In this situation, there was truly nothing I could do. The only thing I could manage was to not back down. I stretched my limbs, watching the people quietly encircling me, and asked with solemn seriousness, "Once we start, there's no turning back. If you kill me, not a single one of you will have an easy time of it. Not only you, but your families will pay a price as well. Therefore, for your own sake, I have to ask: Is there anyone who wants to back out?"
They didn't know my background, so threats were useless. After I spoke, they didn't retreat; instead, they took a step forward. There was no other way. The Schemer ultimately placed his life and death in his own fists.
A critical moment, a great battle on the verge of eruption. Just then, the iron bars let out a clang, and a prison guard shouted from outside, "Hey, what are you doing? Are you trying to fight?"
Why did the guard come at this moment? These men's faces turned awkward, and they slowly backed away. The guard saw me and called out, "Tang Nan, step forward. Your lawyer wants to see you."
A lawyer?
I remembered Director Lu saying that Lu Yao was my lawyer. Was Lu Yao here?
...
I arrived at the reception room and indeed saw a lawyer. To be honest, the person who arrived surprised me. It was Jiang Cheng, bringing a lawyer with him. Jiang Cheng introduced me, "This is Lawyer Zhang. I've already told him about your situation."
I never imagined that after I called Jiang Cheng, I hadn't said anything specific. Yet, hours later, he had understood the predicament I was in and brought this exclusive lawyer for the wealthy to meet me. Most importantly, he had inadvertently saved my life. And the karmic connection between him and me stemmed from a spontaneous act of kindness from me years ago.
Who could have predicted he would save me at this moment? Could Old Gui have predicted it? After all, Old Gui's experiences were filled with so many such karmic connections. It seemed I understood only a tiny fraction of karma and would have to continue to strive in the future. To maintain the original intent of my Schemer's state of mind: do good deeds, and ask not about karma.
...
Regarding this lawyer, forget it. It has nothing to do with me. I'm not that much of a "white moonlight" to allow a dark lawyer to serve me. I looked at Lawyer Zhang and said with a smile, "Lawyer Zhang, there's something else. I was just transferred to a cell, a communal one. There are seven or eight temporarily detained inmates in there. They don't have good intentions. If you had arrived any later, I probably would have been beaten to death by them."
Jiang Cheng finally said a longer sentence, "There's such a thing? Lawyer Zhang!"
Lawyer Zhang smiled faintly, "I was prepared. None of our clients are willing to stay in prison. Mr. Tang, take a look at this."
I took it and was stunned, "I have heart disease!"
"Yes, a very authoritative certificate."
"Who issued it?"
Lawyer Zhang smiled, "It's all internal communication. You, don't ask too many questions. Now, as long as you lie on the ground and close your eyes, we can arrange for medical parole immediately."
...
I didn't even need to act. I just had to close my eyes and lie on the ground. Lawyer Zhang helped me arrange for medical parole, and I never returned to prison. I went directly to the hospital.
"Thank you for saving me!" I said sincerely to Jiang Cheng from my hospital bed.
"Without you, there's no me today. Do you know why my company is called Jiangnan Competitive Gaming Limited Liability Company?"
"No, I don't. Jiangnan should mean scenery, symbolizing a bright future."
"Jiang Cheng Tang Nan, Jiangnan!"
Hearing the origin of the name, I felt a little embarrassed.
"So that's how it is."
"Let's go!"
"Go where?"
"To eat!"
This Jiang Cheng, the most he says to me are these few sentences, and then he reverts to his usual taciturn self. I really don't know how he managed to build a competitive gaming company like this. However, since he knows people like Lawyer Zhang, he must have his own story.
...
I lay in bed, feeling a bit regretful. I was hungry. I should have asked Jiang Cheng to bring me something back earlier. Just then, I smelled the aroma of roujiamo.
The door opened, and a burly man entered, carrying a paper bag.
"Ke Yingying!"
"Hungry, aren't you? I bought this for you. Eat it while it's hot. This is an old shop. When I was in Xi'an, I used to eat from here."
I was truly hungry, so I sat up in bed to eat. While eating, I asked, "Mr. Ke, why are you here?"
"I caused the Sect Leader to suffer injustice. Now I'm here to offer my apologies."
Ke Yingying said, and then made a pretense of kneeling. I stopped him, "What are you doing? You're not Lu Yao's confidant, how do you know what he's thinking?"
"Lu Yao betrayed you, but I won't take the blame. After all, it was the four of us, the 'Old K' group, who discussed defecting to you together. I wasn't the leader, and they didn't listen to me. Don't say I didn't trust Lu Yao; I didn't even confide in Ye Qingcheng and Xiao Zi'an. At that time, I didn't know you well and thought that the 'four Old K' together were more valuable."
"Now you understand me."
"Yes, therefore, I must seek your forgiveness."
"What exactly is going on?"
"Zhao Shicheng, I killed him!"
"What?"
These 'four Old K' are truly extraordinary. I never expected Lu Yao's betrayal. Now, Ke Yingying's shocking statement that he killed Zhao Shicheng, I find hard to comprehend.
"What's the situation?"
"I knew in advance about Lu Yao's betrayal, but I didn't inform anyone."
"How did you know?"
"The people who did those unsavory things for Director Lu were all my subordinates. Long ago, Director Lu and I had a cooperative relationship. After Lu Yao started cooperating with Director Lu, Director Lu prepared some underhanded forces. At that time, someone informed me. I knew Lu Yao had turned traitor, so I rushed back from the Northeast."
I was so shocked that I was speechless, somewhat taken aback, "Then the people in the prison?"
"They are my people. I am a backup for the manager. The people you saw in prison today are regulars, and they are quite skilled. I knew Director Lu intended to harm you, so I arranged for them to go in and make the scene look convincing, and to get you out through medical parole. But I didn't expect you to be more resourceful and get out yourself. Since I couldn't save you, all I can do is offer my apologies."
I felt Ke Yingying's words were sincere. Moreover, the way I escaped this time was somewhat similar to when Li Jiu set a trap for me, and I unexpectedly broke free. Due to strange karmic connections, no one had foreseen it.
"So, the driver who hit and killed Zhao Shicheng was arranged by you?"
"Not directly. My men were chasing him, and he was in a hurry to cross the road when he was hit by a car. Although he didn't die at my hands, ultimately, he died because my men were chasing him."
I sighed. Facing such a situation, I didn't know what to do.