"First, what on earth happened to the Li Family that Mr. Jiang actually doesn't want me to help them?"
"Second, go to Miaoyi Hall and see if they have any Yin-Gathering Grass!"
After Long Wuya left, Jiang Dongchen stood motionless by the river, lost in memories like mist.
At that moment, his phone rang, and a respectful voice came from the other end: "Mr. Jiang, we just received news!"
"Miaoyi Hall just got a new batch of medicinal herbs, and three stalks of Yin-Gathering Grass are among them!"
Jiang Dongchen nodded. "I'm heading to Miaoyi Hall right now!"
Miaoyi Hall was the largest traditional Chinese medicine clinic in Tianhai, as well as its largest pharmacy.
The newly arrived herbs included Yin-Gathering Grass, which was simply providing a pillow for someone who was already getting sleepy.
Living up to its reputation as Tianhai's largest traditional Chinese medicine clinic, Miaoyi Hall was already packed with people!
Jiang Dongchen had no choice but to stand in line.
When it was finally his turn, Jiang Dongchen stated the name of the medicine he needed.
Upon hearing the name Yin-Gathering Grass, the clerk frowned. "Miaoyi Hall did just receive a batch of Yin-Gathering Grass!"
"Unfortunately, the customer who was just here bought all of it!"
With that, the clerk pointed toward a graceful figure who had already walked out the door!
Jiang Dongchen hurried after her.
Seeing that the person had already reached a red Ferrari, Jiang Dongchen closed the distance in two steps and caught up. "Beautiful lady, would you be willing to let me have the Yin-Gathering Grass?"
Long Ruolan turned around, looked at Jiang Dongchen dressed in a delivery uniform, and frowned. "No!"
Jiang Dongchen grew anxious. "The Yin-Gathering Grass is very important to me!"
Long Ruolan raised her voice by an octave. "The Yin-Gathering Grass is just as important to me!"
At that, Long Ruolan let out a dry laugh!
Her brother's health was deteriorating day by day!
In her flustered and impatient state, why was she arguing with an ordinary person?
Thinking of this, Long Ruolan lost interest in talking to Jiang Dongchen, pulled open the car door, and prepared to get in!
Yet at that moment, Jiang Dongchen's voice rang out: "If you are willing to let me have the Yin-Gathering Grass, your family member's illness is on me!"
Long Ruolan whipped around, a playful smirk touching the corner of her lips. "Do you think playing this kind of trick is fun?"
Jiang Dongchen froze. "What?"
Long Ruolan's gaze pierced straight into Jiang Dongchen's heart. "You know I'm the eldest Miss of the Long Family and you want to use this trick to get my attention, right?"
Jiang Dongchen smiled. "You're overthinking it!"
"I really need the Yin-Gathering Grass to save a life!"
Long Ruolan sneered coldly and casually pulled open the car door.
As she shut it, Long Ruolan deliberately slammed the door with a thunderous crash to show her disdain for Jiang Dongchen!
Jiang Dongchen said nothing, but memorized the license plate number.
At that moment, his phone rang.
Seeing that the call was from Li Ruolin, Jiang Dongchen frowned slightly, but still answered.
Li Ruolin's overbearing voice entered Jiang Dongchen's ear: "Loser, it's almost two o'clock!"
"I'm heading to the Civil Affairs Bureau right now!"
"I'll be waiting for you there!"
"Don't go crying and kneeling to beg for my forgiveness!"
"I won't soften my heart just because you're clinging shamelessly!"
Before Jiang Dongchen could say anything, Li Ruolin snapped the phone shut.
Listening to the flat, continuous beeps coming from the other end of the line, Jiang Dongchen cracked a smile. "I'll send those exact same words right back to you!"
"I won't forgive you just because you're clinging shamelessly!"
Jiang Dongchen headed to the Civil Affairs Bureau.
When he arrived, Li Ruolin and Zhao Ming were already there.
Looking at Jiang Dongchen as he slowly approached, the disgust in Li Ruolin's eyes seemed as though it could spill over. "Is dragging things out fun?"
Zhao Ming wore a look of utter contempt. "Shamelessly clinging to the Li Family is completely meaningless!"
"Jiang Dongchen, I advise you to have a little self-awareness!"
Seizing the opportunity, Li Ruolin hooked her arm around Zhao Ming's. "Compared to Young Master Zhao, you're absolute trash!"
Jiang Dongchen let out a cold snort. "A gentleman makes a clean break without uttering malicious words!"
Li Ruolin looked at him as if he were an idiot. "You loser, and you still dare call yourself a gentleman?"
Zhao Ming cast a sidelong glance at Jiang Dongchen. "Jiang Dongchen, tomorrow is the Matriarch's birthday banquet!"
"At that time, the Matriarch will announce my marriage to Ruolin!"
"I hope you come!"
"You'll see just how vast the gap between us really is!"
Li Ruolin put on an exaggerated expression. "Didn't you always claim that only you could cure the Matriarch's illness?!"
"Let me tell you! Young Master Zhao has already invited Hua Tianfeng, the famous divine doctor from the Provincial Capital, to treat the Matriarch!"
"The Matriarch's health will recover completely in no time!"
"Your lies are going to be exposed!"
"You loser... you liar!"
Jiang Dongchen sighed. "Hua Tianfeng cannot cure the Matriarch's illness!"
Zhao Ming and Li Ruolin stared at Jiang Dongchen as if he had lost his mind!
Hua Tianfeng was a renowned master of traditional medicine in the Provincial Capital, having saved countless lives, and was hailed as a modern Hua Tuo!
Was this fool not afraid of provoking Hua Tianfeng's thunderous wrath by belittling him so?
The roar of an engine echoed as a red Ferrari pulled up to the entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau and stopped.
Seeing the professional career woman step out of the car, Zhao Ming's eyes lit up.
Zhan Feng, president of the Provincial Capital's Tianfeng Group, worth tens of billions!
Why would she appear here?
The next second, Zhao Ming hurried over to Zhan Feng with a flattering expression. "President Zhan, I am Zhao Ming of the Zhao Group!"
"It is truly an honor of a lifetime to meet you here!"
While the Zhao Family's assets could rank in the top ten in Tianhai, they were nothing compared to the Tianfeng Group.
If he could cozy up to Zhan Feng, the Zhao Family's status in Tianhai would undoubtedly soar to new heights!
They might even become the top family in Tianhai!
How could Zhao Ming possibly miss this opportunity to get close to Zhan Feng and curry favor with her?
Zhan Feng didn't even look at Zhao Ming; she walked straight toward Jiang Dongchen and slipped her arm around his. "Mr. Leaf, I knew you were here and came specifically to find you!"
Jiang Dongchen frowned slightly.
Yet seeing the pleading look in Zhan Feng's eyes, he let out a silent sigh.
Zhan Feng had always harbored feelings for him!
But he remained indifferent and unyielding!
Today, Zhan Feng must have seen him being humiliated by Li Ruolin and Zhao Ming, which was why she was putting on such an intimate display in front of them!
If he reproached her, it would break her heart!
Zhao Ming's expression turned extremely ugly.
Li Ruolin's mouth hung open so wide it could have stuffed an egg!
For some inexplicable reason, a trace of heartache twinged in her heart, as if a toy she had discarded was being snatched away by someone else.
Only then did Zhan Feng sweep her gaze over Li Ruolin and Zhao Ming. "Mr. Leaf, how should we deal with these two?"
Zhao Ming and Li Ruolin shuddered.
With Zhan Feng's Tianfeng Group worth tens of billions, wiping out the Li Family and the Zhao Family would be as easy as turning over a hand!
Jiang Dongchen shook his head. "My affairs, I will handle!"
Nodding like a dependent little bird, Zhan Feng replied, "I'll listen to Mr. Jiang!"
Jiang Dongchen pulled away from Zhan Feng and walked toward the Civil Affairs Bureau. "Weren't we going to process the paperwork? Let's get on with it!"
A flash of hesitation crossed Li Ruolin's eyes!
Having witnessed firsthand how Zhan Feng obeyed Jiang Dongchen's every word...
Could Jiang Dongchen actually possess the power to make Zhan Feng bow in submission?
If so, this was the ultimate catch she had been dreaming of!
Then again, Li Ruolin scoffed inwardly, following Jiang Dongchen into the Civil Affairs Bureau with her head held high!
If Jiang Dongchen really had the ability to make Zhan Feng submit, would he have spent three years living in obscurity within the Li Family?
It was simply that Zhan Feng found Jiang Dongchen physically fit and wanted to keep him as a kept toy!
Once Zhan Feng grew tired of playing with him, Jiang Dongchen would still be worth nothing!
Once the paperwork was done, Li Ruolin and Zhao Ming left together.
As he was leaving, Zhao Ming leaned close to Jiang Dongchen's ear with a provocative smirk. "Rising to the top by clinging to women doesn't make you a man!"
"You'd better pray President Zhan keeps pampering you forever!"
"Otherwise, crushing you to death would be even simpler than squashing an ant!"
Clearly, Zhao Ming had also figured it out—Jiang Dongchen was being kept by Zhan Feng!
Zhao Ming's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for Zhan Feng to hear.
Zhan Feng frowned slightly. "You're courting death?"
Zhao Ming laughed heartily. "I haven't lived enough yet!"
"Still, President Zhan's tastes are truly lacking!"
"To actually fancy a piece of trash like this!"
Without waiting for Zhan Feng to speak, Zhao Ming swaggered off with Li Ruolin.
Zhan Feng narrowed her eyes. "Mr. Jiang..."
Knowing what Zhan Feng wanted to express, Jiang Dongchen cut her off. "Did you get the documents?"
Zhan Feng retrieved a kraft paper bag from the car. "They're all right here!"
Jiang Dongchen pulled the documents out of the kraft paper bag and scanned them ten lines at a time.
Gradually, Jiang Dongchen's body began to tremble uncontrollably!
His eyes surged with terrifying murderous intent!
Ten years ago, the girl who saved him was indeed named Li Ruolin!
And she was Li Ruolin, the biological daughter of Li Tianming!
Except she was born to Li Tianming and his mistress, making her identity unmentionable.
The Matriarch felt that Li Tianming was bringing disgrace upon the family and wanted to have Li Ruolin killed!
When Li Tianming caught wind of the news, he had a massive falling-out with the Matriarch, declaring that if any harm came to the mother and child, he would never return to the Li Family!
In an unprecedented move, the Matriarch factored in blood ties and did not break completely with Li Tianming!
Behind the scenes, however, the Matriarch engineered a car accident that sent Li Tianming's mistress to her doom.
When Li Ruolin was on the verge of death, the Matriarch pulled a switch, finding a girl of similar build and appearance to take Li Ruolin's place, while playing the role of a loving grandmother herself.
Li Tianming was completely fooled by the old woman's act.
Thinking that Li Ruolin was still too young and couldn't live without a mother, he went ahead and married his current wife, subsequently having Li Ruoxue!
The girl posing as Li Ruolin was named Lin Feifei, and she was an orphan to begin with!
Though Li Ruolin's life was spared, she had lived in abject misery ever since, periodically facing inexplicable disasters!
These disasters wouldn't take Li Ruolin's life, but they subjected her to relentless oppression!
Even the people around Li Ruolin came to believe she was a harbinger of misfortune reincarnated, keeping their distance from her in dread!
The girl he had guarded for three years... was actually not Li Ruolin at all!!
It was Lin Feifei instead!!!
Matriarch, how vicious your heart is!!
Having finished reading, a wave of violent aura radiated from Jiang Dongchen's body.
"Boom!"
The lightweight sheets of paper in his hands were churned into powder by an invisible force!
Zhan Feng was overcome with a suffocating feeling.
Realizing he had lost his composure somewhat, Jiang Dongchen took a deep breath. "Where is the real Li Ruolin?"
Zhan Feng shivered. "She's..."
Knowing that a sentence or two couldn't possibly explain it clearly, Zhan Feng gritted her teeth and handed her phone to Jiang Dongchen.
Jiang Dongchen took the phone and saw a video playing on the screen!
In a small shack, a woman was bound hand and foot, with two men wearing little demon masks standing in front of her.
Jiang Dongchen's body gave a jolt!
The woman's brows and eyes bore a resemblance to Lin Feifei's—she must be Li Ruolin!
On the screen, one of the masked men approached Li Ruolin holding a gleaming dagger!
Li Ruolin shook her head in sheer despair!
Paralyzed by immense terror, Li Ruolin couldn't utter a sound as large teardrops gushed forth!
The masked man let out a sinister, cackling laugh. "Beauty, don't be afraid..."
"When I get to work, I'll be gentle!"
"You won't experience too much pain before you turn into an ugly freak!"
"Then I'd love to see how you use that face to captivate men!"
"Hahahaha..."
"Boom!"
A violent surge of energy erupted from Jiang Dongchen's body, and the phone shattered into dust!
To think someone would treat Li Ruolin like this!
Ahhhhh!
A low roar like that of a beast burst from his throat. "Animals!"
Zhan Feng dropped to her knees with a thud. "Mr. Leaf... please calm your anger!"
As the head of the Tianfeng Group, Zhan Feng had witnessed firsthand the scenes where Jiang Dongchen's fury caused rivers of blood to flow!
If Jiang Dongchen flew into a rage right now, it would spell disaster for Tianhai!
Jiang Dongchen forcibly suppressed the urge to kill raging within his heart. "Where... is Li Ruolin?"
Zhan Feng blurted out, "I've already ordered people to look!"
"We should have news very soon!"
Jiang Dongchen cast a cold glance at Zhan Feng.
Zhan Feng felt a stinging pain in her eyes and involuntarily lowered her head.
Jiang Dongchen pulled out his phone and dialed Long Wuya's number. "I'm sending you a video. Find that place for me immediately!"
"Find it at all costs!"
"Find it in the shortest time possible!"
The last sentence was practically roared by Jiang Dongchen!
Zhan Feng scrambled up and pulled out another backup phone.
Jiang Dongchen took the phone and forwarded the video to Long Wuya!
At Longteng Group, Long Wuya stared at the video, his eyes splitting with rage. "Mobilize every resource we have to find this location!"
"Whoever finds it first gets a reward of ten million!"
At Long Wuya's command, the entire Tianhai stirred into a frenzy!
Countless luxury cars flooded the streets, tearing through them at lightning speed with deafening roars!
Numerous common folk dropped the tasks in their hands and sprinted through every shadowy alleyway!
Two gangs in the middle of a turf war received the order and retreated like a receding tide!
Find that small dark shack!
Find the poor woman inside the small dark shack!
Otherwise, the sky of Tianhai would fall!
Tianhai Security Bureau!
The Bureau Chief was sipping tea there in leisurely comfort.
Seeing one of his subordinates stumble and crash into the office, the Bureau Chief's expression darkened. "Has the sky fallen?"
The subordinate swallowed hard. "Long... Master Long is furious!"
"Clatter!"
The Bureau Chief's legs went weak; not only did the teacup in his hand shatter into pieces, but he collapsed right into his chair.
Two seconds later, the Bureau Chief scrambled up in a panic. "Who the hell has eaten the gall of a leopard to go provoke this plague god!"
The subordinate swallowed hard again. "For now... for now we still don't know the reason!"
The Bureau Chief roared, "What are you standing around for..."
"Get the word out immediately!"
"Make sure you don't clash with Master Long's people!"
"Hurry up and go!"
Guojiang Hall was originally the second-largest power in Tianhai!
But following Long Wuya's whitewashing, it had become the underground empire of Tianhai!
Right now, Guojiang Hall Master Liu Dajiang was pacing back and forth in the main hall like an ant on a hot pan!
Long Wuya's sudden outburst had triggered an earthquake across Tianhai!
Why had Long Wuya flipped out?
Was he just restless from peace, or was there some other reason?
Who was his target?
What on earth was he trying to do?
Yet at this moment, Liu Dajiang had become deaf and blind, knowing absolutely nothing!
No!
He couldn't sit here and wait to die!
In case Long Wuya was gunning for him and he had zero preparation...
It would spell disaster.
With those thoughts, Liu Dajiang wanted to muster his troops!
A lackey burst into the hall in a stumble. "Hal... Hall Master..."
"I've found out!"
"Master Long is furious because of a woman!"
A sharp glint flashed across Liu Dajiang's eyes. "What woman?"
The lackey swallowed hard. "I... I haven't found that out yet!"
Liu Dajiang kicked the lackey flying with a single blow. "Then go find out right now!"
Watching the lackey stumble out of the main hall, Liu Dajiang let out a long sigh of relief.
Long Wuya wasn't coming after him!
What a blessing!
The next second, Liu Dajiang issued the sternest order since taking his position: "Long Wuya is in a fit of rage!"
"Anyone is strictly forbidden from provoking Long Wuya's people at a time like this!"
"Violators will be punished according to gang rules!"
Similar scenes played out across different corners of Tianhai.
Everyone caught the scent of an approaching storm, but with the cause unknown, no one dared to act rashly!
At that moment, Jiang Dongchen received a call from Long Wuya. "Mr. Jiang, we've tracked it down!"
"The person you want is halfway up the mountain on the outskirts of the city!"
"There's a small courtyard left behind by a forest ranger there!"
Sitting in the Ferrari and primed for action, Jiang Dongchen's gaze turned icy. "Got it!"
Hanging up, Jiang Dongchen slammed his foot down on the accelerator!
All his anger, all his anxiety, were channeled into that single stomp!
"Boom!"
With a deafening roar, the Ferrari surged forward like an arrow released from a bow!
Watching Jiang Dongchen's grim expression, Zhan Feng let out a silent sigh!
If this man could fly into a thunderous rage for her... she would die without regret!
The Ferrari sped like lightning, weaving wildly through the endless stream of traffic!
Hitting two hundred miles per hour!
In less than ten minutes, Jiang Dongchen drove out of Tianhai City and headed toward the outskirts!
The road grew rugged.
Yet Jiang Dongchen maintained his speed without slackening!
When the chassis slammed against the ground, it produced a teeth-gritting screech!
Jiang Dongchen paid it no mind!
Right now, only one thought occupied Jiang Dongchen's mind!
Reach the small dark shack at maximum speed and rescue Li Ruolin!
At the small dark shack, looking at Li Ruolin's flayed and bloodied face, the tall masked man reminded his companion, "That's about enough, make sure you don't kill her!"
The short one chuckled. "What a pity to ruin a face of peerless beauty just like that!"
The tall one stretched comfortably. "Let's take a break, wait till she recovers a bit before we play some more!"
The two of them walked out of the shack together.
Looking up at the blue sky and white clouds, a flash of doubt crossed the short man's eyes. "Who on earth do you think this chick offended to make us deal such a brutal hand?"
The tall man glared at the short one. "Stop asking so many questions!"
"As long as we get paid!"
The short one lit a cigarette. "A million for this trip!"
"Once I get the money, I'm getting the hell out of here!"
"If I stay in Tianhai and keep thinking about what we did to this chick, I'll have nightmares!"
The tall one rolled his eyes at the short one. "When did you turn into a woman!"
The short one sighed. "This is the most inhumane job I've ever pulled!"
"Face slashed to ribbons!"
"One hand shattered into compound fractures!"