---
Dongcheng.
On Rodey's imminent threat, Rong Zhengsheng took him to the address.
He asked, "Why do you want to frame Fu Ting for the crime?"
Rodey laughed. "Nice try, but you will get nothing out of me."
Rong Zhengsheng narrowed his eyes.
"You are going to kill me, I know it. You will take Xin Nianzu. But I would be of no use to you anymore, so I am better off dead, that is you think. At least let me know before I die."
Rodey's gun was still touching the back of his waist. "Well, you got that right. But you will still die knowing nothing."
They kept on walking until they reached their destination. Rodey had already secretly stationed some of his men near the area to guard.
The apartment was quite dilapidated with some broken tiles on the roof. The walls were quite old that were already started to blacken, and the plaster was scraping off from many areas.
Rodey wasn't worried about Xin Nianzu escaping because he had already sealed off the area with his men.
Even if he tried to, he would be caught no matter what direction he took.
They reached the door, and Rodey quickly shifted to the side. But the gun remained aimed and this time on the side of his waist.
He didn't want Xin Nianzu to get suspicious, seeing the shadows of two people standing at the outside through the little gap between the door and the floor.
But it didn't affect Rong Zhengsheng.
Rodey signaled him to call Xin Nianzu.
Rong Zhengsheng quietly raised his hand and tapped thrice on the door.
Silence.
No answer.
Rodey narrowed his eyes. There was no way that Xin Nianzu would come to know that I am with him. Why isn't he opening the door?
He had an earpiece fit in his ear. He pressed on a button that emitted a signal. One after one, he got his men updating on the current situation.
"Clear. I didn't see Xin Nianzu."
"Negative."
"Negative."
"Clear."
Rodey didn't want to talk and alert him. So he signaled again.
'Why isn't he coming out?'
He simply shrugged.
Rodey had the urge to shoot him right then and there.
Wait.
That knock! He tapped thrice. Was it supposed to be a sort of signal?
Rodey stepped forward and suddenly landed a strong punch on Rong Zhengsheng's abdomen. He coughed and was tipped off balance. But he quickly leaned on the wall for support.
"You bastard!"
Rodey didn't bother to stay quiet now. He wanted to but didn't kill Ring Zhengsheng because he was still an important wager to get Xin Nianzu in exchange for his life. He relayed the message.
"Look for Xin Nianzu! Right now!"
---
*Xin Lei*
Liao Huifang committed herself in helping us to find the base and save Chu Jie.
"No."
It was Bai Li, who wasn't in favor. "You may have tricked us with that stunt, but it won't fool those men. Do you know how to fight?"
Liao Huifang pursed her lips.
"I don't..."
"Then you are just unnecessary baggage to us. We cannot fight them and save you at the same time."
Bai Li was blunt as always.
"I understand your emotions, but you are signing up to be the fodder for collateral damage. What should we do? Fight those idiots or look after you?"
She pointed at me and complained. "But isn't she accompanying you?"
I typed. "I know martial arts a bit."
Her shoulders slumped. "But I want to help you!"
Bai Li didn't give her any chance to refute. "Yeah, so help us by staying alive. It is not a picnic."
Liao Huifang's expression turned sour. "You-You are so rude!"
I coughed.
Well, I understood that many people wouldn't like Bai Li's bluntness and sarcasm. However, I didn't think that way. For me, it was a part of his charm and who he was.
I sighed. Liao Huifang looked quite young. Twenty-one or twenty-two, maybe? Well, she was an adult, but that age was still brash and reckless to head on straight into a mess.
Bai Li was unaffected. He shrugged. "I am not rude. I am knocking some sense into you."
I was thinking if she could still help us without getting in our way when suddenly a van braked and stopped in front of us.
"Arf!"
Cocoa barked and looked ready to attack.
I pulled Liao Huifang and quickly stood beside Bai Li.
Four men stepped out and surrounded us, aiming their guns at us.
Just like we thought, that Rodey or somebody else sent his men for us. That meant that, indeed, there was a base in Andingzhen.
One man carefully looked at Liao Huifang. "You are the woman who is snooping around, asking questions. We found you and look, we also hit a jackpot! We found you two as well," he sneered and glanced at Bai Li and me. The other minions laughed as if it was hell of a joke.
So these people already got wind of it, and they came for Liao Huifang. She said nothing, but I sensed that she was a little nervous.
He looked at two of his men on his left side.
"Smash the car!"
It was to be expected. Bai Li was strangely quiet all this time. But I understood it. They wanted to kill us, and we wanted them to take us to their base.
We didn't want to provoke them.
The two men started thrashing and breaking the car, and it's windows with hockey sticks.
"H-Hey! What are you doing!?" Liao Huifang exclaimed, but I quickly held her hand signaled not to say anything.
"Quiet bitch, or I will shoot you right now," one of the men yelled.
Bai Li whispered. "We need them. Don't make them shoot a bullet through us."
Liao Huifang pursed her lips.
I looked at the car's pitiful state.
Sorry for the car, Uncle Rong.
Liao Huifang shuddered and took a step back. Her mouth dropped wide open, and I saw her trembling.
I sighed.
And you wanted to come and help us in their base. You would have already dropped dead.
I glanced at Bai Li and noticed that he looked...a little uneasy.
What happened? Was his anxiety acting up?
I didn't like Bai Li to see so weak. Every time I felt as if it was me who was getting hurt.
I wasn't able to reassure through words, so I stretched my hand and intertwined my fingers with his.
Bai Li, it's okay. You are doing good.
Please, I hope you understand me.
I saw Bai Li smile.
"Nothing. I am fine."