Chapter 89: Kidnapping

In the dimly lit corridor on the second floor of the tavern, intermittent humming could be heard. Some were male, some female...

Li Changlu’s heart was pounding wildly.

This was just too terrifying.

Broad daylight, under the clear sky...

Someone was making pig noises—unacceptable.

The sounds were mortifyingly shameful...

Absolutely not. He had to go and see for himself, to find out what these shameless creatures were up to.

Driven by innocent curiosity, Li Changlu followed the sound, intent on uncovering the truth...

However...

When Li Changlu, carrying his tray of food and wine, tracked the sounds to their source, he discovered two people tied to the wooden column outside a guest room.

Two familiar faces...

Xiao Qing and Hei Wa were each bound to the columns, their mouths stuffed with cloth, struggling and letting out muffled squeals.

Li Changlu felt disappointed.

Being tied up was one thing, but why—

Why make sounds that could so easily be misunderstood?

And—

Whoever kidnapped Hei Wa and Xiao Qing was utterly unprofessional.

Clearly, this person had watched far too many Eastern films; Xiao Qing’s posture was embarrassingly suggestive, and—voluptuous...

Li Changlu stared, transfixed.

He scrutinized the way Xiao Qing was tied, appreciating the craftsmanship.

He couldn’t help but marvel—this was the work of an artisan.

Xiao Qing’s pale eyes were filled with panic; she blinked at him for ages, gesturing...

Look across...

Li Changlu, somewhat reluctant, finally followed her gaze.

On the other side, Hei Wa, bound to another column, had only his whites of his eyes visible, rolling around in the shadowy corridor.

And they were getting bigger and bigger.

Compared to Xiao Qing’s intricate, shameful bondage, Hei Wa’s was so simple that Li Changlu instinctively touched his own neck.

It was straightforward—

A single rope, seamless and unbroken, strangled Hei Wa’s neck tightly against the column.

Hei Wa was still struggling, his eyeballs nearly bulging out.

Li Changlu hurriedly set down his tray to help untie Hei Wa...

But—

Where was he supposed to untie a rope with no knots?

---

Li Changlu drew his fruit knife from his belt and tried to cut the rope.

But the rope was tougher than steel; after much sawing, all he managed to do was make it tighter, not even a single cut appeared...

Instead, Hei Wa’s skin got scraped open, blood pouring out...

His face was one of utter despair as he looked at Li Changlu.

Are you here to rescue me or just to mess with me?

Li Changlu was frustrated...

This sense of helplessness was akin to a quack doctor treating athlete’s foot until amputation was necessary...

“Maybe…”

“Maybe I should just stab you to death, spare you the suffering.”

Li Changlu gazed at Hei Wa with sorrowful eyes, feeling the heavy weight of responsibility, the same helplessness as slaying Ma Su with tears.

Hei Wa’s eyes bulged even wider at Li Changlu’s words...

He kept making gurgling noises in his throat...

“You’re so agitated, so you agree?” Li Changlu whispered in grief.

Hei Wa was nearly crying from anger...

Is this what it means to talk at cross purposes?

Where did you see my agreement...

I’m calling for help! Does the brain of this local monster work differently from mine?

“Don’t worry, you’re my brother. How could I possibly abandon you? If you ask me whether to save you or Xiao Qing first, I wouldn’t hesitate to save you.”

“Rest in peace!”

Li Changlu’s expression grew resolute, eyes filled with righteous energy and moral grandeur, moving Hei Wa...

To foam at the mouth and roll his eyes...

Rest in peace? From my years of studying foreign languages...

Isn’t that something you say to the dying?

And Xiao Qing isn’t in mortal danger. Saving me first is just common sense. Why are you putting on a show of moral integrity—what’s that supposed to mean?

But just then, the rope around Hei Wa’s neck suddenly loosened, no longer strangling him.

“Hey, why did it stop? That’s odd. Is there some mechanism?”

Li Changlu meticulously studied the strange rope around Hei Wa’s neck.

Hei Wa, though unable to speak, still managed to raise his hand and flip Li Changlu the finger...

The meaning was clear—

I’m about to be strangled, and you’re still tinkering with this?

Li Changlu realized his actions were inappropriate. He coughed, urgency in his voice, and stood up, intending to go downstairs for help.

But—

He seemed to remember something and turned back, wanting to remove the cloths from Xiao Qing and Hei Wa’s mouths.

Had he become so muddled? If he took out the cloths, he could find out who was responsible.

But as soon as his hand touched the cloth in Hei Wa’s mouth, Li Changlu froze...

---

The moment he touched the cloth, Hei Wa’s whole body convulsed, as if electrocuted, and his once wild, untamed hair instantly straightened and hung black and sleek.

Hei Wa was jolted so violently he nearly lost consciousness. He wanted to shout, “This electric shock is numbingly paralyzing!” but couldn’t utter a sound...

He was furious.

Li Changlu refused to give up.

He didn’t believe it—if the rope could shock him, let it try!

He reached out again to remove the cloth from Hei Wa’s mouth.

Hei Wa turned his face away, refusing to let him touch it.

Just as the two were at an impasse, Li Changlu suddenly heard someone coming up behind him.

“Big brother, could you save my sister?”

A cute little boy, wearing glasses, carrying a backpack from Licheng Primary School, dressed in a short school uniform, had somehow appeared behind Li Changlu.

Li Changlu couldn’t help but laugh—what was this? Save your sister?

Did he look like a soft-hearted pushover?

Even if it were your little sister, he wouldn’t bother.

“My sister's a 36D.” The boy, seeing Li Changlu unmoved, pushed his glasses up, snorted coldly, and pointed into the room: “She’s locked up inside by the bad guys.”

Li Changlu snorted right back...

Did he look like a monster with no principles?

And—

A primary school kid talking about 36D...

Where was his innocence?

And that disdainful look—was that how a primary school student should act?

“Big brother, what are you doing?” The boy pushed his glasses, looking at Li Changlu as if he were an idiot. Why wasn’t this big brother asking why his sister was captured?

Not only that, he poked at the guest room window...

...

“This room has glass,” he helpfully reminded Li Changlu.

“Don’t misunderstand, I’m not trying to peek at your 36D sister. Know yourself and your enemy, and you’ll win every battle. I just need to see what’s going on inside,” Li Changlu said awkwardly, retracting his finger and analyzing the situation seriously with the boy.

Hei Wa, who was nearly rolling his eyes out of his head from being strangled, was furious...

So much for—

Saving me first?

So much for choosing me every time?

Bah, truly...

Shameless.