Zhu Guang completely lost control, crying and laughing, even losing bowel and bladder control. His delicate balance shattered, his mind became chaotic, and his body collapsed.
…
Two bodyguards approached my Senior Sister and me. I quickly pulled my solemn-faced Senior Sister behind me.
Just then, the door burst open, and SWAT officers rushed in, guns raised, shouting. The two bodyguards turned ashen, obediently crouching on the ground with their hands up.
“Speak, where did you hide Tang Yi?”
Senior Sister lunged forward, grabbed Zhu Guang by the collar, and yelled. Zhu Guang alternated between sobbing and傻笑 (silly laughter), then vomited. The detective holding him eventually held his nose and lifted him into the police car.
…
“Tang Nan!” Senior Sister suddenly called my name.
“Yeah!”
“I know if I had chosen to save her just now, Tang Yi would definitely have been saved. Zhu Guang always adhered to his fairness. But I also know that besides this, we wouldn't have had another chance to defeat Zhu Guang.”
“That doesn't mean you can sacrifice Tang Yi.”
“I won't let Tang Yi leave this world alone. I'll go with her. However, I want to tell you, I've killed Zhu Guang for you. You're safe now. From now on, no matter who you marry, whether you call her Tang Er or Tang San, it's fine. Just don't call her Tang Yi.”
Hearing this, my heart ached: “Senior Sister, don't do anything foolish.”
“At the very end, I told Zhu Guang that Master being captured was just a ruse, and that he had already rescued Tang Yi. In Zhu Guang's calculations, his biggest uncertainty was Master Cao Shi. So, he was distracted, and I, using information obtained from Duan Dongyang, killed Zhu Guang.”
I looked at Senior Sister’s pained expression and comforted her: “Senior Sister, maybe Old Ghost really did rescue Tang Yi.”
“He wouldn't. Master isn't a good person. The condition I gave him was to take the 'Jingling' to Hong Kong. Now, Master is Gao Ji’s top strategist. The 'Jingling' arriving there will only shake his position.”
“You mean Master agreed to let me come here with the true purpose of killing the 'Jingling'?”
As she spoke, she picked up scissors from the table and cut the rope binding us.
“How would he kill her? If he wanted to, he would have done it long ago.”
“The 'Jingling' is the brain of this group. Duan Dongyang is equivalent to the limbs, and I'm like a nerve. If I'm constrained, Duan Dongyang, being the selfish person he is, will prioritize his own safety. No matter how clever the 'Jingling' is, he's just an ordinary patient at Dongyang Psychological Clinic. Perhaps he can escape most pursuers, but if Master makes a move, the 'Jingling' is surely dead.”
Hearing Senior Sister say this, I pondered deeply.
“If you don't believe me, you can ask your Section Chief Wang, Wang Zeyiyi. With Master's abilities, he wouldn't be captured so easily. All things under heaven are not for me to own, but all things under heaven can be used by me. As the successor of the fifty-fifth generation of The Schemer, how could he not have made any arrangements?”
…
I believed Senior Sister's words. How could Old Ghost not have made any arrangements, willingly being a foolish tool?
“Section Chief Wang, I’m fine now. Thank you. How did you know I was in danger?”
Hearing my call, Wang Zeyiyi laughed heartily: “It's not because my江湖朋友 (jianghu friends) are smart.”
I knew who Wang Zeyiyi's jianghu friends were; they were Old Ghost Cao Shi. Through our conversation, I learned the entire sequence of events. Upon arriving in Beijing, Old Ghost contacted Wang Zeyiyi immediately, informing him that he was in a trap, and that this trap involved Zhu Guang. At that time, Zhu Guang was still in prison, but Wang Zeyiyi's trust in Old Ghost was extraordinary. He believed him based solely on Old Ghost's word and quickly initiated an investigation. Through the contact information provided by Old Ghost, the criminal investigation bureau had already identified Zhao Dahai, who used corpses as skeletal art, before us.
Since they lacked specific information about the sixteen-year-old girl, the criminal investigation bureau didn't arrest Zhao Dahai but chose to monitor him. Zhao Dahai rammed into us and escaped, but was soon apprehended by plainclothes police officers.
Then they tracked us and found the girl's residence. These police officers were working in sync with us, which is why they couldn't prevent Zhu Guang's escape immediately. However, Wang Zeyiyi said he was gratified that I chose to call the police in both cases.
After we left, Old Ghost also spoke with Wang Zeyiyi. Old Ghost suggested allowing himself to be captured so that Zhu Guang's plan could proceed. The next day, when we arrived at Zhu Guang's place, we were actually being followed the entire time. The reason for not acting immediately was concern for the child's safety.
Hearing this, I couldn't help but roar at Wang Zeyiyi: “Since you were following us, why didn't you say something sooner, contact us sooner? If I had known, I wouldn't have made the wrong decision I did. Wang Zeyiyi, give me an explanation.”
Section Chief was speechless for a moment, then finally said: “Actually, none of us considered that Cao Qian would give up the child's life.”
“Nonsense, that's shifting blame! You…”
Before I could finish, I suddenly froze. Senior Sister was just in front of me, how could she have disappeared from my sight?
“Senior Sister~ Senior Sister!”
Just then, I heard a *plop*. At the same moment, I saw the side window swaying. I rushed over.
This was the third floor~
Senior Sister jumped out the window, smashing through a makeshift shed, and fell to the ground. Blood was flowing from her head.
…
I rushed downstairs like a madman, not knowing what I experienced that day. Because of the newly constructed and illegal shed, Senior Sister’s life was saved. But there was no telling when she would wake up. To this day, she remains in the ICU.
…
In the evening, Wang Zeyiyi came to the hospital. Seeing my silence, he sighed repeatedly: “Tang Nan, we went to Dongyang Psychological Clinic. The place was deserted. Duan Dongyang has disappeared, and we haven't found Tang Yi.”
Hearing this, a flicker of hope ignited in my heart: “Tang Yi is still alive, right?”
“I can't guarantee it.”
“What about Zhu Guang? Has he regained his senses?”
Mentioning Zhu Guang, Wang Zeyiyi’s expression worsened: “Zhu Guang is also undergoing treatment. His condition is not optimistic. His organs are starting to fail. Doctors say he might not survive the night.”
“Who cares if he lives or dies? Ask him, where is my daughter?”
“He… can't speak. He's on life support.”
Just then, Wang Zeyiyi's phone rang. He answered and said with a grim tone: “Alright, I understand!”
“What is it?” I asked, my eyes wide.
“Zhu Guang is dead!”
I cursed!
For a moment, I couldn't find an outlet for my emotions. Wang Zeyiyi put his hand on my shoulder, but I pushed him away as soon as he touched me: “Get away from me.”
“Tang Nan~”
“Get lost, just get lost!”
I stumbled back to the ward, never having felt such heartache. Zhu Guang's death extinguished the last sliver of hope I had of finding my daughter.
…
What now? What do I do?
I lowered my head, gripping my hair tightly with both hands. At this moment, I had no clue. I truly didn't know what I should do.
Suddenly, suddenly, I remembered Old Ghost.
Yes, yes, Old Ghost can definitely save my daughter.
That year, that phone of mine was still with Old Ghost, and I hadn't gotten it back. I dialed the number, and indeed, it still connected.
“Old Ghost!”
“Oh, kid, what's wrong?”
“I know there might be a misunderstanding between us, but please, no matter what, help me, save my daughter.”
“I've been looking. I found that Zhu Guang didn't hide the child in many places. He might also be cooperating with Duan Dongyang.”
“Where is Duan Dongyang?”
“He's on his way to Qianqian's house. I'm following him.”
“I'll be there soon.”
After hanging up, I took a taxi back to Cao Qian's house. I didn't see Duan Dongyang, but I saw Old Ghost standing there looking dejected.
“Where is Duan Dongyang?”
“He left.”
“Why did he come back?”
Old Ghost didn't speak. I looked at him with surprise. He pursed his lips and remained silent. At that moment, I noticed a mold on the living room floor, the same mold Zhu Guang gave me for the bone instrument. I had brought the leather suitcase back, and the mold should have been inside.
The leather suitcase had been tampered with.
I quickly ran over, looking at the leather suitcase in the corner. Suddenly, I realized something and hesitated to open it.
Finally, I knelt on the ground and slowly opened the leather suitcase.
For a moment, I couldn't even cry. Silent pain consumed me. Curled on the floor, I repeatedly smashed my head against the tiles, my head bleeding profusely.
Old Ghost rushed over and held me firmly, restraining me. I struggled free and yelled tearfully: “Duan Dongyang, where is he? I'm going to kill that bastard.”
“He's fleeing abroad on a flight today. I've already notified Section Chief to apprehend him.”
Inside the leather suitcase was Tang Yi's corpse. The child’s hair had been shaved off, and a silver needle remained on her head.