Chapter 234 - 228: Jinx You, My Ass

Wu Tong’s face turned deathly pale, her eyes darting between them.

"I... I don’t believe it."

’For over twenty years, Dad has always been a good father. How could he possibly do something like that? There has to be some kind of misunderstanding.’

Jiang Li glanced at Wu Tong. The most important thing now was to find Wu Ming.

Du Kang walked in from outside. "Young Master, our people have sent word. Wu Yonghui has taken Wu Ming and her master to the outskirts.

He realized Wu Ming knew the truth, so they’re planning to make their move early."

"If we head over now, we should still be able to make it," Luo Jingheng said, looking back at Jiang Li.

"Then let’s hurry," Jiang Li said, already heading for the door.

"Wait! I want to go with you," Wu Tong said, hurrying to catch up.

’I won’t believe it unless I see it with my own eyes.’

Jiang Li paid her no mind, pulling Miao Anji into the car. Luo Jingheng followed them into the back, and Du Kang quickly told the driver to go.

Wu Tong watched them go, then jumped into her own car and immediately gave chase.

Once in the car, Jiang Li saw her phone was being blown up. Ji Qinghe and the others were all trying to find out where she’d gone.

’I totally forgot to tell them, everything happened so fast.’

Thinking this, she quickly called back.

"Sister Qinghe, I’m in H City. Wu Ming’s in trouble. Don’t worry about me, someone promised they’d guarantee my safety."

As Jiang Li explained to Ji Qinghe, she was acutely aware that the son of this "someone" was sitting right next to her. ’If he wanted to try something, it would be incredibly easy.’

Ji Qinghe felt a wave of helplessness as she listened. She was terrified something would happen to Jiang Li, but she knew just trying to keep her under watch wasn’t a real solution.

Zhou Tiancheng, standing nearby, patted her on the shoulder. "It’ll be fine. Jiang Li has nine lives. Hasn’t she managed to get out of every scrape so far?"

"You’re always so optimistic!" Ji Qinghe glared at Zhou Tiancheng. ’It’s fine if nothing happens, but what if something does?’

Zhou Tiancheng rubbed his nose, feeling wronged. "Alright, alright. I’ll contact the H City police and ask them to keep an eye out."

With that, Zhou Tiancheng hurried off to make the arrangements.

By the time Jiang Li and the others reached the outskirts, it was already dark. As they drew closer, they spotted an old, traditional courtyard house.

In the center of the courtyard lay the unconscious Wu Ming, surrounded by various objects.

Men patrolled back and forth outside the courtyard; Wu Yonghui had clearly prepared for this.

"Master Li, it’s certain to be a success tonight, right? We can’t wait any longer. Any more delays and I’m afraid this whole thing will be ruined."

Li Tianming looked at Wu Yonghui with irritation. "You never told me this girl was a practitioner! Her master has a considerable reputation, you know.

Not many would dare get involved in something that benefits one person at another’s expense."

Hearing this, Wu Yonghui quickly adopted a fawning tone. "Yes, yes, you’re right, Master Li. Rest assured, once this is over, I will make it well worth your while."

"Make sure your men keep a close watch. If someone sabotages this, not even God himself will be able to save it."

Li Tianming paced back and forth, making calculations on his fingers and muttering to himself.

Jiang Li crept closer.

When Wu Tong got out of her car, the scene before her left her so shocked she couldn’t process it.

Her sister was tied up in plain sight in the courtyard, while her kind, affable father was conspiring with that strange man.

’Looking at that man, she remembered asking her father about him before. He had told her the man was just a feng shui consultant.’

Wu Tong clapped a hand over her mouth in disbelief as fat tears streamed down her face.

Luo Jingheng, waiting for news in his car parked by the road, watched Wu Tong get out and run in. He raised an eyebrow, then lowered his gaze to the object in his hands.

Jiang Li led Miao Anji, approaching from a less-guarded area. They had several close calls, narrowly avoiding the patrols.

After a great deal of effort, they finally managed to slip inside.

’Wu Ming must have been drugged; she’s completely still. Master Cao should be here somewhere, too.’

"Xiao Ji, let’s go find Master Cao first."

Sticking to the walls, Jiang Li made her way toward a building on the other side of the courtyard.

Inside the room, Cao Kun had been thrown onto the floor, hog-tied. Hearing the CREAK of the door, he lifted his head to look.

The instant he saw Jiang Li, his eyes lit up. "Mmph! Mmph!"

"Shh!"

Jiang Li drew the knife she always carried and moved to cut his bonds.

"Jiang Li, hurry! That damn undying bastard, Wu Yonghui! Fucking hell, he actually hired a dark arts practitioner! That son of a bitch! I only have one apprentice! If he ruins her, I’ll fight him to the death!"

Listening to Cao Kun’s explosive tirade, Jiang Li finally understood who Wu Ming took after.

"Master Cao, calm down. It doesn’t look like they’ve started yet."

Jiang Li gently interrupted Cao Kun’s stream of curses. His shouting was making her head buzz.

"Jiang Li, what time is it?"

Jiang Li checked her phone. "Eight forty-five."

"Damn it all! They start at nine! I’m going out there to take them on!"

Cao Kun scrambled to his feet, grabbed a nearby piece of firewood, and charged out without a second thought.

"Wu Yonghui, you heartless animal! Let go of my apprentice! Aren’t you afraid of retribution for siding with a charlatan like this?"

Wu Yonghui was startled by Cao Kun’s sudden appearance. "Guards! Pin him down!"

Cao Kun saw the men rushing him and immediately launched into a furious brawl.

Unfortunately, he was outmatched.

Seeing Cao Kun’s bruised and swollen face, Jiang Li stepped forward. With a kick, an elbow strike, and a shoulder throw, she slammed one of the men to the ground.

"I was wondering how Cao Kun got out. So it was you, you little brat," Wu Yonghui said. "Jiang Li, I’d advise you not to be a busybody."

"Wu Yonghui, Wu Ming is your own daughter! She never even asked for your affection, so why are you doing this to her?!"

As she spoke, Jiang Li tightened her grip on her knife, her gaze promising him a death by a thousand cuts.

’Wu Ming was living a happy, carefree life on her own, and then this pack of leeches had to show up.’

"Why? Because she has an unlucky fate. A master told me years ago that her ’hard’ fate would suppress my own.

And isn’t it true? Look at me! I only just met her, and since then, nothing has gone right for me."

The more he spoke, the more Wu Yonghui convinced himself. Not a single thing had gone right since the day he’d met Wu Ming.

Even his business had run into trouble, with deals being snatched out from under him.

"That’s a load of bullshit!" Cao Kun snarled, baring his teeth. "Suppress you? You think you’re that important? This is just karma for all the evil shit you’ve done!"

"Let Wu Ming go." Jiang Li scanned her surroundings. ’Seven or eight men. Manageable.’

"Who do you think you..." Before he could finish, Jiang Li had already attacked.

"ARGH!"

"Mercy, great warrior!"

Jiang Li’s every strike landed on a pressure point or weak spot. In moments, several men were on the ground, unable to rise.

Wu Yonghui stared, dumbfounded. He knew she was skilled, but he never imagined she could take on so many men by herself.

"Well, damn!" Cao Kun exclaimed. "Jiang, my apprentice really knows how to pick ’em!"

Cao Kun, standing to the side, was also taken aback. ’Those moves... that power... so damn cool.’

Jiang Li moved to pull Wu Ming out of the circle. The next second, with a RUMBLE, a wall of fire erupted, blocking her path.

"Cough, cough..." Dazed and confused, Wu Ming’s eyes fluttered open.