Chapter Forty-Three: Kidnapping

“What is it?” Chen Jin looked at Haolian blocking his way, bewildered.

“Be… careful…”

“It’s fine, I just forgot something.”

Haolian’s face had undergone two strange changes in quick succession: first, his features twisted as if in sharp pain, but the next moment he returned to normal.

“Are you okay?” Chen Jin asked with concern.

“I’m fine.” Haolian smiled, then walked past Chen Jin into the private room. He wandered around for a moment, and when he emerged, he held something in his hand, though Chen Jin couldn’t see what it was.

Chen Jin could tell there was something fishy about all this, but he didn’t chase after Haolian. He simply watched him descend from the third floor, leave the restaurant, and head toward Zhang Hui and the others.

He glanced at the black-clad ghost nearby, still grimacing, then left the restaurant himself.

Qin Yang from Wangjia Restaurant, one of Chen Jin’s old seniors, had also gone along.

…

The midday winter sun seemed even harsher than the scorching rays of summer, stinging the skin and burning the eyes.

Chen Lan walked in front of No. 1 High School’s gate, dressed in a winter coat that wasn’t very thick.

“One more month… such a long time,” she muttered to herself.

“And my brother seems a bit off lately…”

Chen Lan strolled slowly. As she rounded a corner, two men in casual clothes suddenly appeared in front of her.

They reached out to grab her.

But Chen Lan’s reaction was faster than theirs. In an instant, both her feet lashed out, landing squarely in their groins and turning the pair into the most loyal disciples of the Brotherhood of the Groin-Clutchers.

Not content with that, Chen Lan seized their hair in both hands. No one knew where her slender arms and legs found such strength, but she hoisted the two men up as if they weighed nothing.

The pain contorted both men’s faces.

“Speak! What are you two up to?” she demanded fiercely.

“Don’t get excited. Put them down and come with me.”

A calm, unhurried voice sounded behind her.

She also felt something hard and sharp, like the tip of a knife, pressing into her back.

“What do you want?” Chen Lan asked, unfazed, her tone as even as if she were running into someone she knew.

“Oh? You’re a cool one, little lady. But our business isn’t something you need to know. Just come quietly with me and you’ll be fine,” the person behind her replied, unhurried.

“Is this a kidnapping?” Chen Lan asked again.

“Come on. You sure do talk a lot.”

Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her back. Her winter coat was too thin; whatever it was, it had pierced straight through.

“Alright,” said Chen Lan, her expression unchanged, as if the pain didn’t exist.

“You’re calm. Good. Now take that corner and head to the van. Don’t think you can escape just because you know how to fight—you’re not my match yet,” the person behind her said in a ghostly tone.

Chen Lan obeyed, tossing the two men onto the ground and heading in the direction indicated.

“Lan!” came a voice just then—it was Lin Qing, calling from inside the school, right behind the iron fence.

“Another one? This is getting troublesome,” the person behind her murmured, sounding a little exasperated.

Chen Lan sensed an opportunity. She suddenly darted forward, planted her foot on a stone pillar between the iron bars, then spun and swept her leg at her pursuer.

Bang—

She caught a glimpse of the man behind her, masked and hatted, but before she could take a closer look, a tremendous force slammed into her waist. She was kicked off her feet, sent rolling across the ground.

Dazed, she looked up and saw the man leap lightly over the fence, seize the fleeing Lin Qing, knock her unconscious, then, hauling Lin Qing, vault back over the two-meter-high fence.

…

Chen Jin went to Wangjia Restaurant for lunch as usual.

He returned to his store a little after one; normally he would come back at two, but with Qin Yang absent, there was no one to discuss cultivation or gossip from the cultivation world with, so he simply returned early.

As soon as he stepped into the store, his phone rang.

“Hello—”

“If you’re not at Gehong Mountain before seven, your sister will die there.”

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The caller’s voice was hoarse, speaking so fast it cut Chen Jin off.

Then the call ended.

Chen Jin stared at the phone in shock, quickly checking the number.

The call had come from Chen Lan’s own number.

He dialed back immediately.

Someone picked up.

“Listen, what do you want?” Chen Jin said at once, not giving the other side a chance to interrupt.

“Bring five million in cash to Gehong Mountain before seven,” came the reply.

“Let me hear my sister’s voice,” Chen Jin demanded.

“Fine.”

He heard the sound of rope being untied.

“Brother, don’t come! They’re going to kill—mmph—” Chen Lan’s voice was frantic, desperate.

Before she could finish, her mouth was covered again.

But Chen Jin recognized her voice unmistakably.

“I want a video call to see if my sister’s alright,” Chen Jin insisted.

“Fine,” the other side agreed again.

Chen Jin’s phone lit up with a video call from Chen Lan’s account. He answered instantly.

He saw Chen Lan inside a van, hands and feet bound, mouth sealed with tape. Lin Qing was beside her, both of them squirming and unable to say a word.

The camera suddenly shifted, revealing a figure in sportswear, face masked and hatted. “See? Bring the money to Gehong Mountain. Only you are allowed to come. You can call the police if you want, but don’t let us find out.”

Beep—

The call ended.

“You’re playing with fire!” Chen Jin growled, his teeth clenched, staring at the dark screen.

He immediately called his father, told him everything, and asked him to gather five million.

Neither father nor son called the police, nor did they tell Chen’s mother.

Both were men who had weathered many storms; neither panicked.

Father Chen went straight to the bank and withdrew five million in cash. For a businessman like him, it was just a few minutes’ approval before the bank handed over the money.

He brought the cash to the specialty store.

“I can’t get through to them anymore,” Chen Jin said on meeting him.

“I have the money. Let’s go,” his father said.

“They said I have to go alone,” Chen Jin replied, shaking his head.

“Alright. I’ll have men follow you in secret,” his father nodded.

“You stay here and wait for my message. I’ll be back soon,” Chen Jin said, shaking his head.

“No. What if something happens to you, too?” his father objected.

“Don’t worry. Take a nap first,” Chen Jin said, blowing a breath at his father.

“You—” His father was instantly overwhelmed by the breath and collapsed limply.

Chen Jin settled him into the soft chair at the office desk.

Then, carrying the suitcase full of money, he left the furniture store.

“You are as good as dead!”