Chapter 120: Alone and Unarmed

To avoid running into Wang Jianming, I deliberately took a small path, and the car was waiting for me not far away. However, just as I was about to leave the path and get into the car, someone stopped me. It was Xiao Mei. I hadn’t expected her to appear at such a moment. I glanced at my watch; time was running short. I tried to bypass her and walk straight past.

But Xiao Mei took a step sideways to block my way. She asked where I was going. I scoffed coldly and retorted, “What does it matter to you where I’m going?” Xiao Mei seemed indifferent to my attitude. After a moment’s thought, she said, “You’re leaving Jing City, aren’t you?”

I wasn’t in the mood to argue with her, but Xiao Mei stood her ground, refusing to move aside. In a fit of anger, I pushed her away. She hit the wall, and I strode out. Before I could get far, Xiao Mei got up and grabbed me from behind again.

I spun around sharply. “What exactly do you want?” I shouted.

She held onto me tightly. “Fang Han, I warned you not to leave Jing City. Do you really not care about your life?”

I snorted coldly. “I don’t have to leave Jing City. Tell me who you really are, why you’re approaching me, and what secrets Xuanyi, the old Taoist priest, and Sansong Temple are hiding.”

Xiao Mei frowned, her face full of hesitation. I mocked her, saying she could give me her body but refused to reveal these secrets. To her, these secrets seemed more precious than her own innocence. She took a deep breath. “Fang Han, I can’t tell you now, but trust me. Staying in Jing City will only bring you good, no harm.”

“I believe you. Maybe leaving Jing City really is dangerous,” I told her.

A smile brightened her face. “Then don’t go.”

I curled my lips. “I have to. I don’t have time to waste on you. Stay away from me.”

I pulled my hand back, but Xiao Mei wasn’t willing to let go. Angry, I grabbed her collar and lifted her off the ground. She was light, easily floating with both feet in the air. She gasped for breath, and I said through gritted teeth, “Don’t think I won’t lay a hand on you. I don’t believe in pity.”

Suddenly, tears slipped from the corner of her eye. I hadn’t expected her to cry.

“If hitting me means I can stay in Jing City, then hit me,” she sobbed.

I raised my hand and slapped out, but my palm stopped just at her cheek. Seeing her tears fall stirred an inexplicable familiarity inside me. I didn’t hit her. Instead, I put her down roughly, pushing her to the ground.

Before she could get up, I ran out and got into the car.

Inside the car, my mind was restless.

---

The car stopped a distance from the courtyard house. I waited to receive a call from Luo Feng before finally stepping out. Luo Feng told me Wang Jianming had already arrived at his place. Feeling reassured, I tucked the gun Luo Feng gave me into my pocket and slowly headed toward Wang Jianming’s courtyard.

The guards at the gate stopped me. I had been here many times; they recognized me and treated me politely. When they asked my business, I said I had come to see Wang Jianming. I already knew he had gone to Luo Feng’s, and when they told me, I feigned surprise and asked them to call Wang Jianming.

When the call connected, Wang Jianming asked what was going on.

I told him everything was resolved, so I came to find him, but hadn’t expected him to be so quick to get to Luo Feng’s place. I told him to come back immediately, as the plan had changed. Wang Jianming was cautious about his plans and did not ask many questions over the phone; he said he would return at once.

I entered the Wang family courtyard openly and calmly, sitting in the hall. I knew Wang Jianming wouldn’t return quickly because Luo Feng’s men would create obstacles along the way to delay him—that was our plan.

I sat in the hall, looking for an opportunity to strike. Checking my watch, I noticed the time I agreed with Wang Yazhuo was nearly up. I stood up. Someone in the hall asked where I was going; I said to the restroom. They didn’t suspect my intentions and sent only one person to accompany me.

The courtyard was still heavily guarded.

Once inside the restroom, I seized a moment when the guard was distracted and knocked him out from behind.

Coming out, I acted nonchalant and headed slowly toward the center of the courtyard. People I passed greeted me warmly. The central courtyard wasn’t a sensitive area, but soon, as I tried to go further, someone stopped me.

The man asked if I was lost. The courtyard was large; I nodded. As he was about to lead me to the hall, I glanced at my watch—our agreed time had passed, but Wang Yazhuo hadn’t appeared. I grew anxious, unsure what to do, when suddenly the courtyard erupted in commotion.

I heard someone shouting—Wang Yazhuo was running out.

Sure enough, I soon saw her rushing toward me, followed by a crowd of Wang family servants. It was then I struck, knocking down the man beside me. I pulled out the gun Luo Feng gave me and aimed it at Wang Yazhuo.

She froze in shock, and no one dared make a move.

“Come here,” I commanded her.

Wang Yazhuo was smart and immediately understood my intent. She obediently approached, and I wrapped my arm around her neck from behind, pressing the gun to her head. No one dared joke with her life. Under my repeated threats, I left the Wang family courtyard.

I heard someone calling Wang Jianming, but by the time he arrived, I would likely have already taken Wang Yazhuo away.

---

Wang Yazhuo smelled sweet; her head rested just below my chin. She trembled nervously. I carefully backed out of the courtyard. The car was waiting, with the kid already inside. Once in, I slammed on the accelerator.

I drove fast. The people from the courtyard chased swiftly, but soon I lost them. Luo Feng’s men had deliberately blocked their path, preventing any pursuit.

I had brought Wang Yazhuo out alone. She was happy, holding the kid on her lap, saying she was finally free.

I scoffed, “Your grandfather must be furious. And you’re still smiling? Do you know that if today’s plan had slipped even a bit, I wouldn’t have a grave to rest in?”

Wang Yazhuo chuckled, “But you did it. Didn’t you bring me out?”

“The feud with your grandfather is sealed. It’s just a matter of how long I can avoid him.” I drove to a safe place and finally hit the brakes. “I hope you mean what you say.”

Wang Yazhuo didn’t answer immediately but asked what I planned to do next. She said that now I had brought her out, her grandfather wouldn’t let me go.

I smiled coldly. “Now you’re worried about me?”

She shook her head. “I’m not worried about you. I know you’ll be fine. I just want to know your plan. You’re probably going to leave Jing City, right?”

She guessed I would flee and leave Jing City, but guessed wrong about the reason—though she guessed the outcome correctly. I didn’t bother arguing and simply nodded. After I got what I needed, I would send her back. She was grateful now, but soon enough, she might come to resent me.

Before she could speak again, I asked directly, “What really happened with the fire back then?”

Wang Yazhuo thought for a moment and replied, “I saw someone set fire in the karaoke hall that day.”

I frowned. “Are you sure you’re not lying? From what I know, Wang Jianming kept a strict watch on you. You were just a child then—how could you have been in such a place?”

Anxious, I hadn’t paid attention to my words, and her face flushed immediately.

Taking a deep breath, I said, “Speak quickly. If you delay, your grandfather’s men will catch up soon.”