Chapter 429 - 311: First Encounter, Danger Approaches

Chapter 429: Chapter 311: First Encounter, Danger Approaches

Wu Liangchen froze for a moment, then broke into a smile.

"Hello, Song Ling’Er. My name is Wu Liangchen!"

Song Ling’Er smiled back, a truly happy smile.

In fact, it was the first time she had ever smiled in front of a stranger.

She couldn’t even remember the last time she had smiled.

"Here’s some kids’ clothing. In the bathroom, the red knob is for the shower. Go get cleaned up. I’m going to make dinner now." After giving her a few instructions, Wu Liangchen turned and headed for the kitchen.

Song Ling’Er went into the bathroom. Thanks to the excellent drainage and ventilation, the smell of blood was faint.

In the bathtub, Zhu Biao’s eyes were wide open, as if he couldn’t believe he had died just like that.

But Song Ling’Er showed no fear. She calmly took off her dirty clothes and turned on the shower.

Warm water cascaded over her scarred body, washing away the tears that streamed from her eyes.

A clay pot let off billows of steam. Inside was freshly cooked rice, topped with a thick layer of cured meat.

The fat had completely melted into the rice, giving it a glistening sheen that was truly mouthwatering.

Beside it was a large pot of braised pork and another of scrambled eggs. Though they were simple, home-cooked dishes, at this moment they were an exquisite delicacy.

Wu Liangchen glanced at Song Ling’Er, who sat opposite him, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

He had known she wasn’t ugly—her features were too well-defined for that.

But seeing her all cleaned up still took him by surprise.

The only problem was that she was far too thin.

Even the smallest clothes hung loosely on her frame.

But Wu Liangchen quickly looked away and picked up his chopsticks. "What are you waiting for? Dig in!"

While Wu Liangchen was hiding in Zhu Biao’s home and feasting, the Tiger Slayer Gang was scouring the city for him.

The underground network was dense, but with the addition of reconnaissance drones, the search had sped up considerably.

Yet, as the search area expanded, there was still no sign of Wu Liangchen.

Fortunately, the surface search was also progressing steadily. Most of the Shadowlands had been cleared, leaving only a small area left to search.

In a small building near the bar district, Yao Li stared at a large screen on the wall, her expression grim.

It was already the third day. Not only had she failed to capture Wu Liangchen, but the whole affair was spiraling out of control.

A deep sense of failure washed over her.

’Maybe I’m just not cut out for this.’

She clenched her jaw, her eyes fixed on the blinking lights on the screen, hoping they would lead her to Wu Liangchen soon.

Just then, her communicator buzzed. The number displayed was the one she dreaded seeing the most.

But she had to answer. Taking a deep breath to compose herself, she pressed the answer key.

An old yet authoritative voice came from the other end.

"What’s going on? It’s been three days and you still haven’t caught him? Don’t you know that Ling Chen’s Martial Vein transplant is in just a few days?"

"Father, of course I know what’s happening in a few days," Yao Li forced herself to explain. "There was a small complication, which caused the delay. But rest assured, I guarantee I won’t jeopardize the Young Master’s important procedure."

"Hmph. Useless. If you can’t bring him back, then don’t bother coming back at all!" With that, the line went dead.

Yao Li’s heart grew even heavier.

The person on the other end of the line had been none other than her adoptive father, Sun Tianxing, the Patriarch of the Sun family.

The purpose of his call had been painfully clear: to inform Yao Li that everyone else had already procured their assigned Martial Veins. Only she had yet to deliver.

This placed an immense, unspoken pressure on Yao Li.

She gritted her teeth, turned, and headed downstairs.

Downstairs, Xue Zhanhu was drinking.

At nearly three meters tall, he resembled a small mountain even while seated.

"What’s the status? Why is there still no word on Wu Liangchen?" Yao Li demanded coldly.

Xue Zhanhu didn’t even lift his head, slowly sipping his drink.

A huge beer mug looked miniature in his hand. He drained it completely before finally lifting his eyes to glance at Yao Li.

That single glance made Yao Li shudder. She instantly remembered that the giant before her was no ordinary man. He was the leader of a major gang, controlling nearly twenty percent of the businesses in the Shadowlands, with almost a thousand vicious men at his command. Her imposing air faltered, and her tone softened considerably, but she still pressed on.

"My adoptive father just called," she said. "He wants to know why I haven’t caught Wu Liangchen yet. He reminded me that Young Master Ling Chen’s Martial Vein transplant is in a few days and there can be no delays. That’s why I’m asking."

"Do you think it’s possible Wu Liangchen has already escaped the Shadowlands and gone somewhere else?"

Xue Zhanhu let out a cold snort. He refilled his mug before drawling, "Impossible. Outside the Shadowlands, there are Celestial Eye cameras everywhere. Unless he can stay invisible for an extended period, he’s bound to leave a trace."

"So he must still be hiding somewhere in the Shadowlands. Just in some corner we haven’t found yet."

"But we can’t let this drag on forever. I—" Yao Li began to say, her voice fraught with anxiety.