This chapter is updated by wuxiaworld.eu
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Quan Shaoteng did not reply right away.
The development of this case was too bizarre and mysterious.
On one hand, it was âThe Temptation of the Rich & Famousâ, the other was Brother Steel.
How did these two matters get linked to each other?
âThe mastermind of the 121 case is Brother Steel? But this doesnât sound logical to me.â
When he replied, he heaved a sigh.
âI feel that you shouldnât be rash. Wait at the hotel and see what happens! Iâll contact you againâŚâ
âThe kidnapper will not joke about this!â
Xiang Wan was very conscious at that moment. It was not a moment of impulse for her to make that decision.
She was very certain that the one who sent her the message was not kidding.
âIf I donât go to the Vultureâs Mouth, they will kill Yuanyuan, for sure.â
âThe one who planned this must be a psychopath! A cold-blooded animal! We canât use the usual human thoughts and processes to analyze himââ
Quan Shaoteng took in a puff of breath.
âHave you noticed that this matter is really unusual?â
âYes!â Xiang Wan spoke calmly, âMyself, Yuanyuan, Xie Wanwan, Bai Muchuan, and more⌠Whether intentionally or unintentionally, they are being led to Vultureâs Mouth. I know that someone is plotting something big.â
Even if it meant that Vultureâs Mouth was a place full of immense dangers and difficulties, she had to go.
âBesides Yuanyuan, I also have a moderator whom I could not get to as well. Her pen name is Yuan Qianqian. Captain Quan, help me find out if sheâs alright? Iâm worried that sheâs also⌠dragged into âThe Temptation of the Rich and Famousâ and got made use of as a scapegoat.â
âThereâs another one?â Quan Shaoteng gasped. âAlright! Iâll immediately inform the Intelligence TeamâŚâ
âMm.â Xiang Wan propped her forehead. âMy headâs in a mess right now. But I do knowâthat I must go to Vultureâs Mouth!â
He was weighing the options.
About 30 seconds later, Quan Shaoteng gritted his teeth.
âFine, Iâll come back now!â
He remembered clearly what Bai Muchuan had told him.
But there were different priorities to different situations. Moreover, if he did not agree to her request, what if Xiang Wan left by herself?
As he thought of that, he instructed her once again.
âWait for me at the hotel and donât go anywhere else! Okay?â
Xiang Wan nodded her head heavilyâŚ
Only to realize that Quan Shaoteng wouldnât be able to see her nodding away.
âOkay, Iâll wait!â She quickly replied and sounded firm.
Quan Shaoteng had hung up.
He was currently on the only road that could lead to Vultureâs Mouth.
At that moment, the road was blocked by a boulder.
The waiting time to get the boulder cleared was enough for him to pick Xiang Wan up.
Xiang Wan leaned against the chair weakly at the restaurant as she put down her phone on the table.
She punched each alphabet with her finger.
âYouâre a devil. What exactly do you want?â
Maybe that was a number that could never receive any message.
Nonetheless, Xiang Wan was unable to restrain her resentment and vented her anger by sending that message.
It was just as expected, she did not receive any reply. But when she looked through her book reviews and comments page, she saw a message left by that mysterious ID.
It could be said that the message was really condescending and audacious.
âDonât bother to struggle. This is fate, the fate of all of you!â
Xiang Wanâs eyes felt sour as she squinted at those words.
âI donât believe in fate!â
After replying to that message, that message disappeared in less than a second.
If Xiang Wan was not sure that she had seen it and even responded to it, she would most probably think that she must have seen a ghost.
It would most probably rain soonâŚ
Outside the restaurant, separated by a glass, the people on the streets were still chitchatting with each other and knitting sweaters.
That cat suddenly jumped over Xiang Wanâs feet.
The cold feeling it stirred up was as though seeped into her bone marrow.
Quan Shaoteng did not take too much time to come back.
In the lobby of the hotel, Xiang Wan was waiting for him.
She had changed into a set of lightweight clothing and tied up her hair into a ponytail. In this way, she looked like she was out on a mission with Bai Muchuan back in Jin City.
When Quan Shaoteng saw her attire, he recalled that this was a woman whom Little Bai had trained.
Hence, his worry went down by a notch.
âActually, itâs a risk for me to bring you there.â
This was the first sentence he said after Xiang Wan got on the vehicle.
Xiang Wan was different from what Quan Shaoteng had thought. Instead of being in a panic and her face stained with tears, Xiang Wan appeared to be very calm when he saw her.
âI wonât affect your work and certainly wonât act rashly,â said Xiang Wan.
âIâm not worried about thisâŚâ Quan Shaoteng puffed a sigh. âIâm worried that Little Bai may beat me to death.â
Xiang Wan did not reply as she looked at the seemingly never-ending green trees on both sides of the road.
To her, it was not important if Little Bai would be angry anymore.
The important thing was they would be able to see a safe Little Bai.
Quan Shaoteng drove the police car at high speed. They needed to quickly meet up with their Nanmu peers in front.
While on the road, his phone wouldnât stop ringing.
He was being updated with the latest news of the situation.
The bad news was that the road was still being blocked by the boulder.
The good news was that Captain Zhang and team who was right in front couldnât wait anymore and borrowed a few motorcycles from the civilians to get past the boulderâŚ
The rest of the police officers were assisting the workers from road administration to remove the boulder.
Everyoneâs heart was taut and tense.
However, there was still nothing from Bai Muchuan.
âNot in service areaâŚâ
While Quan Shaoteng was driving, Xiang Wan would dial Bai Muchuan and rest of the teamâs phone numbers.
However, Bai Muchuan and his team were as though disappeared, all of them lost contact.
âDonât call them anymore.â Quan Shaoteng took a glance. âYou should have confidence in Little Bai. You must.â
Xiang Wan was slightly surprised.
She held her phone tightly.
It took her a long time to detect the clamminess in her hands.
âI have confidence in him. I always have.â
One by one, the mountains of Nanmu went past them. There was an unspeakable feeling of remoteness in the green pines on the green hills.
Xiang Wan looked at these scenes, thinking of Bai Muchuanâs mood when he passed by here to Vultureâs Mouth. Her heart was beating wildly, she felt she was about to collapse.
âThat time, we were soldiers in the same squad.â
Quan Shaoteng, who was driving conscientiously, started to tell a story like a storyteller.
âWhen we were recruits, me and Little Bai were assigned to the same platoon. Three months after the recruit training, we went to Red Thorn together as well⌠I know him very well. This fellow is dauntless and unyielding, he survived many trials and hardships and certainly will continue to do so in Nanmu!â
He was consoling Xiang Wan.
But werenât these words also meant for himself?
âI know.â Xiang Wan knew that he probably didnât feel too good about the mission as well, and consoled him instead. âHe did tell me about the days when he was in Red Thorn, that youâre his best buddyâŚâ
âHah! He really said that?â Quan Shaoteng seemed elated.
âYeah,â smiled Xiang Wan. âHe said you both are the best in the whole platoon!â
âIâm referring to the earlier sentenceââ Quan Shaoteng replied, âIf fighting every day can be considered his best buddy, then that is true.â
She seemed to have made a wrong guess.
In actual fact, Bai Muchuan never told Xiang Wan about his life in the military.
As for his past, he had been keeping it a secret.
Xiang Wan did not ask about it either.
She and Bai Muchuan had as though simultaneously chosen to avoid that topic.
âCaptain Quan, you said you know him. So did you⌠know how was he like in the past?â
Quan Shaotengâs eyes were focused on the curvy road ahead.
âIn the past? That depends on how far back youâre talking about.â
âUmmâŚâ Xiang Wan did not know how to answer him.
Quan Shaoteng laughed and raised his eyebrows. âI only know how he was like during the days in the military. I didnât know about his matters ever since he left Red Thornââ
â!â That reply was considered ingenious.
So ingenious that Xiang Wan felt a slight throbbing pain in her heart.
What exactly happened to Bai Muchuan that even his friend did not know his story?
âTeacher Xiang, donât think too much!â Quan Shaotengâs clear eyes took a glance at Xiang Wan with a half-smile. âAlthough I donât really understand Little Bai, thereâs something that I do know⌠That guy is a paper tiger when it comes to romantic relationships.â
âMm?â What did he mean?
Xiang Wan did not understand what Quan Shaoteng was trying to tell her.
Unexpectedly, the corners of his eyes lifted upwards where he broke into some low laughter.
âIâll guarantee you with my honor that he didnât have anyone else before you⌠Thereâs a very high chance that heâs still a virgin!â
Xiang Wan knew nothing about his past, so she was not sure.
But Quan Shaoteng knew that both Bai Muchuan and her stayed together in a room!
And he was actually so sure thatâBai Muchuan was still a virgin?
Was he trying to say that there was a problem with Bai Muchuan or did he actually looked down upon her charm?
Well, it was not suitable for her to talk about this topic with another man.
Xiang Wan concealed her doubts, acted dumb and looked at the scenery outside of the window.
Mm, when I see Bai Muchuan, Iâll ask him personally, she thought.
In less than an hour, they could not continue on their journey.
They had caught up to the Nanmu police force.
And same as the Nanmu police, they got stuck on the road.
On the road that twisted like a snake, besides their car, there were also a lot of other vehicles in front of them.
Police cars, ambulances, and othersâ
Quan Shaoteng was driving a police car with a Nanmu car number plate. They were at the back of the fleet.
He was agitated and cussed in a low voice.
After they stopped their car, a man walked over from a side of the road.
When Xiang Wan saw that manâs face, she was a little baffled.
Why did Cheng Zheng appear here?
Was the manipulator trying to gather all the characters together with this Nanmu trip like a card game?
Liked it? Take a second to support Novels on Patreon!