Volume One, Chapter 12: The Rescue of the Hostage

Lin Dong squatted at the bank entrance for two hours, clutching the twenty thousand yuan he had just withdrawn. Due to withdrawal limits, the bank staff advised him to wait two hours before withdrawing more.

As soon as the time was up, he withdrew the remaining four thousand yuan. After leaving the bank, he lit a cigarette, tossed his bank card into the greenery, and walked away with a casual sway of his shoulders.

Wu Feng retrieved the card from the bushes and handed it to Gu Qingchen.

Gu Qingchen pinched a corner of the card, anger creeping into his eyes.

Several cars quietly tailed Lin Dong, but he showed no hurry to leave. Instead, he slipped into a foot massage parlor and began to relax.

Twenty minutes later, Gu Qingchen grew impatient.

Lin Dong lay in a massage chair when the door was suddenly kicked open by several burly men. Startled, he jumped up. "What are you doing?"

Without a word, they dragged him out like a helpless chick. At the entrance, one slapped Lin Dong across the face, causing stars to flash before his eyes.

They gave him no chance to speak, delivering blows from all sides. Lin Dong’s face quickly swelled and reddened; tears streamed down as he begged, "Big brother, please stop, I beg you."

The men glanced toward the car. Gu Qingchen’s eyes darkened with malice but he remained motionless. The bodyguards understood and kicked Lin Dong in the stomach. They continued the assault relentlessly until Lin Dong had no strength left to plead.

The car’s lights flickered, signaling them to cease. Lin Dong lay bruised and battered, clutching his stomach, barely able to moan.

One of the men asked, "Where is Feng Xi?"

Lin Dong spat out blood and said, "So you’re the ones that girl sent."

Gu Qingchen took a deep breath, clenched his fists tightly. Ding Wen immediately stepped out and kicked Lin Dong’s calf. "Lift him up."

The men hoisted Lin Dong by his arms. Ding Wen grabbed his chin coldly. "You can stay silent, but I’ll send you straight to the police."

Lin Dong sneered, "Pah! Feng Xi is my sister. Even if I don’t talk, what can the police do to me?"

Ding Wen wiped his glasses and ordered the bodyguards, "Beat him until he talks. Whether he lives or dies doesn’t matter."

Turning away, Ding Wen heard Lin Dong’s screams from behind.

Lin Dong was weak; the bodyguards barely loosened their grip before he confessed.

Gu Qingchen sat in the back seat as Ding Wen reported Lin Dong’s information.

“Feng Xi is held in a countryside guesthouse. The Lin family father and son, along with their debtors and three henchmen, are all there. Feng Xi was abducted at noon yesterday. Last night, they tied her to the bed and locked the debtor’s foolish son in the same room, trying to force her. They even drugged her…”

Veins bulged on Gu Qingchen’s hand as he struggled to contain his fury.

Ding Wen hurriedly continued, “But they found this morning that Feng Xi had bitten herself all over and resisted. The debtors were furious; they beat her badly and attempted to force her, butI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.