hard. "Out... out the door and to the left..."

Chen Nuo went outside again, walked a few steps, then turned around and came back.

Steward Liu felt like he was about to have a mental breakdown. He raised a trembling hand and pointed. "This way! This way is left! That’s east!"

Chen Nuo frowned at the man but ignored him. He picked up a large piece of the braised beef from the bowl on the table and, gnawing on it with one hand, dragged Guo Qiang out with the other.

About twenty meters away, hidden in withered grass, there was indeed a well. Looking down, it was about five or six meters deep and dry, with just a pitch-black patch of mud at the bottom.

Chen Nuo glanced down at Guo Qiang.

Guo Qiang managed a forced smile. "Hey, you’re not really planning to bury me here, are you?"

Without a word, Chen Nuo hauled Guo Qiang to his feet.

As Guo Qiang was dragged to the edge of the well, Boss Guo finally realized in terror that Chen Nuo was serious.

"Hey! Kid, I... I... I even added extra meat to your noodles that time!"

"?" Chen Nuo glanced at the man, then stuffed the half-eaten piece of braised beef from his hand into Guo Qiang’s mouth. "Oh, returning your meat."

WHOOSH! Before Guo Qiang could say another word, Chen Nuo had thrown him into the dry well.

The five- or six-meter fall nearly knocked the life out of Guo Qiang.

Guo Qiang lay at the bottom of the well, feeling as if half his life had been beaten out of him. He didn’t know if he’d broken any bones. He looked up and kept shouting.

But all he heard was a cold voice drifting down from above. "You’re a cunning bastard. I’ll leave you here for three days. If you’re not dead by then, I’ll come back to question you."

"Damn it! Three days! Chen Nuo! Three days will kill me! I’m seriously injured! Three days! If I don’t starve, I’ll die of thirst! And if I don’t die of thirst, my wounds will fester and kill me!"

Standing above, Chen Nuo was silent for a moment, then said, "So, you’re injured, huh?"

"Yes, yes, yes! Very badly injured!" Guo Qiang yelled frantically.

"Alright." THWACK! Something landed in front of Guo Qiang.

Guo Qiang quickly fumbled for it. When he picked it up, his expression changed instantly. A pack of adhesive bandages!

"Damn it! Chen Nuo!! You motherf—"

"Swear again, and I’ll throw rocks down next," Chen Nuo said coldly from above.

Guo Qiang immediately shut his mouth.

"Three days. If you’re not dead in three days, I’ll come back for you."

"And... what if I die?"

"Then that’s even better. No need to dig a grave. I’ll just fill in this well. Saves me the trouble."

When he returned to the house, Steward Liu and the others indeed hadn’t dared to cause any trouble and were obediently huddled in the corner. Zhang Linsheng was clearly nervous, his body tense as he held the gun. When Chen Nuo walked in, Zhang Linsheng jolted, reflexively turning the gun, only for Chen Nuo to grab the barrel and smile. "Don’t be nervous."

But when Chen Nuo looked at Sun Keke, he found her expression dazed and vacant, her eyes darting around evasively. The poor girl must have been terrified, Chen Nuo sighed inwardly.

He pulled Zhang Linsheng aside and began to question him.

Zhang Linsheng, though rough around the edges, was surprisingly meticulous. He recounted the events of the past few days to Chen Nuo with clarity and logic.

Guo Qiang had fled to his home, bringing his pursuers with him. Consequently, Sun Keke and Zhang Linsheng had been unfortunately caught up in it.

Hearing this, Chen Nuo raised an eyebrow. It wasn’t too far from what he had guessed.

When he heard that Guo Qiang possessed something the Guo Family’s old patriarch greatly desired, Chen Nuo nodded.

And when he heard that Steward Liu and his son seemed to be acting as inside traitors, planning to steal the item from Guo Qiang behind the old patriarch’s back, Chen Nuo laughed.

This is getting interesting, he thought.

He then questioned another of the Guo Family’s men to confirm the address of this place before making a phone call.

In less than an hour, a car sped over. Brother Lei was the first to jump out. Seeing Chen Nuo standing at the door and smiling at him, Bald Lei finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Sorry for the delay; the roads were really rough," Brother Lei said as he quickly approached. "Is everyone okay? Did you find them all?"

"Yes, everyone’s fine." Chen Nuo nodded, patting Brother Lei on the shoulder. "They were just a little scared. Brother Lei, thanks for your hard work."

"Don’t mention it!" Brother Lei exhaled. He saw Zhang Linsheng holding a gun inside the house and Sun Keke standing against the wall, and managed a smile.

Chen Nuo said calmly, "I still have things to deal with here. Take Keke and Little Zhang back first. Once you return, contact their families immediately; they must be frantic with worry! Yes, after you’ve contacted them, send them straight back to Jinling."

Brother Lei replied, "Mm! Okay!"

"Chen Nuo!" Sun Keke suddenly cried out, her eyes wide and rapidly filling with tears, her complex gaze fixed on Chen Nuo. "You... you’re sending me back now? Aren’t you... aren’t you coming back with me?"

Chen Nuo sighed, walked over, and gently touched the girl’s face. He suddenly smiled. "Ai, it’s only been a few days, and you’ve gotten so thin. Your chin is even pointy.

"Eat more when you get back and build yourself back up."

This was clearly the kind of playful teasing shared between sweethearts in normal times. But hearing it now, Sun Keke couldn’t muster a smile. Instead, the tears she had been holding back began to roll down her cheeks, one by one.

Chen Nuo felt a pang of heartache, and his gaze toward Steward Liu and the others filled with intensified resentment. Damn it, these Guo Family people are ruining my important affairs! This whole ordeal has caused me so much trouble in Jinling!

After being frightened like this, how will Sun Keke see me in the future? Will she be able to accept... this side of me?

And then there’s my relationship with the Sun family... what am I going to do about that? I’m the reason their daughter was kidnapped. Won’t Old Sun want to kill me? Won’t he tell me to get lost and stay as far away as possible in the future?

It’s all the damn fault of these Guo Family people! And that bastard in the well!

"Brother Lei!"

"Yes?"

"There’s a dry well twenty meters to the left! Go over there! And throw a few big rocks into it!"

"...Huh? Oh! Right away!"

"Pick the biggest ones you can find!"

"Ah, okay, okay!"

Ultimately, Sun Keke and Zhang Linsheng left with Brother Lei.

Although Sun Keke was crying pitifully, her face streaked with tears like pear blossoms in the rain, Chen Nuo could only console her with kind words. He then steeled his heart and sent her off in the car. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to accompany her, but the Sun family back in Jinling City was likely in an uproar.

And Chen Nuo himself had to stay here to deal with the Guo Clan. He couldn’t return until he had completely dismantled the Guo Family and eliminated any future threats.

After sending them off, Chen Nuo returned to the house and looked at Steward Liu, who was sitting in the corner. Walking over, he said with a faint smile, "Steward Liu, let’s make a deal."

Steward Liu was startled. "A... a deal?"

Chen Nuo nodded, his tone perfectly calm. "Do you want to live?"

"Yes!" Steward Liu nodded immediately, without hesitation.

"One person, in exchange for the lives of you and your son."

Steward Liu’s gaze narrowed. "What do you mean?"

Chen Nuo smiled. "I don’t care how you do it—trick him, coax him, whatever. Just get that old patriarch of your Guo Family here. As long as he comes, you and your son will live."

Steward Liu’s expression changed dramatically.

"What’s wrong? Unwilling? It’s not like you have much loyalty to that old geezer anyway."

"This..." Steward Liu looked troubled. "The Old Patriarch rarely leaves the inner residence."

"That’s your problem. If he comes, you and your son live. If he doesn’t..." Chen Nuo said impassively, "This place has beautiful scenery. Digging a couple of graves to bury two people shouldn’t be too difficult."

Steward Liu gritted his teeth. "I’ll try!"

Chen Nuo smiled, walked over, and clapped him on the shoulder. He intentionally glanced at Mountain Tiger before saying to Steward Liu, "When your old patriarch comes, I definitely won’t let him leave... but the two of you can. As for the Guo Family’s assets, I don’t know how much you two rats have embezzled. With the old patriarch dead, there should be considerable benefits for you, right? For your survival, and for your son’s future... Old Liu, give it your best shot. I have high hopes for you."

Staring at the young man’s fair, smiling face, Steward Liu inexplicably felt a chill creep into his heart! The Guo Family really has kicked an iron plate this time, provoking King Yama in his own underworld! What rotten luck to have antagonized such a bringer of death!

After mulling it over carefully, Steward Liu said, "I’ll... I’ll make a phone call."

Chen Nuo gestured for him to proceed.

Steward Liu’s hands trembled as he fumbled in his pocket, finally pulling out a mobile phone. He took a few deep breaths to steady himself, then vigorously rubbed his cheeks before dialing the number.

"Hello? Old Master! It’s me, Old Liu...

"Yes... I’m here, and the job is done! We’ve captured the person on the other side too!

"However, Old Master, you might... you might have to come in person."

Steward Liu paused, as if the Old Patriarch on the other end had asked something. Then, Steward Liu lowered his voice and said gravely, "Guo Qiang... he confessed the location of the item!

"The item... he hid it in Li Mountain."

The other end of the line was silent for a long time. Then, a few more words were quickly exchanged before the call ended.

Steward Liu wiped the sweat from his brow, looked at Chen Nuo, and whispered, "It’s done!"

Chen Nuo clapped his hands and smiled. "Such a fine, ungrateful wolf!"

Steward Liu looked embarrassed but just managed a smile. Then he said, "When the Old Master goes out, he’s always accompanied by people from the inner residence. The Guo Family’s most skilled fighters will be with him... You..."

Chen Nuo simply smiled. "Don’t worry. I can handle them."

The car sped along the road to Xi’an. Inside, Sun Keke sat curled into a ball in the back seat. Although she had stopped crying, she just stared blankly out the window without a word.

Zhang Linsheng, on the other hand, appeared relaxed and unemotional. He even asked Brother Lei for a cigarette.

"Once we get back to Xi’an, you two will go to the hotel first to freshen up and change into clean clothes. Then we’ll head straight to the airport. We should be back home in Jinling City by evening," Brother Lei said with a smile, turning back from the front passenger seat.

Zhang Linsheng acknowledged him, but Sun Keke remained silent, just looking out the window.

After a period of silence in the car, Brother Lei suddenly spoke up, "Uh... Keke."

Sun Keke didn’t respond.

"Keke?" Brother Lei raised his voice slightly.

"Hmm?" Sun Keke seemed to snap out of her daze. She sighed and asked in a low voice, "What is it, Brother Lei?"

Brother Lei hesitated for a moment before speaking gravely, "Keke, strictly speaking, now might not be the best time to bring this up... A delicate young lady like you has just been through such a terrifying ordeal. Ai, it’s also my fault. I failed to protect you properly in Jinling. When Boss Nuo was away on business, I should have helped him look after things at home."

Sun Keke was taken aback and quickly waved her hands, shaking her head. "Not at all, Brother Lei! It’s not like that! How could we blame you for what happened to us? That’s completely out of the question!"

After a pause, the young girl added sincerely, "I was just scared stiff earlier, so I didn’t say much. I’m sorry... Actually, I’m very grateful to you. You came all this way from Jinling City to rescue us. I only feel gratitude towards you, nothing else."

Brother Lei hurriedly waved his hand. "No, no, no, I was just running errands. It was Boss Nuo who personally rescued you. I can’t take any credit."

Sun Keke’s eyes reddened. "Chen Nuo... You all call him... Boss Nuo?"

Brother Lei coughed awkwardly and glanced at Zhang Linsheng, but Zhang Linsheng didn’t dare to meet his gaze and quickly looked out the window.

Brother Lei sighed. "Lass, there are some things about Chen Nuo that I’m not at liberty to tell you. You should ask him yourself later. But one thing I do know is that Boss Nuo treasures you more than his own life! When you went missing, he rushed back from wherever he was, not resting for a moment, to save you. And... these past couple of days, I’ve felt like he’s been radiating killing intent whenever he speaks! I’ve never heard Boss Nuo speak in such a chilling tone before!"

Sun Keke looked like she was about to cry. "Chen Nuo... he... he has killing intent? Is he... is he that kind of terrifying person?"

"Ah! No, no, heavens! I was just speaking metaphorically."

Brother Lei quickly tried to backtrack, his eyes darting around. "However, Keke, there is actually something related to Chen Nuo that I need to discuss with you."

Sun Keke seemed to regain some spirit. "Something about Chen Nuo? Yes, Brother Lei, please tell me."

Brother Lei smacked his lips, gathered his thoughts, and said slowly, "It’s about this incident... about you two being kidnapped."

"What do you mean?"

"Back in Jinling City, your family must be frantic. Your father, Old Sun, reported your disappearance to the police the very next day! They’re definitely searching the entire city for you now."

"Ah! Then I need to call my dad right away and tell him I’m safe!" Sun Keke exclaimed.

"Er..." Brother Lei looked awkward and gave a bitter chuckle. "About that phone call, and reporting that you’re safe... Well, I have an idea. Let me tell you, and you listen... Lin Sheng, you listen too! Both of you, hear me out and see if my idea is worth considering."

Sun Keke seemed to realize something. "Hmm? Go on, Brother Lei."

"Your families reported you missing, so the police were notified. They’re definitely looking for you, and they’ve probably even opened a case.

"Of course, it’s a good thing that you’re going back.

"But how you go back, and what story you tell... that’s what we need to discuss.

"Think about it.

"If, when we get back, we tell your families and the police everything... that you were kidnapped by people from the Guo Clan here in Xi’an...

"The police definitely wouldn’t let that go. A kidnapping case like this would certainly be investigated all the way here.

"And Boss Nuo, to save you, came to Xi’an and did... well, he did a lot of things, and used a lot of methods.

"Think about it... if the police investigate here, if they look into the Guo Family...

"Once the two sides are questioned...

"It’s likely that everything Boss Nuo did here would become known to the police.

"I’m afraid that would put Boss Nuo in a... well, a rather awkward position."

Sun Keke now fully understood. She sighed and said softly, "Chen Nuo... so many of his affairs have to be kept secret from the police?"

"Well... it’s not a lot of things, necessarily. But this time, to save you, he definitely had to use... many methods."

"I understand," Sun Keke said quietly. "I saw it all back at that place... so many people lying on the ground, all that blood, and they even used guns..."

At this point, Sun Keke suddenly sat up straight. Her usually gentle and sorrowful expression was replaced by a look of determination. She shook her head. "No, that won’t do! If the police find out about these things, Chen Nuo will be... he’ll be ruined!"

She looked anxiously at Brother Lei. "Brother Lei, what should we say when we go back?"

"First and foremost, you absolutely cannot mention anything about the Guo Family here in Xi’an. You cannot say you were kidnapped by the Guo Family! That’s crucial!" As Brother Lei spoke, he glanced at Zhang Linsheng.

Zhang Linsheng seemed unfazed and shook his head. "No problem for me. When I used to mess around, it was normal for me not to come home for three or five days. This time, I’ll just tell my family I went crazy playing games at an internet cafe for a couple of days. At most, my old man will give me a good thrashing, and that’ll be the end of it."

Brother Lei nodded and then looked at Sun Keke.

Sun Keke looked completely lost. "What... what should I say when I go back? Brother Lei, I can’t think of anything. Please, just tell me. As long as it protects Chen Nuo, I’ll say whatever you tell me to."

Brother Lei couldn’t help but glance at Sun Keke. She was such a clean, innocent-looking girl with clear, bright eyes—a naive young woman with little experience of the world. She was clearly the type who had been well-protected by her family, probably someone who wouldn’t even know how to tell a lie. Yet now, she was willing to be persuaded by him to deceive the police... Even with his immense reverence for Chen Nuo, Brother Lei couldn’t help but silently complain in his heart: What a sin! Such a pure young girl. Ai, that Chen Nuo... he’s really asking for trouble, corrupting her like this.

However, whatever he thought, he naturally wouldn’t let such sentiments show.

Brother Lei pondered for a moment. "I’ve thought about it. This matter needs to be handled in two parts.

"After your father, Old Sun, reported you missing, the police went to Chen Nuo’s house and found it ransacked.

"They most likely believe you were kidnapped from Chen Nuo’s house.

"So, first, we need to completely separate what happened at Chen Nuo’s house from your disappearance!"

Sun Keke blinked at Bald Lei.

Bald Lei sighed inwardly again. "First, you have to insist that you were *not* taken from Chen Nuo’s house when someone broke in!

"This is very important!

"Okay, I’ve come up with a story for you. You’ll say... you’ll say...

"I sent Chen Nuo out of town on a business trip. Then, you two had a big fight over the phone.

"In a fit of anger, you ran off by yourself to find Chen Nuo out of town. You know how young couples are—fighting, making up, running off to patch things up.

"That story should be plausible."

Sun Keke nodded vigorously. "Okay!"

Zhang Linsheng, however, looked a little puzzled. "Brother Lei, will that story really hold up? Chen Nuo’s house was broken into and ransacked. How do you explain that?"

"A simple burglary," Brother Lei said, rolling his eyes. "Just say Sun Keke doesn’t know. After she left, someone broke in to steal things, messed up the place, broke some stuff, maybe took a few minor items... It’ll be an unsolved case.

"Anyway, nothing valuable was lost. If it’s treated as a petty burglary, the monetary value involved won’t be high, so the police won’t put too many resources into it. Their resources are limited, you know. They might calculate the value, and it probably wouldn’t even meet the threshold for a formal investigation.

"If that doesn’t work... I’ll get Li Qingshan to find a few of his guys to turn themselves in. They can confess to breaking in to steal something or to vandalize the place out of revenge.

"Say they had some minor grudge against Chen Nuo and went to trash his place.

"That should wrap things up."

Zhang Linsheng gave a wry smile. "Sounds a bit flimsy."

Brother Lei laughed. "Kid, you don’t understand how these things work. The main issue right now is your disappearance! As long as you two return, the missing persons case is essentially closed!

"It was reported as a missing persons case! Once the ’missing’ persons return, the case is no longer valid! Get it?

"Once it’s no longer valid, and as long as you return home safe and sound, the police aren’t going to pry into all the little details like some nosy neighborhood gossips.

"What the police care about most is whether the missing people are found!

"As long as you’re back, it doesn’t matter how you got back. The point is, you’re not missing anymore, so the case can be closed!

"Understand?"

After a pause, Brother Lei added with a smile, "Brother Lin Sheng, you haven’t had much experience with police stations, so there are things you don’t get.

"Many missing person cases involve people who simply wandered off.

"Or they’re domestic disputes where someone runs away from home after an argument.

"The police mainly care if the person has returned and if they’re unharmed. As long as the person is back and safe, the police have done their job.

"Who’s going to keep investigating why you ran away from home because of an emotional spat? Do you think the police are idle?

"At most, the investigating officer will give you a stern lecture about not being so impulsive in the future.

"And then the case will be closed."

Sun Keke listened intently, not daring to interrupt, but she diligently committed everything to memory.

After some time spent pondering in the car, they arrived in Xi’an. Brother Lei took them back to the hotel where he and his men were staying and arranged two new rooms for the two young people.

Brother Lei was meticulous and handled things thoughtfully. On the way, he had even made a special twenty-minute stop at a department store to buy a set of clean clothes for both Sun Keke and Zhang Linsheng.

Back in her hotel room, Sun Keke quickly washed up—Brother Lei had said they needed to hurry.

However, while changing her clothes, Sun Keke suddenly remembered something! The Jade Rice Grain!! She had always kept it in her pocket!

But when she reached into her pocket now, she couldn’t find it anywhere!

Fearing she had put it in a different pocket, Sun Keke searched all of them, left and right. She even carefully felt along the seams, worried it might have gotten stuck.

Still nothing!

It’s gone?! Sun Keke was stunned for a moment, then felt a pang of self-reproach. Perhaps... it was so tiny, it must have fallen out of my pocket at some point without me noticing... It’s lost.

The two residences at the foot of Li Mountain had already been tidied up.

Chen Nuo had ordered the injured Guo Family men to be moved into the cargo bed of the truck parked in the shed behind the house.

Fifteen or twenty men were tossed inside, and the cargo doors were slammed shut!

The inside and outside of the houses had also been cleaned.

Chen Nuo squatted on the roof, the evening breeze gently caressing him, bringing a sense of languor.

Steward Liu sat in the courtyard, one thigh heavily bandaged from his serious injury. A few of his remaining men stood around him, feigning attentiveness.

Only Mountain Tiger, too severely wounded to stand, had been carried inside to lie down.

As the sun began to set, a Mercedes-Benz slowly approached along the distant dirt road.

In the courtyard, the color drained from Steward Liu’s face. He quickly made a gesture to Chen Nuo on the roof.

Chen Nuo nodded, casually spat out a blade of grass he’d been chewing, then slid down from the roof along the wall.

Chen Nuo slipped on a black jacket, similar to those worn by Steward Liu’s men, blended into the small group, and stood right behind Steward Liu.

The Mercedes-Benz stopped outside the wicker fence. Steward Liu had already risen and was limping to meet it.

Chen Nuo followed behind and saw the Guo Clan’s old patriarch step out of the car!

At first glance, Chen Nuo’s heart skipped a beat!

A strange sensation surged from deep within him!

This old man’s aura... it’s intensely cold and dangerous!!ŸŸŸ

"Strange... the old man didn’t bring any bodyguards," Steward Liu quickly whispered to Chen Nuo, who was now behind him near the courtyard gate. Then, Steward Liu immediately limped forward to greet him.

Indeed, there were no bodyguards in the Mercedes-Benz, nor were there any other vehicles following on the road behind it. The Guo Clan’s old patriarch had only come with a driver.

"Old Liu, you’re injured?" The Guo Clan’s old patriarch glanced at Steward Liu and frowned.

Steward Liu bowed. "The opponents were tough. A gun went off accidentally while we were trying to capture them."

The old patriarch sighed. "Ai, why bother? You should have let the young ones handle it. At your age, still rushing into the fray yourself? It’s not like it was decades ago!"

Steward Liu chuckled and fell into step as the old patriarch walked towards the courtyard, naturally positioning himself half a step behind.

"Has Xiaowei been found?"

"Found him! Old Patriarch! Xiaowei is inside, lying down. He suffered a bit, but there’s no serious harm. He just hasn’t had anything to eat or drink and is a bit weak, so I told him to rest and not come out to greet you."

The old patriarch stopped, looked back at Steward Liu, then smiled and nodded. "Good! I’m always at ease when you handle things! Where are Wei Dong and the others?"

"They’re all inside, all inside!" Steward Liu replied hurriedly.

The old patriarch nodded but, instead of continuing, he stopped at the entrance to the main building in the courtyard. He looked up at the setting sun in the west, then unexpectedly pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and quietly lit one.

"Old Liu, you’ve certainly worked hard this time," the old patriarch said softly.

Steward Liu shook his head. "Old Master, you’re too kind. I was just doing my duty."

"No, it has been quite hard indeed." The old patriarch exhaled a puff of smoke. He turned his head, looked directly at Steward Liu with a smile, and then, with a chilling laugh, said word by word, "Being by my side for so long, hiding your true intentions, betraying your own for personal gain... It must have been very hard, hasn’t it, Liǔ Chánggùi!"